NPR

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:28 pm

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:21 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 11:20 am How on earth have Montpellier been given a 28-0 win when Leinster were happy to travel and play the match?

I think there's more than this than meets the eye.

The 23 they've named may not have tested positive but given the absentees a lot of others during the week did, given it can take 7 days to test positive there is a real chance some of the Leinster players named who have tested negative to date could be carrying it.

Ahh, yes I see, thanks.

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 4:08 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:28 pm

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:21 pm

I think there's more than this than meets the eye.

The 23 they've named may not have tested positive but given the absentees a lot of others during the week did, given it can take 7 days to test positive there is a real chance some of the Leinster players named who have tested negative to date could be carrying it.

Ahh, yes I see, thanks.

And so it comes to pass. Leinster's game on Sunday postponed now as more players have tested positive.

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 4:08 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:28 pm

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:21 pm

I think there's more than this than meets the eye.

The 23 they've named may not have tested positive but given the absentees a lot of others during the week did, given it can take 7 days to test positive there is a real chance some of the Leinster players named who have tested negative to date could be carrying it.

Ahh, yes I see, thanks.

And so it comes to pass. Leinster's game on Sunday postponed now as more players have tested positive.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:56 am

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 4:08 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:28 pm
Ahh, yes I see, thanks.

And so it comes to pass. Leinster's game on Sunday postponed now as more players have tested positive.

FWIW, I think ERC could simply have pp'd all these games rather than punishing the likes of Leinster.

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:09 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:56 am

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 4:08 pm

And so it comes to pass. Leinster's game on Sunday postponed now as more players have tested positive.

FWIW, I think ERC could simply have pp'd all these games rather than punishing the likes of Leinster.

And I think that is what Leinster's legal team will be saying, either you allow postponements for everyone or all the French teams who didn't travel (and British sides who couldn't travel to France) take a 28-0 loss.

I do think that EPCR will go with the argument that the tournament rules stated that if matches were stopped due to covid cases in the camp then the riddled team lose the game whereas the other matches were due to a French governmental decision and that wasn't included in the tournament that Leinster signed up to.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:19 am

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:09 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:56 am
FWIW, I think ERC could simply have pp'd all these games rather than punishing the likes of Leinster.

And I think that is what Leinster's legal team will be saying, either you allow postponements for everyone or all the French teams who didn't travel (and British sides who couldn't travel to France) take a 28-0 loss.

I do think that EPCR will go with the argument that the tournament rules stated that if matches were stopped due to covid cases in the camp then the riddled team lose the game whereas the other matches were due to a French governmental decision and that wasn't included in the tournament that Leinster signed up to.

The Rules say that Leinster have to field a team; & they were able to; the EPRC then made a wholely subjective judgement, & penalized Leinster.

If they could postpone other games, 24hrs later, why not this one; or just allow the fucking game to take place !

The likes of PSA gloating about the decision makes it look shit.

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 4:08 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:28 pm

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:21 pm

I think there's more than this than meets the eye.

The 23 they've named may not have tested positive but given the absentees a lot of others during the week did, given it can take 7 days to test positive there is a real chance some of the Leinster players named who have tested negative to date could be carrying it.

Ahh, yes I see, thanks.

And so it comes to pass. Leinster's game on Sunday postponed now as more players have tested positive.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:19 am The Rules say that Leinster have to field a team; & they were able to; the EPRC then made a wholely subjective judgement, & penalized Leinster.

If they could postpone other games, 24hrs later, why not this one; or just allow the fucking game to take place !

The likes of PSA gloating about the decision makes it look shit.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 11:55 am

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:19 am The Rules say that Leinster have to field a team; & they were able to; the EPRC then made a wholely subjective judgement, & penalized Leinster.

If they could postpone other games, 24hrs later, why not this one; or just allow the fucking game to take place !

The likes of PSA gloating about the decision makes it look shit.

Link?

Although Piglet is such a tw*t that I wouldn't be surprised if it were true.

Montpellier director of rugby Phillipe Saint-Andre has poured petrol on the flames of Leinster anger following the controversial postponement of Friday night’s Champions Cup fixture, which resulted in the awarding of a 28-0 win to the French side.

The former French national coach claimed fresh bout of Covid cases in Leinster prompted the EPCR’s medical committee to push for postponement, despite Leinster’s claim to the contrary and assurances from Irish health authorities.

And he also said Leinster were struggling to put out a team despite the fact that the province asserted they were intent on fulfilling the fixture, the heavy loss of which in terms of match points and points difference complicates their path towards the final, if not gravely imperils it.

“We wanted to play this match in front of our audience and our partners,” Saint-Andre said in an interview with RMC Sport in France.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 12:29 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 11:55 am

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:19 am The Rules say that Leinster have to field a team; & they were able to; the EPRC then made a wholely subjective judgement, & penalized Leinster.

If they could postpone other games, 24hrs later, why not this one; or just allow the fucking game to take place !

The likes of PSA gloating about the decision makes it look shit.

Link?

Although Piglet is such a tw*t that I wouldn't be surprised if it were true.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 57777.html

Montpellier director of rugby Phillipe Saint-Andre has poured petrol on the flames of Leinster anger following the controversial postponement of Friday night’s Champions Cup fixture, which resulted in the awarding of a 28-0 win to the French side.

The former French national coach claimed fresh bout of Covid cases in Leinster prompted the EPCR’s medical committee to push for postponement, despite Leinster’s claim to the contrary and assurances from Irish health authorities.

And he also said Leinster were struggling to put out a team despite the fact that the province asserted they were intent on fulfilling the fixture, the heavy loss of which in terms of match points and points difference complicates their path towards the final, if not gravely imperils it.

“We wanted to play this match in front of our audience and our partners,” Saint-Andre said in an interview with RMC Sport in France.

Yeah. Sure !

Attempts to press ahead with the forthcoming European fixtures have been dealt a fresh blow after it emerged South African players based in the UK face further red tape to gain entry into France with the Sale director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, saying the Champions Cup could be made into a “mockery”.

European Professional Club Rugby, the organiser of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, remains in discussions over two rounds of fixtures this month after matches were postponed in December when France limited entry from the UK to “essential only”. EPCR is hopeful of gaining the necessary exemptions to allow fixtures to go ahead.

On Tuesday, Sanderson revealed a further complication, however, with Sale’s South African players facing additional visa requirements. It is understood EPCR is aware of the problem, though its priority remains getting the fixtures played in the first place.

Sanderson, though, is adamant Sale would not be able to field a competitive side away to Clermont on 16 January if his South African contingent cannot travel and said they were not the only club to raise the issue. In addition, the French government has mandated that all sportspeople be fully vaccinated from 15 January, which would further reduce the number of players available to Sanderson.

“There’s a certain type of visa you get if you’re South African, which has to be approved,” he said. “They’d have to fast-track and approve these Schengen visas in record time. Apparently it’s only a stamp but it’s out of our hands.

“This is entirely in the lap of European Rugby and their ability to push it through and then the French government to approve it. It doesn’t give us a competitive team. There are nine of our squad who wouldn’t be approved and that’s not even including some of the lads who aren’t double-jabbed, of which there’s one or two. We’re not the only ones, we’re all in a similar boat.”

Asked about fielding a second‑string side if his South African players are not granted exemption, Sanderson said: “It’s a mockery of the cup then, isn’t it? We’re in it to play the best teams with our best team. So no, I wouldn’t even consider taking a second team to Clermont to get beaten up.”

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Wed Jan 05, 2022 12:57 pm

Sanderson, though, is adamant Sale would not be able to field a competitive side away to Clermont on 16 January if his South African contingent cannot travel and said they were not the only club to raise the issue. In addition, the French government has mandated that all sportspeople be fully vaccinated from 15 January, which would further reduce the number of players available to Sanderson.

“There’s a certain type of visa you get if you’re South African, which has to be approved,” he said. “They’d have to fast-track and approve these Schengen visas in record time. Apparently it’s only a stamp but it’s out of our hands.

“This is entirely in the lap of European Rugby and their ability to push it through and then the French government to approve it. It doesn’t give us a competitive team. There are nine of our squad who wouldn’t be approved and that’s not even including some of the lads who aren’t double-jabbed, of which there’s one or two. We’re not the only ones, we’re all in a similar boat.”

Asked about fielding a second‑string side if his South African players are not granted exemption, Sanderson said: “It’s a mockery of the cup then, isn’t it? We’re in it to play the best teams with our best team. So no, I wouldn’t even consider taking a second team to Clermont to get beaten up.”

I don't think it's true at all that other clubs are in a similar boat. No one in the Prem has the same number of South Africans and certainly not so many as starters.

I'd be intrigued as to why they've still got players who aren't at least double jabbed at this stage.

He can also pipe down about a mockery of the cup, injuries alone mean you can often be without a large number of a preferred starting line up and you'd still play the fixture. Wasps faced Munster with 18 injuries plus one sustained in the warm up. 2 more picked up during the game would've meant facing Toulouse with 21 players missing before we added on those unavailable due to covid protocols. Would fulfilling that fixture have been a mockery of the cup or just a team doing the best they can with the players available (which is all any squad can ever do)?

Is it also possible that this is a problem of their own making having left the paperwork of their players too late or has something changed very, very recently that means these Saffer players now need a different type of visa?

The postponed games from Round 2 of the Heineken Champions Cup will not be rescheduled, with the EPCR confirming that each game will be marked down as a 0-0 draw.

Five Champions Cup and two Challenge Cup matches from December were initially postponed, after heightened travel restrictions were brought in between France and the UK at short notice.

The EPCR had been hoping to reschedule those matches, but the lack of an available window means this would not be possible without making significant changes to the format of the competition for the second season in a row.

As a result, the EPCR Board and Executive have determined the games cannot be played, with each team awarded two match points for the scoreless draw.

However, this ruling does not include Leinster's cancelled Round 2 meeting with Montpellier.

The French side were awarded a 28-0 bonus point win after it was deemed it was unsafe for the game to proceed, with Leinster in the midst of a Covid-19 outbreak at the time.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 6:20 pm EPCR fucking over Leinster.

The postponed games from Round 2 of the Heineken Champions Cup will not be rescheduled, with the EPCR confirming that each game will be marked down as a 0-0 draw.

Five Champions Cup and two Challenge Cup matches from December were initially postponed, after heightened travel restrictions were brought in between France and the UK at short notice.

The EPCR had been hoping to reschedule those matches, but the lack of an available window means this would not be possible without making significant changes to the format of the competition for the second season in a row.

As a result, the EPCR Board and Executive have determined the games cannot be played, with each team awarded two match points for the scoreless draw.

However, this ruling does not include Leinster's cancelled Round 2 meeting with Montpellier.

The French side were awarded a 28-0 bonus point win after it was deemed it was unsafe for the game to proceed, with Leinster in the midst of a Covid-19 outbreak at the time.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2022/011 ... scheduled/

No offence to the French fans on here; but I really hope Leinster leave the field, with Montpellier, looking like the end of the fight in the, "House of Blue Leaves", in Kill Bill

TheFrog wrote: ↑Wed Jan 12, 2022 2:12 pm This year is going to be a joke.
I think French clubs have understood this since December and have made the Top14 their absolute priority.

TheFrog wrote: ↑Wed Jan 12, 2022 2:12 pm This year is going to be a joke.
I think French clubs have understood this since December and have made the Top14 their absolute priority.

TheFrog wrote: ↑Wed Jan 12, 2022 2:12 pm This year is going to be a joke.
I think French clubs have understood this since December and have made the Top14 their absolute priority.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:01 pm

TheFrog wrote: ↑Wed Jan 12, 2022 2:12 pm This year is going to be a joke.
I think French clubs have understood this since December and have made the Top14 their absolute priority.

Fickou disagrees
https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/champion ... tory.shtml

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:33 pm
Even without Dupont, that starting lineup looks like enough to secure a comfortable victory.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:39 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:33 pm
Even without Dupont, that starting lineup looks like enough to secure a comfortable victory.

Toulouse has been a one man side this season. And that man is not playing. Did you watch the game v Cardiff D?

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:53 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:39 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:33 pm
Even without Dupont, that starting lineup looks like enough to secure a comfortable victory.

Toulouse has been a one man side this season. And that man is not playing. Did you watch the game v Cardiff D?

I did, but otherwise decent French teams having an off day in the UK when the weather's shit or they're considered favourites is hardly unusual.

Besides, my prediction is more about the sorry state of Wasps than Toulouse's merits.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 3:19 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:53 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:39 pm

Toulouse has been a one man side this season. And that man is not playing. Did you watch the game v Cardiff D?

I did, but otherwise decent French teams having an off day in the UK when the weather's shit or they're considered favourites is hardly unusual.

Besides, my prediction is more about the sorry state of Wasps than Toulouse's merits.

Same Wasps which defeated Prem leaders last week?

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 8:20 pm Quins looking loose a.f.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 8:23 pm Hmmm; which game to watch ???

Cardiff v Quins 14 - 7

or //

Castres v Munster 0 - 3

Raggs wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 8:41 pm Someone has dipped Northmore's hand in oil or something.