NPR

Time to get some beer in & fire up the Braai folks !

Heineken Champions Cup: Leinster v Toulouse
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 14 May Kick-off: 15:00 BST

Leinster: Keenan, J. O'Brien, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe, Sexton, Gibson-Park, Porter, Kelleher, Furlong, Molony, Ryan, Doris, van der Flier, Conan.
Replacements: Sheehan, Healy, Ala'alatoa, McCarthy, Ruddock, McGrath, R Byrne, Frawley.

Toulouse: Ramos; Mallia, Fouyssac, Ahki, Lebel; Ntamack, Dupont; Baille, Marchand, Aldegheri, Arnold, Meafou, Elstadt, Cros, Jelonch.
Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Ainu'u, Tekori, Tolofua, Flament, Page-Relo, Holmes.

European Challenge Cup: Lyon v Wasps (Sat)
Venue: Matmut Stadium Date: Saturday, 14 May Kick-off: 12:30 BST

Lyon: Arnold; Tuisova, Barassi, Ngatai, Niniashvili; Berdeu, Couilloud; S Taofifenua, Marchand, Bamba, Kpoku, R Taofifenua, Cretin, Saginadze, Sobela (capt).
Replacements: Charcosset, Rey, Kodela, Mayanavanua, Goujon, Doussain, Lambey, Mignot.

Wasps: Umaga; Hougaard, Fekitoa, Gopperth, Bassett; Atkinson, Robson; West, Oghre, Alo, Launchbury (capt), Stooke, Shields, J Willis, Barbeary.
Replacements: Frost, Harris, Millar-Mills, Gaskell, T Willis, Porter, Spink, Kibirige.


European Challenge Cup: Toulon v Saracens (Sat)
Venue: Stade Felix Mayol Date: Saturday, 14 May Kick-off: 20:00 BST

Saracens: Goode; Malins, Daly, Tompkins, Segun; Farrell (capt), Davies; M Vunipola, George, Koch, Itoje, Isiekwe, McFarland, Earl, B Vunipola.
Replacements: Pifeleti, Mawi, Wainwright, Hunter-Hill, Christie, van Zyl, Taylor, Lozowski.

Toulon: Luc; Wainiqolo, Smaili, Paiai'aua, Villiere; Carebonel, Serin; Gros, Tolofua, Gigashvili, Etzebeth, Alainu'uese, Du Preez, Ollivon, Parisse
Replacements: Etrillard, Devaux, Setiano, Lakafia, Isa, Rebbadj, Belleau, Blanc.

BT Sport really are cvnts. The game of highest interest for UK would be Leinster v Toulouse. But sticking to the rules the only one available on CH4 is Racing 92 v La Rochelle on a Sunday. W@nkers.

Edit, actually the game of highest interest for any neutral would L v T.

PCPhil wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 4:19 pm BT Sport really are cvnts. The game of highest interest for UK would be Leinster v Toulouse. But sticking to the rules the only one available on CH4 is Racing 92 v La Rochelle on a Sunday. W@nkers.

Edit, actually the game of highest interest for any neutral would L v T.

You raise an interesting subject actually. English viewers will be by far the largest group who can tune into Channel 4. Would a Challenge Cup semifinal featuring an English club be of more commercial value than a Champions Cup semifinal with an Irish and French team or two French teams? Saracens are a big English rugby 'brand' as well now (whether you like them or not) or at least 'big' in rugby terms amongst the general population.

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 5:11 pm

PCPhil wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 4:19 pm BT Sport really are cvnts. The game of highest interest for UK would be Leinster v Toulouse. But sticking to the rules the only one available on CH4 is Racing 92 v La Rochelle on a Sunday. W@nkers.

Edit, actually the game of highest interest for any neutral would L v T.

You raise an interesting subject actually. English viewers will be by far the largest group who can tune into Channel 4. Would a Challenge Cup semifinal featuring an English club be of more commercial value than a Champions Cup semifinal with an Irish and French team or two French teams? Saracens are a big English rugby 'brand' as well now (whether you like them or not) or at least 'big' in rugby terms amongst the general population.

Probably ruled out by the kick off time, 20:00 on a saturday night is not a great slot for an English audience I suspect.

Nah, they’re just cvnts.

PCPhil wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 6:58 pm Nah, they’re just cvnts.

Well, that too, but I was trying to consider it with a more equanimous lens.

PCPhil wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 4:19 pm BT Sport really are cvnts. The game of highest interest for UK would be Leinster v Toulouse. But sticking to the rules the only one available on CH4 is Racing 92 v La Rochelle on a Sunday. W@nkers.

Edit, actually the game of highest interest for any neutral would L v T.

Looking at the stats (mainly Leinster ones )and the previous games, L v T is definitely the game to watch.

https://www.epcrugby.com/champions-cup/statistics/

40k tickets sold in 5 days. Good going.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 6:53 pm

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 5:11 pm

PCPhil wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 4:19 pm BT Sport really are cvnts. The game of highest interest for UK would be Leinster v Toulouse. But sticking to the rules the only one available on CH4 is Racing 92 v La Rochelle on a Sunday. W@nkers.

Edit, actually the game of highest interest for any neutral would L v T.

You raise an interesting subject actually. English viewers will be by far the largest group who can tune into Channel 4. Would a Challenge Cup semifinal featuring an English club be of more commercial value than a Champions Cup semifinal with an Irish and French team or two French teams? Saracens are a big English rugby 'brand' as well now (whether you like them or not) or at least 'big' in rugby terms amongst the general population.

Probably ruled out by the kick off time, 20:00 on a saturday night is not a great slot for an English audience I suspect.

That probably reflects more the custom in France than England for viewing rugby. They love a late kickoff over there.

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 5:49 am

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 6:53 pm

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 5:11 pm



You raise an interesting subject actually. English viewers will be by far the largest group who can tune into Channel 4. Would a Challenge Cup semifinal featuring an English club be of more commercial value than a Champions Cup semifinal with an Irish and French team or two French teams? Saracens are a big English rugby 'brand' as well now (whether you like them or not) or at least 'big' in rugby terms amongst the general population.

Probably ruled out by the kick off time, 20:00 on a saturday night is not a great slot for an English audience I suspect.

That probably reflects more the custom in France than England for viewing rugby. They love a late kickoff over there.

I think my original point about BT Sport stands up to scrutiny in either case.

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 5:49 am

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 6:53 pm

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 5:11 pm



You raise an interesting subject actually. English viewers will be by far the largest group who can tune into Channel 4. Would a Challenge Cup semifinal featuring an English club be of more commercial value than a Champions Cup semifinal with an Irish and French team or two French teams? Saracens are a big English rugby 'brand' as well now (whether you like them or not) or at least 'big' in rugby terms amongst the general population.

Probably ruled out by the kick off time, 20:00 on a saturday night is not a great slot for an English audience I suspect.

That probably reflects more the custom in France than England for viewing rugby. They love a late kickoff over there.

That's definitely the reason for the kick off time, but for why the game wouldn't be Channel 4's chosen fixture I think that's about English viewing habits. Perceived or otherwise.

I don’t think ch4 can choose the game. They are doled out 1 game at a time fixed earlier I believe.

PCPhil wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 9:42 am I don’t think ch4 can choose the game. They are doled out 1 game at a time fixed earlier I believe.

I suspect that if an England team had been involved in the Champions Cup, C4 might have made more of an effort to secure that fixture for themselves.

However, when their execs saw this week that the choice was between an Ireland France game and an all France game, they decided that there was no point trying to change the schedule or show a game other than the one that was previously agreed. Even then, I doubt that the potential viewing figures would be enough to persuade them to change their advertised schedules, and pay extra to secure a particular game.

Is it true that Leinster had 15 days rest before the QF?

If this is true, then they will be much fresher than Toulouse who have been playing hard games after hard games since the 6N and had that extra time against Munster. I struggle to see how Toulouse, who are not in the best form already, can beat Leinster.

I think La Rochelle will prevail over Racing who are too inconsistent.

Wasps - Lyon very scrappy so far, lots of handling errors and turnovers.

30 degree heat can't be fun having just come from UK temperatures of less than half that earlier this week. Not much time to acclimate.

TheFrog wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 11:30 am Is it true that Leinster had 15 days rest before the QF?

If this is true, then they will be much fresher than Toulouse who have been playing hard games after hard games since the 6N and had that extra time against Munster. I struggle to see how Toulouse, who are not in the best form already, can beat Leinster.

I think La Rochelle will prevail over Racing who are too inconsistent.

Yep. They sent their second team to go play the URC fixtures and then rolled out the first team for the quarter final.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 11:50 am Wasps - Lyon very scrappy so far, lots of handling errors and turnovers.

30 degree heat can't be fun having just come from UK temperatures of less than half that earlier this week. Not much time to acclimate.

TheFrog wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 11:30 am Is it true that Leinster had 15 days rest before the QF?

If this is true, then they will be much fresher than Toulouse who have been playing hard games after hard games since the 6N and had that extra time against Munster. I struggle to see how Toulouse, who are not in the best form already, can beat Leinster.

I think La Rochelle will prevail over Racing who are too inconsistent.

Yep. They sent their second team to go play the URC fixtures and then rolled out the first team for the quarter final.

That may explain why they looked so comfortable steamrolling the leaders of the Premiership.

Definitely, Irish wins in the Champions Cup with lots of asterisks

TheFrog wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 12:04 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 11:50 am Wasps - Lyon very scrappy so far, lots of handling errors and turnovers.

30 degree heat can't be fun having just come from UK temperatures of less than half that earlier this week. Not much time to acclimate.

TheFrog wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 11:30 am Is it true that Leinster had 15 days rest before the QF?

If this is true, then they will be much fresher than Toulouse who have been playing hard games after hard games since the 6N and had that extra time against Munster. I struggle to see how Toulouse, who are not in the best form already, can beat Leinster.

I think La Rochelle will prevail over Racing who are too inconsistent.

Yep. They sent their second team to go play the URC fixtures and then rolled out the first team for the quarter final.

That may explain why they looked so comfortable steamrolling the leaders of the Premiership.

Definitely, Irish wins in the Champions Cup with lots of asterisks

Well that plus Leciester are short of class. They're a very good team, but their success is due to coaching and commitment of the players to the game plan. If they meet a team like Leinster who are also very well coached, but are man for man better players then they're going to lose.

These fucking TMOs are a menace.

Not a half that's going to live long in anyone's memory.

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 12:08 pm These fucking TMOs are a menace.

It's the sort of incident that used to be checked in the background and dismissed. There was no need to bring it for formal review.

TheFrog wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 11:30 am Is it true that Leinster had 15 days rest before the QF?

If this is true, then they will be much fresher than Toulouse who have been playing hard games after hard games since the 6N and had that extra time against Munster. I struggle to see how Toulouse, who are not in the best form already, can beat Leinster.

I think La Rochelle will prevail over Racing who are too inconsistent.

No, we had to travel down to SA for two matches in the two weeks before the QF. They came back with 2 losing bonus points which meant that Leinster can't be caught at the top of the URC table with one match to go.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 12:19 pm

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 12:08 pm These fucking TMOs are a menace.

It's the sort of incident that used to be checked in the background and dismissed. There was no need to bring it for formal review.

The TMO wanted a card for that.

He only agreed with the ref when the ref pointed out WTF was he doing.

Lyon remain an enigma. Really do that far too rarely.

TheFrog wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 11:30 am Is it true that Leinster had 15 days rest before the QF?

If this is true, then they will be much fresher than Toulouse who have been playing hard games after hard games since the 6N and had that extra time against Munster. I struggle to see how Toulouse, who are not in the best form already, can beat Leinster.

I think La Rochelle will prevail over Racing who are too inconsistent.

While Leicester’s players had been hammering away against Harlequins in a Premiership bellwether and then ensuring a precious bonus point against Bristol, Leinster’s big players were, by and large, getting nice massages and measured workouts. The difference in freshness between the two sides was glaring

FM. Why would you take Couilloud off and bring on Do-Dans?

Beyond pitiful Berdeu. And some making noises about caps

Toby Arnold sh*ts the bed but gets away with it.

The number of handling errors in promising positions from Wasps has been really costly.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 1:17 pm The number of handling errors in promising positions from Wasps has been really costly.

Shocking given the conditions and the pitch.

Berdeu's kicking is going to come back and bite Lyon on the arse.

Wasps utterly blew that. Doesnt matter, Saracens will utterly smash Lyon.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 1:17 pm The number of handling errors in promising positions from Wasps has been really costly.

Surrendering our (remote) chance to win with a knock on was depressingly apt.

Not impressive stuff by either side. Sarries will bury LOU.

Anyone else trying to use epcrugby.tv and having trouble?

Was watching the Wasps game earlier and now it says there are no more fixtures this weekend! I'm in Europe so it shouldn't be geoblocked, and worked fine earlier hence why I forked out for the weekend stream package...

Not expecting Toulouse to get within a country mile of Leinster

This is so wonk. I can't even find a live radio broadcast.

Dixon the ref? Ahahahahahaha

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 2:01 pm Dixon the ref? Ahahahahahaha

*Dickson and the correct spelling is all the more apt.

Brilliant by Dupont

Difference between the Leinster and Toulouse forwards is marked. Toulouse arrive at a ruck and really all they do is bind on and wait for the 9. The Leinster forwards just look to play immediately if the ball is available, also the Toulouse forwards looking shagged out already.