2017-18 Champions Cup

ScrubsfanChris

Racing 92

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

It would be good to see Perpignan back in the Top 14 again.
That playoff between the Russians and Germans - does the winner get into Challenge Cup yes?

It would be good to see the Germans getting in.

Both teams are into the Challenge Cup for just getting to the final.

thelad95

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Is it a new thing where no italian teams in the champions cup?

If Bennetton had finished above Ulster, they would be in the playoff.

In saying that, I can’t help but feel an element of injustice in that Benetton finished with 10 more points than the Ospreys yet because of the conference system, it’s the Ospreys who get the playoff spot.

Tigerandahalf

To get the Germans in the Challenge Cup would be a nice trip. After googling, Heidelberg is only 50 miles south of Frankfurt, so easy flight access. It has a Christmas market and is a university town.

Random fact: the actor Michael Fassbender was born there.

Tigerandahalf

Just a heads up for people travelling to Bilbao via the ferry from Cork to Santander, it is been reported that the ferry has cancelled its first sailings next week as the Irish port authorities haven't yet given the all clear to the ferry. There was also a delay in Brittany ferries receiving it.

From another thread on ferry travel
....
I'm surprised it hasn't made the news here but headline news in Santander today was the cancelling of tomorrow's inaugural ferry to Cork. For the second time!
http://www.eldiariomontanes.es/cantabria/viaje-inaugural-ferri-20180505221153-ntvo.html
....

Kevski

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

To get the Germans in the Challenge Cup would be a nice trip. After googling, Heidelberg is only 50 miles south of Frankfurt, so easy flight access. It has a Christmas market and is a university town.

Random fact: the actor Michael Fassbender was born there.

Heidelberg is a lovely town alright - incredibly picturesque so quite different to a lot rugby trips! Drinking beer from a boot is a thing there if I remember correctly

Tim Robbins

Is the final only on Sky Sports or is it also on BT Sport?
Thanks

Bazzo

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Is the final only on Sky Sports or is it also on BT Sport?
Thanks

It's on both.

Zzippy

thelad95 wrote: »

If Bennetton had finished above Ulster, they would be in the playoff.

In saying that, I can’t help but feel an element of injustice in that Benetton finished with 10 more points than the Ospreys yet because of the conference system, it’s the Ospreys who get the playoff spot.

Treviso had Dragons and Kings in their conference, so Ospreys conference was more competitive. There should be no circumstances where points total in your conference is used as a measuring stick against points total in the other conference.

Eponymous

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

To get the Germans in the Challenge Cup would be a nice trip. After googling, Heidelberg is only 50 miles south of Frankfurt, so easy flight access. It has a Christmas market and is a university town.

Random fact: the actor Michael Fassbender was born there.

Played there a few years ago. Their own ground pavilion is about the size of St. Mary's in Templeogue, so they'd probably move their home games to accommodate a larger crowd.

If they do play at home, their clubhouse is outside of town and about 5 minutes walk from the nearest tram stop which will take you to the train station.

Heidelberg itself is a great spot. Some nice stuff to see during the day and in the evening it's pretty hectic. There's a street that runs parallel to the main street and it's full of bars and cafes.

So, yes, it probably would be a great rugby weekend!

FineAle

I have 1 spare ticket for sale for the Final this Saturday. PM if interested..

Eod100

Just a heads up theres an Aer Lingus flight Dublin to Bilbao Friday afternoon for 95e. Coming back will be an issue tho I'd imagine..

errlloyd

Exeter Chiefs

Random piece of trivia about Bilbao, rugby, and Racing for anyone who is a history person.

Rugby in Spain was originated by an Englishman named Stuart Nicholson in Bilbao, who turned to Racing Club when he wanted eye-catching opposition for a three-team tournament, also involving British and French exiles, in Barcelona in 1901.

ScrubsfanChris

Racing 92

Looks like a healthy enough crowd in for this one

The in-goal areas look tiny

Bridge93

Castres

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Looks like a healthy enough crowd in for this one

30,000 tickets sold apparently

Bazzo

Yeah decent crowd all considered.

ScrubsfanChris

Racing 92

Navidi off, big blow for Cardiff

Bazzo

Navidi off with his arm in a sling already... Not good for Cardiff...

thelad95

Those are really very small in goal areas, probably won’t be space for Tomás to hand the ball to machenaud this time.

ScrubsfanChris

Racing 92

thelad95 wrote: »

Those are really very small in goal areas, probably won’t be space for Tomto hand the ball to machenaud this time.

Espeacially when he's sitting on the sideline :pac:

Nice kick and try there

Castres

Unfortunate for Navidi, but at least he's finally gotten some recognition this season. Quality player with a great work ethic.

Bridge93

Castres

That's shocking from the second last man. Rugby 101

Bazzo

Billy Burns looks way too skinny to be a pro rugby player

Bazzo

Jesus the blues are having no luck here. Another arm injury.

thelad95

Standard not magic here, feels more like a league game rather than European cup final.

prawnsambo

Cardiff need to attack around the ruck. Glaws are not really defending there and gaps are showing.

prawnsambo

Game on.

ScrubsfanChris

Racing 92

Austin Healy disagreeing with a refereeing decision.
In other news, the sky is blue.

Tigerandahalf

Ball went backwards from Amscombe there.

Like the way Cardiff are throwing the ball around.
Jarrod Evans at 10 is highly rated in Wales too.

Exeter Chiefs

Looks like a very decent crowd there which is great to see.

Bazzo

Never understand when a scrum half just stands there watching a flanker come in to poach the ball. I know it's not their primary job but if there's nobody else around to do it just protect the fecking ruck....

joseywhales

Bazzo wrote: »

Never understand when a scrum half just stands there watching a flanker come in to poach the ball. I know it's not their primary job but if there's nobody else around to do it just protect the fecking ruck....

You end up with no energy and forwards playing 9 and you get cleared out! its also just not a nine's first instinct, they might be reading the play and not focusing on winning the ball.

Bazzo

joseywhales wrote: »

You end up with no energy and forwards playing 9 and you get cleared out! its also just not a nine's first instinct, they might be reading the play and not focusing on winning the ball.

Obviously not saying they should clear out every ruck... Williams just stood with his hands on his hips watching Polledri come in and jackal over the ball, he didn't even move. He should have enough awareness of where his players are to know there's nobody else to protect the ball, especially as a scrum half.

LuckyGent88

Scarlets

Some finish

ScrubsfanChris

Racing 92

Get in!

Tigerandahalf

What a kick from Anscombe after missing the conversion.

Well done Cardiff and a great game.

ScrubsfanChris

Racing 92

Cardiff deserve to win just for that audacious cross kick alone

Larbre34

Superb appetiser, well done Cardiff, another bit of Silver for the Pro14

ScrubsfanChris

Racing 92

Sour grapes

https://www.instagram.com/p/BipvmfLFpN6/

ScrubsfanChris

Exeter Chiefs

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Sour grapes

https://www.instagram.com/p/BipvmfLFpN6/

Very poor stuff.

prawnsambo

They know.

ScrubsfanChris

Racing 92

Updated table - Champions Cup:

Pro14:
- Glasgow
- Leinster
- Munster
- Scarlets
- Edinburgh
- Cardiff Blues
- Ulster/Ospreys*

Premiership
- Exeter
- Saracens
- Wasps
- Newcastle
- Leicester
- Bath
- Gloucester

Top14:
- Montpellier
- Racing 92
- Toulouse
- Toulon
- Lyon
- Castres

_________________________________________________________________________


Updated Table - Challenge Cup:

Pro14:
- Connacht
- Zebre
- Benneton
- Dragons
- Ulster/Ospreys*

Premiership
- Sale
- Northampton
- Harlequins
- Worcester
- Bristol

Top14:
- La Rochelle
- Pau
- Clermont
- Bourdeaux
- Agen
- Stade Francais
- Perpignan
- Grenoble

Continental Shield:
- Enisey-STM (Russia)
- Heidelberger RK (Germany)



Notes:

• Perpignan won the ProD2 final and automatic promotion beating Grenoble 38-13
• A week later Grenoble beat Oyonnax 47-22 in the relegation playoff securing their Top14 and Challenge Cup place.
• Enisey-STM beat Heidelberger RK 24-20 in the Continental Shield final. Both teams qualify for making the final.
• Only Spot left undecided is the last Pro14 Champions Cup qualifier. The Ulster v Ospreys playoff will be played on May 20th - 3:05pm @ The Kingspan)

Team rankings for pool selection wont be finalised until completion of domestic league finals.

Burkie1203

Exeter Chiefs

https://twitter.com/andymcgeady/status/995961825672953856?s=19

Burkie1203

Burkie1203 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/andymcgeady/status/995961825672953856?s=19

🙄 full circle

Eod100

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Updated table - Champions Cup:

Pro14:
- Glasgow
- Leinster
- Munster
- Scarlets
- Edinburgh
- Cardiff Blues
- Ulster/Ospreys*

Premiership
- Exeter
- Saracens
- Wasps
- Newcastle
- Leicester
- Bath
- Gloucester

Top14:
- Montpellier
- Racing 92
- Toulouse
- Toulon
- Lyon
- Castres

_________________________________________________________________________


Updated Table - Challenge Cup:

Pro14:
- Connacht
- Zebre
- Benneton
- Dragons
- Ulster/Ospreys*

Premiership
- Sale
- Northampton
- Harlequins
- Worcester
- Bristol

Top14:
- La Rochelle
- Pau
- Clermont
- Bourdeaux
- Agen
- Stade Francais
- Perpignan
- Grenoble

Continental Shield:
- Enisey-STM (Russia)
- Heidelberger RK (Germany)



Notes:

• Perpignan won the ProD2 final and automatic promotion beating Grenoble 38-13
• A week later Grenoble beat Oyonnax 47-22 in the relegation playoff securing their Top14 and Challenge Cup place.
• Enisey-STM beat Heidelberger RK 24-20 in the Continental Shield final. Both teams qualify for making the final.
• Only Spot left undecided is the last Pro14 Champions Cup qualifier. The Ulster v Ospreys playoff will be played on May 20th - 3:05pm @ The Kingspan)

Team rankings for pool selection wont be finalised until completion of domestic league finals.

So Gloucester got the last Champions Cup spot? 18 spots for 3 leagues in Challenge Cup, 5 extra for Pro 12 {excluding SA teams), 8 for Top 14, 5 for Premiership. Would Grenoble and or Bristol have missed out if Gloucester didn't get Champions Cup space? Or are my maths off?

ScrubsfanChris

Racing 92

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/996325748687429632?s=19

Pool draw to take place June 20th

ScrubsfanChris

Racing 92

Eod100 wrote: »

So Gloucester got the last Champions Cup spot? 18 spots for 3 leagues in Challenge Cup, 5 extra for Pro 12 {excluding SA teams), 8 for Top 14, 5 for Premiership. Would Grenoble and or Bristol have missed out if Gloucester didn't get Champions Cup space? Or are my maths off?

No, every team in the top 3 European leagues gets to play in either of the European competitions.

Eod100

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

No, every team in the top 3 European leagues gets to play in either of the European competitions.

Yeah that's what I was thinking but thought there might be an extra spot freed up with Gloucester getting the 20th Champions Cup place.. But I guess that 20th spot is always in the mix and part of CC qualification and basically Challenge Cup all the other non-qualified teams. Head still fuzzy from Bilbao!

Buer

Looking to next year, I was trying to see what teams will be best placed to be therebouts to win next season's title. To be honest, I'm not sure any of the fancied teams are actually strengthening. Leinster are losing Nacewa and Murphy. Racing are losing Carter, Tales, Nyanga and Andreu. Finn Russell and Zebo aren't going to make up for that.

Clermont are losing a number of wise old heads but don't have much coming in. Toulon are similar with Habana, Clerc, Vermeulen, Suta and Lobbe all leaving. They've signed Webb, Messam and Andreu but that's still a net loss.

Saracens are much of a muchness. Losing a few fringe guys, gaining a few fringe guys. But some key guys like Barritt, Bosch and Wigglesworth are another year older. Wasps might be well placed to go on a good run with Sopoaga and Shields coming in although they're losing some good depth and experience.

I reckon Munster should be very well placed to have a real crack next season if they can stay fit and have a coherent game plan. It hinges on how they deal with their outhalf issue. I'm not sure they know themselves what their best backline is although I wouldn't be shocked to see Taute revert to the back three at some point if they've a full deck to deal from to get their best players on the field.

ScrubsfanChris

Racing 92

Eod100 wrote: »

Yeah that's what I was thinking but thought there might be an extra spot freed up with Gloucester getting the 20th Champions Cup place.. But I guess that 20th spot is always in the mix and part of CC qualification and basically Challenge Cup all the other non-qualified teams. Head still fuzzy from Bilbao!

Yeah that's about right. If not Gloucester then it would have been Pau or Ulster and so on down the the line.

Eod100

Buer wrote: »

Looking to next year, I was trying to see what teams will be best placed to be therebouts to win next season's title. To be honest, I'm not sure any of the fancied teams are actually strengthening. Leinster are losing Nacewa and Murphy. Racing are losing Carter, Tales, Nyanga and Andreu. Finn Russell and Zebo aren't going to make up for that.

Clermont are losing a number of wise old heads but don't have much coming in. Toulon are similar with Habana, Clerc, Vermeulen, Suta and Lobbe all leaving. They've signed Webb, Messam and Andreu but that's still a net loss.

Saracens are much of a muchness. Losing a few fringe guys, gaining a few fringe guys. But some key guys like Barritt, Bosch and Wigglesworth are another year older. Wasps might be well placed to go on a good run with Sopoaga and Shields coming in although they're losing some good depth and experience.

I reckon Munster should be very well placed to have a real crack next season if they can stay fit and have a coherent game plan. It hinges on how they deal with their outhalf issue. I'm not sure they know themselves what their best backline is although I wouldn't be shocked to see Taute revert to the back three at some point if they've a full deck to deal from to get their best players on the field.

Leinster were 1/7 with the bookies there straight away after the final. I would see them as one of the favourites but that's a ridiculous price. Don't know what sort of pool they will get and still 2 knock-out games before reaching a final.

There's no Clermont this season though! Maybe Toulon or Racing could have a decent season.

La Rochelle did relatively well in this year's pool stages but now they're in Challenge Cup. Montpellier don't seem to go too well in Europe. Will be fairly interesting!