NPR

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:32 pm**

Tichtheid wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:27 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:21 pm
Tichtheid wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:16 pm Dupont, Ntamack, Bielle-Biarrey, Moefana, Fickou(?), Penaud, Ramos

Fucksakes
Ntamack will start because he'd Dupont's club mate and because Jalibert p*ssed on his own chips in the Autumn... although he really is the form FH.

It's good for France to have them both fit and playing well.

To be honest if Moefana starts at 12, Jailbert might be a good option. I don't think it matters who plays outside Dupont.

That would work better the other way i.e Ntamack at 2nd 5/8th and someone else at 13. Jalibert can't defend. Ntamack can tackle when he wants...... although after his injury, he became a revolving door for a while.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:33 pm**

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:30 pm Well, didn't get close to Toulouse beating Ebbw Vale 108 v 16 in the end or even Leinster murdering a disinterested, sh*thouse MH.

Ebbw Vale is a shithole village in the Welsh valleys. It has nothing like the gravitas of Leicester which is a shithole city in the East Midlands.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:33 pm**

Yeah that's one of the most shameful results in Leicester's history. For Saracens it's just an embarrassing upset - probably not even top 2 for their season, let alone ever.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:34 pm**

Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:28 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:22 pm
Like I said, more embarrassing that Leicester's hammering.

That's a huge wrong. Leicester conceding 80 with a full 1st XV side full of test players is as low as it gets with the exception of doing it at home instead.

I can't agree because, as has been pointed out
- near full strength Sarries
- versus 2nd string CO
- and CO has never won an away game in the Tier 1 version of the comp?

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:36 pm**

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:34 pm
Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:28 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:22 pm
Like I said, more embarrassing that Leicester's hammering.

That's a huge wrong. Leicester conceding 80 with a full 1st XV side full of test players is as low as it gets with the exception of doing it at home instead.
I can't agree because, as has been pointed out
- near full strength Sarries
- versus 2nd string CO
- and CO has never won an away game in the Tier 1 version of the comp?

Yes but Torque, you're forgetting that you're an idiot.

Factor that in and it's fairly clear which side has had the worse day.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:46 pm**

Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:22 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:18 pm Lets all laugh at Sarries

They weren't on it today for sure

However, Saracens qualify in 4th with more pool points and better +-PD than all the other teams who qualified in 3rd. Does that mean they jump above them in the seedings?

No, 1st placed sides are seeded 1-4; 2nd placed 5-8; 3rd placed 9-12; and 4th placed 13-16.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:59 pm**

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 3:38 pm
OomStruisbaai wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 3:36 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 3:33 pm

what an embarrassment. Losing by 54.
I did say in Rd1 this was the best attacking backline in Europe. And that includes ST.

French teams are far ahead.

If only we can have that budgets.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:01 pm**

Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:36 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:34 pm
Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:28 pm

That's a huge wrong. Leicester conceding 80 with a full 1st XV side full of test players is as low as it gets with the exception of doing it at home instead.
I can't agree because, as has been pointed out
- near full strength Sarries
- versus 2nd string CO
- and CO has never won an away game in the Tier 1 version of the comp?

Yes but Torque, you're forgetting that you're an idiot.

Factor that in and it's fairly clear which side has had the worse day.

And you move the goal posts. And still get it wrong. Because, if I have this correct, Leicester still in the Champions and Sarries relegated to the Mickey Mouse?

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:01 pm**

topofthemoon wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:46 pm
Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:22 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:18 pm Lets all laugh at Sarries

They weren't on it today for sure

However, Saracens qualify in 4th with more pool points and better +-PD than all the other teams who qualified in 3rd. Does that mean they jump above them in the seedings?
No, 1st placed sides are seeded 1-4; 2nd placed 5-8; 3rd placed 9-12; and 4th placed 13-16.

Seems a tad unfair.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:03 pm**

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:59 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 3:38 pm
OomStruisbaai wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 3:36 pm
what an embarrassment. Losing by 54.
I did say in Rd1 this was the best attacking backline in Europe. And that includes ST.
French teams are far ahead.

If only we can have that budgets.

I don't think that is the issue for SA. Your player depth is at least the equal of France's. What you lack is the regular club competition standards to allow that to deliver at this level.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:04 pm**

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:01 pm
Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:36 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:34 pm

I can't agree because, as has been pointed out
- near full strength Sarries
- versus 2nd string CO
- and CO has never won an away game in the Tier 1 version of the comp?

Yes but Torque, you're forgetting that you're an idiot.

Factor that in and it's fairly clear which side has had the worse day.
And you move the goal posts. And still get it wrong. Because, if I have this correct, Leicester still in the Champions and Sarries relegated to the Mickey Mouse?

Wrong again.

L'diote encore.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:08 pm**

2 suggestions (1 knicked, 1 mine). These are assuming we will not be going back to 9 dedicated weeks, which is a safe assumption unfortunately.

First is you go back to 5 or 6 groups of four, but you pair up the French teams in each group and have their fixtures double up as top14 games, same then in the challenge cup. Effectively you have 2 European game weeks doubling up as Top14 weeks as well. Don't know how feasible that is really, but if it is doable its probably the best we could manage, messy or not to organise.

2nd is to do away with the group stages all together and go to a straight cup competition. 16 teams playing home/away in each of the last 16, quarters and semis, and then the final. Much fewer games, but higher quality ones. 7 weeks total, and plenty of rest for players that get knocked out early (which isn't a bad thing). Every game has plenty of jeapordy, unless a team concedes 80 in the first leg of course.

And would Sale please score a fucking try for fucks sake!!

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:14 pm**

PornDog wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:08 pm
And would Sale please score a fucking try for fucks sake!!

I think Toulouse used them all up. There are no tries left in this round.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:15 pm**

Toulon look lost

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:16 pm**

Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:04 pm L'diote encore.

I think as someone with a clearly deficient IQ, you should steer clear of making intelligence insults and stick you your norm, kindergarten levels.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:18 pm**

Kerrrist, this is a terrible game.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:23 pm**

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:34 pm
Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:28 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:22 pm
Like I said, more embarrassing that Leicester's hammering.

That's a huge wrong. Leicester conceding 80 with a full 1st XV side full of test players is as low as it gets with the exception of doing it at home instead.
I can't agree because, as has been pointed out
- near full strength Sarries
- versus 2nd string CO
- and CO has never won an away game in the Tier 1 version of the comp?

Castres are one of those teams that are very difficult to put away even when they are inferior on paper.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:38 pm**

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:59 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 3:38 pm
OomStruisbaai wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 3:36 pm
what an embarrassment. Losing by 54.
I did say in Rd1 this was the best attacking backline in Europe. And that includes ST.
French teams are far ahead.

If only we can have that budgets.

Here we go, been waiting all day for this

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:43 pm**

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:34 pm
Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:28 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:22 pm
Like I said, more embarrassing that Leicester's hammering.

That's a huge wrong. Leicester conceding 80 with a full 1st XV side full of test players is as low as it gets with the exception of doing it at home instead.
I can't agree because, as has been pointed out
- near full strength Sarries
- versus 2nd string CO
- and CO has never won an away game in the Tier 1 version of the comp?

Sarries had the chances to score 8 or 9 tries and only managed 4. Castres’ players were about three times the size of ours and three of their tries involved trucking straight over a Sarries player. Basically we couldn’t cope with the physicality, it was a pretty run of the mill smash and grab raid.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:45 pm**

Tichtheid wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:16 pm Dupont, Ntamack, Bielle-Biarrey, Moefana, Fickou(?), Penaud, Ramos

Fucksakes

B-B is now out with some sort of inner ear trouble resulting in dizziness.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:50 pm**

PornDog wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:08 pm 2 suggestions (1 knicked, 1 mine). These are assuming we will not be going back to 9 dedicated weeks, which is a safe assumption unfortunately.

First is you go back to 5 or 6 groups of four, but you pair up the French teams in each group and have their fixtures double up as top14 games, same then in the challenge cup. Effectively you have 2 European game weeks doubling up as Top14 weeks as well. Don't know how feasible that is really, but if it is doable its probably the best we could manage, messy or not to organise.

2nd is to do away with the group stages all together and go to a straight cup competition. 16 teams playing home/away in each of the last 16, quarters and semis, and then the final. Much fewer games, but higher quality ones. 7 weeks total, and plenty of rest for players that get knocked out early (which isn't a bad thing). Every game has plenty of jeapordy, unless a team concedes 80 in the first leg of course.

And would Sale please score a fucking try for fucks sake!!

If you binned off 3x Saffer teams and 1 English you’d have a 20 team tournament and could have 5 groups, 3 best 2nd place go to the quarters

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:55 pm**

Paddington Bear wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:50 pm
PornDog wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:08 pm 2 suggestions (1 knicked, 1 mine). These are assuming we will not be going back to 9 dedicated weeks, which is a safe assumption unfortunately.

First is you go back to 5 or 6 groups of four, but you pair up the French teams in each group and have their fixtures double up as top14 games, same then in the challenge cup. Effectively you have 2 European game weeks doubling up as Top14 weeks as well. Don't know how feasible that is really, but if it is doable its probably the best we could manage, messy or not to organise.

2nd is to do away with the group stages all together and go to a straight cup competition. 16 teams playing home/away in each of the last 16, quarters and semis, and then the final. Much fewer games, but higher quality ones. 7 weeks total, and plenty of rest for players that get knocked out early (which isn't a bad thing). Every game has plenty of jeapordy, unless a team concedes 80 in the first leg of course.

And would Sale please score a fucking try for fucks sake!!
If you binned off 3x Saffer teams and 1 English you’d have a 20 team tournament and could have 5 groups, 3 best 2nd place go to the quarters

Except that would require 9 weekends, which we don't have.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:57 pm**

PornDog wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:55 pm
Paddington Bear wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:50 pm
PornDog wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:08 pm 2 suggestions (1 knicked, 1 mine). These are assuming we will not be going back to 9 dedicated weeks, which is a safe assumption unfortunately.

First is you go back to 5 or 6 groups of four, but you pair up the French teams in each group and have their fixtures double up as top14 games, same then in the challenge cup. Effectively you have 2 European game weeks doubling up as Top14 weeks as well. Don't know how feasible that is really, but if it is doable its probably the best we could manage, messy or not to organise.

2nd is to do away with the group stages all together and go to a straight cup competition. 16 teams playing home/away in each of the last 16, quarters and semis, and then the final. Much fewer games, but higher quality ones. 7 weeks total, and plenty of rest for players that get knocked out early (which isn't a bad thing). Every game has plenty of jeapordy, unless a team concedes 80 in the first leg of course.

And would Sale please score a fucking try for fucks sake!!
If you binned off 3x Saffer teams and 1 English you’d have a 20 team tournament and could have 5 groups, 3 best 2nd place go to the quarters
Except that would require 9 weekends, which we don't have.

Quite right, my dodgy maths

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 7:01 pm**

Toulon blowing the chance to avoid Bordeaux and Toulouse's half of the draw.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 7:48 pm**

Rankings;

1. UBB
2. Leinster
3. Saints
4. Toulon

5. Toulouse
6. Castres
7. Glasgow
8. La Rochelle

9. Munster
10. Leicester
11. Benetton
12. Sale

13. Saracens
14. Clermont
15. Quins
16. Ulster

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 7:50 pm**

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 7:51 pm**

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 7:53 pm**

Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 7:48 pm Rankings;

1. UBB
2. Leinster
3. Saints
4. Toulon

5. Toulouse
6. Castres
7. Glasgow
8. La Rochelle

9. Munster
10. Leicester
11. Benetton
12. Sale

13. Saracens
14. Clermont
15. Quins
16. Ulster

We have massively blown a chance at a decent draw over the last two weeks, very frustrating

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 7:55 pm**

The top half of the draw is ridiculously harder than the bottom half.

Irish have rigged it.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:01 pm**

Nice to see the good guys scrape through. May even book a trip down there, mostly for the cassoulet.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:08 pm**

topofthemoon wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 7:50 pm

No wonder the SA teams send B teams to the competitions. No home games.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:41 pm**

Brazil wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:01 pm Nice to see the good guys scrape through. May even book a trip down there, mostly for the cassoulet.

You'll get to see a ridiculously talented set of players, but sadly it won't be your team

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:51 pm**

fishfoodie wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:41 pm
Brazil wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:01 pm Nice to see the good guys scrape through. May even book a trip down there, mostly for the cassoulet.
You'll get to see a ridiculously talented set of players, but sadly it won't be your team

The average Leinster fan, everyone

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 9:12 pm**

fishfoodie wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:41 pm
Brazil wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:01 pm Nice to see the good guys scrape through. May even book a trip down there, mostly for the cassoulet.
You'll get to see a ridiculously talented set of players, but sadly it won't be your team

It will be an ach if they can keep it under 50

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 9:42 pm**

Punter15 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:10 pm
Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:08 pm
Punter15 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:07 pm

Daly’s inability/unwillingness to tackle is an even bigger one.

He's willing, just not very good.
So not really suitable for an international 15

Jesus wept, just seen your post on Planet Rugby;

Toga is wanking himself silly promoting Daly at 15 over in the other place

You really are obsessed with me aren't you.

Beautiful.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 10:11 pm**

JM2K6 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:51 pm
fishfoodie wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:41 pm
Brazil wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:01 pm Nice to see the good guys scrape through. May even book a trip down there, mostly for the cassoulet.
You'll get to see a ridiculously talented set of players, but sadly it won't be your team
The average Leinster fan, everyone

Are you seriously going to do a head-to-head between Sale & Toulouse & call my comment as somehow, 3rd party "arrogant" ?

?
?

Hand's up all the Sale fans who don't expect to get bummed in the next game !

It's not a slight against Sale, they did bloody well today, but they're just facing an insanely stacked opposition, & grit & bottle aren't likely to be much cop when you're facing a squad that can have World cup winners in every position from water bottle passer to the bus driver.

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2025 11:15 pm**

fishfoodie wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 10:11 pm
JM2K6 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:51 pm
fishfoodie wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:41 pm

You'll get to see a ridiculously talented set of players, but sadly it won't be your team
The average Leinster fan, everyone
Are you seriously going to do a head-to-head between Sale & Toulouse & call my comment as somehow, 3rd party "arrogant" ?

?
?

Hand's up all the Sale fans who don't expect to get bummed in the next game !

It's not a slight against Sale, they did bloody well today, but they're just facing an insanely stacked opposition, & grit & bottle aren't likely to be much cop when you're facing a squad that can have World cup winners in every position from water bottle passer to the bus driver.

Well, it read like a shitty swipe, implying that Sale don't have talent. Sale aren't an all-stars team but they have some fantastic players, even if they're not Dupont and co.

Here, have some grit and bottle from the plucky triers

Posted: **Mon Jan 20, 2025 4:34 am**

JM2K6 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 11:15 pm
fishfoodie wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 10:11 pm
JM2K6 wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:51 pm

The average Leinster fan, everyone
Are you seriously going to do a head-to-head between Sale & Toulouse & call my comment as somehow, 3rd party "arrogant" ?

?
?

Hand's up all the Sale fans who don't expect to get bummed in the next game !

It's not a slight against Sale, they did bloody well today, but they're just facing an insanely stacked opposition, & grit & bottle aren't likely to be much cop when you're facing a squad that can have World cup winners in every position from water bottle passer to the bus driver.
Well, it read like a shitty swipe, implying that Sale don't have talent. Sale aren't an all-stars team but they have some fantastic players, even if they're not Dupont and co.

Here, have some grit and bottle from the plucky triers

Last week they look like kants vs the Stormers. They could not blame the conditions, half their team slept at home.

Posted: **Mon Jan 20, 2025 7:43 am**

Well that was nice while it lasted.

The champions of the Challenge Cup return to where they belong

Posted: **Mon Jan 20, 2025 8:06 am**

topofthemoon wrote: Sun Jan 19, 2025 7:50 pm

Quarters will be
All French
All French
Irish -Scottish
English - French

Feel free to praise my powers of deduction.

NPR

2024/2025 Not Heineken Cup

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