Champions' Cup Quarter finals 2024

[Rugbygramps]

Jack Willis world class performance this afternoon

[Big Dai]

Jack Willis world class performance this afternoon

Yes.

Contrast Kinghorn and Scotland, Willis with.........

[fentiger]

Never thought I would say it but definitely supporting Saints next round.

No need for that sort of language round here...

[mol2]

Jack Willis world class performance this afternoon

It's a shame England persist with their policy of not picking foreign based players.
Alongside Earl and Mercer it would make quite a back row. Chessum and Martin as locks. All that would be needed are a couple of decent props to take the mantle from Cole & Marler and we have a phenomenal pack.
There seem to be a few decent backs around to which Arundell is another exciex pat.

[Smudger67S]

Great to see two English sides in the semi finals but I don’t think they will progress any further, Toulouse and Leinster will be far to strong for them, should be a great final if those two get to the final.

Leinster are in South Africa for the next two weeks. Saints have to travel up the A50.

Preparation not ideal for Leinster.

[Stephen18]

Great to see two English sides in the semi finals but I don’t think they will progress any further, Toulouse and Leinster will be far to strong for them, should be a great final if those two get to the final.

Leinster are in South Africa for the next two weeks. Saints have to travel up the A50.

Preparation not ideal for Leinster.

Yes but Leinster will only send a 2nd/3rd string team there, they aren’t bother about the urc only the champions cup

[Rugbygramps]

Great to see two English sides in the semi finals but I don’t think they will progress any further, Toulouse and Leinster will be far to strong for them, should be a great final if those two get to the final.

Leinster are in South Africa for the next two weeks. Saints have to travel up the A50.

Preparation not ideal for Leinster.

Yes but Leinster will only send a 2nd/3rd string team there, they aren’t bother about the urc only the champions cup

Absolutely as was said on commentary during their game, and they are heading the URC

[Robespierre]

Yesterday's Toulouse v Exeter game was outstanding, and luckily my pal and I had seats in the shade as it was sweltering in the sun.
Not so lucky was that most of the action was at the other end of the ground and I'd forgotten to wear my glasses!!
The first half was a bit worrying as I thought that Exeter were going to do what Harlequins had done the day before, but it was not to be, because whatever was said at half time in the Toulouse changing room had the desired effect and Exeter were blown away in the second half. As Rugbygramps has mentioned, Jack Willis was in magnificent form as was François Cros on the other flank, and I believe that it was these two players who tipped the scales in the second half.

[RagingBull]

Jack Willis world class performance this afternoon

It's a shame England persist with their policy of not picking foreign based players.
Alongside Earl and Mercer it would make quite a back row. Chessum and Martin as locks. All that would be needed are a couple of decent props to take the mantle from Cole & Marler and we have a phenomenal pack.
There seem to be a few decent backs around to which Arundell is another exciex pat.

It's just as much a club thing as well as an RFU thing though.
Like big chance without that policy a lot of current England players will look at moves, including our own.

Arundell has been pretty average at Racing so far

[ourla]

So the English Prem is in dire straits and yet we have 2 semi finalists

[westwinds31]

We may as well scrap the venues for both finals and just use Kingsholm and the RDS.....

[Rugbygramps]

We may as well scrap the venues for both finals and just use Kingsholm and the RDS.....

Think Benetton will have more than a little to say about that. They have half the Italian team in their squad

[sam16111986]

Jack Willis world class performance this afternoon

It's a shame England persist with their policy of not picking foreign based players.

It really isn't. Allowing open season on the best English talent would drive up wages and almost certainly see Prem clubs in a weaker overall state with a ravaged domestic competition. Sponsorship and TV money would be even harder to come by than it is already and England would lose all access to players outside of designated international windows so no rest periods or training camps.

The only players playing abroad for this season that might make the squad are currently Jack Willis and Joe Marchant. We are well stocked in the backrow, centre less so though Slade has generally done a good job.