Champions Cup; and the other one if someone wants to comment

First topic message reminder :

Couldn't see another thread on a quick look so sorry if I've missed it.

This weeks fixtures as follows (lifted from the beeb):

Friday
POOL 1
Connacht v Bordeaux Bègles
20:00

POOL 3
Glasgow Warriors v Northampton Saints
20:00

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP
POOL 3
ASM Clermont Auvergne v Edinburgh
20:00

....Guernsey vs Bury St Edmonds as well which is a biggy

Saturday
POOL 1
Bulls v Saracens
17:30

Bristol v Lyon
20:00

POOL 2
Bath v Ulster
15:15

Toulouse v Cardiff Rugby
15:15

POOL 3
Toulon v Exeter Chiefs
13:00

Munster v Bayonne
17:30

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP
POOL 1
Zebre v Cheetahs
13:00

Sharks v Pau
15:15

Dragons v Oyonnax
20:00

POOL 2
Ospreys v Benetton
17:30

POOL 3
Black Lion v Gloucester
13:00

Castres v Scarlets
15:15

Sunday
POOL 2
Racing 92 v Harlequins
17:30

POOL 4
Sale v Stade Francais
13:00

La Rochelle v Leinster
15:15

Leicester Tigers v Stormers
15:15

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP
POOL 2
Perpignan v Lions
13:00

Newcastle Falcons vMontpellier
15:15

Dupont trying to get a deliberate knock-on awarded after what he got away with in the first half

Lots of good English performances this weekend. Lawrence and Obano really catching the eye in this game.

Then Spencer is a bit slow and gifts an opportunity that's taken well.

It's going to be close to offside.

Fortunately TMO puts Brace right

French annoyingly whistling again ... clearly took his arm at the line-out

Clumsy feet by Bath spoil a good opportunity

Heaf wrote:Fortunately TMO puts Brace right

Matter of inches that. Still not sure it's off. It'd be going by Obanos feet wouldn't it there?

Flipping good defence that.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Heaf wrote:Fortunately TMO puts Brace right

Matter of inches that. Still not sure it's off. It'd be going by Obanos feet wouldn't it there?

TBH when there's a big pile of bodies I'm not quite sure where the 'back foot' is ...

Brilliant again by Lawrence.

Other officials have to talk Brace out of a card which he was determined to give - plank

Commentary team saying losers might not get home semi - surely that only applies to Bath as Toulouse have a huge PD over Quins?

Both teams currently getting home semis so they might just kick the ball back and forth for the rest of the match

Schreuder just not the same class as Spencer. Willis is getting player of the match.

Wrong time to throw a squint line-out though

Not sure why they took Spencer off

Deserved overall you'd have to say.

Rare error from Dupont gives Bath another chance

You're still 10 behind then. Don't read this or any others if you don't want spoilers.

3 mins to go now - Bath lose their home semi - tough on them after such a good match

No 7&1/2 wrote:You're still 10 behind then. Don't read this or any others if you don't want spoilers.

Opps I just read this

Shame for Bath, deserved to get something out of that match - can't believe I'm saying that, looks like I'm finally over Bath's years of poaching LI's best players/academy ...

They are just walking through the defence.

That's a lovely try.

Hodge really does have a lovely running style.

Two unforced errors from Chiefs costs them a try ..

Chiefs all over the place at the moment

Every time I watch Exeter, I am amazed that referees allow them to approach the breakdown the way they do. Two or three huge guys hitting it at speed and at angles where there is zero chance that they will stay on their feet. It’s dangerous, and it effectively seals off the ball without a proper context.

And as I type it, Amukeshvili penalises them and says “You can’t enter like that - you have to stay on your feet.”. More of the same, please, sir.

Did well to hold that up

And a correct call for the Yellow there.

Another unforced error

Big no. 3 lucky not to get pinged for picking that ball up from the ruck when not coming from behind the back foot

Offloads are killing Exeter.

Chiefs getting pummelled here

Bath are getting a doing!

They look like they thought they just needed to show up!

Just brilliant,ambitious attacking rugby.

You wouldn't think Chiefs were the ones in 2nd in this pool looking at this ....

BigGee wrote:Bath are getting a doing!

They look like they thought they just needed to show up!

You really are on a delayed feed.

Did Chiefs send the B team?

Heaf wrote:Did Chiefs send the B team?

Serious question. Do Exeter get an easier draw if they lose? As itsvthe last pool game they will know. I assume.

demosthenes wrote:

Heaf wrote:Did Chiefs send the B team?

Serious question.  Do Exeter get an easier draw if they lose?  As itsvthe last pool game they will know.  I assume.

I am not sure Exeter thought Bayonne would be interested in this game.

Their easiest option was to win easily and get Glasgow at home.

They are in a tricky spot now, but look like they still fancy winning the game

demosthenes wrote:

Heaf wrote:Did Chiefs send the B team?

Serious question.  Do Exeter get an easier draw if they lose?  As itsvthe last pool game they will know.  I assume.

I think if they take at least a point from the game they get a visit from La Rochelle, if they take nothing they host Bath.

You pays yer money, you takes yer choice.

Must have been a hell of a half-time talk

Tuima came out rampaging didn't he.

Lucky escape for Bayonne there, but Exeter need to be more clinical in execution.

It's all Chiefs now - they really have to score instead of muffing it up constantly

I know it is not their style, but it feels like Exeter should have taken a couple of shots at goal in that phase of play, get the back within a score.

Feels like Chiefs chance has gone now

Bayonne player virtually on his knees and Chiefs player bent at waist and wraps - not sure what else he can do there