LV Cup – The LV Stands for Lacking Value sportsnewsnightly.com
Amidst all the furore of 60,000 people turning up at the Millennium Stadium to watch Alain Rolland on Saturday morning and the Wallabies turning <a href="http://wk.putianb2b.com/"><strong>网赚之家 </strong></a> up in Auckland to watch the All Blacks on Sunday lest we not forget there was some lower profile rugby happening at the weekend.* Round 1 of the LV Cup saw a battle between perennial Heineken Cup adversaries Llanelli Scarlets and Leicester Tigers, a renewal of the traditional rivalry between Bath and Newport, now the Newport Gwent Dragons and other fascinating matchups including Northampton versus Saracens and Harlequins versus London Irish.* The question is why were only 2 of these games televised live?* The answer to this question probably has something to do with the way the top flight teams approach what they see as the 3rd competition in Welsh and English rugby.* So low key has this competition become that of the 8 fixtures that were played, not only was just shown live on English TV and one live on Welsh TV but only 4 match reports appear on the BBC Sport website. From the BBC's 4 match reports it's possible to garner just how lowly the competition is regarded, Leicester Tigers starting 15 in Llanelli featured just 3 players who regularly feature in their first choice game day 23's.* The Scarlets on the other hand selected a starting 15 featured just first team regular, Tight Head Prop <a href="http://wk.putianb2b.com/"><strong>广州兼职 </strong></a> Phil John.* Similarly to Leicester Bath selected 3 regular first choice players in their starting 15, as did the Newport Gwent Dragons and the Ospreys.* Cardiff Blues only saw fit to select to "first teamers" and neither Dan Fish or Richard Mustoe can be considered stalwarts of Cardiff's premier fifteen, Exeter Chiefs likewise picked players who have featured in their first team, but for varying reasons haven't of late.* Really the only team who did select what could be considered a strong side were the Newcastle Falcons who included 10 regulars in their starting fifteen and 5 fringe players who should become regulars soon. Why does this matter you ask, well while the media and the team's have approached the LV Cup as if it's something they wish wasn't happening the men in suits who set the ticket prices haven't taken the same approach.* Most teams have reduced their ticket prices but hardly in line with the deterioration of quality that was seen on the pitch.* For Leicester Tigers first home game in the LV Cup online tickets cost the same as the tickets for their Heineken Cup <a href="http://wk.putianb2b.com/"><strong>网络兼职打*员 </strong></a> against Clermont Auvergne and presumably they won't be fielding the same calibre of players for both games.* The Ospreys are charging £5 less for their first home game in the LV compared to their normal ticket prices, but they are playing outside their regular home ground, the Liberty Stadium and will instead play at the much older Brewery Field in Bridgend almost 24 miles away from Swansea. With such mediocre interest from the teams, the media and with those ticket prices no doubt fans too, the LV Cup would seem to be on it's last legs.* Some may argue <a href="http://inbookmark.com/mybookmark.php"><strong>网络兼职打*员 </strong></a> that it provides an important chance for "fringe players" but there is already a competition for Aviva Premiership teams to give their "fringe players" game time, it's called the Aviva "A" league and the Welsh regions are allowed to dual register their "fringe players" with Welsh Premiership teams in order for them to get regular game time.* If the 6 weekend's devoted to the LV Cup were left free then not only would the age old quandary of player burn out would be slightly reduced and for the English clubs the conundrum of playing League games during International periods would be almost completely avoided. Tags: featured Heineken Cup home Leicester Tigers
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