Champions Cup - 21st - 23rd January 2022

[Rugbygramps]

Dignified interview from Joe Worsley in relation to the officiating. He wouldn’t fit in with the ranters on here.

Always had a lot of time for Worsley. He was someone I thought Tigers should have looked a while back, obviously not now

[DeadlyDunc]

Dignified interview from Joe Worsley in relation to the officiating. He wouldn’t fit in with the ranters on here.

[Old Hob]

Toulouse kicking off, saying they had a 23 prepared to play and the decision to cancel was against EPCR regs/rules.

[Rugbygramps]

Toulouse kicking off, saying they had a 23 prepared to play and the decision to cancel was against EPCR regs/rules.

What I don’t understand is that the game was in Toulouse all seems strange

[Old Hob]

From the BBC website:

French anger
Toulouse wanted the game to go ahead because the defending champions have not yet guaranteed their passage to the knockout stages.
The French side even held a press conference and named a team on Friday morning with internationals Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka and Anthony Jelonch missing.
Toulouse president Didier Lacroix said the decision was "disrespectful" and the club were considering legal action, while Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), who run the Top 14 and are an EPCR stakeholder, have also criticised the announcement.
The LNR said it was a "scandalous decision and totally unfounded' while president René Bouscatel branded it "irresponsible".

An LNR statement read: "Toulouse has put together a group of players to field a team capable of playing this match, and this in full respect of the EPCR health regulations and the protocol French health.
"The EPCR Covid19 protocol provides that the EPCR applies and complies with defers to the protocol established by the league to which each club belongs, and sticks to the position of the medical authority of that league regarding the ability of a club to play the match when positive cases are reported.

"In the case of Stade Toulousain, the LNR's Covid-19 expert commission communicated its position on January 20 in the evening at the EPCR, this position being that the club could dispute the meeting against Cardiff.
"The decision of the EPCR is therefore taken in violation of its own regulations. It is incomprehensible and seriously damages the club and the fairness of the competition."
LNR president Bouscatel added: "The Champions Cup is a prestigious competition, its organiser cannot allow arbitrary decisions to be made that are contrary to its own rules.
"This decision is irresponsible. I have decided to convene a steering committee in urgency to discuss the follow-up, including legal action, to be given to this decision."

[Dokie]

Toulouse kicking off, saying they had a 23 prepared to play and the decision to cancel was against EPCR regs/rules.

Hey ho, Cardiff would have won with a bonus point anyway

[fentiger]

Said before.... Quins and the forward pass.... they get away with it so often! Must have Harry's cloak

[Tiglon]

When was the last time you watched a match in which every forward pass was given? Once they started banging on about momentum and the direction of the hands it all got a bit confused and now you can generally get away with a forward pass as long as it's not too bad.

Really poor decision by the ref at that last breakdown, it didn't look like he was in a position to actually see when the ball was lifted so he just had to guess. Surprised to see the try given as well, I couldn't see anything sufficient to overrule the on field decision - even Dombrandt looked very surprised, which tells you everything you need to know.

Bit harsh not to give Cocaga MoM as well, not that it matters, but they admitted that it had to be someone from the winning side, and it was only Dombrandt because he was given a try thar he probably didn't score at the end. I would have thought MoM should be the best performance, full stop.

[Scott1]

So it was a howler(s) then!
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/its-frig ... s-referee/

[Robespierre]

Toulouse kicking off, saying they had a 23 prepared to play and the decision to cancel was against EPCR regs/rules.

Hey ho, Cardiff would have won with a bonus point anyway

Why not! If you'd put a bet on a Cardiff bp win, you'd have won well, cos the odds would've been quite long!
I'd been looking forward to going to the match and was disappointed that EPCR decided (unnecessarily, in my opinion) to cancel it.
If Toulouse now fail to qualify for the next phase, there'll possible be a legal claim against EPCR!

[Scott1]

Toulouse kicking off, saying they had a 23 prepared to play and the decision to cancel was against EPCR regs/rules.

Hey ho, Cardiff would have won with a bonus point anyway

Why not! If you'd put a bet on a Cardiff bp win, you'd have won well, cos the odds would've been quite long!
I'd been looking forward to going to the match and was disappointed that EPCR decided (unnecessarily, in my opinion) to cancel it.
If Toulouse now fail to qualify for the next phase, there'll possible be a legal claim against EPCR!

Toulouse have qualified now surely. Just a tougher second round draw now and an away tie in the QF looking likely. Even looks like Cardiff have qualified now,they could be the worse club side ever to qualify for the second round

[Tigerbeat]

Hey ho, Cardiff would have won with a bonus point anyway

Why not! If you'd put a bet on a Cardiff bp win, you'd have won well, cos the odds would've been quite long!
I'd been looking forward to going to the match and was disappointed that EPCR decided (unnecessarily, in my opinion) to cancel it.
If Toulouse now fail to qualify for the next phase, there'll possible be a legal claim against EPCR!

Toulouse have qualified now surely. Just a tougher second round draw now and an away tie in the QF looking likely

If Castres had won and Wasps win, they would have been out...they are qualified

[cheltexile]

Racing vs Northampton off, 28-0 to Racing.

[Scott1]

Racing vs Northampton off, 28-0 to Racing.

Saints already out and didn't fancy it? 🤪

[RagingBull]

Hoping that we get Glasgow in the last 16 we owe them massively from the last time we played