HC semi-final: Leinster v Toulouse 30th April 2011, 1530

totallegend

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/14183.php

Reigning Heineken Cup champions Toulouse will travel to Dublin to meet Leinster in the first of the 2011 Heineken Cup semi-finals at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 30 April.

The French giants are looking to become the first team since Leicester Tigers in 2002 to retain the Heineken Cup and will be returning to the city where they won the title in 2003.
Leinster marched into their third successive semi-final with a win over Leicester Tigers at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday and will be looking for revenge over their French rivals having fallen 26-16 to them in Toulouse at the same stage last year.

The second semi-final will be at stadium:mk in Milton Keynes where the 2000 champions Northampton Saints will face Perpignan. The Saints beat Ulster 23-13 at stadium:mk in the quarter-finals, while Perpignan overcame Toulon in Barcelona.

Semi-Final 1: Leinster v Toulouse
Saturday, 30 April - Kick-Off 3.30pm - Aviva Stadium

Semi-Final 2: Northampton Saints v Perpignan
Sunday, 1 May - Kick-Off 3.00pm - stadium:mk

smurphy29

Tououse shouldn't hold much fear if they play like they did in the second half. Ponderous, erroneous, lacking composure and dynamism. Skrela played like a man who was trying to remember if he'd left the iron on at home.

Would anyone, BoarHunter perhaps, be able to tell us the status on their injured players, Dusatoir and Kelleher, who would obviously make a big difference to them. Bezier is useless.

totallegend

smurphy29 wrote: »

Tououse shouldn't hold much fear if they play like they did in the second half. Ponderous, erroneous, lacking composure and dynamism. Skrela played like a man who was trying to remember if he'd left the iron on at home.

Would anyone, BoarHunter perhaps, be able to tell us the status on their injured players, Dusatoir and Kelleher, who would obviously make a big difference to them. Bezier is useless.

Dusautoir is expected back but won't have had any game time. Kelleher has been out for a few months, don't know when he's coming back but again he'd be very short on game time if he is back. Also, Michalak is out for the season.

Skrela might as well have a bullseye painted on him, the Leinster backrow should eat him alive.

TheRevolution

smurphy29 wrote: »

Skrela played like a man who was trying to remember if he'd left the iron on at home.

Skrela got knocked out and didn't seem all that there, I was pretty suprised he was allowed come back onto the field after all the talk of being strict when dealing with potential concussions.

Tolouse are the worst team we could have gotten but were more likely to beat them at home in the aviva than in the final on neutral grounds.

It's been the toughest road I've ever seen so far. The Group of death followed by knock out games against two of the most successful teams in HC history and then possibly Perpignan in the final.

Jemo

TheRevolution wrote: »

It's been the toughest road I've ever seen so far. The Group of death followed by knock out games against two of the most successful teams in HC history and then possibly Perpignan in the final.

Thankfully we got a home draw and the final isn't in France!

durkadurka

The home semi is the only break we've got.

raven136

What are the chances of picking up a few tickets on general sale on Friday?

Such a pity this isnt the final.Leinster should fear nothing but thats not disparaging Toulouse at all.

Really hard to call this one.

ALH-06

durkadurka wrote: »

The home semi is the only break we've got.

It's a massive break. We've been damn near impossible to beat at home - if we retain the intensity we showed on Saturday and cut down on the error count (got 2 ML games to sharpen up), Toulouse have it all to do in Dublin.

Podge_irl

ALH-06 wrote: »

It's a massive break.

Indeed - Toulouse would be favourites in France I think, and Leinster favourites in Dublin.

When you think of the difference from last year - home advantage, Sexton back, scrum solidified - then you have to be optimistic.

Sundy

Leinster Branch, ERC and Ticketmaster up to there usual tricks screwing over season ticket holders with this. Flogged the crap tickets at 10am this morning then an hour later allowed you to pick any seats you wanted.

GerM

raven136 wrote: »

What are the chances of picking up a few tickets on general sale on Friday?

Should be fine if you get on it straight away. Season ticket holders will take approximately 25,000 tickets. Toulouse will be allocated about 12,000. Clubs and corporate will take a fair chunk then too. After that, you're probably looking at less than 8,000 tickets on public sale. Toulouse will probably return that amount but get in early on Friday and you should be fine without having to rely on the returns.

phog

Sundy wrote: »

Leinster Branch, ERC and Ticketmaster up to there usual tricks screwing over season ticket holders with this. Flogged the crap tickets at 10am this morning then an hour later allowed you to pick any seats you wanted.

If they usually do it then the seasoned ticket purchaser would be aware of it

little173

raven136 wrote: »

What are the chances of picking up a few tickets on general sale on Friday?

Such a pity this isnt the final.Leinster should fear nothing but thats not disparaging Toulouse at all.

Really hard to call this one.

Nothing to fear?!! -

What....? apart from leading Top 14 which is unbelievably competitive this year with Racing and Montpellier adding to the traditional clubs like Clermont, Perpignan etc, current holders of the Heinken Cup, a massive and rich history, half of the french team, a massive couple of front rows, Hemans, Poit, Clerc as a back 3.

Yeah, not a lot there

Sundy

phog wrote: »

If they usually do it then the seasoned ticket purchaser would be aware of it

Well ive never come across this trick before in 5 yrs of season tickets. there always seems to be something though.

to be honest im giving up the season ticket after this year.

raven136

little173 wrote: »

Nothing to fear?!! -

What....? apart from leading Top 14 which is unbelievably competitive this year with Racing and Montpellier adding to the traditional clubs like Clermont, Perpignan etc, current holders of the Heinken Cup, a massive and rich history, half of the french team, a massive couple of front rows, Hemans, Poit, Clerc as a back 3.

Yeah, not a lot there

Yeah nothing to fear.

Probably the best defence and backrow in Europe,stocked full of Internationals and won it two seasons ago.So yes,Leinster have nothing to fear and that should be how they feel.

Toulouse will feel the same.It should be a cracker of a game.

CatFromHue

i think what sundy is talking about is that now on ticketmaster there is an interactive map of the stadium where you can select any seat.

i got my tickets this morning about 11 and this wasnt available, just the traditional set up on ticketmaster where ticketmaster allocates you a seat anywhere in the specific stand you request i.e south lower / south upper etc.

the prices have gone up. the seat i had for saturdays game, 38.50 incl booking, is now 54.50 incl booking fee

i suppose it's to be expected but still annoying though :-(

also the 20 and 30 euro tickets, excl booking fee, are restricted viewing seats.

phog

Sundy wrote: »

Well ive never come across this trick before in 5 yrs of season tickets. there always seems to be something though.

to be honest im giving up the season ticket after this year.

TBH, I agree with you but I suppose ticketmaster and ERC are only concerned about selling tickets, they have little or no regard for the season ticket holders. I remember the S/F between Munster and Leinster in Croker, they put tickets on sale to the public when the Leinster fans were travelling back from their Q/F.

The Rooster

CatFromHue wrote: »

the prices have gone up. the seat i had for saturdays game, 38.50 incl booking, is now 54.50 incl booking fee

i suppose it's to be expected but still annoying though :-(

also the 20 and 30 euro tickets, excl booking fee, are restricted viewing seats.

According to this link, prices seem to be the same as for the QF

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/7884.php

GerM

No update at this point in relation to how Bezy and Nicolas are following their injuries yesterday. I would think both are borderline to return to action in time for the Aviva encounter. Dusautoir and Michalak should both be returning to action just around that time so I would expect both to possibly make an appearance on the day.

Toulouse have some tough encounters in the T14 ahead of our clash whilst we have some significantly easier ones in the ML. We should manage our squad and ensure they're a lot fresher come the 30th. Hopefully someone like Servat will be fairly shattered come the semi final.

CatFromHue

The Rooster wrote: »

According to this link, prices seem to be the same as for the QF

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/7884.php

hmmm i was sitting in the south upper, blk 514, on sat and the tickets were 38.50 (incl booking fee).

when i was getting my tickets for the semi this morning those seats were in the 50 euro (excl booking fee) category. the only seats in the 35 euro (excl booking fee) in the south upper were in the corners.

i cant go on to check now as ive already bought my tickets and the options are all blocked out to me on the ticketmaster

Gracelessly Tom

I suppose living in Toulouse can have it's advantages, shouldn't have too much trouble picking up a few tickets for the match over here.

Small patch of blue in the amongst the rouge et noir!

Sundy

CatFromHue wrote: »

hmmm i was sitting in the south upper, blk 514, on sat and the tickets were 38.50 (incl booking fee).

when i was getting my tickets for the semi this morning those seats were in the 50 euro (excl booking fee) category. the only seats in the 35 euro (excl booking fee) in the south upper were in the corners.

i cant go on to check now as ive already bought my tickets and the options are all blocked out to me on the ticketmaster

there 35 now

BoarHunter

Michalak out for another 2 weeks and dusautoir for another 3. Kelleher should be back but his return is always postponed ...

hope Heymans wins the trophy as this is his last serious chance to lift it. That would be 5 Hcup in the bag for the French Winger !! He would then knock at the door of NT again for a last World Cup ... What a player !

Dave_The_Sheep

The Rooster wrote: »

According to this link, prices seem to be the same as for the QF

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/7884.php

Nah, prices are more. I bought more or less the same seats as I got for the QF and Munster\Clermont matches, and they were €30 back then. Now the same seats are €50 (plus the lovely Ticketmaster service charge of a fiver, scamming bastards). I haven't got too much of a problem with it, it is the semi as opposed to the quarter or pool stage after all.

totallegend

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

Nah, prices are more. I bought more or less the same seats as I got for the QF and Munster\Clermont matches, and they were €30 back then. Now the same seats are €50 (plus the lovely Ticketmaster service charge of a fiver, scamming bastards). I haven't got too much of a problem with it, it is the semi as opposed to the quarter or pool stage after all.

Season ticket holders got a discount for the QF, maybe that's where the discrepancy is coming from?

Also, the SF is organised by ERC (QF was organised by Leinster) so Leinster have no control over ticket pricing...

Dave_The_Sheep

totallegend wrote: »

Season ticket holders got a discount for the QF, maybe that's where the discrepancy is coming from?

Also, the SF is organised by ERC (QF was organised by Leinster) so Leinster have no control over ticket pricing...

I did not know we got a discount for the QF! Nice one. Really should read those emails more.

CatFromHue

you only got a discount if you renewed your seats from the last game in the aviva. so if you wanted to move seat your didnt get the discount.

i would have been in the north stand but moved to the south upper and i have to say the view from up there is great.

i found this link earlier which might be of help. just click on the block you're thinking of getting tickets in and a pic comes up of the view from there

http://www.irishrugby.ie/aviva/map.php

[Jackass]

Ugggh, my stomach is turning with nerves already...3 more weeks of this...

I think we need to focus on the league now, massive game about Ulster coming up. We'll turn our attention to Toulouse hopefully once we have a play-off place lined up.

I'm very happy with how things are going, touch woood, just keep fit, get the results and every game at this stage of the season is huge.

Very greatful to be at home, I think it made the difference last season and hopefully it'll make the difference this season.

tolosenc

Can't wait for this. My automatic second team after Leinster is Toulouse, so although defeat would be horrible, at least I get to cheer on one of my teams in the final (which I'll actually be in Toulouse for...)!

Gracelessly Tom wrote: »

I suppose living in Toulouse can have it's advantages, shouldn't have too much trouble picking up a few tickets for the match over here.

Small patch of blue in the amongst the rouge et noir!

When I was living there last year, I managed to pick up tickets while back in Dublin. It was 1 per person at the Stade Wallon, and I got 8 no bother! Even handier was that I lived in the student digs on île du Ramier!

Gracelessly Tom

tolosenc wrote: »

When I was living there last year, I managed to pick up tickets while back in Dublin. It was 1 per person at the Stade Wallon, and I got 8 no bother! Even handier was that I lived in the student digs on île du Ramier!

According to the Toulouse website if you have a season ticket you can buy as many semi final tickets as you want, apparently they ain't expecting to sell near their allocation! Now I know what the Munster fans feel like when they use to raid the oppositions ticket allocation!:D

Ile du Ramier.....nice! Couldn't be better situated for last years semi.

smurphy29

Trev Brennan on NT last night was saying Toulouse haven't really played very well this season, despite sitting pretty in the Top Catorze. They're also losing bodies like there's no tomorrow. On top of their scrum half issues, and the mighty Dusatoir, they're also missing Yann David, a couple of props and some other backrows. They're chasing a double but by all accounts they're going from one game to the next hoping they don't lose any more to injury.

Gracelessly Tom

Have to say, I'd rather Toulouse didn't lose any players to injury, no excuses if we beat them and no one can say Leinster only beat Toulouse as they were missing a pile of players.

Jemo

Gracelessly Tom wrote: »

Have to say, I'd rather Toulouse didn't lose any players to injury, no excuses if we beat them and no one can say Leinster only beat Toulouse as they were missing a pile of players.

A win's a win, a win At the end of the day when you win the ERC you are the champion, end of

totallegend

Gracelessly Tom wrote: »

Have to say, I'd rather Toulouse didn't lose any players to injury, no excuses if we beat them and no one can say Leinster only beat Toulouse as they were missing a pile of players.

Like the way we all say the only reason we lost last year is because Sexton was injured

Personally, I'd rather Toulouse came over with the Espoirs and took a hiding...

O'Doodle

Are all the tickets sold out? Nothing available on ticket master but was some yesterday and only family tickets. Surely it hasn't sold out in 4 days already?

Really want to go.

ironingbored

O'Doodle wrote: »

Are all the tickets sold out? Nothing available on ticket master but was some yesterday and only family tickets. Surely it hasn't sold out in 4 days already?

Really want to go.

On sale to general public this Friday at 9am.

Check Ticketmaster on Friday morning.

GiftofGab

CatFromHue wrote: »

i think what sundy is talking about is that now on ticketmaster there is an interactive map of the stadium where you can select any seat.

i got my tickets this morning about 11 and this wasnt available, just the traditional set up on ticketmaster where ticketmaster allocates you a seat anywhere in the specific stand you request i.e south lower / south upper etc.

the prices have gone up. the seat i had for saturdays game, 38.50 incl booking, is now 54.50 incl booking fee

i suppose it's to be expected but still annoying though :-(

also the 20 and 30 euro tickets, excl booking fee, are restricted viewing seats.

Tickets for the QF were alocated through the Leinster branch, tickets for the SF are alocated through the ERC. Hence the price difference

Gracelessly Tom

Just been down to Stade Ernest Wallon to pick up tickets for the match, very few Toulouse fans buying them, reckon they'll be sending back a pile of their allocation so should be more in the general sale pile on Friday.

Ticket bought, flight home booked, can't wait now!:D

dastardly00

from the Irish Times website:

THE AVIVA Stadium is set to become a sea of Leinster blue come the end of April after Toulouse only took up a fraction of their allocation for the Heineken Cup semi-final showdown on April 30th. Sales of tickets can be a bit of a guessing game and are obviously a moving target, but Toulouse have only taken up in the region of 4,000 of their allocation of around 22,000, which will leave supporters of the defending champions considerably out-numbered when the sides meet on the last Saturday of the month.

Hopefully should be a decent amount of tickets on general sale on Friday

O'Doodle

Will they be on Ticketmaster.ie at 9:30am on Friday?

dastardly00

O'Doodle wrote: »

Will they be on Ticketmaster.ie at 9:30am on Friday?

No, according to the Ticketmaster website it is 9am..... em, yeah, wait 'til 9.30am actually.....




It's 9am

Jemo

If its anything like the season thicket holders were treated then they will only release the worst tickets in the morning and then gradually improve them. Thankfully Leinster Rugby sorted this problem out and we were able to rebuy tickets, but are now waiting for the refund for the first lot which were only in the corners of the ground. Also be wary of the pricing, a lot of the €35 and €40 tickets are far superior to the €50 ones

Jcarroll07

Can,t wait for the natch. But theres this feelling that we are getting a little ahead of ourselfs. People saying nothing to fear and leinster with the advantage. Just gives me a bad feeling. That said i do expect leinster to win this match. And hopfully for irish rugby get us another HC.

BoarHunter

dastardly00 wrote: »

from the Irish Times website:
Hopefully should be a decent amount of tickets on general sale on Friday

Shows how much the french love to go for HCup support abroad I can hear it from here : " not gonna spend a week end under the rain for 500€ !"

Leslie91

I got 2 tix on monday, decent seats at 35 quid a pop but I wanted South Stand Upper. I recall being able to specify the position/stand for the QF?. This time around you entered the ticket price and the system went and found you the seats based on price.

I hope that with the public sale you will be able to buy where you want to sit. Anyone know why this is the way for the semi so far?. Am I right thinking I was able to specify where I wanted to sit for QF and the price followed?.

totallegend

Leslie91 wrote: »

I got 2 tix on monday, decent seats at 35 quid a pop but I wanted South Stand Upper. I recall being able to specify the position/stand for the QF?. This time around you entered the ticket price and the system went and found you the seats based on price.

I hope that with the public sale you will be able to buy where you want to sit. Anyone know why this is the way for the semi so far?. Am I right thinking I was able to specify where I wanted to sit for QF and the price followed?.

I was able to pick where I wanted to sit for the SF; it sounds like you had the 'best available seats' option selected. I did that at first and was getting poxy options, but then just scrolled down, selected 'east upper' and was sorted.

Maybe try again on Friday, you'll have no hassle offloading the first set.

durkadurka

Season ticket holders get another cut tomorrow. I suspect maybe 5000 tickets up for grabs

Gracelessly Tom

Leslie91 wrote: »

I got 2 tix on monday, decent seats at 35 quid a pop but I wanted South Stand Upper. I recall being able to specify the position/stand for the QF?. This time around you entered the ticket price and the system went and found you the seats based on price.

I bought tickets in Toulouse today and they are South Upper, might not have been any south upper tickets available first time around for Leinster season ticket holders.

CatFromHue

the south upper tickets where in the 50 euro bracket on ticketmaster on monday.

Gracelessly Tom

CatFromHue wrote: »

the south upper tickets where in the 50 euro bracket on ticketmaster on monday.

Thats a sham from ticketmaster! They were €30 here, no booking fee either. South Upper, in the middle sections as well, not stuck in a corner.

The tickets here were €30, €35, €40 & €50.

http://www.stadetoulousain.fr/1_2_Finale_H_Cup___les_infos_billetterie-49-2836.html


Seems ticketmaster are making a fair chunk of mark up on them!:mad:

CatFromHue

yeah they are

my 40 euro tickets for the east upper had a 4.50 handling charge so cost 44.50 in total

i think the 50 euro ones had a 5.50 handling charge or thereabouts!