2024/2025 Not Heineken Cup

[Torquemada 1420]

Didn't see the game but a couple of weeks ago the commentators were creaming themselves over Glasgow being serious contenders. Maybe they should have explained contenders for what?

[Slick]

Didn't see the game but a couple of weeks ago the commentators were creaming themselves over Glasgow being serious contenders. Maybe they should have explained contenders for what?

Glasgow were poor last night, but Quins also good. Always probably worth watching a match before commenting on it mind you

[Biffer]

Top two teams in the English premiership are in the challenge cup and out altogether after the group stage.

[Sards]

Effectively all the South African teams should be out of the Championship Cup after the Bagles destroy the Sharks this afternoon

[Sards]

I see Massotti is planning on some exhibition matches in the US with the top brand franchises. Just to boost spectator interest there

[Paddington Bear]

I see Massotti is planning on some exhibition matches in the US with the top brand franchises. Just to boost spectator interest there

If one more person tries to break America I will scream

[Paddington Bear]

I was spitballing viable improvements to this comp last night on whatsapp with a mate, basically things that can be done with the existing structures. Thoughts on binning off the last 16 and making the quarters two legs?

[Biffer]

I was spitballing viable improvements to this comp last night on whatsapp with a mate, basically things that can be done with the existing structures. Thoughts on binning off the last 16 and making the quarters two legs?

Nah, that only reinforces the dominance of the richest clubs and reduces the number of different teams that play. Finding a way to go back to a meaningful group stage rather than the bouroch we have now, and going straight to a last eight, so it’s harder to get to the knockouts, is the way forward.

[Torquemada 1420]

Didn't see the game but a couple of weeks ago the commentators were creaming themselves over Glasgow being serious contenders. Maybe they should have explained contenders for what?

Glasgow were poor last night, but Quins also good. Always probably worth watching a match before commenting on it mind you

I hear you but the context was "serious contenders" versus a side that was beaten by a currently sh*thouse Racing and a competent, but no way contenders Toulon. So yeah, maybe the Weegies played well below par and Quims suddenly became good.

[GrahamWa]

I think with Glasgow the mentality was we've already qualified but the proper big teams know that top 4/2 seeds makes a hell of a difference. Considering yourself a true contender or just happy to be there is the difference.

[JM2K6]

It was also by far the best Quins performance since at least the win over Saracens and possibly all season given the balance. Great scramble defence, a huge improvement in carrying, much better set piece work and excellent varied attack. Glasgow a little unlucky in that sense.

Home advantage makes such a difference in Europe, too. If you're not one of the 3-4 megabucks teams, the odds are extremely tilted in favour of the home side. Just ten away wins in 40+ matches, 7 coming from the usual suspects of Leinster/Toulouse/Bordeaux/La Rochelle. Makes those Saints and Saracens wins even more impressive tbh.

[sockwithaticket]

We've more or less given up on red carding players for reckless head contact then, eh?

[Slick]

It was also by far the best Quins performance since at least the win over Saracens and possibly all season given the balance. Great scramble defence, a huge improvement in carrying, much better set piece work and excellent varied attack. Glasgow a little unlucky in that sense.

Home advantage makes such a difference in Europe, too. If you're not one of the 3-4 megabucks teams, the odds are extremely tilted in favour of the home side. Just ten away wins in 40+ matches, 7 coming from the usual suspects of Leinster/Toulouse/Bordeaux/La Rochelle. Makes those Saints and Saracens wins even more impressive tbh.

I hadn’t seen Quins playing for a while but pretty impressed by them last night. Forwards and backs ran hard, I liked that Beard guy who I’d never heard of. Front row held their own. Thought wonder boy was OK, some lovely touches but some fairly awful kicking as well

[Sards]

Although Sharks doing all the attacking the Bagels deserve their lead

[Sards]

To continue in the competition Sharks cannot lose by 4 tries. Or need a try bonus point.
And a fullback. Vok me but we are missing Fassi.

[Sandstorm]

South African teams have two major problems: poor tackling and backs who kick away good, attacking possession. Who coaches this bullshit?????

[Sards]

Yoh. Great try from a position on defense in the 22

[OomStruisbaai]

Hope the Sharks keep it up.

[Sards]

Penalties.....the Bain of our existence. It gets punished

[Sards]

Hope the Sharks keep it up.

It's done. Another try and we are out

[Sandstorm]

Sharks just falling off tackles.

[topofthemoon]

As it stands, Ulster through to the Champions Cup knockouts and Sharks dropping into the Challenge Cup.

[Sards]

As it stands, Ulster through to the Champions Cup knockouts and Sharks dropping into the Challenge Cup.

Don't think we have a team left

[TheNatalShark]

We're still going to have another two seasons of nothing cohesive from Plum before he's fired again.

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks show no fight.

[Sandstorm]

6 tries for Penaud.

[Stranger]

Sharks have been appalling

[Slick]

6 tries for Penaud.

In this game??!!??

[TheNatalShark]

6 tries for Penaud.

In this game??!!??

Hat trick both halves

[Slick]

6 tries for Penaud.

In this game??!!??

Hat trick both halves

Bloody hell

[Jim Lahey]

Genuinely embarrassing for this awful tournament that Ulster are in the knockouts

Got completely tanked by Toulouse, Bordeaux and Leicester, and then were shite in the 1st half against bottom of the GP Exeter's C Team, then played one decent half of rugby against a completely uninterested side in a dead rubber of a match.

For shame. The glory days of the 00s/early 10s must be spinning in their grave.

[Sards]

We're still going to have another two seasons of nothing cohesive from Plum before he's fired again.

Our injury list is horrific. But Bagels put us out of our misery.
TBH we can't afford to play in the Championship Cup. Not near enough depth. Jake White was dead right

[topofthemoon]

All four South African teams will have away ties in the Challenge Cup Round of 16 - unless Sale pick up at least a point at home to Toulon, in which case Stormers will drop out of European competition completely.

[TheNatalShark]

We're still going to have another two seasons of nothing cohesive from Plum before he's fired again.

Our injury list is horrific. But Bagels put us out of our misery.
TBH we can't afford to play in the Championship Cup. Not near enough depth. Jake White was dead right

That Sharks squad is both good enough and been with Plum long enough to not have such a poor set-up in backfield defense, scrum, attitude and indiscipline to throw away balls.

[Slick]

Genuinely hilarious that there are still people , mainly based in Southern Africa, that don’t accept Dupont is the best player in the world. By a distance.

[sockwithaticket]

I expected this one to get ugly before kick off and so it goes that Toulouse absolutely shredded Tigers with their first meaningful attack.

[Tichtheid]

I bloody love watching Toulouse.

[sockwithaticket]

That's sumptuous from Capuozzo. Ballerina feet and a sublime offload.

[Torquemada 1420]

Sharks are through to the play offs. Just need to keep their loss under 28.

Not a given.

[Slick]

I bloody love watching Toulouse.

That was outrageous! Where is BK?