Planet Rugby Forum

It is a neutral venue.

CM11 wrote:

Leinsterman wrote:You'd swear it's the first time this has ever happened.

Yep! Very odd.

Tbf the Welsh aren’t used to being this far in the competition. First semi finalist since 2008 I think so they’ve probably forgotten how it works

Leinsterman wrote:You'd swear it's the first time this has ever happened.

I'll cut them some slack, it's not very often there's much Welsh interest in the business end of the HEC.

Bullettyme wrote:

Leinsterman wrote:You'd swear it's the first time this has ever happened.

I'll cut them some slack, it's not very often there's much Welsh interest in the business end of the HEC.

The last time one of their teams got to this stage was Cardiff and their SF was played in... the Millennium Stadium shockingly.

Just have a look back over the previous knockout stages. Maybe I'm missing something but there hasn't been a Welsh presence in the knockout stages since 2012, when Leinster tonked Cardiff in the QF. A little surprising.

danthefan wrote:

Bullettyme wrote:

Leinsterman wrote:You'd swear it's the first time this has ever happened.

I'll cut them some slack, it's not very often there's much Welsh interest in the business end of the HEC.

The last time one of their teams got to this stage was Cardiff and their SF was played in... the Millennium Stadium shockingly.

They had to change the spacing between the knockouts this season due to the difficulty of filling a big stadium at short notice with the semis.

In fairness the Aviva is a home stadium for Leinster.

The rule about playing in your home country but not home stadium is fairly dumb when you have teams like Leinster who realistically have multiple home stadiums.

crouchy wrote:In fairness the Aviva is a home stadium for Leinster.

The rule about playing in your home country but not home stadium is fairly dumb when you have teams like Leinster who realistically have multiple home stadiums.

I've already quoted the rule verbatim. The rule is ECPR pick the stadium. That's all.

danthefan wrote:

crouchy wrote:In fairness the Aviva is a home stadium for Leinster.

The rule about playing in your home country but not home stadium is fairly dumb when you have teams like Leinster who realistically have multiple home stadiums.

I've already quoted the rule verbatim. The rule is ECPR pick the stadium. That's all.

Yes and they pick a stadium in the same country that is not supposed to be a home venue.

Are we going to pretend this doesn't work out fairly handy for Leinster? There's not really any alternative, but it's certainly nice and convenient to play in a stadium that's practically a home venue just isn't officially nominated as such.

crouchy wrote:

danthefan wrote:

crouchy wrote:In fairness the Aviva is a home stadium for Leinster.

The rule about playing in your home country but not home stadium is fairly dumb when you have teams like Leinster who realistically have multiple home stadiums.

I've already quoted the rule verbatim. The rule is ECPR pick the stadium. That's all.

Yes and they pick a stadium in the same country that is not supposed to be a home venue.

Are we going to pretend this doesn't work out fairly handy for Leinster? There's not really any alternative, but it's certainly nice and convenient to play in a stadium that's practically a home venue just isn't officially nominated as such.

None of this is in the competition rules, not a bit of it.

danthefan wrote:

crouchy wrote:

danthefan wrote:

crouchy wrote:In fairness the Aviva is a home stadium for Leinster.

The rule about playing in your home country but not home stadium is fairly dumb when you have teams like Leinster who realistically have multiple home stadiums.

I've already quoted the rule verbatim. The rule is ECPR pick the stadium. That's all.

Yes and they pick a stadium in the same country that is not supposed to be a home venue.

Are we going to pretend this doesn't work out fairly handy for Leinster? There's not really any alternative, but it's certainly nice and convenient to play in a stadium that's practically a home venue just isn't officially nominated as such.

None of this is in the competition rules, not a bit of it.

Do you think they pick at random dan?

Go back through all previous semi finals and their venues and see if you notice a trend.

For the third time, they pick whatever stadium they like. There's nothing about neutral venues and nothing about designated home grounds. This isn't difficult.

crouchy wrote:In fairness the Aviva is a home stadium for Leinster.

The rule about playing in your home country but not home stadium is fairly dumb when you have teams like Leinster who realistically have multiple home stadiums.

The spivs had notions that as business men they'd be able to make a better fist of things commercially. Reality has since taken hold and they've accepted most of the received wisdom of ERC. They had to change the spacing between knock-out rounds this season because of the difficulty of selling out a big venue at short notice. It's not a dumb rule from a commercial stand point. It makes perfect sense. The revenue from the SF gate etc. goes to the running of the competition, not Leinster. The reason it's done this way is to maximize that revenue.

Dumb is taking advice from the Welsh "regions" about grwoing revenue.

crouchy wrote:

danthefan wrote:

crouchy wrote:

danthefan wrote:

crouchy wrote:In fairness the Aviva is a home stadium for Leinster.

The rule about playing in your home country but not home stadium is fairly dumb when you have teams like Leinster who realistically have multiple home stadiums.

I've already quoted the rule verbatim. The rule is ECPR pick the stadium. That's all.

Yes and they pick a stadium in the same country that is not supposed to be a home venue.

Are we going to pretend this doesn't work out fairly handy for Leinster? There's not really any alternative, but it's certainly nice and convenient to play in a stadium that's practically a home venue just isn't officially nominated as such.

None of this is in the competition rules, not a bit of it.

Do you think they pick at random dan?

Go back through all previous semi finals and their venues and see if you notice a trend.

It's rather odd that this is being raised now. Have people not been watching European rugby over the last 10-20 years?

In the past, the semi-finals were an open draw. Now, the sides who finished as the top two seeds or win an away QF get an advantage in the SF in terms of venue. It's actually more reasonable now than the random draw we used to have. Either way we've had situations before were Toulouse would play one or two Top14 games and their home Euro QFs in the Municipal Stadium in Toulouse, as opposed to the Ernest Wallon, and then end up in the same stadium for the semi-final. Leinster had to go there in 2010 for a Euro SF against them. And I don't remember much in the way of complaints then - I certainly had no issue with it and that was the result of a random draw.

The whinging about this now is fairly pathetic.

Leinster have won every game anyway so the fact they get to play another game in Dublin is on merit. Not sure why there is whinging. Had they got La Rochelle the game would have been in France despite their 100% winning record. Get on with it.

You're all talking like the Taffs would buy tickets if it was being played in their back garden; & we know the wouldn't.

The Scarlets could only fill their home stadium; (allegedly in the Rugby Heartland of Wales), by trucking in racists from soccer stadia elsewhere.

It's not as if its a four day trek to get from Wales to Dublin for Gods sake

iarmhiman wrote:Leinster have won every game anyway so the fact they get to play another game in Dublin is on merit. Not sure why there is whinging. Had they got La Rochelle the game would have been in France despite their 100% winning record. Get on with it.

They're Welsh.

If EPCR want to take a haircut on their best chance of a big day in the next round to keep them happy then their loss tbh.

Change of topic .

See our Quentin is posting articles to the 1014 now:

http://the1014.com/why-the-rugby-world- ... to-expand/

Leinster should be playing in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Rumham wrote:Leinster should be playing in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

That would be like a home game for Scarlets with all the Cork fans cheering for Scarlets.

danthefan wrote:For the third time, they pick whatever stadium they like. There's nothing about neutral venues and nothing about designated home grounds. This isn't difficult.

So if La Rochelle had won,going by the quoted rule, both games would have been in Bordeaux ?

The semi-final matches will be played at venues designated by EPCR, but the following clubs will have home country advantage in their respective semi-final matches:

iarmhiman wrote:

Rumham wrote:Leinster should be playing in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

That would be like a home game for Scarlets with all the Cork fans cheering for Scarlets.

We will all be in Bordeaux. You can have it.

So the Saffaers want out of Saffacens.

Seems like time for McCall to leave Saracens, get himself into a fresh but familiar environment.

paddyor wrote:So the Saffaers want out of Saffacens.

Interesting.

Do the Sth African franchises allow for private investment ?

Supporting the Kings/Cheetahs could prove a much cheaper/more lucrative option for SA money to support teams in Europe.

unseenwork wrote:Seems like time for McCall to leave Saracens, get himself into a fresh but familiar environment.

He could do a lot worse, especially if Jackson is retained by Ulster.

danthefan wrote:For the third time, they pick whatever stadium they like. There's nothing about neutral venues and nothing about designated home grounds. This isn't difficult.

I must have been dreaming when Leinster were pushing for that top two seed to get themselves a shot at a home semi final.

Stop being obtuse daniel.

crouchy wrote:

danthefan wrote:For the third time, they pick whatever stadium they like. There's nothing about neutral venues and nothing about designated home grounds. This isn't difficult.

I must have been dreaming when Leinster were pushing for that top two seed to get themselves a shot at a home semi final.

Stop being obtuse daniel.

You get a semi-final in your home country.

EPCR pick the venue.

crouchy wrote:

danthefan wrote:For the third time, they pick whatever stadium they like. There's nothing about neutral venues and nothing about designated home grounds. This isn't difficult.

I must have been dreaming when Leinster were pushing for that top two seed to get themselves a shot at a home semi final.

Stop being obtuse daniel.

Stop parroting Welsh talking points. It's about revenue for EPCR.

unseenwork wrote:Seems like time for McCall to leave Saracens, get himself into a fresh but familiar environment.

I'd welcome him back.

Willie Falloon wrote:

unseenwork wrote:Seems like time for McCall to leave Saracens, get himself into a fresh but familiar environment.

I'd welcome him back.

He'll need some sort of deep clean to get the spiv off first of course.

danthefan wrote:For the third time, they pick whatever stadium they like. There's nothing about neutral venues and nothing about designated home grounds. This isn't difficult.

Well, that and apart from being of a certain size. I think there are only 2 stadiums of sufficient size in this entire Island (both North and even South ) to hold a semi-final match.

Both are in Dublin, one is modern and new and the other is owned by the GAA. It is pretty obvious which one is going to be picked.

Sure there were 2 semi-finals held in th Aviva back in 2012.

Conspicuous wrote:

EverReady wrote:

Diego wrote:Heard Jordi's backed out of the Ulster deal.

Think I posted that pisses watching the match. Did Willie bite?

Think it could be true according to my neighbour who works with Jordi’s dad. No more Nordi he’ll always be Lordi

If that's the case, I see no reason for Conan to get his jersey back.

Do the Sth African franchises allow for private investment ?

Supporting the Kings/Cheetahs could prove a much cheaper/more lucrative option for SA money to support teams in Europe.

They do however there are at least two unions that are subject to fraud investigations one of them is the Kings' parent union EP. Things got so bad there SARU who have also got directors that are subject of fraud allegations running them.

crouchy wrote: Do you think they pick at random dan?

Go back through all previous semi finals and their venues and see if you notice a trend.

If you do go back through the history of the competition, literally right back to when it started in 1995, every home semifinal Leinster have played has been in Lansdowne Road bar one, which was v Munster in Croker. I think Black Sunday was even technically an away game.


Was the one in the Milkenium the year Cardiff lost to Tiggers on penos, or did that happen at the Walker?

iarmhiman wrote:

Rumham wrote:Leinster should be playing in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

That would be like a home game for Scarlets with all the Cork fans cheering for Scarlets.

When they start waving all the confederate and rising sun flags the boyos will feel right at home.

DOB wrote:

crouchy wrote: Do you think they pick at random dan?

Go back through all previous semi finals and their venues and see if you notice a trend.

If you do go back through the history of the competition, literally right back to when it started in 1995, every home semifinal Leinster have played has been in Lansdowne Road bar one, which was v Munster in Croker. I think Black Sunday was even technically an away game.


Was the one in the Milkenium the year Cardiff lost to Tiggers on penos, or did that happen at the Walker?

2009 was the Millennium stadium.

Being frank with you on a list of two hundred of the world's top professional sides I would see Ulster as being two hundredth or at least one hundred and ninety ninth on McCalls list of places to send his CV to.

His last spell here was not pretty at all.

paddyor wrote:So the Saffaers want out of Saffacens.

Whats this?

crouchy wrote:

danthefan wrote:For the third time, they pick whatever stadium they like. There's nothing about neutral venues and nothing about designated home grounds. This isn't difficult.

I must have been dreaming when Leinster were pushing for that top two seed to get themselves a shot at a home semi final.

Stop being obtuse daniel.

I have no idea what point you're trying to make. Any home semi in Ireland will be in Lansdowne. This is pretty much set in stone regardless of which province. There is nothing in the rule Dan has quoted to suggest anything untoward.

Ulster, Connacht and Munster would also fight for a top two seeding to be 'at home' on familiar territory so you really are making little sense.