Champions Cup 25/26 - Quarter Finals

[TRF_Olyy]

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[TRF_Olyy]

Seven Hydrogen Bombs vs Coughing Baby

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

All home wins imo

Although only leinster v Sale should be a poor game

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Feel like the two same country ties could go either way, Toulouse have a bit of a Hex over Bordeaux in big games, but do prefer the home team.

 

[big ginger 8]

Forgot Menoncello is signing for Toulouse next season. We better win it this year so...

Could really do with at least 2 of the 3 injury doubts.

 

[Saintjay]

Saints could win this, but i have a nagging doubt it'll be Bath's day.

 

[Demfad]

All home wins imo

Although only leinster v Sale should be a poor game

Don't necessarily agree. Leinster coaches are invoking Northampton 2025 ahead of this. I expect a step up from Leinster and interested to see Sale having a go.

 

[Demfad]

Bordeaux v Toulouse is obviously the tie of the round. Bordeaux beating Toulouse in last years CC was cancelled out by Dupont-less Toulouse beating them for the bouclier de brennus in Paris a few weeks later. I fancy Toulouse for this one.

Bath v Saints should also be a cracker. It's a real test of Bath's credentials because this will be put right up to them.

Glasgow v Toulon. A very even contest. I think Glasgow's growing nous may see them scrape this one on the artificial surface.

I think Sale will show up with a viable plan to beat Leinster. Leinster will be ready though. I think bringing Keenan back too early and shoe horning Osborne into 12 backfired with those two accounting for 3/4 soft tries versus Edinburgh. If Sale want to target something its Keenan's positioning and pressuring Osborne's passing game at 12. Leinster to win but after a good match.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

How many home matches should you be able to host at a stadium, before it's considered one of your home stadia?

 

[Saintjay]

Looking at the odds bookies have Sanderson more likely to win the National on a space hopper at the weekend, than Sale have at winning this match

Given Toulon and Sale's poor league position be interesting to see how they go.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

What a great weekend for rugby. only one could really be an upset and it would be one of the biggest shockers I can remember.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think Sale will show up with a viable plan to beat Leinster.

On what grounds could you possibly think that?

Not even the most deluded of Sale fans think we could be even vaguely competetive, our season has been awful and the injury list keeps getting longer and longer

 

[Brown Bottle]

Looking at the odds bookies have Sanderson more likely to win the National on a space hopper at the weekend, than Sale have at winning this match

Given Toulon and Sale's poor league position be interesting to see how they go.

Looking at the odds I wouldn't bother with three of the matches but 7/2 against Saints looks good value.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Don't necessarily agree. Leinster coaches are invoking Northampton 2025 ahead of this. I expect a step up from Leinster and interested to see Sale having a go.

Sale ain't Saints. Even when Saints had a crap season they always had the ability to turn it on and attack everything.
Sale don't do that and can't do that

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

How many home matches should you be able to host at a stadium, before it's considered one of your home stadia?

Who cares? Leinster are gonna get criticised regardless of what they do.

Last year it was in Lansdowne which was criticised but the R of 16 and QF were played in Croke Park so that would have been criticised as a venue also.

Quins and Sarries use other stadia also, they just don't reach enough home semi finals to make it an issue.

Probably irrelevant this year anyway.

 

[Demfad]

On what grounds could you possibly think that?

Not even the most deluded of Sale fans think we could be even vaguely competetive, our season has been awful and the injury list keeps getting longer and longer

On the grounds that Sale comprehensibly beat Harlequins away with a very strong outing of Championship rugby just last week. Even the most deluded Leinster fans will not be taken this one for granted or even close.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

On the grounds that Sale comprehensibly beat Harlequins away with a very strong outing of Championship rugby just last week. Even the most deluded Leinster fans will not be taken this one for granted or even close.

Ehh I'm not sure about that. Fans would be irate.

It wouldn't surprise me massively but that's more based on Leinster's history than anything I expect from Sale.

 

[Demfad]

How many home matches should you be able to host at a stadium, before it's considered one of your home stadia?

Teams have one Official home stadium, in Leinster's case that's the RDS. If the semi final needs to go to a different stadium to the Aviva then it would go to Croke Park. Only Munster have ever beaten Leinster there as far as I recall.

 

[Demfad]

Ehh I'm not sure about that. Fans would be irate.

It wouldn't surprise me massively but that's more based on Leinster's history than anything I expect from Sale.

They would be irate if they lost naturally, but no-one is taking Sale for granted. They were strong up front last week and comprehensively controlled the match. Leinster and Keenan/Osborne have a display like Edinburgh again and the team is likely out.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

They would be irate if they lost naturally, but no-one is taking Sale for granted. They were strong up front last week and comprehensively controlled the match. Leinster and Keenan/Osborne have a display like Edinburgh again and the team is likely out.

Yeah but if they lose, Cullen's position becomes untenable. I don't think you can say that about a game for a coach unless it's one that they absolutely should win.

There's semantics being argued here but of all ties this weekend, Leinster are definitely the team who should not lose and shouldn't really be in a scrap past the hour mark.

 

[BMatt]

On the grounds that Sale comprehensibly beat Harlequins away with a very strong outing of Championship rugby just last week. Even the most deluded Leinster fans will not be taken this one for granted or even close.

Demfad: "You saw England Versus Ireland, and reckon Sale bath can take Leinster?"

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Demfad: "You saw England Versus Ireland, and reckon Sale bath can take Leinster?"

 

[Demfad]

Demfad: "You saw England Versus Ireland, and reckon Sale bath can take Leinster?"

The poster said Bath COULD NOT take either Toulouse of Bordeaux but COULD take Leinster. I read "can take" here to mean "not favourites but in with a reasonable chance". Of course in a 15 v 15 match anything is possible, but that is not what is being discussed.

If I was a Bath supporter I would assume a decent chance against all three (or none of them on the pessimistic side). Basically I would lump those three in together.


It is clear that Leinster/Glasgow/Bordeaux/Toulouse standards corelate to their national teams due to the amount of crossover of players. Bath do not have that depth of English or International talent.

Perhaps you could employ honest argument to support whatever point you are making rather than the continual strawmen being erected?

 

[Demfad]

Yeah but if they lose, Cullen's position becomes untenable. I don't think you can say that about a game for a coach unless it's one that they absolutely should win.

There's semantics being argued here but of all ties this weekend, Leinster are definitely the team who should not lose and shouldn't really be in a scrap past the hour mark.

They shouldn't be, but they were against Edinburgh. I think Sale are significantly better than Edinburgh and may prove difficult to break down even if Leinster play well. Sale will have a plan for a tight match lead by George Ford. I am interested to see how the match develops.

NB* Cullen should have gone after Northampton last year. He wrapped players in cotton wool who started cold. He didn't play Barrett. He did play Keenan straight from injury who takes a few matches to settle and NH exploited him mercilessly (two tries).

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think Sale are significantly better than Edinburgh

Genuinely why?!

Even full strength we're not (we've lost every game we've played against them), but we're missing:
Rodd, LCD, Jibulu, there's rumours McElroy has been released, WillGriff John, Andrews, Burrow, T Curry, B Curry, D Du Preez, Quirke, Reed, R Du Preez, L James

 

[Demfad]

Genuinely why?!

Even full strength we're not (we've lost every game we've played against them), but we're missing:
Rodd, LCD, Jibulu, there's rumours McElroy has been released, WillGriff John, Andrews, Burrow, T Curry, B Curry, D Du Preez, Quirke, Reed, R Du Preez, L James

Again you comprehensively defeated Harlequins and showed an impressive forwards display with (intercepts aside) would challenge Leinster more. Leinster may play Osborne at 12 again and Keenan at 15. Sale make it a dogfight and pick off a few mistakes. Watch the highlights of Leinster-Edinburgh. Sale turnover, give it to Ford, kick. Only Keenan in backfield and usually out of position. That is a route to a possible victory.
That is my opinion. You have yours.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Again you comprehensively defeated Harlequins

Did we, though? Did you watch the game?
It was a very poor standard between two bottom of the table sides

Get the impression you don't watch any Prem rugby tbh

 

[Saintjay]

Harlequins are a top draw outfit who's only fault is there best player is currently in Northampton.

Sold, Bath couldn't beat England and Sale can beat Leinster aka "not the Ireland team"

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I hope Leinster play Osborne at 12, it's where he has the most potential imo.

 

[big ginger 8]

Wild to say Keenan is usually out of position as well.