Heineken Champions Cup - Round of 16 (1st Leg)

[TRF_Olyy]

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Far too many "league derbies" for my liking, tbh

 

[Groundhog]

Looking forward to heading to Sandy Park for this game. I gather Exeter aren't in prime form. Neither are we for that matter and a lot will depend on injuries. If we can field the likes of Beirne, Kilcoyne and Coombes I will be confident. I don't think we will have any of those though. Some selection calls too.

I think as a neutral the Tigers Clermont games will be good watching. Both sides I think will win at home, but Leicester to take the fixture.

Toulouse and Ulster should be tasty too, but I think Toulouse win the aggregate game.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Far too many "league derbies" for my liking, tbh

Imagine having to play Bristol 4 times in a season lol

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

My money on
Leinster easy win
Stade Rochelle tight win
Sale easy win
Toulouse easy win (Ulster coming from a tough SA tour)
Munster win
Racing easy win
Montpellier tight win
Tigers tight win

 

[Reiser99]

Far too many "league derbies" for my liking, tbh

Tbh I think at one point it was going to be more.

 

[Goodey]

Tigers tight win

You feeling okay?

 

[Goodey]

Caps
Leinster by 13
Bordeaux by 4
Sale by 6
Toulouse by 12
Exeter by 5
Racing by 6
Montpellier by 4
Clermont by 3

I recon on half of those someone just shrugged and went 'eh, home team I guess'. Munster +5 is probably the value one.

 

[Jakedood]

I think Ulster game may be closer (I am inherently biased) but did a lot of mixing and matching in SA and there is a drop off from the connections formed between McCloskey/Hume, a back 3 involving balacoune and Lowry etc, plus the altitude really took effect v bulls
Not saying a win, Toulouse should be favourites but I'm dead excited for that game, could be some outrageous rugby

 

[AlwaysRavenhill]

Hopefully you are right Jake. Ulster need to keep it tight to give them a chance next week at Ravenhill

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Excited for the format. Should be a walkover for us but can see some of those fixtures going right down to the wire.

 

[Biiga90]

Only hoping that Ulster got some decent altitude training sessions in over in SA and come back in better form than the 2 games we played out there!

 

[munstermuffin]

Wow Leinster will steamroll Connacht but 2nd row trio (4,5,19) is a glaring reason why they need lads back from injury if they have want to go the full way.

 

[big ginger 8]

Disappointed we didn't at least put McCarthy on the bench ahead of Toner.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Looks like it will be a cracking game. Battle of the 10s, 9s and 8s especially!

 

[Goodey]

Definitely the best team Tigs have put out in Europe this season. No Nadolo is a shame but otherwise pretty exciting

 

[Reiser99]

Definitely the best team Tigs have put out in Europe this season. No Nadolo is a shame but otherwise pretty exciting

Yeah looks like Borthwick finally taking it seriously.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No Curry is annoying, and surprised at Metcalf on the wing but he's looked great in the prem cup so trust the youth, I guess
I wouldn't have started Manu, either, tbh

 

[Groundhog]

Munster: Mike Haley; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Simon Zebo; Ben Healy, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Jason Jenkins, Thomas Ahern, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Jack O'Sullivan.

Well we're down 5 guaranteed starters not counting the likes of Snyman. Will be a big big ask of us. With that said, I like Healy starting. He's the kind of guy you want in a knockout game. Also happy Hodnett is starting. I won't harp on the front row, but I'm concerned.