Link?fishfoodie wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:19 am The Rules say that Leinster have to field a team; & they were able to; the EPRC then made a wholely subjective judgement, & penalized Leinster.
If they could postpone other games, 24hrs later, why not this one; or just allow the fucking game to take place !
The likes of PSA gloating about the decision makes it look shit.
https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 57777.htmlTorquemada 1420 wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 11:55 amLink?fishfoodie wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:19 am The Rules say that Leinster have to field a team; & they were able to; the EPRC then made a wholely subjective judgement, & penalized Leinster.
If they could postpone other games, 24hrs later, why not this one; or just allow the fucking game to take place !
The likes of PSA gloating about the decision makes it look shit.
Although Piglet is such a tw*t that I wouldn't be surprised if it were true.
Yeah. Sure !Montpellier director of rugby Phillipe Saint-Andre has poured petrol on the flames of Leinster anger following the controversial postponement of Friday night’s Champions Cup fixture, which resulted in the awarding of a 28-0 win to the French side.
The former French national coach claimed fresh bout of Covid cases in Leinster prompted the EPCR’s medical committee to push for postponement, despite Leinster’s claim to the contrary and assurances from Irish health authorities.
And he also said Leinster were struggling to put out a team despite the fact that the province asserted they were intent on fulfilling the fixture, the heavy loss of which in terms of match points and points difference complicates their path towards the final, if not gravely imperils it.
“We wanted to play this match in front of our audience and our partners,” Saint-Andre said in an interview with RMC Sport in France.
Leinster would have hammered them.fishfoodie wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 12:29 pmhttps://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 57777.htmlTorquemada 1420 wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 11:55 amLink?fishfoodie wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:19 am The Rules say that Leinster have to field a team; & they were able to; the EPRC then made a wholely subjective judgement, & penalized Leinster.
If they could postpone other games, 24hrs later, why not this one; or just allow the fucking game to take place !
The likes of PSA gloating about the decision makes it look shit.
Although Piglet is such a tw*t that I wouldn't be surprised if it were true.
Yeah. Sure !Montpellier director of rugby Phillipe Saint-Andre has poured petrol on the flames of Leinster anger following the controversial postponement of Friday night’s Champions Cup fixture, which resulted in the awarding of a 28-0 win to the French side.
The former French national coach claimed fresh bout of Covid cases in Leinster prompted the EPCR’s medical committee to push for postponement, despite Leinster’s claim to the contrary and assurances from Irish health authorities.
And he also said Leinster were struggling to put out a team despite the fact that the province asserted they were intent on fulfilling the fixture, the heavy loss of which in terms of match points and points difference complicates their path towards the final, if not gravely imperils it.
“We wanted to play this match in front of our audience and our partners,” Saint-Andre said in an interview with RMC Sport in France.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022 ... d-visasAttempts to press ahead with the forthcoming European fixtures have been dealt a fresh blow after it emerged South African players based in the UK face further red tape to gain entry into France with the Sale director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, saying the Champions Cup could be made into a “mockery”.
European Professional Club Rugby, the organiser of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, remains in discussions over two rounds of fixtures this month after matches were postponed in December when France limited entry from the UK to “essential only”. EPCR is hopeful of gaining the necessary exemptions to allow fixtures to go ahead.
On Tuesday, Sanderson revealed a further complication, however, with Sale’s South African players facing additional visa requirements. It is understood EPCR is aware of the problem, though its priority remains getting the fixtures played in the first place.
I don't think it's true at all that other clubs are in a similar boat. No one in the Prem has the same number of South Africans and certainly not so many as starters.Sanderson, though, is adamant Sale would not be able to field a competitive side away to Clermont on 16 January if his South African contingent cannot travel and said they were not the only club to raise the issue. In addition, the French government has mandated that all sportspeople be fully vaccinated from 15 January, which would further reduce the number of players available to Sanderson.
“There’s a certain type of visa you get if you’re South African, which has to be approved,” he said. “They’d have to fast-track and approve these Schengen visas in record time. Apparently it’s only a stamp but it’s out of our hands.
“This is entirely in the lap of European Rugby and their ability to push it through and then the French government to approve it. It doesn’t give us a competitive team. There are nine of our squad who wouldn’t be approved and that’s not even including some of the lads who aren’t double-jabbed, of which there’s one or two. We’re not the only ones, we’re all in a similar boat.”
Asked about fielding a second‑string side if his South African players are not granted exemption, Sanderson said: “It’s a mockery of the cup then, isn’t it? We’re in it to play the best teams with our best team. So no, I wouldn’t even consider taking a second team to Clermont to get beaten up.”
sockwithaticket wrote: Wed Jan 05, 2022 12:57 pmI don't think it's true at all that other clubs are in a similar boat. No one in the Prem has the same number of South Africans and certainly not so many as starters.Sanderson, though, is adamant Sale would not be able to field a competitive side away to Clermont on 16 January if his South African contingent cannot travel and said they were not the only club to raise the issue. In addition, the French government has mandated that all sportspeople be fully vaccinated from 15 January, which would further reduce the number of players available to Sanderson.
“There’s a certain type of visa you get if you’re South African, which has to be approved,” he said. “They’d have to fast-track and approve these Schengen visas in record time. Apparently it’s only a stamp but it’s out of our hands.
“This is entirely in the lap of European Rugby and their ability to push it through and then the French government to approve it. It doesn’t give us a competitive team. There are nine of our squad who wouldn’t be approved and that’s not even including some of the lads who aren’t double-jabbed, of which there’s one or two. We’re not the only ones, we’re all in a similar boat.”
Asked about fielding a second‑string side if his South African players are not granted exemption, Sanderson said: “It’s a mockery of the cup then, isn’t it? We’re in it to play the best teams with our best team. So no, I wouldn’t even consider taking a second team to Clermont to get beaten up.”
I'd be intrigued as to why they've still got players who aren't at least double jabbed at this stage.
He can also pipe down about a mockery of the cup, injuries alone mean you can often be without a large number of a preferred starting line up and you'd still play the fixture. Wasps faced Munster with 18 injuries plus one sustained in the warm up. 2 more picked up during the game would've meant facing Toulouse with 21 players missing before we added on those unavailable due to covid protocols. Would fulfilling that fixture have been a mockery of the cup or just a team doing the best they can with the players available (which is all any squad can ever do)?
Is it also possible that this is a problem of their own making having left the paperwork of their players too late or has something changed very, very recently that means these Saffer players now need a different type of visa?
https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2022/011 ... scheduled/The postponed games from Round 2 of the Heineken Champions Cup will not be rescheduled, with the EPCR confirming that each game will be marked down as a 0-0 draw.
Five Champions Cup and two Challenge Cup matches from December were initially postponed, after heightened travel restrictions were brought in between France and the UK at short notice.
The EPCR had been hoping to reschedule those matches, but the lack of an available window means this would not be possible without making significant changes to the format of the competition for the second season in a row.
As a result, the EPCR Board and Executive have determined the games cannot be played, with each team awarded two match points for the scoreless draw.
However, this ruling does not include Leinster's cancelled Round 2 meeting with Montpellier.
The French side were awarded a 28-0 bonus point win after it was deemed it was unsafe for the game to proceed, with Leinster in the midst of a Covid-19 outbreak at the time.
FM. I was trying to find out whether that game had been amended: and evidently not. I guess EPCR dug a hole and was not going to fill it in whilst they were sitting in it.fishfoodie wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 6:20 pm EPCR fucking over Leinster.
https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2022/011 ... scheduled/The postponed games from Round 2 of the Heineken Champions Cup will not be rescheduled, with the EPCR confirming that each game will be marked down as a 0-0 draw.
Five Champions Cup and two Challenge Cup matches from December were initially postponed, after heightened travel restrictions were brought in between France and the UK at short notice.
The EPCR had been hoping to reschedule those matches, but the lack of an available window means this would not be possible without making significant changes to the format of the competition for the second season in a row.
As a result, the EPCR Board and Executive have determined the games cannot be played, with each team awarded two match points for the scoreless draw.
However, this ruling does not include Leinster's cancelled Round 2 meeting with Montpellier.
The French side were awarded a 28-0 bonus point win after it was deemed it was unsafe for the game to proceed, with Leinster in the midst of a Covid-19 outbreak at the time.
No offence to the French fans on here; but I really hope Leinster leave the field, with Montpellier, looking like the end of the fight in the, "House of Blue Leaves", in Kill Bill
The pool format in the Champions Cup is a bit pointless. There doesn't seem much point really going for it when almost everyone goes through and the next round is played over two legs so home advantage isn't as important.TheFrog wrote: Wed Jan 12, 2022 2:12 pm This year is going to be a joke.
I think French clubs have understood this since December and have made the Top14 their absolute priority.
Absolute joke!!TheFrog wrote: Wed Jan 12, 2022 2:12 pm This year is going to be a joke.
I think French clubs have understood this since December and have made the Top14 their absolute priority.
Fickou disagreesTheFrog wrote: Wed Jan 12, 2022 2:12 pm This year is going to be a joke.
I think French clubs have understood this since December and have made the Top14 their absolute priority.
Given Racing's performance in the Top14 so far.... all they have left to play for is the European Cup.Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:01 pmFickou disagreesTheFrog wrote: Wed Jan 12, 2022 2:12 pm This year is going to be a joke.
I think French clubs have understood this since December and have made the Top14 their absolute priority.
https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/champion ... tory.shtml
Toulouse has been a one man side this season. And that man is not playing. Did you watch the game v Cardiff D?sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:33 pm
Even without Dupont, that starting lineup looks like enough to secure a comfortable victory.
I did, but otherwise decent French teams having an off day in the UK when the weather's shit or they're considered favourites is hardly unusual.Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:39 pmToulouse has been a one man side this season. And that man is not playing. Did you watch the game v Cardiff D?sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:33 pm
Even without Dupont, that starting lineup looks like enough to secure a comfortable victory.
Same Wasps which defeated Prem leaders last week?sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:53 pmI did, but otherwise decent French teams having an off day in the UK when the weather's shit or they're considered favourites is hardly unusual.Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:39 pmToulouse has been a one man side this season. And that man is not playing. Did you watch the game v Cardiff D?sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:33 pm
Even without Dupont, that starting lineup looks like enough to secure a comfortable victory.
Besides, my prediction is more about the sorry state of Wasps than Toulouse's merits.
Not quite, 5 players in that game got injured (as is our way this season). Leicester are nowhere near as good as their league position anyway.Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 3:19 pmSame Wasps which defeated Prem leaders last week?sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:53 pmI did, but otherwise decent French teams having an off day in the UK when the weather's shit or they're considered favourites is hardly unusual.Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:39 pm
Toulouse has been a one man side this season. And that man is not playing. Did you watch the game v Cardiff D?
Besides, my prediction is more about the sorry state of Wasps than Toulouse's merits.
Was always going to be that type of game. I'm enjoying it. I shudder to think how Castres v Munster is being played.
More injuries than points so far in the latter.fishfoodie wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 8:23 pm Hmmm; which game to watch ???
Cardiff v Quins 14 - 7
or //
Castres v Munster 0 - 3
Not filling the enormous shirt at 12 with much confidence.
Quins must have the nod on the ultimate colours/patterns
I quite enjoyed the commentator's comment on the strip, "You'll have your own view"fishfoodie wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 8:47 pm Can somebody not do something about Quins Strip ?
Either change it; or give them a 5 point penalty !
