Champions cup 2022

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118287775#Comment_118287775

Compare the champions league so.

They have made allowances to have the games played in different countries at times, games can be postponed.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118288518#Comment_118288518

No I won't compare two completely different sports to try to denigrate the Heineken cup.

To have to go to those lengths just shows the size of the chip you have.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118287434#Comment_118287434

They have no free weekends as they are using the only weekends the Premiership and the TOP14 have allowed them. Your ire is comically misdirected.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118288512#Comment_118288512

“Maybe some of you don't actively support your teams to have seen some of the decisions they have taken over the years and the effect it has had on actual supporters”

Yes, Lawrence, you’re a better fan than all of us because of how angry you get over things. That’s how it works, right?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118288518#Comment_118288518

Comparing soccer to rugby is completely stupid. It makes absolutely no sense.

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118288596#Comment_118288596

where should my ire be directed so?

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118288619#Comment_118288619

Now your just making things up, ive never touted myself as a “better fan” than anyone.

But anyone who regularly travels and supports their team has been the victim of the ERC and their terrible decision making over the years.

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118288538#Comment_118288538

So your happy to accept the incompetence of the administrators of the rugby competitions when it is obvious that it can be done better as seen in other sports.

Happyhouse22

Anyone else kind of excited for the new format?

When it was announced last year I thought it was the most ridiculous thing ever, but I thought fair enough as a one off and was willing to give it a chance- then of course with covid we never got to see it. When it was announced again this year I was surprised and disappointed but on reflection it has potential.

A big issue I saw with last years format was that with 4 teams qualifying from each group a team could conceivably win all their games and not quality - with 8 going through this problem has been resolved.

Another reason I didn’t like last year was that, it reduced the number of games weekends from 9 to 8. The two legged round of 16 restores this.

In the old format many teams lost their opening games and just seemed to give up, with this format everyone should have something to play for right to the end

A potential issue I see is that many teams might have qualified already before the last game but hopefully this will be mitigated by the importance of placements for future rounds and home advantage.

Anyway interested in hearing why I am wrong.

sydthebeat

Ah now his irrational posting all makes sense.

Lawerence has a victim complex and therefore he sees enemies everywhere.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118288715#Comment_118288715

Do you accept that on soccer they can play 3 games in 7 days, and that the European football calendar is synched, therefore there is absolutely no comparison you can make between the organising of these two different sports

Podge_irl

The sky, mostly.

EPCR and URC are doing the best they can under incredibly difficult conditions. EPCR in particular in this case have been afforded only small windows in which to play games. There is zero scope for rescheduling anything and that is out of their control.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118288699#Comment_118288699

Have you considered having less ire?

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118287470#Comment_118287470

Bristol isn't in the URC, and Scarlets didn't miss any URC matches they were postponed until next year

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118288512#Comment_118288512

The URC organised and paid for the hotels transfers and charter flights and literally did everything to get the players home from South Africa. Not because they're a swell bunch of lads, but because that was the contract they signed, the league paid for the touring expenses in South Africa

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118288725#Comment_118288725

I was going to post the same sentiment. The current format looks great to me, 8 teams from each league, and 6 teams (9th, 10th, 11th from each pool) dropping down to join the 10 teams that will qualify from the pools of the challenge cup, bottom 2 teams (12th in each pool) have no further matches.

It all marries up very well with the challenge cup.

The only thing that will change next season is when the 4 south african teams join the two competitions so there will be 19 teams in the challenge cup which will be an odd number.

Perhaps they could then add 1 more team from outside the 3 leagues (maybe the winner of the English 2nd division could play off against the highest finishing team from the French second division, or maybe they could invite the Cheetahs, or maybe a team from a tier 2 country like Georgia).

With 20 teams it could be 4 pools of 5 (same pool structure as now with 5 per pool), top 3 in each pool to go through, plus 4 drop down instead of 6 from the champions cup pools, so 11th and 12th in the champions cup drop out of all competition.

Anyway, things could all change so it might completely change for next season, who knows.

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118288751#Comment_118288751

I can well compare the fact that soccer has its house in order with regards responding and being proactive about fixtures and the effects covid has on it and rugby has not.

You can talk about the difference between the sports all you like, but a European wide competition with teams from different domestic leagues is exactly what both are.

If you want to talk about 3 games in 7 days then look at the number of weeks soccer domestic season is played for (40 weeks) versus rugby (34 weeks).

Jump_In_Jack

One criticism from last season was that Sale progressed while Ulster and Connacht both did better in the other pool and didn't progress.

The whole concept of spitting the 24 teams into 2 pools falls down really, there's no need to have 2 pools.

One table would be better for the draw and the best performing teams would qualify on merit.

Happyhouse22

I agree totally with this, don’t think the two pools add anything really- apart from a little confusion.

One pool with one table would actually be a pretty concept to follow

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118289510#Comment_118289510

Christ on a bike. WTF has the length of the seasons got to do with anything? Rugby is a much more physically demanding sport. Rugby players need more rest and recovery time than footballers do. That's the reason that they don't play three times a week and they get a much longer off season.

But hey, lets say fúck that to player welfare in an already jam packed calendar during a pandemic just so Lawrence isn't put out.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118289510#Comment_118289510

well taking that exact point your making there (without any comment as to the accuracy of it!)

if in soccer you can possibly play 3 games in 7 day over a 40 week period than that 120 different slots you have for games.

in rugby you can, at best, play one game in a week.. so over a 34 week season thats 34 different slots.

do you now see the complete uselessness of comparing both sports?

Happyhouse22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118289347#Comment_118289347

Have to admit that I hadn’t really considered the challenge cup with my post but it also looks like a decent format.I’m sure that with the changes next year and the increase to 19 at least one more will be found.

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118290351#Comment_118290351

Your starting to get it now.

When you figure this one out the penny might drop- In the 34 weeks season for rugby how many games to they actually play?

Take that figure, subtract the number of weeks its played over and then ask yourself why they couldnt rearrange a fixture.

irelandrover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118289510#Comment_118289510

The postponement of the Spurs game does not show that soccer has its house in order. Rennes asked if the game was going ahead, were told yes, they got on a flight and when they landed in London it was cancelled. Rennes are furious. Spurs should be forced to play the game based on the rules if they have 13 players available.

They also do not know when they will replay the game. They have no contingency weekend and since this is the last gameweek in the league round it will cause big issues.

Rugby absolutely had their house in order on this as the postponement rules were made clear to all at the start of the year and all clubs signed up. Soccer has fluid rules which leaves the clubs unclear on what happens.

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118294107#Comment_118294107

The rule changes this season that sees 8 teams qualify from each european pool has lessened the effect of giving a walkover to someone. Under last years rules with only the top 4 teams going through it meant your were out of europe giving a walkover.

irelandrover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118294127#Comment_118294127

But we're talking about this year. You said rugby was bad and soccer had its house in order, and used the shitshow that is the Spurs Rennes game as an example of how good soccer is.

The fact is that rugby has clear rules and is following them. Soccer has rules, that are fluid, and terrible communication to the teams involved.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118294104#Comment_118294104

For the Premiership and TOP14 the answer is going to be 34 (actually more, seeing as they overlap with internationals).

EPCR have no spare weekends - what about this are you failing to understand?

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118294104#Comment_118294104

Can you find a free weekend in which the Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English, Italian and French teams are all free to rearrange fixtures?

agoodusername

Racing at even money tonight at the Saints feels like a good shout?

I wouldn't want to be facing their 15 for tonight, don't know why they aren't favoured. Really looking forward to European rugby with a proper crowd for the first time in 23? months, hope the Saints can make it an interesting game

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118302206#Comment_118302206

Their domestic away form is very french-like, so thats probably a big factor in it.

Burkie1203

Saint's about to get hammered in Europe just before Xmas. Some things never change

UAEguy2020

One thing, with relegation no longer a factor in the GP what will the excuse's be from the English fans as to why their clubs constantly get beat in Europe?

Northampton v Racing looking like a huge mismatch. Nearly a point a minute for Racing.

icdg

An alternative is Lyon v Gloucester on BT3 in the European Challenge Cup, though it’s a low scoring affair.

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118302882#Comment_118302882

The commentators are entertaining.

They showed a clip of the saints winger fielding a ball in the first half and he took it into contact and got turned over, they highlighted how little support he had, how teammates were moving away from the point of contact and made it easy for the poach.

The very next comment was how the saints players wouldnt be used to the ref because its a european game and how much of a factor it was in the game so far.

razorblunt

The joy that is watching an English team get thumped, at home, on BT sport.

they were shocked to see Racing in a commanding lead. Even asking Mike Prendergast about this being their best performance of the season. Can’t say Saints are shíte I suppose.

razorblunt

Northampton 23 ran an NFL blocking line way ahead of the ball carrier. Austin Healy thinks there’s no issue. They’re completely grasping at straws.

hold my beer

Saints 7 is a giant of a man

Burkie1203

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118303281#Comment_118303281

Never in a million years should that try have been disallowed. Awful call

razorblunt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118303288#Comment_118303288

They both knew what they were doing. Slightholme ran so far ahead of him it was ridiculous, with the intent to block too. Machenaud milked it but it was there for him to do so.

Burkie1203

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118303317#Comment_118303317

Machenaud went running after Sleightholme. Not the other way around. It was a terrible call.

lawrencesummers

If the commentators or anyone else is in a state of mystery as to why saints lost just look back at how they handled their first 22 exit of the game.

5 meters or so from their line at the very start of the game their hooker attempted a chip over the top with only forwards in a position to chase and was easily blocked down.

Braindead.

UAEguy2020

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118303248#Comment_118303248

Except they forget the Racing player's are in the same boat!

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118303429#Comment_118303429

They will have racing favourites to win the next world cup after that game.

Clegg

Finn Russell is an infuriating player. In terms of natural ability I think he's better than any 10 in the world. Tonight we saw the best of him. He could put his head up and play what was in front of him.

But when he plays against the top sides he just refuses to stay on script and adhere to a game plan. His insistence on playing off the cuff against top tier defences leads to him playing passes to nobody, knock ons and cross field kicks where the receiver is bundled into touch.

He has never tempered that individualist nature. If he ever managed to do that he'd be the best in the world.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118303628#Comment_118303628

I love watching him play. But I think I’d hate it if he was the 10 at the club I supported.

eagle eye

Racing were very good tonight.

It's just great to have Champion's cup rugby back.

ersatz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118303752#Comment_118303752

Didn't see the whole match but Saints were really not good at all. Racing are a very good team, that move late on starting with the cross field kick and ending with Beale losing control of the ball when he was away down the wing was near spectacular.

Digifriendly

Racing have had an indifferent season so far in the Top 14 but looked very impressive against a shell shocked Northampton side who missed Covid hit Courtney Lawes badly and were poor overall.

Racing determined to break their duck in this competition after 3 final losses. I make them one of the favourites this season and I think French teams will possibly dominate.

lawrencesummers

Toulose kick off their quest for another star against a Cardiff team with 11 debutants in their squad.

Anytime you get to watch Dupont and Ntamack playing together is sure to be a treat but this could be a terrible pasting for Cardiff.