Champions Cup 2020/2021 General Thread

Burkie1203 · 02-09-2020 1:30pm #1

New format. Confused as

https://twitter.com/ChampionsCup/status/1301128628504276992?s=19

thomond2006 · 02-09-2020 2:09pm

Once we get the season played I can get over any hangups I have about the format.

pjdarcy · 02-09-2020 3:34pm

It's as confusing as the UEFA Nations League, luckily it's only for one season. Video explanation here

Squidgy Black · 02-09-2020 4:16pm

pjdarcy wrote: »

It's as confusing as the UEFA Nations League, luckily it's only for one season. Video explanation here

Wouldn't be entirely sure about that, especially if the South African super rugby teams so end up joining the Pro12/14/16 or whatever number it'll be on.

pjdarcy · 02-09-2020 4:26pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Wouldn't be entirely sure about that, especially if the South African super rugby teams so end up joining the Pro12/14/16 or whatever number it'll be on.

A European Cup with South African teams included? It'll be just like the Eurovision

PTH2009 · 03-09-2020 12:30am

I'm highly confused ted

Ah sure look at least its something to look forward to for the winter months

Could we not just have a 1 leg QF

Good chance for a lot of teams of winning the challenge cup from this

lawrencesummers · 03-09-2020 7:55am

The 2 leg QF looks a good idea on paper, but in reality it could lead to a huge amount of cynical time wasting and defensive tactics for the away team in both legs.

One issue is the current lack of Universal exemption for sports people across the jurisdictions Involved and the possibility of localised lockdowns affecting fixtures, but I’m sure the organisers are well aware and have planned accordingly.

AbusesToilets · 03-09-2020 2:16pm

lawrencesummers wrote: »

The 2 leg QF looks a good idea on paper, but in reality it could lead to a huge amount of cynical time wasting and defensive tactics for the away team in both legs.

One issue is the current lack of Universal exemption for sports people across the jurisdictions Involved and the possibility of localised lockdowns affecting fixtures, but I’m sure the organisers are well aware and have planned accordingly.

Have they said how it's going to work, Away tries or anything like that?

pjdarcy · 03-09-2020 2:23pm

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Have they said how it's going to work, Away tries or anything like that?

If it's a draw at the end of the second leg of the quarter final, extra time will be played. If it's still a draw after extra time the winner will be determined as follows:

a. the club that has scored the most tries over the two legs

b. if equal, a place kick competition

The Lost Sheep · 03-09-2020 2:25pm

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Have they said how it's going to work, Away tries or anything like that?

extra time and if remains level at end of extra time team with most tries qualifies and if thats equal there will be a place kicking contest

yerrahbah · 28-10-2020 10:31am

Champions cup Draw is on today

https://www.epcrugby.com/2020/10/27/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-heineken-champions-cup-pool-stage-draw-and-the-european-rugby-challenge-cup/

Qualified teams:

Tier 1: Leinster Rugby, Ulster Rugby, Bordeaux-Bègles, Lyon, Exeter Chiefs, Wasps

Tier 2: Edinburgh Rugby, Munster Rugby, Racing 92, RC Toulon, Bristol Bears, Bath Rugby,

Tier 3: Scarlets, Connacht Rugby, La Rochelle, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sale Sharks, Harlequins

Tier 4: Glasgow Warriors, Dragons, Toulouse, Montpellier, Gloucester Rugby, Northampton Saints

Two groups of 12 with each group containing 3 teams from each tier (One from Pro 14, one from Gallagher Prem and one from Top 14)

4 teams qualify from each group

In the groups Tier 1 teams will play Tier 4 teams, Tier 2 teams will play Tier 3 teams

Each team will have 4 group games, two home, two away

Leinster are in Tier 1, so they will play Toulouse or Montpellier AND Gloucester Rugby or Northampton Saints,

You don't play teams from your own domestic league

From a Munster POV, we are in Tier 2, so we are looking to draw the weaker of the Tier 1 teams, the stronger of the Tier 4 teams, The Weaker Tier 2 and Tier 3 teams, but looking for a strong Tier 3 team from from the Pro14

IMO the best case scenario for Munster

Ulster
Bordeaux
Wasps
Munster
Toulon
Bath
Connacht
La Rochelle
Quins
Dragons
Toulouse
Gloucester

thomond2006 · 28-10-2020 10:54am

First world problem alert but the draw is a lot less exciting when you realise it's highly unlikely that travel to away games will be possible.

Cookiemunster · 28-10-2020 11:20am

thomond2006 wrote: »

First world problem alert but the draw is a lot less exciting when you realise it's highly unlikely that travel to away games will be possible.

Nor is travel to home games likely

yerrahbah · 28-10-2020 11:33am

thomond2006 wrote: »

First world problem alert but the draw is a lot less exciting when you realise it's highly unlikely that travel to away games will be possible.

A trip to Clermont would have been nice

Buer · 28-10-2020 12:11pm

yerrahbah wrote: »

IMO the best case scenario for Munster

Ulster
Bordeaux
Wasps
Munster
Toulon
Bath
Connacht
La Rochelle
Quins
Dragons
Toulouse
Gloucester

Best case scenario is to have the strongest possible Pro14 teams in your pool. Munster won't have to play them and they will take points from others.

Boscoirl · 28-10-2020 12:16pm

i am dizzy from trying to work that out

edit: I understood domestic league as the provinces first, but when you read it as ProXX it makes sense

sydthebeat · 28-10-2020 12:18pm

i think this compeition will be a clusterfcuk of walk overs and different "bubble" and testing standards causing pre-game issues.

and that doesn't at all take the lack of meritocracy and convolutedness of the whole arrangement into account.

The competition will really only start at semi final level (home and away legs of knock out games is stupid in the extreme)

yerrahbah · 28-10-2020 12:23pm

Buer wrote: »

Best case scenario is to have the strongest possible Pro14 teams in your pool. Munster won't have to play them and they will take points from others.

Id rather have Ulster than Leinster as the Tier 1 team in my (Munsters) group

More of a chance of Ulster dropping points vs the Tier 4 teams and that increases the chances of Munster going through at Ulsters expense

siltirocker · 28-10-2020 12:25pm

Racing 92, RC Toulon, Bristol Bears, Bath Rugby.

Can't see Connacht winning any of those potential games.

Buer · 28-10-2020 12:33pm

yerrahbah wrote: »

Id rather have Ulster than Leinster as the Tier 1 team in my (Munsters) group

More of a chance of Ulster dropping points vs the Tier 4 teams and that increases the chances of Munster going through at Ulsters expense

I was more thinking Connacht over Scarlets and Dragons over Glasgow.

yerrahbah · 28-10-2020 12:45pm

Buer wrote: »

I was more thinking Connacht over Scarlets and Dragons over Glasgow.

Fair enough,

I guess Connacht (the Cardiff game aside) have started the season well and not many teams will relish going to the sportsground on a wet November evening

Not much between Dragons and Glasgow for me, Glasgow aren't the team they used to be and the Dragons are putting together a decent side

Digifriendly · 28-10-2020 2:12pm

yerrahbah wrote: »

Not much between Dragons and Glasgow for me, Glasgow aren't the team they used to be and the Dragons are putting together a decent side

I did think that about Dragons but after their heavy defeats to Leinster and Ulster I am having second thoughts.

thomond2006 · 28-10-2020 4:06pm

Munster drew Clermont and Harlequins according to them?

https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2020/10/28/munster-to-face-clermont-harlequins-in-champions-cup/#post

Dave_The_Sheep · 28-10-2020 4:09pm

POOL A (with opponents in brackets)
Bordeaux-Bègles (Dragons, Northampton Saints)
Leinster Rugby (Montpellier, Northampton Saints)
Wasps (Dragons, Montpellier)
Bath Rugby (La Rochelle, Scarlets)
Edinburgh Rugby (La Rochelle, Sale Sharks)
RC Toulon (Sale Sharks, Scarlets)
La Rochelle (Bath Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby)
Sale Sharks (Edinburgh Rugby, RC Toulon)
Scarlets (Bath Rugby, RC Toulon)
Dragons (Bordeaux-Bègles, Wasps)
Montpellier (Leinster Rugby, Wasps)
Northampton Saints (Bordeaux-Bègles, Leinster Rugby)

POOL B (with opponents in brackets)
Exeter Chiefs (Glasgow Warriors, Toulouse)
Lyon (Glasgow Warriors, Gloucester Rugby)
Ulster Rugby (Gloucester Rugby, Toulouse)
Bristol Bears (ASM Clermont Auvergne, Connacht Rugby)
Munster Rugby (ASM Clermont Auvergne, Harlequins)
Racing 92 (Connacht Rugby, Harlequins)
ASM Clermont Auvergne (Bristol Bears, Munster Rugby)
Connacht Rugby (Bristol Bears, Racing 92)
Harlequins (Munster Rugby, Racing 92)
Glasgow Warriors (Exeter Chiefs, Lyon)
Gloucester Rugby (Lyon, Ulster)
Toulouse (Exeter Chiefs, Ulster Rugby)

guapos · 28-10-2020 4:09pm

https://www.epcrugby.com/2020/10/28/heineken-champions-cup-pool-draw-maps-out-first-steps-on-road-to-marseille-2021/

Full draw here

thomond2006 · 28-10-2020 4:11pm

guapos wrote: »

https://www.epcrugby.com/2020/10/28/heineken-champions-cup-pool-draw-maps-out-first-steps-on-road-to-marseille-2021/

Full draw here

Not televised. Very fishy. Obviously rigged.

[Deleted User] · 28-10-2020 4:13pm

Do you play the team in brackets twice?

yerrahbah · 28-10-2020 4:15pm

partyjungle wrote: »

Do you play the team in brackets twice?

Yup, home and away

The Lost Sheep · 28-10-2020 4:16pm

partyjungle wrote: »

Do you play the team in brackets twice?

Yes. everyone plays 4 games.

Boscoirl · 28-10-2020 4:19pm

the games look fairly balanced in each group, cant really pick a team that has gotten an "easy ride"

WhoamI2022 · 28-10-2020 4:21pm

Leinster are ok. I think Montpellier had to sell off loads of squad after they got caught breaking salary cap? or am I wrong? Northampton took a nose dive after the Leinster games last season. Don't expect much them to beat Leinster home/away.

Ulster should beat Glou, maybe at home they can win v Toulouse.

Munster should beat Clermont at home, probably lose away. I would expect them to beat Quins home & away

Connacht just have nightmare draw, Bristol Bears are some outfit and Racing not too bad either. Pat Lam coming back is a bit of a story

Champions Cup 2020/2021 General Thread

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