Champions Cup QF. 1 - ASM Clermont Auvergne v RC Toulon

[Leonormous Boozer]

Sunday
Local Time: 16:15
Stade Marcel Michelin


The least interesting tie of the round sees two sides who believe "zee top 14 iz more important" face off to decide who'll lost to the Dublin based Champions Elect in the semi final with yours truly there to rub it in the face of the home fans. That's pretty much all I have to say... Clermont are in a **** patch of a good season, Toulon are in a good patch of a **** one... Who has a major world language as their mother tongue and cares?​

 

[Every Time Ref]

The old question ... do I want England players to do well more than I hate Saracens?

 

[gaston le gaff]

The question is who will join the French team already in the semis?? good luck to the rest!!

 

[Groundhog]

The question is who will join the French team already in the semis?? good luck to the rest!!

Clermont I hope with all of my heart.

 

[Car]

Clermont I hope with all of my heart.

Seconded.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Got to love a bit of Toulon really lads!

 

[Stumpy]

Seconded.

Thirded

 

[Groundhog]

Got to love a bit of Toulon really lads!

Leinster and Toulon forming an unlikable alliance? Most Leinster fans were rooting for Clermont the last time Munster played them. What's changed?

 

[Stumpy]

I'm hoping for a Clermont vs Wasps semi, if we get knocked out I will pop to Franklins Gardens and support the Jaune et Bleu. Best fans in the world!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Leinster and Toulon forming an unlikable alliance? Most Leinster fans were rooting for Clermont the last time Munster played them. What's changed?

Toulon are an easier semi! Us an Clermont have a fierce and respected rivalry so it was fair to support them over a side that we have **** all to do with like Munster...

 

[Groundhog]

Toulon are an easier semi! Us an Clermont have a fierce and respected rivalry so it was fair to support them over a side that we have **** all to do with like Munster...

Leinster is like the kid that stands outside a conversation circle with the popular kids and laughs along as if he's involved, but in reality he makes everyone there uncomfortable, and no one is directly addressing him for that very reason but he fails to take the hint. Nothing about Leinster is fierce, but you're right about our rivalry, we don't respect teams we bonus point.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Leinster is like the kid that stands outside a conversation circle with the popular kids and laughs along as if he's involved, but in reality he makes everyone there uncomfortable, and no one is directly addressing him for that very reason but he fails to take the hint. Nothing about Leinster is fierce, but you're right about our rivalry, we don't respect teams we bonus point.

Or sides that are having better seasons than you despite having to throw a match to you by the sounds of it!!

 

[Groundhog]

Or sides that are having better seasons than you despite having to throw a match to you by the sounds of it!!

"Better Season"
You still have Ospreys and Ulster away. We have the Italians and nothin' but home games. Keep that hard on about two 4 try bonus points separating us in the league and your 4th place seeding in the CC. You topped your **** pool, now top your **** self.

 

[TheSaffycen]

CLERMONT15. Scott Spedding; 14. Noa Nakaitaci, 13. Aurélien Rougerie, 12. Remi Lamerat, 11. Nick Abendanon; 10. Camille Lopez, 9. Morgan Parra;
1. Raphael Chaume, 2. Benjamin Kayser, 3. Davit Zirakashvili, 4. Arthur Iturria, 5. Sébastien Vahaamahina, 6. Damien Chouly, 7. Peceli Yato, 8. Fritz Lee

16. John Ulugia, 17. Etienne Falgoux, 18. Aaron Jarvis, 19. Flip Van Der Merwe, 20. Judicaël Cancoriet, 21. Ludovic Radosavljevic , 22. Pato Fernandez, 23. Damien Penaud

Toulon15. Leigh Halfpenny; 14. Drew Mitchell, 13. Mathieu Bastareaud, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 11. Bryan Habana; 10. Francois Trinh-Duc, 9. Eric Escande;
1. Laurent Delboulbès, 2. Guilhem Guirado, 3. Levan Chilachava, 4. Juandre Kruger, 5. Romain Taofifenua, 6. Juan Smith, 7. Liam Gill, 8. Duane Vermeulen

16. Anthony Etrillard, 17. Florian Fresia, 18. Marcel Van Der Merwe, 19. Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 20. Anthony Belleau, 21. Josua Tuisova, 22. Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 23. Samu Manoa

 

[FrenchFan]

Clermont for me

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Time for the bastions of the proper free market to take the stage.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Scrappy game devoid of any real skill.

 

[mosfeldt]

It's a pity this match is crap, 'cos the atmosphere here could be incredible. Great crowd, nice loud and passionate. Hopefully the 2nd half both teams will stop dicking around and turn it up a notch.

 

[FrenchFan]

It's an arm wrestle. But there's skill in slowing down the opposition's rucks and defending well which Toulon are doing.

Vermeulen won that ruck. Barnes took ages to blow his whistle which slows down the game that bit more.

-------------------
Edit

Clermont try at last. Patience rewarded. Use the big stick in the forwards then go wide.

Toulon can't spend the whole game defending. They have not seen the ball since HT.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Wouldn't it make more sense to use a french referee for this game?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wouldn't it make more sense to use a french referee for this game?

Why? There's only about 3 French speakers between the two teams

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

See ya in Lyon in three weeks lads! My sequence for seeing Leinster in France is loss, Draw next one is obviously the win!

 

[FrenchFan]

21 French players on pitch (replacements included) and in a game with Toulon. I'm almost surprised to find 11 Frenchmen at Toulon?! Must be a record for them. Where did they find that many French players for a wet game in Auvergne. Miracle :lol:

It's just our Top 14 refs are a bit more decisive reffing rucks. But I won't slate Wayne who gave us the win v Wales

EDIT: correction! 24 French players in total. 11 for Toulon and 13 for Clermont.

http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/champions-cup/2016-2017/live-asm-clermont-rugby-club-toulonnais_mtc897810/live.shtml

 

[TheSaffycen]

Barnes is very annoying with holding on imo. He makes players have to be held on for what seems like ages compared, to other refs. That's fine if that's how he sees it but it's so different to every other refs interpretation.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The new competition is better at getting the best teams to the semi final, only Leinster two years ago getting there ahead of Racing were undeserving, Exeter and Leicester were equal enough last year that'd be much of a muchness I imagine?