Heineken Champions Cup 22/23 - Rd 1

[big ginger 8]

15. Max Spring, 14. Christian Wade, 13. Francis Saili, 12. Gael Fickou (c), 11. Juan Imhoff, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Nolann Le Garrec, 1. Eddy Ben Arous, 2. Camille Chat, 3. Cedate Gomes Sa, 4. Cameron Woki, 5. Fabien Sanconnie, 6. Wenceslas Lauret, 7. Ibrahim Diallo, 8. Maxime Baudonne.

Replacements:

16. Janick Tarrit, 17. Hassane Kolingar, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. Anton Bresler, 20. Boris Palu, 21. Baptiste Chouzenoux, 22. Antoine Gibert, 23. Olivier Klemenczak,

 

[Welsh Exile]

Ospreys : Max Nagy; Alex Cuthbert, George North, Joe Hawkins, Keelan Giles; Jack Walsh, Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin, Tom Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Sam Parry, Gareth Thomas, Tom Botha, Huw Sutton, Rhys Davies, Reuben Morgan Williams, Owen Williams, Michael Collins

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Stormers team:

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain)

Substitutes: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Junior Pokomela, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Clayton Blommetjies


Not the biggest pack or biggest names throughout but this Stormers side is better than the sum of its parts and I won't write us off until the final whistle.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Leinster heavily delayed due to the snow on the way out, likely won't get a captains run.

Racing win this game 7/10 times I reckon

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wouldn't be surprised if a few games are called off this weekend
Snow due in Manchester tonight and the temp isn't meant to be getting above 0 before kickoff on Sunday

 

[Gavin]

Stadium looks like it isn't even half full for the London Irish game.

Wonder if that's because of the weather

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

it's at freezing and the lowest qualifying English team is hosting the French champions. Not my idea of a Friday night out.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

OHC is class

 

[Gavin]

Could be a red

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Stadium looks like it isn't even half full for the London Irish game.

Wonder if that's because of the weather

18k stadium and average attendances in the region of 7k

 

[Jimbo]

Unfortunately probably has to be a red, if he had have stayed crouched would have been fine.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Damn, that's probably the game

 

[Jimbo]

How is it debatable he's clearly in front when he gets the ball.

 

[Tooting Carmen]

18k stadium and average attendances in the region of 7k

People have a go (partly understandably) at the four Welsh pro teams for their low attendances, yet London Irish are based in a capital city with three times the population of all of Wales (and when you count other parts of SE England, millions more still) and are in a totally domestic league.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

People have a go (partly understandably) at the four Welsh pro teams for their low attendances, yet London Irish are based in a capital city with three times the population of all of Wales (and when you count other parts of SE England, millions more still) and are in a totally domestic league.

Do agree that pro rugby in England is struggling, but Irish are competing with a football culture/more football teams you can shake stick at and two other significantly more successful rugby clubs also in the area and competing for the same fans

 

[Tooting Carmen]

Do agree that pro rugby in England is struggling, but Irish are competing with a football culture/more football teams you can shake stick at and two other significantly more successful rugby clubs also in the area and competing for the same fans

I understand that. But keep in mind that the combined populations of London + Southeast England + East of England are around 24 million, whereas Wales as a whole is just 3.1 million, plus people in the former tend to be significantly more prosperous than in the latter, and also the English Premiership doesn't have the issue of not being able to attract away fans that the URC obviously does due to the geography.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I understand that. But keep in mind that the combined populations of London + Southeast England + East of England are around 24 million, whereas Wales as a whole is just 3.1 million, plus people in the former tend to be significantly more prosperous than in the latter, and also the English Premiership doesn't have the issue of not being able to attract away fans that the URC obviously does due to the geography.

Wales has a significantly stronger rugby culture than London
People get too distracted by the incredibly pumped up participation numbers for the sport, rugby is increasingly niche in England

 

[Tooting Carmen]

Wales has a significantly stronger rugby culture than London

Per capita, maybe. But in terms of absolute numbers of players and spectators, I really doubt it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Almost an incredible finish

That period of play showed everything wrong with the sport though: ball held up over the line at 72mins, series of reset scrums and crossing at the lineout and next time the ball is actually in play is at 78mins

 

[Jimbo]

Almost an incredible finish

That period of play showed everything wrong with the sport though: ball held up over the line at 72mins, series of reset scrums and crossing at the lineout and next time the ball is actually in play is at 78mins

Couldn't agree more it really needs addressing, it's boring enough for the purists, certainly isn't going to grow the sport and get anyone hugely interested after watching the occasional game, if it's heavily dominated by stop start scrums just eating up time.