2022/23 Champions/Challenge Cup

[SaintK]

Creevy received a 4 week ban for his head contact red. Not sure it was reduced from 6 or 8 but he misses 4 matches and he has to complete a WR coaching intervention programme to make himself available on 4th January
Should imagine that all the others will be of similar length if there is any consistency

[Margin__Walker]

Creevy received a 4 week ban for his head contact red. Not sure it was reduced from 6 or 8 but he misses 4 matches and he has to complete a WR coaching intervention programme to make himself available on 4th January
Should imagine that all the others will be of similar length if there is any consistency

Creevy didn't get the full reduction as he's a bit of a frequent flyer. 3 weeks tends to be the norm for most standard cases (reduced from 6)

[Sards]

His technique is poor. But I don't think any player decided to deliberately smash heads and risk their own head safety, hence why it's accidental in my book.

They’re trying to eliminate poor and dangerous technique.

Good luck at the Sharks. Both their starting front rowers are in the dock for this.

Not exactly ideal is it. How did the other citings go

[Sards]

I don't think there can be much complaint about the Nche red. The complaints should be about Warwick not getting similar (I mean, mistakes will be made, but come on!) and the completely out of step rescinding of Healy's red. That was just wild.

on all three points

Ja. Not acceptable

[SaintK]

They’re trying to eliminate poor and dangerous technique.

Good luck at the Sharks. Both their starting front rowers are in the dock for this.

Not exactly ideal is it. How did the other citings go

I think they are today

[OomStruisbaai]

Bulls B group vs Exeter
: Dylan Smith, Bismarck
du Plessis, Sebastian Lombard, Reinhardt Lud￾wig, Janko Swanepoel, Nizaam Carr, Muller Uys,
WJ Steenkamp, Bernard van der Linde, Morné
Steyn, Stravino Jacobs, Carlton Bannies, Sted￾man Gans, Sibongile Novuka, Lizo Gqoboka, Joe
van Zyl, Jacques van Rooyen, Merwe Olivier, Ca￾meron Hanekom, Phumzile Maqondwana, Tiel￾man Nieuwoudt, Keagan Johannes, Chris Smit,
Niel le Roux, Kabelo Mokoena, Juan Mostert,
Wandisile Simelane, Tian Lange.

[Biffer]

Glasgow v Perpignan moved to Murrayfield.

And the trains are on strike.

[Torquemada 1420]

https://actu.fr/sports/rugby/pro/golgot ... 71022.html

An action which definitively buries the term "European Rugby Cup" and which has caused many protests: welcoming Africans is not very popular in this country, even if they come by plane rather than by boat .

We work out very quickly that we will play this match in arcade mode, and that defence will be like the public in the stands, totally absent. Illustrated with the first try by the South African winger Novuka..... to finish on a good big "meh, don't care" from Noa Nakaitaci, this poor man who, since the end of his years with Clermont, seems to go through life without hope, motivation or expectation, simply waiting for the end to come. Let's not blame him: the PSA years did that to a lot of people.

The people from Lyon are totally passive and indifferent, a bit like when it comes to stopping far-right groups in their city.

...the inventor of air-tackle, Xavier Garbajosa is also shocked on the sidelines.

Again, special mention for Nakaitaci and his camouflage super-power which allows him to turn into an inert object when he's too lazy to do something. Try it at home when you're asked to do the dishes: "Sorry I can't, I'm a double bass."........ In the process, we are then surprised: Nakataici wakes up and does a great deed! Ah no. False alarm, it was Veredamu

[fishfoodie]

Bulls B group vs Exeter
: Dylan Smith, Bismarck
du Plessis, Sebastian Lombard, Reinhardt Ludwig, Janko Swanepoel, Nizaam Carr, Muller Uys,
WJ Steenkamp, Bernard van der Linde, Morné
Steyn, Stravino Jacobs, Carlton Bannies, Stedman Gans, Sibongile Novuka, Lizo Gqoboka, Joe
van Zyl, Jacques van Rooyen, Merwe Olivier, Cameron Hanekom, Phumzile Maqondwana, Tielman Nieuwoudt, Keagan Johannes, Chris Smit,
Niel le Roux, Kabelo Mokoena, Juan Mostert,
Wandisile Simelane, Tian Lange.

Shouldn't field a B-Team against Exeter; they're dull, but efficient, & they'll take you to the cleaners.

[OomStruisbaai]

Bulls B group vs Exeter
: Dylan Smith, Bismarck
du Plessis, Sebastian Lombard, Reinhardt Ludwig, Janko Swanepoel, Nizaam Carr, Muller Uys,
WJ Steenkamp, Bernard van der Linde, Morné
Steyn, Stravino Jacobs, Carlton Bannies, Stedman Gans, Sibongile Novuka, Lizo Gqoboka, Joe
van Zyl, Jacques van Rooyen, Merwe Olivier, Cameron Hanekom, Phumzile Maqondwana, Tielman Nieuwoudt, Keagan Johannes, Chris Smit,
Niel le Roux, Kabelo Mokoena, Juan Mostert,
Wandisile Simelane, Tian Lange.

Shouldn't field a B-Team against Exeter; they're dull, but efficient, & they'll take you to the cleaners.

Jake White decided to split his squad. The A team play next week in Cape Town in the URC important match vs Stormers.

The Stormers went a different route by mixing their team and change weekly.

[SaintK]

I'm guessing he wasn't inviting him over for dinner. He'll cop a ban for that.

20 weeks, reduced to 10!!!

It was decided that the appropriate sanction entry point was 20 weeks and due to Piqueronies’ clear disciplinary record and his guilty plea, the committee granted the full 50 per cent mitigation before imposing a suspension of 10 weeks.

[Torquemada 1420]

I'm guessing he wasn't inviting him over for dinner. He'll cop a ban for that.

20 weeks, reduced to 10!!!

It was decided that the appropriate sanction entry point was 20 weeks and due to Piqueronies’ clear disciplinary record and his guilty plea, the committee granted the full 50 per cent mitigation before imposing a suspension of 10 weeks.

Should have been a year.

[OomStruisbaai]

Friday, December 16

Lions v Stade Francais Paris
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 19.30; 17.30 GMT; 18.30 France time)

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Henco Van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Quan Horn, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Sanee Nohamba, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jaco Kriel (captain), 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Darrian Landsberg, 21 Sangweni Sibusiso, 22 André Warner, 23 Rynhardt Jonker,

Stade Francais Paris: 15 Léo Monin, 14 Nadir Megdoud, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Theo Dachary, 11 Harry Glover, 10 Léo Barre, 9 James Hall, 8 Juan Martin Scelzo, 7 Mathieu Hirigoyen, 6 Giorgi Tsutkiridze, 5 Juan Johan Van der Mescht, 4 Nathan Huguen, 3 Giorgi Melikidze, 2 Laurent Panis (captain), 1 Vasil Kakovin.
Replacements: 16 Lucas Peyresblanques, 17 Sergo Abramishvili, 18 Paul Alo Emile, 19 Noa Kanika, 20 Arthur Coville, 21 Alex Arrate, 22. Ferdinand Dreno, 23. Moses Alo Emile.

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England) & Sara Cox (England)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)

Brive v Connacht Rugby
(Stade Amédée-Doménech, Brive – Kick-off: 21.00, 20.00 GMT; 20.00 UK and Ireland time)

Brive: 15 Seta Tuicuvu, 14 Kevin Fabien, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Sam Arnold, 11 Wesley Douglas, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Paul Abadie, 8 Abraham Papali’i, 7 Said Hireche (captain), 6 Retief Marais, 5 Tevita Ratuva, 4 Renger van Eerten, 3 Tietie Tuimauga, 2 Florian Dufour, 1 Daniel Brennan
Replacements: 16 Vano Karkadze, 17 Nathan Fraissenon, 18 Pietro Ceccareli, 19 Julien Delannoy, 20 Matthieu Voisin, 21 Enzo Sanga, 22 Tom Raffy, 23 Thomas Laranjeira.

Connacht: 15 Conor Fitzgerald, 14 Adam Byrne, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Tom Daly, 11 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 10 David Hawkshaw, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Paul Boyle (captain), 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Oisin Dowling, 5 Gavin Thornbury, 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Sam Illo,2 Shane Delahunt, 1 Peter Dooley.
Replacements: 16 David Heffernan, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Ciaran Booth, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Byron Ralston, 23 Oran McNulty.

Referee: Adam Leal (England)
Assistant referees: Alex Thomas (England) & Wayne Falla (England)
TMO: Dan Jones (England)

Glasgow Warriors v Perpignan
(BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh – Kick-off: 22.00; 22.00 GMT; 23.00 France Time)

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 12 Huw Jones, 11 Rufus McLean, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Sione Vailanu, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Lewis Bean, 3 Murphy Walker, 2 George Turner, 1 Jamie Bhatti.
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Sintu Manjezi, 21 Euan Ferrie, 22 Ali Price, 23 Tom Jordan.

Perpignan: 15 Tristan Tedder, 14 George Tilsley, 13 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 12 Dorian Laborde, 11 Mathieu Acebes (captain), 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Tom Ecochard, 8 Genesis Mamea Lemalu, 7 Kelian Galletier, 6 Lucas Velarte, 5 Piula Faasalele, 4 Tristan Labouteley, 3 Siosiua Halanukonuka, 2 Seilala Lam, 1 Giorgi Tetrashvili,
Replacements: 16 Mike Tadjer, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Arthur Joly, 19 Posolo Tuilagi, 20 Lucas Bachelier, 21 Sadek Degmache, 22 Lucas Dubois, 23 Boris Goutard.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
Assistant referees: Simon Harding (England) & Peter Allan (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)

[Sards]

Good luck at the Sharks. Both their starting front rowers are in the dock for this.

Not exactly ideal is it. How did the other citings go

I think they are today

Any news

[SaintK]

Not exactly ideal is it. How did the other citings go

I think they are today

Any news

Nothing on Ox yet here.
Warwick the Ulster prop who wasn't even carded at all against Sale copped 3 weeks (reduced from 6) today. Should imagine Ox will receive the same

[Sards]

Cell C Sharks

1. Ntuthuko Mchunu

2. Bongi Mbonambi

3. Thomas du Toit

4. Eben Etzebeth

5. Gerbrandt Grobler

6. Siya Kolisi (c)

7. Vincent Tshituka

8. Phepsi Buthelezi

9. Jaden Hendrikse

10. Curwin Bosch

11. Makazole Mapimpi

12. Ben Tapuai

13. Francois Venter

14. Werner Kok

15. Boeta Chamberlain

Replacements

16. Dan Jooste

17. Dian Bleuler

18. Hanro Jacobs

19. Hyron Andrews

20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe

21. Grant Williams

22. Lionel Cronje

23. Lukhanyo Am

[Sards]

No Ox in the team but Thomas is back...

[OomStruisbaai]

I think they are today

Any news

Nothing on Ox yet here.
Warwick the Ulster prop who wasn't even carded at all against Sale copped 3 weeks (reduced from 6) today. Should imagine Ox will receive the same

https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/unit ... s-20221213

[Sards]

Any news

Nothing on Ox yet here.
Warwick the Ulster prop who wasn't even carded at all against Sale copped 3 weeks (reduced from 6) today. Should imagine Ox will receive the same

https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/unit ... s-20221213

I saw that. Was confused why suddenly we weren't sure.
I also read 2 weeks elsewhere

[OomStruisbaai]

Stormers A team vs Exiles

DHL Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.

[fishfoodie]

Heineken Champions Cup: Leinster v Gloucester
Venue: The RDS Arena, Dublin Date: Friday, 16 December Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Leinster: Keenan; O'Brien, Ringrose (capt), Ngatai, Lowe; R Byrne, McGrath; Porter, Kelleher, Ala'alatoa; Molony, Ryan; Doris, Van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: Sheehan, E Byrne, Healy, McCarthy, Deegan, Gibson-Park, Sexton, Larmour.

Gloucester: Evans; Hearle, Kveseladze, Twelvetrees, Morris; Barton, Meehan (capt); Elrington, Walker, Knight; Thomas, Clark; Polledri, Clement, Tuisue.

Replacements: Blake, Seville, Gotovtsev, Craig, Taylor, Chapman, Atkinson, Moyle

Leinster clearly don't want to take it easy this week.

[Simian]

Nothing on Ox yet here.
Warwick the Ulster prop who wasn't even carded at all against Sale copped 3 weeks (reduced from 6) today. Should imagine Ox will receive the same

https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/unit ... s-20221213

I saw that. Was confused why suddenly we weren't sure.
I also read 2 weeks elsewhere

They often can get a further week reduction (from three to two) if they complete world rugby's safer tackling training course.

[OomStruisbaai]

Heineken Champions Cup: Leinster v Gloucester
Venue: The RDS Arena, Dublin Date: Friday, 16 December Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Leinster: Keenan; O'Brien, Ringrose (capt), Ngatai, Lowe; R Byrne, McGrath; Porter, Kelleher, Ala'alatoa; Molony, Ryan; Doris, Van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: Sheehan, E Byrne, Healy, McCarthy, Deegan, Gibson-Park, Sexton, Larmour.

Gloucester: Evans; Hearle, Kveseladze, Twelvetrees, Morris; Barton, Meehan (capt); Elrington, Walker, Knight; Thomas, Clark; Polledri, Clement, Tuisue.

Replacements: Blake, Seville, Gotovtsev, Craig, Taylor, Chapman, Atkinson, Moyle

Leinster clearly don't want to take it easy this week.

Is it Gloucester B vs Leinster A?

[Sards]

Stormers A team vs Exiles

DHL Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.

Huge improvement Herschel on the bench. Marvin back.

[SaintK]

Heineken Champions Cup: Leinster v Gloucester
Venue: The RDS Arena, Dublin Date: Friday, 16 December Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Leinster: Keenan; O'Brien, Ringrose (capt), Ngatai, Lowe; R Byrne, McGrath; Porter, Kelleher, Ala'alatoa; Molony, Ryan; Doris, Van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: Sheehan, E Byrne, Healy, McCarthy, Deegan, Gibson-Park, Sexton, Larmour.

Gloucester: Evans; Hearle, Kveseladze, Twelvetrees, Morris; Barton, Meehan (capt); Elrington, Walker, Knight; Thomas, Clark; Polledri, Clement, Tuisue.

Replacements: Blake, Seville, Gotovtsev, Craig, Taylor, Chapman, Atkinson, Moyle

Leinster clearly don't want to take it easy this week.

Bloody hell!!
Think I'd better edit my Superbru predicition. Leinster by +40 at least

[sockwithaticket]

Heineken Champions Cup: Leinster v Gloucester
Venue: The RDS Arena, Dublin Date: Friday, 16 December Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Leinster: Keenan; O'Brien, Ringrose (capt), Ngatai, Lowe; R Byrne, McGrath; Porter, Kelleher, Ala'alatoa; Molony, Ryan; Doris, Van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: Sheehan, E Byrne, Healy, McCarthy, Deegan, Gibson-Park, Sexton, Larmour.

Gloucester: Evans; Hearle, Kveseladze, Twelvetrees, Morris; Barton, Meehan (capt); Elrington, Walker, Knight; Thomas, Clark; Polledri, Clement, Tuisue.

Replacements: Blake, Seville, Gotovtsev, Craig, Taylor, Chapman, Atkinson, Moyle

Leinster clearly don't want to take it easy this week.

Is it Gloucester B vs Leinster A?

Very much so. Of the Glaws side you might generously say that Clark, Meehan, Polledri and Tuisue could expect to start as part of the A team.

[Margin__Walker]

Stormers A team vs Exiles

DHL Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.

Looks weak

LI Team. Should be a fun one.

[OomStruisbaai]

Stormers A team vs Exiles

DHL Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.

Looks weak

LI Team. Should be a fun one.

Look like London Saffers.

[OomStruisbaai]

Stormers A team vs Exiles

DHL Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.

Huge improvement Herschel on the bench. Marvin back.

Very good pack. Only Libbok is a worry.

[Margin__Walker]

Look like London Aussies.

Fixed that for you

[bok_viking]

After a good start the Lions suddenly try to find every possible way to get the opposition back into the game.

[FalseBayFC]

After a good start the Lions suddenly try to find every possible way to get the opposition back into the game.

Hendrikse doing some good things at 10. We'll see the brothers at 9/10 one day for the Boks. For me the young flyhalf ranking goes no 1. Hendrikse with Mngomezulu and Wolhuter behind him.

[bok_viking]

That was one hell of a power tackle from a wing on a forward to get him away from the try line.

[bok_viking]

After a good start the Lions suddenly try to find every possible way to get the opposition back into the game.

Hendrikse doing some good things at 10. We'll see the brothers at 9/10 one day for the Boks. For me the young flyhalf ranking goes no 1. Hendrikse with Mngomezulu and Wolhuter behind him.

I agree Hendrikse is definitely looking like the form young flyhalf in SA, hope he can continue to build on it. Like the way he plays

[FalseBayFC]

That was one hell of a power tackle from a wing on a forward to get him away from the try line.

Edwill is a little bugger too!

[bok_viking]

That was one hell of a power tackle from a wing on a forward to get him away from the try line.

Edwill is a little bugger too!

Yeah and he can be quite slippery in attack. We seem to be producing a lot of these small fleetfooted wings these days. But they all stand their ground in defense against the bigger players. Need some new young play making centres now.

[Tichtheid]

I didn't know Willem Alberts was still playing, he was one of my favourite players, he is just so ridiculously big.

[bok_viking]

I didn't know Willem Alberts was still playing, he was one of my favourite players, he is just so ridiculously big.

Yeah seem to be more and more players that play until they are 40 these days. Not just a young man's game anymore.

[OomStruisbaai]

SF is 3rd on the T14 log. Dunno if it's their C team

[bok_viking]

SF is 3rd on the T14 log. Dunno if it's their C team

The French teams are a bit like South African teams, do not travel well outside their own country borders.