2015/2016 ERCC Play-Off Final - Gloucester v Bordeaux-Bègles, 31 May

by **George Carlin** Tue 26 May 2015, 8:45 am

Gloucester Rugby v Bordeaux-Bègles
Sunday 31 May
KO: 17:00
Sixways Stadium, Worcester

Live on Sky Sports 3 / beIN Sports

Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: Dudley Phillips (Ireland), Rhys Thomas (Wales)
TMO: Jim Yuille (Scotland)

A. Head to Head

3 Played 3
2 Wins 1
1 Losses 2
0 Draws 0
6 Tries 5
3 Conversions 5
10 Penalties 7
0 Drop Goals 0
66 Points 56
25 Avg. Age 27

B. Run-In

Gloucester Rugby

24/05/15 - Gloucester 40 - 32 Connacht

16/05/15 - Bath 50 - 30 Gloucester

09/05/15 - Gloucester 35 - 13 London Irish

Bordeaux-Bègles

23/01/15 - Edinburgh 38 - 20 Bordeaux

16/01/15 - Bordeaux 26 - 3 L Welsh

12/12/14 - Lyon 37 - 28 Bordeaux

C. Teams

Gloucester Rugby
2015/2016 ERCC Play-Off Final - Gloucester v Bordeaux-Bègles, 31 May Simon-10

2015/2016 ERCC Play-Off Final - Gloucester v Bordeaux-Bègles, 31 May Simon-10

Cook; Sharples, Meakes, Twelvetrees (capt), May; Hook, Laidlaw; Wood, Hibbard, Afoa; Savage, Palmer; Kalamafoni, Rowan, Moriarty.

Replacements: Dawidiuk, Thomas, Knight, Stooke, Thomas, Robson, Burns, Purdy.

Bordeaux-Bègles
2015/2016 ERCC Play-Off Final - Gloucester v Bordeaux-Bègles, 31 May Elodie10

2015/2016 ERCC Play-Off Final - Gloucester v Bordeaux-Bègles, 31 May Elodie10

Guitone; Talebulamaijaina, Le Bourhis, Rey, Connor; Bernard, Adams; Poirot, Avei, Toetu, Marais, Botha, Madaule (capt), Chalmers, Saili.

Replacements: Maynadier, Poux, Gomez Kodela, Jaulhac, Clarkin, Lesgourgues, Beauxis, Serin.

by SecretFly Tue 26 May 2015, 10:01 am

Yet another game to qualify. Qualify to Qualify to Qualify to Qualify. Sponsor to Advertiser to Merchandise to Ratings

Poor players.

by HongKongCherry Tue 26 May 2015, 12:59 pm

The game is a home game for Glaws, but it is actually being held at Sixways due to a Madness concert being held at Kingsholm the night before. Apparently the club didn't realise there would be a conflict until it was too late. I don't think there could have been a more apt band to cause this situation!

This truly is a mad situation and I cannot believe the ERC are going to push on with this for future seasons. Part of the reason for the restructuring of the European tournaments was to create a more competitive 2nd tier competition and the winner of the Challenge Cup should qualify for the Champions Cu. However, as there is no incentive to win the cup you're not going to get the buy in from French clubs. Likewise, without any highlights of the games and very little coverage you're not going to build interest with the fans either.

On the plus side, as we're going to have to wait until October for club rugby to return, one extra game is an added bonus. Hopefully I don't spend the summer mulling over a loss. Last weekend's game will have taken it out of the players and they will need a low intensity training week to recover in time. I'm hoping that the mental dejection of their last minute loss will cause Bordeaux to be off the boil...

by **George Carlin** Tue 26 May 2015, 5:05 pm

Surely you have to be confident about this one, Honkers?

If Edinburgh can beat them....

by Welshmushroom Tue 26 May 2015, 6:33 pm

Is there some kind of system that determines who gets home draws and who plays away. Seems a little odd that Gloucester have 2 home games yet Connacht and Bordeaux both have to travel. Is this purely done on a random draw or does each league get this system in rotating terms. Would be a little unfair I feel on the Pro 12 and Top 14 if English playoff teams constantly end up with home draws even if it came from a draw system. I've not really seen how they decide who and how the playoff thing works to be honest so anyone who can clear this up for me would be appreciated.

by SecretFly Tue 26 May 2015, 8:25 pm

Anyway, basing my analysis on the pics, I have to say I'm for Bordeaux. Forgive me but you see my dilemma.

by yappysnap Tue 26 May 2015, 8:35 pm

oooohhh their two different people! I thought one was a Glos lass before you've drunk your own body weight in cheap home made cider, and the other was your image of a Glos lass afterwards. (You can choose which is which).

by **George Carlin** Tue 26 May 2015, 8:40 pm

I'm afraid that the most attractive woman from Gloucestershire that I could find was JK Rowling. So if we're bringing the funny instead, then Mr Pegg is the obvious choice.

Élodie Yung is so completely smoking that it matters not a crap that she is from Paris and not Bordeaux. But her mum is from there, so that's more than good enough for me. WTF do people want for nothing (etc)?

by EnglishReign Tue 26 May 2015, 8:48 pm

Welshmushroom wrote:Is there some kind of system that determines who gets home draws and who plays away. Seems a little odd that Gloucester have 2 home games yet Connacht and Bordeaux both have to travel. Is this purely done on a random draw or does each league get this system in rotating terms. Would be a little unfair I feel on the Pro 12 and Top 14 if English playoff teams constantly end up with home draws even if it came from a draw system. I've not really seen how they decide who and how the playoff thing works to be honest so anyone who can clear this up for me would be appreciated.

But having already won a competition that both BB and Connacht were in, I'd argue that the least they can do is give us these two arbitrary games at home. Shouldn't need to play them.

by HongKongCherry Tue 26 May 2015, 8:50 pm

Kelly Brook lives in Gloucestershire, does that count? Unfortunately she's never been near Glaws where the female population oozes testosterone. If you have any sense, like me, you widen the gene pool by choosing your bride from the wider world, i.e. Cheltenham mo1

by whocares Fri 29 May 2015, 1:11 pm

Gloucestere team announced :

Rob Cook; Charlie Sharples, Bill Meakes, Billy Twelvetrees (capt), Jonny May; James Hook, Greig Laidlaw; Nick Wood, Richard Hibbard, John Afoa; Tom Savage, Tom Palmer; Sione Kalamafoni, Jacob Rowan, Ross Moriarty

Replacements:
Darren Dawidiuk, Yann Thomas, Shaun Knight, Elliott Stooke, Dan Thomas, Callum Braley, Billy Burns, Henry Purdy

also announced :
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: Dudley Phillips (Ireland), Rhys Thomas (Wales)
TMO: Jim Yuille (Scotland)

by SecretFly Fri 29 May 2015, 1:17 pm

Dudley's going to ruin that game. Oh well, these play-off-off-offs were a good idea in someone's head at the beginning of the year.

by **George Carlin** Sun 31 May 2015, 12:10 pm

Any Cherries fans interested in this game today?

by maestegmafia Sun 31 May 2015, 12:18 pm

EnglishReign wrote:
Welshmushroom wrote:Is there some kind of system that determines who gets home draws and who plays away. Seems a little odd that Gloucester have 2 home games yet Connacht and Bordeaux both have to travel. Is this purely done on a random draw or does each league get this system in rotating terms. Would be a little unfair I feel on the Pro 12 and Top 14 if English playoff teams constantly end up with home draws even if it came from a draw system. I've not really seen how they decide who and how the playoff thing works to be honest so anyone who can clear this up for me would be appreciated.

But having already won a competition that both BB and Connacht were in, I'd argue that the least they can do is give us these two arbitrary games at home. Shouldn't need to play them.

Didn't gloucester Want the ECC winners to not gain automatic promotion... I thought the PRL were acting for all their clubs when they tried to dismantle European rugby to make it farer for the wealthiest clubs in Europe.

by **LondonTiger** Sun 31 May 2015, 12:27 pm

SecretFly wrote:Dudley's going to ruin that game. Oh well, these play-off-off-offs were a good idea in someone's head at the beginning of the year.

Play-offs were a bloody awful idea, created purely to generate money and keep Sky/BT happy.

On this game - I really hope that we see further virtuoso performances from May and 36 following up what they have done in recent high profile games.

by HammerofThunor Sun 31 May 2015, 1:46 pm

maestegmafia wrote:Didn't gloucester Want the ECC winners to not gain automatic promotion... I thought the PRL were acting for all their clubs when they tried to dismantle European rugby to make it farer for the wealthiest clubs in Europe.

These playoffs were part of the deal offered by the unions when the mediator was present. Everyone was involved...except the PRL. So to suggest that they are originators is bit...strange (other than the knee-jerk blame them for everything).

The playoffs do suck and it would be much better for the Challenge Cup win to just get a spot.

by HongKongCherry Sun 31 May 2015, 1:49 pm

George Carlin wrote:Any Cherries fans interested in this game today?

Absolutely! Just about to head off to it. It really is a needless game but given we have to wait until October for the next game I'll take one pointless match. Hopefully the French don't then up otherwise this could be a tough game.

by whocares Sun 31 May 2015, 3:00 pm

UBB president Laurent Marti is clearly taking it seriously as he's bringing ALL club staff and players to Sixways.

by SecretFly Sun 31 May 2015, 3:05 pm

whocares wrote:UBB president Laurent Marti is clearly taking it seriously as he's bringing ALL club staff and players to Sixways.

to act as the Away fans? Wink

by stub Sun 31 May 2015, 3:45 pm

Really looking forward to it but don't like the sound of whocares comments.

Come on Glaws! Last hurdle...

by whocares Sun 31 May 2015, 5:53 pm

19-13 for glaws at HT. Bit of a come back from UBB who were trailing 16-0 at some point...

by **Notch** Sun 31 May 2015, 6:36 pm

20-19, so fair play to Bordeaux. Gloucester been playing pretty much all the rugby since they went behind but there's a slight air of panic in some of the attempted offloads. They've got the penetration and skill, just need composure.

Penalty in front of the posts for Gloucester now. Still back them to win this.

by nathan Sun 31 May 2015, 6:48 pm

Last kick of the game, although I don't think that was a penalty as it looked like a truck and trailer move

by **Notch** Sun 31 May 2015, 6:50 pm

Unbelievable scenes. Gloucester have the ball deep in the Bordeaux half, simply needing to run down the clock, but with 15 seconds left they give away a soft penalty. Bordeaux kick to touch, get the catch and drive going forward, and Pierre Bernard nails an absolutely unbelievable drop goal.

23-22. Gloucester distraught. They've lost a game they should have closed out easily. Simply unbelievable smash and grab victory for Bordeaux-Begles.

by **RDW** Sun 31 May 2015, 6:50 pm

Gutting for Gloucester - if they'd held on to the ball a few more seconds they would have been in the Champions Cup.

Small, small margins!

Especially gutting given the extra effort they've had to put in to try to get there.

by **Notch** Sun 31 May 2015, 6:53 pm

To be honest I would have been happy for either side to get in, they're both from real rugby towns and have great local support. But my heart goes out to Gloucester. That is the cruellest of finishes.

by stub Sun 31 May 2015, 6:55 pm

Ahh! So cruel - so sorry for Gloucester. Unfortunately no choking from Bordeaux.

by **Notch** Sun 31 May 2015, 6:58 pm

Some way for Pierre Bernard to earn redemption.

by stub Sun 31 May 2015, 6:59 pm

Congrats to Bordeaux - dug deep and got the result. As Notch said proper rugby city and I believe the best supported French club. 30k+ average I think the commentary said...

by EnglishReign Sun 31 May 2015, 7:00 pm

Absolutely gutted. We play what seems like a never ending string of close and stressful fixtures - Bordeaux turn up for one game and get last gasp glory. Ah well, that's rugby, that's life. Good luck to them in the elite competition next season.

by VinceWLB Sun 31 May 2015, 7:03 pm

Justice after what happened last week. My heart isn't bleeding for Gloucester.

Congrats UBB and whocares.

by nathan Sun 31 May 2015, 7:08 pm

Vince, what happened last week?

by **Notch** Sun 31 May 2015, 7:11 pm

Romain Poite made a high profile mistake that led to Gloucester scoring a try which took it to extra time, denying Connacht the win. It was disappointing that a controversial refereeing decision changed the game, I agree, but thats not Gloucesters fault. They played to the referee's whistle.

by VinceWLB Sun 31 May 2015, 7:16 pm

No not Gloucester fault indeed but iffy ref decisions and home advantage got them through last week.

by GLove39 Sun 31 May 2015, 7:30 pm

On the bright side for Glaws fans, this way you can try & retain your trophy next year.

by **RDW** Sun 31 May 2015, 7:31 pm

....and the winner of next year's Challenge Cup with qualify for the Champions Cup I'm fairly sure!

by hawalsh Sun 31 May 2015, 7:34 pm

I wanted Gloucester to win, but as with most of their season they were too often too slapdash. Gloucester may become a more coherent side next season, but based on the performances this I think the better of the three sides in the playoffs qualified for the Champions Cup.

by lostinwales Sun 31 May 2015, 7:39 pm

From what I have read about last week there were other questionable decisions that went against Gloucs earlier in the game, but of course the only one that matters is the last one.

by GLove39 Sun 31 May 2015, 7:50 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:....and the winner of next year's Challenge Cup with qualify for the Champions Cup I'm fairly sure!

Good they're changing it next season to what it should have been in the first place.

by **RDW** Sun 31 May 2015, 7:53 pm

GLove39 wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:....and the winner of next year's Challenge Cup with qualify for the Champions Cup I'm fairly sure!

Good they're changing it next season to what it should have been in the first place.

Only for next season cause of the world cup! after that it'll be back to the convulted playoff system

by GLove39 Sun 31 May 2015, 7:55 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:
GLove39 wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:....and the winner of next year's Challenge Cup with qualify for the Champions Cup I'm fairly sure!

Good they're changing it next season to what it should have been in the first place.

Only for next season cause of the world cup! after that it'll be back to the convulted playoff system

What!?!?!?

That's just monumentally stupid.

by **Notch** Sun 31 May 2015, 7:55 pm

But a different convoluted playoff format to this years, confusingly,

by GLove39 Sun 31 May 2015, 7:57 pm

Notch wrote:But a different convoluted playoff format to this years, confusingly,

God, I'm really not keeping up these days!
What's the new format?

by HongKongCherry Sun 31 May 2015, 8:07 pm

Gutting but we only have ourselves to blame. We lacked composure for most of the 2nd half and squandered numerous opportunities. It was perhaps one game too far and last week's efforts seemed to take their toll.

I hope Gatland wasn't watching the game otherwise Moriarty will be lost to England, he had a truly immense game and was heads and shoulders above any other Glaws player.

by **Notch** Sun 31 May 2015, 8:07 pm

Um, I think its two Pro12 sides away to an English and French side in the "semis" and then the winners of those games play... somewhere.

by **RDW** Sun 31 May 2015, 8:10 pm

To facilitate Rugby World Cup 2015, there will be no play-offs for the 2016/17 Champions Cup with the 20th place going to the winner of the 2016 Challenge Cup if not already qualified.

For the 2017/18 season and beyond, the play-off format will include four clubs with a second PRO12 club competing. If not already qualified, the winner of the Challenge Cup will take the place in the play-offs of the seventh-ranked club in the Aviva Premiership and Top 14, and will also take the place of the second PRO12 club if applicable.

by whocares Sun 31 May 2015, 8:13 pm

What à rollercoaster! First commiserations to Gloucester fans. Having been on the wrong side of 1 points defeats many times I know it must be difficult to take. I was exepecting a strong first 20 minutes from UBB and the usual 2H collapse but somehow the opposite happens. A win away to a good AP side is quite a landmark for them. Hopefully will give them more appetite for next year RCC although I am realistic and one or two wins would already be great. Hopefully will draw one big name such as an Irish province to get a full house in the brand new Stadium (if we get to play there).

by **Notch** Sun 31 May 2015, 8:16 pm

whocares wrote:What à rollercoaster! First commiserations to Gloucester fans. Having been on the wrong side of 1 points defeats many times I know it must be difficult to take. I was exepecting a strong first 20 minutes from UBB and the usual 2H collapse but somehow the opposite happens. A win away to a good AP side is quite a landmark for them. Hopefully will give them more appetite for next year RCC although I am realistic and one or two wins would already be great. Hopefully will draw one big name such as an Irish province to get a full house in the brand new Stadium (if we get to play there).

Congratulations, it will be great to see that passionate home support in the Big Cup next year.

by The Great Aukster Sun 31 May 2015, 8:21 pm

... and who does the place go to if they are already qualified - the next team in their league?

It would be ironic that the brave new ERCC world is promoting exactly the unmeritorious system they decried in the old HEC!

The Challenge Cup winner should still be in a playoff but get a home tie and only have one game - i.e. play the winner of the other two leagues play-off. That would still be meritorious and give enough incentive for winning the Challenge Cup.

by nth Sun 31 May 2015, 8:24 pm

hawalsh wrote:I wanted Gloucester to win, but as with most of their season they were too often too slapdash. Gloucester may become a more coherent side next season, but based on the performances this I think the better of the three sides in the playoffs qualified for the Champions Cup.

Agreed. Bordeaux were the next best team in Europe from those that hadn't already qualified. They may have been squeezed into 7th in the Top14 but they have the physicality to compete with the top sides and play a good brand of rugby, second only to Toulon for tries and points scored in the Top14, with the rest a fair bit behind. And now that Ibanez and Worsley are staying they should be well placed to continue to progress. It'll also be good to see AAC playing in the Champions next year.

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