Those of you who frequent the Welsh rugby forums will know that a lot of people, at least those that post, tend to have a problem with the Magners League, and with good reason. It has lacked intensity, it sees far too many 2nd teams sent out and for years has been a competition that you pretty much only won by accident. Remember how daming the Ospreys were when they won it?
And that hasn’t really changed. Until the end of the season anyway.
The playoffs actually seem to be working. The Munster squad selected to go over to Cardiff is a very strong one, the Ospreys went to Munster with the target of winning (and actually did) and teams are fighting it out to make the playoffs. the Cardiff Blues game vs Munster will be one of the relatively few Magners League games I have actively looked forward to, certainly outside of the derbies.
So something is going right with the Magners League for a change. Let us not pretend it has suddenly become a great league, or that it now ranks up there with the Top 14, but it just goes to show that having something to play for actually works – and the same could have been said of getting the HEC placings for the Welsh team (although it looks like The Turks could well be in the HEC anyway, certainly if the Cardiff Blues win the Amlin).
I just hope things start to improve. Without a proper Anglo-Welsh cup there is only Europe to get excited about otherwise, and whilst the Blues have had two good runs there (albeit one in the plate competition) Welsh rugby fans still need the day to day stuff to draw in teh crowds.
Loading ...