2017 -2018 Champions Cup Seeding

[kermischocolate]

HEC 2011-12?

Firhill 2012 mud bath in a soul less soccer pitch !.[/quote]
Loved Hughenden the first time , beautiful spot !.[/quote] Sorry spelt it wrong would be nice to go back there , think the bar was closed because it was a Sunday , anyone else at that game , a few years ago now ?.[/quote]

Aah. My actual local rugby club.
It's changed a bit since then- now has a proper restaurant in the ground floor. For those looking for pints/ food could do worse than head there. Even open on sundays .

[Dave Cahill]

Iirc they wouldn't let Leinster supporters use the bar as we weren't members?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

That was probably just Cummiskey standing guard and saying "you're not proper fans, you don't deserve a drink"

[Dave Cahill]

So long ago he was probably at home squeezing his plukes and listening to his McFly albums

[Ruckedtobits]

Not the worst

Munster should be reasonably happy with Castres no doubt giving up after they lose their first couple of games. Should defo qualify for QF. Ulster too can look to qualify though big improvement on this year needed.

Don't think Munster should make any assumptions on this Pool. Three teams which play their rugby through their packs and none of the Coaches will fall "under the spell" of the Munster tradition and reputation. The draw will be crucial as MO'C will have Leicester up to 90° for the visit to TP whilst Racing 92 have unfinished business from their last visit.

[Ruckedtobits]

Tough draw. Expecting montpelier will flop on all their away trips which should take them out of the equation. Glasgow might be different under a new coach so I'd definitely hope for wins home and away there. Exeter difficult to call.

Montpellier a very different team next year with a coach who understands the importance of Europe and a bunch of players who choose to join MontP for that reason. Lest it's overlooked, the new recruits include:
Picamoles (from N'hampton for a big compensation fee)
Piennar (Ulster)
Serfontaine (Blue Bulls)
Cruden (Waitkato Chiefs)
Bardy (Clermont)
Camara (Toulouse)

When you consider who they already have in front five (the Du Plessis clan and others) and in back three (Jesse Mogg, Nagusa and Nandolo), the new recruits look like shrewd business by VC. Already they are ranked joint second Favs for 2017-18 Top 14 title. Nothing easy here.

[neiliog93]

I think Montpellier might win the Top 14 next season. Very tough draw, Glasgow with Dave Rennie is in all likelihood an away loss, as is Montpellier. So we'll probably need to win at the home of the Premiership champions, which ironically looks the most doable of the lot (and that assumes we win all our home games).

[simonokeeffe]

I think Montpellier might win the Top 14 next season. Very tough draw, Glasgow with Dave Rennie is in all likelihood an away loss, as is Montpellier. So we'll probably need to win at the home of the Premiership champions, which ironically looks the most doable of the lot (and that assumes we win all our home games).

dont see why Glasgow away isa write off

Not the worst

Munster should be reasonably happy with Castres no doubt giving up after they lose their first couple of games. Should defo qualify for QF. Ulster too can look to qualify though big improvement on this year needed.

Don't think Munster should make any assumptions on this Pool. Three teams which play their rugby through their packs and none of the Coaches will fall "under the spell" of the Munster tradition and reputation. The draw will be crucial as MO'C will have Leicester up to 90° for the visit to TP whilst Racing 92 have unfinished business from their last visit.

Tigers have had a net loss on recruitment, George Ford is a good signing but leaves them with no decent kicker, their midfield is a casualty ward, back 5 of pack isnt scary at all
That said Munster would be boned in Welford Road without J Ryan or Murray

[neiliog93]

Glasgow have recruited very well, firstly on the coaching front with Dave Rennie. I can see them recapturing their peak form of the 2014-15 season. Also, they've got Huw Jones for next year, Vunisa from Saracens, Callum Gibbins from the Hurricanes and Oli Kebble from the Stormers. I can see them being very strong.

[leinsterforever]

Glasgow have recruited very well, firstly on the coaching front with Dave Rennie. I can see them recapturing their peak form of the 2014-15 season. Also, they've got Huw Jones for next year, Vunisa from Saracens, Callum Gibbins from the Hurricanes and Oli Kebble from the Stormers. I can see them being very strong.

And Masaga, who's possibly the most slippery and evasive player I've ever seen. Struggles defensively though, and don't know how good he still is

[kermischocolate]

Glasgow have recruited very well, firstly on the coaching front with Dave Rennie. I can see them recapturing their peak form of the 2014-15 season. Also, they've got Huw Jones for next year, Vunisa from Saracens, Callum Gibbins from the Hurricanes and Oli Kebble from the Stormers. I can see them being very strong.

And Masaga, who's possibly the most slippery and evasive player I've ever seen. Struggles defensively though, and don't know how good he still is

Yes but Huw Jones is injured already, SH imports won't be here until after super rugby season (including coaches). So we could be brilliant or a complete disaster.

[simonokeeffe]

They also lost likes of Bennet and Strauss though to mitigate that plus theres been a huge turnover of props last 12 months

They lack depth beyond first choice at prop and lock and still overly reliant on Finn Russell who implodes from time to time.

Not saying we should rest playets for thst trip but far from a write off. Factor in our signings and players returning from injury we should be able to make a game of it

[Dexter]

I think we have a fairly handy squad too though.

[Ruckedtobits]

That is a difficult group. Montpellier have recruited well and will have Cotter coaching them next season. They'll be a tougher side than the one we faced this season. Exeter have proven over the last few years to be a tricky side too. Glasgow is probably our only chance at an away win. This group will be a case of teams taking points off each other and will be very interesting as a result. It could have been worse, but it could have been better too. Have we gotten an Italian team once in the last 20 years?

Starting to think getting drawn in Clermonts group might have been easier. That would have meant facing either Leicester or Bath from tier 3. They'd be easier than Montpellier.

Midi Olympique suggesting there are two "Pools of Death", ours and Ospreys. Cotter confirming that view. No suggestions that there are easy groups, even with Treviso included.

French rugby in despair about performance of National team and pressure building on LNR to ensure greater availability for Squad players and less League games for front-line players.

Sud Ouest building that pressure with release about an increase of 80% in Top 14 player injuries in past five Seasons. Detailed medical analysis that tackled players and tacklers are now accumulating most punishment (and injuries) rather that scrum and ruck injuries. Again pressure building for Law changes before it becomes a crisis.

Lots to be concerned about for anybody interested in long-term future of the game as similar trens evident in SH.

[blockhead]

I wonder is there any injury stats comparing teams that play a more expansive game rather than the bosh game, if you know what I mean. Two terms hard to define I know but the Fremch teams have just got bigger and bigger over the years, as have we all, but them more so it seems.

[simonokeeffe]

I wonder is there any injury stats comparing teams that play a more expansive game rather than the bosh game, if you know what I mean. Two terms hard to define I know but the Fremch teams have just got bigger and bigger over the years, as have we all, but them more so it seems.

Id wager French teams are generally older too which feeds into pace and style of game and size and frequency of collisions

[wixfjord]

I see that Johnny Gray, Stuart Hogg and Fraser Brown are doubtful for Scotland's Autumn Internationals.
Hopefully we can get Glas away first up, the injuries might play in our favour.

[kermischocolate]

I see that Johnny Gray, Stuart Hogg and Fraser Brown are doubtful for Scotland's Autumn Internationals.
Hopefully we can get Glas away first up, the injuries might play in our favour.

Especially as we have no other recognised specialist fullback.

Or coach yet.

Or new signings.

I'd say if we are competitive first half of the season we'll be doing well.

[jimbobjoe]

I see that Johnny Gray, Stuart Hogg and Fraser Brown are doubtful for Scotland's Autumn Internationals.
Hopefully we can get Glas away first up, the injuries might play in our favour.

Especially as we have no other recognised specialist fullback.

Or coach yet.

Or new signings.

I'd say if we are competitive first half of the season we'll be doing well.

Revvie arriving asap post Super rugby I'm guessing?

[kermischocolate]

I see that Johnny Gray, Stuart Hogg and Fraser Brown are doubtful for Scotland's Autumn Internationals.
Hopefully we can get Glas away first up, the injuries might play in our favour.

Especially as we have no other recognised specialist fullback.

Or coach yet.

Or new signings.

I'd say if we are competitive first half of the season we'll be doing well.

Revvie arriving asap post Super rugby I'm guessing?

Yes, but who knows when that is.