2018-2019 Champions Cup

Eod100

Buer wrote: »

I would imagine television had a big say. I can't think that Edinburgh would want that slot. A half empty stadium with all of their fans sober and quiet...I don't think any home side would want that slot, to be honest.

Not ideal for travelling Munster fans either. It's out Friday night or early Saturday morning to be over in time for ko

Eod100

aloooof wrote: »

Is CC televised from the knock-outs onwards?

Think so according to this. Looks like Edinburgh v Munster on c4 and virgin too. https://www.epcrugby.com/2019/01/25/quarter-finals-dates-venues-kick-off-times-and-tv-coverage-announced/

thomond2006

12:45, what an awful kickoff time.

LuckyGent88

12:45 ffs. What a ****e time for a time. Munster don’t really play that well with those early kick offs either

Former Former

thomond2006 wrote: »

12:45, what an awful kickoff time.

Not great for fans but a boost for Munster IMO, any (remote) hope of a raucous Braveheart-style home crowd are gone.

Also opens up the possibility of getting home Saturday night too.

Riskymove

Former Former wrote: »

Also opens up the possibility of getting home Saturday night too.

I'd rather camp somewhere for the day and watch the other games and head home Sunday otherwise a fairly short trip

Eod100

Chanced booking Friday to Monday for 60e return last Friday when it looked like Edinburgh would win, so will make a weekend of it. At least there's plenty of rugby on the Sunday too!

finbarrk

Riskymove wrote: »

I'd rather camp somewhere for the day and watch the other games and head home Sunday otherwise a fairly short trip

Yep. That’s the job!

Former Former

Riskymove wrote: »

I'd rather camp somewhere for the day and watch the other games and head home Sunday otherwise a fairly short trip

Camp? In a tent like?

Ye Munster lads are hardcore

Eod100

Former Former wrote: »

Camp? In a tent like?

Ye Munster lads are hardcore

Sure the weather in Edinburgh is lovely in March :P

icdg

If it’s any consolation to Munster fans, the 12:45pm time slot also places it in the free to air window, and it will be shown on Virgin 1 and Channel 4.

Larbre34

The Champions get the prime time slot, thats just the way of it. If Munster had the evening kickoff no doubt there'd be griping about having to stay over...

Eod100

Larbre34 wrote: »

The Champions get the prime time slot, thats just the way of it. If Munster had the evening kickoff no doubt there'd be griping about having to stay over...

Well there's a slot in between so not really. Assume most fans will be going for either Fri and Sat night or Sat night. Think it's fair enough to express preference for a later slot when Munster will likely bring one of the biggest away support of the qfs.

Bridge93

Sarries were always going to be 3 o clock with BT and Leinster as holders the prime slot especially as its a derby. The french love a Sunday game. The only surprise for me is Munster playing on saturday instead of Friday. The most intriguing of the 4 games too so a shame its on at that time

Eod100

Bridge93 wrote: »

Sarries were always going to be 3 o clock with BT and Leinster as holders the prime slot especially as its a derby. The french love a Sunday game. The only surprise for me is Munster playing on saturday instead of Friday. The most intriguing of the 4 games too so a shame its on at that time

I think the Friday would be the worst option for Munster fans. Probably have to take the time off on the Friday to travel over in time for Saturday anyways but could be delays in flights with Brexit. Then again Connacht are playing Sale away the Friday too so Brexit might not be a considerations.

Yeah_Right

I don't understand the problem with a 12:45 ko. It gives you an excuse to start drinking in the morning.

errlloyd

It sucks for fans going to that game. But I'm very very excited for that day. Pints. Pints. Pints.

Cookiemunster

Eod100 wrote: »

I think the Friday would be the worst option for Munster fans. Probably have to take the time off on the Friday to travel over in time for Saturday anyways but could be delays in flights with Brexit. Then again Connacht are playing Sale away the Friday too so Brexit might not be a considerations.

I disagree. A lot will be going Friday to Sunday anyway. Friday night didn't keep the hoards out of Gloucester.

Eod100

Cookiemunster wrote: »

I disagree. A lot will be going Friday to Sunday anyway. Friday night didn't keep the hoards out of Gloucester.

Those fixtures were out in August though yeah and match not til January? Dunno did airlines get a chance to rise prices in advance. Bit different when match is just over 8 weeks away. Think anyone arriving in Friday evening could miss match if flights are delayed an hour or 2 with Brexit. Guess delays are always a possibility but the uncertainty of it isn't ideal. Hopefully it will have no or a very limited impact anyways.

Cookiemunster

Eod100 wrote: »

Those fixtures were out in August though yeah and match not til January? Dunno did airlines get a chance to rise prices in advance. Bit different when match is just over 8 weeks away. Think anyone arriving in Friday evening could miss match if flights are delayed an hour or 2 with Brexit. Guess delays are always a possibility but the uncertainty of it isn't ideal. Hopefully it will have no or a very limited impact anyways.

Brexit doesn't happen until 11pm on the 29th. Anyone flying on the Friday will be grand. Flying Saturday or getting home could be another story Also I'm confused as to how you think someone flying on a Friday could miss a match on Saturday over a 2 hour delay?

Eod100

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Brexit doesn't happen until 11pm on the 29th. Anyone flying on the Friday will be grand. Flying Saturday or getting home could be another story Also I'm confused as to how you think someone flying on a Friday could miss a match on Saturday over a 2 hour delay?

It is but there's no guarantee that there won't be impacts ahead of that. It's very much up in the air. That was in your reply that a game Friday evening wouldn't have made a difference. 2 hour delay to flights Friday evening would obviously make a difference..

who_me

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Brexit doesn't happen until 11pm on the 29th. Anyone flying on the Friday will be grand. Flying Saturday or getting home could be another story Also I'm confused as to how you think someone flying on a Friday could miss a match on Saturday over a 2 hour delay?

If there are connecting flights it could become an issue. Of course, you'd still have a day to find alternate routes - but probably a massive pain and/or at great cost at short notice.

thomond2006

Pool 1: Leinster, Wasps, Toulouse, Bath
Pool 2: Castres, Exeter Chiefs, Munster, Gloucester
Pool 3: Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Lyon, Cardiff Blues
Pool 4: Scarlets*, Racing 92, Leicester Tigers, Ulster
Pool 5: Montpellier, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Toulon

For 2019/20: The teams in bold are currently in automatic qualification positions in their respective leagues.

*Scarlets would play Connacht in a qualification playoff as it stands.

swiwi_

bilston wrote: »

I'm not confident!

But the one thing I would say is that it has been a while since we have had two full strength sides go head to head. You never know, but I'm not even sure I'd give us a 10% chance of winning. But it is a step forward for us just to be there.

It should be a good day out though.

molloyjh wrote: »

I’ve already given herself warning that I’ll be going out for pints after that one. Looking forward to it! Should we have a meet up of some sort?

In order to keep things civil between the Ulster and Leinster brethren, I've heard it on good authority that a strictly neutral Leinster-partial Swiss mediator is due to fly into Dublin for the match...:)

Riskymove

Extra Edinburgh flights put on by Ryanair

Friday and Sunday

finbarrk

Riskymove wrote: »

Extra Edinburgh flights put on by Ryanair

Friday and Sunday

Pity they didn't announce them sooner before we had other flights booked.

Riskymove

finbarrk wrote: »

Pity they didn't announce them sooner before we had other flights booked.

I was gambling that it would happen and put off booking flights from Belfast

From previous experience they regularly do this...Bordeaux last year was the same

Eod100

Looked like 200e return was cheapest. Better than what's out there at the moment but not exactly cheap either!

finbarrk

That's a terrible choice of seats that are available to purchase for the Edinburgh match using the Munster Supporters link. They must be trying to sell the corners first.

joseywhales

Riskymove wrote: »

I was gambling that it would happen and put off booking flights from Belfast

From previous experience they regularly do this...Bordeaux last year was the same

You always play on the edge, riskymove

Eod100

finbarrk wrote: »

That's a terrible choice of seats that are available to purchase for the Edinburgh match using the Munster Supporters link. They must be trying to sell the corners first.

They're not great. Thought there has to be allocation in each price category but maybe there still is. Guess risk with the general sale is you'd be in with Edinburgh fans so at least with MRSC ones should at least be with Munster fans

finbarrk

General sale tomorrow at 10.00am.

finbarrk

Got a few Platinum tickets there now on the general sale. The West Stand isn't for sale.

Eod100

Press release out from EPCR here about semi-final venues.

''Regarding the current season, the suitability of BT Murrayfield as a venue should Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors be scheduled to meet in Semi-final 1 of the Heineken Champions Cup will be assessed, while the 32,000-capacity Paris La Défense Arena will be considered along with other stadiums in France should Racing 92 qualify for Semi-final 2 on the weekend of 20/21 April.''

Guess for Leinster it would be Aviva anyways. Presumably Munster can't use Thomond and Ulster Kingspan so Aviva too.

Not sure it clears up much because venues still to be announced. Think it's usually day before qf weekend.

https://www.epcrugby.com/2019/02/13/heineken-champions-cup-semi-final-venues/

Buer

Well that's a big announcement in the grand scheme of things. They've basically just stated that Racing are likely to be allowed play the semi final at home if they qualify.

Leinster cannot have too many complaints given their situation regarding the Aviva but this is another leap forward. If a team is rich enough to own a good quality statium/ground, they'll potentially be allowed keep their semi final in that venue.

I would be far, far less optimistic about Leinster winning a semi final there now than I would have been if the game was elsewhere.

Overall, the statement sounds like it's trying to justify the possible move rather than just announce it:

Following a recent meeting, the EPCR Board has decided to use its full discretion in selecting appropriate venues for Heineken Champions Cup semi-finals matches.

With key elements such as stadium capacity, commercial viability, operational suitability and location remaining paramount for the high-profile matches, EPCR will continue to designate the venues in conjunction with the recommendations of its stakeholders.

As a number of clubs now own or control premium venues which befit the status of a Heineken Champions Cup semi-final, EPCR will also consider the possibility of staging a semi-final at a home stadium of a qualified club.

Regarding the current season, the suitability of BT Murrayfield as a venue should Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors be scheduled to meet in Semi-final 1 of the Heineken Champions Cup will be assessed, while the 32,000-capacity Paris La Défense Arena will be considered along with other stadiums in France should Racing 92 qualify for Semi-final 2 on the weekend of 20/21 April.

This use of full discretion in selecting Heineken Champions Cup semi-final venues does not require any change to the governing rules and regulations

Riskymove

Buer wrote: »

Well that's a big announcement in the grand scheme of things. They've basically just stated that Racing are likely to be allowed play the semi final at home if they qualify.

As a number of clubs now own or control premium venues which befit the status of a Heineken Champions Cup semi-final, EPCR will also consider the possibility of staging a semi-final at a home stadium of a qualified club.

yep, the no home stadium rule now out the window, along with the previous requirement of 40,000 capacity

Eod100

Buer wrote: »

Well that's a big announcement in the grand scheme of things. They've basically just stated that Racing are likely to be allowed play the semi final at home if they qualify.

Leinster cannot have too many complaints given their situation regarding the Aviva but this is another leap forward. If a team is rich enough to own a good quality statium/ground, they'll potentially be allowed keep their semi final in that venue.

I would be far, far less optimistic about Leinster winning a semi final there now than I would have been if the game was elsewhere.

Overall, the statement sounds like it's trying to justify the possible move rather than just announce it:

Yeah I thought they were fudging it a bit by saying ''32,000-capacity Paris La Défense Arena will be considered along with other stadiums in France''.

They don't mention capacity of Murrayfield (maybe not other options there) but find it interesting they do for La Defense, as if trying to justify having it there because of its capacity. Unless I'm reading too much.

Why only mention of those specific stadium then though? Would Munster have to use Aviva over Thomond Park if Racing can use La Defense?

Podge_irl

Eod100 wrote: »

Yeah I thought they were fudging it a bit by saying ''32,000-capacity Paris La Défense Arena will be considered along with other stadiums in France''.

They don't mention capacity of Murrayfield (maybe not other options there) but find it interesting they do for La Defense, as if trying to justify having it there because of its capacity. Unless I'm reading too much.

Why only mention of those specific stadium then though? Would Munster have to use Aviva over Thomond Park if Racing can use La Defense?

EPCR pick the venue and they know full well that the Aviva will fill so they would have no interest in a semi in Thomond.

liosnagceann75

West stand tickets in Murrayfield on sale now

Flincher

Eod100 wrote: »

Yeah I thought they were fudging it a bit by saying ''32,000-capacity Paris La Défense Arena will be considered along with other stadiums in France''.

They don't mention capacity of Murrayfield (maybe not other options there) but find it interesting they do for La Defense, as if trying to justify having it there because of its capacity. Unless I'm reading too much.

Why only mention of those specific stadium then though? Would Munster have to use Aviva over Thomond Park if Racing can use La Defense?

They've had to throw their own rule book out the window after allowing Leinster use a non-neutral stadium for home semi-finals. I imagine the good folks at Racing may have raised this with EPCR Board.

Eod100

Flincher wrote: »

They've had to throw their own rule book out the window after allowing Leinster use a non-neutral stadium for home semi-finals. I imagine the good folks at Racing may have raised this with EPCR Board.

Suppose issue is where else would they use bar Aviva? Technically RDS is home ground too. Whereas La Defense is Racing's only home ground but they may not have seen nuance alright! Same with Murrayfield but could be case of where else you would use too, specifically when Glasgow would be playing too

The Lost Sheep

Refs for quarters announced
Edinburgh/Munster - Pascal Gauzere
Saracens/Glasgow - Nigel Owens
Leinster/Ulster - Romain Poite
Racing/Toulouse - Luke Pearce

Eod100

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Refs for quarters announced
Edinburgh/Munster - Pascal Gauzere
Saracens/Glasgow - Nigel Owens
Leinster/Ulster - Romain Poite
Racing/Toulouse - Luke Pearce

Garces for semi with winner of Munster qf too. Barnes for semi with winner of Leinster qf.

Riskymove

so looks like

Barnes for Final unless Sarries in it

Sarries vs French Team - Owens

Sarries vs anyone else Garces

finbarrk

Some decent tickets released earlier yesterday for the Edinburgh game. I can’t understand why they didn’t release them first. And let them charge a premium price, if people were willing to pay at the time.

bennyl10

finbarrk wrote: »

Some decent tickets released earlier yesterday for the Edinburgh game. I can’t understand why they didn’t release them first. And let them charge a premium price, if people were willing to pay at the time.

They wanted to sell east first, because that's where the tv cameras face
after that it's just sell the stadium as it goes..
I imagine they were anxious about the attendance, and appearances matter first

Riskymove

finbarrk wrote: »

Some decent tickets released earlier yesterday for the Edinburgh game. I can’t understand why they didn’t release them first. And let them charge a premium price, if people were willing to pay at the time.

in fairness it is quite common for a large stadium where they are not 100% about attendance

Croker for example often opens particular stands or maybe the lower tier only first etc until full

Eod100

finbarrk wrote: »

Some decent tickets released earlier yesterday for the Edinburgh game. I can’t understand why they didn’t release them first. And let them charge a premium price, if people were willing to pay at the time.

Think they were returns. Not sure if it was Munster because allocation wasn't being sold directly from Munster, was sold through Edinburgh site. Unless allocation for Munster wasn't fully sold?

Boscoirl

I got an email from the SRU saying it was returns from ECPR and sponsors

Eod100

Boscoirl wrote: »

I got an email from the SRU saying it was returns from ECPR and sponsors

Ah that makes sense. Are you on their mailing list yeah? Know how many they have sold so far?