Should ( French ) teams be able to forfeit their H Cup places?

Diamondmaker

Its not a sugestion its just thinking out loud, but on boards nobody can hear you scream

As its says whats the point in the French clubs who qualify for the H cup fielding squads if they are nit going to compete for the cup, it dostorts groups badly when they "throw" games most often on the road.

How about a further down the table finsiehr, who is willing to compete for the cup, gets a place when a Castres or Borgoin decide they are not going to put any effort into the Cup.

Only real upside I see in the current arrangement is the H Cup is good practice for B teams for the French clubs not interetsed in the H Cup.
Its nice to pummel a French team on the road, but it counts for nothing in reak terms ( of course the points count ) and gives the group containing them, a rather lop sided / unfair effect.

toomevara

Diamondmaker wrote: »

Only real upside I see in the current arrangement is the H Cup is good practice for B teams for the French clubs not interetsed in the H Cup.
Its nice to pummel a French team on the road, but it counts for nothing in reak terms ( of course the points count ) and gives the group containing them, a rather lop sided / unfair effect.

There is a point here, but I think that the French teams have finally woken up to the massive power of the HC and begun to change what is in many places a narrow parochial (but entirely understandable) mindset focusing on the Championnat. 75, 000 are going to turn out today in Paris to watch Stade V Quins, an amazing phenomenon when you consider where rugby in the French capital was ten years ago. Will any club fixture in any sport this weekend anywhere in Europe draw such a crowd?

I think you also need to be careful here as the paragraph quoted above could be used to exclude Italian teams on the basis that even their best teams simply aren't 'good' enough to grace the comp.

All the French teams in the comp this weekend are, as far as I can tell, fielding their strongest teams possible. I think they've realised that 'doing a Bourgoin' on the comp is totally counterproductive and damages their teams image and pulling power.

Mushy

toomevara wrote: »

There is a point here, but I think that the French teams have finally woken up to the massive power of the HC and begun to change what is in many places a narrow parochial (but entirely understandable) mindset focusing on the Championnat. 75, 000 are going to turn out today in Paris to watch Stade V Quins, an amazing phenomenon when you consider where rugby in the French capital was ten years ago. Will any club fixture in any sport this weekend anywhere in Europe draw such a crowd?

I think you also need to be careful here as the paragraph quoted above could be used to exclude Italian teams on the basis that even their best teams simply aren't 'good' enough to grace the comp.

All the French teams in the comp this weekend are, as far as I can tell, fielding their strongest teams possible. I think they've realised that 'doing a Bourgoin' on the comp is totally counterproductive and damages their teams image and pulling power.

I'd say the Man.Utd-Sunderland match might draw that amount(assuming its at Old Trafford)

Sometimes when a team puts out a weaker team, it can do a lot more good than bad. The players who wouldn't normally play in Le Championnat get their chance in the HC, and so are more determined to play better and prove themselves to be included in future squads. So it may work out in some cases the odd time.

But understand what the point is. Didn't Clermont do that against Munster in Thomand last year?

anonymous_joe

United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, either of the Milans could top that. Or match it.

But still a staggering achievement.

toomevara

toomevara wrote: »

All the French teams in the comp this weekend are, as far as I can tell, fielding their strongest teams possible. I think they've realised that 'doing a Bourgoin' on the comp is totally counterproductive and damages their teams image and pulling power.

Having just watched Castres, I take it all back...lets face it I haven't a clue.

anonymous_joe

toomevara wrote: »

Having just watched Castres, I take it all back...lets face it I haven't a clue.

Nah, you aren't entirely wrong. The big teams want the HC, but Castres are currently 13/14 in the Top 14.