2018-2019 Champions Cup

awec

Has any team ever had a home game for the quarters, semis and final?

I guess the only team this could possibly happen for is Leinster?

The Lost Sheep

awec wrote: »

Has any team ever had a home game for the quarters, semis and final?

I guess the only team this could possibly happen for is Leinster?

Ulster in 98-99 closest. Quarter and Semi were in ravenhill and final in Lansdowne. One of only teams i think to have all 3 knock out games in their own country

troyzer

awec wrote: »

Has any team ever had a home game for the quarters, semis and final?

I guess the only team this could possibly happen for is Leinster?

The final is almost always held either in a national stadium or in a non-rugby venue.

Obviously the Heinken cup final were it held in Lansdowne with Leinster would be a home final but this isn't true for most of the teams.

A final in Twickenham wouldn't be a home final for any of the English teams except Harlequins and maybe Sarries.

errlloyd

awec wrote: »

Has any team ever had a home game for the quarters, semis and final?

I guess the only team this could possibly happen for is Leinster?

Depends on what you call home?

When Wasps won in 2007 they played their games in Adams Park, The Ricoh and Twickeham. All of those are stadiums they have played regular season home games in, but to be fair, it was their first time in the Ricoh!

When Ulster beat Colomiers in 99 they had Ravenhill, Ravenhill, Landsdown.

Former Former

awec wrote: »

Has any team ever had a home game for the quarters, semis and final?

I guess the only team this could possibly happen for is Leinster?

Should have been us in 2003. Quarter and semi in Lansdowne, shat the bed against Perpignan and watched Toulouse lift the trophy from the East stand. Not a good memory.

errlloyd

troyzer wrote: »

The final is almost always held either in a national stadium or in a non-rugby venue.

Obviously the Heinken cup final were it held in Lansdowne with Leinster would be a home final but this isn't true for most of the teams.

A final in Twickenham wouldn't be a home final for any of the English teams except Harlequins and maybe Sarries.

Toulon have occassionally moved games to Marseille where the 2020 final will be. So it could happen to them.

Buer

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Ulster in 98-99 closest. Quarter and Semi were in ravenhill and final in Lansdowne. One of only teams i think to have all 3 knock out games in their own country

Wasps in 2007. Home QF, away SF which was only an hour up the road and final in Twickenham.

Northampton in 2000 and Toulouse in 2010 had all their games in their home nation too.

troyzer

errlloyd wrote: »

Toulon have occassionally moved games to Marseille where the 2020 final will be. So it could happen to them.

It still wouldn't really be a home final. They're different cities an hour away from each other and Marseilles have their own rugby team.

It's ****e to be fair but they still have one.

awec

errlloyd wrote: »

Depends on what you call home?

When Wasps won in 2007 they played their games in Adams Park, The Ricoh and Twickeham. All of those are stadiums they have played regular season home games in, but to be fair, it was their first time in the Ricoh!

When Ulster beat Colomiers in 99 they had Ravenhill, Ravenhill, Landsdown.

I mean proper home games.

Lansdowne Road is not a home game for Ulster, but it is for Leinster.

troyzer

awec wrote: »

I mean proper home games.

Lansdowne Road is not a home game for Ulster, but it is for Leinster.

It's never happened in 53 years of the Superbowl either which is interesting.

Rigor Mortis

awec wrote: »

I mean proper home games.

Lansdowne Road is not a home game for Ulster, but it is for Leinster.

Sssshhhh
No it's not. It's a neutral venue.

thomond2006

I see both Benetton and Zebre are in contention for Challenge Cup playoff spots. This suits them better than stretching their squads to cover a HCC campaign and struggling in both competitions. Benetton are also in contention to quality for next season's HCC on merit.

leakyboots

Signing the likes of Keatley will bring a lot to Benetton.

Great trip to make if anyone has never been to a match there!

errlloyd

https://www.epcrugby.com/champions-cup/matches/line-ups/

All of the squads for those of you playing Fantasy.

Eod100

Think this is rankings at the moment. Big games to come so likely to change a fair bit.


1) Leinster, 20 points, 98 PD
2) Racing, 19 points, 66 PD
3) Saracens, 18 points, 67 PD
4) Munster, 17 points, 64 PD
5) Montpellier, 16 points, 51, PD
6) Toulouse, 17 points, 10 PD
7) Edinburgh, 15 points, 21 PD
8) Glasgow, 14 points, 38 PD
9) Ulster, 14 points, - 2 PD

Sirius Boner

Early days, but it's looking like Racing are going to pull away from Ulster

Edit: Must proof read before I post

Thrashssacre

Leinster vs Munster quarter final a real possibility

Stheno

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Leinster vs Munster quarter final a real possibility

Does 1 play 5?

ShatterProof

Stheno wrote: »

Does 1 play 5?

No. 1 v 8 and 4 v 5

Downlinz

(3) Leinster v (6) Ulster is the one I could see happening

Ray Donovan

Stheno wrote: »

Does 1 play 5?

1 v 8
2 v 7
3 v 6
4 v 5

The 2 highest ranked teams left after those games have home semis in a change from last year.

At this juncture Id predict Leinster to finish #2 (if Ulster hold on v Racing) and Munster to finish #4 which if did happen, would mean they’d avoid each other in semi finals

Its all here anyways... https://www.epcrugby.com/champions-cup/format/

In fact this Ulster v Racing game is nearly key to see where if Leinster finish #2 or #3

Thrashssacre

My mistake was assuming racing would win and thought monpellier hadn't played yet for some reason. Ulster may well hang on if they perfect a grubber kick or two up the wing.

Eod100

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Leinster vs Munster quarter final a real possibility

Don't think so. Would expect Leinster to finish 2nd or 3rd. Munster 4th or 5th.

Sirius Boner

Fantastic result for Ulster..had to work hard for that...but deserved

OldRio

Great weekend for the Irish Teams. Wonderful stuff.

Vinnie222

OldRio wrote: »

Great weekend for the Irish Teams. Wonderful stuff.

Possible Racing v Leinster in semi

troyzer

sUpEr rUgBy Iz bEtTeR.

Seriously though, this is why European rugby is so special.

Leinster are 1 point behind Racing going into the last round. I fully expect the full five from Wasps.

Leinster are streets ahead on tries so as long as Scarlets actually get up and hold them to a maximum of 4 points, Leinster will go second.

There's also a chance of squeezing in ahead of Saracens. They're on 18 with a game in hand. If they lose one they're snookered.

Vinnie222

troyzer wrote: »

sUpEr rUgBy Iz bEtTeR.

Seriously though, this is why European rugby is so special.

Leinster are 1 point behind Racing going into the last round. I fully expect the full five from Wasps.

Leinster are streets ahead on tries so as long as Scarlets actually get up and hold them to a maximum of 4 points, Leinster will go second.

There's also a chance of squeezing in ahead of Saracens. They're on 18 with a game in hand. If they lose one they're snookered.

Racing will get 4 tries against the Scarlets .

Hurrache

So which of the two games coming up should be the one to watch?

Synode

Vinnie222 wrote: »

Racing will get 4 tries against a Scarlet team

Yeah we needed Racing to come away with nothing today. Can't see anything but a 5 pointer from them next week

troyzer

Vinnie222 wrote: »

troyzer wrote: »

sUpEr rUgBy Iz bEtTeR.

Seriously though, this is why European rugby is so special.

Leinster are 1 point behind Racing going into the last round. I fully expect the full five from Wasps.

Leinster are streets ahead on tries so as long as Scarlets actually get up and hold them to a maximum of 4 points, Leinster will go second.

There's also a chance of squeezing in ahead of Saracens. They're on 18 with a game in hand. If they lose one they're snookered.

Racing will get 4 tries against a Scarlet team

Probably. I think Saracens tripping up is a greater possibility. They're on a poor run of form lately and Farrell must be exhausted from the amount of minutes he's had.

I think they'll beat Lyon and possibly fall to Glasgow at home who will have a lot to play for

Clegg

I wouldn't put much faith in Scarlets restricting Racing to 4 match points. They're a shadow of the side they were last season. Beirne is the obvious loss, but Barclay was every bit as important to them and he's gone as well. They've lost the impact at the ruck he game them.

Eod100

Updated there.

1) Racing, 21 points, 62 PD
2) Leinster, 20 points, 98 PD
3) Saracens, 18 points, 67 PD
4) Munster, 17 points, 64 PD
5) Montpellier, 16 points, 51, PD
6) Ulster, 18 points, 2 PD
7) Toulouse, 17 points, 10 PD
8) Edinburgh, 15 points, 21 PD
9) Glasgow, 14 points, 38 PD

Ray Donovan

troyzer wrote: »

sUpEr rUgBy Iz bEtTeR.

Seriously though, this is why European rugby is so special.

Leinster are 1 point behind Racing going into the last round. I fully expect the full five from Wasps.

Leinster are streets ahead on tries so as long as Scarlets actually get up and hold them to a maximum of 4 points, Leinster will go second.

There's also a chance of squeezing in ahead of Saracens. They're on 18 with a game in hand. If they lose one they're snookered.

Points difference is the first thing used to separate teams on equal points from different groups. If thats the same then you go tries scored.

Anyways no way Racing dont take Scarlets for 5 points. The only hope is Saracens slipping up vs Glasgow I feel.

troyzer

Ray Donovan wrote: »

troyzer wrote: »

sUpEr rUgBy Iz bEtTeR.

Seriously though, this is why European rugby is so special.

Leinster are 1 point behind Racing going into the last round. I fully expect the full five from Wasps.

Leinster are streets ahead on tries so as long as Scarlets actually get up and hold them to a maximum of 4 points, Leinster will go second.

There's also a chance of squeezing in ahead of Saracens. They're on 18 with a game in hand. If they lose one they're snookered.

Points difference is the first thing used to separate teams on equal points from different groups. If thats the same then you go tries scored.

Anyways no way Racing dont take Scarlets for 5 points. The only hope is Saracens slipping up vs Glasgow I feel.

I agree. Glasgow playing out of their skin to keep their European hopes alive is Leinster's best shot.

I can't imagine Lyon will do much.

Vinnie222

troyzer wrote: »

I agree. Glasgow playing out of their skin to keep their European hopes alive is Leinster's best shot.

I can't imagine Lyon will do much.

I wouldn't put much hope on Glasgow winning away from home either . V poor atm

Shefwedfan

Based on performance today I would like to see Toulouse in the qtr, they are far better than half the teams out their

Synode

That's a fantastic offload and finish from Edinburgh

Former Observer

Don't know how it affects the provinces but I'll always back Edinburgh against Toulon.

LuckyGent88

Toulon are tripe. Can’t see them beating Edinburgh here seen as though they don’t want to tackle or catch a high ball

troyzer

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Toulon are tripe. Can’t see them beating Edinburgh here seen as though they don’t want to tackle or catch a high ball

I think real rugby fans everywhere always want the mercenaries to lose.

ScrubsfanChris

For all the time and money spent at Toulon, Savea has only scored 1 try :eek:

bilston

Former Observer wrote: »

Don't know how it affects the provinces but I'll always back Edinburgh against Toulon.

An Edinburgh win might leave Ulster needing a point at Welford Rd...maybe...all will become clearer tomorrow evening.

ScrubsfanChris

bilston wrote: »

An Edinburgh win might leave Ulster needing a point at Welford Rd...maybe...all will become clearer tomorrow evening.

I think an Edinburgh loss would help Munster in looking for a home quater final also.

Synode

Darcy Graham looks a real talent. Serious pace and strength

errlloyd

Synode wrote: »

Darcy Graham looks a real talent. Serious pace and strength

He needed to pass that 3 strides sooner.

LuckyGent88

What a try. Ridiculous off load

Synode

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

What a try. Ridiculous off load

Quality

eagle eye

Ridiculous offload, wonderful stuff. Only a Fijian could pull that off.

ScrubsfanChris

Fair play Edinburgh, but Toulon are pure rubbish......