EPCR - Round 1 (Games without a thread)

by **LondonTiger** Fri 12 Oct 2018, 1:54 pm

First topic message reminder :

Bath v Toulouse - Saturday 13:00

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
AR1: John Lacey (Ireland)
AR2: Eddie Hogan-O'Connell (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Broadcasters: BT Sport beIN Sports

Exeter v Munster - Saturday 15:15

Referee: Jérome Garcès (France)
AR1: Ludovic Cayre (France)
AR2: Jonathan Dufort (France)
TMO: Eric Briquet Campin ()
Broadcasters: BT Sport

Gloucester v Castres - Sunday 13:00

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
AR1: Manuel Bottino (Italy)
AR2: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)
Broadcasters: BT Sport beIN Sports

Lyon v Cardiff - Sunday 13:00

Referee: JP Doyle (England)
AR1: Ian Tempest (England)
AR2: Wayne Falla (England)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)
Broadcasters: beIN Sports BT Sport

Toulon v Newcastle - Sunday 15:15

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
AR1: Craig Evans (Wales)
AR2: Wayne Davies (Wales)
TMO: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Broadcasters: BT Sport beIN Sports

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 3:09 pm

Yes I saw that headbutt (for want of a better description) earlier on in the match and found it hard to understand how it wasn’t pinged. Haven’t noticed Brace before but I’ll remember him for the wrong reasons now - that was not a great display.

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 3:25 pm

Those Munster scrum stats are pretty impressive..

by Heaf Sat 13 Oct 2018, 3:27 pm

Poite and his merry men weren't much better last night ...

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 3:33 pm

My recollections of that match are somewhat fogged!!

by Heaf Sat 13 Oct 2018, 3:36 pm

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 3:38 pm

All pretty tight at Sandy Park...

by formerly known as Sam Sat 13 Oct 2018, 3:43 pm

Game of fine margins. Good hard game.

Munster edging it slightly but living dangerously with the offsdie line in defence.

by **Rugby Fan** Sat 13 Oct 2018, 3:54 pm

Freddie Burns has always struck me as a decent bloke. Very amusing and honest in interviews. Still, there are a few people on social media saying "He'll feel worse than you, so don't give him stick", and I'm wondering what the appropriate level of outrage is supposed to be. Surely Bath fans are entitled to a bit of venting about a player who missed a kick in front of the posts, and then blew a certain try. Isn't that part of sport too?

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:00 pm

Hmmm, not sure about Steenson getting taken out there. I guess the Munster player can’t change direction in the air but even so.

by lostinwales Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:03 pm

Rugby Fan wrote:Freddie Burns has always struck me as a decent bloke. Very amusing and honest in interviews. Still, there are a few people on social media saying "He'll feel worse than you, so don't give him stick", and I'm wondering what the appropriate level of outrage is supposed to be. Surely Bath fans are entitled to a bit of venting about a player who missed a kick in front of the posts, and then blew a certain try. Isn't that part of sport too?

He looked dangerous and scored a good try in the first half, and kicked the points. Of course none of that will be remembered.

by Exiledinborders Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:05 pm

stub wrote:Hmmm, not sure about Steenson getting taken out there. I guess the Munster player can’t change direction in the air but even so.

The whole principle by which the game is reffed these days is supposed to be that it is outcome that matters. He may not have intended to hit Steenson but he has a duty of care. If Garces followed the guidance refs have been given it was a red card - direct to the head with force.

by Heaf Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:11 pm

Certainly looked reckless

by formerly known as Sam Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:20 pm

Heaf wrote:Certainly looked reckless

In the current climate he's a lucky boy.

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:20 pm

Scrum penalty for Exeter - impressive.

by Heaf Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:24 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:
Heaf wrote:Certainly looked reckless

In the current climate he's a lucky boy.

Indeed ... certainly the officiating so far in this tournament has been far more lenient in this aspect.

by Heaf Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:26 pm

Interesting discussion about illegal binding by flanker on prop - didn't realise it was illegal but if so how is the AR not seeing it as he doesn't look to be trying to hide what he's doing?

by formerly known as Sam Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:48 pm

Oh dear Stu Townsend. Gets turned over because he dithers 5m from the Munster line after the Chiefs break from halfway. Then he kicks out on the full under little pressure and Munster score from the resulting lineout.

by **Rugby Fan** Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:49 pm

lostinwales wrote:
Rugby Fan wrote:Freddie Burns has always struck me as a decent bloke. Very amusing and honest in interviews. Still, there are a few people on social media saying "He'll feel worse than you, so don't give him stick", and I'm wondering what the appropriate level of outrage is supposed to be. Surely Bath fans are entitled to a bit of venting about a player who missed a kick in front of the posts, and then blew a certain try. Isn't that part of sport too?

He looked dangerous and scored a good try in the first half, and kicked the points. Of course none of that will be remembered.

Campese is regarded as one of the greatest to ever play the game, but Wallaby fans were allowed to be upset about his wild pass, which proved a turning point in the third Lions Test in 1989.

by Heaf Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:51 pm

Yep missed a real chance to go 14 points up and instead end up level and under pressure with the wind against them

by Heaf Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:54 pm

Munster flirting with the offside line at the breakdown ...

by formerly known as Sam Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:56 pm

Heaf wrote:Munster flirting with the offside line at the breakdown ...

Have all game. To be fair Exeter have in the second half. Something they picked up in the first half and passed on at half time.

by Heaf Sat 13 Oct 2018, 4:57 pm

That scrum should have been a pen to Chiefs as well - Munster prop clearly dropped

by Heaf Sat 13 Oct 2018, 5:03 pm

Finally he spots an offside Smile

by Heaf Sat 13 Oct 2018, 5:07 pm

No scrum pen?

by Heaf Sat 13 Oct 2018, 5:10 pm

Or high tackle? - ref seemed determined not to give a pen at the end there

by Exiledinborders Sat 13 Oct 2018, 5:10 pm

Heaf wrote:No scrum pen?

He seemed determined not to give scrum penalties unless scrum went down immediately.

by BamBam Sat 13 Oct 2018, 5:10 pm

Terrific game, right result on balance

by Brendan Sat 13 Oct 2018, 5:15 pm

Vintage Munster, ride their luck but get it done. Should be hardest game out of the way.

Exeter you feel still don't quite have the game management to grind out the hard matches. Still great team and still one of the top teams.

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 13 Oct 2018, 5:24 pm

stub wrote:Did that game finish a couple of seconds early?

The clock on the tv is not the official time, I think? The time could have been up on the refs watch which is all that matters

by No 7&1/2 Sat 13 Oct 2018, 5:28 pm

That exeter game looked a tough one for both attacking and defending. Couldn't trust box kicks couldn't trust passes literally go for length as the attacking side or go for pick and drives. Worse than it being sodden.

by No 7&1/2 Sat 13 Oct 2018, 5:56 pm

Well we're already seeing no consistency in judging high tackles. Ford yellowed where the defender is slipping exeter escaped one and toulouse get one not even high.

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 6:03 pm

That could explain the timing issue Leinster - seemed very odd otherwise.

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 6:04 pm

Leicester will be pleased to have not conceded during Ford’s card. Another tight match.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 13 Oct 2018, 6:10 pm

stub wrote:Leicester will be pleased to have not conceded during Ford’s card. Another tight match.

Should have been a penalty try and not a yellow card. Other than that we did well to keep Ulster out.

Less happy with the penalty under the posts. Looked like the Ulster man was part of the tackle and never released.

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 6:17 pm

Manu is still very destructive. Feel sorry for the Ulster 10.

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 6:19 pm

A more enjoyable half than the scoreline would suggest.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 13 Oct 2018, 6:56 pm

stub wrote:Manu is still very destructive. Feel sorry for the Ulster 10.

Best he's played all season. Nice to see.

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 6:58 pm

It would be great to see him back at his best for the World Cup if not before.

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 6:58 pm

Leicester need to score next.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 13 Oct 2018, 7:00 pm

Leicester need to sort themselves out. Lineout is a mess and in attack we're lacking any rhythm.

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 7:02 pm

Still, closed out that first half even when down a man.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 13 Oct 2018, 7:08 pm

Haven't come back out after half time though. Been shocking thus half. Positioning of back three is a massive problem.

by Heaf Sat 13 Oct 2018, 7:12 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:
stub wrote:Leicester will be pleased to have not conceded during Ford’s card. Another tight match.

Should have been a penalty try and not a yellow card. Other than that we did well to keep Ulster out.

Less happy with the penalty under the posts. Looked like the Ulster man was part of the tackle and never released.

I'm watching on catch up but not sure the tackle actually stopped the try as it looked like the ball carrier was falling over anyway. It appeared that he started to slip over after Ford had knocked his hand down as he tried to fend off and even if Ford had pulled out of the tackle he would have ended up on the deck anyway.

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 7:22 pm

Bit of excitement at the end there!

I think London Tiger thought it would be worse than that.

Good first half from Leicester, great second half by Ulster.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 13 Oct 2018, 7:22 pm

Heaf wrote:
formerly known as Sam wrote:
stub wrote:Leicester will be pleased to have not conceded during Ford’s card. Another tight match.

Should have been a penalty try and not a yellow card. Other than that we did well to keep Ulster out.

Less happy with the penalty under the posts. Looked like the Ulster man was part of the tackle and never released.

I'm watching on catch up but not sure the tackle actually stopped the try as it looked like the ball carrier was falling over anyway. It appeared that he started to slip over after Ford had knocked his hand down as he tried to fend off and even if Ford had pulled out of the tackle he would have ended up on the deck anyway.

Can't say I noticed that the first time. I was basing my opinion on the fact Holmes was too far away to catch him.

by Artful_Dodger Sat 13 Oct 2018, 7:23 pm

I don't think that Ulster or Tigers have a snowballs of getting of this group personally. So the whole bonus point thing in the last 30 seconds is fairly irrelevant. Good to keep our good record at home against Tigers.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 13 Oct 2018, 7:24 pm

stub wrote:Bit of excitement at the end there!

I think London Tiger thought it would be worse than that.

Good first half from Leicester, great second half by Ulster.

Yeah he's watched us this season.

Manu gave us a chance at a LBP with a great individual try but why we rushed it at the end. We didn't need Hail Mary crossfield kicks on every possession. The Ford kick was perfect. The other two could have gone through the hands.

by stub Sat 13 Oct 2018, 7:29 pm

Yes, 3 cross field kicks are perhaps 2 too many.
Good to see Manu do well.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 13 Oct 2018, 7:48 pm

stub wrote:Yes, 3 cross field kicks are perhaps 2 too many.
Good to see Manu do well.

Especially as there were numbers out wide. Mind you we'd knocked on that often...

by stub Sun 14 Oct 2018, 1:20 pm

Pretty blunt description of reffing in the Gloucester match. (Healy said he was rubbish!)

Dodgy looking decision to disallow a Gloucester try promoted it.

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