Champions Cup 25/26 - Quarter Finals

[Leonormous Boozer]

But then, compared to Bordeaux and Toulouse (and Crusaders)... Every club team in the world is second division. Leinster may make it 1.5th division.
I don't think anyone (other than some Leinster fans) would claim otherwise.

It's not that the Prem is a second division league, it's that UBB and ST are absolutely amazing.

ETA: Oh, and if you accept that more than 1 team can be good, then a 21 point lead, held for 3 minutes, in the first half, is not unassailable.

I think Leinster have been in the theoretical top division for the last decade to be honest. They've rarely had a year that they haven't beaten one of La Rochelle or Toulouse in that time, the three consecutive finals losses were all after we'd knocked the other contender out.

There's been a drop ever since Saints beat us so we may well have dropped out but I think you have to let the season run it's course before saying that with any level of certainty.

Expecting a Glasgow win today, they'll then have to face the challenge that has killed Leinster the last few years of splitting the squad in two for a South Africa trip and having to maintain standards in the business end of two comps. Will be interesting to see how.a different top.performing team fare, if they go well Leo Cullen starts looking very bad.

 

[Demfad]

But then, compared to Bordeaux and Toulouse (and Crusaders)... Every club team in the world is second division. Leinster may make it 1.5th division.
I don't think anyone (other than some Leinster fans) would claim otherwise.

It's not that the Prem is a second division league, it's that UBB and ST are absolutely amazing.

ETA: Oh, and if you accept that more than 1 team can be good, then a 21 point lead, held for 3 minutes, in the first half, is not unassailable.

I am a Connacht fan: Leinster are top tier. I would be of the opinion that the vast majority of European rugby supporters and in particular Leinster's French rivals would agree with that. Statistics and results support this. Toulouse lost to both Glasgow and Saracens this year in the CC. If allowed to play they play sublime stuff. UBBs performance against Leicester must be viewed in the light that the Leicester manager had thrown in the towel before the match had even started. When a team is just there to pick up a pay check and not interested in winning opponents can attack without pressure.

 

[Demfad]

As good a game as that was, let’s be brutally honest here, no truly elite side should blow a 21 point lead in a European Quarter Final. The Premiership may be entertaining, but let’s be honest, compared to the level of team that Bath will be playing next week, it’s distinctly second division in terms of quality. I’m happy to put this out there - Bath have absolutely no chance of beating either Bordeaux or Toulouse. I’d be surprised if they get within 20 points of either of them, that’s the gulf in class between the two leagues.

I think Baths ability to confine Northampton to 6 in the second half was excellent. If they shore up a few defensive issues then they are genuine contenders for a final place. Northampton did similar to Leinster last year who could not find a way.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

I think Leinster have been in the theoretical top division for the last decade to be honest. They've rarely had a year that they haven't beaten one of La Rochelle or Toulouse in that time, the three consecutive finals losses were all after we'd knocked the other contender out.

There's been a drop ever since Saints beat us so we may well have dropped out but I think you have to let the season run it's course before saying that with any level of certainty.

Expecting a Glasgow win today, they'll then have to face the challenge that has killed Leinster the last few years of splitting the squad in two for a South Africa trip and having to maintain standards in the business end of two comps. Will be interesting to see how.a different top.performing team fare, if they go well Leo Cullen starts looking very bad.

I was thinking currently, rather than historically, or even "over the last decade"
Over any real period of time, then yes, Leinster are absolutely up there.
But, like LaRochelle, the last couple of years, I'd think them the best of the also rans behind ST and UBB - which may well be harsh, and I may well be over-reacting when trying to allow for recent form. It's still pretty incidental to the actual point I was making in my post, whether the top tier is 2 teams or 3 (or 4) is neither here nor there when decrying the system used for... everyone else

 

[Demfad]

I was thinking currently, rather than historically, or even "over the last decade"
Over any real period of time, then yes, Leinster are absolutely up there.
But, like LaRochelle, the last couple of years, I'd think them the best of the also rans behind ST and UBB - which may well be harsh, and I may well be over-reacting when trying to allow for recent form. It's still pretty incidental to the actual point I was making in my post, whether the top tier is 2 teams or 3 (or 4) is neither here nor there when decrying the system used for... everyone else

In 2024, Leinster pushed Toulouse (that year called the greatest club team of all time) to extra time in a final.
Last year they broke all records (114-0) before the semi final, were playing a higher standard than in 2024. They lost in a shock narrowly to Northampton, but NH can do that. Standard wise last year they were up with UBB and certainly up with Dupont-less Toulouse. Toulouse got knocked out in the SF also and were beaten twice this year. This year Leinster have won all matches in the CC and appear to be building more slowly.
Unless you know something I don't then bar the actual title, all three are pretty equivalent. Go one year before and UBB fall out of the picture.

Note: You did imply in your post that all but a die hard Leinster supporter would agree with your analysis which might be untrue and unfair?

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Note: You did imply in your post that all but a die hard Leinster supporter would agree with your analysis which might be untrue and unfair?

Did I?
Certainly didn't mean to - when I post I give my own opinions, and never assume that they must be right just because they're my opinions.

ETA: I see the bit you mean - which was written before I editted myself to put Leinster as 1.5th division.
My meaning was UBB and Toulouse (and Crusaders) are a step above everyone else - some Leinster fans might claim otherwise.

Please note - no mention of "only die hard Leinster supporters" please note the use of "I don't think", please allow the context of what I was saying and what I was replying to, please allow that you seem to vehemently agreeing with my actual point that "UBB&ST = good; everyone else = bad" lacks nuance.
Beyond that, please forgive me for not expressing myself clearly (at 7.45 on a Saturday morning after a Friday night match of beer and celebration).

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I was thinking currently, rather than historically, or even "over the last decade"
Over any real period of time, then yes, Leinster are absolutely up there.
But, like LaRochelle, the last couple of years, I'd think them the best of the also rans behind ST and UBB - which may well be harsh, and I may well be over-reacting when trying to allow for recent form. It's still pretty incidental to the actual point I was making in my post, whether the top tier is 2 teams or 3 (or 4) is neither here nor there when decrying the system used for... everyone else

Yeah, I don't disagree and I'm kind of there with you. Probably a little bit more hesitant on account of how the 6n went where I, along with most others, firmly expected England to stamp themselves as the 2nd best European team ahead of Ireland*. But overall with the way the draw is, unless we reach the final and at the very worst lose another depressingly close game, I think we've fallen into the chasing pack.

*I do think trends are more evident in the club game but they rarely are linear or exactly what they seem.

 

[higgik]

I think Baths ability to confine Northampton to 6 in the second half was excellent. If they shore up a few defensive issues then they are genuine contenders for a final place. Northampton did similar to Leinster last year who could not find a way.

Only seen the YouTube highlights 8 mins.
Seemed like poor tackling for 2 Bath tries, but other than that it seemed well drilled attack was good.
Great to see Arundell coming off the wing more in one game, than he did all 6N.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Would you say Parisse is a Toulon legend?
When I think of him I think of Stade Francais

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Would you say Parisse is a Toulon legend?
When I think of him I think of Stade Francais

Me to, always think of him in that pink kit with Hask playing alongside.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, just another classic case of Premier Sports commentators having a very spurious grasp on the sport they're supposedly experts on

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Really poor from Toulon there. So many slow ball obvious phases.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

My heart, it's bleeding for Glasgow.

 

[Gavin]

Can't beat a Glasgow loss after all their build-up of being favourites

 

[Brown Bottle]

And now the biggy. Leinster obviously have home advantage but Sale bring "Manchester" with them and "a plan". Too close to call.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

And now the biggy. Leinster obviously have home advantage but Sale bring "Manchester" with them and "a plan". Too close to call.

If they could bring some "better rugby players" that'd help

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Sale bring a blunt attack and some rugby not seen (for very good reasons) since the 90s. Once Leinster are 3 tries up I’ll probably switch it off.

 

[Saintjay]

And now the biggy. Leinster obviously have home advantage but Sale bring "Manchester" with them and "a plan". Too close to call.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

And now the biggy. Leinster obviously have home advantage but Sale bring "Manchester" with them and "a plan". Too close to call.

Whatever the result, we'll play Dirty Old Town at some stage. Begs the question, who is the real winner?

 

[Brown Bottle]

Blimey, Sale haven't taken up much of their 25,000 ticket allocation!

 

[ShropshireAllBlack]

Just realised it’s Brousset reffing, anything could happen….

 

[Gavin]

Stephen Ferris and Andy Goode on comms.... Christ Almighty.

Poor turnout for a rugby quarter final of the biggest club competition in Europe.

... but then it is Sale

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nice scrum you ******* NERDS

 

[Brown Bottle]

Poor turnout for a rugby quarter final of the biggest club competition in Europe.

... but then it is Sale

Yeah... Manchester is obviously a lot smaller than I thought.

 

[Seeker]

You can tell Dyson owns Bath because they SUCK

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I’m a massive saints fan and have been forever but these European away games cost so much I really understand why sale fans wouldn’t make the trip. I just can’t afford to travel and justify that cost for basically a lads weekend.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Ford showing this time with England there. Pointless kicking.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I’m a massive saints fan and have been forever but these European away games cost so much I really understand why sale fans wouldn’t make the trip. I just can’t afford to travel and justify that cost for basically a lads weekend.

Price gouging has been crazy, seen a lot of the people in the supporters group on Facebook who follow every away game missing this because the hotel prices are pumped up so much

 

[Brown Bottle]

Price gouging has been crazy, seen a lot of the people in the supporters group on Facebook who follow every away game missing this because the hotel prices are pumped up so much

I don't blame them but I expected there to be far more home support.

 

[ShropshireAllBlack]

Poor fare thus far.