connachta wrote:

Borders no.2 wrote: In the other game, Montpellier stole it against Cardiff with a converted try at the death to win 23-22. That result moves Cardiff on to 11 points and Montpellier on to 10. Harlequins in firm control of that group. You'd have to question if a 2nd team will come out of that pool now though. Both Cardiff and Montpellier look to have guaranteed 5 pointers to come against Calvisano but its doubtful either team will be able to pick up a win against Harlequins.

I've just watched the rules before you posted this, and have to precise that if Montpellier picks a defensive BP up at home against Quins, it won't be enough (same total than Cardiff, but the blues ahead because of head-to-head games)

Ok but is 16 going to be enough in any event? Our pool could decide whether it is or isn't. A win for either Newcastle or Brive over us would strongly open up the possibility of one of them qualifying. I'd say Newcastle in particular as they have Brive still to come at home. Worst case scenario for us we get nothing from the next 2 games we would more than likely still make the quarter final with a 5 pointer against Enesei in the final game.

Long way to go I know but looking at the likely 2nd place side totals
Pool 1 16 or 19.
Pool 2 2nd place will probably be higher than 16
Pool 3 Almost certainly 16.
Pool 4 2nd place total is likely to be very low (maybe as low as 9 or 10)
Pool 5 2nd place will probably be higher than 16 (closer to 20 I'd imagine)

Borders no.2 wrote: In the other game, Montpellier stole it against Cardiff with a converted try at the death to win 23-22. That result moves Cardiff on to 11 points and Montpellier on to 10. Harlequins in firm control of that group. You'd have to question if a 2nd team will come out of that pool now though. Both Cardiff and Montpellier look to have guaranteed 5 pointers to come against Calvisano but its doubtful either team will be able to pick up a win against Harlequins.

I've just watched the rules before you posted this, and have to precise that if Montpellier picks a defensive BP up at home against Quins, it won't be enough (same total than Cardiff, but the blues ahead because of head-to-head games)

Couple of interesting results this evening. Was watching Gloucester v Worcester which was pretty uninspiring. Gloucester won by 14 didn't pick up a bonus point but are firmly in control of that pool on 17 points. Worcester have just 4 points and are out.

In the other game, Montpellier stole it against Cardiff with a converted try at the death to win 23-22. That result moves Cardiff on to 11 points and Montpellier on to 10. Harlequins in firm control of that group. You'd have to question if a 2nd team will come out of that pool now though. Both Cardiff and Montpellier look to have guaranteed 5 pointers to come against Calvisano but its doubtful either team will be able to pick up a win against Harlequins.

pinky wrote: At the half-way point in the pool stage, current seedings would have Connacht at home to Blues in the QF and taking a trip to Kingsholm for the semis.
So we need to get ahead of Glaws and bring them over here. If I go to Gloucester again Mike Teague is going to call in my bar tab.

A trip to Gloucester great craic,but on the business end of things a home match needed .

pinky wrote: At the half-way point in the pool stage, current seedings would have Connacht at home to Blues in the QF and taking a trip to Kingsholm for the semis.
So we need to get ahead of Glaws and bring them over here. If I go to Gloucester again Mike Teague is going to call in my bar tab.

Home quarter final looks a fairly strong possibility at this stage even if we only win 1 of our two remaining away games. 22/23 points should probably be enough for a Top 4 seeding. However, getting a top 2 seeding is unlikely even with 3 more wins. I'd put Harlequins down for at least 29 points and Gloucester probably 28. Only game that might throw a spanner in the works is Montpellier (a) but Montpellier could be out of contention at that stage and/or not mightn't be bothered anyway.

Gloucester's group is over already and they will pick up at least 14 more points I'd imagine.

Seedings 3 and 4 contain no possible avenue to a home semi-final which in my opinion is ridiculous but it'll all be a lot clearer after next weekend. Pools 2 and 5 still have a few twists and turns before they'll be decided.

Harlequins 15 Calvisano (h) Cardiff (h) Montpellier (a)
Gloucester 13 Worcester (h) La Rochelle (h) Zebre (a)

At the half-way point in the pool stage, current seedings would have Connacht at home to Blues in the QF and taking a trip to Kingsholm for the semis.
So we need to get ahead of Glaws and bring them over here. If I go to Gloucester again Mike Teague is going to call in my bar tab.

Of course Boudjellal would suggest playing mid-week during the 6 nations, Toulon supply damn all players to France, not the case for Bath...Toulon would walk it

salmson wrote:

“Playing on Wednesday isn’t possible,” he told French sports daily L’Equipe. “I can only see one solution … It would mean that the [national team] coaches would have to accept not being able to call up international players of Bath or Toulon in order for us to be able to play the match during a matchday of the Six Nations.”

That guy has seriously lost the plot, he must live in an absolute bubble. Any time I've seen him at a Toulon game he's stamping his feet around the touchline like a spoiled child. He was threatening to walk away from them a week ago!

Decadence wrote: Our old friend and all round class act Bruce Craig couldn't turn down an opportunity to dig the knife into the RFU after this weekend's postponed games

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-...rman-craig-1.2431865

Typical of Brucey to go after the short term tactical win (game not played, game gets declared draw, Bath get 2 points away to Toulon).

Toulon, on the other hand, think in a more long term, strategic manner, and have gone full-on Bond villain - let's try manipulating a terrorist atrocity to geld the international game!

Mourad Boudjellal, the president of Toulon, has suggested the postponed game against Bath could take place during the Six Nations.

The knockout stages of the Champions Cup are not set to take place until early April while the Six Nations kicks off on 6 February.

Boudjellal did concede any rearrangement would prove complicated, highlighting the difficulty in potentially releasing international players to play for their clubs, but he was willing to find a solution.

“Playing on Wednesday isn’t possible,” he told French sports daily L’Equipe. “I can only see one solution … It would mean that the [national team] coaches would have to accept not being able to call up international players of Bath or Toulon in order for us to be able to play the match during a matchday of the Six Nations.”

www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/16/eu...ugby-fixture-backlog

Our old friend and all round class act Bruce Craig couldn't turn down an opportunity to dig the knife into the RFU after this weekend's postponed games

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-...rman-craig-1.2431865

European Challenge Cup Final Round-up

Result
Gloucester 19-13 Edinburgh

Gloucester secured their place in the end of season European Cup play offs by winning the European Challenge Cup against Edinburgh at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday 1st of May. Having previously won the competition in 2005/06, Gloucester made it 9 wins from 9 in the competition to secure the crown. An early Billy Twelvetrees try helped the Premiership side into a 13-6 half time lead. That advantage was extended to 13 during the 2nd half but some late Gloucester indiscipline which saw Ross Moriarty receive a yellow card and Billy Meakes receive a red card gave Edinburgh hope. A Ross Ford try converted by Sam Hidalgo Clyne gave Edinburgh hope of snatching a late win but Gloucester held on to secure their first trophy since the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2011. Edinburgh now turn their attention back to the league as they seek to secure their spot at European Rugby's top table for 2015/16.

Borders no.2 wrote: In fairness unless the Premiership had Rodney from Only fools and Horses calling for them they were never going to lose! #doubleheadedcoin

What a terrible accusation to make against Bruce "Best-of-three" Craig and Nigel "4-from-7" Wray. I heard Gloucester got a walkover in the toss

In fairness unless the Premiership had Rodney from Only fools and Horses calling for them they were never going to lose! #doubleheadedcoin

What an absolute farce! They couldn't even wait to see who qualifies from the pro 12, before they screwed them over.

Just realised that is the day before the Cheese Rolling!
www.cheese-rolling.co.uk/index1.htm
Might go even if Connacht aren't in it. Sure I'd give Edinburgh or Scarlets a shout.
I never excelled as a rugby player, but surely when it comes to the pursuit of cheese, Pinky has a natural advantage.

Confirmed for Kingsholm. And on a Sunday to boot.

www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/news/11325.php#.VUn-yZMuFaR