Stade v Munster postponed

[tigerburnie]

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/stade-f ... postponed/

[DickyP]

This is probably not the last of the disruptions - my solution would be to cancel the tournament as it stands and do a simple knock out in its place - a total of 5 rounds. Cuts out 4 games and gives plenty of time for re-planning.

Rd 1 8 teams play to eliminate 4 - chosen by lowest league positions in 14/5 qualifying.

Rd 2 8 games
Rd 3 4 games
Rd 4 2 Games (SF) - neutral venues
Rd 5 Final. - Lyons, as planned.

[ourla]

This is probably not the last of the disruptions - my solution would be to cancel the tournament as it stands and do a simple knock out in its place - a total of 5 rounds. Cuts out 4 games and gives plenty of time for re-planning.

Rd 1 8 teams play to eliminate 4 - chosen by lowest league positions in 14/5 qualifying.

Rd 2 8 games
Rd 3 4 games
Rd 4 2 Games (SF) - neutral venues
Rd 5 Final. - Lyons, as planned.

I don't see why that is necessary. There are already some teams that have missed one game and these are just two more teams in the same situation. All they have to do is follow the precedent (TBC) of the others. It's all doable at this stage.

[Hot_Charlie]

I don't think too many clubs would like the loss of 4 games worth of revenue...

[Hiron]

... my solution would be to cancel the tournament as it stands ...

That would be admitting defeat to the terrorists.

[DickyP]

... my solution would be to cancel the tournament as it stands ...

That would be admitting defeat to the terrorists.

.. as it stands ... I said. Not cancel it - as I agree about admitting defeat. We just need some form of practical, achievable solution - mine was an 'off-the-cuff' idea and I'm sure there are far better ones.

[northerntiger]

Squads are big enough that teams should be able to play weekend and midweek. If it means one game is mainly second string players, so be it. Not an ideal solution, but the only one I can see.
Craigs 'I can't see how we can play it' is just pathetic. If that is the case, Bath should forfeit. Plenty of precedents from junior rugby!

[Iain]

We always used to have one or two midweek fixtures each season. It's a solution. Get on with it. In the circumstances you just suck it up.

[Tomvarndell]

Why not play the Munster leg first?

Would not have been difficult to arrange a swap of venues given they had a week. Not ideal but would prevent a fixture backlog.

[DickyP]

... In the circumstances you just suck it up.

+1 !!!

[Rykard]

Squads are big enough that teams should be able to play weekend and midweek. If it means one game is mainly second string players, so be it. Not an ideal solution, but the only one I can see.
Craigs 'I can't see how we can play it' is just pathetic. If that is the case, Bath should forfeit. Plenty of precedents from junior rugby!

did we forfeit any prem games last season when we had 23? players missing?

that's what you have a squad/academy for...

[Noddy555]

This makes complete sense. Would you as a fan or a participant want to play in a stadium that was attacked a week ago? Tigers don't visit Paris
until the last week in January and hopefully if my finances will stand it I shall be going but that is a further two and a half months away so
although the memories will still be there, the time factor will help as long as there are no further terrorism outbreaks in Paris.

[Iain]

This makes complete sense. Would you as a fan or a participant want to play in a stadium that was attacked a week ago? Tigers don't visit Paris
until the last week in January and hopefully if my finances will stand it I shall be going but that is a further two and a half months away so
although the memories will still be there, the time factor will help as long as there are no further terrorism outbreaks in Paris.

Stade Francais don't play in the Stade de France.

[johnthegriff]

Munster like ourselves were due to play at the Jean Bouin Stadium, some distance from the Stade d' France. I have no idea if any of the French players were directly affected by the atrocities, similarly I don't know if there are any plans for Thomund Park to be in use on a planned away week end. I would imagine it is not easy to simply swap round a home and away fixture at such short notice. It should be simple to re-arrange a league fixture and play the ECC match on an agreed date prior to the end of the pool stages. Possibly more difficult for Bath but I won't lose sleep over that.

[Ze Stade Fan]

I am bitter, angry, furious, fuming !

They cancel the game on security grounds. Fine, I am not an antiterrorist specialist. Why do they leave it for the club to announce and let us stand as the cowards ? I know the French cops are exhausted, but could it be possible to have the Préfet announcing "all we have left is Clouseau, we won't take any chance" ???

I know from reliable sources that Monsieur le Prefet de Police de Paris called for the postponement AND asked the club to make the decision their own. It is a mere lack of composure.

To help you make your own opinion you can see (French speakers, I mean) that the club :
- announced the game was maintained
- announced our ref, the one and only Wayne Barnes, benefactor of mankind since 2007
- called the supporters' clubs to announce special safety regulations
- THEN cancelled the whole show.

Do they think we are stupid. Big sis' and lil' sis had already told my nephews that ole uncle Remz would take them to the gig ! Shame ! Shame !