2022/23 Champions/Challenge Cup

[OomStruisbaai]

Castres v Edinburgh
(Stade Pierre Fabre, Castres – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 UK & Ireland time; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Castres by 13 points.

Teams:

Castres: 15 Thomas Larregain, 14 Martin Laveau, 13 Vilimoni Botitu, 12 Adrien Seguret, 11 Geoffrey Palis, 10 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 9 Gauthier Doubrere, 8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 7 Josaia Raisuqe, 6 Baptiste Cope, 5 Théo Hannoyer, 4 Leone Nakarawa (captain), 3 Wilfrid Hounkpatin, 2 Gaetan Barlot, 1 Quentin Walcker.
Replacements: 16 Pierre Colonna, 17 Matthew Tierney, 18 Aurélien Azar, 19 Ryno Pieterse, 20 Thomas Staniforth, 21 Kevin Kornath, 22 Santiago Arata Perrone, 23 Adrea Cocagi.

Edinburgh: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Cammy Hutchison, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Charlie Savala, 9 Charlie Shiel, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Jamie Ritchie (co-captain), 6 Sam Skinner, 5 Grant Gilchrist (co-captain), 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Paddy Harrison, 17 Boan Venter, 18 WP Nel, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Nick Haining, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Jack Blain.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace (England) & Neil Chivers (England)
TMO: David Rose (England)

[OomStruisbaai]

Racing 92 v Harlequins
(Paris La Defense Arena, Paris – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 UK &Ireland time; 15.15 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Racing 92 by seven points.

Teams:

Racing 92: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Donovan Taofifenua, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Gael Fickou (captain), 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 8 Maxime Baudonne, 7 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 6 Ibrahim Diallo, 5 Boris Palu, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Guram Gogichashvili.
Replacements: 16 Péniami Narisia, 17 Eddy Ben Arous, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Anthime Hemery, 20 Kitione Kamikamica, 21 Antoine Gibert, 22 Olivier Klemenczak, 23 Max Spring.

Harlequins: 15 Nick David, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Aaron Morris, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt (captain), 7 Will Evans, 6 Luke Wallace, 5 Irne Herbst, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 George Head, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker 17 Jordan Els 18 Simon Kerrod 19 George Hammond 20 Tom Lawday 21 Lewis Gjaltema 22 Oscar Beard 23 Will Edwards.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Peter Martin (Ireland) & Oisin Quinn (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)

[OomStruisbaai]

8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Deon Fourie,

I want to see more from these three in defence and all 3 making turnovers.

We missing Xaba as backup to Fourie. Willie can do a bit of turn over. He and BJD can provide a bit of bom from the bench.

All depend on Libbok. If he play like last weekend we are fucked.

[OomStruisbaai]

lots and lots and lots of rugby. I just love this NH competitions.

[Torquemada 1420]

I know they won the Hcup last time round, but when did they become so good? Used to be Toulon, Toulouse and the pink team

They've had a decent squad for several years but were permanently hampered by having the worst 1/2 back pairing in France. A very well run club with pretty much sell out gates at every game. Apropos of nothing, a former PR boardie was a player for them way back.

Quent?

In his deluded dreams maybe. Anyway, IIRC, he was never in France. Spain and Turkey?

[Torquemada 1420]

Racing 92 v Harlequins
(Paris La Defense Arena, Paris – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 UK &Ireland time; 15.15 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Racing 92 by seven points.

Teams:

Racing 92: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Donovan Taofifenua, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Gael Fickou (captain), 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 8 Maxime Baudonne, 7 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 6 Ibrahim Diallo, 5 Boris Palu, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Guram Gogichashvili.
Replacements: 16 Péniami Narisia, 17 Eddy Ben Arous, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Anthime Hemery, 20 Kitione Kamikamica, 21 Antoine Gibert, 22 Olivier Klemenczak, 23 Max Spring.

Harlequins: 15 Nick David, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Aaron Morris, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt (captain), 7 Will Evans, 6 Luke Wallace, 5 Irne Herbst, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 George Head, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker 17 Jordan Els 18 Simon Kerrod 19 George Hammond 20 Tom Lawday 21 Lewis Gjaltema 22 Oscar Beard 23 Will Edwards.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Peter Martin (Ireland) & Oisin Quinn (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)

A little late for Racing to throw the kitchen sink at it.

[PCPhil]

Racing 92 v Harlequins
(Paris La Defense Arena, Paris – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 UK &Ireland time; 15.15 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Racing 92 by seven points.

Teams:

Racing 92: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Donovan Taofifenua, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Gael Fickou (captain), 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 8 Maxime Baudonne, 7 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 6 Ibrahim Diallo, 5 Boris Palu, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Guram Gogichashvili.
Replacements: 16 Péniami Narisia, 17 Eddy Ben Arous, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Anthime Hemery, 20 Kitione Kamikamica, 21 Antoine Gibert, 22 Olivier Klemenczak, 23 Max Spring.

Harlequins: 15 Nick David, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Aaron Morris, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt (captain), 7 Will Evans, 6 Luke Wallace, 5 Irne Herbst, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 George Head, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker 17 Jordan Els 18 Simon Kerrod 19 George Hammond 20 Tom Lawday 21 Lewis Gjaltema 22 Oscar Beard 23 Will Edwards.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Peter Martin (Ireland) & Oisin Quinn (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)

A little late for Racing to throw the kitchen sink at it.

We trust in Finn

[Torquemada 1420]

You can see why RCT got shot of Belleau. The guy is mentally blown.

[Jim Lahey]

Jeez, this is one shit Clermont team.

[Tichtheid]

Clermont 1 has hinged on every scrum so far

[petej]

I'm expecting Clermont at home to batter Tigers considering Tigers injuries, disruption and awful recent form. Clermont seem to be a bit shite but so are Tigers.

[Torquemada 1420]

Jeez, this is one shit Clermont team.

Yup. If Leicester were not almost as equally clueless, this game would already be over. F**k knows why so many picked ASM in the FR. Also shows (again) that PR knows f**k all in having ASM to win.

[fishfoodie]

I'm a bit stunned that the ERC think putting in a ref, who played for one of the teams before becoming a ref, is a good idea

[Torquemada 1420]

I'm a bit stunned that the ERC think putting in a ref, who played for one of the teams before becoming a ref, is a good idea

More stupidity but FWIW, I like Murphy as a ref and think he'll be straight.

[Tichtheid]

Bibi Biziwu needs to sort himself out, it's entirely deliberate from him

[Tichtheid]

That is a great finish

[Torquemada 1420]

FM, Garbajosa eat your heart out

[Jim Lahey]

Bibi Biziwu needs to sort himself out, it's entirely deliberate from him

He's given 2 or 3 scrum pens and 2 more in open play.
Gibbes needs to get him off.

[Tichtheid]

8 could be in trouble here

[Torquemada 1420]

Spot on reffing.

[fishfoodie]

I'm a bit stunned that the ERC think putting in a ref, who played for one of the teams before becoming a ref, is a good idea

More stupidity but FWIW, I like Murphy as a ref and think he'll be straight.

Yeah, I mean the same thing happens when he refs Munster, but I can't think of any time you'd ask yourself questions; but it's an avoidable senario; & Dog forbid a certain Saffer coach should ever be involved

[petej]

I'm a bit stunned that the ERC think putting in a ref, who played for one of the teams before becoming a ref, is a good idea

More stupidity but FWIW, I like Murphy as a ref and think he'll be straight.

I'm pretty happy so long as the ref is from the league that the 2 teams do not play in.

Youngs surely should have gone off for an assessment.

[Torquemada 1420]

And there's the game. Beyond comprehension how Gibbes still has a job.

[Torquemada 1420]

Garbajosa...... eat your heart out.

[sockwithaticket]

Quality score and the game needed it.

[Torquemada 1420]

Quality score and the game needed it.

A man down too.

[GogLais]

8 could be in trouble here

Talking about Carwyn? I think a red would have very harsh, not sure what else he could have done other than turn himself into thin air. Looked dreadful though.

[GogLais]

8 could be in trouble here

Talking about Carwyn? I think a red would have very harsh, not sure what else he could have done other than turn himself into thin air. Looked dreadful though.

[Torquemada 1420]

8 could be in trouble here

Talking about Carwyn? I think a red would have very harsh, not sure what else he could have done other than turn himself into thin air. Looked dreadful though.

Wrong game. Only you are watching the Scarlets!

[SaintK]

Still think that Clermont are In with a good shout
Their attack looks pretty lethal

[SaintK]

8 could be in trouble here

Talking about Carwyn? I think a red would have very harsh, not sure what else he could have done other than turn himself into thin air. Looked dreadful though.

Wrong game. Only you are watching the Scarlets!

Wondered why I was confused

[GogLais]

8 could be in trouble here

Talking about Carwyn? I think a red would have very harsh, not sure what else he could have done other than turn himself into thin air. Looked dreadful though.

Wrong game. Only you are watching the Scarlets!

Needs must, only game to which I have access.

[Torquemada 1420]

Still think that Clermont are In with a good shout
Their attack looks pretty lethal

Mix of good attack and weak defending. Could be fun.

[Tichtheid]

Good work from the officials

[Jim Lahey]

Fun game this.

If Clermont could sort out the brain farts and their set piece they'd win this at a canter.

[Jim Lahey]

Or maybe not

[Tichtheid]

perfect execution of a planned move

[Torquemada 1420]

Leinster or LaR would rack up 100 against either of these 2's "defences".

[Torquemada 1420]

For a first start, the appropriately named Jauneau has looked bright.

[Jim Lahey]

Leinster or LaR would rack up 100 against either of these 2's "defences".

Great to see 1st phase scores and Fijian flair on show, rather than the boring efficiency of the top teams.