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9 years 7 months ago #27911

Rumour “on the block “ is that Clubs may know dates / times for first 4 European matches tomorrow, Monday, with general release to the public later in the week. Believe it when I see it however!!

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9 years 7 months ago #27912

Well they will know before the general public. Sure last year I got my hands on them :evil:


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9 years 7 months ago #27926

Is La Rochelle Friday 10th Oct

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9 years 7 months ago #28006

What a surprise! Twickers get the ERCC final! Just surprised Quins and not Sarries got the Challange Cup final.

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9 years 6 months ago #28937

Tbilisi Caucasians only lost by 4 away to Rovigo in the "Qualifying Competition" (which basically consists of two two-legged playoffs), so you'd have to fancy them at home in the return leg.
It's impressive enough for an invitational side that can't have been put together more than a few weeks ago.
Might make an interesting trip for Cardiff fans.

www.epcrugby.com/eng/news/28936.php

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9 years 6 months ago #28966

So the format for the 20th-place-in-the-Not-HEC will be decided by a different format than previously proposed....

Invalid consumer key/secret in configuration

7th in Pro12 (assuming the Italian teams continue to suck) plays 7th in Premiership, home advantage decided by a coin toss.

Winner of that is then at home to 7th place in the Top 14.

So all the French need to do to have a 7th club in the top competition is have someone win a European play-off match away. :evil:

I'm smelling complete disinterest from our Gallic brethren.

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9 years 6 months ago #28967

You would have to wonder who decided this, what consultation process was involved and why it has been decided now and not before the season commenced. It dramatically changes the landscape for teams in the pro12. Teams started season with a minimum goal of 8th to have a chance of ercc qualification. That has gone up to 7th which is a huge jump for some teams points wise over a season.

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9 years 6 months ago #28968

It's for next season, so nothing changes for 2014/15

To be honest this is great, the highest loser in the Pro12 was supposed to be left out in the cold next year. This way every league has a chance.


Justice 4 Faruk

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9 years 6 months ago #28969

Okay thanks. I thought it was a permanent change and that's the way it's being reported elsewhere. Their french obviously isn't as good as yours!

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9 years 6 months ago #28970

ummm, wrote: It's for next season, so nothing changes for 2014/15
To be honest this is great, the highest loser in the Pro12 are supposed to be left out in the cold next year. This way every league has a chance.


Not really, the PRO12 was out in the cold this year, but we were supposed to get two teams into the playoffs from this season onward according to the previous agreement. For next season we only get one, with the problems Rossie mentioned.

I don't get the rationale behind this change at all, they seem to be saying that cutting the playoffs from 3 matches to two is a big gain? And why would the PRO12 agree to this?


"Our march is quite slow y'know, when we get to where we want to get to, it's going to take time, but when we get there it's going to be fantastic." - Johnny O'Connor 2013
Last edit: 9 years 6 months ago by Decadence.

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9 years 6 months ago #28971

Hang on everyone, I'm talking crap (what else is new, they say)

Rosie, you're right. This this a rule change for next years Euro competition, so it means the qualification at the end of THIS season's leagues

This is still good. We were all saying we need top six, but now seventh (or even 8th if the top 7 contains one from each union) will still mean the chance through thej knock out stage

Pretty good news for the Pro 12, TBH


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9 years 6 months ago #28972

Decadence wrote:

ummm, wrote: It's for next season, so nothing changes for 2014/15
To be honest this is great, the highest loser in the Pro12 are supposed to be left out in the cold next year. This way every league has a chance.


Not really, the PRO12 was out in the cold this year, but we were supposed to get two teams into the playoffs from this season onward according to the previous agreement. From next season we only get one, with the problems Rossie mentioned.

I don't get the rationale behind this change at all, they seem to be saying that cutting the playoffs from 3 matches to two is a big gain? And why would the PRO12 agree to this?


I'd never heard we were going to get two in the playoffs. Are you sure about that?


Justice 4 Faruk

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9 years 6 months ago #28974

Irish Times:

The initial plan to decide next year’s play-off qualifier again involved the seventh-placed sides from England and France, but with the eighth- and ninth-placed teams from the Pro12, or in case those clubs had already qualified, the highest ranked clubs not already qualified.


We've been skanked out of one playoff place is what I'm seeing.


"Our march is quite slow y'know, when we get to where we want to get to, it's going to take time, but when we get there it's going to be fantastic." - Johnny O'Connor 2013
Last edit: 9 years 6 months ago by Decadence.

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9 years 6 months ago #28975

So I was right!
From connachts pov that's a big change and not to their advantage. If you look at the last 4 seasons which are the relevant ones as they include the Italians then 7th place accumulated 41, 50, 50 and 49 points. Last year Cardiff were a shambles but still finished 7th and 41pts. They have invested heavily and will expect to improve on that this season. Imo it 7th will return to around 50 points this season. As connachts have so far failed to break the 40 points ceiling in the 12 team format this represents a huge changing of the goalposts. I know you guys are on a high atm and rightly so given the great start but in reality this is disastrous for connachts Imo.

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9 years 6 months ago #28976

I don't see how it's disastrous. Everyone's targeting top 6, now even if you miss out on top 6 there's still another way into Europe.

Might be bad in terms of team mentality when making targets, but other than that there is now the possibility that another pro12 can make it. If Connacht target top six they were always going to have to target the points you mention.

From what I remember, and I admit Wray and his cronies changed goalposts so many times I might be remembering an old proposed system that never got off the ground, the idea was the playoff was to be between Top 14 and and LNR with Pro12 left out completely.

But feck it, they're missing out no matter. What the idiots should be doing is taking the next 3 from each league and making a mini tournament out of it, winner gets Europe. Fans who would otherwise be watching their leagues knockout stages with no interest would now have reason to watch their own teams.


Justice 4 Faruk
Last edit: 9 years 6 months ago by ummm,.

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9 years 6 months ago #28977

ummm, wrote: From what I remember, and I admit Wray and his cronies changed goalposts so many times I might be remembering an old proposed system that never got off the ground, the idea was the playoff was to be between Top 14 and and LNR with Pro12 left out completely.


That was just for this season (and no justification was given there either). We were definitely supposed to have two from next year. Essentially our chance to make the playoffs is greatly reduced because the French don't want to play two bloody games post season...


"Our march is quite slow y'know, when we get to where we want to get to, it's going to take time, but when we get there it's going to be fantastic." - Johnny O'Connor 2013

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