European Rugby Champions Cup

[tingman]

agree - they were bullied off the park.

[Fan with smartphone]

I feel a bit ill typing this, but, the whole Saracens set up is something to marvel at. On pitch and off. And I say that while currently drinking a 4 pint bag of cider on their pitch, watching the 4th semi.

Glasgow simply weren't good enough.


Looks like I'm supporting Leinster for a double this year.

Hard luck man. You were just down too many men to live with them. Even at that, those penalties not to touch, the time Price had great chance of a counter only to be robbed, those were big swings. But yeah, you gotta give it to saracens - impressive.

[D4surfer]

9 all between Clermont and Toulon after 58 minutes.

[D4surfer]

16 9 to Clermont Nakaitaci try 62 minutes

[wixfjord]

Looking like it'll be Clermont in Lyon.
Awful game, don't see anything much to fear from them.

[riocard911]

Looking like it'll be Clermont in Lyon.
Awful game, don't see anything much to fear from them.

Me either. Lots of huff and puff. We should be able to overcome that.

[D4surfer]

Still 16 9 to Clermont into the last 10 minutes.

[D4surfer]

19 9 Clermont drop goal.

[D4surfer]

22 9 all over for Toulon. Lyon here we come. Still 5 minutes left.

[D4surfer]

"They think it's all over, it is now"

Try Clermont on 80 minutes.

[tingman]

bring it on i say.....neither of these teams are anywhere near as good as they were...

[domhnallj]

Looking like it'll be Clermont in Lyon.
Awful game, don't see anything much to fear from them.

Crappy conditions but their lineout looks pretty good. Given the ongoing state of ours, I hope that Leo has them practicing.

[hugonaut]

And a runaway try at the death for Penaud's kid to put a big number up on the scoreboard, 29-9 and a clear 20 points between the two sides.

Four big and convincing home wins in the quarter finals - Clermont +20, Saracens +25, Munster +25, Leinster +15. It's back to one away quarter-final win every two years. I had a quick look at the penalties against the home/away sides, and the difference is inconsequential:

Leinster 6 pens conceded, Wasps 8 pens conceded;
Munster 8 pens conceded, Toulouse 9 pens conceded;
Saracens 9 pens conceded, Glasgow 8 pens conceded;
ASM 8 pens conceded, Toulon 8 pens conceded;

Home side: 31 pens conceded
Away side: 33 pens conceded

It's not the refs that make it so difficult to win away from home [this season, at least]. I think it's more likely that the pressure of the occasion, the change of facilities, preparation etc. and the impact of a hostile crowd make a big negative impression on travelling teams.

How does that impact our selection for the semi-final? I think it means that there's a conundrum with regards to playing younger form players versus experienced players who have gone through a lot of big games before and are less phased by the preparation differences and difficulties.

[simonokeeffe]

Looking like it'll be Clermont in Lyon.
Awful game, don't see anything much to fear from them.

Me either. Lots of huff and puff. We should be able to overcome that.

from a cursory look at their teamsheet from today their bench doesnt look up to much at all

starting backline is scary

[LeRouxIsPHat]

That was a dreadful match to watch and I agree with everyone who said that there's nothing to fear from Clermont but I think people need to put the win in context. If we played a quarter final against Munster in those conditions then I suspect it would be a brutal match too. Yet they won and it was very comfortable in the end. Toulon are nowhere near as good as they were and were dead and buried at one stage during the group phase, but dug their way out of that and still have an awful lot of talent and winners in that squad so to dominate the game (it felt like that to me anyway) and come out comfortable winners is no mean feat.

I was always confident of winning yesterday and expected the young lads to deliver but the semi is a different kettle of fish. I'm excited though, we're in a great place.

[elfan]

Next years finals in Bilbao

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/39479673

[Twist]

And a runaway try at the death for Penaud's kid to put a big number up on the scoreboard, 29-9 and a clear 20 points between the two sides.

Four big and convincing home wins in the quarter finals - Clermont +20, Saracens +25, Munster +25, Leinster +15. It's back to one away quarter-final win every two years. I had a quick look at the penalties against the home/away sides, and the difference is inconsequential:

Leinster 6 pens conceded, Wasps 8 pens conceded;
Munster 8 pens conceded, Toulouse 9 pens conceded;
Saracens 9 pens conceded, Glasgow 8 pens conceded;
ASM 8 pens conceded, Toulon 8 pens conceded;

Home side: 31 pens conceded
Away side: 33 pens conceded

It's not the refs that make it so difficult to win away from home [this season, at least]. I think it's more likely that the pressure of the occasion, the change of facilities, preparation etc. and the impact of a hostile crowd make a big negative impression on travelling teams.

How does that impact our selection for the semi-final? I think it means that there's a conundrum with regards to playing younger form players versus experienced players who have gone through a lot of big games before and are less phased by the preparation differences and difficulties.

If anything, bad refereeing made it harder for Munster


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cormac]

Next years finals in Bilbao

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/39479673

2019 in Newcastle

[neiliog93]

Next years finals in Bilbao

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/39479673

2019 in Newcastle

Ridiculous!

[leinsterfan100]

Noa Nakaitaci out for rest of season for Clermont