European Cups 2019/2020

by Rinsure Wed 19 Jun 2019, 1:46 pm

The draws have just taken place, and look like this:

Challenge Cup:
************
Pool1: Castres, Worcester, Dragons, Enisei
Pool2: Scarlets, Toulon, London Irish, Bayonne
Pool3: Wasps, Edinburgh, Bordeaux, Agen
Pool4: Stade Francais, Bristol, Zebre, Brive
Pool5: Cardiff, Tigers, Pau, Calvisano

Champion's Cup:
*************
Pool1: Leinster, Lyon, Northampton, Benetton
Pool2: Exeter, Glasgow, La Rochelle, Sale
Pool3: Clermont, Ulster, Harlequins, Bath
Pool4: Saracens, Munster, Racing 92, Ospreys
Pool5: Toulouse, Gloucester, Connacht, Montpellier

Discuss... finals in Marseille.

by BamBam Wed 19 Jun 2019, 1:49 pm

Oof, Saracens pool looks a bit tasty

by Rinsure Wed 19 Jun 2019, 1:50 pm

Wasps hat on, that's a winnable pool with all the away games looking like good weekends away!

Champions Cup group 4 is a proper "Group of Death". Tasty indeed.

by SecretFly Wed 19 Jun 2019, 2:05 pm

Leinster .. on paper... looks like the God's (cough - organisers) want them through.

No seriously, it appears like a less dogged route than the others. I've been saying that I think Leinster took the foot off the gas in the final part of the season to perhaps facilitate players making it to the World Cup with something in the tank. I have a feeling Cullen and Lancaster will be less forgiving of performance quality next season.

by **profitius** Wed 19 Jun 2019, 2:11 pm

Hard draw for Munster.

Glasgow the unluckiest with the draw.

by tigertattie Wed 19 Jun 2019, 2:16 pm

profitius wrote:Hard draw for Munster.

Glasgow the unluckiest with the draw.

Unluckier than ospreys?

by Mad for Chelsea Wed 19 Jun 2019, 2:20 pm

Maybe in terms of missing out on being top seeds. But that's counter-balanced by the fact they've drawn probably the least strong of said top seeds, and a couple of other winnable teams.

As a Glasgow fan, I'm quite happy with that. Not an easy group, but definitely winnable. Then again Exeter and La Rochelle will probably be thinking the same thing. Oh, and it'll be great to welcome Hoggy back to Scotstoun Very Happy

Pool 4 looks really tough, Sarries will have their work cut out. Pools 1,3,5 look relatively straightforward for the top seeds to varying degrees.

by **LondonTiger** Wed 19 Jun 2019, 2:22 pm

tigertattie wrote:
profitius wrote:Hard draw for Munster.

Glasgow the unluckiest with the draw.

Unluckier than ospreys?

As the bottom seeds, Ospreys draw was always going to be tough.

Pools 2 and 4 are both very tough.

by mikey_dragon Wed 19 Jun 2019, 2:23 pm

Oh man look at Scarlets and Ospreys pools...

by TightHEAD Wed 19 Jun 2019, 3:07 pm

No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!

by thebandwagonsociety Wed 19 Jun 2019, 4:35 pm

SecretFly wrote:Leinster .. on paper... looks like the God's (cough - organisers) want them through.

No seriously, it appears like a less dogged route than the others. I've been saying that I think Leinster took the foot off the gas in the final part of the season to perhaps facilitate players making it to the World Cup with something in the tank. I have a feeling Cullen and Lancaster will be less forgiving of performance quality next season.

When did Leinster have an italian team in the group stage last? We usually have a better run when we're drawn in a trickier group. Q a Saints double-header in December, english broadcaster usually likes a dublin fixture for an english side on the run up to christmas. Maybe Leinster could keep that fixture in the RDS for the actual fans instead of going for the money grabbing manoeuvre of shifting it to lansdowne rd.

by mikey_dragon Wed 19 Jun 2019, 5:35 pm

TightHEAD wrote:No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!

Probably more of a chance than overrated and overfunded Bath though, which leads us to the next question; who are you desperately coat-tailing this year?

by SecretFly Wed 19 Jun 2019, 5:45 pm

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Maybe Leinster could keep that fixture in the RDS for the actual fans instead of going for the money grabbing manoeuvre of shifting it to lansdowne rd.

Hmmm....let me have a moment to guess which it might be based on the currency of the choices you present.

by maestegmafia Wed 19 Jun 2019, 5:46 pm

TightHEAD wrote:No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!

TightHEAD there is absolutely no need for that comment..!

by Pot Hale Wed 19 Jun 2019, 5:49 pm

thebandwagonsociety wrote:
SecretFly wrote:Leinster .. on paper... looks like the God's (cough - organisers) want them through.

No seriously, it appears like a less dogged route than the others. I've been saying that I think Leinster took the foot off the gas in the final part of the season to perhaps facilitate players making it to the World Cup with something in the tank. I have a feeling Cullen and Lancaster will be less forgiving of performance quality next season.

When did Leinster have an italian team in the group stage last? We usually have a better run when we're drawn in a trickier group. Q a Saints double-header in December, english broadcaster usually likes a dublin fixture for an english side on the run up to christmas. Maybe Leinster could keep that fixture in the RDS for the actual fans instead of going for the money grabbing manoeuvre of shifting it to lansdowne rd.

Well the 12,000 plus STH get a ticket anyway. Doesn’t cost any more.

by Sin é Wed 19 Jun 2019, 5:51 pm

The winner of this group will win the competition. They will be battle hardened.

Pool4: Saracens, Munster, Racing 92, Ospreys.

Delighted as a Munster fan. Thats a great group to be in with some great matches coming up. Can't wait.

Edit: Munster is the only club that doesn't have an artificial pitch - could work to Munster's advantage for their home games.

by BamBam Wed 19 Jun 2019, 6:00 pm

maestegmafia wrote:
TightHEAD wrote:No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!

TightHEAD there is absolutely no need for that comment..!

Sorry, is he being reprimanded for posting "No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!"? Or did he post something else in response to the bait laid by mikey?

by yappysnap Wed 19 Jun 2019, 7:41 pm

BamBam wrote:
maestegmafia wrote:
TightHEAD wrote:No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!

TightHEAD there is absolutely no need for that comment..!

Sorry, is he being reprimanded for posting "No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!"? Or did he post something else in response to the bait laid by mikey?

Yea that seems a pretty fair, forgettable comment. Although Scarlets should be targetting their pool as they have a chance if the rubbish Toulon turn up. LI won't be bothered and I know little of Bayonne.

Others have literally just been saying Ospreys got a tough pool (and they really have), then you jump on his comment. Chill out, the season hasn't even started yet.

by yappysnap Wed 19 Jun 2019, 7:42 pm

Quins get Clermont and Ulster, so probably not getting out of our pool. Tbh not fussed, just happy to be back in the comp, i'll take some home wins and beating Bath!

by quinsforever Wed 19 Jun 2019, 9:39 pm

yappy did you move to NZ?

by Brendan Wed 19 Jun 2019, 9:45 pm

Wasps, Edinburgh and Bordeaux-Begles is a fairly strong group for the Challange Cup.

While the top seed should get out of each group it's not certain especially with Sarries and Leinster and others having a fair few players at the World Cup. Any team coming in half cooked will be out before they know it.

In Group 4 each team will be looking to pick up their home wins. Whoever does that is in with a shout. Could we see a repeat of a few years ago were Exeter just squeaked through

by **LondonTiger** Wed 19 Jun 2019, 9:59 pm

Did they announce the weekends that games will be played on?

by mikey_dragon Thu 20 Jun 2019, 1:49 am

BamBam wrote:
maestegmafia wrote:
TightHEAD wrote:No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!

TightHEAD there is absolutely no need for that comment..!

Sorry, is he being reprimanded for posting "No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!"? Or did he post something else in response to the bait laid by mikey?

I can’t see Ospreys doing much in that pool. Their coaches simply don’t have the nous to deal with what they’re up against. A shame really because it’s a pretty formidable squad that they have. I can picture Saracens maybe losing one game there and winning all the rest to top the pool. Their last two battles with the Ospreys were entertaining though so maybe we’ll see more of that at least.

Scarlets are probably in the joint-toughest pool in the challenge cup. A hell of a lot of high quality players on show from them, Irish and Toulon. Scarlets will have done really well to get out of the group. LI could be the ones to struggle given it’s their reintroduction to this level, plus they might prioritize premiership rugby. We’ll have to wait and see.

by yappysnap Thu 20 Jun 2019, 3:04 am

quinsforever wrote:yappy did you move to NZ?

Yep moved out here a couple of years back. Get to watch the Crusaders now which is a bit of a change from the ups and downs of Quins!

by SecretFly Thu 20 Jun 2019, 8:20 am

Come on, yappy. Come clean, what were you escaping?

Bad weather, Boris, Brexit or Bovril?

by SecretFly Thu 20 Jun 2019, 8:24 am

...oh and is there a few million homes for sale in your neighbourhood to cater for a bunch of the rest of us who might want to escape from Barmy Europe sometime in the future. Do keep an eye on the property market.

by **LondonTiger** Thu 20 Jun 2019, 9:30 am

First round of these collections starts just 2 weeks after RWC final.

by geoff999rugby Thu 20 Jun 2019, 11:06 am

Happy for Ulster and Leinster trip wise, just the opposite for Munster

Bath, Quins and Clermont three of the best trips
Benetton, Lyon excellent trips and Saints is a very good one as well
Saracens, Racing, Osprey three of the worst, infact 3 of the worst 5 in my book

by **LondonTiger** Thu 20 Jun 2019, 11:08 am

geoff999rugby wrote:Happy for Ulster and Leinster trip wise, just the opposite for Munster

Bath, Quins and Clermont three of the best trips
Benetton, Lyon excellent trips and Saints is a very good one as well
Saracens, Racing, Osprey three of the worst, infact 3 of the worst 5 in my book

While not a fan of indoor rugby, I would like to experience Racing's new stadium.

Who are the other 2 of your five worst?

by geoff999rugby Thu 20 Jun 2019, 11:14 am

Glasgow and Sale do not get the juices flowing but I would go to Sale as never been.
Agree with Racing re a stadium though, you would have to see it once

by mikey_dragon Thu 20 Jun 2019, 2:50 pm

geoff999rugby wrote:Happy for Ulster and Leinster trip wise, just the opposite for Munster

Bath, Quins and Clermont three of the best trips
Benetton, Lyon excellent trips and Saints is a very good one as well
Saracens, Racing, Osprey three of the worst, infact 3 of the worst 5 in my book

Have you been on a trip to Ulster? I bet that tops the list in your worst 5.

by geoff999rugby Thu 20 Jun 2019, 4:50 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:
geoff999rugby wrote:Happy for Ulster and Leinster trip wise, just the opposite for Munster

Bath, Quins and Clermont three of the best trips
Benetton, Lyon excellent trips and Saints is a very good one as well
Saracens, Racing, Osprey three of the worst, infact 3 of the worst 5 in my book

Have you been on a trip to Ulster? I bet that tops the list in your worst 5.

I live here !! and I can assure you many are the supporters who have told me it is one of the best away trips
Also the visitor numbers for Belfast outstrip anywhere in the UK with the exception of London and Edinburgh

by yappysnap Thu 20 Jun 2019, 10:48 pm

SecretFly wrote:Come on, yappy. Come clean, what were you escaping?

Bad weather, Boris, Brexit or Bovril?

Nothing wrong with Bovril!! Laugh

The rest of it im very glad to be far away from!!

by BamBam Thu 20 Jun 2019, 10:59 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:
BamBam wrote:
maestegmafia wrote:
TightHEAD wrote:No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!

TightHEAD there is absolutely no need for that comment..!

Sorry, is he being reprimanded for posting "No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!"? Or did he post something else in response to the bait laid by mikey?

by **BigGee** Thu 20 Jun 2019, 11:52 pm

I have edited the personal insults out of this thread. Mikey, Bambam and Cyril. please consider yourselves warned and get back to talking about rugby and stop throwing insults around.

This should be a good thread and is being spoilt.

by Cyril Fri 21 Jun 2019, 12:22 am

BigGee, I didn’t insult anybody. The only problem I can see is a mod jumping on someone for making a comment that was completely true ie Ospreys will struggle to improve on Welsh history in the main European competition. Other boards like the cricket one have a good bit of banter and no shouting down.

by Cyril Fri 21 Jun 2019, 1:00 am

Anyway, it’s up to you guys who run the forum if it’s ok for mods to choose who they call out. No argument here chaps.

by **RiscaGame** Fri 21 Jun 2019, 3:09 am

Ospreys will certainly struggle. Sadly, with their extra funding not kicking in until the season after, not many would expect them to do anything either.

I would expect Scarlets to do well in this comp. Best funded pro team (this season) and I don’t see LI or Toulon worrying about the Challenge Cup, when LI have to target Prem survival and Toulon will want a better season in the Top 14.

Dragons group not bad. I’m sure we could do without a trip to Russia again, but I look forward to a trip to Sixways finally.

by maestegmafia Fri 21 Jun 2019, 11:37 am

RiscaGame wrote:Ospreys will certainly struggle. Sadly, with their extra funding not kicking in until the season after, not many would expect them to do anything either.

I would expect Scarlets to do well in this comp. Best funded pro team (this season) and I don’t see LI or Toulon worrying about the Challenge Cup, when LI have to target Prem survival and Toulon will want a better season in the Top 14.

Dragons group not bad. I’m sure we could do without a trip to Russia again, but I look forward to a trip to Sixways finally.

Not great ambitions from me with regards to the Ospreys chances but it will be quite a different team next season, new men coming in and a few stars returning to fitness. But in truth we know that we can’t compete against teams spending twice as much as us to attract world class players, we rely on our academy far more.

by TightHEAD Fri 21 Jun 2019, 12:18 pm

maestegmafia wrote:
TightHEAD wrote:No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!

TightHEAD there is absolutely no need for that comment..!

What did I say?

Can anyone really see the Ospreys winning this Comp?

by maestegmafia Fri 21 Jun 2019, 12:40 pm

TightHEAD wrote:
maestegmafia wrote:
TightHEAD wrote:No chance of a Welsh team breaking their duck then!

TightHEAD there is absolutely no need for that comment..!

What did I say?

Can anyone really see the Ospreys winning this Comp?

Trolling, trying to stir up antagonism, trying to annoy people...!

by TightHEAD Fri 21 Jun 2019, 12:47 pm

How, its the group of death and a Welsh team has yet to win the HC/Champions Cup.

Can't help but feel you are judging me on past posts/accusations by other posters.

by maestegmafia Fri 21 Jun 2019, 12:53 pm

TightHEAD wrote:How, its the group of death and a Welsh team has yet to win the HC/Champions Cup.

Can't help but feel you are judging me on past posts/accusations by other posters.

All the mods agree with this and think we are fairly judging you on past and present form TightHEAD.

by TightHEAD Fri 21 Jun 2019, 12:54 pm

Bit disappointed by Baths group, pretty dull away trips.

Can't help but think you shouldn't be playing teams from the same league in the group stages.

by No 7&1/2 Fri 21 Jun 2019, 12:55 pm

But made up claims from ebop about Farrell are encouraged to be taken and given a sparkling thread of their own. Riiiiiiiiiight.

by TightHEAD Fri 21 Jun 2019, 12:56 pm

maestegmafia wrote:
TightHEAD wrote:How, its the group of death and a Welsh team has yet to win the HC/Champions Cup.

Can't help but feel you are judging me on past posts/accusations by other posters.

All the mods agree with this and think we are fairly judging you on past and present form TightHEAD.

Yet we have a liar about to be made PM, I can't help but feel I'm being treated unfairly, bullied and victimised.

by maestegmafia Fri 21 Jun 2019, 12:58 pm

TightHEAD wrote:
maestegmafia wrote:
TightHEAD wrote:How, its the group of death and a Welsh team has yet to win the HC/Champions Cup.

Can't help but feel you are judging me on past posts/accusations by other posters.

All the mods agree with this and think we are fairly judging you on past and present form TightHEAD.

Yet we have a liar about to be made PM, I can't help but feel I'm being treated unfairly, bullied and victimised.

TightHEAD

It’s simple, same for anyone who has been warned by any moderator on here, prove to us we are wrong by not trolling other posters.

by maestegmafia Fri 21 Jun 2019, 1:00 pm

I’ll re-iterate BigGee’s post above, let’s return to the topic, this should be a good thread. Let’s make it one without detailing it.

by TightHEAD Fri 21 Jun 2019, 1:03 pm

maestegmafia wrote:
TightHEAD wrote:
maestegmafia wrote:
TightHEAD wrote:How, its the group of death and a Welsh team has yet to win the HC/Champions Cup.

Can't help but feel you are judging me on past posts/accusations by other posters.

All the mods agree with this and think we are fairly judging you on past and present form TightHEAD.

Yet we have a liar about to be made PM, I can't help but feel I'm being treated unfairly, bullied and victimised.

TightHEAD

It’s simple, same for anyone who has been warned by any moderator on here, prove to us we are wrong by not trolling other posters.

How can I when having an opinion is classed as trolling?

by TightHEAD Fri 21 Jun 2019, 1:05 pm

Anyway back on topic.......................

When is England's world cup kit launched?

D'oh!!!!!!

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