Champions Cup 2020/2021 General Thread

Cookiemunster

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Could be a few free weekends during the six nations, plenty of time to reschedule the fixtures, it’s the will to do so by the people involved that will be lacking not the way to do so.

The GP have no free weekends. Outside of European weekends they're playing every single weekend until the end of the season.

Burkie1203

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Could be a few free weekends during the six nations, plenty of time to reschedule the fixtures, it’s the will to do so by the people involved that will be lacking not the way to do so.

There isn't as far as I can see.

Digifriendly

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Could be a few free weekends during the six nations, plenty of time to reschedule the fixtures, it’s the will to do so by the people involved that will be lacking not the way to do so.

What free weekends do you mean? Both sides shorn of their internationals when 6N is being played?

Buer

sydthebeat wrote: »

ROG was of the opinion on OTB that Glasgow will have to give up a 28-0 result as well, as they technically have to forfeit due to Scottish gov rules

That would be incredibly harsh on them. If that came to pass, it would be incredibly harsh on the other teams in the pool too. It would mean Lyon are almost certain to qualify.

20-20, 4 tries apiece for a 3-3 Match Points seems reasonable.

nc6000

Deleted User wrote: »

20-20, 4 tries apiece for a 3-3 Match Points seems reasonable.

Not sure the other clubs would be happy with that - 3 points each would be a highly unlikely result to see and would screw up the table. It's near enough to the 4 points you'd get for a win.

Bridge93

So after being part of that massive hissy fit to be included this season and have the format revamped to this rubbish, will we see Montpellier stick out a second team after one match?

irishbucsfan

Bridge93 wrote: »

So after being part of that massive hissy fit to be included this season and have the format revamped to this rubbish, will we see Montpellier stick out a second team after one match?

After one fairly brutal performance as well!

molloyjh

Exeter have 1 free weekend - 19th Feb.

Lyon and Toulouse have 3 free weekends - 05th Feb, 27th Feb & 13th Mar.

Glasgow are basically free from the start of February as it stands.

I think they might look to rearrange these fixtures to the weekend of the 8th/9th/10th January and move any league games from that date to the free windows in the league calendars. What they do if one or more can't make this happen will be interesting. But I'd imagine Glasgow, Lyon and Toulouse could make it happen. Exeter might struggle given that they have only 1 available weekend.

sydthebeat

Bridge93 wrote: »

So after being part of that massive hissy fit to be included this season and have the format revamped to this rubbish, will we see Montpellier stick out a second team after one match?

believe it or not the spread in the bookies narrowed from wasps -16 to wasps -11 after the team announcements...
-9 now !!

its not exactly wasps 1st either, though its more of a mix with them.

molloyjh

I don't think Montpellier really give that much of a damn about the tournament tbh. I think they are just more concerned with the revenues they get from it.

Cookiemunster

molloyjh wrote: »

Exeter have 1 free weekend - 19th Feb.

Lyon and Toulouse have 3 free weekends - 05th Feb, 27th Feb & 13th Mar.

Glasgow are basically free from the start of February as it stands.

I think they might look to rearrange these fixtures to the weekend of the 8th/9th/10th January and move any league games from that date to the free windows in the league calendars. What they do if one or more can't make this happen will be interesting. But I'd imagine Glasgow, Lyon and Toulouse could make it happen. Exeter might struggle given that they have only 1 available weekend.

The statement yesterday pretty much said that these games will not be played and that a committee will decide the results. According to ROG on OTB, all teams have been told that they will have a 5-0 match point defeat awarded against them if they can't fulfill a fixture.

molloyjh

Cookiemunster wrote: »

The statement yesterday pretty much said that these games will not be played and that a committee will decide the results. According to ROG on OTB, all teams have been told that they will have a 5-0 match point defeat awarded against them if they can't fulfill a fixture.

That's incredibly harsh, especially on Glasgow who are effectively getting punished for fulfilling a fixture that led to not being able to fulfill another. Not that it really matters for them as they were going to get trounced in all their games anyway, but it's still harsh.

It's harsh on other sides in the pool too though as Toulouse get a TBP win over a side that could have beaten them. Lyon get a TBP win over a side that could (*chuckle*) have prevented the 4 tries being scored.

I'd say if they wanted to, Glasgow could make the case that they could fulfill the fixture given that they have no fixtures scheduled after the end of January. They could, in theory, reschedule a league game any time in the next 6 weeks.

awec

Would doubt the French / English clubs would have much interest in messing about with league scheduling to suit Europe.

irishbucsfan

awec wrote: »

Would doubt the French / English clubs would have much interest in messing about with league scheduling to suit Europe.

Especially given they’re quite likely going to have their own matches to reschedule this season

nc6000

nc6000 wrote: »

Not sure the other clubs would be happy with that - 3 points each would be a highly unlikely result to see and would screw up the table. It's near enough to the 4 points you'd get for a win.

agree - but given the 28-0 result against Exeter (the team that looks likely to been the root of the problem), the "max possible points to all others in group as a result" ideal seems reasonable imo.

awec

I think we're just going to have to accept that the competition is going to be wonky this season, and there will be teams do better / worse than you would expect due to off-field circumstances.

It's a bit nonsense but there's not much can be done about it.

Leinstertomas

awec wrote: »

I think we're just going to have to accept that the competition is going to be wonky this season, and there will be teams do better / worse than you would expect due to off-field circumstances.

It's a bit nonsense but there's not much can be done about it.

Exactly. Hopefully the knockout stages can be completed without too much disruption.
Lyon are set to top pool B with maximum points from playing 3 weakened sides and and having opponents unable to play. No way will the quarter final line up in anyway be accurate of who the best 8 in Europe are.

Buer

Bath and La Rochelle cancelled after a Scarlets player tests positive. 12 Bath players were close contacts.

Burkie1203

Buer wrote: »

Bath and La Rochelle cancelled after a Scarlets player tests positive. 12 Bath players were close contacts.

This is turning into a shambles. Only option is to call games 0-0 unless a club is unable to play due to a big cluster. Then it has to be examined more closely.

molloyjh

Buer wrote: »

Bath and La Rochelle cancelled after a Scarlets player tests positive. 12 Bath players were close contacts.

Does that mean the Scarlets-Toulon game is off too?

thomond2006

The tournament looks ruined.

ongarite

thomond2006 wrote: »

The tournament looks ruined.

Agree.
A positive test in team you played previous week potentially wipes out both teams.
With COVID rates in UK and France, the domestic leagues could be in big trouble too unless they are forced to play with academy, sub academy players to make a full match day squad.

Welsh teams badly affected with COVID. How many Pro14 games cancelled already?

Burkie1203

thomond2006 wrote: »

The tournament looks ruined.

Wonder what way the TV is structured. BT cannot be too happy at losing games involving the English clubs (Exeter, Bath) especially. But its leaving huge gaps in schedules.

EPRC should never have given into the threats from France about the qualification.

Northern Ireland is going into "6 week hard lockdown " from December 26th so that could have major impact on Ulster now too (haven't seen specifics yet).

awec

It's really weird that only 12 Bath players were deemed close contacts. It is also very strange that the Scarlets game has not been called off yet.

awec

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Wonder what way the TV is structured. BT cannot be too happy at losing games involving the English clubs (Exeter, Bath) especially. But its leaving huge gaps in schedules.

EPRC should never have given into the threats from France about the qualification.

Northern Ireland is going into "6 week hard lockdown " from December 26th so that could have major impact on Ulster now too (haven't seen specifics yet).

Ulster definitely cannot play or train from 26th Dec -> 2nd Jan.

Unclear so far how the rest of the lockdown will affect sport.

Burkie1203

awec wrote: »

Ulster definitely cannot play or train from 26th Dec -> 2nd Jan.

Unclear so far how the rest of the lockdown will affect sport.

2nd Jan or 2nd February?

If that's 2nd Feb it creates a massive issue for anyone with hopes of making the 6n squad.

Buer

To correct myself, the Bath statement noted a member of Scarlets Rugby tested positive, not necessarily a player. It may have been a member of their backroom team or management who broke guidelines and mingled with Bath after the game. Who knows?

Paul Weller

awec wrote: »

It's really weird that only 12 Bath players were deemed close contacts. It is also very strange that the Scarlets game has not been called off yet.

Toby Faletau left the field early, Joe Cokanasiga, Spencer and a few more didn't try a leg.. probably weren't close enough to any Scarlets player long enough to be considered a close contact

sydthebeat

Buer wrote: »

Bath and La Rochelle cancelled after a Scarlets player tests positive. 12 Bath players were close contacts.

really messed up and p!ss poor planning if players cant be tested to a satisfactory manner in 7 days to be in the clear...
yet they arranged the games in 2 week blocks..... with usually 7 days separation.....