Champions Cup 24/25 - Saturday, 24 May

[Becca]

Henry Pollock: Bordeaux players ‘out of order’ in post-match Champions Cup fracas - Dowson

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson accuses Bordeaux’s players of being “out of order” after Henry Pollock appeared to be grabbed around the neck after the final whistle of Saints’ Champions Cup final defeat.

www.bbc.com

Like Smith's comments:

"I am surprised if you have just won a European Cup, the first thing you want to do is start a fight with a 20-year-old. I felt that was interesting. He will be alright."

It is pretty pathetic of them to do that.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The Northampton Saints players should be ashamed of their unsportsmanlike behavior. Besides, in recent years, the English and Irish have become very arrogant and often bite the dust against French clubs: Leinster, Northampton, Saracens, Munster, and Ulster have all received a slap in the face.
You've tasted the Stade Toulousain sauce, you've tasted the Stade Rochelais sauce, and now you're tasting the Bordelaise sauce—it's good, isn't it?

Imagine still talking about La Rochelle as if they're not a spent force of mercs

 

[Horacito]

Man, I can't believe it, but for the second time this year I'm actually rooting for the english team, they have so much heart

Still, they reached the try line thrice in 80 minutes, while BB did it many many times... and they do employ an argentinean who did play a magnificent game. And their wine is better... for now. Bordeaux deserved to win, they play better rugby. What a rugby nation is France: they have Dupont and Lucu as the "worst" option, but he played a match today that would make any starter in the first tier proud; every kick was a banger, every tackle, the man is a beast

the worst player, the one I cannot bring myself to like even though I recognize how much of a massive talent he is, is Jalibert. He's so good, so talented, but he's inconsistent, he makes the whole team dependant on his performance... he's a prick. Ntamack is somewhat more mediocre but i would choose him over Jaligod if only because the latter seems insuferable

congratulations wine capital of the world

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

"Henry Pollock was particularly upset by it because I think it was uncalled for and out of order"

Almost like you make a rod for your own back?

If you want to project that personality that is fine it's a choice but UBB clearly latched onto that as motivation and it boiled out at the end. Getting under people's skin is all well and good but it's not always a positive for your team.

That being said I haven't seen the clip footage of the incident

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

 

[McTallshort]

"Henry Pollock was particularly upset by it because I think it was uncalled for and out of order"

Almost like you make a rod for your own back?

If you want to project that personality that is fine it's a choice but UBB clearly latched onto that as motivation and it boiled out at the end. Getting under people's skin is all well and good but it's not always a positive for your team.

That being said I haven't seen the clip footage of the incident

I'm sure he doesn't give much of a toss

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I'm sure he doesn't give much of a toss

I mean hard to argue that given
1) his reaction there
2) saints coming out and Dowson saying that directly

 

[McTallshort]

I mean hard to argue that given
1) his reaction there
2) saints coming out and Dowson saying that directly

Yeah but he doesn't look like the kinda of bloke whom dwells on it as much as some people want him too

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Yeah but he doesn't look like the kinda of bloke whom dwells on it as much as some people want him too

Oh I doubt he will dwell on it at all
Didn't think he would either.

Just find it amusing to when you say your aim is to get under peoples skin and when it works you react shocked

 

[McTallshort]

Oh I doubt he will dwell on it at all
Didn't think he would either.

Just find it amusing to when you say your aim is to get under peoples skin and when it works you react shocked

Yeah you put your head above the parapet etc etc. the fact the Bordeaux team are showing a celebration related to Pollock on their twitter feed shows perhaps he did get under their skin

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Yeah you put your head above the parapet etc etc. the fact the Bordeaux team are showing a celebration related to Pollock on their twitter feed shows perhaps he did get under their skin

He 1000% did but I think it motivated them more than agitated them

 

[McTallshort]

Probably, reminds me a bit of Austin Healy in that.

 

[BrokenWing]

Pollock obviously giving them the standard shove of congratulation. No need for them to react like that.

And it's hardly a punch.

 

[OllyM97]

Another abominable performance by an officiating team in a major final. The TMO Interferes with every other decision but a try scored at 23-20 in the second half of the final isn't even checked when there is more than a hint of 2/3 forward passes. Pathetic, embarrassing, disgraceful. I've seen a replay of the incident where Furbank gets knocked out, I'm sorry but the fact that wasn't looked at is absolutely scandalous. The Bordeaux player knew exactly what he was doing, he could have easily gone round Furbank to get to the bouncing ball. He saw an opportunity to leave one on him. That wasn't an accident, that was deliberate. That was no rugby incident.

 

[McTallshort]

Another abominable performance by an officiating team in a major final. The TMO Interferes with every other decision but a try scored at 23-20 in the second half of the final isn't even checked when there is more than a hint of 2/3 forward passes. Pathetic, embarrassing, disgraceful. I've seen a replay of the incident where Furbank gets knocked out, I'm sorry but the fact that wasn't looked at is absolutely scandalous. The Bordeaux player knew exactly what he was doing, he could have easily gone round Furbank to get to the bouncing ball. He saw an opportunity to leave one on him. That wasn't an accident, that was deliberate - absolute cheating p***k.

Why don't you tell us what you really think!

 

[OllyM97]

Why don't you tell us what you really think!

Sorry for the ambiguity .

 

[higgik]

Pearce and Gardner are a step up from him. Before them Barnes and Owens

None perfect, but I have never seen the TMO overturn their original decisions on multiple occasions mid play.

He was trying to keep game flowing, but then THE TMO got involved correctly, but was too lenient on the 'unsporting behaviours' such as deliberately knock ons, and was inconsistent with the high tackles.
The Bordeaux one was a no arms shoulder directly to the head, whereas the Northampton one was a chest tackle, where the head moved forward on impact to make contact.

If the 2nd one was yellow, (correct), then the first one was red.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

There must be more than that? I didn't see it either, but if that's it then its so what territory.

If he did get under UBB's skin and they made efforts to mark him out of the game that's a pretty big compliment for a kid and a massive learning experience for him.

I think we'll see the best of Pollock at 7. Much prefer a heavier duty carrier at 8.

Good effort from Saints despite injuries before and during. At the start of the season I wouldn't have thought they'd have got within a million miles of this. Seem to be adding up to more than the sum of their parts - feels like a good culture there.

 

[Which Tyler]

There must be more than that? I didn't see it either, but if that's it then its so what territory.

Yeah, if that's all it is, then it's a shove by Pollock, followed by a shove from the UBB player.
Hardly the stuff of "I am surprised if you have just won a European Cup, the first thing you want to do is start a fight with a 20-year-old"
More "I am surprised if you have just lost a European Cup as a 20-year-old, the first thing you want to do is start a fight"

Surely, there must have been something before that clip.

ETA: Sorry, I almost forgot the obligatory "I do not hate Henry Pollock" bit, in case anyone gets confused. I happen to think he's great, but maybe a little too feisty on occasion. Needs to judge the time and place a bit better - which should come with time.