European Champions Cup 25/26 - Round 2

[Leonormous Boozer]

Rieko can go to wing now too, that was embarrassing.

 

[OllyM97]

A win is a win is a win I suppose. But very little hope in this competition this season.

The McCarthys were a big positive, HB too, Ryan had one of those under the radar games you only notice when he's not there.

Clarkson, Doris, Henshaw, Frawley and TOB were very poor. A blip for three of them but Henshaw and Frawley just don't look like they belong at the level anymore.

Tells you a lot about the state of the competition when Leinster, even when playing fairly poorly, can still go away from home and beat one of the top English sides. Let’s be honest, it’s a 4 or 5 team tournament now in terms of teams that can actually win it and the gulf between them and the rest is monumental. Can’t see past Toulouse this year tbh.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

one of the top English sides

But they were playing Leicester?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

But they were playing Leicester?

And a Leicester missing half it’s first choice pack and first choice half backs

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Tells you a lot about the state of the competition when Leinster, even when playing fairly poorly, can still go away from home and beat one of the top English sides. Let’s be honest, it’s a 4 or 5 team tournament now in terms of teams that can actually win it and the gulf between them and the rest is monumental. Can’t see past Toulouse this year tbh.

I think the structure really exposes it. The tournament has had very few outsiders win, Exeter, Leinster in 09, don't think Wasps were too fancied the year they beat Leicester? And it was always really a case that you could tell what 2-3 teams were going to be challenging for the trophy about halfway through the pool stages. But even so, and still, you usually have 3-4 good French teams and 1-2 good URC and prem teams all capable of beating each other, and then a handful who can cause an upset against some of the teams on the lower end of that top tier.

Like, off the top of my head, if it was the old home and away structure, I'd fully be expecting Bath and Toulon to defend home court against each other, same with Leinster and La Rochelle and I could see Munster beating Bath in Thomond Park. I'm sure there's more but I'm not too up to date on the match ups this year.

As a result, and even though there ended up being a few dead rubbers and processions in the pools under the old format, it randomised the knockouts a bit more so home advantage didn't mean it was a near certainty to win* and made every bonus point count whether it was to get through to the knockouts or get a home QF.

They've created a format where every pool game there's something to play for, which sounds great, but in reality it's rendered the first 6 rounds of the competition a procession.

*I think I read a stat along the lines of 90% of knockout games in this format have been won by the home side and Saints are the only team to win away from home in the semi final stage*

And a Leicester missing half it’s first choice pack and first choice half backs

Nearly as many key injuries as us so!

 

[Becca]

Really bad luck, Leicester.
Just so pleased Leinster didn’t run away with it at any stage.