Knock-out stages: Who are you supporting?

So with the pool stages behind us, there will be a fair few supporters who's teams unfortunately didn't make it. My question is, who will you be cheering on in the knock-out stages and why?

Personally I'll be standing up for the Ulster men. If a Welsh team had made it I'd naturally back them, but seeing as that didn't happen I'll be backing Ulster as the team who, in my eyes, deserve the cup the most. They hit amazing for at the start of this season and managed to play a very entertaining brand of rugby. Ulster v Clermont in the final could be an absolute classic.

The three English sides. All English final would be grand if unlikely. I'd rather Quins or Sarries win it (Quins) formost

Ulster or Quins are the ones I'd like to see win it.

Quins seem to have had a lot of backing this year, any reason behind the recent support? (I don't get to see much AP rugby)

Nobody. I am sulking and looking for the teddy I lost :-(

SF draw coming in a few minutes

certainly not Munster, I can never forgive them for giving Michael Bradley to the world.

All 3 provinces playing in London the first weekend in April?

Is London ready for that?

Can't see beyond 4 home quarter wins. Would love to see Quins win the competition being English and the style of rugby they play. The semi draws suggest a Sarries v Clemont final though, where I'd be supporting Sarries but would put my money on Clermont.

so Saracens/Ulster will host Toulon/Leicester and Clermont wil host Quins/Munster

TJ wrote:Nobody. I am sulking and looking for the teddy I lost :-(

I thought you we're an Englishman? Why not follow an English team?

Tough one, out of the 8 teams 3 have Scot's in them.
Hines at Clermont, Beattie at Montpellier & Brown at Saracens. So one of those I guess.

Quins..

amline cup semis for those interested :
Perpignan-Toulouse vs Bath-Stade français
London Wasps-Leinster vs Gloucester-Biarritz

Going to support the English sides and Montpellier. Going by my usual, support English or failing that the underdogs. Bit unfortunate there's no chance of a Welford Rd semi final, that would have been a great atmosphere.

Sarries vs Ulster is going to be a humdinger. Definitely not a day for Jackson at 10.

Just to clarify:

HC

Quarters

Quins v Munster
Clermont v Montpellier
Toulon V Leicester
Sarries V Ulster

Semis

Sarries/Ulster V Toulon/Leicester

Clermont/Montpellier V Quins/Munster

Amlin

Quarters

Bath v Stade
Gloucester v Biarritz
Perpignan v Toulouse
Wasps v Leinster

Semis

Perpignan / Toulouse v Bath / Stade

Wasps / Leinster v Gloucester / Biarittz

Munster would be great or Ulster.

The Amlin quarters look equally as exciting! I'd like to see Perpignan and Wasps do well there, with Tom Varndell scoring a brilliant individual try to steal the competition so that Lancaster can't ignore him anymore :P

HEINEKEN - ASM Clermont Auvergne. They have been my 'French Side' since 2004

AMLIN - tough one. I have friends who support some of the quarter-finalists
Wasps - Hound
Bath - PJHolyBloke
Leinster - so many. Gibson, Huggy, Puma, MickeyT, Mickado .....
Gloucester - PropLyd (also our club captain)
On reflection, it's got to be ........ WASPS as they have a certain Welsh #10 (and I don't mean Nicky Robinson)

English sides then French sides then Irish sides.

I know it adds to the excitement and stature of the Amlin but really don't agree with HC sides being rewarded for failing by being parachuted into the Amlin Quarters.

nathan wrote:

TJ wrote:Nobody. I am sulking and looking for the teddy I lost :-(

I thought you we're an Englishman? Why not follow an English team?

You cannot change what is in your heart the team I support has gone thru - so no one to support. - and anyway a flippant comment :-)

I will hope the team that plays the most positive rugby and the cleanest game wins

GLove39 wrote:Tough one, out of the 8 teams 3 have Scot's in them.
Hines at Clermont, Beattie at Montpellier & Brown at Saracens. So one of those I guess.

Yup, could be one of those, although I also have a soft spot for Ulster.

Right, who's coming to London that weekend?

I'm supporting Quins for the HC (but think Clermont will take it) and obviously my local side for the Amlin.

Quins, obviously.

Would rather not have that semi final draw though

I'm supporting the One true region

For me:
Montpellier - great style of rugby, and to have rejuvenated a certain Mr Beattie makes me a tad grateful.

Harlequins - friendly with a couple of their players, so I'll be cheering for them.

As a 20 odd years Tigers supporter this is a bit of a no brainer. Have to say that I like the draw as well. I suspect we've a much better chance of making the final than most would credit us with.

If Tigers do get knocked out, there's nobody I'd be disappointed to see win there either. Some very good teams that would be deserving of a first win, and Munster who it's impossible not to like after you've met the supporters.

Ulster and Leinster could potentially have home semi-finals on the same weekend. Ulster can't hold theirs in Belfast as Ravers is too small, so will have to move to the Aviva. Leinster then would play theirs in the RDS... Could we see both teams get the same stadia for semis and final!

As an Ulsterman I don't fear Saracens half as much as I fear say Quins or Clermont. Even though we didn't manage to get the home quarter, with Muller, Payne, Williams and hopefully Ferris back we won't go quietly!!!

No one really,the competition is a farce.
To have a group with Connacht and Zebre in is a joke.

Same could be said of the Blues and Sale mind

Clermont Ulster and Quins have been the most impressive teams, playing the best rugby.

I would be happy to see any of those make the final.

HC - Quarters
Quins v Munster - Quins
Clermont v Montpellier - Montpellier
Toulon V Leicester - Toulon
Sarries V Ulster - Ulster

Amlin - Quarters
Bath v Stade - Bath
Gloucester v Biarritz - Gloucester
Perpignan v Toulouse - Perpignan
Wasps v Leinster - Wasps

Would love to see Quins v Sarries in the final.

Glas a du wrote:HC - Quarters
Quins v Munster - Quins
Clermont v Montpellier - Montpellier
Toulon V Leicester - Toulon
Sarries V Ulster - Ulster

Amlin - Quarters
Bath v Stade - Bath
Gloucester v Biarritz - Gloucester
Perpignan v Toulouse - Perpignan
Wasps v Leinster - Wasps

Really Glas? Clermont and Leinster to both go out? Can't see it happening.

Ulster/Clermont final in the Heino, Leinster/Bath final in the Amlin...

Ulster
Munster
ASM Clermont
Quins
Montpellier
Tigers
Toulon
Saracens

Is my preference in that order.

And a Leinster v Toulouse final in the RDS for the Amlin.

Edit: Have been to away games at all of those teams bar Toulon. Leinster never played them AFAIK.

Anyone but Leicester after watching them fluke that victory today.

majesticimperialman wrote:Would love to see Quins v Sarries in the final.

Which one do you support madge? You seem to float between teams like a plastic bag in the wind.

UlstermaninGlasgow wrote:

Glas a du wrote:HC - Quarters
Quins v Munster - Quins
Clermont v Montpellier - Montpellier
Toulon V Leicester - Toulon
Sarries V Ulster - Ulster

Amlin - Quarters
Bath v Stade - Bath
Gloucester v Biarritz - Gloucester
Perpignan v Toulouse - Perpignan
Wasps v Leinster - Wasps

Really Glas? Clermont and Leinster to both go out? Can't see it happening.

Ulster/Clermont final in the Heino, Leinster/Bath final in the Amlin...

I wasn't predicting who would win. If that is the basis of choosing who to support, then I would not be a Scarlets supporter!

Fair enough! I went through those days as an Ulster fan, back in the dark times of ULSTER IN CRISIS! although sometimes on here I think those days aren't far away again!

COYQ

viewtothegym wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:Would love to see Quins v Sarries in the final.

Which one do you support madge? You seem to float between teams like a plastic bag in the wind.

Was maj that plastic bag in the scene from American Beauty?

UUUUUUULLLLLSSSSSTTTTTTUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#SUFTUM

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Anyone but Leicester after watching them fluke that victory today.

Well that's a new one, they "fluked it". What a stupid thing to say.

In difficult conditions one teams kicking is good and the others is poor. How is that fluking it?

Yep, they fluked it by scoring more points, disrupting the opposition lineout and edging the scrum battle. Nothing like destabilizing the opposition ball, definitely not allowed. Though to be fair we felt bad for Tolouse missing all those kicks and did give them a try because we're such good sports.

For me my Heino team has been Ulster all the way, Bath didn't qualify so I had to choose another team and Ulster was my choice due to a very special person I know along with the untimely and tragic loss of Nevin Spence and his brother and father.

#SUFTUM

In the Amlin it's Bath, obviously. But when they go out at the QF stage it will be Leinster, because I happen to like ladyboys.

Morgannwg wrote:

viewtothegym wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:Would love to see Quins v Sarries in the final.

Which one do you support madge? You seem to float between teams like a plastic bag in the wind.

Was maj that plastic bag in the scene from American Beauty?

Lol, the most beautiful thing.

nathan wrote:

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Anyone but Leicester after watching them fluke that victory today.

Well that's a new one, they "fluked it". What a stupid thing to say.

In difficult conditions one teams kicking is good and the others is poor. How is that fluking it?

Take it as a compliment, Tigers fans. When the knives come out for Leicester you know they're doing something right. They've got plenty to improve on, but are still in the hunt for the Premiership and the Heineken.

You're bound to get a few brickbats from fans whose side's ambitions in Europe ended weeks (if not months) ago.

Cyril on 606v2 wrote:

nathan wrote:

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Anyone but Leicester after watching them fluke that victory today.

Well that's a new one, they "fluked it". What a stupid thing to say.

In difficult conditions one teams kicking is good and the others is poor. How is that fluking it?

Take it as a compliment, Tigers fans. When the knives come out for Leicester you know they're doing something right. They've got plenty to improve on, but are still in the hunt for the Premiership and the Heineken.

You're bound to get a few brickbats from fans whose side's ambitions in Europe ended weeks (if not months) ago.

Never had you as a tigers fan Cyril.

viewtothegym wrote:

Cyril on 606v2 wrote:

nathan wrote:

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Anyone but Leicester after watching them fluke that victory today.

Well that's a new one, they "fluked it". What a stupid thing to say.

In difficult conditions one teams kicking is good and the others is poor. How is that fluking it?

Take it as a compliment, Tigers fans. When the knives come out for Leicester you know they're doing something right. They've got plenty to improve on, but are still in the hunt for the Premiership and the Heineken.

You're bound to get a few brickbats from fans whose side's ambitions in Europe ended weeks (if not months) ago.

Never had you as a tigers fan Cyril.

I'm not surprised as I'm not and I didn't say I was.

PJHolybloke wrote:

In the Amlin it's Bath, obviously. But when they go out at the QF stage it will be Leinster, because I happen to like ladyboys.

oooh Missus. I'm getting all excited.