European Rugby Champions Cup 2017 - Round 1

First topic message reminder :

Right, seeing as it seems nobody else has put up any match threads yet, perhaps we can use this as a general thread for the build up to this year's European club competition.

The first round of Champions Cup matches looks like this:

13/10/2017 19:45 P1
Ulster Rugby  v   Wasps
Kingspan Stadium
BT Sport / beIN Sports More

14/10/2017 13:00 P3
Leinster Rugby  v   Montpellier
RDS Arena
Sky Sports / beIN Sports More

14/10/2017 16:15 P4
Racing 92  v   Leicester Tigers
Stade Yves-Du-Manoir
beIN Sports / BT Sport More

14/10/2017 17:30 P1
Harlequins  v   La Rochelle
The Twickenham Stoop
Sky Sports / beIN Sports More

14/10/2017 17:30 P5
Bath Rugby  v   Benetton Rugby
The Recreation Ground
Sky Sports / beIN Sports More

14/10/2017 19:45 P3
Exeter Chiefs  v   Glasgow Warriors
Sandy Park
BT Sport / beIN Sports More

15/10/2017 14:00 P4
Castres Olympique  v   Munster Rugby
Stade Pierre Fabre
beIN Sports / Sky Sports More

15/10/2017 16:15 P5
RC Toulon  v   Scarlets
Stade Félix Mayol
FR2 / Sky Sports / beIN Sports More

15/10/2017 17:30 P2
Northampton Saints  v   Saracens
Franklin's Gardens
BT Sport / beIN Sports More

15/10/2017 17:30 P2
Ospreys  v   ASM Clermont Auvergne
Liberty Stadium
BT Sport / beIN Sports

We all have our own vested interests but for me the picks of the round are:

- Chiefs v Glasgow: 2nd in the Jeff vs 1st in Pro 12 conference A - both teams playing very well - should be a stormer.

- Toulon v Scarlets: top of Pro 12 conference B, Scarlets are flying and are coming up against an imperfect side that has already lost 3 times this season. Great chance for an away win.

- Saints v Sarries: 1st v 3rd, an English classic, should be absolutely brutal.

The old true fans line there Geoff.

Worth pointing out that no one on here is a Wasps fan.

Look at my post above, Wasps lost because of a number of reasons. The ref wasn't one of them. I think everything said about the ref was as the game went on, so heat of the moment and should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Enjoy your win

Exactly yappy - just because people may question some calls by the officials it doesn't automatically mean they are blaming them for the result - although I can understand why supporters of the teams involved may feel that's what's going on ...

Nicely said Yappy. I find I often think refs decisions are wrong until I see the replays then I understand. We all only tend to see the ones that go against us and in this game Delagglios comments really did not help when he is commenting on the decision not even understanding what it was given for.

Watching the Leinster - Montpellier game. James Ryan has started very well for Leinster. He has had a few good runs already.

Joey Carbery needs to wake up though. Leinsters depth and bench being severely tested today. SOB, Sexton, Heaslip, Kearney, Ringrose, Fardy all out..

Carbery has had an iffy start to this match but he is a class player so I expect him to get into this match.

Montpellier, without doing too much, are right on top of Leinster and dominating field position.

And there is Carbery getting into the game. Great return from the kick and then the speed to finish off

Looks like he's got into it now

That Montpellier winger looks a huge lump ...

Certainly has!

Leinster are really missing Sexton's tactical awareness out there. Their kick from hand is very poor.

Nicely done - great team try ...

That was an incredible recovery from Henshaw

Job done, plenty of troops to return. Reid and A Burn need to take some time out on the tackle bags but good start Leinster

Racings front row looks big!

Lacey

Leicester looking good, just need to keep that big Racing pack moving around the pitch.

Can't watch the Leicester - Racing game as herself has control of the Skybox after I got to watch Leinster. Best of luck to Leicester today, would love to see ye lads and Munster get through this group

Krasny yar beats Stade Francais.

Interesting

I'd have given a try, Racing can feel a little hard done by.

Leicester scrum has held up suprisingly well, I expected them to get a bit mullered.

Cumbrian wrote:I'd have given a try, Racing can feel a little hard done by.

I would of just to get the game going but the actions of the racing  players after would suggest it wasn't grounded.

Strange to call a 5 meter scrum though when the penalty was nearer the 22

They must have been confident hey could push over.

Leicester look a much better team than Racing when they keep the ball moving away from contact. They keep it up and Racing pack will be blowing out of their arses in the final quarter. Their conditioning looks terrible.

Thought there was a knock on there like.

Going to be a long day.
This pitchy is awful.

What?

Welly wrote: Going to be a long day.
This pitchy is awful.

What?

It's going to be one of those days

Surely in at the side?

Ouch, Leicester need the next score. Nakarawa is some player.

Cumbrian wrote:Ouch, Leicester need the next score.  Nakarawa is some player.

Just can't defend against him, he's brilliant

Well worked try, great pass and May did well to finish.

I do find the French fans funny

Really good half of rugby. As a semi neutral I enjoyed that.

Cumbrian wrote:Thought there was a knock on there like.

For the Racing try? Yes I agree ...

Yeah, it seem pretty clear to me. Not sure how the ref couldn't see it.

Think that was the TMO - kept hearing Lacey say he couldn't see anything on the screen ..

French milking that.

Fly half milking that for all it is worth.

How was that a maul?

Lacey should be banned from the champions cup.

Welly wrote: How was that a maul?

Lacey should be banned from the champions cup.

I don't think he's rated in the pro 14 either

Welly wrote: How was that a maul?

Lacey should be banned from the champions cup.

More than one racing player had hold of the ball before the man went to ground - thats why. don't be fooled by the commentators

Doesn't matter if they had hold of the ball if his knees touch the floor before maul is called it's a tackle Lacey called maul after hamilton knees went down therefore the racing players have to release.

Nope - its a maul as they had hold of the ball and stood up - the Leicester player did not get the ball to the ground

TJ wrote:

Welly wrote: How was that a maul?

Lacey should be banned from the champions cup.

More than one racing player had hold of the ball before the man went to ground - thats why.  don't be fooled by the commentators

You maybe right, lacey is still a Poopie

The ball doesnt need to touch the ground though.

You maybe right, lacey is still a Poopie

No arguement with that. Few refs get our approval tho do they

TJ wrote:

You maybe right, lacey is still a Poopie

No arguement with that.  Few refs get our approval tho do they

I ensure I approve of a ref if they have a good game, only fair they are treated the same as teams

Does the number 8 of racing not have to move?

8 miles offside there

Surely that should be a red card by the new directives?

eirebilly wrote:Surely that should be a red card by the new directives?

Nah because Cilliers but his arm out to stop his fall.