2022/23 Champions/Challenge Cup

[Torquemada 1420]

In the end, none of the 4 games was close. Actually quite surprising bar Leinster.

[Kawazaki]

Needed a much better referee to stand a chance of getting a result over there. Got a weak moron unfortunately.

[JM2K6]

You've got your head contact eyes back in again then.

Ffs.

Yeah it's funny how when there's multiple clear replays of direct head contact I'm confident in saying there's direct head contact

You can watch the Chisholm tackle again as often at you like, I posted it for you in this thread.

And like I said, it's not clear from the grainy gif that there's actually head contact, but it's entirely possible there was. Very different to multiple high definition slow mo replays showing it without a doubt.

You can keep throwing your toys out of the pram over it and nothing is going to change except maybe taking a few more years off your life. Probably a good time to go touch grass.

[Torquemada 1420]

Needed a much better referee to stand a chance of getting a result over there. Got a weak moron unfortunately.

You got the most anti-French ref on the circuit. Just face facts, Sarries were dire and although LaR were little better, they didn't need to be.

Toulouse or Leinster would have buried you so deep, detectorists in Australia would have had the best chance of locating you.

[Kawazaki]

I don't mind shrill gobshites who think all head contact deserves a card as long as you're not a hypocrite or a referee.

[JM2K6]

[Torquemada 1420]

Needed a much better referee to stand a chance of getting a result over there. Got a weak moron unfortunately.

As an aside, were it not for Brace, there would be no English representation left in either comp.

[Torquemada 1420]

Les Flops

Owen Farrell

Le demi d’ouverture des Saracens est décidément à l’image de son équipe : vieillissant. Globalement lent et peu inspiré, Farrell n’a rien impulsé à sa ligne d’attaque et a souffert de la comparaison avec Antoine Hastoy même si ce dernier s’est effacé au profit de son collectif.

The Sarries FH is absolutely the epitome of his team: ageing. Overall slow and uninspiring, Farrell provided no impetus to his attack....

[SaintK]

Handling poor, breakdown non existent and defence was always going backwards. A minor miracle we got as close as we did.

Botia with a career day the biggest difference

Quite!

[Jim Lahey]

I think most people want Leinster to lose is that they are so boring to watch as a neutral. Not that they play an awful brand of rugby, but everything they do is done with such ruthless efficiency that it just gives the opposition no chance and the contest becomes boring. Awesome if you are a Leinster fan, but I don't think many non-Leinster fans would be clearing their schedule to watch them play on TV. But tbf its not Leinster's fault that they are lightyears ahead of every other team in Europe atm (apart from 2 blips last May).

Give me a monster French pack chucking 30/70 offloads with a Dupont/Ramos flair player doing mad shit behind them. Are they going to shit the bed or are they going to pulverise the opposition? God I love French rugby clubs.

[Torquemada 1420]

I think most people want Leinster to lose is that they are so boring to watch as a neutral. Not that they play an awful brand of rugby, but everything they do is done with such ruthless efficiency that it just gives the opposition no chance and the contest becomes boring. Awesome if you are a Leinster fan, but I don't think many non-Leinster fans would be clearing their schedule to watch them play on TV. But tbf its not Leinster's fault that they are lightyears ahead of every other team in Europe atm (apart from 2 blips last May).

Give me a monster French pack chucking 30/70 offloads with a Dupont/Ramos flair player doing mad shit behind them. Are they going to shit the bed or are they going to pulverise the opposition? God I love French rugby clubs.

Maybe it's more that invincibility in sport (not that Leinster's record in HEC is anywhere near that) is boring rather than how they do it e.g. Phil Taylor. Anyone outside of a dominating side/player will tend to want to see them toppled. Or everyone hates the Irish

On the French bit
- the monster Fre packs tend to have been a myth created by Anglo speaking commentators over the decades. Especially when talking about the national team. Most sides will have a monster (Atonio, Willemse, Skelton, Meafou etc) but in toto, the packs really aren't that bigger that other teams if at all.
- it's only really Toulouse that deserve that respect in your last line. Pretty much the rest are polarised. Racing, ASM, LOU and Paris try to play towards the harem scarem end (just badly) whereas the likes of Montpellier, Castres and Brive are grinders. Bordeaux probably the exception as a poor man's Toulouse. LaR are odd: they can play 1D grind or something more like England 2003 updated but they don't appear able to switch in any given game even if the state of the games dictates they should.

[Jim Lahey]

Are you happy now Jim

Just ate one of the kid's Easter eggs. Not one ounce of suspicion directed toward me.

Great start to the day

[PCPhil]

So, Leinster v ST on Saturday and LR v Exeter on Sunday.

Damn, so that means the ITV match will be the LR Exeter one.

[GrahamWa]

So, Leinster v ST on Saturday and LR v Exeter on Sunday.

Damn, so that means the ITV match will be the LR Exeter one.

Council TV games on the Saturday

Saturday 29 April
Leinster Rugby v Stade Toulousain – Aviva Stadium, Dublin (15.00)
RTE / BT Sport / beIN SPORTS / France TV / ITV / SuperSport / FloRugby

Saturday 29 April
Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors, Parc y Scarlets (17.30)
S4C / BT Sport / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / FloRugby

Sunday 30 April
Stade Rochelais v Exeter Chiefs – Matmut ATLANTIQUE, Bordeaux (16.00)
France TV / BT Sport / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / FloRugby

Sunday 30 April
RC Toulon v Benetton Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol (13.30)
France TV / BT Sport / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / FloRugby / epcrugby.tv

[sockwithaticket]

I think most people want Leinster to lose is that they are so boring to watch as a neutral. Not that they play an awful brand of rugby, but everything they do is done with such ruthless efficiency that it just gives the opposition no chance and the contest becomes boring. Awesome if you are a Leinster fan, but I don't think many non-Leinster fans would be clearing their schedule to watch them play on TV. But tbf its not Leinster's fault that they are lightyears ahead of every other team in Europe atm (apart from 2 blips last May).

Give me a monster French pack chucking 30/70 offloads with a Dupont/Ramos flair player doing mad shit behind them. Are they going to shit the bed or are they going to pulverise the opposition? God I love French rugby clubs.

Maybe it's more that invincibility in sport (not that Leinster's record in HEC is anywhere near that) is boring rather than how they do it e.g. Phil Taylor. Anyone outside of a dominating side/player will tend to want to see them toppled. Or everyone hates the Irish

On the French bit
- the monster Fre packs tend to have been a myth created by Anglo speaking commentators over the decades. Especially when talking about the national team. Most sides will have a monster (Atonio, Willemse, Skelton, Meafou etc) but in toto, the packs really aren't that bigger that other teams if at all.
- it's only really Toulouse that deserve that respect in your last line. Pretty much the rest are polarised. Racing, ASM, LOU and Paris try to play towards the harem scarem end (just badly) whereas the likes of Montpellier, Castres and Brive are grinders. Bordeaux probably the exception as a poor man's Toulouse. LaR are odd: they can play 1D grind or something more like England 2003 updated but they don't appear able to switch in any given game even if the state of the games dictates they should.

Case in point, the La Rochelle starting pack yesterday was 12 kilos lighter than Sarries'.

[Kawazaki]

Not after Jackson Wray replaced Billy Vunipola it wasn't.

[Sards]

Congratulations to all the winners this weekend.

Saffers are eliminated. Rightly so. As a Sharks supporter, Du Pont is a match winners on his own. I can see why he is so popular. Sharks gave their all. Not their day.

On behalf of the Stormers supporters. Where did that ref come from. The travel is bullshit. Can we please have Marius van der Westhuizen as one of our officials. At all our games.

[Torquemada 1420]

Congratulations to all the winners this weekend.

Saffers are eliminated. Rightly so. As a Sharks supporter, Du Pont is a match winners on his own. I can see why he is so popular. Sharks gave their all. Not their day.

On behalf of the Stormers supporters. Where did that ref come from. The travel is bullshit. Can we please have Marius van der Westhuizen as one of our officials. At all our games.

Agreed. Needs to be a more even playing field than this.

[robmatic]

Congratulations to all the winners this weekend.

Saffers are eliminated. Rightly so. As a Sharks supporter, Du Pont is a match winners on his own. I can see why he is so popular. Sharks gave their all. Not their day.

On behalf of the Stormers supporters. Where did that ref come from. The travel is bullshit. Can we please have Marius van der Westhuizen as one of our officials. At all our games.

Agreed. Needs to be a more even playing field than this.

Only having 1 week between the round of 16 and the quarter finals is absolute balls all round. It's obviously not long enough to properly facilitate north/south travel and it's not great within Europe either, as it doesn't give fans long enough to plan the away trip (or even home fans to get organised). I also don't think the excitement and the anticipation builds to the same extent.

[OomStruisbaai]

Congratulations to all the winners this weekend.

Saffers are eliminated. Rightly so. As a Sharks supporter, Du Pont is a match winners on his own. I can see why he is so popular. Sharks gave their all. Not their day.

On behalf of the Stormers supporters. Where did that ref come from. The travel is bullshit. Can we please have Marius van der Westhuizen as one of our officials. At all our games.

Dobson refuse to use the travel or ref as an excuse.

Powell on the udder hand use the ref excuse.

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/powell-for ... ed-sharks/


Get your vokken blinkers off

[Sards]

Congratulations to all the winners this weekend.

Saffers are eliminated. Rightly so. As a Sharks supporter, Du Pont is a match winners on his own. I can see why he is so popular. Sharks gave their all. Not their day.

On behalf of the Stormers supporters. Where did that ref come from. The travel is bullshit. Can we please have Marius van der Westhuizen as one of our officials. At all our games.

Dobson refuse to use the travel or ref as an excuse.

Powell on the udder hand use the ref excuse.

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/powell-for ... ed-sharks/


Get your vokken blinkers off

Did you actually read the article....

Powell said the overturned try for Grant Williams was the turning point in the match. He didn't blame the officials....dude......clutching.

WP supporters are having a full go re the ref and the travel

BTW. Did you see Bosch's stats for the match.
14 carries....225 odd metres. Best in the tournament in a single match so far. And they weren't sideways

"Nevertheless, the guys put everything in, and showed tremendous fighting spirit. They played their hearts out. "

Have to agree with Powell

[OomStruisbaai]

Congratulations to all the winners this weekend.

Saffers are eliminated. Rightly so. As a Sharks supporter, Du Pont is a match winners on his own. I can see why he is so popular. Sharks gave their all. Not their day.

On behalf of the Stormers supporters. Where did that ref come from. The travel is bullshit. Can we please have Marius van der Westhuizen as one of our officials. At all our games.

Dobson refuse to use the travel or ref as an excuse.

Powell on the udder hand use the ref excuse.

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/powell-for ... ed-sharks/


Get your vokken blinkers off

Did you actually read the article....

Powell said the overturned try for Grant Williams was the turning point in the match. He didn't blame the officials....dude......clutching.

WP supporters are having a full go re the ref and the travel

BTW. Did you see Bosch's stats for the match.
14 carries....225 odd metres. Best in the tournament in a single match so far. And they weren't sideways

"Nevertheless, the guys put everything in, and showed tremendous fighting spirit. They played their hearts out. "

Have to agree with Powell

You read to much kak the supporters say. Go to PR.

[Sards]

Anyway. I am thinking of supporting Leinster this weekend

Although I am quite surprised by how good Toulouse is.

[Chilli]

Congratulations to all the winners this weekend.

Saffers are eliminated. Rightly so. As a Sharks supporter, Du Pont is a match winners on his own. I can see why he is so popular. Sharks gave their all. Not their day.

On behalf of the Stormers supporters. Where did that ref come from. The travel is bullshit. Can we please have Marius van der Westhuizen as one of our officials. At all our games.

Dobson refuse to use the travel or ref as an excuse.

Powell on the udder hand use the ref excuse.

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/powell-for ... ed-sharks/


Get your vokken blinkers off

Did you actually read the article....

Powell said the overturned try for Grant Williams was the turning point in the match. He didn't blame the officials....dude......clutching.

There was no overturned try. No try was scored as there was a forward pass.

[assfly]

There was no overturned try. No try was scored as there was a forward pass.

FFS the ref awarded the try, it was overturned after the conversion.

[Chilli]

There was no overturned try. No try was scored as there was a forward pass.

FFS the ref awarded the try, it was overturned after the conversion.

Forward pass, no try.

[CM11]

By definition every overturned try was a try never scored due to an infringement.

This would meet the textbook definition of overturned try as it was awarded and points went on the scoreboard.

Stupid argument.

[Sards]

There was no overturned try. No try was scored as there was a forward pass.

FFS the ref awarded the try, it was overturned after the conversion.

I am still trying to understand how that statement qualifies as whinging about the ref...according to ouboet.

[JM2K6]

https://www.balls.ie/rugby/former-engla ... ing-549675

Ha Ha. BCM talking bollox as usual. No highly ranked team should get rewarded and if the team is based near the stadium that the final is in it should be moved with all the associated costs and problems. Good man Brian

Yeah, it's an unworkable suggestion. Obviously the tournament is uniquely set up in hundreds - nay, thousands - of ways to allow Leinster the best chance of victory, but these things have to be booked a long time in advance.

[lemonhead]

Whoever wins the Leinster/ST game is going to have the easiest HEC final ever.

La Rochelle are annoying enough to stay in any game. Wouldn't be ruling them out but favourites have to be as you say.

100% correct. They hung o to us last year when we played all the rugby and then sucker punch. Very little was made of how limited they were as people were delighted we lost but they just hang on for dear life and wear you down. They are very difficult to watch

Er, no.

Could be facile about it and point to the try count but fact is they sent that ball to the wider channels all first half looking for ground. Often working far harder than you'd expect given Leinster's excellent defence, just the Rhule try to show for it.

Were indeed hanging on from 55mins but then Leinster fluffed their lines and LaR finished on top. Both sides played plenty of rugby, it was a decent final.

Won't disagree on the weekend just gone though, both sides were dogshit.

[Uncle fester]

Why is there still no app for this competition?

[Jim Lahey]

Toulouse shoe ins. Leinsters injury list is

https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/leo-cullen ... emi-final/

The no updates lads are kaputt

So likely team?:

Porter
Sheehan
Furlong
Ryan
Jenkins?
Doris
VDF/Penny
Conan
JGP
Byrne
Daverage/Larmour
Henshaw
Ringrose
JOB
Keenan

Leinster by 20 shirley.

[CM11]

Leo apparently very positive about Baird and VDF.

Possibly just missing Kelleher, Sexton and Lowe from the 23.

[Sards]

Peeks in.....................peeks out

Only NH teams here

[SaintK]

I know we haven't finished this year's comps yet but next season's finals will be at Tottenham Hotspurs stadium in North London
I'm in!!!!

[PornDog]

I know we haven't finished this year's comps yet but next season's finals will be at Tottenham Hotspurs stadium in North London
I'm in!!!!

Brian Moore will be livid - what with Sarries playing games there

[Torquemada 1420]

Mola trying to ingratiate himself with Barnes ahead of their HEC semi at Leinster
https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/04/26/cha ... 157910.php

Sorry Ugo but Wayne doesn't read Bernol.

[Torquemada 1420]

I know we haven't finished this year's comps yet but next season's finals will be at Tottenham Hotspurs stadium in North London
I'm in!!!!

They'll need the extra revenue from somewhere to continue funding their dire player purchases plus paying next season's 4 managers' early termination costs.

[PornDog]

Cheapest tickets for Leinster vs Toulouse are €75

Most expensive tickets for La Rochelle vs Exeter are €65

That's just fucking disgusting!

[CM11]

Cheapest tickets for Leinster vs Toulouse are €75

Most expensive tickets for La Rochelle vs Exeter are €65

That's just fucking disgusting!

Cheapest ticket now (I'm assuming). Not overall.

But we do have higher ticket prices than most, if not all, countries.