Champions Cup 2023

Former Former Former · 10-12-2022 11:29am

In fairness to LI and EPCR, the combination of the World Cup and the absolutely Baltic weather meant a bumper crowd wasn't going to happen. Not sure Montpellier are a big draw either.

sydthebeat · 10-12-2022 12:05pm

London irish hardly ever fill the brentford stadium anyway, their average attendances are 8.5 K in a capacity of 17K

So a late kick off friday night in a freezing west london was always going to struggle for numbers.

i wonder what the official attendance was?

OldRio · 10-12-2022 12:39pm

So first in the URC v Second in the Top 14. A clash to wet the appetite for Rugby fans. A showcase fixture at 1.00pm on a Saturday.

You wonder if they want this competition to fail at times.

Digifriendly · 10-12-2022 1:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119978930#Comment_119978930

I think this would have had a later KO but for soccer WC. Even a 5.30pm KO would overlap with the England/France WC game.

Castres vs Exeter at 8.00pm clashes with England vs France and I guess will suffer both with attendance and viewing figures as a result.

pickarooney · 10-12-2022 1:53pm

Yeah, Castres begged them to reschedule but the EPCR were having none of it.

For the Racing Leinster game what time would you hold it that would allow fans to travel to Le Havre and back?

Larbre34 · 10-12-2022 1:56pm

*****BT Sport deal*

I just browsed the upgrade cost for BT Sports on my Sky package and was offered a €5 for 6 Months deal, with a €5 discount on my regular Sky combined account, so the Upgrade was a net €0 for that 6 month period.

Get on it!

OldRio · 10-12-2022 2:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119979205#Comment_119979205

Do you honestly believe that any live sports event give a monkey about fans travelling?

pickarooney · 10-12-2022 3:22pm

I'd be surprised if organisers didn't want fans at the match, yes.

10-12-2022 3:54pm

Leinster adapting what Ireland have been looking to do.

Absolute bullies, outmuscled Racing and forced Russell into his shallow skin.

Dubinusa · 10-12-2022 3:58pm

Sharks up v quins!

OldRio · 10-12-2022 4:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119979527#Comment_119979527

I didn't say that did I? Television calls the tune.

Burkie1203 · 10-12-2022 4:29pm

Thats a red card for me

Clermont v stormers is going to be epically wild

Brief_Lives · 10-12-2022 4:36pm

I love it. A French club team versus a saffer club team in the Heineken Cup.

pickarooney · 10-12-2022 4:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119979711#Comment_119979711

I don't know what you're saying then. Maybe make it clearer?

OldRio · 10-12-2022 5:50pm

What I'm saying is the organisers and the TV companies couldn't give a damn about Leinster fans travel plans. They have no interest.

The same as all the fans travelling tomorrow.

pickarooney · 10-12-2022 7:11pm

Ok, but I was talking about Racing fans travelling the 4 hour return journey to Le Havre and back in time to watch the soccer. If the match was on any later a lot of them wouldn't have gone.

OldRio · 10-12-2022 7:38pm

Do you honestly think the ko time was anything to do with the Soccer World Cup?

Anyway I'm out.

Q

Former Former Former · 10-12-2022 7:44pm

LAR 46-0 up on Northampton and half an hour still to go...

Brief_Lives · 10-12-2022 7:45pm

Northampton are so bad.... Racing levels of bad today....

PTH2009 · 10-12-2022 8:25pm

This format is pretty confusing

Northampton in the same group as Munster, Toulouse but only play Munster

CIARAN_BOYLE · 10-12-2022 8:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119980871#Comment_119980871

12 teams in a group and you play only 2 of them (home and away) to get 4 games.

Not sure about the way fixtures are done. Munster are the 3rd seed team from the URC in their group. As such they play the 2nd seed teams from France and England in their group.

Seeding based on league finish.

phog · 10-12-2022 8:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119980871#Comment_119980871

There are two pools of 12 teams. Each team only play against 2 teams in that pool. They play home and away. That's the 4 pool games. The top 8 in each pool go into the final 16.

It sounds more confusing than it actually is.

Lost Ormond · 10-12-2022 8:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119980871#Comment_119980871

yeah but could be worse. basically its 2 groups of 12. everyone plays 2 teams home and away. both opponents will be from one of the other 2 leagues

each team is seeded based on their league position last year which determines who you play in pool stage

OldRio · 10-12-2022 9:56pm

Castres 12 v Exeter 12. Half time.

Odd game with Exeter playing with more attacking finesse and scoring two tries but due to their indiscipline Castres kick 4 penalties.

Castres look a shadow of their former selves.

Digifriendly · 10-12-2022 10:57pm

Castres well beaten. They looked as if they wanted to watch their national soccer team on TV instead. Not surprising that there were quite a few empty seats in the stadium.