2018-2019 Champions Cup

finbarrk

I have a spare ticket for Edinburgh v Munster. It’s a good seat. Section E13, row O. £30.

Eod100

Potential Champions Cup semi-final venues announced.

Heineken Champions Cup semi-finals – 20/21 April

Semi-final 1: if Saracens v Edinburgh Rugby – Ricoh Arena (Coventry)

Semi-final 1: if Saracens v Munster Rugby – Ricoh Arena (Coventry)

Semi-final 1: if Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors – BT Murrayfield (Edinburgh)

Semi-final 1: if Munster Rugby v Glasgow Warriors – Aviva Stadium (Dublin)

Semi-final 2: if Racing 92 v Leinster Rugby – Paris La Défense Arena

Semi-final 2: if Racing 92 v Ulster Rugby – Paris La Défense Arena

Semi-final 2: if Leinster Rugby v Toulouse – Aviva Stadium (Dublin)

Semi-final 2: if Ulster Rugby v Toulouse – Aviva Stadium (Dublin)



https://www.epcrugby.com/2019/03/14/heineken-champions-cup-semi-final-venues-announced/?fbclid=IwAR2KagfpQQ1h4U7n9goo5QAuZgyFc46gywoEvwI9-PBmas4zu4_DxOeh2Ao

typhoony

You've got to be optimistic if you're a Leinster or Ulster supporter, Toulouse have beaten Racing 92 twice already this season in the Top 14, so it's a Home semi-final for Leinster if they can get past Ulster, even in the unlikely event of Ulster winning a match in the Aviva would be made into a home game by the supporters travelling south. I expect Toulouse to win their quarter final meaning a Aviva sem-final whatever happens

finbarrk

Shag it. I thought it would have been Twickenham if it was Saracens v Munster.

Former Former

Ghiraldini has ruptured his cruciate. That's a big blow for Toulouse since Marchand is already out for the season.

Sangre

Former Former wrote: »

Ghiraldini has ruptured his cruciate. That's a big blow for Toulouse since Marchand is already out for the season.

Poor bloke. He looked like a player who knew he wasn't going to his last RWC.

finbarrk

Could be 40,000 in Edinburgh.
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/edinburgh-rugby-set-to-break-uk-attendance-record-in-euro-quarter-final-with-munster-1-4892157

Eod100

Anyone know will more tickets for the final go on sale after the quarter-finals?

troyzer

Eod100 wrote: »

Anyone know will more tickets for the final go on sale after the quarter-finals?

Both of the teams are given a large allocation and I'm sure there will also be a small amount of returns/tickets held back for general sale.

Eod100

troyzer wrote: »

Both of the teams are given a large allocation and I'm sure there will also be a small amount of returns/tickets held back for general sale.

Ah cheers, yeah knew about the 2 finalists getting allocation but was wondering would any get released between now and then say..

troyzer

Eod100 wrote: »

Ah cheers, yeah knew about the 2 finalists getting allocation but was wondering would any get released between now and then say..

Probably not in any significant amount.

Give them an email?

The Lost Sheep

Eod100 wrote: »

Ah cheers, yeah knew about the 2 finalists getting allocation but was wondering would any get released between now and then say..

Contact EPCR....
All depends on sales so far.

Eod100

Interesting stats here. Shows advantage of getting a home quarter-final. Bit surprised by number of times 1st seed has lost though.

https://twitter.com/rpetty80/status/1110173844105515009

aloooof

Eod100 wrote: »

Interesting stats here. Shows advantage of getting a home quarter-final. Bit surprised by number of times 1st seed has lost though.

https://twitter.com/rpetty80/status/1110173844105515009

I wonder how often the number 1 seed was a team with one of the Italian teams in it's pool?

Eod100

aloooof wrote: »

I wonder how often the number 1 seed was a team with one of the Italian teams in it's pool?

Good shout. Had a quick look and looks like of the 7 times where 1st seed lost, 5 times there was an Italian team in their pool.

troyzer

aloooof wrote: »

I wonder how often the number 1 seed was a team with one of the Italian teams in it's pool?

Seeing as how I'm such a legend.

04/05 top seed: Leinster (in a pool with Treviso)
05/06 top seed: Toulouse (no Italian team)
06/07 top seed: Biarritz (Parma)
11/12 top seed: Munster (no Italian team)
12/13 top seed: Harlequins (Zebre)
13/14 top seed: Ulster (Treviso)
14/15 top seed: Racing (Treviso)

Interesting.

errlloyd

Eod100 wrote: »

Interesting stats here. Shows advantage of getting a home quarter-final. Bit surprised by number of times 1st seed has lost though.

https://twitter.com/rpetty80/status/1110173844105515009

I really hate when professional commentators say this is down to home advantage. They're also seeded teams. The top 4 teams are also statistically likely to be better than the bottom 4 before home advantage is taken into it.

If you want an actually useful stat on this over the last 150 6 Nations games, the home team has won by an average of 5.17 points.

Over that time each team played each other team 5 times at home and 5 times away. There is no seeding. There is no element of picking a stronger team at home (like in the league) that might affect it. For the most part, it's large enough sample size with little muddying the water.

Eod100

errlloyd wrote: »

I really hate when professional commentators say this is down to home advantage. They're also seeded teams. The top 4 teams are also statistically likely to be better than the bottom 4 before home advantage is taken into it.

Ah you're right tbf. They are seeded but element of luck of the draw with the pool too of course, as seen with the 1st seeds with Italian teams in their pool losing to the 8th ones.

Would have thought 4th v 5th would have been tighter as both pool winners but apparently not.

aloooof

Eod100 wrote: »

Would have thought 4th v 5th would have been tighter as both pool winners but apparently not.

Back pre-Champions Cup, you could include 3rd v 6th in this category as well.

errlloyd

Eod100 wrote: »

Would have thought 4th v 5th would have been tighter as both pool winners but apparently not.

It is tighter to be fair. 7.75 is the average home winning margin. Compared to 9.75, 14, 15.25 (1st, 2nd, 3rd).

For the record I think the randomness of the group stage is more complicated than having an easy "worst team". The most important thing for getting a top 2 seeding is having an easy "second best" team. It doesn't matter if your worst team is Bennetton, Cardiff or Bath - you're going to beat them home and away.

This year Leinster will get an away semi-final because the second best team in their pool was Toulouse. They could have had the St Michaels JCT team instead of Wasps and it wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference.

Having an Italian team made a HUGE difference for being a best runner up, particularly in the old 6 group format. A good example of this is the year Connacht, Toulouse and Wasps were all in the same pool as Zebre. Connacht as a third place team actually had enough points to qualify as a runner up. 18 points, four wins. Toulon qualified that year on 16.

Eod100

errlloyd wrote: »

It is tighter to be fair. 7.75 is the average home winning margin. Compared to 9.75, 14, 15.25 (1st, 2nd, 3rd).

For the record I think the randomness of the group stage is more complicated than having an easy "worst team". The most important thing for getting a top 2 seeding is having an easy "second best" team. It doesn't matter if your worst team is Bennetton, Cardiff or Bath - you're going to beat them home and away.

This year Leinster will get an away semi-final because the second best team in their pool was Toulouse. They could have had the St Michaels JCT team instead of Wasps and it wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference.

Having an Italian team made a HUGE difference for being a best runner up, particularly in the old 6 group format. A good example of this is the year Connacht, Toulouse and Wasps were all in the same pool as Zebre. Connacht as a third place team actually had enough points to qualify as a runner up. 18 points, four wins. Toulon qualified that year on 16.

Yeah you're right. Guess the worst team aspect was more important when Italy had guaranteed team in Champions Cup. Lot of permutations at play, even something like whether a French team wins their opening 2 games will probably decide how much focus they put on competition. Same for other clubs too but maybe not as much.

Will be interesting to see how qfs, think Munster and maybe Toulouse could win their away matches.

thomond2006

Heineken Champions Cup

Nineteen clubs will qualify automatically for the 2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup in the following ways :.

Guinness PRO14 (7): The three highest ranked clubs from each conference. The fourth-ranked clubs from each conference will play off for the seventh place. (NB South African clubs are not eligible.)
TOP 14 (6): The six highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
Gallagher Premiership Rugby (6): The six highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.

Current situation for 2019/20:

Guinness PRO14 (7):
Leinster, Glasgow, Munster, Ulster, Connacht, Benetton, Cardiff or Edinburgh

TOP 14 (6):
Toulouse, Clermont, Lyon, Racing, Castres, Bordeaux

Gallagher Premiership Rugby (6):
Exeter, Saracens, Gloucester, Harlequins, Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks

Eod100

thomond2006 wrote: »

Current situation for 2019/20:

Guinness PRO14 (7):
Leinster, Glasgow, Munster, Ulster, Connacht, Benetton, Cardiff or Edinburgh

TOP 14 (6):
Toulouse, Clermont, Lyon, Racing, Castres, Bordeaux

Gallagher Premiership Rugby (6):
Exeter, Saracens, Gloucester, Harlequins, Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks

For 20th spot, teams in bold still in Champions Cup. Spot goes to winner if not already qualified, goes to next team due to qualify from winner's league if all the Challenge Cup criteria aren't met so looks unlikely.

Teams underlined still in Challenge Cup plus La Rochelle, Bristol and Worcester.
Winner, losing finalist, losing semi-finalist/play-off with 2 losing semi-finalists if neither qualified.

Picture will be clearer after this weekend but looks likely to be 1 of the teams from Challenge Cup.

leakyboots

Any word on what channels the rugby will be on next season? Can't keep up with who will have what

Eod100

leakyboots wrote: »

Any word on what channels the rugby will be on next season? Can't keep up with who will have what

Still BT afaik with Virgin and C4 having 1 free game per round

Cookiemunster

leakyboots wrote: »

Any word on what channels the rugby will be on next season? Can't keep up with who will have what

It'll be the same as this season, but it looks like BT will be part of the Sky Sports package rather than the Eir Sports package.

leakyboots

Cookiemunster wrote: »

It'll be the same as this season, but it looks like BT will be part of the Sky Sports package rather than the Eir Sports package.

When will that be announced do you know?

PTH2009

Think were in for a 1 or 2 shocks this weekend and the semis will be

Edinburgh vs Saracens
Racing vs Ulster

Think Munster are not playing well enough too get over Edinburgh esp in Murrayfield. Hope I'm wrong but feel Munster wont get over the line

Sarries should have enough too get over Glasgow but Glasgow would of learnt a lot from the group matches

Toulouse vs Racing could be close but Racing have it in them too win well

Beating the ****e out of each other might be what the Ulster and Leinster Irish panelists need and I think Ulster will get over the line vs Leinster

Cookiemunster

Edinburgh can't be at home in the semi unless Glasgow beat Sarries.

Also you can take absolutely nothing from Munsters recent form minus 10 first teamers. Carbery and Farrell especially, make Munster a completely different beast.

Eod100

Last general sale of tickets going on sale tomorrow morning. 1,000 left and after that will be allocation for finalists and hospitality. 40,000 sold so far and capacity according to wiki is 52,354.

Doesn't leave many tickets specifically for finalists. Bit mad they're selling them before quarter-finals.

https://twitter.com/FalconsRugby/status/1111201579309457408

stephen_n

PTH2009 wrote: »

Think were in for a 1 or 2 shocks this weekend and the semis will be

Edinburgh vs Saracens
Racing vs Ulster

Think Munster are not playing well enough too get over Edinburgh esp in Murrayfield. Hope I'm wrong but feel Munster wont get over the line

Sarries should have enough too get over Glasgow but Glasgow would of learnt a lot from the group matches

Toulouse vs Racing could be close but Racing have it in them too win well

Beating the ****e out of each other might be what the Ulster and Leinster Irish panelists need and I think Ulster will get over the line vs Leinster

I would say you’ll be wrong on 3 out of 4 there.

Eod100 wrote: »

Last general sale of tickets going on sale tomorrow morning. 1,000 left and after that will be allocation for finalists and hospitality. 40,000 sold so far and capacity according to wiki is 52,354.

Doesn't leave many tickets specifically for finalists. Bit mad they're selling them before quarter-finals.

https://twitter.com/FalconsRugby/status/1111201579309457408

Was the same last year, you will have fans of all the quarter finalists buying tickets on spec. Then loads will be up for resale in the weeks leading up to the game. There were loads of empty seats in Bilbao despite it being totally sold out.

errlloyd

stephen_n wrote: »

Was the same last year, you will have fans of all the quarter finalists buying tickets on spec. Then loads will be up for resale in the weeks leading up to the game. There were loads of empty seats in Bilbao despite it being totally sold out.

I was trying to organise tickets for 8 lads who had booked the Challenge Cup final accidentally instead last year, and it was hard to get tickets. I know a lot of people didn't end up going, but they didn't seem to re-sell their allocation. They just didn't show.

Eod100

stephen_n wrote: »

Was the same last year, you will have fans of all the quarter finalists buying tickets on spec. Then loads will be up for resale in the weeks leading up to the game. There were loads of empty seats in Bilbao despite it being totally sold out.

Yeah I was at the final last year but bought in advance as I was going anyway. Same this year as wouldn't be overly confident of Munster making the final.

I guess organisers don't care if tickets are sold regardless but think it would be better to wait til there were 4 teams left after this weekend to put them up for sale. The fans going anyway will be going regardless but like you say risks fans with tickets not showing up.

Doesn't make it a great spectator event in person or on tv if there's a fair few empty seats. Don't think they have a ticket resale site either so any resale will be unofficial and fairly organised. For the sake of a few days you'd think they'd hold off.

awec

There'll be a lot of final tickets on sale in Dublin after the weekend. Wouldn't worry.

troyzer

awec wrote: »

There'll be a lot of final tickets on sale in Dublin after the weekend. Wouldn't worry.

Why would Ulster fans be bringing their final tickets to the match?:S

DelBoy Trotter

Eod100 wrote: »

Last general sale of tickets going on sale tomorrow morning. 1,000 left and after that will be allocation for finalists and hospitality. 40,000 sold so far and capacity according to wiki is 52,354.

Doesn't leave many tickets specifically for finalists. Bit mad they're selling them before quarter-finals.

https://twitter.com/FalconsRugby/status/1111201579309457408

I was getting excited thinking I might get the three tickets I need until I read the link and they are being sold directly from the box office and not online

Eod100

DelBoy Trotter wrote: »

I was getting excited thinking I might get the three tickets I need until I read the link and they are being sold directly from the box office and not online

It's phrased badly but looks like they should be on sale online from this link alright https://book.nufc.co.uk/en-GB/categories/newcastle%202019%20rugby

stephen_n

awec wrote: »

There'll be a lot of final tickets on sale in Dublin after the weekend. Wouldn't worry.

The Ulster fans will be offloading them leaving the Aviva?

OldRio

The price of flights is a bit of an eye opener for that weekend. Ryanair are expensive enough but Aer Lingus are taking the p.

Eod100

OldRio wrote: »

The price of flights is a bit of an eye opener for that weekend. Ryanair are expensive enough but Aer Lingus are taking the p.

They always do, their ''proud sponsorship of Irish rugby'' doesn't mean much to fans when they're willing to hike up the price of flights.

Booked for €100 return with Ryanair Dublin-Edinburgh back in October. Must have been pricey going to Newcastle even back then too.

errlloyd

I don't really know what fans expect Airlines to do in this situation.

Imagine they normally operate at 80% capacity (which would be low). There are what, 8 flights per day into Newcastle, Edinburgh and Leeds from Dublin total. So their total spare capacity is 8 * ~40. So you only need 300 Leinster fans and you've booked up all the planes.

If those flights were still the normal price (30e or whatever), touts would find a way to buy them and sell them on or something.

Eod100

errlloyd wrote: »

I don't really know what fans expect Airlines to do in this situation.

Imagine they normally operate at 80% capacity (which would be low). There are what, 8 flights per day into Newcastle, Edinburgh and Leeds from Dublin total. So their total spare capacity is 8 * ~40. So you only need 300 Leinster fans and you've booked up all the planes.

If those flights were still the normal price (30e or whatever), touts would find a way to buy them and sell them on or something.

That's what I expect them to do which is why I book in advance if I am going. They've obviously calculated that they can sell the maximum number of seats at whatever price and most of the times they do. Just think there should be a balance between selling flights at a profit and selling at 300%-500% of usual price. That wouldn't be for them to do, maybe the EU imposing a cap but don't see it happening and it's probably for another forum.

Think the name change fee is usually the deterrent to avoid mass buying and selling of flights so as far as I'm aware it's pretty much non-existent as a thing.

Riskymove

if flights come close to selling out they'll put on extra

always happens you just need to be monitoring

got flights to Edinburgh this weekend and Bordeaux last year this way. Not ultra cheap but a lot less than the price was for existing flights

Former Former

Flight prices are worked out by a computer algorithm. Demand goes up = prices go up, this is the way of the world.

If you want a cheap flight, you take your chances and book before you know if your team is actually going to be playing.

DelBoy Trotter

I was looking to fly to Newcastle on the Friday and home on the Sunday, and in December the flights were in and around 400 quid return :eek:. So we are flying to Edinburgh and getting a train instead!

OldRio

Former Former wrote: »

Flight prices are worked out by a computer algorithm. Demand goes up = prices go up, this is the way of the world.

If you want a cheap flight, you take your chances and book before you know if your team is actually going to be playing.

Exactly, bought tickets for the game before Christmas. Booked flights to Leeds/Bradford for a fraction of the Newcastle flight costs.
But Aer Lingus..... Team of us? Screw em.

thomond2006

DelBoy Trotter wrote: »

I was looking to fly to Newcastle on the Friday and home on the Sunday, and in December the flights were in and around 400 quid return :eek:. So we are flying to Edinburgh and getting a train instead!

That train journey has some great views, particularly around Berwick-upon-Tweed. I did it travelling to the 2017 final.

troyzer

thomond2006 wrote: »

That train journey has some great views, particularly around Berwick-upon-Tweed. I did it travelling to the 2017 final.

Berwick-upon-Tweed has to be a fictional location in Toyland. There's no way such a ridiculous place exists outside of the Noddy Cinematic Universe (NCU).

Eod100

troyzer wrote: »

Berwick-upon-Tweed has to be a fictional location in Toyland. There's no way such a ridiculous place exists outside of the Noddy Cinematic Universe (NCU).

Sounds like a place Jacob Rees Mogg would be from..

troyzer

Eod100 wrote: »

Sounds like a place Jacob Rees Mogg would be from..

Who's that? Is he the baddie in Noddy? Sounds like it....