The Official Irish Rugby Thread

[danthefan]

Have a terrible feeling about tomorrow. I can't watch it and I'm nearly ok with that.

[EverReady]

Govt. need sport to try and distract people from their incompetence.

We said it months ago but everything is going to go under at this rate. What the fück are they at. We will not be able to keep a roster of 53 players for example.

[irishrugbyua]

Have a terrible feeling about tomorrow. I can't watch it and I'm nearly ok with that.

[Luckycharmer]

Have a terrible feeling about tomorrow. I can't watch it and I'm nearly ok with that.

Due to this Dublin covid sh*t, I now can watch it as the big event I was playing in has been cancelled

[hermie]

Have a terrible feeling about tomorrow. I can't watch it and I'm nearly ok with that.

Due to this Dublin covid sh*t, I now can watch it as the big event I was playing in has been cancelled

Yeah was saving up a free pass for this one to watch with the lads but now everyone's just doing their own thing

[Floppykid]

I'm worried their pack will f us up and Itoje will have one of those games. But that's always the worry playing Sarries/Engurlund

[shabadoo]

Leinster are going to hammer Saracens tomorrow

Is that 23 Irish qualified players on the Leinster team? Lowe qualified yet? Very impressive.

[lorcanoworms]

Last year they were not in the game until Henshaw threw a high loopy pass to Conan, then you have the decision not to kick to touch when the clock was in the red.
A bit worrying though how easily they scored from the Kearney penalty.

[Jim Lahey]

PP have Leinster by 11.
I don’t think the margin will be as big as that but I just don’t see Leinster losing at the minute.
I’ll go Leinster by 5.

[danthefan]

PP have Leinster by 11.
I don’t think the margin will be as big as that but I just don’t see Leinster losing at the minute.
I’ll go Leinster by 5.

That's a f**king crazy margin imo but guess people are seeing Leinster haven't lost in a year and that's where the money is going.

[danthefan]

Leinster are going to hammer Saracens tomorrow

Is that 23 Irish qualified players on the Leinster team? Lowe qualified yet? Very impressive.

Lowe isn't IQ yet, think it's November.

[Conspicuous]

PP have Leinster by 11.
I don’t think the margin will be as big as that but I just don’t see Leinster losing at the minute.
I’ll go Leinster by 5.

That's a f**king crazy margin imo but guess people are seeing Leinster haven't lost in a year and that's where the money is going.

The market is usually efficient when silly money starts following one side . For every punter backing Leinster to beat a high spread there’d normally be an opportunist there to take advantage when the line moves in their favour, ensuring the spread is usually about right .

Leinster -11 looks about 4 or 5 points too high for me looking at the Saracens lineup , their experience and the fact they’ve been able to rest players over the last couple of weeks for this match. I know some people are expecting a lack of motivation and cohesion with Saracens given the crisis they’ve been through and their uncertain future. That remains to be seen but I’d expect them to put everything into this . Farrell’s absence tips it in our favour but not by much

[Floppykid]

Gambling.

[Mullet 2]

Lads yiz can all watch it in my gaff.

[Conspicuous]

Gambling.

Yeah it is a bit perverse how it’s become intrinsically linked with sport and how a major sporting event can’t be previewed without discussing odds and spreads. I’ve gone from being an enthusiastic participant to despising the whole charade of an industry and everything it stands for . I only commented because it struck me as highly unusual for the line to be so far out from where we’d expect it to be .

[Conspicuous]

Gambling.

Yeah it is a bit perverse how it’s become intrinsically linked with sport and how a major sporting event can’t be previewed without discussing odds and spreads. I’ve gone from being an enthusiastic participant to despising the whole charade of an industry and everything it stands for . I only commented because it struck me as highly unusual for the line to be so far out from where we’d expect it to be .

[Floppykid]

Gambling.

Yeah it is a bit perverse how it’s become intrinsically linked with sport and how a major sporting event can’t be previewed without discussing odds and spreads. I’ve gone from being an enthusiastic participant to despising the whole charade of an industry and everything it stands for . I only commented because it struck me as highly unusual for the line to be so far out from where we’d expect it to be .

Well said.

[Jim Lahey]

I’d stick a 10er across a couple of games that don’t involve Ulster or Ireland. Harmless fun.

Plus its a decent barometer for what people are expecting to happen. Sarries to win at 4/1 is simply outrageous value so everyone and their granny must be jumping on the Leinster bandwagon.

[Leinsterman]

Lads yiz can all watch it in my gaff.

Fcuker

[Conspicuous]

I’d stick a 10er across a couple of games that don’t involve Ulster or Ireland. Harmless fun.

Plus its a decent barometer for what people are expecting to happen. Sarries to win at 4/1 is simply outrageous value so everyone and their granny must be jumping on the Leinster bandwagon.

It’s a bit of harmless fun for most people who participate but the industry as a whole is rotten to the core . There’s something almost narcissistic about the way it manipulates the most vulnerable people into handing over ever penny they have and more . Serious regulation of the gambling industry and restrictions on how they can promote their business really can’t come quick enough

[iarmhiman]

Sarries will win by 5. We have not been attacking well

[Conspicuous]

I’d stick a 10er across a couple of games that don’t involve Ulster or Ireland. Harmless fun.

Plus its a decent barometer for what people are expecting to happen. Sarries to win at 4/1 is simply outrageous value so everyone and their granny must be jumping on the Leinster bandwagon.

It’s a bit of harmless fun for most people who participate but the industry as a whole is rotten to the core . There’s something almost sociopathic about the way it manipulates the most vulnerable people into handing over ever penny they have and more . Serious regulation of the gambling industry and restrictions on how they can promote their business really can’t come quick enough

[Conspicuous]

Sarries will win by 5. We have not been attacking well

Yeah we’ve been pretty poor in attack , far too many malfunctioning lineouts and penalties conceded in the opposition 22. Saracens defend far better than anyone we’ve come up against in recent weeks too

[danthefan]

Gambling.

I don't gamble at all but I find the margins interesting

[shabadoo]

Sarries will win by 5. We have not been attacking well

Yeah we’ve been pretty poor in attack , far too many malfunctioning lineouts and penalties conceded in the opposition 22. Saracens defend far better than anyone we’ve come up against in recent weeks too

Agreed, but that Munster team we came up against, certainly first time round, would be in the top 5 defences in Europe id say, similar to Sarries too in that they kick a lot.

Sarries will put Leinster under more pressure than any other team so far for sure but I fully expect Leinster will also shore up the areas that have been problematic (lineout and ruck pen's) and think they will have too much for Sarries. Hopefully keep the tempo up really high all game long and win it with their bench.

[JoeyFantastic]

Munster A side:

Matt Gallagher(23) - Exile
Seán French(21) - Cork
Alex McHenry(22) - Cork
Jack Crowley(20) - Cork
Liam Coombes(23) - Cork
Ben Healy(21) - Tipp
Neil Cronin(27) - Limerick

Josh Wycherley(21) - Cork
Diarmuid Barron(22)(C)- Tipp
Keynan Knox(21) - SA
Paddy Kelly(20) - Limerick
Thomas Ahern(20) - Waterford
Jack Daly(22) - Kerry
John Hodnett(21) - Cork
Alex Kendellen(19) - Cork

Replacements from: Eoghan Clarke(22) - Dublin, Scott Buckley(20) - Cork, Jeremy Loughman(25) - Kildare, Roman Salanoa - HI, Gavin Coombes(22) - Cork, Jack O’Sullivan(21) - Cork, Nick McCarthy(25) - Dublin, Jake Flannery(21), Darren Sweetnam - Cork, Calvin Nash(23) - Limerick, Jonathan Wren(21) - Cork

bold = academy player

Can you hit us with some hype trains here?

Ahern, Crowley & Hodnett would get into the Leinster academy.


But seriously those three look very talented, Hodnett needs to be fast-tracked into Munster side at 7.

Buckely/Barron are interesting young hookers. Buckley looks potentially a strong carrier at 2.

French at 14 is special going forward, but defensively.... Ben Healy reminds me of a young ross byrne sort of.

A young Ross Byrne is the type of out half we need tbf. Mostly we need at least some of that pack to be good enough to start for the senior side this year though tbh.

[PornDog]

I’d stick a 10er across a couple of games that don’t involve Ulster or Ireland. Harmless fun.

Plus its a decent barometer for what people are expecting to happen. Sarries to win at 4/1 is simply outrageous value so everyone and their granny must be jumping on the Leinster bandwagon.

It’s a bit of harmless fun for most people who participate but the industry as a whole is rotten to the core . There’s something almost narcissistic about the way it manipulates the most vulnerable people into handing over ever penny they have and more . Serious regulation of the gambling industry and restrictions on how they can promote their business really can’t come quick enough

"nobody no brainers the hunch!"

Advertising by the gambling industry is as predatory as anything we've ever seen from the tobacco industry. Shit needs some serious regulation. I'm all for personal choice and responsibility, so don't think it should be illegal or anything nanny state-ish like that, but its completely out of hand and the industry needs a serious regulatory bitchslap back into place.

[Leinster in London]

If Ulster win they shall be supporting Saints this w/e.

Ahead of the much-anticipated Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup knockout stages, EPCR is pleased to announce the dates, kick-off times and TV coverage for the semi-final matches in both tournaments.

The winners of the Leinster Rugby v Saracens and the ASM Clermont Auvergne v Racing 92 Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals will meet in the semi-final on Saturday, 26 September live on BT Sport with additional free-to-air coverage on Channel 4 and Virgin Media.

The second semi-final, also on Saturday, 26 September and also live on BT Sport, will feature the winners of the Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints and Toulouse v Ulster Rugby quarter-finals.

On an exceptional basis to facilitate the conclusion of the season, EPCR can confirm that the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage in the semi-finals. (See permutations below).

In the Challenge Cup, the winners of the Bristol Bears v Dragons and Bordeaux-Bègles v Edinburgh Rugby quarter-finals will play one another on Friday, 25 September while the winners of the RC Toulon v Scarlets and Leicester Tigers v Castres Olympique quarter-finals will meet on Saturday, 26 September.

The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage as per the traditional Challenge Cup format.

Non-rights media (print, radio, online and photographic) should note that accreditation requests for this season’s Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-final matches will be managed by the home clubs.



HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP SEMI-FINALS – Saturday 26 September

SF 1: Winner Leinster Rugby/Saracens v winner ASM Clermont Auvergne/Racing 92
Kick-off: 13.00 UK-Irish time or 14.00 French time
TV: BT Sport/Channel 4/Virgin Media/beIN SPORTS/FR 2

SF 2: Winner Exeter Chiefs/Northampton Saints v winner Toulouse/Ulster Rugby
Kick-off: 15.30 UK-Irish time or 16.30 French time
TV: BT Sport/FR 2/beIN SPORTS

Semi-final 1
If Leinster Rugby (ranked No 1) and ASM Clermont Auvergne (ranked No 4) win their quarter-finals, Leinster will have home venue advantage

If Leinster (ranked No 1) and Racing 92 (ranked No 5) win their quarter-finals, Leinster will have home venue advantage

If ASM Clermont Auvergne (ranked No 4) and Saracens (ranked No win their quarter-finals, Clermont will have home venue advantage

If Racing 92 (ranked No 5) and Saracens (ranked No win their quarter-finals, Racing will have home venue advantage

Semi-final 2
If Exeter Chiefs (ranked No 2) and Toulouse (ranked No 3) win their quarter-finals, Exeter will have home venue advantage

If Exeter Chiefs (ranked No 2) and Ulster Rugby (ranked No 6) win their quarter-finals, Exeter will have home venue advantage

If Toulouse (ranked No 3) and Northampton Saints (ranked No 7) win their quarter-finals, Toulouse will have home venue advantage

If Ulster Rugby (ranked No 6) and Northampton Saints (ranked No 7) win their quarter-finals, Ulster will have home venue advantage



CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS

Friday 25 September
SF 2: Winner Bristol Bears/Dragons v winner Bordeaux–Bègles/Edinburgh Rugby
Kick-off: 19.45 UK time or 20.45 French time
TV: BT Sport/beIN SPORTS

Saturday 26 September
SF 1: Winner RC Toulon/Scarlets v winner Leicester Tigers/Castres Olympique
Kick-off: 20.00 UK time or 21.00 French time
TV: BT Sport/S4C/FR 4/beIN SPORTS

Semi-final 1
If RC Toulon (ranked No 1) and Leicester Tigers (ranked No 4) win their quarter-finals, Toulon will have home venue advantage

If RC Toulon (ranked No 1) and Castres Olympique (ranked No 5) win their quarter-finals, Toulon will have home venue advantage

If Leicester Tigers (ranked No 4) and Scarlets (ranked No win their quarter-finals, Leicester will have home venue advantage

If Castres Olympique (ranked No 5) and Scarlets (ranked No win their quarter-finals, Castres will have home venue advantage

Semi-final 2
If Bristol Bears (ranked No 2) and Bordeaux-Bègles (ranked No 3) win their quarter-finals, Bristol will have home venue advantage

If Bristol Bears (ranked No 2) and Edinburgh Rugby (ranked No 6) win their quarter-finals, Bristol will have home venue advantage

If Bordeaux-Bègles (ranked No 3) and Dragons (ranked No 7) win their quarter-finals, Bordeaux-Bègles will have home venue advantage

If Edinburgh Rugby (ranked No 6) and Dragons (ranked No 7) win their quarter-finals, Edinburgh will have home venue advantage



Notes

The Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarter-finals in England and Ireland are currently scheduled to be played behind closed doors.
Attendances for quarter-finals in France will be limited and clubs can apply to their local authorities for increases.

[Mullet 2]

Lads did we win some sort of cycling world cup?

[Jim Lahey]

Lads did we win some sort of cycling world cup?

More like the FA Cup but the lad is from Munster (I think) so I’d probably tone down the pride.

[iarmhiman]

Lads did we win some sort of cycling world cup?

Not done yet.

Bennett is about to win the green jersey at the Tour De France.

It's a jersey for the points competition and is there mainly for the sprinters.

The yellow jersey is the overall winner but that's the winner who completes the tour in the shortest time.

As Sam can't climb steep mountains that well, he was never in with a shout here and is well down in general classifications. He's 5 hours behind the yellow jersey Roglic

Still though green jersey is 2nd in ranking to the yellow so massive achievement........provided he doesn't have a mechanical on Sunday.

He's on 319 points and Sagan in second place is on 264 currently in the points competition

[Winnie]

Lads yiz can all watch it in my gaff.

It would be good to see your ma again

[HighKingLeinster]

Lads did we win some sort of cycling world cup?

Not done yet.

Bennett is about to win the green jersey at the Tour De France.

It's a jersey for the points competition and is there mainly for the sprinters.

The yellow jersey is the overall winner but that's the winner who completes the tour in the shortest time.

As Sam can't climb steep mountains that well, he was never in with a shout here and is well down in general classifications. He's 5 hours behind the yellow jersey Roglic

Still though green jersey is 2nd in ranking to the yellow so massive achievement........provided he doesn't have a mechanical on Sunday.

He's on 319 points and Sagan in second place is on 264 currently in the points competition

So another glorious and moral victory rather than an actual victory.....

[iarmhiman]

Lads did we win some sort of cycling world cup?

Not done yet.

Bennett is about to win the green jersey at the Tour De France.

It's a jersey for the points competition and is there mainly for the sprinters.

The yellow jersey is the overall winner but that's the winner who completes the tour in the shortest time.

As Sam can't climb steep mountains that well, he was never in with a shout here and is well down in general classifications. He's 5 hours behind the yellow jersey Roglic

Still though green jersey is 2nd in ranking to the yellow so massive achievement........provided he doesn't have a mechanical on Sunday.

He's on 319 points and Sagan in second place is on 264 currently in the points competition

So another glorious and moral victory rather than an actual victory.....

It's pretty massive. He will be on the podium.

In cycling there are different competitions within a race as there are so many different types of cyclists:

Individual (yellow jersey): quickest time over the entire grand tour. Won by those who are good in both time trials and Alps/Pyrenees
Points (Green Jersey): Sprinters competition . On a flat stage, the sprinters usually always win.
Climber (polka dot jersey): King of the mountains competition
Youth: White jersey: under 26 competition

Sean Kelly is Ireland's greatest cyclist and he mainly won day classics and the points competitions of grand tours.

What makes Kelly a total legend is that he was a good sprinter and climber . He even won La Vuelta which is very rare for a classics cyclist

[YOYO]

This is what is great about rugby on the island. It allows people north and south to realise there’s nothing to be afraid of from each other.

"I'd like my kids to play gaelic games' - Ireland and Ulster star Stockdale on Lurgan Legacy experience

For me I never grew up playing gaelic football or hurling but I can guarantee my kids will be," claimed Stockdale

Jacob would make a savage gaelic football player.

[Leinsterman]

This is what is great about rugby on the island. It allows people north and south to realise there’s nothing to be afraid of from each other.

"I'd like my kids to play gaelic games' - Ireland and Ulster star Stockdale on Lurgan Legacy experience

For me I never grew up playing gaelic football or hurling but I can guarantee my kids will be," claimed Stockdale

Jacob would make a savage gaelic football player.

His tackling certainly resembles a bogball tackle at the moment anyway.

[YOYO]

This is what is great about rugby on the island. It allows people north and south to realise there’s nothing to be afraid of from each other.

"I'd like my kids to play gaelic games' - Ireland and Ulster star Stockdale on Lurgan Legacy experience

For me I never grew up playing gaelic football or hurling but I can guarantee my kids will be," claimed Stockdale

Jacob would make a savage gaelic football player.

His tackling certainly resembles a bogball tackle at the moment anyway.

Fair point!

[Mullet 2]

Lads did we win some sort of cycling world cup?

Not done yet.

Bennett is about to win the green jersey at the Tour De France.

It's a jersey for the points competition and is there mainly for the sprinters.

The yellow jersey is the overall winner but that's the winner who completes the tour in the shortest time.

As Sam can't climb steep mountains that well, he was never in with a shout here and is well down in general classifications. He's 5 hours behind the yellow jersey Roglic

Still though green jersey is 2nd in ranking to the yellow so massive achievement........provided he doesn't have a mechanical on Sunday.

He's on 319 points and Sagan in second place is on 264 currently in the points competition

Fúck that

I remember when Charlie won it properly

[Mullet 2]

Lad.....me nerves

[Leinster in London]

Lads did we win some sort of cycling world cup?

Not done yet.

Bennett is about to win the green jersey at the Tour De France.

It's a jersey for the points competition and is there mainly for the sprinters.

The yellow jersey is the overall winner but that's the winner who completes the tour in the shortest time.

As Sam can't climb steep mountains that well, he was never in with a shout here and is well down in general classifications. He's 5 hours behind the yellow jersey Roglic

Still though green jersey is 2nd in ranking to the yellow so massive achievement........provided he doesn't have a mechanical on Sunday.

He's on 319 points and Sagan in second place is on 264 currently in the points competition

If as predicted that Sagen & Bennett come nowhere in todays stage, then is it not all over as only 50 points available on Sunday?