Champions Cup 2020 / 21

[The Doc]

Well that's cleared everything up

https://www.the42.ie/champions-cup-form ... 8-Sep2020/

They are effectively creating four groups but calling it two and then combining results based on aggregate scores - whatever about the advanced maths needed in the old days, we're going to need some top level "statting" when it comes to the last couple of rounds this time (calling Xan )

[MylesNaGapoleen]

The latter stages are interesting...

The clubs ranked numbers 1 and 2 from Pool A and Pool B will have an advantage in playing the second leg of their quarter-finals at home.
In the one-off semi-finals, the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home country advantage in a venue designated by EPCR.

Probably nitpicking...it must have been tricky to work out a format that avoids repeats of domestic league clashes.....but...I wonder why they have gone with home & away quarter finals but a one-off semi final? would have thought it would be better to have home and away SF...

[neill_m]

Reading the usual good sources on twitter, they are saying the playoffs don't count towards the rankings for the Pro 14 and they are based on the 13 games pre-COVID. Anyone confirm/deny?

[MylesNaGapoleen]

Reading the usual good sources on twitter, they are saying the playoffs don't count towards the rankings for the Pro 14 and they are based on the 13 games pre-COVID. Anyone confirm/deny?

In 2017, when scarlets won the pro12, the final table didn't change so the playoffs didn't change the ranking......scarlets still finished third as champions...


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_Pro12





1 Ireland Munster (RU) 22 19 0 3 602 316 +286 77 34 9 1 86
2 Ireland Leinster (SF) 22 18 0 4 674 390 +284 91 47 12 1 85
3 Wales Scarlets (CH) 22 17 0 5 537 359 +178 66 40 9 0 77
4 Wales Ospreys (SF) 22 14 0 8 556 360 +196 74 42 10 3 69
5 Ireland Ulster 22 14 1 7 521 371 +150 68 47 6 4 68
6 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 22 11 0 11 540 464 +76 72 53 9 5 58
7 Wales Cardiff Blues 22 11 1 10 508 498 +10 59 60 3 4 53
8 Ireland Connacht 22 9 0 13 413 498 −85 47 61 5 3 44
9 Scotland Edinburgh 22 6 0 16 400 491 −91 46 59 1 6 31
10 Italy Benetton Treviso 22 5 0 17 316 664 −348 35 92 1 2 23
11 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons 22 4 0 18 368 569 −201 38 71 1 6 23
12 Italy Zebre 22 3 0 19 318 773 −455 38 105 1 6 19

[neill_m]

https://twitter.com/simonrug/status/130 ... 63872?s=20

Playoffs will determine Tier 1 & 2 sides for the Pro 14.

[MylesNaGapoleen]

Tier 1: Both PRO14 Finalists.
Tier 2: Both losing SFs.
Tier 3: Glasgow and Scarlets (both ranked 3rd after R13)
Tier 4: Dragons and Connacht (both ranked 4th after R13).

[neill_m]

Tier 1: Both PRO14 Finalists.
Tier 2: Both losing SFs.
Tier 3: Glasgow and Scarlets (both ranked 3rd after R13)
Tier 4: Dragons and Connacht (both ranked 4th after R13).

In addition from the rules for 20/21 Cup, if Leinster win this year's H Cup, but don't make the Pro 14 final. They will replace the Pro 14 runners up in Tier 1.

[Blue not red blood]

Ok so if I read this new set up, am I correct in assuming the following.
We get a tier 1 status and we play a French and English tier 4 teams
So it is Toulouse / Montpellier and Gloucester / Harlequins
Might be better off getting a tier 2 seeding!!

[paddyor]

Think it's Montpellier & Castres in 7 & 8th in France. The away game will be hard esp to get a BP which will be all important in determining seeding for QF.

[neill_m]

Ok so if I read this new set up, am I correct in assuming the following.
We get a tier 1 status and we play a French and English tier 4 teams
So it is Toulouse / Montpellier and Gloucester / Harlequins
Might be better off getting a tier 2 seeding!!

In France Toulouse finished 7th before COVID stopped the T14 with Montpellier in 8th. Castres in 9th can take Montpellier's place if they win the Challenge Cup.

In Premiership, Quins currently 7th with Gloucester in 8th. The latter side can be replaced by Tigers if they win the Challenge Cup.

[Peg Leg]

I feel like a disenfranchised citizen of a heavily gerrymandered state. Losing interest now.

[johng]

Yeah. Why can't they just leave the format alone like we do in the Celtic League.....

[Peg Leg]

Yeah. Why can't they just leave the format alone like we do in the Celtic League.....

it wasn't for the quickening thread I would not have the headspace to commit to it either!

(thanks btw)

[OTT]

The Ben Whitehouse Show hopefully not coming our way in Europe anytime soon *shudders*

It seems like way to many incidents gets referred to TMO, Whitehouse takes about 5mins reviewing footage then whatever way he goes he says it’s clear. If it’s always so clear he should be calling it in game.

[cormac]

Clermont mean business. Bonus point in the bag away to Bristol after 26 minutes

[cormac]

Bristol strike back with a Bryan Byrne try off the back of a maul

[OTT]

71minutes into the Lyon v Gloucester game and Austin Healy is still making the same jokes about Bastareaud’s weight/body shape that he was making at the start (which were never funny)

Jaysus he is irritating.

[MylesNaGapoleen]

thought bastereaud had a great game at 8.
Moyne at full time on bt sports was moaning about the competition format "not favouring English teams"!!

Thought Lyon were superb. Gloucestor showed a few good moments in attack but some of the lyon tries were fantastic....once the ball went wide, you felt lyon were going to score.