Quote of the week

Good points. Injuries can wreak havoc on a team, and certainly Munster was decimated at times last year. This year's start, though, was Roundtree's undoing.

How do you say aluminum?

Uh-lu-mih-num, you're not British​@@RugbyWrapUp

@@rugbyrick 🤠

You read my mind. Big fan of the women’s game. Stay tuned!

Some things may slip by his radar but he knows the Irish, Welsh, Scottish and S.A. teams inside and out.

They started poorly last year as well before turning it around!

You mad the show 10x better!

Do the Eagles benefit more from being around better players on a daily basis on and off the pitch, or do they benefit more from being around players of their ilk for the sake of continuity? They haven't assembled nearly enough over the last 4 years, about a quarter of what nations like Chile and Uruguay have in that time. That looks to be changing.

@RugbyWrapUp the Eagles have always been a "select side" similar to the post-season sides the territorial unions assemble to play what are essentially one-off exhibition matches/tournaments before they go home to their "real" teams. My hope for the Eagles via Anthem is that instead of playing with strangers in an international test match, they'll be playing with their mates (with whom they've trained and "gone to war" every week prior to assembling for the test) and establish the familiarity and trust needed to create the synergy that will produce more wins on the pitch.

@@RobHoldsworth The Eagles haven't exactly had strangers playing with each other. While Rugby NY was still in the MLR, five of their pack players were in the squad, and you have clusters of players from other teams as well. Old Glory had 5 this year, too. But your point is accurate.

Great opportunity for young players but should they pause the professional matches while the WXV is on?

@@RugbyWrapUp Got to complete the season by March so everything lines up for the start of the 2025 World Cup. The kids did great and justified their selections.

Anyone born on August 8, 1971 is a little nutty. In a good way. A rugby way.

@@RugbyWrapUp you do know the numbers are not birth related, all users on youtube are assigned digits after user name..... americans "sigh"

@@iamnutty8471 Hey, we took a stab at it with a guess!

I love the the conversations with "my" coach, Allen "Clarkie" Clark. I had great Season seats and I greatly miss being at the games. I retired and I can understand Clarkie's we referenced to the relaxation of working outdoors as I now own a ranch. And what's that wierd thing on John's hand? Is that a cast for jammed fingers?

@@BillPatten-zh6lx Good stuff, Bill! We'll expect an invite to the ranch. And we'll reveal the John/hand thing at a later date!

Hey, for 83 years-old, he was pretty close. ;)

@@RugbyWrapUp is he really only 83... he went to school with Fred Flintstone

@@tomhayes750 That was a Yabba Dabba Doozie!

I don’t think they have the money

Thanks for the corrections on the date in the 1920s... As per the costs, as Mike Friday pointed out, lodgings, per diem and food for 50 people is expensive. Flying home and back is likely cheaper... The other question is if they are flying coach? Is Etzebeth cramming into a coach seat?

Oh stop it 😂 as much as I want a Munster win or even close Match they are essentially playing the irish international team

@@SmcdMcd-d2k we have at least 6 internationals on our team and the other guys need to be aspiring to that level or at least have an old school grudge

@@patman142 yeah but Leinster can effectively field 15 internationals

@@SmcdMcd-d2k and how do you become an international?

@@patman142 are you missing the point ffs… Leinster have essentially the irish team

Mate this is a club game at the early stages of a club championship. Much different

@@SmcdMcd-d2k I was correcting the statement that England had sold 45k tickets. And the comment wasn't in reference to a club game it was in reference to the WXV international tournament that is taking place in Canada.

@@neill392 Thanks for the update on the exact number. The point is that they sold a lot tix is short order - which is great.

Agreed.

Is he out of a job if Edinburgh loses?

@@RugbyWrapUp , i have no idea. all i can tell you, from what ive seen of him over the years in sa, is that he has *not* been impressive...like, at. all. im pretty sure that if edinbrugh fails (not play up to their potential with the caliber of personnel they have) again this season, itll probably be tickets for him. (and in all honesty, i was a little shocked when i saw he was the new coach of edinburgh.)

this comment probably looks silly after the stormer's game...but they're their own worst enemy, so the comment still stands 😆

George Hook is often delusional but you never know in a derby game.

Maybe romantic

Im a Munster fan.. but let’s remember Leinster is essentially the irish team. I just hope we don’t get completely Mangled

@@SmcdMcd-d2k That's why we play the matches!

@@KewKew-do3kq Absolute romantic!

Not always!

Thanks for the intel. What about flying coach? Do they put Etzebeth in a coach seat?

​@@RugbyWrapUpI actually was on a budget airline flight ( SafAir) last year. The entire Boks team was on that flight. I really don't know how they fitted in those small seats. Lucky it as a 50 minute flight. 😂🇿🇦

@@wot4922 Wow! The Springboks in coach?!

This is a small league with small fan bases. Fans need a destination city so that they aren't paying top airfares or top hotel prices because they book at the last minute. That was an epic mistake for the World Rugby 7s in San Fran in 2018. USA Rugby didn't negotiate hotel prices BEFORE they announced the venue. That meant the hotels didn't offer discounts and USAR took a $2.5 million loss on a sold-out event, as they had to foot the bill for all the teams coming in... Further, the venue can hold you over a barrel for the last-minute cost. For instance, it cost Rugby New York 75K for just one section open at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ to host the final vs Seattle. The only out-of-town fans were the loyalist of loyal Seattle fans, and the venue wasn't determined until the Tuesday before the match. Ask Seawolves fans about the prices they had to deal with... Finally, what's one of the biggest events in professional sports? The Super Bowl. That's a destination event.

🙌

Disagree