Champions Cup 2020

[Serb]

Looks like the battle for top seed will be between ourselves and Exeter. They’ve gotten a bonus point away to Glasgow and look very likely to get the win here. They’re home to La Rochelle so I think it’s pretty likely they’ll get the full 10 points from the remaining game.

As soon as I posted that, Glasgow go and grab their own BP try and draw level. They’re playing pretty well now.

[Serb]

Holy f%~k? Hogg just hit the bar with a 60 meter attempt at goal [FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY] Draw anyway, so daylight for Leinster assuming we get the result against Lyon. We should go on to be first seed now.

[joooooe]

Looks like the battle for top seed will be between ourselves and Exeter. They’ve gotten a bonus point away to Glasgow and look very likely to get the win here. They’re home to La Rochelle so I think it’s pretty likely they’ll get the full 10 points from the remaining game.

As soon as I posted that, Glasgow go and grab their own BP try and draw level. They’re playing pretty well now.

Weegies came back to draw. The last 10 minutes were bonkers.

[wixfjord]

Exeter draw with the TBP in Glasgow and move up to 22.
Toulouse beat Connacht with three tries and move to 22 also.

We're currently on 19 so if we can get 9 points from our two games we'll be guaranteed top seeds.

We have a good buffer of points difference too over both sides, which is basically an extra point in itself.

[Twist]

They also - obviously enough - didn’t improve their points difference. We’ve a big chance to put some daylight between us now

[tingman]

Geez but Connacht are poor - injuries aside they look a poorly coached side. Even against 13 for the last 10 mins they were clueless.

[FLIP]

In the Challenge cup Zebre beat Stade Francais in Paris. Decent showing from them.

[Ruckedtobits]

Geez but Connacht are poor - injuries aside they look a poorly coached side. Even against 13 for the last 10 mins they were clueless.

Overall fitness also looks an issue compared to last Season.

[CiaranIrl]

Geez but Connacht are poor - injuries aside they look a poorly coached side. Even against 13 for the last 10 mins they were clueless.

Overall fitness also looks an issue compared to last Season.

It's weird that Andy Friend is given a total and utter pass by the media because he is likable and Kieran Keane wasn't. As if likeability is the most important factor in a patronisable team like Connacht. At the end of the day, they are at least as sh!t now as they were in Keane's time, and (whisper it) maybe even worse.

Yeah yeah, injuries etc. I get it. But 4 years ago, in a world cup cycle, they went on to win the title. Cut the excuses.

[Ruckedtobits]

Some really good running performances from Glasgow yesterday against Exeter. Chiefs had looked very comprehensive the previous weekend against a fully-loaded Sarries but Warriors found lots of holes in their defence, particularly from counter-attacks off badly directed kicks.

The effect of the 4G pitch was apparent all through the game and was more advantage to Glasgow. But this was a game which served to confirm that, a) so long as they get to Pro14 play-offs, Glasgow cannot be ignored and b) with a core of 'Weegies in their team Scotland will not be a walkover in the 6N.

[Laighin Break]

Geez but Connacht are poor - injuries aside they look a poorly coached side. Even against 13 for the last 10 mins they were clueless.

Overall fitness also looks an issue compared to last Season.

Carty especially looked knackered at times and, on one or two occasions, seemed to kick the ball away because he was too wrecked to run/pass

[Logorrhea]

Yeah yeah, injuries etc. I get it. But 4 years ago, in a world cup cycle, they went on to win the title. Cut the excuses.

But is that not being a bit unfair. I mean we say injuries etc but they have been absolutely gutted. 4 years ago they had a squad fit and fresh, unaffected by international call ups and ready to run at the league. Very very different this time round. Maybe Friend is a bit of a spoofer, but we'll only find out in the net month or two when he gets his squad to play with.

[hugonaut]

Geez but Connacht are poor - injuries aside they look a poorly coached side. Even against 13 for the last 10 mins they were clueless.

Overall fitness also looks an issue compared to last Season.

It's weird that Andy Friend is given a total and utter pass by the media because he is likable and Kieran Keane wasn't. As if likeability is the most important factor in a patronisable team like Connacht. At the end of the day, they are at least as sh!t now as they were in Keane's time, and (whisper it) maybe even worse.

Yeah yeah, injuries etc. I get it. But 4 years ago, in a world cup cycle, they went on to win the title. Cut the excuses.

Absolutely agree.

The aim of the game isn't to blame coaches, but this Connacht team is all over the place and the coach has to shoulder some of the responsibility. The players have to cop it as well, because they are not combining at all - everything they do seems like guys going on solo runs. Lots of them don't look fit enough either. To be frank, very few upsides from that match.

[riocard911]

Munster go in vs Racing at half-time 11-16 ahead after Conway scores an intercept try out of his own 22 in the last few minutes.

[Twist]

Well, that’s the end of that

[wixfjord]

Racing pull away, just too much attacking ability for Munster.

A knockout rugby performance from Munster but again completely inept attacking wise. I think it was twice in two minutes that they attempted swing passes and ended up missing the player in behind and losing 10-15 yards.

[Jonny tight lips]

Well, that’s the end of that

Prehaps some of the other provinces may get some air time this week

[tingman]

A bit of heart, spirit and passion will get you so far - and thats the reality for this Munster side.
They seriously lack a cutting edge.

[wixfjord]

Predictions for QF:

Pool 1
Leinster 28/9
Northampton 18

We'll beat Treviso and grab 1st seed. Reckon Northampton will grab a win in Lyon with no TBP.

Pool 2
Exeter 27
Exeter will beat La Rochelle at home, likely with TBP.

Pool 3
Clermont 25
Ulster 22
Clermont to beat Quins away with TBP. Ulster to beat Bath at home with TBP and finish second.

Pool 4
Racing 23
Sarries 18
Reckon Sarries will turn over Racing next week and secure a spot. Racing to grab a LBP.

Pool 5
Toulouse 27
Toulouse to beat Gloucester with a TBP at home.

Exeter have a very slightly better points difference than Toulouse.
Us whupping Saints by so much means we'll get them on points diff and not Sarries.

Which would leave it:

Leinster v Northampton
Exeter v Saracens
Toulouse v Ulster
Clermont v Racing

[Twist]

Predictions for QF:

Pool 1
Leinster 28/9
Northampton 18

We'll beat Treviso and grab 1st seed. Reckon Northampton will grab a win in Lyon with no TBP.

Pool 2
Exeter 27
Exeter will beat La Rochelle at home, likely with TBP.

Pool 3
Clermont 25
Ulster 22
Clermont to beat Quins away with TBP. Ulster to beat Bath at home with TBP and finish second.

Pool 4
Racing 23
Sarries 18
Reckon Sarries will turn over Racing next week and secure a spot. Racing to grab a LBP.

Pool 5
Toulouse 27
Toulouse to beat Gloucester with a TBP at home.

Exeter have a very slightly better points difference than Toulouse.
Us whupping Saints by so much means we'll get them on points diff and not Sarries.

Which would leave it:

Leinster v Northampton
Exeter v Saracens
Toulouse v Ulster
Clermont v Racing

Exeter v. Saracens at Sandy Park. Id go to that myself, given the chance