Champion's Cup: Covid bowl edition

[sockwithaticket]

A thread for the remainder of the tournament.

Round 16 fixtures:

(All kick-off times are local)

Friday 2 April
Leinster Rugby v RC Toulon – RDS Arena (17.30) CANCELLED
BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Gloucester Rugby v La Rochelle – Kingsholm (20.00)
BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Saturday 3 April
Wasps v ASM Clermont Auvergne – Ricoh Arena (12.30)
C4 / Virgin Media / BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Munster Rugby v Toulouse – Thomond Park (15.00)
BT Sport / beIN SPORTS / FR 2

Exeter Chiefs v Lyon – Sandy Park (17.30)
BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Sunday 4 April
Racing 92 v Edinburgh Rugby – Paris La Défense Arena (13.30)
beIN SPORTS / BT Sport

Bordeaux-Bègles v Bristol Bears – Stade Chaban-Delmas (16.00)
FR 2 / beIN SPORTS / BT Sport

Scarlets v Sale Sharks – Parc y Scarlets (17.30)
BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

[Uncle fester]

Leinster go straight through, don't they?

[laurent]

Leinster go straight through, don't they?

Potentially

Nothing certain so far

[Torquemada 1420]

Toulon not happy. Apparently they informed immediately on Wed. Despite that and all players tested last night (and clear) EPCR cancelled the game 5hrs before KO.......... after letting Toulon travel to Dublin.

Rugby continues to be run by muppets.

[SaintK]

Toulon not happy. Apparently they informed immediately on Wed. Despite that and all players tested last night (and clear) EPCR cancelled the game 5hrs before KO.......... after letting Toulon travel to Dublin.

Rugby continues to be run by muppets.

Thought I read on BBC Sports that one Toulon squad member tested positive

[Paddington Bear]

Must admit my first thought was that Toulon just didn’t fancy it.

Incompetence and a shame - was looking forward to what should have been an entertaining game

[laurent]

Must admit my first thought was that Toulon just didn’t fancy it.

Incompetence and a shame - was looking forward to what should have been an entertaining game

They actually travelled to Dublin Apparently game is off today because a non travelling player was tested positive Wednesday (EPCR was notified).

All travelling players were retested Thursday (and negative ) now that they are in Dublin EPCR cancels the game (The club are rightly pissed off).

Edit EPCR wanted Toulon to Replace the 6 Front rows for the game to take place (would have been delayed to Sunday)

[SaintK]

Must admit my first thought was that Toulon just didn’t fancy it.

Incompetence and a shame - was looking forward to what should have been an entertaining game

They actually travelled to Dublin Apparently game is off today because a non travelling player was tested positive Wednesday (EPCR was notified).

All travelling players were retested Thursday (and negative ) now that they are in Dublin EPCR cancels the game (The club are rightly pissed off).

Edit EPCR wanted Toulon to Replace the 6 Front rows for the game to take place (would have been delayed to Sunday)

Understandably so!
Shame I was looking forward to a full evening of European rugby

[Torquemada 1420]

Toulon not happy. Apparently they informed immediately on Wed. Despite that and all players tested last night (and clear) EPCR cancelled the game 5hrs before KO.......... after letting Toulon travel to Dublin.

Rugby continues to be run by muppets.

Thought I read on BBC Sports that one Toulon squad member tested positive

Yes. On Wednesday! The bit "Apparently they informed immediately on Wed" was a clue.

[Torquemada 1420]

I know I've said this before, but there is something rotten at Bath and has been at years. Under performing seems to be a lifelong cancer there.

[SaintK]

Toulon not happy. Apparently they informed immediately on Wed. Despite that and all players tested last night (and clear) EPCR cancelled the game 5hrs before KO.......... after letting Toulon travel to Dublin.

Rugby continues to be run by muppets.

Thought I read on BBC Sports that one Toulon squad member tested positive

Yes. On Wednesday! The bit "Apparently they informed immediately on Wed" was a clue.

[sockwithaticket]

Leinster awarded the result apparently. If what's above is true and Toulon were cleared to travel and then their playing squad all tested negative on Thursday, then they've been incredibly hard done by.


La Rochelle with a nice early try to light up their game against Glaws

[fishfoodie]

Leinster awarded the result apparently. If what's above is true and Toulon were cleared to travel and then their playing squad all tested negative on Thursday, then they've been incredibly hard done by.


La Rochelle with a nice early try to light up their game against Glaws

My sympathy for French rugby ended with the Scottish debacle. If their teams can't maintain their covid bubbles, they can fuck right off.

[sockwithaticket]

Oof, Chris Harris' cover tackle there kind of facilitates the try by keeping the La Rochelle winger's boots off the ground.

[sockwithaticket]

Leinster awarded the result apparently. If what's above is true and Toulon were cleared to travel and then their playing squad all tested negative on Thursday, then they've been incredibly hard done by.


La Rochelle with a nice early try to light up their game against Glaws

My sympathy for French rugby ended with the Scottish debacle. If their teams can't maintain their covid bubbles, they can fuck right off.

Nah, if EPCR were going to say they can't play due to someone not due to play testing positive on Wednesday, then they should have told Toulon not to travel then. Allowing them to travel and then cancelling on the day is bullshit.

[laurent]

Leinster awarded the result apparently. If what's above is true and Toulon were cleared to travel and then their playing squad all tested negative on Thursday, then they've been incredibly hard done by.


La Rochelle with a nice early try to light up their game against Glaws

My sympathy for French rugby ended with the Scottish debacle. If their teams can't maintain their covid bubbles, they can fuck right off.

Club have been doing pretty well with no delays in the league (there was some delays but the 6 nations allowed the clubs to catch up.

There are 3 pro leagues going on without too much trouble (more trouble in the lower ones).

Laporte and his covid manager are a case in point of incompetencies... (every single FFR team has had cases)

[fishfoodie]

Leinster awarded the result apparently. If what's above is true and Toulon were cleared to travel and then their playing squad all tested negative on Thursday, then they've been incredibly hard done by.


La Rochelle with a nice early try to light up their game against Glaws

My sympathy for French rugby ended with the Scottish debacle. If their teams can't maintain their covid bubbles, they can fuck right off.

Nah, if EPCR were going to say they can't play due to someone not due to play testing positive on Wednesday, then they should have told Toulon not to travel then. Allowing them to travel and then cancelling on the day is bullshit.

I can agree with that; but from what I can work out; all the Toulon front rowers would have been considered close-contacts to the infected player; & hence shouldn't have travelled to Ireland, as under Irish regulations they should have isolated for 14 days.

I assume that's why the EPRC came back with the suggestion to find another front row ?

[Torquemada 1420]

I can agree with that; but from what I can work out; all the Toulon front rowers would have been considered close-contacts to the infected player; & hence shouldn't have travelled to Ireland, as under Irish regulations they should have isolated for 14 days.

I assume that's why the EPRC came back with the suggestion to find another front row ?

What part of all are you struggling with?

[laurent]

My sympathy for French rugby ended with the Scottish debacle. If their teams can't maintain their covid bubbles, they can fuck right off.

Nah, if EPCR were going to say they can't play due to someone not due to play testing positive on Wednesday, then they should have told Toulon not to travel then. Allowing them to travel and then cancelling on the day is bullshit.

I can agree with that; but from what I can work out; all the Toulon front rowers would have been considered close-contacts to the infected player; & hence shouldn't have travelled to Ireland, as under Irish regulations they should have isolated for 14 days.

I assume that's why the EPRC came back with the suggestion to find another front row ?

Even if Toulon has 4 front rows on their books How can the 3rd and Fourth Choice no contact cases (if they train with the others they are contacts too)

anyway EPCR should have cancelled wednesday not today hours before the game

[sockwithaticket]

Glaws giving a surprisingly good account of themselves at the moment.

My sympathy for French rugby ended with the Scottish debacle. If their teams can't maintain their covid bubbles, they can fuck right off.

Nah, if EPCR were going to say they can't play due to someone not due to play testing positive on Wednesday, then they should have told Toulon not to travel then. Allowing them to travel and then cancelling on the day is bullshit.

I can agree with that; but from what I can work out; all the Toulon front rowers would have been considered close-contacts to the infected player; & hence shouldn't have travelled to Ireland, as under Irish regulations they should have isolated for 14 days.

I assume that's why the EPRC came back with the suggestion to find another front row ?

The article I read (Guardian) didn't indicate when this was proposed. If it was before Toulon travelled, then that is indeed stupid. I assumed it was as part of trying to get the game played and postponing 'til Sunday on the basis that they'd be able to get some new props out by then.

[sockwithaticket]

Glaws giving a surprisingly good account of themselves at the moment.

Spoke too soon...

La Rochelle score a 3rd try and make it look piss easy.

Edit - Cherry and White blushes saved by a small knock on in the build up.

[Torquemada 1420]

Brace doing his usual best to ride French sides but Glaws too sh*t to be salvaged.

[fishfoodie]

Glaws giving a surprisingly good account of themselves at the moment.

Nah, if EPCR were going to say they can't play due to someone not due to play testing positive on Wednesday, then they should have told Toulon not to travel then. Allowing them to travel and then cancelling on the day is bullshit.

I can agree with that; but from what I can work out; all the Toulon front rowers would have been considered close-contacts to the infected player; & hence shouldn't have travelled to Ireland, as under Irish regulations they should have isolated for 14 days.

I assume that's why the EPRC came back with the suggestion to find another front row ?

The article I read (Guardian) didn't indicate when this was proposed. If it was before Toulon travelled, then that is indeed stupid. I assumed it was as part of trying to get the game played and postponing 'til Sunday on the basis that they'd be able to get some new props out by then.

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I think it was just desperate shuffling to try & get the game to go ahead & not break the regulations. It might have been recoverable if it was a few backs; but it was never realistic to magic up 6 new front rows. It's extraordinary times I suppose

[fishfoodie]

Grand, a great decision by Brace & his team. Spot on

[Torquemada 1420]

Grand, a great decision by Brace & his team. Spot on

Garbage decision under the current laws. Sympathise partly with Barton because he's dealing with a falling player but he made no attempt at an arms wrap so that was at least yellow.

[fishfoodie]

Grand, a great decision by Brace & his team. Spot on

Garbage decision under the current laws. Sympathise partly with Barton because he's dealing with a falling player but he made no attempt at an arms wrap so that was at least yellow.

and you're such a neutral ...


and Brace makes another good call, & marches Glaws back 10, after they kick the ball away after the whistle

[Torquemada 1420]

Grand, a great decision by Brace & his team. Spot on

Garbage decision under the current laws. Sympathise partly with Barton because he's dealing with a falling player but he made no attempt at an arms wrap so that was at least yellow.

and you're such a neutral ...

You might want to try and grasp the current laws and the drive towards player safety.

[Torquemada 1420]

Wonder how Glaws manage to look so sh*te with that backline? Even Sharples and May have looked muck.

[fishfoodie]

Garbage decision under the current laws. Sympathise partly with Barton because he's dealing with a falling player but he made no attempt at an arms wrap so that was at least yellow.

and you're such a neutral ...

You might want to try and grasp the current laws and the drive towards player safety.

you might want to get your reffing badges; & try your hand at it.

you're the worst ref whinger on this board; & frankly it's not a good look.

[Torquemada 1420]

you might want to get your reffing badges; & try your hand at it.

you're the worst ref whinger on this board; & frankly it's not a good look.

Brace is a serial cheat when it comes to Fre sides. End of.

[iarmhí]

ROG doing good work at LR.

They were 20 points better today

[sockwithaticket]

Had to dive off for the second half, surprised it stayed so close.

[Sandstorm]

you might want to get your reffing badges; & try your hand at it.

you're the worst ref whinger on this board; & frankly it's not a good look.

Brace is a serial cheat when it comes to Fre sides. End of.

QED.

[Torquemada 1420]

you might want to get your reffing badges; & try your hand at it.

you're the worst ref whinger on this board; & frankly it's not a good look.

Brace is a serial cheat when it comes to Fre sides. End of.

QED.

La Rochelle might have led 15-6 but a surprising call for a deliberate knock-on was then not given by the officials, much to the fury of O'Gara, coming out of the coaching box to vent his frustration.

Barton escaped sanction following a questionable tackle on Leyds, who was forced off for a head injury assessment

And this is the issue with Brace. It's not that he makes bad decisions but that the evidence is the key ones are always against French sides. Whenever I see him now, I assume a 7 point handicap will need to be overcome.

[Torquemada 1420]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... -breaking/

Language is a barrier that rugby has never come close to breaking down

Around two hours later in Paris came a moment that so threateningly dichotomised the events at Kingsholm that it barely resembled the same sport. Duhan van der Merwe scored Scotland’s first try in a madcap match and, with one authoritative blast, referee Wayne Barnes awarded the close-range score, adamant that it was legal.

Except, Barnes had missed one of the most palpable double movements that he might ever miss. How Charles Ollivon, the magnificent French captain, wished that he could have kicked up a fuss like Townsend; how he wished that the communication channel between anglophone referee and francophone player was nearer to Eurotunnel fluidity than last week’s Suez Canal. Ollivon flapped and waved but the language barrier meant that his primitive pleading methods were always going to be in vain.

“C’est bien pour moi,” said Barnes. Back you go, discussion over, bonne nuit. The try stood, with France facing the ignominy of watching its dubiousness on the stadium’s screens. The greater injustice, however, was that unlike Townsend, Les Bleus were powerless to stop it. The try stood, in essence, because Ollivon could not appeal.

Scotland’s five points might still have – incorrectly – remained after review, but that is moot. If Townsend can dictate, then France should also be able to. The fact that they could not because of a language barrier lends scant credibility to ‘World’ Rugby’s grand designs of a global game.

[sockwithaticket]

Wasps with first blood against Clermont courtesy of Odogwu.

[ASMO]

Minozzi wants his bollocks cutting off for that stupidity

[sockwithaticket]

Minozzi drops the ball in the act of scoring after an amazing solo run and chip.

Wasps carving Clermont open at the moment

[sockwithaticket]

Minozzi wants his bollocks cutting off for that stupidity

Wasps fans suddenly reminded of what it's like to have Le Roux wearing 15...

[ASMO]

Clermont return the favour