As it stands - Heineken cup 2019

[desperado]

https://www.the42.ie/racing-leinster-ul ... 7-Feb2019/

What a shower of tossers if true. Make it up as you go along.

[johng]

Well we've been doing it for years.

[desperado]

not changing the rules midstream. Smacks of Jackie Lorenzetti and brown envelopes. If it was announced at season start I wouldn't have an issue. Regardless, Lansdowne Road is not our home ground. We play 2 -3 games there (if lucky) per season. Racing play circa 14? games at La Defense concert hall. Not sure I'd agree they're comparable.

[Serb]

In fairness, the “home country advantage” rule was more ridiculous than just awarding the higher seed a home game. I agree that it sucks they’re thinking of changing this mid competition, but I think it makes more sense overall. We effectively get a home semi regardless of the rules if Toulouse can beat Racing.

[arsebiscuits1]

It's the capacity that bothers me.

This competition wanted to be the best rugby championship. They went down the line of trying to get multiple sponsors (which ultimately was a failure)

But if they want to be portraying this as a prime competition that investors should be getting behind, the semi final should really be in a venue of larger than 32,000

[Oldschool]

It's the capacity that bothers me.

This competition wanted to be the best rugby championship. They went down the line of trying to get multiple sponsors (which ultimately was a failure)

But if they want to be portraying this as a prime competition that investors should be getting behind, the semi final should really be in a venue of larger than 32,000

Good point and 32k doesn't even come close to meeting the likely demand for tickets which is surely (or should be) a major consideration.

[fourthirtythree]

It's the capacity that bothers me.

This competition wanted to be the best rugby championship. They went down the line of trying to get multiple sponsors (which ultimately was a failure)

But if they want to be portraying this as a prime competition that investors should be getting behind, the semi final should really be in a venue of larger than 32,000

Good point and 32k doesn't even come close to meeting the likely demand for tickets which is surely (or should be) a major consideration.

Well their press release claimed that having suitably large venues was the motivation for the non-home venue rule in the first place but that now some of the teams had suitably prestigious venues. So they must think 32k is fine.

[Oldschool]

It's the capacity that bothers me.

This competition wanted to be the best rugby championship. They went down the line of trying to get multiple sponsors (which ultimately was a failure)

But if they want to be portraying this as a prime competition that investors should be getting behind, the semi final should really be in a venue of larger than 32,000

Good point and 32k doesn't even come close to meeting the likely demand for tickets which is surely (or should be) a major consideration.

Well their press release claimed that having suitably large venues was the motivation for the non-home venue rule in the first place but that now some of the teams had suitably prestigious venues. So they must think 32k is fine.

Not necessarily but it could be a way of tabling the idea for future action.

[mildlyinterested]

It's the capacity that bothers me.

This competition wanted to be the best rugby championship. They went down the line of trying to get multiple sponsors (which ultimately was a failure)

But if they want to be portraying this as a prime competition that investors should be getting behind, the semi final should really be in a venue of larger than 32,000

Good point and 32k doesn't even come close to meeting the likely demand for tickets which is surely (or should be) a major consideration.

Well their press release claimed that having suitably large venues was the motivation for the non-home venue rule in the first place but that now some of the teams had suitably prestigious venues. So they must think 32k is fine.

because most teams struggle to get 32k.

[fourthirtythree]

A full stadium has to be more of a priority for the competition than the biggest stadium. Surely they only really care about the live audience to provide wallpaper for the TV coverage. I don't think it's right that French teams can get rewarded for playing well with a trek to the other end of the country.

It would be better to change the rules before the competition started rather than mid season though.

[neill_m]

Changing the rules mid-season is typical of the EPCR, probably want to avoid a repeat of the Racing 92 Munster semi final last year when the crowd was just less than 25k in a 35k stadium.

[artaneboy]

not changing the rules midstream. Smacks of Jackie Lorenzetti and brown envelopes. If it was announced at season start I wouldn't have an issue. Regardless, Lansdowne Road is not our home ground. We play 2 -3 games there (if lucky) per season. Racing play circa 14? games at La Defense concert hall. Not sure I'd agree they're comparable.

You’re right: of course they’re not comparable. For the reason you quote alone.

A clear perversion of the spirit of the rules. No surprise it comes after we supposedly played our QF and SF matches last year “at home” last year-accordingly the oligarch-friendly media.

[ronk]

It makes sense to look at exceptions at QF time rather than covering everyone at the start.

The rule is there for a valid reason, but it's also there to raise attendances for marquee games.

Moving Edinburgh away from Murrayfield is unreasonable. Similarly it seems odd to move from a 32k stadium to a 35k one.

[neill_m]

Champions Cup quarter-final refs...

Edinburgh/Munster - Pascal Gauzere
Saracens/Glasgow - Nigel Owens
Leinster/Ulster - Romain Poite
Racing/Toulouse - Luke Pearce

S/F Jerome Garces & Wayne Barnes

https://twitter.com/andNickMullins/stat ... 0094458880

[MylesNaGapoleen]

Champions Cup quarter-final refs...

Edinburgh/Munster - Pascal Gauzere
Saracens/Glasgow - Nigel Owens
Leinster/Ulster - Romain Poite
Racing/Toulouse - Luke Pearce

S/F Jerome Garces & Wayne Barnes

https://twitter.com/andNickMullins/stat ... 0094458880

If I understand the permutations properly...it is likely to be a Sarries V Munster semi.....I would guess in Wembley (Allianz park is 15,000 max) and if we get past Ulster, it will be a Racing v Leinster semi in Paris La Défense Arena (32,000 capacity.)....and a long shot but if Toulouse manage to sneak a win we get home semi...

Either way..I guess we get Barnes as a ref.

[neill_m]

Champions Cup quarter-final refs...

Edinburgh/Munster - Pascal Gauzere
Saracens/Glasgow - Nigel Owens
Leinster/Ulster - Romain Poite
Racing/Toulouse - Luke Pearce

S/F Jerome Garces & Wayne Barnes

https://twitter.com/andNickMullins/stat ... 0094458880

If I understand the permutations properly...it is likely to be a Sarries V Munster semi.....I would guess in Wembley (Allianz park is 15,000 max) and if we get past Ulster, it will be a Racing v Leinster semi in Paris La Défense Arena (32,000 capacity.)....and a long shot but if Toulouse manage to sneak a win we get home semi...

Either way..I guess we get Barnes as a ref.

Indeed Mr Garces will be handling the SF with no French sides and by default Barnesy gets the SF involving a French side. Does appear if Racing 92 win in QF, they will have a decent chance of playing the SF in their own place. Where Sarries would take a SF - Coventry, Watford, Twickenham, Wembley and New Spurs ground all possibilities in theory. Milton Keynes also possible but there is a busy soccer schedule over the Easter weekend in England and they are down to have a home game on Easter Monday.

[neill_m]

Dan Carter may be heading back to Racing to cover Lambie’s retirement for rest of season.

[MylesNaGapoleen]

Champions Cup quarter-final refs...

Edinburgh/Munster - Pascal Gauzere
Saracens/Glasgow - Nigel Owens
Leinster/Ulster - Romain Poite
Racing/Toulouse - Luke Pearce

S/F Jerome Garces & Wayne Barnes

https://twitter.com/andNickMullins/stat ... 0094458880

If I understand the permutations properly...it is likely to be a Sarries V Munster semi.....I would guess in Wembley (Allianz park is 15,000 max) and if we get past Ulster, it will be a Racing v Leinster semi in Paris La Défense Arena (32,000 capacity.)....and a long shot but if Toulouse manage to sneak a win we get home semi...

Either way..I guess we get Barnes as a ref.

Indeed Mr Garces will be handling the SF with no French sides and by default Barnesy gets the SF involving a French side. Does appear if Racing 92 win in QF, they will have a decent chance of playing the SF in their own place. Where Sarries would take a SF - Coventry, Watford, Twickenham, Wembley and New Spurs ground all possibilities in theory. Milton Keynes also possible but there is a busy soccer schedule over the Easter weekend in England and they are down to have a home game on Easter Monday.

Not that it impacts us...but...It looks like wembley is available for that weekend (no England soccer internationals there and tottenham are playing away on the 20th to man city).
http://www.thefa.com/england/mens-senio ... es-results
Twickenham is free too.

I went to the Saracens V Leinster pool game about 6 years ago at wembley.... We sneaked a win that day...and it is not a bad stadium. it was about 17 quid a ticket for decent seats and it was about 60% full. Less distance to travel after the game for craic compared to twickenham. Saracens fans put on a hogs roast for leinster fans in the green man pub around the corner from the stadium. twas a good night.

[bails]

Believe it or not that game in Wembley was October 2010

There was a good crowd, but sadly quite a number were only there to see Tinnie Tempah at half time, and they left on commencement o& the second half.

My abiding memory of that game, was the idiot on the MC, and his playing of that awful Chas and Dave inspired come on Saracens song. He kept intervening during live play even played the song louder near the end in an attempt to drown out th3 Leinster fans noise.

Ps there were more hog roasts than Saracens fans in the Green Man afterwards !

[cormac]

Believe it or not that game in Wembley was October 2010

There was a good crowd, but sadly quite a number were only there to see Tinnie Tempah at half time, and they left on commencement o& the second half.

My abiding memory of that game, was the idiot on the MC, and his playing of that awful Chas and Dave inspired come on Saracens song. He kept intervening during live play even played the song louder near the end in an attempt to drown out th3 Leinster fans noise.

Ps there were more hog roasts than Saracens fans in the Green Man afterwards !

Stadium was good, area around it not so much. Seem to recall they had an Elvis impersonator on before the match started too. Bizarre crowd that day. About 5k Leinster supporters, a few thousand Saracens fans, some neutrals and about 30,000 daytrippers who'd paid £10 to see Tinie Tempah. Also pretty sure the "Stand Up for the Saracens" ditty they played ad nauseam was by Right Said Fred.

Sexton was immense that day. Think he scored all our points.