Neil Back

Gatland missing the point

Fri Oct 30 09:02AM

Warren Gatland has come out and said that the Premiership is the weakest he has ever seen and while everybody is entitled to their opinion, I cannot say that I agree with him.

For me, the Premiership is the most competitive club competition in the world. It is a long season relative to other leagues and the competition is always fierce.

In other leagues, specifically in the Magners League which is Gatland's main concern, there is much more of an opportunity for you to balance your squad between competitions - and focus on the European games if you wish.

However, you cannot do that in the Premiership. You have to focus on both the Premiership and also Europe because if you don't play your best players in the league then you risk missing out on Europe the following season.

I think the quality issue has been brought up because there have not been as many tries this season relative to other years but I think that has a lot to do with the changes in the ELVs and the way that things are being officiated - especially when it comes to the contact area.

As people play more games and get used to the way the rules are now being interpreted, I certainly think you will start to see more tries.

The league has lost some top players to France and the salary cap is certainly a factor for this but that does not mean that I think the cap should be eliminated.

If we lifted the restrictions on what clubs could pay players then I think the risk of clubs falling into financial difficulty, especially in the current climate, would be a more likely scenario than any great degree in improved quality.

I also think the play-off system in the Premiership is the correct one. If you have players going off to play for England in the autumn internationals and then also in the Six Nations, then you have to give those clubs who lose a lot of players a realistic chance of still winning the championship.

However, the league also has to make sure that they keep a promotion and relegation system in place too.

Maybe you could have a play-off between the team that finishes bottom and the top team in the Division One but there has to be that risk of relegation in place for the league to stay as competitive as it is.

If you didn't have relegation then what would happen when one of the top teams plays the bottom team near the end of the season?

The team that is in 12th will not be interested in the match or risk their top players getting injured because if they knew they were already safe then they would already be preparing for next season.

Comments1 - 11 of 11

Interesting that as Leeds are going to finish bottom and get relegated. Backy thinks the bottom team should have a play off with the winners of the championship( not division one).
This is a rubbish idea who ever wins the championship has the right of promotion.
Leeds will be in the championship next season. May be Backy's not the man for the job?
From lordmayorofbristol on Fri Oct 30 10:40AM
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The english premiership is a load of @#$% as soon as the come up against some descent european opposition they get they re arses handed to them complete rubbish backy
From owenhyde2007 on Fri Oct 30 04:07PM
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owenhyde2007 you must be thinking of the Munster v Northampton and London Irish v Leinster matches?
From daniel_j_spencer on Fri Oct 30 05:32PM
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The GP is still the best whatever gatland says. Its a shame the GP does not get more terrestial coverages we could have some decent rugby on the BBC for a change. Or they could show England live internationals. Better than the rubbish they are showing in November.
From john.butt4 on Fri Oct 30 06:42PM
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Warren Gatland gives the impression that he is omnipresent with comments that are infallible in the rugby fraternity.
Not so long ago it was England who was one dimensional team when it was actually Wales who were the team playing in that dimension.
Then the statement that any Welsh player risked his international status if he played in any country outside of Wales because, I presume, that the player’s form could not be monitored regularly. How can he then make this ridiculous observation about the GP? Has he watched the state of the Welsh regions with blinkered eyes or compared supporter’s attendance records. I was more entertained by the one premiership game I watched than the many Magners league I’ve seen so far.
His concern should be totally directed to the Welsh regions and the pathetic performances that the fans have to endure and employ reliable staff to observe players on form with these first class clubs.
In conclusion, and as a concerned Welshman, my feelings are that Gatland’s pathetic innuendo is to justify his immature attitude on national selection.
From photos4747 on Fri Oct 30 08:15PM
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Gatland has a point the gp has been below par this season
From tangoman7 on Sat Oct 31 04:24PM
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Being a Welshman i totally disagree with WG. I have watched some of the most boring @#$% going this season in the Magners League from our regions. It is even worse when we are playing against each other.It doesn't help our national team when we have so many average foreigners playing here.I cannot understand the Blues signing a guy to play in the key position when he doesn;t play there. Haven't we got any young talent out there?
From geraldwilliams153 on Sun Nov 01 07:25AM
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OwenHyde: how did the Welsh teams get on in the HC last year?
From ecclestoneismabitch on Sun Nov 01 04:24PM
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they got to the quarter finals and semi-finals, "ecclestonismabitch" Cardiff losing out by a single kick in one of the most memorable games in rugby history, which i was fortunate enough to be at. whereas the english contributed a weak Bath side, a cheatin outfit with Quins and an admitedly quality Leicester team. four regions that havent even been in existence for a decade yet should be incredibly pleased they can play with the big boys of rugby this early in their lifespans. and i include the dragons and scarlets in that bracket.
gatland didnt say anythin about the magners, it is on a par with the Guinness, being incredibly weak and predictable also.rugby in general is guilty of that though, the french is completely unpredictable, the south africans very competent but boring and negative , the new zealanders ambitious but ring-rusty and the wallabies inexpererienced and not confident. world cup cycles also fall on a bad patch around this time tho
From moggie2727 on Sun Nov 01 11:14PM
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I've got to agree with the comments about poor quality Magner's games. That Osprey's game on the weekend was v poor. I'm Welsh and I remember watching very exciting Welsh club games in the 80s and 90s. Perhaps the players are over coached these days.
From jonghughes on Mon Nov 02 02:14PM
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Most competetive...? 4 words.....Air New Zealand Cup and their players are home grown not expensive imports!
From godnoze on Sun Nov 22 07:50PM
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