European Rugby Champions Cup

[simonokeeffe]

chapeau

[Oldschool]

I'm hearing we've got Nigel for the QF, could be a helluva game.

I'd be worried about Nigel benefiting Wasps. The good news is he should be influenceable in Landsdowne.

It also means we have to change the ballboys...the guy from last time is a yellow card waiting to happen.

Different competition.

[blockhead]

44,000 tickets sold for the QF

[riocard911]

44,000 tickets sold for the QF

Ka-ching!!!

[Ruckedtobits]

Must get it to a minimum of 48,000 to give the impact of a full stadium. Players last weekend noted the impact of a "noisy" stadium. Every good Irish action was greeted with encouragement. English attempts were ignored and 'Chariots' was run off the road after the first 4 bars. We need the remaining 6,000 'referees' to pitch up, so that Nigel knows what decisions to make.

[bargepole]

Nigel Owens has refereed Leinster 16 times in HC/ERCC games, with Leinster winning 12, drawing one and losing 3.

He has refereed Wasps 6 times, with Wasps winning 3 and losing 3.

He has refereed two previous clashes between the two sides, with Wasps winning 35-13 in 2007, and Leinster winning 41-11 in 2009.

So we're going to not only have to play well enough to beat Leinster, but also establish enough superiority to take refereeing decisions out of the equation. No pressure, then.

[Oldschoolsocks]

Nigel Owens has refereed Leinster 16 times in HC/ERCC games, with Leinster winning 12, drawing one and losing 3.

He has refereed Wasps 6 times, with Wasps winning 3 and losing 3.

He has refereed two previous clashes between the two sides, with Wasps winning 35-13 in 2007, and Leinster winning 41-11 in 2009.

So we're going to not only have to play well enough to beat Leinster, but also establish enough superiority to take refereeing decisions out of the equation. No pressure, then.

No telling with Nigel these days, he tends to like a good theme to a match - so i think whoever sets the initial tempo is likely enough to get the run of the green tbh

[Cathalsmart]

Wasps won 40-33, they will now be a huge challenge as they will be confident after being able to grind out a win in a tight game despite being favourites. We will be lower on confidence after only narrowly beating a team we should have hammered. Right now i make Wasps massive favourites.

[blockhead]

Yep they'll be buzzin after that.
We have no chance.
Need a miracle.
We had a good run but the parties over.
and so on.

[riocard911]

Wasps won 40-33, they will now be a huge challenge as they will be confident after being able to grind out a win in a tight game despite being favourites. We will be lower on confidence after only narrowly beating a team we should have hammered. Right now i make Wasps massive favourites.

I wouldn't overrate that performance. Worcester were well in it at half-time 19-19. Bryce Heem's red card in the 45th minute was the decider, as it created the space for Wasps to score tries. Even against 14 men though they fell off at the end and let Worcester in for two tries and a bonus point. One thing for sure, if we give Wasps the type of chances we gave Cardiff yesterday, they will rip us to shreds. Their scrum was under serious pressure vs Worcester. Play territory, starve them of possession and choke the life out of them is the way to go, IMO. Hell, if we were to eke out scrum penos and knock them over a la our last ERCC quarter final vs Bath I'd be more than happy!!!!

[paddyor]

Wasps won 40-33, they will now be a huge challenge as they will be confident after being able to grind out a win in a tight game despite being favourites. We will be lower on confidence after only narrowly beating a team we should have hammered. Right now i make Wasps massive favourites.

Don't think they'll be too confident. It was 19-19 at ht and then Worcester had a player red carded for tackling in the air. That doesn't seem all that convinving to me. And it was a fairly strong Wasps team. They've still Launchbury Hughes and Daly to comeback and I think they benched some of next weeks starters but they'd expect to be comfortably better at home than 2nd from bottom.

They're very good going forward but seem quite permeable too (conceded 49 tries in the AP). They really struggled against Toulouse in both games (but just about got results) when there set piece was under pressure. I think we will have an advantage in the scrum at least. I don't think you could call them massive favorites at all.

EDIT Ah Ricaord saw the game.

[John23]

In the event of a Leinster win on Saturday:

http://www.epcrugby.com/news/35293.php#.WNpV8en6tkg

[simonokeeffe]

and best of luck to Glasgow against Cobra Kai

[curates_egg]

Do we know what day our semi will be on? I will have to do it in one night, so want to book asap.

[cormac]

Do we know what day our semi will be on? I will have to do it in one night, so want to book asap.

My guess would be the Sunday. The French love their Sunday matches

[Ruckedtobits]

Almost certainly Sunday just checking on Broadcasters. BT appear to have first option each weekend and they will always choose the English option, or possibly British option. So Sunday for us in France somewhere.

[erskinechilders]

The two potential stadiums are both fairly big,

Allianz Stadium in Nice ( 35,000 ) if Toulon win and Matmut Stade de Gerland, which used to Olympique Lyons home ground before they moved to a brand new stadium. that capacity is 43,000 if Clermont win.

[paddyor]

Russell had 2 missed penos to touch. The 2nd was fatal, Saracems went back up the pitch amd scored almost immediately.

[outcast eddie]

Munster v Sarries, aaaargh! This is gonna strain my anti-Munsterness.

[kermischocolate]

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.