Heineken Cup 2022/23

[Blueberry]

Strange end and looks very careless from Edinburgh, no one seemed to know they needed another score....bizarre

[wixfjord]

That's a massive swing for Munster, but also a massive swing for us in terms of potential opponents.

The route to a potential final would be:

Ulster (H)
Leicester/Embra (H)
Toulouse/Bulls/Sharks/Munster (H)

LAR likely to be at home to Sarries in a QF on the other side.

[Blueberry]

Could easily be a repeat of last year from qtr onwards, Leicester, Toulouse and LAR. In fact if we keep winning that looks most likely to me anyway.....

[Avenger]

Some difference for Munster. Trip to Edinburgh or trip to Durban. I know which one I’d prefer.

This really is a great competition despite the convoluted pool phase.

[Blueberry]

Munster won't be happy.....

[Blueberry]

Mike Blair trying to make out they deliberately chose to end the game.....not buying that but I suppose what choice does he have but sugar coat it like that.

[D4surfer]

Leinster v Ulster
La Rochelle v Gloucester
Exeter v Montpellier
Toulouse v Bulls
Sharks v Munster
Stormers v Quins
Sarries v Ospreys
Leicester v Edinburgh​

[wixfjord]

Mike Blair trying to make out they deliberately chose to end the game.....not buying that but I suppose what choice does he have but sugar coat it like that.

That didn't make sense at all.

Even if Embra had've lost to a last min Sarries try, they were still in 5th spot (12 points due to LBP and better PD than Quins).
So they would've been in the same position.

Did having 3 wins instead of 2 wins on their ledger really matter?

The risk/reward there made sense.

[wixfjord]

[wixfjord]

That's a feckin tough route for Munster now.

Sharks away and winner of Toulouse/Bulls to make a SF.

Only one Irish side can make it to the final.

[Ray Donovan]

Absolute nightmare scenario for Munster.

They travel to Durban for last 16 game. If they win they travel back to Europe for a possible home game vs Bulls who have stayed up in Europe after beating Toulouse. THEN they travel back down to SA for 2 league games.

Talk about worst possible scenario!!

[ronk]

I'll take that.

The 2 teams that have history beating us will meet in the QF and we avoid until the final.

Leicester or Edinburgh next round.

Then 1 out of Bulls, Sharks, Munster, Toulouse will be left.

We could easily end up taking the path with the most former winners (aside from Ulster only having 1).

[Ruckedtobits]

Our quarter of the draw (two Irish, one Scot & one English) is the only one without a French team, or a South African one. Munster have Toulouse and two South Africans. Two English, a French & S African opposite us and La Rogcell get Ospreys, Gloucester & Sarries.

[blockhead]

Absolute nightmare scenario for Munster.

They travel to Durban for last 16 game. If they win they travel back to Europe for a possible home game vs Bulls who have stayed up in Europe after beating Toulouse. THEN they travel back down to SA for 2 league games.

Talk about worst possible scenario!!

Yeah true. Really fell sorry for them.

[nc6000]

That's an interesting scenario for Munster having to travel back from SA to play a home game for the Bulls in Europe because they aren't allowed play it in SA and then having to go back for two league games in SA.

[ronk]

Return flights vs weeks longer in hotels and away from families.

Also if you're going for a week a smaller squad travels with less support. A longer trip needs more of everything.

[cormac]

That's an interesting scenario for Munster having to travel back from SA to play a home game for the Bulls in Europe because they aren't allowed play it in SA and then having to go back for two league games in SA.

If Munster end up playing the Bulls in the Heineken Cup quarter-final, Munster will have home advantage as they're the higher seed.

[wixfjord]

We are 11/10 to win the cup this morning.

Ridiculous odds.

[Avenger]

We are 11/10 to win the cup this morning.

Ridiculous odds.

Absolutely ridiculous. Lots of rugby to be played yet.

[Ruckedtobits]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2023/012 ... -the-week/

More crazy stuff from RTE rugby "selectors" this week. Our performance was down but our representation goes up! Fairly poor selection based on what I saw.