First team?

By Go Bath!
January 20 2014

Do you love the LV? Hard to get enraptured by this competition, now in its forty something year, with its strange qualifying pool format, sporadic timings, relegated to a second xv competition for its last two qualifying rounds courtesy of the six nations and no cup upsets as only the big boys get to play, make this a pale shadow of its former glory in the guise of the John Player and Pilkington days.

Despite this, would you like this in the trophy cabinet alongside the "A" League Cup, Amlin Challenge Cup and dare I even contemplate the Aviva Premiership? For me some silver is better than no silver so bring it on!

Hard to know where to start with our visitors on Saturday with the Blues on 5 points, third in their pool and wholly reliant on someone beating the group leaders Tiggers ( that'll be us then fingers crossed!) on 9 points make this potentially an academic trip for them, whereas a 5 pointer for Bath keeps then in the hunt for a home semi final.

Shorn of key Internationals, sprinkled with a modicum of injuries especially with Patchell the fly half side-lined make this potentially a 2nd/3rd XV for Cardiff. Also judging by the comments on the blues board the recent defeat to Exeter left them seething about their team's performance with several players singled out for some criticism, hopefully this form will continue!

Looking through by BB&W tinted spectacles I'm hoping Bath fielding perhaps not the 1st XV but a proven 2nd XV to win by 20-25pts with the forwards edging the battle in the loose, a strong scrum, MacHeathcote pulling the strings and too much pace in the backs with Bendy and Lane. Also keep an eye out for young Devoto's distribution. But as a wise man said me don't confuse ambition with achievement (thanks Dad!) so I'm not counting my chickens just yet!

Lv the LV?

Discussion started by Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged), 20/01/2014 21:55

Comeonmylovers.co.uk
20/01/2014 21:55

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King Curtis
20/01/2014 23:09

I don't imagine that. Biggs, Day, Mercer, KPN or Devoto will play as they are all abroad.

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Bri
20/01/2014 23:13

I was told they've been given a few days off are you saying we won't put a side out?

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King Curtis
21/01/2014 11:15

I might be wrong, but I'd expect those playing this weekend to have a full week of training?

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sid the seagull
21/01/2014 12:38

Ref the competition itself as per topic.

I think it's pants, a total dogs breakfast.
Format is all down to giving the bread-heads enough guaranteed fixtures but why take the best format on the planet (FA CUP etc) and turn it into the worst?
Oh for the mighty upsets, away to Waterloo anyone?
And would say Worcester fancy the short trip to Lydney or Wasps fancy the somewhat longer trip to Penzance.
Oh for underdogs, giant killers and true KNOCKOUT!

HOPFLAPSQUAWKPECK

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TCM2007
21/01/2014 13:56

hard to do after professionalism though, too many potentially dangerous mismatches.

Stuart

Former ed.

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sid the seagull
21/01/2014 14:10

Well they manage it with World Cup pool stages and obv you'd have to have phased introduction of Championship then Prem teams. Oh and allow non professionals to carry firearms.

HOPPECK

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liquidmonkey
21/01/2014 16:17

I like the idea of an FA cup style knockout. Although I agree with Stuart's point about dangerous mismatches. Could it be arranged similarly to the FA cup where the Premiership and Championship teams don't enter until later rounds? This way only the more proven teams would face professional opposition. I suspect even then the Premiership teams would anihliate the others. The shock results that one sees in the FA cup are somewhat unlikely.

Desperate affairs require desperate measures.
Horatio Nelson

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TCM2007
21/01/2014 17:06

That's how it used to work. We came in in the 3rd IIRC.

Stuart

Former ed.

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Superman wears Schalk Brits pyjamas
22/01/2014 07:44

In 2004-05 (the last knock out year) the prem clubs entered in round 6 where they represented 12 of the 16 entrants in that level. So hardly likely to contain a real underdog.

Maybe better to draw in numbers 2-5 in the championship last year. That way we'd get sensible groups (play each other once only to give 4 fixtures) but the 1st division sides would also have time to plan for their fixtures.

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sid the seagull
22/01/2014 17:39

I'd fancy some sort of 2 stage enrty for Championship clubs. Say bottom half of table one round then top half in next round getting down to 20 left then all 12 Prem clubs in next round to be last 32.
It would be fun, also I think mis-match thing is over-exagerated.
Also, all loan or dual reg players to be disallowed from playing for 'donor' clubs but allowed to play for host clubs. I for one would love to see Chris Cook running blindside straight at Stringer from an attacking scrum 5 metres out, only one winner there I'd suggest!

HOP

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