Champions Cup 24/25 - Round 3

[Leonormous Boozer]

I think you can boil this comp down to Toulouse, Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Leinster, Northampton and Sarries at this point. They're the only teams able to book a home route to the final still. I fancy Toulouse / Bordeaux and Northampton to get it based on the run in. Pool winners will fancy a trip to Bordeaux or Northampton for a semi though which piques Toulon's and Glasgow's interest somewhat.

La Rochelle v Leinster the tie of the round. Toulouse nearly beat them with a weakened team at the weekend and I fancy us to get through. We're an improved team on last year with RG, Barrett and Prendergast added to the troops and got by. Hopefully the attack starts to click and it could even be comfortable.

Sharks v Toulouse is intriguing also with a lot on the line, Toulouse will want to avoid any chance of a trip to Dublin but 5 points away in SA is a big ask for anyone.

Munster v Sarries, Quins v Toulon and Bath v Clermont could all be fun watches too.

And then there's so many inconsequential games already (Bath v Clermont incl.) that shows up the format so badly.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Think we'll be sending a bin juice side to SA

 

[Which Tyler]

The opportunity to rest some players couldn't come at a better time, after yesterday's battering.
Pity it's at home, and risks upsetting our own supporters if we rotate too heavily (those home supporters being very fickle, demanding rotation and complaining each and every time they see it)

 

[irisht]

Jordie B at 12 please.

 

[West Country Wail]

Oh great, another French Powerhouse in Devon

 

[Groundhog]

We're at the stage where I think we could have a rattle at most teams bar the top few and could make a decent stab at the knockouts if we had a full deck to pick from, but that seems like it will never really be the case. 16 players injured would affect any squad, but are really thin in some spots even in the best case. I don't know who we start at centre this weekend. Either we start Scannell (bad) or move a very on form Daly in from the wing to a position he hasn't played much of.

Sarries seem to be up and down and probably aren't the team they once were, but I would be pleasently shocked if we got a result off them. I gather they have had a good few injuries in the second row and will a good bit weaker than they'd like on the bench, but we will be makeshift in areas. Murray coming back is important. Kilgallen may be called straight in if Daly comes into the centre.

FWIW I think Leinster will get past LAR by more than a score.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

FWIW I think Leinster will get past LAR by more than a score.

Didn't read the rest but FWIW, you're a good man.

 

[The Seeker]

I've got Glasgow over Racing 92.

 

[Rinkadink]

I guess challenge cup qualification will matter to those who drop out of the champions cup? Not sure how it all works though. Guess wins will be needed somewhere.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Luke James, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez ©, 9. Gus Warr, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. WillGriff John, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. JL du Preez, 7. Tom Curry ©, 8. Dan du Preez.

Replacements:
16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Ben Bamber, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Rekeiti Ma'asi-White, 23. Ben Curry.

Much stronger than I expected, tbf - still gonna get walloped though
Insanely rare sighting of RMW

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Worried about the bench.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Good to see a Carnduff finally fit

 

[munstermuffin]

Jordie B at 12 please.

Not allowed when Irish players available. Them the rules.

Leinster will get bonus point win here. LAR are not a good team.

 

[munstermuffin]

We're at the stage where I think we could have a rattle at most teams bar the top few and could make a decent stab at the knockouts if we had a full deck to pick from, but that seems like it will never really be the case. 16 players injured would affect any squad, but are really thin in some spots even in the best case. I don't know who we start at centre this weekend. Either we start Scannell (bad) or move a very on form Daly in from the wing to a position he hasn't played much of.

Sarries seem to be up and down and probably aren't the team they once were, but I would be pleasently shocked if we got a result off them. I gather they have had a good few injuries in the second row and will a good bit weaker than they'd like on the bench, but we will be makeshift in areas. Murray coming back is important. Kilgallen may be called straight in if Daly comes into the centre.

FWIW I think Leinster will get past LAR by more than a score.

Murray good to go. POM failed his last test. Will be back next week.
We have to go 6/2 and try survive the battle up front.

 

[saulan]

Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Luke James, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez ©, 9. Gus Warr, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. WillGriff John, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. JL du Preez, 7. Tom Curry ©, 8. Dan du Preez.

Replacements:
16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Ben Bamber, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Rekeiti Ma'asi-White, 23. Ben Curry.

Much stronger than I expected, tbf - still gonna get walloped though
Insanely rare sighting of RMW

Our team is a bit weird tbh.

We've gone with a 6:2 split, but some players being a bit odd in picks. Forwards are fine and will be good to have Evan Roos back on the field, but our backline is a bit weird. That's definitely a second string centre pairing... I don't even know if Roche has played before? Potentially once. Ben Loader I also wouldn't say is in our top 3 wings, not sure what's happening with Zas and Senatla. Definitely missing SFM who keeps coming back and immediately getting injured.

One player to keep an eye on is Paul De Villiers. 21 year old loose forward that has stood out to me everytime he has come onto the field this season.

 

[Which Tyler]

The opportunity to rest some players couldn't come at a better time, after yesterday's battering.
Pity it's at home, and risks upsetting our own supporters if we rotate too heavily (those home supporters being very fickle, demanding rotation and complaining each and every time they see it)

Dammit. Should at least have give Finn an extra week on the beach. I'd personally have rotated a bit more too (mostly giving the usual benchers a start, and benching the usual starters), but Finn played too much last year, and is on target to do so again this year.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Worried about the bench.

Team taken down. Furlong was named, last min injury maybe?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Our team is a bit weird tbh.

View attachment 22627

We've gone with a 6:2 split, but some players being a bit odd in picks. Forwards are fine and will be good to have Evan Roos back on the field, but our backline is a bit weird. That's definitely a second string centre pairing... I don't even know if Roche has played before? Potentially once. Ben Loader I also wouldn't say is in our top 3 wings, not sure what's happening with Zas and Senatla. Definitely missing SFM who keeps coming back and immediately getting injured.

One player to keep an eye on is Paul De Villiers. 21 year old loose forward that has stood out to me everytime he has come onto the field this season.

A Jean-Luc du P[...] on each team, commentary is gonna have to be on their game

 

[irisht]

Team taken down. Furlong was named, last min injury maybe?

No TOB starts at 14, not Larmour.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

No TOB starts at 14, not Larmour.

Far better. TOB looking good whenever fit.