ESPN on player transferrs to Pro12

[BlueBlue]

Ok so, its like leaving Barcelona and moving to West Ham! Hows that for ya? Bright lights, big city....sh!t team.

More like leaving Man U or Arsenal and moving to Chelsea or Man City in 04 or 10 respectively. Racing have huge money and are going to spend it on winning the HEC and the Top 14, and they're going to be even more dangerous than prior attempts to do so were because they've bought very cleverly. Lydiate, Kruger, Sexton and all the props are the signings of a club that wants to make back page news, not front page headlines. If their coaches show the same kind of tactical acumen that whoever is in charge of their acquisitions did (if they aren't one and the same) they are going to be very serious challengers

Only one team have successfully bought a H-Cup. I predict they will be a slightly better rabble than they have been up to this point.

[TerenureJim]

Only one team have successfully bought a H-Cup. I predict they will be a slightly better rabble than they have been up to this point.

Outside of Conor George I don't know who is saying Racing will do much in the HEC this year. They've been down this route with big money before, remember Chabal in 10/11 season, and for all the talented individuals they've brought in can anyone rightly claim they're a talented team. Like Jamie Roberts is a big signing but did he ever deliver for Cardiff Blues? It takes time to build a team into something that can really challenge when stuff gets down to the wire. How ofter have we seen expensive squads, clubs that can field at least two teams of superstars of the game, Claremont I'm looking at you, bottle it when the pressure comes and the cohesion that comes from years of playing/developing together isn't there. The likes of Sexton probably won't go into his shell but there's plenty that might and it only take 2-3 to do it on a high pressure match day and the shot at silver is gone.

Toulon are the exception that proves the rule IMO.

[johng]

That is the exact opposite of what the phrase "the exception that proves the rule" means.

It means "No meat on Fridays" proves that you can have meat Saturday to Thursday.

[Dave Cahill]

Only one team have successfully bought a H-Cup. I predict they will be a slightly better rabble than they have been up to this point.

Outside of Conor George I don't know who is saying Racing will do much in the HEC this year. They've been down this route with big money before, remember Chabal in 10/11 season, and for all the talented individuals they've brought in can anyone rightly claim they're a talented team. Like Jamie Roberts is a big signing but did he ever deliver for Cardiff Blues? It takes time to build a team into something that can really challenge when stuff gets down to the wire. How ofter have we seen expensive squads, clubs that can field at least two teams of superstars of the game, Claremont I'm looking at you, bottle it when the pressure comes and the cohesion that comes from years of playing/developing together isn't there. The likes of Sexton probably won't go into his shell but there's plenty that might and it only take 2-3 to do it on a high pressure match day and the shot at silver is gone.

Toulon are the exception that proves the rule IMO.

Plenty of teams have tried it including Racing previously, but as you say they've all tried to do it by signing high profile 'characters' like Chabal, Parisse and Mirco, not real players. Racing haven't gone that route this time. They've signed Lydiate, Sexton, Kruger, Andreu and yes Roberts who has delivered regularly for his club - that club being Wales. These aren't the high profile players - they're the good players, thats what makes them a threat. Good players, proper pros, have no need of an extended team building phase, because they do the right thing pretty much all the time in any situation.

[simonokeeffe]

Racing had a cut at the H Cup last couple of years but policy seemed to be once we're more or less out/behind the 8 ball we wont bother so when they lost a home game or supposedly easy away game they ignored the tournament

[BlueBlue]

Only one team have successfully bought a H-Cup. I predict they will be a slightly better rabble than they have been up to this point.

Outside of Conor George I don't know who is saying Racing will do much in the HEC this year. They've been down this route with big money before, remember Chabal in 10/11 season, and for all the talented individuals they've brought in can anyone rightly claim they're a talented team. Like Jamie Roberts is a big signing but did he ever deliver for Cardiff Blues? It takes time to build a team into something that can really challenge when stuff gets down to the wire. How ofter have we seen expensive squads, clubs that can field at least two teams of superstars of the game, Claremont I'm looking at you, bottle it when the pressure comes and the cohesion that comes from years of playing/developing together isn't there. The likes of Sexton probably won't go into his shell but there's plenty that might and it only take 2-3 to do it on a high pressure match day and the shot at silver is gone.

Toulon are the exception that proves the rule IMO.

Plenty of teams have tried it including Racing previously, but as you say they've all tried to do it by signing high profile 'characters' like Chabal, Parisse and Mirco, not real players. Racing haven't gone that route this time. They've signed Lydiate, Sexton, Kruger, Andreu and yes Roberts who has delivered regularly for his club - that club being Wales. These aren't the high profile players - they're the good players, thats what makes them a threat. Good players, proper pros, have no need of an extended team building phase, because they do the right thing pretty much all the time in any situation.

We are on the same page in regard to trying to buy sucess. But I'm taking it a step further because I believe even buying good solid Pro's / talent is not an approach that often brings success, especially in rugby as these players are just that, players. They are not a team that has been built or moulded by time or hardship. They are a panel of excellent players but this does not make a team. This is especially true in rugby as the game is first and foremost still a physical confrontation. Its hard to stand shoulder to shoulder when the chips are down even when the lad next to you is top class.

This is why the Lions, more often than not by a huge scale will lose. Best panel of player in 4 nations, but often not yet a team.