2015/2016 season we had Bath, Wasps and Toulon in our group. The back to back games were against Toulon.footrush wrote:Booked Coventry and Bath over December just in case !.
Might as well book Toulouse as well while you're at it Footrush
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2015/2016 season we had Bath, Wasps and Toulon in our group. The back to back games were against Toulon.footrush wrote:Booked Coventry and Bath over December just in case !.
Tends to dictate the order of the games as well IIRC. Why we usually end up with 2 away games on the bounce in 2 and 3.Ruckedtobits wrote:No. It's totally a matter between Broadcasters and the teams. Teams with the biggest clout or advertising spend have most influence with Broadcasters and as we invariable bring a game to Aviva with 52k capacity in weekend before Christmas, we usually get a fairly free hand from Broadcasters as to who we choose for back-to-back games. The French broadcasters, Bein, tend to target their blockbuster games for Sunday afternoon so they usually do a deal with BT / Sky to support whichever games they want to split on a Sat. e.g.Clermont v Sarries @ 16.15 on Sunday was Bein's big game in the Christmas round last season.
Possibly just a small element of tongue-in-cheek?offshorerules wrote:Tough, tough draw. Hard to see an easy pool though except maybe Munster's.
They said it's a few(2) weeks after the last leagues fixture list is announced. Think ours was late last year because of the expansion.Triskaidekaphobia wrote:Last year, we had to wait until August 22nd for the fixture dates. Hope they can manage it sooner this year.
I'll take the bet on Richards. They operate on an extremely modest budget by comparison to either of them. The qualified for the playoffs by the skin of their teeth(no. of wins) over Tigers. I think they'll be doing well to win one game to be honest.Ruckedtobits wrote:Possibly just a small element of tongue-in-cheek?offshorerules wrote:Tough, tough draw. Hard to see an easy pool though except maybe Munster's.
That looks like one of the most even draws in many years.
Anybody who thinks Sarries have it easy might want to review the Lyon displays in the Top14 barrage games. And if Glasgow can hang on to their Coaching ticket, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see a big scalp taken at home by the Warriors.
Racing92, Scarlets, Leicester & Ulster includes two "weaker" clubs with history in the competition for formidable home records.
Castres, Exeter and Munster are three teams with huge pride in their local support and composition. Again, very strong home records.
Montpelier, Toulon, Edinburgh and Newcastle, anybody bet that Cockers and Richards won't have an ambush planned for one of the big boys?
Our Pool is as tough as we would want. A couple of Clubs with very strong European pedigrees, but slightly off their strongest Squads at the moment.
Without trying to be cocky, the reality is that nobody fancied getting Leinster in their Pool. The three teams we've been drawn are teams that we respect, based on historical games against them, but don't fear because of particular super-stars in their Squads.
Certainly better than last Season's prospects on the day of the Draw.
Bath always a difficult place to get somewhere to stay !.Triskaidekaphobia wrote:2015/2016 season we had Bath, Wasps and Toulon in our group. The back to back games were against Toulon.footrush wrote:Booked Coventry and Bath over December just in case !.
Might as well book Toulouse as well while you're at it Footrush
Yes, the last time we had Bath, Wasps and a French team beginning with 'Toul' in our group, we all know how that ended up!Triskaidekaphobia wrote:2015/2016 season we had Bath, Wasps and Toulon in our group. The back to back games were against Toulon.footrush wrote:Booked Coventry and Bath over December just in case !.
Might as well book Toulouse as well while you're at it Footrush
Hope you stuck a few quid on that!wixfjord wrote:
Lein, Wasps, Toulouse, Bath would be a cracker of a group also. Some old foes there!
Someone must have contacted Johnny Watterson as he has now corrected it.Barry wrote:From the Irish Times article on the draw :-
Simon Zebo will enjoy a swift return to Thomond Park along with another former Munster legend Donnacha Ryan after Racing 92 were drawn against Johann van Graan’s side in Pool 2. Premiership sides Exeter and Gloucester make up the pool.
I'd suggest writing that again but focusing only on abilities and history to win away from home. That will show the easier groups. Of course every team will try to win at home.Ruckedtobits wrote:Possibly just a small element of tongue-in-cheek?offshorerules wrote:Tough, tough draw. Hard to see an easy pool though except maybe Munster's.
That looks like one of the most even draws in many years.
Anybody who thinks Sarries have it easy might want to review the Lyon displays in the Top14 barrage games. And if Glasgow can hang on to their Coaching ticket, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see a big scalp taken at home by the Warriors.
Racing92, Scarlets, Leicester & Ulster includes two "weaker" clubs with history in the competition for formidable home records.
Castres, Exeter and Munster are three teams with huge pride in their local support and composition. Again, very strong home records.
Montpelier, Toulon, Edinburgh and Newcastle, anybody bet that Cockers and Richards won't have an ambush planned for one of the big boys?
Our Pool is as tough as we would want. A couple of Clubs with very strong European pedigrees, but slightly off their strongest Squads at the moment.
Without trying to be cocky, the reality is that nobody fancied getting Leinster in their Pool. The three teams we've been drawn are teams that we respect, based on historical games against them, but don't fear because of particular super-stars in their Squads.
Certainly better than last Season's prospects on the day of the Draw.
:Toulon, M'pellierCiaranIrl wrote:Pool 1: Leinster, Wasps, Toulouse, Bath: Leinster, Toulouse
Pool 2: Castres, Exeter Chiefs, Munster, Gloucester: Castres, Munster
Pool 3: Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Lyon, Cardiff Blues: Sarries, Lyon
Pool 4: Scarlets, Racing 92, Leicester Tigers, Ulster: Racing, Scarlets
Pool 5: Montpellier, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Toulon
I'd have Glasgow > Lyon; Exeter > Castres and - based on their past few seasons - not assume Toulouse will finish second in our group - although they have signed a couple of good players.Ruckedtobits wrote::Toulon, M'pellierCiaranIrl wrote:Pool 1: Leinster, Wasps, Toulouse, Bath: Leinster, Toulouse
Pool 2: Castres, Exeter Chiefs, Munster, Gloucester: Castres, Munster
Pool 3: Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Lyon, Cardiff Blues: Sarries, Lyon
Pool 4: Scarlets, Racing 92, Leicester Tigers, Ulster: Racing, Scarlets
Pool 5: Montpellier, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Toulon
This instinctive ranking of the top two in each Group is done without trying yet to figure out which 8 will come through to Quarter-finals. Clearly, many within the Clubs not included will believe that they can upset the initial ranking, but only Exeter fall into the category of having a strong case for inclusion.
OTOH, these predictions may be merely a translation of current perception of the state of Premiership and English international rugby standards. Time will tell.