Heineken Champions Cup - Rd 2

[Groundhog]

If this decision is as it appears: Leinster were ready to travel with a fit and healthy 23, then EPCR can absolutely **** themselves

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Ireland should make a competition with the Welsh, Scottish and Italian teams as revenge

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Ireland should make a competition with the Welsh, Scottish and Italian teams as revenge

*Cries in Saffa*

 

[paddybrown]

The rugby authorities appear to be biased against Leinster. I am having an existential crisis.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Who benefits from this though?
Leinster don't obviously
Montpellier was prob looking forward to being knocked out of the comp

 

[Curls]

The decision to call off the game really stinks. For me as wild as it sounds it could be one of the darkest episodes since professionalism started.

If you look at the French approach to Europe its either all in or out. Getting to the knockouts gives them a revenue stream that aids in paying foreign imports.
To me this smacks of 5 match points they would not have won had the game gone ahead.
It's no real coincidence that just after Leinster name a team perhaps stronger than Montpellier anticipated this transpires.

If we really are in a situation where clubs can twist the arms of the authorities to gain competitive advantage on or off the field then the game is really in crisis.

Looking at the fact both teams have covid cases but Leinster are punished is puzzling to say the least. If its related to French govt restrictions then Montpellier surely are the offending party as it is them unable to fulfill the fixture as planned.

 

[Leinster Fan]

I've spent so long supporting a team that's comfortably integrated and friends with all the right people that when something doesn't go our way I have no idea how to deal with it.

But seriously, this is a complete and utter joke. We're in a significantly better position than several sides who fielded last week, if it's an issue of not being able to get into the county than that should be Montpeilliers forfeit. Sue them up as far as it goes, they have no leg to stand on considering results last week. We'll go through anyway in all likelihood but I'm not putting up with a lower seeding because some clowns don't know how to consistently apply a rule.

 

[munstermuffin]

It aeems issue is you need to provide a negative on the country the day before.
Thats why we couldn't fly guys over on Sunday last week.
But still I'd ask -
Why didn't Leinster travel today? Presume there is a reason I haven't seen.
In rounds 3 and 4 if teams are out won't they just pull out. Like isn't Saracens basically looking at it in similar way now. They could've fielded but said no.

Leinster were stronger than we were last week. But well it is confusing

 

[jcahill1]

It aeems issue is you need to provide a negative on the country the day before.
Thats why we couldn't fly guys over on Sunday last week.
But still I'd ask -
Why didn't Leinster travel today? Presume there is a reason I haven't seen.
In rounds 3 and 4 if teams are out won't they just pull out. Like isn't Saracens basically looking at it in similar way now. They could've fielded but said no.

Leinster were stronger than we were last week. But well it is confusing

Thought they changed that rule last week and Dragons flew in day of?

 

[Groundhog]

Sorry but didn't Wasps play us last week when they had players pull out the day of the game? Meanwhile Leinster's matchday 23 have been tested all week and haven't returned a positive. They also got the all clear to travel by our government. The EPCR is full of ****. 0-0 draw would have been the only fair result, but they've bizarrely committed to this bonus point thing.

 

[munstermuffin]

Thought they changed that rule last week and Dragons flew in day of?

Possibly. Thst was reason they gave us although fact we were in SA may have been factor

 

[will311293]

From training pics it looks like we have most, but not all of our frontliners back training. Would expect a team like:
Kilcoyne, Scannell, Knox, Beirne, Kleyn, O'Mahony, Hodnett, O'Donoghue, Murray, Healy, Earls, De Allende, Farrell, Conway, Daly. Then a bench of Wycherley, Barron, Ryan, Jenkins, O'Sullivan, Casey, Crowley/Scannell, Flannery/French.

ohhh nooo..... what a weak team.... Yes i'm still hurting... Obviously a joke btw, better team won.

So we have 100% lost Oghre and JTA this week. Carr and Barbeary could play, as could Miller & Fifita. Sounds like we will have a team consisting of...

West, Frost, Alo, Fifita? Cardall, Young?, Carr?, Barbeary?, Wolstenholme, Gopps, Le Boug, Bassett, Kilbrige, Watson, Miller?

Bench: Hislop, Eckersley, Scholtz, Alfie Bell (Academy) Curran, Hougaard, Mathews, Anderson

Others: Rodrigo Martinez, Millar-Mills, G Reid, Mehson,
Fislau, Florestein, Tunney, Pichardie, Monye, Maasi'White, Hartley, Williams, Bacon, Dawkins.

Out: Cruse, Oghre, Harris, Toomaga-Allen, De Chaves (Covid), Gaskell, Launchbury, Stooke (Covid), Morris, Shields (Red), J Willis, T Willis (Covid), Porter, Robson, Atkinson, Umaga (Covid), Fekitoa, Mills, Simonds, Spink, Crossdale, Odogwu, Minozzi

I don't think we have anyone else... If Fifita, Carr, Miller and Barbeary aren't passed fit i'd assume Bell, Pichardie, Tunney and Mathews/Hartley/Anderson would come in but jesus we are low. Bell is the only other second row we have bar Fifita/Cardall

 

[will311293]

Sorry but didn't Wasps play us last week when they had players pull out the day of the game? Meanwhile Leinster's matchday 23 have been tested all week and haven't returned a positive. They also got the all clear to travel by our government. The EPCR is full of ****. 0-0 draw would have been the only fair result, but they've bizarrely committed to this bonus point thing.

Exactly. I don't understand how this is working... is it the French kicking up a fuss?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Are the COVID lot all confirmed out?

I thought the ones that had to drop out were because they were close contacts of someone who tested positive rather than they had themselves (which is why the rest of the team could still turnout, as they'd just had close contact to a close contact, rather than, say, Umaga running around the captains run coughing on people)

 

[Which Tyler]

Sorry but didn't Wasps play us last week when they had players pull out the day of the game? Meanwhile Leinster's matchday 23 have been tested all week and haven't returned a positive. They also got the all clear to travel by our government. The EPCR is full of ****. 0-0 draw would have been the only fair result, but they've bizarrely committed to this bonus point thing.

It's wierd, and I absolutely agree that if it's cancelled by government policy, then a draw is the only fair result; but...
Why does the Irish government get a say in who France allows across its borders?

 

[will311293]

Are the COVID lot all confirmed out?

I thought the ones that had to drop out were because they were close contacts of someone who tested positive rather than they had themselves (which is why the rest of the team could still turnout, as they'd just had close contact to a close contact, rather than, say, Umaga running around the captains run coughing on people)

So there is a chance they will be back... Stooke, De Chaves, Umaga, T Willis and i think Crossdale/Porter? would make handy additions...

Stooke wasn't training with the squad from what i could see on his insta story on Thursday but depends if they are allowed out. We found out Sat/Sun so depending on rules... it could be touch and go.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sounds like no games involving travelling teams will happen this weekend, but if they do then:

Oosthuizen starts, Jones to the bench, the only changes from last week

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

 

[will311293]

Toulouse vs Wasps Postponed

www.wasps.co.uk

Stronger line up than expected. Thought we might have more youngsters but imagine travelling reserve will be heavy with them.

Somehow doubt the lads will be heading to France. I wonder whether actually an additional week off might be hugely beneficial for us and having this scheduled next year. We could have a very different team come the new year.

 

[will311293]

Sounds like no games involving travelling teams will happen this weekend, but if they do then:

Oosthuizen starts, Jones to the bench, the only changes from last week

Apart from Oosthuizen (who IMHO is an awful scrummager) i love that starting pack.