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European Champions & Challenge Cup
Champions/Challenge Cup 2022/23 Draws
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<blockquote data-quote="Bruce_ma gooshvili" data-source="post: 1093310" data-attributes="member: 74121"><p>That is fair, but we would be talking about the winners of a competition, so you'd be picking a reasonable side. The Portuguese Lusitanos contain much of the national side that almost beat Italy last weekend, almost beat Japan in November and drew in Georgia in February. The Black Lion lost in extra time away from home to by far the best side in the Currie Cup 1st Division, which isnt a disgrace. Romania have just created a national franchise also, and last year their national side, in a strange selection made almost exclusively from one club from Bucharest spanked the Tongan national side.</p><p></p><p>Russian club sides previously defeated Brive and somebody else I can't recall in the Challenge Cup and exposure to that competition can only increase their level. These guys cannot match the funding and coaching from the top leagues but the best of them could definitely bring some competition to a second string disinterested side, which I think accurately describes a lot of Challenge Cup participants in the group stages. </p><p></p><p>Obviously I do not hide my enthusiasm for Tier 2. But setting that aside this is commercial short termism and isolationism at its worst from EPCR that does nothing to foster long term economic growth for its stakeholders. Harrumph! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick Out Tongue :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bruce_ma gooshvili, post: 1093310, member: 74121"] That is fair, but we would be talking about the winners of a competition, so you'd be picking a reasonable side. The Portuguese Lusitanos contain much of the national side that almost beat Italy last weekend, almost beat Japan in November and drew in Georgia in February. The Black Lion lost in extra time away from home to by far the best side in the Currie Cup 1st Division, which isnt a disgrace. Romania have just created a national franchise also, and last year their national side, in a strange selection made almost exclusively from one club from Bucharest spanked the Tongan national side. Russian club sides previously defeated Brive and somebody else I can't recall in the Challenge Cup and exposure to that competition can only increase their level. These guys cannot match the funding and coaching from the top leagues but the best of them could definitely bring some competition to a second string disinterested side, which I think accurately describes a lot of Challenge Cup participants in the group stages. Obviously I do not hide my enthusiasm for Tier 2. But setting that aside this is commercial short termism and isolationism at its worst from EPCR that does nothing to foster long term economic growth for its stakeholders. Harrumph! :p [/QUOTE]
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