Champions Cup Knockouts thread

by thebandwagonsociety Thu 01 Apr 2021, 1:35 pm

First topic message reminder :

Semi Final Fixtures
Champions Cup
The semi-final fixtures, which will be played on the weekend of 30 April – 1/2 May, are confirmed as follows:
La Rochelle v Leinster Rugby, Stade Marcel Deflandre
Toulouse v Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Ernest Wallon

CHALLENGE CUP
Leicester Tigers v Ulster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Bath Rugby v Montpellier, The Recreation Ground

Quarter Final Fixtures
Champions Cup

Saturday
La Rochelle v Sale (15:00)
Exeter v Leinster (17:30)

Sunday
Bordeaux Begles v Racing 92 (12:30)
Clermont Auvergne v Toulouse (15:00)

Challenge Cup

Friday
Bath v London IRish (20:00)

Saturday
Leicester v Newcastle (12:30)
Montpelier v Benetton (21:00) (is this local time?)
Northampton v Ulster (20:00)
Sunday

by formerly known as Sam Sat 03 Apr 2021, 3:32 pm

westisbest wrote:Good try from Earls. Good game so far. C’mon Munster.
From an Irish point of view, good to see Carberry back.

He did really well to dot it down after the big number 7 has wrapped him up. Terrible defence from Kolbe on the build up. Take your man and then trust the cover in behind, never let yourself get dummied and allow both men to go past you in the outside channel.

by westisbest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 3:33 pm

Good try again from Munster. Good break from De Allende. They made it look more difficult than it needed to be.
Great stuff though.

Earls is on fire.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 03 Apr 2021, 3:33 pm

Another break from de Allende, the man's on fire.

by westisbest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 3:34 pm

He’s a good player. Big unit.

by Collapse2005 Sat 03 Apr 2021, 3:38 pm

Yeah the Munster backs playing well, forwards need to secure ruck a bit better

by Brendan Sat 03 Apr 2021, 3:43 pm

Not sure if Munster didn't try these things last week or it is that Leinster Defence is just so good. Like the good old days when a Derby got Munster up to speed for Europe.

Hopefully they can maintain it but 8t will still be tight.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 03 Apr 2021, 3:47 pm

westisbest wrote:He’s a good player. Big unit.

Lots of big centres, not many can step like that as well. Solid in defence as well.

Toulouse not putting enough players into the breakdown, making it too easy for Munster to spoil. If Beirne is off then that'll hurt Munster in that department.

by westisbest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:04 pm

Good first half from Munster, more of the same in the second hopefully.

Hopefully a Earls hatrick.

by westisbest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:07 pm

Hmm, not a great start to the second half for Munster.

by mikey_dragon Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:14 pm

Shocking French officials in the Newcastle vs Ospreys game, it’s not even surprising how shocking they are any more.

by westisbest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:20 pm

Well done Coombes. Munster back in front.

by Collapse2005 Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:24 pm

Earls pretty lucky there to be honest, could have been a card

by westisbest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:24 pm

Earls lucky to still be on.

by Collapse2005 Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:25 pm

If Kolbe pretended to be injured Earls would probably be off

by westisbest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:34 pm

Good job he didn’t. No need for the football/soccer carry on.

by **RiscaGame** Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:39 pm

The officials just as well have given the Falcons try they disallowed, for being short of the try line . There didn’t look to be any difference.

by Geordie Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:40 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:Shocking French officials in the Newcastle vs Ospreys game, it’s not even surprising how shocking they are any more.

Yup

by Geordie Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:41 pm

RiscaGame wrote:The officials just as well have given the Falcons try they disallowed, for being short of the try line . There didn’t look to be any difference.

The first one wasn't short of the line anyway

by **RiscaGame** Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:42 pm

Same as that Ospreys try really.

by **RiscaGame** Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:45 pm

GeordieFalcon wrote:
RiscaGame wrote:The officials just as well have given the Falcons try they disallowed, for being short of the try line . There didn’t look to be any difference.

The first one wasn't short of the line anyway

Nah, I didn’t think so either.

by Heaf Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:45 pm

French TMOs this weekend have been dreadful again ...

by Geordie Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:48 pm

Been a cracker anyway. Thought we were getting a hammering in the first 20...but we'll still find a way those 9t in the last 5

by TightHEAD Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:48 pm

Munster are fecked.

by TightHEAD Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:53 pm

For me that was a knock on.

by Geordie Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:56 pm

Jeez we can't even kick the ball out properly..

by Heaf Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:58 pm

Got the win though GF thumbsup

didn't look likely after the first quarter.

by westisbest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 4:59 pm

Well done Toulouse, but hard luck Munster.

No trophy then for CJ.
Another good game.

by Geordie Sat 03 Apr 2021, 5:02 pm

I'll definitely take the win. Some good individual performances...and finally Lucock came good...showed why he can be a big player for us...he actually gets over the gain line consistently.

Wish we could show some consistency in performances...

by **RiscaGame** Sat 03 Apr 2021, 5:11 pm

GeordieFalcon wrote:I'll definitely take the win. Some good individual performances...and finally Lucock came good...showed why he can be a big player for us...he actually gets over the gain line consistently.

Wish we could show some consistency in performances...

The start was ridiculous, so you did well to take control from there. Not sure why Ospreys took Morgan Morris off, unless he was injured?

by TightHEAD Sat 03 Apr 2021, 6:20 pm

Chiefs are so hot and cold at the moment.

by Collapse2005 Sat 03 Apr 2021, 6:42 pm

Exeters pitch looks pretty bad

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 03 Apr 2021, 7:19 pm

There is something seriously wrong with the Welsh teams

by westisbest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:08 pm

C’mon Connacht. Let’s get the win tonight.

by Guest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:08 pm

LeinsterFan4life wrote:There is something seriously wrong with the Welsh teams

An anti-climax after winning the 6 Nations???

by Collapse2005 Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:09 pm

Quality try connacht

by westisbest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:09 pm

Yes. Great start.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:13 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:Shocking French officials in the Newcastle vs Ospreys game, it’s not even surprising how shocking they are any more.

I'm feeling the same about the Welsh ones at the minute. How you can allow a front row to push before the ball is in and then ping the other side for not taking the weight I'm unsure. Calling tackle when a player is clearly held up off the floor is another interesting one.

This Tigers team is looking very makeshift. Connacht should do very well tonight. The Connacht halfbacks have both started brightly.

by Guest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:17 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Shocking French officials in the Newcastle vs Ospreys game, it’s not even surprising how shocking they are any more.

I'm feeling the same about the Welsh ones at the minute. How you can allow a front row to push before the ball is in and then ping the other side for not taking the weight I'm unsure. Calling tackle when a player is clearly held up off the floor is another interesting one.

This Tigers team is looking very makeshift. Connacht should do very well tonight. The Connacht halfbacks have both started brightly.

Didn’t his knee touch the floor?

by formerly known as Sam Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:17 pm

The halfbacks may have started well but I think Carty may be having a word with his backrow because he's been used as a speed bump twice now by Weise. To be fair he held on well both times until support arrived.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:19 pm

The Oracle wrote:
formerly known as Sam wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Shocking French officials in the Newcastle vs Ospreys game, it’s not even surprising how shocking they are any more.

I'm feeling the same about the Welsh ones at the minute. How you can allow a front row to push before the ball is in and then ping the other side for not taking the weight I'm unsure. Calling tackle when a player is clearly held up off the floor is another interesting one.

This Tigers team is looking very makeshift. Connacht should do very well tonight. The Connacht halfbacks have both started brightly.

Didn’t his knee touch the floor?

No he was dragging his boots along the floor and shouting for it but Lavanini had him wrapped up and at his height he wasn't getting a knee down.

Opportunistic try for Porter there. Most opensides dream of scoring one like that. Steal at the breakdown and then run it in yourself.

by Collapse2005 Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:20 pm

Pretty obvious penalty, dumb refereeing

by formerly known as Sam Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:24 pm

Worryingly the Connacht tighthead seems to have de Bruin under a lot of pressure at the scrum. Did in the first one before the ball came in and did in that one as well. Tigers only other option is the 19 year old development option on the bench.

by **RiscaGame** Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:29 pm

LeinsterFan4life wrote:There is something seriously wrong with the Welsh teams

Munster lost too. Ireland are 0/1, as it stands. Guess the perfect system isn’t that great Wink

Dragons lost that, from subbing off Keddie and maybe Rhodri Williams. Wonder who the captain was?

by Collapse2005 Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:32 pm

RiscaGame wrote:
LeinsterFan4life wrote:There is something seriously wrong with the Welsh teams

Munster lost too. Ireland are 0/1, as it stands. Guess the perfect system isn’t that great

Dragons lost that, from subbing off Keddie and maybe Rhodri Williams. Wonder who the captain was?

The Welsh sides havent fired a single shot in European cup rugby since Cardiff made the final in 97, 24 years ago.

by westisbest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:33 pm

FFS. C’mon Connacht.

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:34 pm

Connacht have a mushy underbelly just like the Welsh regions. Thought they turned a corner with their performance away to Racing, but no.

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:35 pm

RiscaGame wrote:
LeinsterFan4life wrote:There is something seriously wrong with the Welsh teams

Munster lost too. Ireland are 0/1, as it stands. Guess the perfect system isn’t that great

Dragons lost that, from subbing off Keddie and maybe Rhodri Williams. Wonder who the captain was?

Munster lost to an elite Europe team while the Welsh regions contrived to lose games they should have won easily in the challenge cup. I'm not having a dig I was routing for them to win.

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:38 pm

Collapse2005 wrote:
RiscaGame wrote:
LeinsterFan4life wrote:There is something seriously wrong with the Welsh teams

Munster lost too. Ireland are 0/1, as it stands. Guess the perfect system isn’t that great

Dragons lost that, from subbing off Keddie and maybe Rhodri Williams. Wonder who the captain was?

The Welsh sides havent fired a single shot in European cup rugby since Cardiff made the final in 97, 24 years ago.

Cardiff won the challenge cup in 2018 and the Scarlets were brilliant in 2018 but came up against one of the best teams in European history in the semi final to be fair.

by Collapse2005 Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:43 pm

Challenge cup wasnt really what I was talking about as it isnt the top tournament in Europe which is where the Welsh sides should really be challenging.

by westisbest Sat 03 Apr 2021, 8:51 pm

Good defence from Leicester, no way through for connacht.
Restricted to going for goal.
Great start for Connacht, downhill since we went ahead.

Got to do a lot better to have any chance of turning this around.

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