European Cup 2022 Quarter Finals Weekend

[TheFrog]

TMOcan always call the ref back. Penalty hadn't been played.

By the way, does the TMO only see the feed we have?

Yes, and can hear the commentators as well, which is a problem when Healey and Kay are commentating on Leicester...

I think they should have all camera angles available at the same time.


Do they get the French commentary here? not very helpful then. Though they did acknowledge Leeoux got away lightly there

[TheFrog]

Le Garrec isn't far from the French jersey.

I believe he will tour Japan. Galthie wants to test him.

And he brings another accurate kicking option off the tee.

[TheFrog]

Glad Leroux isn't in the French squad any longer.

[Brazil]

Le Garrec isn't far from the French jersey.

I believe he will tour Japan. Galthie wants to test him.

And he brings another accurate kicking option off the tee.

Presumably as back up to Tony Bridge? He's a very good player that's for sure

[TheFrog]

Humiliation.

[TheFrog]

Le Garrec isn't far from the French jersey.

I believe he will tour Japan. Galthie wants to test him.

And he brings another accurate kicking option off the tee.

Presumably as back up to Tony Bridge? He's a very good player that's for sure

Yes, I think he will be on the bench. But should Dupont be injured, I would feel comfortable that France can continue to perform well with guys like Le Garrec, Lucu and even Serin ready to step up.

[TheFrog]

So 3 French clubs in semi-final again but Leinster remain the favorites.

I think the new format of the competition helps the French clubs because it allows them to rotate squad and manage the Top14 marathon and the Champions Cup better. They can also prepare the teams to peak in May-June without too much concern whereas, before, 2 losses meant you were almost certainly out.

[Torquemada 1420]

You are fixating with a FH being the kicker. Why???
+ Ntamack kicking success rate is at 76%, considering he is not first choice kicker, it is not top but most likely can be easily bettered if required.

Jesus. We are going around in circles. The FH doesn't have to be the kicker but I will say very few world class FHs have been unable to kick. The point is that you want Jaminet out but the reason he has to be there is BECAUSE NTAMACK CAN'T KICK. So the luxury of playing Ntamack means a compromise has to be made elsewhere and that means picking Jaminet. If Jaibert plays 10, the need to pick Jaminet disappears: although FB remains a huge weakness in France anyway.

Ironically, if Dupont did not exist, Le Garrec would probably end up with the slot and he's the best kicker in France.

Oh. And 76% is not great but is also misleading because he is never given the hard kicks because he has no range of the tee.

[Torquemada 1420]

So 3 French clubs in semi-final again but Leinster remain the favorites.

I think the new format of the competition helps the French clubs because it allows them to rotate squad and manage the Top14 marathon and the Champions Cup better. They can also prepare the teams to peak in May-June without too much concern whereas, before, 2 losses meant you were almost certainly out.

Helps compared with whom? The URC sides?

[TheFrog]

You are fixating with a FH being the kicker. Why???
+ Ntamack kicking success rate is at 76%, considering he is not first choice kicker, it is not top but most likely can be easily bettered if required.

Jesus. We are going around in circles. The FH doesn't have to be the kicker but I will say very few world class FHs have been unable to kick. The point is that you want Jaminet out but the reason he has to be there is BECAUSE NTAMACK CAN'T KICK. So the luxury of playing Ntamack means a compromise has to be made elsewhere and that means picking Jaminet. If Jaibert plays 10, the need to pick Jaminet disappears: although FB remains a huge weakness in France anyway.

Ironically, if Dupont did not exist, Le Garrec would probably end up with the slot and he's the best kicker in France.

Oh. And 76% is not great but is also misleading because he is never given the hard kicks because he has no range of the tee.

Ntamack is by no means a poor placed kicker. Jaminet or Ramos may be better than him, but I have seen him slot difficult kicks very regularly including for France.

Reason Jaminet is in is the length of his kick allowing him to win the modern day ping pong bore fest.

Don't seen enough of Jalibert to comment on his kicking abilities.

[TheFrog]

So 3 French clubs in semi-final again but Leinster remain the favorites.

I think the new format of the competition helps the French clubs because it allows them to rotate squad and manage the Top14 marathon and the Champions Cup better. They can also prepare the teams to peak in May-June without too much concern whereas, before, 2 losses meant you were almost certainly out.

Helps compared with whom? The URC sides?

Compared to becore, when playing the groups required teams to win at least 4 of their pool games to qualify, thus making it harder for French clubs to manage both Top 14 and Champions Cup at the same time.

[Torquemada 1420]

Compared to becore, when playing the groups required teams to win at least 4 of their pool games to qualify, thus making it harder for French clubs to manage both Top 14 and Champions Cup at the same time.

Maybe, but cw with URC and GP, the French schedule is still insane.

[Torquemada 1420]

Le Garrec isn't far from the French jersey.

I believe he will tour Japan. Galthie wants to test him.

And he brings another accurate kicking option off the tee.

The one who is sailing under radar at the moment is SH Le Garrec at Racing who is not a million miles from Dupont but also has a 90%+ kicking game and bar injury will be a selection certainty by the time of the RWC.

[Tichtheid]

Arundell was a standout in the U20s this year

[Tichtheid]

Ah, I see that's already been posted on the English rugby thread, well, it bears repeating.

Here's a couple of minutes of Finn magic combined with Teddy brilliance

[laurent]

Ah, I see that's already been posted on the English rugby thread, well, it bears repeating.

Here's a couple of minutes of Finn magic combined with Teddy brilliance

Finn a le cul bordé de nouilles...

Some crazy tries this week end quite enjoyable.

[Tichtheid]

Finn a le cul bordé de nouilles...

Some crazy tries this week end quite enjoyable.

Was it Gary Player who said, "The more I practice the luckier I get"?

[laurent]

Finn a le cul bordé de nouilles...

Some crazy tries this week end quite enjoyable.

Was it Gary Player who said, "The more I practice the luckier I get"?

Except Finn is a bit work shy

[TheFrog]

Ah, I see that's already been posted on the English rugby thread, well, it bears repeating.

Here's a couple of minutes of Finn magic combined with Teddy brilliance

Stop poking the Torque bear please.

[SaintK]

Officials havee been confirmed for the semi-finals.
If Torque thought Pearce was bad, you wait until he sees Dickson in action

The match official appointments for the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finals have been announced today (Monday 14 May) following a meeting of a selection committee chaired by EPCR’s Head of Match Officials, Tony Spreadbury.

England’s Karl Dickson has been appointed to referee the much-anticipated clash of European heavyweights, Leinster Rugby and Stade Toulousain, at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Dickson’s assistants will be the English pair of Christophe Ridley and Anthony Woodthorpe.

Matthew Carley, also of England, will take charge of the all-French confrontation on Sunday between Racing 92 and Stade Rochelais at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens where England’s Luke Pearce and Nika Amashukeli of Georgia will run the line.

[laurent]

Officials havee been confirmed for the semi-finals.
If Torque thought Pearce was bad, you wait until he sees Dickson in action

The match official appointments for the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finals have been announced today (Monday 14 May) following a meeting of a selection committee chaired by EPCR’s Head of Match Officials, Tony Spreadbury.

England’s Karl Dickson has been appointed to referee the much-anticipated clash of European heavyweights, Leinster Rugby and Stade Toulousain, at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Dickson’s assistants will be the English pair of Christophe Ridley and Anthony Woodthorpe.

Matthew Carley, also of England, will take charge of the all-French confrontation on Sunday between Racing 92 and Stade Rochelais at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens where England’s Luke Pearce and Nika Amashukeli of Georgia will run the line.

When Spreadbury is in charge the expectations are much lowered...

[JM2K6]

Yes, I'm sure him joining Quins after Bloodgate, under new management, and being a big part of the revival that saw them win their first league title has him seething.

I'd worry more about him being a dogshit referee, but maybe we'll get lucky and he'll shiv Sexton when no-one's looking.

[SaintK]

The revival where he played with Tom Williams and all the lads laughing about how they nailed the two docs to the wall. Look European rugby has been stitching it up for the French and English for years but even this is too on the nose.

[JM2K6]

The revival where he played with Tom Williams and all the lads laughing about how they nailed the two docs to the wall. Look European rugby has been stitching it up for the French and English for years but even this is too on the nose.

Personally I'm hoping Dickson goes full Bryce Lawrence on Ireland-in-Blue and screams DANGEROUS! at a stationary Johnny Sexton before yellow carding him.

[SaintK]

That's what he is going to do to us next Staurday. I am bringing the kids so we can BOOOOOOOOOOO like motherfuckers

Nah! He'll be just as bad for both teams....................it's the way he usually is

[JM2K6]

You better believe he will. I have positioned myself within flinging distance of the tunnel

Try the top of the stand instead.