Heineken Cup Quarter-Finals Fixtures Confirmed

ScrubsfanChris

Source:
http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_15202.php

HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER FINALS
(All Kick-Offs LOCAL Time)

FRIDAY, 9 APRIL 2010
20.00 Leinster Rugby v ASM Clermont Auvergne - Sky Sports / Canal+Sport

SATURDAY, 10 APRIL 2010
16.00 Biarritz Olympique v Ospreys- France 2 / Sky Sports
17.30 Munster v Northampton Saints - Sky Sports / Sport +

SUNDAY, 11 APRIL 2010
17.30 Toulouse v Stade Francais Paris - France 2 / Sky Sports.

Thank God Munster didn't get another Firday night game!

2040

I would have preferred a Sunday.

Aidric

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Thank God Munster didn't get another Firday night game!

Word to that. Saturday evening sounds just about right, should be another big night in town.

phog

Local kick-off times I take it otherwise they'll be an overlap of the two Saturday games.

I'm happy with Saturday in TP, nice time too now all we need is the right result.

When will the refs be announced?

thomond2006

Obviously would have preferred Sunday, but Saturday night should be good.

Doctor Zaius

Yeah pity it's not a Sunday game but hey not much we can do about that and with Connacht playing at 1pm on the Saturday, that's a good day of rugby right there

I understand the Connacht game is on Eurosport (hopefully that's not just the French version)

PhatPiggins

thomond2006 wrote: »

Obviously would have preferred Sunday, but Saturday night should be good.

+1 Sunday = no Euan Murray

That guy chews up John Hayes and spits out Peter Stringer

Taco Corp

Any word on venue for the Leinster game? Was wondering if they would consider moving to Croker. RDS is a bit small for qf.

Peter B

PhatPiggins wrote: »

+1 Sunday = no Euan Murray

That guy chews up John Hayes and spits out Peter Stringer

Why no Euan Murray on a Sunday? Heard George Hook mention this and didn't understand it?

Doctor Zaius

conflicts with his religious beliefs. Can't play rugby on the Sabbath, as to him, it's a day of rest.

Digifriendly

Doctor Zaius wrote: »

conflicts with his religious beliefs. Can't play rugby on the Sabbath, as to him, it's a day of rest.

Think it's more won't than can't. Same stance as Eric Liddell (Scottish rugby international/Olympic athlete) whose life story was featured in Oscar winning film 'Chariots of Fire.'

Doctor Zaius

Ah fair enough, see I would say can't because he is forbidden by his beliefs to play and he seems to have completely ruled out ever playing on a Sunday again whereas to me, won't implies that he has the option to play. (I'm sure many will say but of course he has the option to play but I'm not sure Euan sees it like that)

Here's an article on it. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/rugby-news/2009/12/21/scotland-star-euan-murray-explains-why-he-won-t-play-rugby-for-scotland-on-sundays-86908-21913270/

Anyway we're going off topic. C'mon Munster, ye better make the final this year, tis on my birthday!! (Arsenal in Champions League final as well would be sweet :D )

Doctor Zaius

Doctor Zaius wrote: »

Ah fair enough, see I would say can't because he is forbidden by his beliefs to play and he seems to have completely ruled out ever playing on a Sunday again whereas to me, won't implies that he has the option to play. (I'm sure many will say but of course he has the option to play but I'm not sure Euan sees it like that)

Here's an article on it. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/rugby-news/2009/12/21/scotland-star-euan-murray-explains-why-he-won-t-play-rugby-for-scotland-on-sundays-86908-21913270/

Anyway we're going off topic. C'mon Munster, ye better make the final this year, tis on my birthday!! (Arsenal in Champions League final as well would be sweet :D )

I wonder do his slaves take the day off aswell?

durkadurka

Surley wrote: »

Any word on venue for the Leinster game? Was wondering if they would consider moving to Croker. RDS is a bit small for qf.

Was down at leinster branch today picking up tickets, decision on Friday apparently.

The vibe from the old dear in the office (unimpeachable source!!!!) seemed to be that they would go for RDS. I think they'd only sell 40,000 for croker and you'd hardly see 40,000 there...top tier empty and all that.

Still there wouldn't be a mad scrum for tickets. I think if Lansdowne was open it would be perfect for it.

PhatPiggins

durkadurka wrote: »

Was down at leinster branch today picking up tickets, decision on Friday apparently.

The vibe from the old dear in the office (unimpeachable source!!!!) seemed to be that they would go for RDS. I think they'd only sell 40,000 for croker and you'd hardly see 40,000 there...top tier empty and all that.

Still there wouldn't be a mad scrum for tickets. I think if Lansdowne was open it would be perfect for it.

If they're clever in the marketing and price it competitively they could get 45,000 imo. I dont think that even makes the break even point though

big dan

durkadurka wrote: »

Was down at leinster branch today picking up tickets, decision on Friday apparently.

The vibe from the old dear in the office (unimpeachable source!!!!) seemed to be that they would go for RDS. I think they'd only sell 40,000 for croker and you'd hardly see 40,000 there...top tier empty and all that.

Still there wouldn't be a mad scrum for tickets. I think if Lansdowne was open it would be perfect for it.

The Irish times reckons they're looking into increasing capacity at the rds for the QF.

CatFromHue

i hope leinster dont move from the rds.

a full rds, which it will be, like at the munster game earlier this season would be a great atmosphere and occasion.

moving it to croke, while it would be good financially, would take away from the occasion.

you can see for gaa games when croker isnt full, and 40,000 for a home leinster game would absolutely massive, its kinda quiet.

durkadurka

big dan wrote: »

The Irish times reckons they're looking into increasing capacity at the rds for the QF.

How? A second tier over a stand? change one of the ends to make it bigger? Sounds difficult and expensive.

big dan

durkadurka wrote: »

How? A second tier over a stand? change one of the ends to make it bigger? Sounds difficult and expensive.

Prob fill in a corner or 2. wouldn't be that expensive. maybe they'll sell cheap tickets for the terrace beside the south stand that is used for the horse shows.

durkadurka

big dan wrote: »

Prob fill in a corner or 2. wouldn't be that expensive. maybe they'll sell cheap tickets for the terrace beside the south stand that is used for the horse shows.

The corners are exits and one holds the big screen. Possible safety issues. the terrace sounds like a maybe, dont know how much you could see from there though.

Podge_irl

durkadurka wrote: »

Was down at leinster branch today picking up tickets, decision on Friday apparently.

The vibe from the old dear in the office (unimpeachable source!!!!) seemed to be that they would go for RDS. I think they'd only sell 40,000 for croker and you'd hardly see 40,000 there...top tier empty and all that.

Still there wouldn't be a mad scrum for tickets. I think if Lansdowne was open it would be perfect for it.

They'd get more than 40,000 easily. Sure Leinster sold out the QF against Leicester 5 years ago (6?) and the core support was much, much smaller back then. Considering how long they have to market the game, I think they could come pretty damn close to a sell-out at Croker if they tried. It might involved slightly cheaper ticketing and a lot of outreach to schools etc, but it could be done.

phog

Podge_irl wrote: »

They'd get more than 40,000 easily. Sure Leinster sold out the QF against Leicester 5 years ago (6?) and the core support was much, much smaller back then. Considering how long they have to market the game, I think they could come pretty damn close to a sell-out at Croker if they tried. It might involved slightly cheaper ticketing and a lot of outreach to schools etc, but it could be done.

There's too much of a risk, the cost of hiring Croke Park compared to the Old Lansdowne Rd would be considerable and if 60K + fans didnt turn up then it could turn out to be a huge finiancial loss for Leinster compared to keeping the game in the RDS.

Podge_irl

phog wrote: »

There's too much of a risk, the cost of hiring Croke Park compared to the Old Lansdowne Rd would be considerable and if 60K + fans didnt turn up then it could turn out to be a huge finiancial loss for Leinster compared to keeping the game in the RDS.

I don't think its going to happen for numerous reasons, not least that the team would rather play in the RDS. I really don't think its that much of a risk though, all evidence points to the fact that they could get 60K easily enough.

PhatPiggins

Podge_irl wrote: »

I don't think its going to happen for numerous reasons, not least that the team would rather play in the RDS. I really don't think its that much of a risk though, all evidence points to the fact that they could get 60K easily enough.

I think the main risk of playing at Croker is that you could lose the match.

Clermont are the real deal this year

phog

Podge_irl wrote: »

I don't think its going to happen for numerous reasons, not least that the team would rather play in the RDS. I really don't think its that much of a risk though, all evidence points to the fact that they could get 60K easily enough.

Team having a say on the running of the province, this isn't the GAA you know, down with those sort of ideas. Next thing we'll have players looking to pick their manager. :rolleyes:

testicle

Surley wrote: »

Any word on venue for the Leinster game? Was wondering if they would consider moving to Croker. RDS is a bit small for qf.

Will you go away out of that, ye wouldn't even fill the lower tiers of the Cusack & Hogan stands.

danthefan

testicle wrote: »

Will you go away out of that, ye wouldn't even fill the lower tiers of the Cusack & Hogan stands.

Have you any basis for this? Because there's clear precedent that says we would.

wixfjord

testicle wrote: »

Will you go away out of that, ye wouldn't even fill the lower tiers of the Cusack & Hogan stands.

Whats your basis for that??

Last year in Croker, the HC final (which I estimated thare was at least 40,000 Leinster there) the RDS attendences and the Leicester and USAP games would say very differently. If Quins Wasps and Scarlets can fill Twickers and Wembely I reckon Leinster would have no problem getting 60,000 at least.

Podge_irl

phog wrote: »

Team having a say on the running of the province, this isn't the GAA you know, down with those sort of ideas. Next thing we'll have players looking to pick their manager. :rolleyes:

wtf?