Champions Cup Knockouts thread

[thebandwagonsociety]

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

[Brendan]

Sale managed that well to get the points

[Brendan]

Good try by La Rochelle

Two kicks and great offload by Vito while being tackled

[Brendan]

Great intercept try for La Rochelle

Luck with getting the ball in the first place.

Sale defend did amazing to be there to make a tackle but wasn't really going to stop him

[Brendan]

Sale seem to be doing to much kicking and not making distance or territory. La Rochelle dropping it right outside the 22

[Brendan]

When sale the make ground

[Brendan]

And they score right at half time, Sale keeping up

[Duty281]

Looked a dodgy call against Sale, as the ball seemed to be knocked forward onto de Klerk's knee, before rebounding backwards.

But Sale have cancelled it out before HT with a perfectly-timed and well-worked try - good officiating to have the conversion retaken. Sets up a great second half.

[Heaf]

Looked like that was knocked forwards into Faf's knee to me - French TV guys only showing it once though - call me suspicious

[Brendan]

Bit of drama at the end and if Sale win by 1 or 2 points it will be discussed.

La Rochelle seem on top but Sale when they are kicking are doing well. It just seems to take them forever to go from their 22 to the 10m and seems to be off errors.

[Brendan]

When he goes for the ball he is bringing his hand towards his own body but could have gone either way.

It's hard to see if Sale are holding on or will come out stronger second half.
Have to feel that Sale could play more like the last 5 mins if they wanted to.

[Brendan]

Fast start.

Now let's see if Sale hit straight back.
La Rochelle haven't been great at defending the restart.

[Brendan]

I dont know whats going on with La Rochelle but they can't field the restart and seem like they don't want to take the ball.

[Brendan]

Can someone tell me how that was not advantage over for La Rochelle they ran far enough.

[Brendan]

Not sure if the scrum just wasn't focused for Sale as it's the second time it happened but the rest have seem fine enough

[Brendan]

Another crossfield kick chase and defender done by the bounce. Great ball control by the attacker and have to feel that could be it

[Brendan]

Kicker has left to much on the field today.

La Rochelle have tails up now.

[Duty281]

Brave effort from Sale, but La Rochelle's physicality and power has been too much for them to handle.

[Brendan]

I know that ProD2 is a higher standard than the championship but the La Rochelle winger shows why having a good second division helps to find later developers. Wish Ireland had something like it.

[Brendan]

Brave effort from Sale, but La Rochelle's physicality and power has been too much for them to handle.

They real put into perspective what a big pack in the Premership is compared to France and why La Rochelle are second in T14.

I know one of the criticisms of Sale is when they are matched physically in the Premership they don't know what to do which is why I think they are still behind Exeter, Bristol and Sarries (once they come back up).

[Brendan]

La Rochelle might have a big team but they have nice hands. I think though Sale are already back home

[Brendan]

It might be a bit cheeky but that goodness it wasn't Scarlets. It was a good game for the first half but Sale haven't really fired a shot in the second

[Brendan]

Late try for Sale and good moving the ball to make the space

[Brendan]

Sale finishing strong.

Have to say La Rochelle made alot of mistakes from restarts and will need to be better if the are going to beat Racing (it could be Boardeux but unlikely).

[BigGee]

Leinster not been doing much tackling practice in their week off!!

[BigGee]

Well, if there is any doubt about it, I think we can say that Leinster are definitely undercooked!

Exeter started like an express train though, Leinster have not touched the ball

14-0 Exeter

[BigGee]

Leinster not going away and score with a James Lowe try

14-7 Exeter

Got the makings of a classic this one

[formerly known as Sam]

Exeter need to start talking to the ref. Leinster are killing them at the breakdown but a lot of them are not supporting their own weight. As I say that Chiefs win one in exactly the same fashion, arms are always on the floor there.

Chiefs need to play a little more territory they are playing a lot from their own half. Both sides knocking absolute lumps out of each other. Agree BigGee this should be a good'un.

[BigGee]

Thats going to be a card unfortunately

[Collapse2005]

Think there was a worse one a phase or two earlier, no consistency with these decisions.

[BigGee]

A penalty, Hill a bit lucky there

He would have settled for a YC!

[BigGee]

Well, Leinster lead at HT 20-14

Did not see that coming after 10 mins!

[Brendan]

Will this be a reverse of last week where the rested team take a little while to get going.  At this level Ross Byrne is fine so not to much of an issue.

Have to say that Exeter really need to sort out a plan because not sure Leinster will tire especially with the bench.  I think not having Sarries pushing them this year (plus it's always hard to follow up a big year) they aren't at the same level as last year.

Second half will be interesting until about 65mins and then the team on top will probably win.

[formerly known as Sam]

A penalty, Hill a bit lucky there

He would have settled for a YC!

I don't think so he was asking the ref to explain it as they left the field. Seemed to take it well. Thought he was a bit unlucky and the commentators were talking absolute rubbish with suggestions of a red. Ref about got it right with just a penalty. Was a legal tackle with the wrapping arm just catching the tackler as his height dropped from the impact.

[BigGee]

A penalty, Hill a bit lucky there

He would have settled for a YC!

I don't think so he was asking the ref to explain it as they left the field. Seemed to take it well. Thought he was a bit unlucky and the commentators were talking absolute rubbish with suggestions of a red. Ref about got it right with just a penalty. Was a legal tackle with the wrapping arm just catching the tackler as his height dropped from the impact.

I have seen Reds given for less!

You go anywhere that height and it is in the hands of the gods!

[BigGee]

Exeter not going away, a quick score to go back in front

No thoughts of kicking an easy 3 points for them!

20-19 Leinster

[BigGee]

Crikey, Exeter going to take the shot for goal!

[Brendan]

Crikey, Exeter going to take the shot for goal!

I think even they understand breaking down a defence like Leinster might be harder then most

8 unanswered points is good work

[BigGee]

Another one a bit lucky there!

This pen could make it 2 scores though

[BigGee]

Exeter should have taken the three points there, they need to score twice

[formerly known as Sam]

Another one a bit lucky there!

This pen could make it 2 scores though

That one far more lucky than the first. Warburton called it in commentary. The first one is shoulder hitting low and then a wrapping arm just catching the falling player. That one has no attempt at a low tackle, could have been a card an no one would have had a complaint.

Henshaw given another indication that he should be the defensive lynchpin in the Lions midfield. Pick whichever option you want because he can play 12 or 13 but against the big Bok attack he's showing he could be the man.

Chiefs attack is a little bit to obvious, need someone to bind on and drive the ball carrier. Leinster just needed to keep the discipline.

[Collapse2005]

Great win

[Duty281]

Excellent performance from Leinster, favourites for the competition now.

[westisbest]

Great win for Leinster. Cracking stuff.

[Brendan]

Well done Leinster. Still Sarries are the only ones to physical match Leinster.
Semis won't be much easier

[Geordie]

Excellent performance from Leinster, favourites for the competition now.

La Rochelle might have something to say about that...some team.

[formerly known as Sam]

Great win for Leinster. Cracking stuff.

If you dominate the set piece then Chiefs are going to struggle. Leinster did that and brought some great defence as well. They really brought the right tactics for the day, Chiefs very much didn't. Good physical game.

[BigGee]

Great win by Leinster, even more impressive from 14-0 down!

[BigGee]

Moving on to Saints v Ulster

No doubt about the YC there, no a remote sign of an arm wrapping from Iseickewe, who gets 10 mins.

Burns certainly felt that one!

[BigGee]

The Saints hooker follows him off for collapsing the ruck on their line

15 v 13 for about 8 mins

[TightHEAD]

Great start from Exeter, then took them 35 mins to work out how the Ref was refereeing the breakdown, hands on the floor past the ball (French Refs are a real problem????)

Should have took the 3 points on offer in front of posts. Lost their heads a bit and forced the game time and time again.

But ultimately outdone by the better team on the day.

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