THE ULTIMATE CLUB COMPETITION | CHAMPIONS CUP IS BACK! | PREVIEW

[@Zveebo]

Have to agree with you, Tim - I think the Toulouse v Leinster final was the best rugby match of the entire year, internationals included 🏆 Just an incredible level of rugby, maintained for 100 minutes, by two superstar teams fighting with every fibre of their beings - unforgettable stuff. Also, Kinghorn victorious riding a zebra was one of those images that never stops being iconic 😂

[@angusevans0621]

Yowzers, the first pool is a pool of death! My sharks are gonna have to grit their teeth. Love the content Tim, keep it up.

[@chris5240]

We have the players to beat the best. I see us winning both home games for sure. Hopefully we can pull one over Leicester or Bordeaux away. Last time we beat Bordeaux in France, although Bordeaux were not full strength.

[@angusevans0621]

@ true we do but the mentality just isn’t there in my opinion. With the experience of the group you’d think they’d bulldoze any league they’d be a part of.

[@T2Lam10]

Very confident man to say you’ll beat Toulouse « for sure »

[@T2Lam10]

@@chris5240 Sounds optimistic that home win against Toulouse "for sure". You'll need to bring your A++ game to possibly geet a win against a full strength and rested Toulouse side

[@JackFrench-v5c]

Think how us Exeter fans feel 😂

[@Thudsrayz]

Kiwi here. Completely agree Euro clubs deciding the best club in the world. I think the top NZ SRP teams could get into quarters and push from there, but we'll never know. Love this comp, a little jealous of the euro rugby fans although I understand the gloss may be off (SRP definitely lost its shine for me). Would love to attend the final one day. Generally support UBB and Northampton but also a fan of the sharks players so hopefully they go hard this season. I'm probably neutral for all other games. My Saturday and Sunday mornings are booked!

[@jamesnevin5145]

As a SA fan, I feel like a home and away group stage would help us get to know all of the european/UK teams far quicker. You must consider, there are all of a sudden a LOT of teams that us fans just don't really know the culture of.

[@Lechef53]

As a Clermont fan, not super excited playing Benetton, Leinster, Bath and Bristol… Hopefully we’ll keep the scores respectable 😂

[@clippedrugby14]

It will always be the Heineken Cup to me

[@KODE0101]

Champions Cup

[@victordastile5204]

It's a free world😂😂😂

[@StopTheRot]

Absolutely. Hopefully Wasps or Llanelli will win it.

[@clippedrugby14]

@@StopTheRot I’m hoping Montferrand make a good showing

[@John-ny7jn]

@@StopTheRotI’m backing the NEC Harlequins

[@Driver2616]

You’ll find a big crowd will be travelling across the Irish Sea for the Bristol v Leinster game at Ashton Gate. It’s probably going to be the best atmosphere that you’ll find at any of these games next weekend! I’ll be there. Tip - Tim, head on down to Bristol. The only place to be will be Bristol for the pre game, during game and particularly the after game activities (when the victorious Leinster players come out to greet the massive crowd of travelling Leinster fans). You won’t regret it!

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

With their home and international recruitment for this season Leinster is the most serious contender IMO.

[@jamesbestbier1246]

Hi Tim. Straight out the works, I haven't watched this video yet, but after the year SA has had, this is why there's no news on the private equity deal. Apologies for derailing before I watched anything

[@03moonraker]

You missed the opening game of the tournement Tim, Bath v La Rochelle

[@kenrehill8775]

Yep, at Castres we don’t give a toss about Europe. No problem, I drive ten minutes longer and go to Toulouse for the serious European games.

[@andr3wr89]

Super Rugby and Japanese Top League should do this as well. Chiefs, Blues, Brumbies, Hurricanes or Wild Knights could give any European based club a run for their money.

[@nathannweyer4741]

As a south african fan who follows the URC very closely, the problem with this competition boils down to the time slot in my opinion it just breaks up the urc, top 14 and prem and if it happend AFTER these comps finnished it would completely negate the issue with theans sending 2nd strength teams. I do understand that the seasons for the respective comps start and finnish at different times so it make it difficult. Just from my perspective who's tries to explain it any casual rugby fan in SA it doesn't make alot of sense to play in 2 different comps at the same time

[@thegunshow25]

That Toulouse/sharks game,(only if they play full teams)😍😍

[@Zveebo]

Toulouse will - they treat the CC very seriously. Hope Sharks do too - will be a total cracker if so.

[@financialliberty2381]

That would be almost a remake of the last France-SA game in the RWC....except this time, we would have a fully fit Dupont and Ntamack

[@mattutes]

I'm loaded up on subscriptions right now. You're gonna have to keep me updated Tim!

[@davidbegan]

For sure Tim, Toulouse is the best club team in Europe (& the World). The original Heinenken Cup Championship was obviously the best and had the most sponsorship till the English & French Rugby Associations decided to change it. David

[@toiletsmithy3630]

Have France won a world cup by how you're talking them up?

[@rugbymandan]

Top 14 won last 4 Champions and 3/4 Challenge. They are supreme even with most clubs sitting it out

[@Lesssvav]

The funny thing about super rugby is that NZ ALWAYS dominated.. but without the South Africans, the competitions lost its spark

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

11 teams in one time zone vs 6 in another and 1 on it's own. The reason why it favoured certain teams. And despite all that winning, the money and eyeballs were in the minority time zones. NZ cooked their goose by believing Klown Kirwan's theory that NZ & Aus would become the beneficiaries of Japanese money if they rid themselves of the South African teams. Talk about an epic faceplant.

[@toiletsmithy3630]

​@@LittleBigMediaCoSouth Africa wanted 5 teams despite having the worst franchises in super rugby and they got declined. That's why they left

[@StanWilks]

I took one look at that draw as an Exeter fan and gave up instantly. 😂

[@Jack-qv5ru]

Really looking forward to Glasgow v Sale

[@MrRedsh1rt]

As an ulster fan I'd take and other pool than the one they're in. Those 2 french clubs are going to completely muller us.

[@Jan-p4y]

Hoping you're right, Tim. Going to watch the Bulls at Saracens.

[@jmurphy9657]

The format still needs some work. It seems bizarre that teams within a group don't play each other and even worse that there is only one leg, meaning it's the luck of the home fixture Vs SA draw. Hugely unfair and even worse in the knock outs. LA Rochelle having to travel to SA and Dublin in back to back weekends was criminal last year

[@remyrdd]

As the only team of pool 2 that won't take Leinster, my guess is Benetton qualifies ! ^^

[@iansinclair7581]

On current form if Glasgow can put out their best side they can get out of that group. Glasgow have a bit of an injury problem at the moment so maybe they will do as you suggest and chance it on the away games.

[@FirstbornWallus-fk5nq]

Thanks tim

[@Rickybobby_ie]

I think that it's sad that this was once the best competition in the world and now it only a shadow of it's importance for clubs

[@John-ny7jn]

I swear Harlequins have played Racing 92 in at least 4 of the last 5 years ffs it can’t be random at this point at least give us a different French team for a change Having said that we did beat them last time in France so maybe not

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

Racing 92 does not play well in the Top 14 now.

[@tomgreene1843]

The best young players will probably follow the money ....where should someone like Prendergast go ....where he can maximize his expected cash flow over the next 10 years ?

[@Upemm]

As long as it on free to air TV !

[@iamnutty8471]

its about all teams playing games with challenge cup included

[@geoffhogan4831]

Tim, you forgot to mention that the SA teams contractually cannot have a home semi, even if they get there. Correct me if lm wrong....

[@T2Lam10]

I agree on 100% of your calls up until pool D. I don’t see both Racing and Toulon going out. Toulon is sending a strong team to South Africa, they mean business in that competition this year. I think at least one French team qualifies, if not both. Overall it feels like Leinster year… like the previous ones.

[@kropotkine9640]

Chuckles on your last sentence 😅

[@SiphoMhlahlo]

I agree with u, both french teams in groupD will qualify to the next round

[@Zveebo]

@@T2Lam10 Toulon are also doing well in the Top 14 this year - I think they can easily afford to give a fair bit of effort to the CC too. Racing are a bit of a mess currently, but they have the players to do well.

[@olglez9230]

The pool format sucks! How can a team finishing 8th out of 10 in the English Premiership play in the elite club competition in Europe (and South Africa)?! 16 teams works so much better. It feels more prestigious. I have no problem with a quarter final.

[@marshallbravestar031]

Frothing too see this....cmon banana boys 💪🇿🇦

[@joeritchie2]

The Super Rugby competition certainly has lost quite a bit of its quality with the loss of the South African franchises (and the Argentine Jaguares, which was essentially the Pumas minus a few of their France-based stars), and with so many All Blacks and Wallabies off to Europe and Japan…. but the Blues, Brumbies and Crusaders still field a lot of quality and would be competitive against even good Champions Cup sides, so don’t be so quick to write off the Southern Hemisphere’s top league. There ought to be a home and home playoff between the two defending champs, Blues v Toulouse (hey, that rhymes); the Blues in the Auckland fortress that is Eden Park could surprise you. All that said, watch out for the Sharks this year. After getting a taste of European success last year, a team loaded with World Cup stars like Nche, Etzebeth, Am, Kolisi, Mapimpi, Fassi and Williams may be ready to steal the big prize.

[@T2Lam10]

The format is terrible. We'll have round of 16 fixtures that are the same as the pool stages and we'll say "again ? How unlucky are we" while in reality there is no chance in there, that's pure mathematics to have repeated fixtures with this bullshit format.

[@cashel77]

Clermont coming to Dublin

[@ThabisoNzama-vy7wz]

Wouldn't something if 2 or 3 teams from super rugby and/or Japan?

[@chrismoyse3529]

Personally I would have liked to have seen it remain a European competition

[@okkertgreyvenstein5765]

I think Bristol give a big upset this weekend, and Bulls beating Sarries.

[@DM-rp9ik]

When Leinster brings RG Snyman and Jordi Barrett off the bench, they will be pretty upset

[@marcusaustin5698]

Hi Tim , do you know what channel this champions cup will be shown on.

[@iang4662]

It’s on Premier Sports in the Uk. So it would be another subscription. Just looked, £16 a month.

[@jmurphy9657]

We may finally see Leinster having to play their first squad in multiple fixtures this group stage. Yes they're favourite and have an international squad but Bath and Bristol are in good form and LR and Clermont will be strong

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Should have the 3 leagues play uninterrupted. Then a small playoff tournament for Euro Champions. This is all too much.

[@thevoice1702]

Where can I watch it?

[@ciaranfortune4192]

And why can’t they just do old pool format ? What was the reason why they stopped using it ?

[@ucanprofit]

I will be at Northampton Han18th

[@sachinbangaru737]

These are the matches I got my season tickets for. #GoSharks

[@Zomo1553]

Teams should look out sending a weak team to Benneton. At home they are no pushover

[@themethodisclear]

Let’s see a winner of the Champions Cup playing the winner of Super Rugby game and see who actually is the best team in world shall we?

[@financialliberty2381]

I can't wait to see Sharks-Toulouse, especially if Toulouse send their best team. I think a guy like Dupont will want to play a top SA team with the most Boks in it (Boks who destroyed his dream last year) away from home, especially as he might have heard all those voices from SH saying he never played a game in SA or NZ

[@Stephendenham]

It's all about the Pro D2

[@geoffreyapplewhite8434]

And Stormers are playing in my Home Town of Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha/Nelson Mandela Bay and I’ll be there. Stormers away from Cape Town to win.

[@mrm1884]

For the sharks 🦈 to take this comp serious and win ot all

[@nickjohns999]

This competition has been ruined, having succumbed to greed. The new format is wrong on so many levels, which devalues the product - even if the eventual winner is of a wonderful standard. The other thing is selling the TV rights to a new(ish) channel. Sorry, it's now too much money in too many places, even for a lifelong rugby fanatic like me :-(

[@Charlie-uz8vb]

Lol the disrespect towards super rugby. The top teams from last season would be favourites against any european team except for maybe toulouse and leinster.

[@Chelaner]

Yeah seems to be pretty standard attitude on KZbin nowadays, but what can we say when they never play each other. Euro rugby’s comps are at a high point now and deserves credit, hopefully the next SR season goes well and changes some minds.

[@stephdegoede8316]

Think the Stormers’ URC year is done. Could still make top 8, but now it’s about the CC (Heineken Cup). Unlikely to win the whole thing, but if we can reach the semi’s that’ll be great. ⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@seanofarrell8896]

Clarmont, go to leinster. I'm not a fan of repeat fixtures all the time

[@T2Lam10]

It’s quite an advantage to play Leinster away in this pool. Send a C team, get thrashed but no team will take points against them anyway. Clermont received both Benetton first and Bristol last. They can plan only those 2 games seriously and if they manage 2 wins they could well qualify. I think Bristol are in trouble in Leinster at home and both French teams away. They might finish 5th because of the draw.

[@KODE0101]

If its such a problem then get rid of the South African teams🤷

[@SubjectiveFunny]

GO SHARKS!!!

[@iallso1]

If it included teams from Super Rugby as well, I would agree, but with their omission we will never know.

[@neil216]

In my opinion, it hasn’t been the same competition since PRL had their go at “improving” it. The format sucks in my opinion. The opportunity for the fans to travel to the home and away mid pool games was great. This format is muck.

[@IverKnackerov]

I’ll be giving this whole competition a miss. I’m not subscribing to another tv service to watch a competition, that’s essentially between Ireland’s national XV and a couple of French clubs.

[@brunolopez8614]

Leinster to win it, 1 english club in final

[@minki46664]

If they ever need to reduce the number of games per year they can start by axing the CC.

[@Bachmann-SDG]

My semi-finals prediction: Toulouse v Bulls Leinster v Sharks Final: Bulls v Sharks at Loftus.

[@SiphoMhlahlo]

You are dreaming👎👎👎

[@SiphoMhlahlo]

Bordeaux and La Rochelle instead of Bulls and Sharks

[@Bachmann-SDG]

Dreams can come true 👍👍👍

[@T2Lam10]

Sweet dreams. Depending on the draw I can see a South African team sneak into the semis but more than that is highly unlikely.

[@michaelmoynihan9591]

Bulls hardly b3at a 14 man connacht wake up kid.😂😂😂😂

[@peterp9918]

I refuse to subscribe to another TV channel so for me this competition isn't happening this year😢😢

[@thyspotgieter9759]

The South african teams wont do well in this competition like other teams we dont have the money or our currency is to weak to buy top players to join our teams compared the money the French currencies and pounds and euro who can buy and overseas players

[@hannesbornman1045]

Stormers are nowhere. They will not make the round of 16 on their current form and while they insist on playing a flyhalf that can't kick points.

[@johannespayne9463]

Stormers will win this cup.

[@hannesbornman1045]

@johannespayne9463 Now that's what I call positive thinking. Slightly delusional but very optimistic

[@T2Lam10]

@@johannespayne9463they might with a cup yes… the Challenge one 😅

[@AjaySalmon]

​@@johannespayne9463 I'll have whatever you're smoking

[@k0bra3eak40]

Challenge Cup is the Lions' cuo this year thanks ​@@T2Lam10

[@petrusvanderMerwe-o9k]

France has the money top 14 not representing local talent

[@T2Lam10]

@@petrusvanderMerwe-o9k French clubs must use on average 16 French players every Top 14 match. They get point penalties if they don’t respect that rule so everyone complies. We have the best pool of talents in the world, our u20 record proves it. You’re talking nonsense.

[@jlsimonable]

The Toulouse reserve team ( under 22 local guys) are best in France. A majorityh top players from Toulouse and its vicinity

[@Chelaner]

These 3 comps are not close, Top14 is in a league of it’s own, but good match ups when it gets to playoffs

[@guyportersfootstep4553]

Haven't cared about this tournament for many years. If you love seeing Toulouse, Leinster and La Rochelle fight it out every year to the same boring script, this competition is for you.

[@clippedrugby14]

Slightly underselling it when Harlequins and Northampton both made the semi-finals last year despite being massive massive underdogs

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

La Rochelle is not doing well in the Top 14, just lost at home agains the newly promoted (and ranking last) team.

[@jlsimonable]

its like saying for internationals"oh seeing SA, NZ Ireland and France battling for it every time..." Boring script. Have you watched the last 3 finals ? Pure joy

[@clippedrugby14]

@@jlsimonable unless you're a Leinster fan😪

[@johannespayne9463]

Stormers will win this Cup.

[@louisnel1922]

Iemand het bietjie vroeg begin kuier vandag

[@michaelmoynihan9591]

Let them try and get out of the bottom of urc first mate.hillarious 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Bachmann-SDG]

Yes, like a Stormer in a tea cup!? 😉

[@michaelmoynihan9591]

A fart in the wind😂😂😂😂😂