2018-2019 Champions Cup

razorblunt

John Hardie won a huge penalty for Newcastle under their own posts there.
Hope he goes well against Edinburgh, I still think there was alot more to his leaving than meets the eye.

ScrubsfanChris

Edinburgh are hopeless close to the line.

razorblunt

Commentary gets worse and worse. Ferris on Friday night, DOC last night now Andy Nicol is almost crying as Blair Kinghorn looks to be getting a card for a shoulder hit on Sinoti. Very similar to Owen Farrell's incidents.




Actually referee has marked it as a "rugby incident", play on. At least a penalty I would have thought, possible yellow.

Buer

Huge win for Edinburgh. Bad result for Munster's hopes of a home quarter final.

prawnsambo

razorblunt wrote: »

Commentary gets worse and worse. Ferris on Friday night, DOC last night now Andy Nicol is almost crying as Blair Kinghorn looks to be getting a card for a shoulder hit on Sinoti. Very similar to Owen Farrell's incidents.

Actually referee has marked it as a "rugby incident", play on. At least a penalty I would have thought, possible yellow.

Ah there was nothing in it. Kiinghorn was preparing to tackle Sinoti and Sinoti put the forearm up and it became a collision. Kinghorn had the right arm ready to wrap, it wasn't at all like Farrell, Kinghorn was basically static. Ref was spot on.

Eod100

Think this is it after 4 rounds but open to correction!
1) Racing, 19 points, 66 PD
2) Saracens, 18 points, 67 PD
3) Toulouse, 17 points, 26 PD
4) Edinburgh, 15 points, 51 PD
5) Munster, 12 points, 38 PD
6) Leinster, 15 points, 82 PD
7) Glasgow, 14 points, 38 PD
8) Ulster, 14 points, - 2 PD

stephen_n

Eod100 wrote: »

Think this is it after 4 rounds but open to correction!
1) Racing, 19 points, 66 PD
2) Saracens, 18 points, 67 PD
3) Toulouse, 17 points, 26 PD
4) Edinburgh, 15 points, 51 PD
5) Munster, 12 points, 38 PD
6) Leinster, 15 points, 82 PD
7) Glasgow, 14 points, 38 PD
8) Ulster, 14 points, - 2 PD

Am I missing something? Why do you have Munster in 4th?

Cookiemunster

stephen_n wrote: »

Am I missing something? Why do you have Munster in 4th?

He has them 5th because they're top of their group. The last 3 are currently second in their groups.

Eod100

stephen_n wrote: »

Am I missing something? Why do you have Munster in 4th?

Have them 5th. Edinburgh ahead of them.

stephen_n

Eod100 wrote: »

Have them 5th. Edinburgh ahead of them.

Sorry meant 5th, was forgetting the fact they’d place higher even if they’ve less points because they’ll top the group.

P_1

Eod100 wrote: »

Think this is it after 4 rounds but open to correction!
1) Racing, 19 points, 66 PD
2) Saracens, 18 points, 67 PD
3) Toulouse, 17 points, 26 PD
4) Edinburgh, 15 points, 51 PD
5) Munster, 12 points, 38 PD
6) Leinster, 15 points, 82 PD
7) Glasgow, 14 points, 38 PD
8) Ulster, 14 points, - 2 PD

Early days but I can see it ending

1 Saracens 28 points
2 Leinster 25 points
3 Racing 25 points
4 Munster 21 points
5 Edinburgh 20 points
6 Toulouse 22 points
7 Ulster 19 points
8 Glasgow 18 points

Qfs being
Saracens v Glasgow
Leinster v Ulster
Racing v Toulouse
Munster v Edinburgh

Eod100

P_1 wrote: »

Early days but I can see it ending

1 Saracens 28 points
2 Leinster 25 points
3 Racing 25 points
4 Munster 21 points
5 Edinburgh 20 points
6 Toulouse 22 points
7 Ulster 19 points
8 Glasgow 18 points

Qfs being
Saracens v Glasgow
Leinster v Ulster
Racing v Toulouse
Munster v Edinburgh

I'd take that as a Munster fan at this stage! Can see Edinburgh finishing above us.

razorblunt

Big game for Edinburgh against Montpellier next time out.

Eod100

razorblunt wrote: »

Big game for Edinburgh against Montpellier next time out.

Embra playing Toulon in between i think

Burkie1203

razorblunt wrote: »

Big game for Edinburgh against Montpellier next time out.

That's the final group game. They go to Toulon next

P_1

Eod100 wrote: »

I'd take that as a Munster fan at this stage! Can see Edinburgh finishing above us.

Arguably it would work out better if Edinburgh were to finish ahead of ye. Ye should have nothing to fear going to Murrayfield and Saracens are easier to take in Dublin as opposed to in London

Burkie1203

P_1 wrote: »

Arguably it would work out better if Edinburgh were to finish ahead of ye. Ye should have nothing to fear going to Murrayfield and Saracens are easier to take in Dublin as opposed to in London

That rule has changed

Burkie1203

Burkie1203 wrote: »

That rule has changed

Sorry which rule? Winning an away QF doesn't get you a home SF now?

Burkie1203

Juan Magnificent Locomotive wrote: »

Sorry which rule? Winning an away QF doesn't get you a home SF now?

Whoever wins the game between seeds 1 and 8 get a home country advantage SF now i think.

Cookiemunster

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Whoever wins the game between seeds 1 and 8 get a home country advantage SF now i think.

No. If seed 1 loses and seed 4 wins then seed 4 will be at home to seed 8.
If seed 1 and 4 lose then seed 5 will be at home to seed 8.

Rigor Mortis

1) Racing, 28 points,
2) Saracens, 24 points,
3) Leinster, 23 points,
4) Montpellier 20
5) Exeter, 17 points,
6) Glasgow, 24 points,
7) Toulouse, 22 points,
8) Edinburgh 20 points

Racing v Edinburgh
Sarries v Toulouse
Leinster v Glasgow
Montpellier v Exeter

Munsters group is going to be incredible at the end. A gloucester win in round 5 sets up an incredible finale, regardless of what happens in Sandy Park.

troyzer

Just watched the Munster match there for the first time.

Castre were absolutely filthy but it was obvious this was the game they were going to play based on the performance in Thomond.

Munster would have known and still played a soft game, amazing considering how many dogs are in that team. Castre fully deserved to win that game. They were cynical, constantly illegal and were brilliant at it. They call it the dark arts for a reason.

If a team is kicking you to bits, you kick back.

Burkie1203

troyzer wrote: »

Just watched the Munster match there for the first time.

Castre were absolutely filthy but it was obvious this was the game they were going to play based on the performance in Thomond.

Munster would have known and still played a soft game, amazing considering how many dogs are in that team. Castre fully deserved to win that game. They were cynical, constantly illegal and were brilliant at it. They call it the dark arts for a reason.

If a team is kicking you to bits, you kick back.

At the end of the Munster v Glasgow game Stander did this

https://twitter.com/patmccarry/status/1056265684320182273?s=19

Totally cynical. Munster can't have it both ways

troyzer

Burkie1203 wrote: »

troyzer wrote: »

Just watched the Munster match there for the first time.

Castre were absolutely filthy but it was obvious this was the game they were going to play based on the performance in Thomond.

Munster would have known and still played a soft game, amazing considering how many dogs are in that team. Castre fully deserved to win that game. They were cynical, constantly illegal and were brilliant at it. They call it the dark arts for a reason.

If a team is kicking you to bits, you kick back.

At the end of the Munster v Glasgow game Stander did this

https://twitter.com/patmccarry/status/1056265684320182273?s=19

Totally cynical. Munster can't have it both ways

It's just part of the sport. Peter O'Mahony has built a career on constantly getting away with murder and he's brilliant for it.

You have to fight back. Maybe gouge someone in the ruck when the referee is facing the other way, cheeky knee in the ribs during a clear out.

It's awful that it's part of the game but if you're going to be subjected to it and the referee is doing nothing, then fit in or **** off.

Eod100

Burkie1203 wrote: »

At the end of the Munster v Glasgow game Stander did this

https://twitter.com/patmccarry/status/1056265684320182273?s=19

Totally cynical. Munster can't have it both ways

There's a difference between cynical play and dirty play to be fair

Burkie1203

Eod100 wrote: »

There's a difference between cynical play and dirty play to be fair

Stander made no attempt to wrap and led with his shoulder. Cynical/dirty.

Eod100

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Stander made no attempt to wrap and led with his shoulder. Cynical/dirty.

I'd just put that into a different category than deliberate eye gouging. I think bans for gouging reflect that too.

Burkie1203

Eod100 wrote: »

I'd just put that into a different category than deliberate eye gouging. I think bans for gouging reflect that too.

I'm not comparing to the gouging

It is on a par with quite a bit of the other stuff that went on tho. There was a lot of niggly stuff which when POM does it he is roundly praised for it by Munster fans including that Three Red Kings tool.

bilston

troyzer wrote: »

It's just part of the sport. Peter O'Mahony has built a career on constantly getting away with murder and he's brilliant for it.

You have to fight back. Maybe gouge someone in the ruck when the referee is facing the other way, cheeky knee in the ribs during a clear out.

It's awful that it's part of the game but if you're going to be subjected to it and the referee is doing nothing, then fit in or **** off.

There is literally no scenario where you should gouge an opponent, even if they do it to you. It's the lowest of the low as far as I'm concerned. It's a game of rugby FFS, nothing in the sport is worth that.

troyzer

bilston wrote: »

troyzer wrote: »

It's just part of the sport. Peter O'Mahony has built a career on constantly getting away with murder and he's brilliant for it.

You have to fight back. Maybe gouge someone in the ruck when the referee is facing the other way, cheeky knee in the ribs during a clear out.

It's awful that it's part of the game but if you're going to be subjected to it and the referee is doing nothing, then fit in or **** off.

There is literally no scenario where you should gouge an opponent, even if they do it to you. It's the lowest of the low as far as I'm concerned. It's a game of rugby FFS, nothing in the sport is worth that.

Of course it's the lowest of the low. But the officials are going to be twats and let them get away with it, you don't just roll over.

Bridge93

There’s an entire spectrum of cynical things you can do between rolling over and eye gouging. It’s never ever ok and I’d be disgusted if anybody on a team I supported did such a thing.

razorblunt

Burkie1203 wrote: »

At the end of the Munster v Glasgow game Stander did this

https://twitter.com/patmccarry/status/1056265684320182273?s=19

Totally cynical. Munster can't have it both ways

Ok, so that and the slide tackle on Conway would even out.
You're still left with:

* contact with the eye area
* dangerous tackle
* late hit with the shoulder to the head of a player on the ground
* knee to the ribs of a player on the ground


I dare say but if Conway "milked" the late hit by their replacement backrow (I think) more action would have come. Chavancy did this against Leicester.

Is that what players are going to have to do?

Sirius Boner

razorblunt wrote: »

Ok, so that and the slide tackle on Conway would even out.
You're still left with:

* contact with the eye area
* dangerous tackle
* late hit with the shoulder to the head of a player on the ground
* knee to the ribs of a player on the ground


I dare say but if Conway "milked" the late hit by their replacement backrow (I think) more action would have come. Chavancy did this against Leicester.

Is that what players are going to have to do?

It is starting to look that way...refs are being told to look for high tackles and punish them... But so much else is just either passing them by, or being ignored.... Barnes is normally one of the good ones in my book , but he was poor on Saturday...and he got no help from his AR's

Former Former

razorblunt wrote: »

Ok, so that and the slide tackle on Conway would even out.
You're still left with:

* contact with the eye area
* dangerous tackle
* late hit with the shoulder to the head of a player on the ground
* knee to the ribs of a player on the ground


I dare say but if Conway "milked" the late hit by their replacement backrow (I think) more action would have come. Chavancy did this against Leicester.

Is that what players are going to have to do?

See, the problem here is you're only looking for one side of the story.

As Conway returned the kick leading up to the non-try, you can hear boos around the stadium because the Castres fans thought Spedding was hit late after the kick. If the try had stood, your equivalent in Castres would be giving out about Barnes not checking the late hit via TMO.

Rugby is the sort of game where if you want to find evidence that the ref screwed you over, you don't have to look too far. Look a little bit harder and you might get a better overall picture but it might not be the picture you want. Munster have plenty of lads who aren't afraid to push the rules to the limit.

Heymans

troyzer wrote: »

It's just part of the sport. Peter O'Mahony has built a career on constantly getting away with murder and he's brilliant for it.

You have to fight back. Maybe gouge someone in the ruck when the referee is facing the other way, cheeky knee in the ribs during a clear out.

It's awful that it's part of the game but if you're going to be subjected to it and the referee is doing nothing, then fit in or **** off.

Spoken like someone who truly has played the game before. The only way to form this opinion is you have played against cynicism and lost. You never pick up on it by looking at the TV - that is why they are called the Dark Arts. Care to elaborate where you picked up this view point if you have never played the game?

Squidgy Black

Heymans wrote: »

Spoken like someone who truly has played the game before. The only way to form this opinion is you have played against cynicism and lost. You never pick up on it by looking at the TV - that is why they are called the Dark Arts. Care to elaborate where you picked up this view point if you have never played the game?

Here we go again....

troyzer

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Here we go again....

I need my regular dose of Heyman madness.

Burkie1203

razorblunt wrote: »

Ok, so that and the slide tackle on Conway would even out.
You're still left with:

* contact with the eye area
* dangerous tackle
* late hit with the shoulder to the head of a player on the ground
* knee to the ribs of a player on the ground


I dare say but if Conway "milked" the late hit by their replacement backrow (I think) more action would have come. Chavancy did this against Leicester.

Is that what players are going to have to do?

If you look hard enough you will find Munster players will have done likewise. Maybe not as obvious but it doesnt change that.

The problem is Twitter accounts like Three Read Kings likes to big up incidents with gifs and slow mo videos which fuels the we were robbed mentality. POM getting involved in a shoving match gets glorified with his "schmozzling" etc.


Not many Munster fans seem to have an issue with Stander's shoulder into the Glasgow player, in fact himself and POM are praised for it. Swings and roundabouts.

Munster fans need to question the coach and the leaders for the poor decisions. Also Niall Scannell gave away a penalty and got a YC for his entry to a maul which was pretty much as dumb as I've seen.

Glaws fans and Glasgow fans think they got properly robbed in TP earlier this season for example

Eod100

Got this email back from EPCR on Champions Cup final tickets, for anyone looking to buy some.

Owing to high demand, there are no tickets currently available on general public sale for the Heineken Champions Cup Final on 11 May 2019 at St James’ Park, Newcastle. Allocations are held for supporters of the two clubs who will contest the final and as the demand for those will be constantly assessed throughout the season, a limited number of tickets may become available. Please monitor HeinekenChampionsCup.com and official social media channels of the tournament for the latest information

Burkie1203

https://amp.theguardian.com/sport/2018/dec/20/rugby-union-limbo-no-deal-brexit-the-breakdown?__twitter_impression=true

Podge_irl

A European player is defined as one who is a citizen of an EU member country.

This bit isn't true though, which makes it hard to take the rest of the article seriously.

Work visas are a legitimate concern, but ultimately a sporting body rules are just that - and can be changed in an EGM or whatever if needs be. It's really not that big a concern.

Sirius Boner

Podge_irl wrote: »

This bit isn't true though, which makes it hard to take the rest of the article seriously.

Work visas are a legitimate concern, but ultimately a sporting body rules are just that - and can be changed in an EGM or whatever if needs be. It's really not that big a concern.

But sporting bodies put their rules above those of the government of the land, we've seen instances of that before where governments have gotten involved in football and FIFA banned their national teams..not a direct comparison... but I don't think it's something that can be brushed off either

Former Former

If the UK government starts mass deportations of foreigners, then it's an issue.

Otherwise, no, it's not.

Burkie1203

3 feet of snow fell. Joke of a decision


https://twitter.com/RugbySaracens/status/1075879080334114816?s=19

Kevski

Is there something more to this or is it just an incredibly moronic decision?

The videos speak for themselves so I’m not sure what EPCR’s issue is.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BraHhgqAQuF/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1q1jzt8ppakyj

Elvisjuice

Kevski wrote: »

Is there something more to this or is it just an incredibly moronic decision?

The videos speak for themselves so I’m not sure what EPCR’s issue is.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BraHhgqAQuF/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1q1jzt8ppakyj

i blame the russian drones

irishbucsfan

Kevski wrote: »

Is there something more to this or is it just an incredibly moronic decision?

They broke the rules of the tournament by not having pitch covers out, not having undersoil heating on in time and then not finding an alternate venue after failing those other two pre-requisites.

They're not getting fined because there was a bunch of snow.

Kevski

irishbucsfan wrote: »

They broke the rules of the tournament by not having pitch covers out, not having undersoil heating on in time and then not finding an alternate venue after failing those other two pre-requisites.

They're not getting fined because there was a bunch of snow.

Fair enough.

Out of interest, how does this compare to the Saracens v Clermont game last season? Wasn’t that cancelled on the basis of it being unsafe for supporters to travel to the venue?

Snickers Man

P_1 wrote: »

Early days but I can see it ending

1 Saracens 28 points
2 Leinster 25 points
3 Racing 25 points
4 Munster 21 points
5 Edinburgh 20 points
6 Toulouse 22 points
7 Ulster 19 points
8 Glasgow 18 points

Qfs being
Saracens v Glasgow
Leinster v Ulster
Racing v Toulouse
Munster v Edinburgh

I ran my own numbers and came up with something similar. I'm now projecting the q finals as being:

Saracens v Glasgow
Racing v Ulster
Leinster v Toulouse
Edinburgh v Munster


I think Munster will win their group but they will need to be VERY lucky to get a home draw. Could happen though.

Similarly, I can't see Leinster overtaking Racing, so the French side will likely be drawn against Ulster with Leinster meeting their group rivals Toulouse...again.

Heymans

Snickers Man wrote: »

I ran my own numbers and came up with something similar. I'm now projecting the q finals as being:

Saracens v Glasgow
Racing v Ulster
Leinster v Toulouse
Edinburgh v Munster


I think Munster will win their group but they will need to be VERY lucky to get a home draw. Could happen though.

Similarly, I can't see Leinster overtaking Racing, so the French side will likely be drawn against Ulster with Leinster meeting their group rivals Toulouse...again.

And what’s your predictions for the semis?