Exeter Chiefs v Connacht

First topic message reminder :

Chiefs 6 Connacht 8

I was just wondering, seen as though Exeter are in Leinsters HEC group, can we expect more from the Chiefs?

Being beaten (apparently near to full strength) against Connacht at home is hardly the best of starts. Will they be shown to be out of their depth at this level or are Connachts young guns that good?

Not having seen them much, I was interested.

Thanks

'shocked - I would agree with you on the teirs there, although I ain't too sure about Ulster (or to a point Toulon and Saints) being in the Teir 2, I would have had them as their three

And Exeter would make into your "tier 3" because........?

I would have Toulouse in tier 1 as well.

To be honest Beshocked is looking for a raise. Connacht make it to the Amlin SF and are beaten by eventual winners and Exeter (beaten by Connachts thirds at home, never played in a European comp) gets into your "tier 3"... because they is English, innit?

Duigers wrote:And Exeter would make into your "tier 3" because........?

I would have Toulouse in tier 1 as well.

Personally I would have Exeter in Teir three as I have them down as dark horses for the Jeff Playoff spots this season. Also I would have Exeter as Teir three as I am expecting them to have a home win and away loss against another Teir three side (Scarlets) in the HEC, which would indicate they are level.

Why would you not have them as Tier Three, would you have them higher or lower?

Duigers wrote:To be honest Beshocked is looking for a raise. Connacht make it to the Amlin SF and are beaten by eventual winners and Exeter (beaten by Connachts thirds at home, never played in a European comp) gets into your "tier 3"... because they is English, innit?

They have been in the Amllin mate, and even London Welsh are next season.

[/quote]
Why would you not have them as Tier Three, would you have them higher or lower?[quote]

Pedigree. In that, they have none.

I predict that Exeter will be 10 - nilled against Clermont and Leinster.

They might take 1 point against Starlets.

We'll see what tier they are in come the New Year.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Duigers wrote:To be honest Beshocked is looking for a raise. Connacht make it to the Amlin SF and are beaten by eventual winners and Exeter (beaten by Connachts thirds at home, never played in a European comp) gets into your "tier 3"... because they is English, innit?

They have been in the Amllin mate, and even London Welsh are next season.

Have they? No great shakes so as I can't remember them doing anything noteworthy...

Have they? No great shakes so as I can't remember them doing anything noteworthy...

Exeter went out in the quarter finals to Stade Francais. It was a really good end to end game, worth looking up if you're bored and fancy watching some good rugby. They topped the pool with Perpignan and the Dragons in it.

Unofficial European Rankings (Which take league etc into account)

http://www.eurorugby.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Rugger&file=latest

Yeah those are not official, and possibly slightly Jeff bias, but Exeter are definately up higher than Connacht.


Official Rankings
http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/ranking.php

So 'no great shakes' would be finishing eith more ERC ranking points than Connacht.

1. I believe the AP to be an easier league than the Rabo.

2. A semi is better than a quarter last time I looked.

I'd have Connacht as a 3rd tier team and Exeter as a 4th tier (which is the way the groups were actually pulled?)

So 'no great shakes' would be finishing eith more ERC ranking points than Connacht.

I dont get what you are saying here.

Connacht are ranked 10 places higher than Exeter?

Last season Exeter finished with 2 points for the season and Connacht finished with 1. Not rocket science boss.

Connacht have 6 points in the last four seasons (1, 0, 4, 1) and Exeter have 2 points from the last four season (2, -, -, -), so that is why Connacht are above them on the ERC rankings, which also have the Cardiff Blues as a Teir one side, and Clermont ASM as a Teir two side (and why they are knocked quite often on here for not being accurate).

Sorry boyo, "eith " must be Welsh for something and I don't speak Welsh.

Anyway, lets see how they do this year compared with Connacht... and your lot as well for that matter.

And no blaming the wind !!!

Duigers - eith was a typo for with.

31st !!!

And eith sounds totes more Irish than Welsh

Lads, pre-season friendly results are meaningless. They're just trying to give guys match time that's all.

Id say Connacht will have a better HC than last year. They have a years experience in the comp, a stronger squad and an easier group. So I think they'll do better than one win from five.

I think Exeter will have a very tough year. They're a year behind Connacht in HC experience but also have a group from hell. 1 win from 5 is very likely. 2 would be doing very well, and 0 is a possibility.

Feckless - you mean I just wasted my wages betting on La Rochelle to come top of the Top 14 based on Munster losing a friendly to them

Yeah pre-season is there to try things out and see what is what, and not really for bragging rights.

Duigers wrote:1. I believe the AP to be an easier league than the Rabo.

2. A semi is better than a quarter last time I looked.

I'd have Connacht as a 3rd tier team and Exeter as a 4th tier (which is the way the groups were actually pulled?)

Duigers, for a man that in your OP seemed to know nothing about Exe, all of a sudden you seem very clued up? To answer your original questions, the Chiefs did not play well on Saturday, they won't be ridiculously out of their depth in the Heino and the Connacht youngsters played very well. The reverse fixture last year saw Exe leave the west coast of Ireland 47-10 winners - I'd read as much into that result as I would into this year's corresponding 6-8 loss tbh. Hope that helps

Ey up ASBO, it appears we have our first 'hater'! It's a proud moment in the development of our side!

Duigers I think You are being way more one eyed in favour of the rabo than shocked was in favour of the Jeff.

On last season's form in the Amlin and AP Exeter were a better team than Connacht were in the Rabo and HC.

This year I fancy Connacht to make big strides. Bigger strides than Exeter who I think were greater than the sum of their parts last year so it should be closer. (Between Connacht and Exeter)

Now both of those statements are of course "just my opinion"

In the main I would not disagree with shocked's tiers (a few quibbles perhaps) But I think he puts too much store on where a team is in some non existent ranking system. I just don't think it is relevant or necessary to rank teams from different leagues on any basis than their performance in Europe.

Teams like Montpellier, Castres, Racing and even Toulon may well be better than other teams in the Jeff and Rabo, but they tend to give up quite easily in Europe because they prioritise the Top 14 and therefore are ranked lower. That's just one example.

Who is better than who is a much more fluid thing and is never absolute. This is why we play sport. If the highest ranked team always won we would just hand the WC to the All blacks every 4 years....

And yes. I do see the irony in comparing Connacht and Exeter in the first part of my post and then saying comparison is irrelevant in the second part.

Bigger strides than Exeter who I think were greater than the sum of their parts last year so it should be closer.

Exeter are always better than the sum of their parts. They are a well drilled side with an excellent ethos. I think losing Mieres and Camacho to the Southern Hemisphere International Tournament will effect them though, those are two very good players to lose.

Mieres isn't going. Not been selected as he played in the summer tests.

Effervescing Elephant wrote:Ey up ASBO, it appears we have our first 'hater'! It's a proud moment in the development of our side!

Another milestone. Just wait till ye win the HC.

I'll be the first to declare your victory is "tainted". Either you'll have cheated, bought it, or were handed it by the ref. I haven't decided yet.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Bigger strides than Exeter who I think were greater than the sum of their parts last year so it should be closer.

Exeter are always better than the sum of their parts. A well drilled side with an excellent ethos.

which is why I like them. And Connacht. why I loved munster in their heyday. Even Leicester

Feckless Rogue wrote:

Effervescing Elephant wrote:Ey up ASBO, it appears we have our first 'hater'! It's a proud moment in the development of our side!

Another milestone. Just wait till ye win the HC.

I'll be the first to declare your victory is "tainted". Either you'll have cheated, bought it, or were handed it by the ref. I haven't decided yet.

That'll be a great moment indeed!

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Bigger strides than Exeter who I think were greater than the sum of their parts last year so it should be closer.

Exeter are always better than the sum of their parts. They are a well drilled side with an excellent ethos. I think losing Mieres and Camacho to the Southern Hemisphere International Tournament will effect them though, those are two very good players to lose.

Which is the one that looks like a scary monkey ? He freaks me out

munkian wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Bigger strides than Exeter who I think were greater than the sum of their parts last year so it should be closer.

Exeter are always better than the sum of their parts. They are a well drilled side with an excellent ethos. I think losing Mieres and Camacho to the Southern Hemisphere International Tournament will effect them though, those are two very good players to lose.

Which is the one that looks like a scary monkey ? He freaks me out

That's Mieres, he does look a bit scary. Proponent of the 'Zombie face' kicking technique as well. Likes a pasty.

Thats it- dawn of the dead looking guy

Scarletspiderman I put Ulster in tier 2 because they were HC finalists - convincingly beat Leicester,beat Clermont, beat Munster away etc.

2010-11 - 3rd in the Pro12 and HC quarter finalists

2011-12 - 6th in Pro12 and HC finalists.

Pretty good if you ask me.

Saints are in there for being in the top 4 in the AP 3 seasons consecutively, HC finalists in 2010-11 and good European performances in general.


Toulouse not Tier 1 because they lost to Edinburgh,Gloucester and Quins this season in the HC.

Duigers you make out as if Connacht have a lot of pedigree in comparison to Exeter. You haven't said anything that justifies Connacht being acknowledged as tier 3.

Duigers you make out as if Connacht have a lot of pedigree in comparison to Exeter. You haven't said anything that justifies Connacht being acknowledged as tier 3.

Seriously?

In terms of pedigree, Connacht, being the only one of the 2 to ever play in a HEC, have more pedigree than Exeter, who make their debut this year.

In terms of giving you a reason why Connacht is classified as a tier 3 team. Well, it's because they are.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012%E2%80%9313_Heineken_Cup

If you are looking for Exeter Chiefs on the list, you will find them beside Zebre, who have never played a competitive game in their existence.

Look, I am not rubbishing the Chiefs (hater, OMG) I just object to your opinion that Exeter must be better than Connacht just because they is an English team.

Duigers wrote:If you are looking for Exeter Chiefs on the list, you will find them beside Zebre, who have never played a competitive game in their existence.
Look, I am not rubbishing the Chiefs (hater, OMG) I just object to your opinion that Exeter must be better than Connacht just because they is an English team.

In that case your list is bollix mate. Chiefs have 2 ERC points, so would be above Zebre (with 0), unless Zebre take over from Aironi and will have 2 ERC points, but then Chiefs come ahead alphabetically.

I'd say Exeter are a better team than Connacht, but that doesn't make Connacht a bad team, and there isn't a gulf in class.

I've only argued that Connacht are better than precieved, I.e if in the Prem would be hammered and relegated, they wouldn't.

Also if doing your tiers, I'd have 5 tiers, Zebre and a few Almin teams would be tier 5, Connacht are def a tier above them, weither Connacht and Exeter would be in same tieris down to opinion.
Maybe Chiefs a better tier 4 and Connacht and average tier 4 or
Chiefs average tier 3 and Connacht poorer tier.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Duigers wrote:If you are looking for Exeter Chiefs on the list, you will find them beside Zebre, who have never played a competitive game in their existence.
Look, I am not rubbishing the Chiefs (hater, OMG) I just object to your opinion that Exeter must be better than Connacht just because they is an English team.

In that case your list is bollix mate. Chiefs have 2 ERC points, so would be above Zebre (with 0), unless Zebre take over from Aironi and will have 2 ERC points, but then Chiefs come ahead alphabetically.

As a Chiefs supporter who still has an intact grin from 25/05/10 I don't give a monkeys about who's perceived to be better than our lads. As long as the guys play to their individual and collective abilities results will look after themselves ( Baxter philosophy). Bring it on

Moorsman wrote:As a Chiefs supporter who still has an intact grin from 25/05/10 I don't give a monkeys about who's perceived to be better than our lads. As long as the guys play to their individual and collective abilities results will look after themselves ( Baxter philosophy). Bring it on

Pretty much the perfect post.

Yep, can't argue with that!