Champions Cup Semi-final La Rochelle v Exeter

Stade Rochelais: 15. Brice Dulin, 14. Dillyn Leyds, 13. UJ Seuteni, 12. Jules Favre, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Antoine Hastoy, 9. Tawera Kerr Barlow, 1. Reda Wardi, 2. Pierre Bourgarit, 3. Uini Atonio, 4. Romain Sazy, 5. Will Skelton, 6. Ultan Dillane, 7. Levani Botia, 8. Grégory Alldritt (c).

Replacements: 16. Quentin Lespiaucq Brettes, 17. Joel Sclavi, 18. Georges Henri Colombe, 19. Thomas Lavault, 20. Paul Boudehent, 21. Remi Bourdeau, 22. Thomas Berjon, 23. Teddy Thomas

Exeter Chiefs: 15. Tom Wyatt, 14. Jack Nowell (c), 13. Henry Slade, 12. Sean O'Brien, 11. Olly Woodburn, 10. Joe Simmonds, 9. Will Becconsall, 1. Scott Sio, 2. Dan Frost, 3. Marcus Street, 4. Jannes Kirsten, 5. Jonny Gray, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Christ Tshiunza, 8. Sam Simmonds.

Replacements: 16. Jack Yeandle, 17. Nika Abuladze, 18. Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19. Aidon Davis, 20. Dave Ewers, 21. Stu Townsend, 22. Harvey Skinner, 23. Stuart Hogg

The England supporter in me would like to see Exeter come out victorious. Suspect Leinster supporters would prefer that outcome too. I don't recognize some of the names on the Exeter bench (Abuladze, Iosefa-Scott and Davis) which probably reflects my ignorance, though it makes me wonder whether there might be a lack of impact.

cracking game already

French booing a bit irritating though ...

Can someone gag Healey please

TJ wrote:Can someone gag Healey please

Many have tried....

Rugby Fan wrote:Stade Rochelais: 15. Brice Dulin, 14. Dillyn Leyds, 13. UJ Seuteni, 12. Jules Favre, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Antoine Hastoy, 9. Tawera Kerr Barlow, 1. Reda Wardi, 2. Pierre Bourgarit, 3. Uini Atonio, 4. Romain Sazy, 5. Will Skelton, 6. Ultan Dillane, 7. Levani Botia, 8. Grégory Alldritt (c).

Replacements: 16. Quentin Lespiaucq Brettes, 17. Joel Sclavi, 18. Georges Henri Colombe, 19. Thomas Lavault, 20. Paul Boudehent, 21. Remi Bourdeau, 22. Thomas Berjon, 23. Teddy Thomas

Exeter Chiefs: 15. Tom Wyatt, 14. Jack Nowell (c), 13. Henry Slade, 12. Sean O'Brien, 11. Olly Woodburn, 10. Joe Simmonds, 9. Will Becconsall, 1. Scott Sio, 2. Dan Frost, 3. Marcus Street, 4. Jannes Kirsten, 5. Jonny Gray, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Christ Tshiunza, 8. Sam Simmonds.

Replacements: 16. Jack Yeandle, 17. Nika Abuladze, 18. Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19. Aidon Davis, 20. Dave Ewers, 21. Stu Townsend, 22. Harvey Skinner, 23. Stuart Hogg

The England supporter in me would like to see Exeter come out victorious. Suspect Leinster supporters would prefer that outcome too. I don't recognize some of the names on the Exeter bench (Abuladze, Iosefa-Scott and Davis) which probably reflects my ignorance, though it makes me wonder whether there might be a lack of impact.

I think for Leinster Exeter would be an easier game but I think I would prefer to finally beat la Rochelle, would be a sweeter win even if I probably prefer Exeter. If La Rochelle win and get to three finals in a row that would be very impressive. Not many sides have managed that, maybe only Toulon.

Collapse2005 wrote:

Rugby Fan wrote:Stade Rochelais: 15. Brice Dulin, 14. Dillyn Leyds, 13. UJ Seuteni, 12. Jules Favre, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Antoine Hastoy, 9. Tawera Kerr Barlow, 1. Reda Wardi, 2. Pierre Bourgarit, 3. Uini Atonio, 4. Romain Sazy, 5. Will Skelton, 6. Ultan Dillane, 7. Levani Botia, 8. Grégory Alldritt (c).

Replacements: 16. Quentin Lespiaucq Brettes, 17. Joel Sclavi, 18. Georges Henri Colombe, 19. Thomas Lavault, 20. Paul Boudehent, 21. Remi Bourdeau, 22. Thomas Berjon, 23. Teddy Thomas

Exeter Chiefs: 15. Tom Wyatt, 14. Jack Nowell (c), 13. Henry Slade, 12. Sean O'Brien, 11. Olly Woodburn, 10. Joe Simmonds, 9. Will Becconsall, 1. Scott Sio, 2. Dan Frost, 3. Marcus Street, 4. Jannes Kirsten, 5. Jonny Gray, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Christ Tshiunza, 8. Sam Simmonds.

Replacements: 16. Jack Yeandle, 17. Nika Abuladze, 18. Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19. Aidon Davis, 20. Dave Ewers, 21. Stu Townsend, 22. Harvey Skinner, 23. Stuart Hogg

The England supporter in me would like to see Exeter come out victorious. Suspect Leinster supporters would prefer that outcome too. I don't recognize some of the names on the Exeter bench (Abuladze, Iosefa-Scott and Davis) which probably reflects my ignorance, though it makes me wonder whether there might be a lack of impact.

I think for Leinster Exeter would be an easier game but I think I would prefer to finally beat la Rochelle, would be a sweeter win even if I probably prefer Exeter. If La Rochelle win and get to three finals in a row that would be very impressive. Not many sides have managed that, maybe only Toulon.

I think you will get what you are asking for, mate. Seems to me Exeter are hanging on by their fingernails. Hope I am wrong, but however it goes, we should have a terrific final.

Looking that way alright. Exeter have had a few marginal calls go the wrong way and La Rochelle have really ramped it up.

Yep LAR look too strong and Chiefs perhaps a bit unlucky with a couple of decisions. Not sure Nowell knocked on near the line rather than ball caught on other player's boot and went backwards, but could be wrong. LAR also perhaps lucky not to get pinged for holding on just before their 2nd try whereas they are allowed to win turnovers when almost horizontal.

LAR also perhaps lucky not to get pinged for holding on just before their 2nd try

It was not the player on the ground holding it. Two players from each side on their feet were fighting for it. correct call

Exeter have also just made a few too many mistakes, knock ons, Slade kicking it out on the full and someone else kicking it dead. Cant afford those errors away to La Rochelle.

Possibly, said I could be wrong, but looked like the player on the ground held on a bit before the other LAR player got involved.

All academic anyway as I suspect this is going to be a large margin ...

La Rochelle are a very hard side to break down

They look impressive but given Gloucester could/should have knocked them out I don't think they will trouble Leinster in Dublin ...

Heaf wrote:They look impressive but given Gloucester could/should have knocked them out I don't think they will trouble Leinster in Dublin ...

Not so sure - I think this could be a ripping final.

Thought the same about Leinster v Toulouse and that was disappointing - admittedly not helped by the early injury and some poor officiating around foul play ...

Heaf wrote:Thought the same about Leinster v Toulouse and that was disappointing - admittedly not helped by the early injury and some poor officiating around foul play ...

Barnes missed some stuff for both sides, on the 8th minute in lead up to Akis try Byrne got a swinging arm to the head and knocked him over. Wasnt reviewed either. Toulouse could easily have got red for the head butt on Vdf too which was also initially ignored. Dont think the officiating had that much a bearing on the game. The second half rain probably more an impact.

Collapse2005 wrote:

Heaf wrote:Thought the same about Leinster v Toulouse and that was disappointing - admittedly not helped by the early injury and some poor officiating around foul play ...

Barnes missed some stuff for both sides, on the 8th minute in lead up to Akis try Byrne got a swinging arm to the head and knocked him over. Wasnt reviewed either. Toulouse could easily have got red for the head butt on Vdf too which was also initially ignored. Dont think the officiating had that much a bearing on the game. The second half rain probably more an impact.

The biggest impact was moving the world's best 9 into flyhalf and having Ntamack defend at 12. They had a winger who's as comfortable as centre as he is on the wing and a good winger on the bench. If they'd reshuffled in that way I think they'd have maintained some control in the game. That substitution and then Ramos stupid yellow card really hit them hard in the first half.

Yeah true, six two split isnt always the best idea either.

Yeah 6/2 was a risky move but I think with some injuries they were gambling on Flament at 6 and wanted to have some options if that wasn't working. Had they made a different sub in the backs then it wouldn't have mattered quite so much. It really was an odd call bringing on a 9 who's mainly played in ProD2 when a French international winger was sat on the bench next to him. Graou was playing his second European game off the bench.

Only just realised that Leinster v La Rochelle is the first time ever the final has been contested by the same sides two years in a row. I think therefore there really is no doubt that the best two teams made the final. Obviously La Rochelle are the team to beat as champions and given they beat Leinster last year. It is also their third final in a row and they have very few weaknesses. It is a nice symmetry though that last year the final was in France and this year Ireland. Very fair.

Very fair aye. La Rochelle had to travel 400 miles for their home final. Leinster can all walk five minutes from their houses

Collapse2005 wrote:Only just realised that Leinster v La Rochelle is the first time ever the final has been contested by the same sides two years in a row. I think therefore there really is no doubt that the best two teams made the final. Obviously La Rochelle are the team to beat as champions and given they beat Leinster last year. It is also their third final in a row and they have very few weaknesses. It is a nice symmetry though that last year the final was in France and this year Ireland. Very fair.

Agree, no question for me that we have the two best teams in the final. I think it's hard to call which team is favoutite since both are really good. Plus Leinster are (more or less) at home. The symmetry you are mentioning???