Official EPCR Champions Cup Preview Thread - A New Hope

matthew8

Leinster

London Welsh against Bordeaux now. Talebula getting a crack at Welsh's "defense".

thomond2006

Leinster

matthew8 wrote: »

London Welsh against Bordeaux now. Talebula getting a crack at Welsh's "defense".

Fantastic player, hopefully he can really announce himself at the World Cup. Bordeaux did really well to tie him down to a long-term deal (until summer 2017) I think.

matthew8

Leinster

And Talebula begins. Looks like one try on the board for him. Left himself no margin with the kick through.

matthew8

Leinster

Another easy 50 is gonna be put up on Welsh if they don't wake up. You'd almost wonder if an AIL team could put it up to them.

molloyjh

Leinster

Wow Welsh are bad.....

irishbucsfan

Leinster

molloyjh wrote: »

Wow Welsh are bad.....

Let's just pretend they're not there for a while, we won't have to worry about them from next season.

Deano7788

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Let's just pretend they're not there for a while, we won't have to worry about them from next season.

Well, pretending that would make it easier to explain the scorelines every week I suppose!

molloyjh

Leinster

Well taken score from Welsh there in fairness.

molloyjh

Leinster

And back to wet paper bag. 13-45 after 53 mins. Crikey.

vienne86

Leinster

It sounds like Welsh are awful, but Bordeaux are a bloody good side. The play lovely rugby and are going well in the Top 14.

irishbucsfan

Leinster

That's one way to get the French interested in the competition anyway, let them beat the English a few times!

thomond2006

Leinster

irishbucsfan wrote: »

That's one way to get the French interested in the competition anyway, let them beat the English a few times!

Strangely, Bordeaux picked a weaker side at home last week. I guess they underestimated Edinburgh. Hopefully they'll make the knockouts.

phog

Eatmypoint's preview of this weekend's games with Irish Provinces

who_me

Just noticed PaddyPower have Northampton at 1/8 vs Ospreys (9/2). I know the Saints are a very decent side, but I'd have thought those are very generous odds for Ospreys. It wouldn't surprise me too much to see them get a result there.

vienne86

Leinster

who_me wrote: »

Just noticed PaddyPower have Northampton at 1/8 vs Ospreys (9/2). I know the Saints are a very decent side, but I'd have thought those are very generous odds for Ospreys. It wouldn't surprise me too much to see them get a result there.

Gosh - I would expect this mathch to be tight - Northampton are good but Ospreys are going well too.

former legend

Leinster

vienne86 wrote: »

Gosh - I would expect this mathch to be tight - Northampton are good but Ospreys are going well too.

A 13 point handicap is pretty mad too.

Fill yer boots!

skippymac6

sydthebeat wrote: »

agreed

we're three times champions

we're a scalp any team would want

Yep and Leinster had a better team last year too. Don't forget that Castres put it up to Leinster in the RDS too last year. I'd imagine a tough game is in store...

ssaye2

http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychampionscup/lineups.php

matthew8

Leinster

You're underestimating Northampton, they routinely smash teams at home. They're not English champions for nothing.

who_me

matthew8 wrote: »

You're underestimating Northampton, they routinely smash teams at home. They're not English champions for nothing.

No one's denying they're favourites, but 1/8? That's almost completely writing off Ospreys who are a decent team.

skippymac6

ssaye2 wrote: »

http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychampionscup/lineups.php

Fitzgerald back for Leinster makes the backline look a lot more cohesive and formidable now.

thomond2006

Leinster

Sexton starting in Treviso

matthew8

Leinster

who_me wrote: »

No one's denying they're favourites, but 1/8? That's almost completely writing off Ospreys who are a decent team.

They're probably the second best side in Europe. I count only 3 Ospreys (Biggar, AWJ, Bishop) who are better than their opposite numbers.

funtime93

matthew8 wrote: »

They're probably the second best side in Europe. I count only 3 Ospreys (Biggar, AWJ, Bishop) who are better than their opposite numbers.

Saints second best in Europe?? Come off it.

matthew8

Leinster

funtime93 wrote: »

Saints second best in Europe?? Come off it.

Why not? English champions. Toulon are better but I struggle to put any other side ahead of them.

rrpc

Northampton

matthew8 wrote: »

Why not? English champions. Toulon are better but I struggle to put any other side ahead of them.

Ummm, Clermont? Leinster? Sarries? Munster?

funtime93

matthew8 wrote: »

Why not? English champions. Toulon are better but I struggle to put any other side ahead of them.

In a big European game i'd back Leinster,Munster,Ulster,Sarries,Clermont to beat them.And obviously Toulon.

irishbucsfan

Leinster

funtime93 wrote: »

In a big European game i'd back Leinster,Munster,Ulster,Sarries,Clermont to beat them.And obviously Toulon.

Have you seen much of Northampton playing this year?

matthew8

Leinster

rrpc wrote: »

Ummm, Clermont? Leinster? Sarries?

Leinster on last year's form, not on this year's. Couldn't possibly rate Clermont that high after the end of last season. Saracens are up there but I'd rather Northampton, after all they did lose to Northampton in the final last year, and Northampton probably had the better of their regular season games (won 41-20 home, how many sides do that to Saracens?).

funtime93

matthew8 wrote: »

Leinster on last year's form, not on this year's. Couldn't possibly rate Clermont that high after the end of last season. Saracens are up there but I'd rather Northampton, after all they did lose to Northampton in the final last year, and Northampton probably had the better of their regular season games (won 41-20 home, how many sides do that to Saracens?).

Do the second best teams in Europe get raped at home by leinster and not get out of their group? Also,they have 0 points so far.

matthew8

Leinster

funtime93 wrote: »

Do the second best teams in Europe get raped at home by leinster and not get out of their group? Also,they have 0 points so far.

Come on, they were very unlucky not to get out of the pool last year. Intercept try away to Castres cost them, had one proper off day with a load of injuries home to Leinster but other than that did very well. Mugs don't win in the Aviva stadium. 0 points from their last game because they lost the LBP trying to chase it. Hardly an indication they lack quality.

irishbucsfan

Leinster

funtime93 wrote: »

Do the second best teams in Europe get raped at home by leinster and not get out of their group? Also,they have 0 points so far.

That's a really silly comment. They were badly affected by injury during the group stages last season after a very strong start in their domestic league. They still managed a dominant win in the Aviva stadium.

This season they've managed the same strong start in the domestic league and managed to avoid the same injury problem. 5 wins and 5 bonus points in 6 games.

It's clear to see Toulon are the strongest side in Europe. After that there is a legitimate claim for Northampton although Clermont are also a good shout.

matthew8

Leinster

No Eastmond and another poor back row named for Bath. There won't be a better chance for a team to win away in this pool. Europe could be all over for Bath after 2 weeks. If they can get through it though Houston and Louw will make a big difference for the Christmas double-header.

skippymac6

irishbucsfan wrote: »

That's a really silly comment. They were badly affected by injury during the group stages last season after a very strong start in their domestic league. They still managed a dominant win in the Aviva stadium.

This season they've managed the same strong start in the domestic league and managed to avoid the same injury problem. 5 wins and 5 bonus points in 6 games.

It's clear to see Toulon are the strongest side in Europe. After that there is a legitimate claim for Northampton although Clermont are also a good shout.

You have to say that Toulon are the best team in Europe right now and then there are a few teams vying for the next spot. Northampton haven't done enough in Europe since their final appearance in Cardiff for me to consider them a true superpower at the minute but they are certainly in the discussion.

Leinster, Munster and Ulster haven't fired so far this year, Leicester aren't the force of old, Clermont are like most French clubs, a lot weaker away from home and the Welsh usually flatter to deceive. I'd have no problem saying that Saints are second best in Europe but I'd also have no problem saying Leinster, Sarries or Clermont are either.

The one thing I think about this game is like Glasgow, the Ospreys are on a nice little run and are full of confidence in their own ability. That normally counts for a good deal when going to tough places to play like Franklin Gardens. The -13 is probably justified on previous years (Ospreys haven't got out of their pool for years) but it's not something I'd be backing. Gun to head I'd take Ospreys on that line just because as I said, confident teams don't usually get beaten out the gate.

matthew8

Leinster

Looking like the ultimate embarrassment for French teams in the Challenge cup, Zebre about to beat Brive in Brive, and Zebre are resting as many players as Brive.

vienne86

Leinster

Grenoble have lost at home.....London Irish beat them. And La Rochelle beat Bayonne. Dragons lost to Newcastle. Edinburgh beat Lyon.

bilston

Ulster

Just on Northampton, I don't know about second best in Europe, but they are the best English side at the moment and are certainly caoable of winning the competition. Disappointing start for them last week though in not getting anything in Paris which doesn't help.

molloyjh

Leinster

bilston wrote: »

Just on Northampton, I don't know about second best in Europe, but they are the best English side at the moment and are certainly caoable of winning the competition. Disappointing start for them last week though in not getting anything in Paris which doesn't help.

Indeed. Two hands George. Two hands.

Hagz

Saracens

Is my screen messed up or is Toulouse's jersey orange?

NVM: It's just a very bold red....

matthew8

Leinster

Bath 7-6 down at half time, they've probably had the better of play but also had a wind.

phog

Toulon winning away from home today is probably already after setting them up for a home QF, they'll be hard to beat in the knockout games again this season.

errlloyd

Glasgow

Bruce Craig's dream of having a French team is complete, Bath are absolutely useless in Europe.

matthew8

Leinster

Toulouse with the third try now and you can probably say goodbye to Bath in Europe this year. Scary prospect that Toulon, Toulouse, Montpellier, Racing and Clermont could all get through.

errlloyd

Glasgow

Toulose do the job, and Bath are probably going out.

matthew8

Leinster

Bath and Ulster 0 for 2, French teams finally winning away from home, and those 2 are probably the first casualties of the tournament.

phog

I don't like this crack of both teams exiting the tunnel at the same time, as a fan I prefer to welcome the visiting team first then cheer out the home team. It's part of a home game.

Buer

Glasgow

Foden you butcher.

sydthebeat

Clermont

Just seen Tommy Seymour going off on a stretcher on oxygen and in a neck brace. Hope it's not serious

matthew8

Leinster

Can referees please agree on whether they take momentum into account for forward passes? Hartley denied a try as Poite didn't take it into account.

Tox56

That Northampton turnover came from Myler lying on the wrong side with no intention to go anywhere blocking the guys attempting to clean out, annoys the piss out of me when refs just ignore that