Challenge Cup 25/26 - Megathread

[dirty harry]

Cardiff auditioning for a spot in Super Rugby with these tackle attempts

Awful structure, been an issue all season. Its a bad combination of having the smallets and lightest average backline in europe, and an all out touchline to touchline attacking structure.

When teams play in front of us we minimise the issue, when however they play off turnover you really see the size and power deficit.

2 out of 6 lineouts dont fuxking help!!!

 

[dirty harry]

Bulls v Bristol looks like it was a fun one, 110 points

 

[dirty harry]

Racing trying too hard now, they have a big power advantage but dont seem to be able to use it, theyre overplaying...

Racing a little unlucky to be down by 9, but they need composure here.

 

[davten]

What a turn around by the Newcastle Red Bulls this season so far with an away win in Lyon ( which I was fortunate to attend ) and two home victories against the Johannesburg Lions & Perpignan. We have a little away trip down to Dragons which again I'm travelling down for, in the knowledge we have already secured a home tie in the last 16.

 

[Geordie]

Newcastle Red Bulls v Dragons (Friday, 8pm, Rodney Parade, live on S4C)

15 Elliott Obatoyinbo,
14 Christian Wade,
13 Sammy Arnold,
12 Cameron Hutchison,
11 Alex Hearle,
10 Ethan Grayson,
9 Simón Benítez Cruz;

1 Murray McCallum,
2 George McGuigan (captain),
3 Richard Palframan,
4 Oscar Usher,
5 Jamie Hodgson,
6 Tom Gordon,
7 Tom Christie,
8 Freddie Lockwood.

Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Finn Baker, 20 Reuben Parsons, 21 James Elliott, 22 Rhys Beeckmans, 23 Nathan Greenwood.

Great to see young academy lads Parsons, Beeckmans and Baker on the bench. All 3 have great potential

 

[Tooting Carmen]

Ospreys: Nagy; Kasende, Watkin, Cokanasiga, Conbeer; Walsh (capt), Morgan-Williams; S Thomas, L Lloyd, Henry, R Davies, Fender, de Witt, G Evans, Morris.

Replacements: Daniel, C Jones, Hire, L Jones, Moriarty, Morse, Hardy, Hopkins.

Montpellier: Taofifenua; Ducros, Darmon, Cadot, Rates; Hogg, Bernadet; Welsch, Uelese (capt), Tolofua, Tauleigne, Uhila, Becognee, Masibaka, Gleeson

Replacements: Akrab, Erdocio,Hounkpatin, DuGuid, Shand, Baraer, Coly, Tangata.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Ita)

Assistants: Franco Rosella (Ita), Luca Bisetto (Ita)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (Ita).


Exeter Chiefs: Woodburn; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Haydon-Wood, Brown-Bampoe; H Skinner, Varney; Sio, Dweba, Tchumbadze, Jenkins (capt), Zambonin, Hooper, E Roots, James.

Replacements: Heaven, Goodrick-Clarke, J Roots, Tuima, Pearson, Capstick, Chapman, Hammersley.

Cardiff: Beetham; Grady, Smit, Jennings, Bowen; I Lloyd, Mulder; Southworth, E Lloyd, S Wainwright, McNally (capt), Thornton, Botham, D Thomas, Basham.

Replacements: D Hughes, Domachowski, Assiratti, Nott, Lawrence, Cottle, I Davies, Winnett.

Referee: Griffin Colby (SA)

Assistants: Morne Ferreira (SA), Christopher Allison (SA)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)


Dragons: Dragons: O'Brien (co-capt); Richards, Inisi, Owen, Dyer; De Beer, Hope; W Jones, Coghlan, Hunt, Woodman, Carter (co-capt), Keddie, Young, Wainwright.

Replacements: G Roberts, Martinez, Dlamini, Douglas, Lewis-Hughes, R Williams, Ackerman, C Evans.

Newcastle: Obatoyinbo; Wade, Arnold, Hutchison, Hearle; Grayson, Benitez Cruz; McCallum, McGuigan (capt), Palframan, Usher, Hodgson, Gordon, Christie, Lockwood.

Replacements: Fletcher, Brocklebank, De Bruin, Baker, Parsons, J Elliott, Beeckmans, Greenwood.

Referee: Christopher Allison (SA)

Assistants: Morne Ferreira (SA), Griffin Colby (SA)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)

 

[dirty harry]

Newcastle Red Bulls v Dragons (Friday, 8pm, Rodney Parade, live on S4C)

15 Elliott Obatoyinbo,
14 Christian Wade,
13 Sammy Arnold,
12 Cameron Hutchison,
11 Alex Hearle,
10 Ethan Grayson,
9 Simón Benítez Cruz;

1 Murray McCallum,
2 George McGuigan (captain),
3 Richard Palframan,
4 Oscar Usher,
5 Jamie Hodgson,
6 Tom Gordon,
7 Tom Christie,
8 Freddie Lockwood.

Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Finn Baker, 20 Reuben Parsons, 21 James Elliott, 22 Rhys Beeckmans, 23 Nathan Greenwood.

Great to see young academy lads Parsons, Beeckmans and Baker on the bench. All 3 have great potential

Im looking forward to this tonight, Dragons are a pile of pish, and ive seen some poor Newcastle displays this season, specifically Quins and Bath games, but theyre results are much better than id expect tbh, theyve had some big wins.

Newcastle fans correct me if im wrong, but they seemingly struggle to deal with the power games, when under pressure they make errors, well they definately wont get that tonight, Dragons are a soft touch, light, fall off tackles and offer easy points.

I thonk Dragons might make a game of it though, fristrate Newcastle and stay in touch, the conxern is if the Dragons concede early theyll fold!