SUNDAY EVENING TAKEAWAYS | CHAMPIONS CUP | Bristol Leinster; Toulouse Ulster; Bordeaux Leicester

[@olivierarnaud-freaud6369]

Should UBB be renamed Union Bielle Biarrey ?

[@danieSt]

From a bulls supporter , this is an awesome competition. For me there is the usual suspects : Toulouse , Leinster and La Rochelle. Toulouse look insanely good playing scintillating but also very strong rugby. Leinster bench looks formidable and they are very very strong defensively now with the rushed defence shutting down a potent Bristol attack in a cagey game. La Rochelle power was frightening on Friday night where they simply overpowered a very strong Bath side who to their credit came back into it in the second half. I think the next 3 would be Glasgow , Sharks and Bordeaux. Scotsun is a real fortress for Glasgow and it’s incredibly hard to win there and they can also win on the road. Sharks are a bok-laiden team with loads of potential but they don’t seem to click but when they do it comes very fast as Exeter found out. Bordeaux , impressive as hell last season but bottled it against Quins in the QF. Be interesting to see how it develops as I know Toulouse will have a tough round 3 game in Durban vs the sharks and Leinster perhaps an even bigger test away to La Rochelle in that real grudge match.

[@TheRooneymandan]

Munster?

[@rugbyranterbanter782]

You did me dirty with that Lein v Bris score! 😅😭

[@ColmOkeeffe-f8u]

First time interaction on your channel, no bias just pure rugby,, much respect, watching you on the ireland, south African series ,, really enjoyed your podcast, a lover of rugby and you make it more enjoyable, thank you, from an Irish fan,

[@SMacCuUladh]

Toulouse look better than Leinster atm, Ulster are always hit and miss but wow, dupont was unreal.

[@arnoldbucheli4757]

The second try by Prendergast for Leinster was phenomenal. Watching RG sprinting with the ball and timing his offload to perfection. Brilliant.

[@patrickporter1864]

Where was this when played for munster. The guy could hardly jump or walk.

[@chrismoyse3529]

Toulouse are frighteningly good. Ntmack back as well 😳.

[@axxey]

Man i hope he can have a run of injury free seasons.

[@timslade5808]

Leinster bench made the difference, still have Sheehan and Furlong to come back into the pack, while Keenan and Osbourne will boost the backline

[@Nologogo]

Lowe was also missing

[@HeidiLandRover]

If Serin was any nationality other than French he would be first choice for his national team.

[@pierre-frederickgalland5810]

Youre right. He's much better than Lucu. And should be second scrum half after Dupont.

[@brunolebris6264]

​@pierre-freerickgalland5810 oui en tant que français je suis d'accord. Ce mec brillant malin

[@Vosgien_Mirabelle]

Couilloud and Le Garrec are awesome tooo

[@OlivierLebo-n3h]

It's hard to make a list of quality 9 to wear blue jersey. Serin is experienced and cunny ( if he was younger he would be my pick after Dupont), Lucu is well suited to managed the game, Le Garrec is the future and Couilloud is also something else...

[@HeidiLandRover]

@@OlivierLebo-n3h Indeed. The French have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to scrum-half.

[@BaneofBalor]

0:36 Good to see Bristol putting a beat down on Leinster as expected 😅

[@thomaseskenazi2013]

We love Jacques Ouiliss too here =)

[@kropotkine9640]

Oui nide ime tou sté ine Toulouse fore euh bite ande laiteur i ouile plé ine France

[@raphaelg17]

Did you see the picture of him in a french kit ? Maybe that made him banned from the rose's XV for good haha

[@philcoffey5656]

It's a Leinster Toulouse final again isn't it 🙈 two literal test standard teams, and top 5 test teams at that

[@pgdsfcv5552]

Toulouse-Bordeaux

[@philcoffey5656]

@pgdsfcv5552 can see Bordeaux and one of the SA teams being in the semi's, actually had Bordeaux backed at 12/1 to win it out last year, dark horse bet

[@T2Lam10]

Glasgow looks incredibly good too. Getting one of these top 2 spots is crucial for them. They would be so hard to beat at home I reckon. But they will need to go 4/4, and with at least 19 points to just get a chance. Leinster and Toulouse both have a tough away game to Sharks and La Rochelle where I can’t see them getting 5 points. Don’t think any team will go 4/4 in pool C.

[@lawLess-fs1qx]

Glasgow might have a say in that.

[@mickeencrua]

Can't see Leinster making it past the semis. Toulouse-La Rochelle final.

[@daniellyttle7220]

Best unbiased views going the best channel cheers Tim 👌

[@DoddyIshamel]

Tolouse and Leinster are a cut above, Glasgow, Sharks, Bordeaux and La Rochelle are capable of upsetting one of them but probably not both so may need one to knock out the other. The rest are competing for those last 2 quarter final slots. Except Bulls, Stade, Castre (who don't care), Stormers and Benetton (who are in trouble).

[@alcoyne3333333333333]

For me Barrett and Sam Prendergast will be the Different for Leinster getting over the line in the Heineken Cup again at last..

[@EggchasersRugby]

Could be a dynamite combo!

[@jeromelemoine1942]

How's Slimani doing as a new prop?

[@jean-michelmarle5689]

Complete and clear report from our Friend Eggchasers as usual (by very far my favorite Y.Tube rugby spot !). Can we say that Toulouse has become a kind of Real Madrid of rugby ? In terms of team quality & sport on the pitch (but by chance still far from the foot ball glitter, show-off & € millions)

[@MurphysisbetterthanGuinness]

First time the rest of Ireland got to see what Leinster were saying about Prendergast. He's got promise.

[@aonghus3860]

I'd say it's more than promise at this point- he is delivering

[@x-latetv-x6816]

I seen him play in U20s ireland so saw his potential then

[@joebateson1081]

Lets judge Sprenderfast after the Lions tour

[@MurphysisbetterthanGuinness]

@@joebateson1081 There's no way Farrell can bring him on the Lions tour. Russell has to be brought, same with Marcus Smith. If we are bringing a youngster then Fin Smith is the one who will benefit.

[@MurphysisbetterthanGuinness]

@@aonghus3860 He delivered tonight. Again it's the first time the rest of Ireland has seen it.

[@aonghus3860]

Disappointing first half from Leinster but I still felt like they had the game under control for the most part. Also it was a worthwile experiment giving Porter and Doris a rest and giving Boyle and Deegan the chance to start a European match. Parts of the second half were fun, in particular the two the tries from Sam 'Not A Running Threat' Prendergast

[@tinythroe3840]

Thanks England to lend Toulouse an excellent player and thanks to the RFU for making sure he won't play against Les Bleus! 😊

[@marco-dn7kd]

The current French scrum half generation is incredible with Dupont (Toulouse) Le Garrec (Racing 92 but La Rochelle next season), Lucu (Bordeaux), Couilloud (Lyon), Serin (Toulon), Jauneau (Clermont)...

[@annettekolb3103]

Thanks Tim for yet another great report. I have toulouse to win the champions cup close 2nd Leinster. I believe the sharks will be in the play offs and if Jake white can get off his pedestal so can the bulls. I am looking forward to the bulls game back home even with me being a sharks support the bulls can do with some sunshine after 9 weeks of terrible cold and rain. Bulls will give Saints a good run and win if they can go the full 80min. It is my understanding the starting lineup for the bulls will be all the bok players that was restful and at full strength... Must say with the Bears vs Leinster game I had a laugh when max and porter was send off for the scrums. That was funny however I did feel for the bears at the end when boh loose head prop was injured that 5min confusion with nrs and uncontested scrums surely should be practiced as a possible scenario in a match. We have seen it happened now, sharks was almost there as well when we had 3 players in the bin but they backed themselves bongi back, esterhuizen in the scrum as well 7 man scrum and that is a scenario where you have to plan. I believe all teams should be ready for moments like that. Another question...why can't there be a rule that like in the Sharks game and Lions game where their was French officials should not be allowed to communicate in French. Surely English is the universal language in all sports and so officiating should also be done in English whether it is officials communicating with each other or ref communicating with a French team. It surely should be clear to everyone what they are saying when tmo and ref communicate. In the lions game the persthyou heard the most was the tmo talking the ref through the game as if the ref was simply not up to standard to ref the game and it was all in French. Why is there no south African officials in the urc challenge cup or champions cup? We have highly qualified refs surely since our teams are playing in all 3 series then we should also be represented around Europe and not only when SA teams are playing each other. Something need to change really

[@nawzadhogan5130]

5:16 ah oui, Jacques Oui-Lisse

[@cassidydavid5917]

Thanks Tim great podcast

[@nicolasmoniqueeliadis5233]

G’day mates from France. We would love to have "Jacques" Willis in our XV de France

[@ericorazon2550]

"Jacques Willis" très fin le sens caché avec la prononciation, magnifique. i also would like to see him in the English squad.

[@siriusb22]

I can see farrell picking Willis

[@edconway8599]

He’d be crazy not to he should start for the lions with van der flier and Dorris

[@lizzyhanahoe4197]

Time the score on the board behind you is showing Leinster 12 v 35 Bristol?

[@ctorus]

Agree re Willis. Such a good player now.

[@peterroycroft]

Leinster fan. Missing the Lancaster attack. So is Ireland I think, even though Lancaster was not an Ireland coach. But Irish fans will know what I mean, I hope. The Nienaber defence is great, but Leinster had always a strong defence. I am struggling to find what Nienaber has improved for Leinster, other than improving an already good defence. The attack clicked today in the second half, but how much of that was down to the system and how much to the players? Toulouse are beyond excellent. I feel so sorry for Ulster, genuinely, but their defence made too many mistakes. I can't see anybody beating Toulouse.

[@davidwalker2402]

@@peterroycroft 5 tries away from home against the second best team in the premiership, and probably the best try of all games this weekend , you think they have a problem with attack.

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

Stuart Lancaster has not yet found success in the Top 14, but his son gains play time.

[@joebateson1081]

Leinster are the full spicebag and that’s a takeaway!

[@raymonddixon7603]

I do not see anyone outside of Ireland getting that one 😀😀😀

[@ryandougall]

Still feel like toulose are a cut above the rest they can score from all over the pitch Bordeaux look strong too

[@imopn]

Love your vids. You joining Bluesky at some point?

[@Jigz_27]

This ref in the Bears vs Leinster match! Just not up to this level of rugby. He even seemed unsure about his own decisions sometimes.🙈

[@arnoldbucheli4757]

At every scrum, he was unsure which arm to raise. Completely out of sorts, which led the players to question him. Such a pity.

[@ronanfurlong2708]

@@arnoldbucheli4757 I think it all stemmed from the tempo of his "crouch >>>>> bind >>>>>>>>>>> set" calls The cadence was too slow to begin with and then it also kept changing throughout - leading to early binds, one side or other pushing before the ball was in, lads hinging or elbows to ground etc. None of the front rowers knew what was going on, and we had the bizarre situation where Genge gave away a penno for elbow on the ground and then a few minutes later won a penalty having done the exact same thing. Absolute lottery reffing, and it ruined the first half in particular.

[@chrisbossman1978]

Glasgow, Leinster, Bordeaux and Toulouse must be the favourites

[@paulennis2996]

Glasgow have won a URC, but the step up to a Champions Cup is a big one. Let's see how the pool stages go first before we put them into the favourites category.

[@Zveebo]

@@paulennis2996They should be big contenders by any standard - they’re one of the four seeded teams. Minimum they should be aiming for this year is a semi-final (which would be their best ever result).

[@paulennis2996]

@Zveebo Top seeding from the URC doesn't always translate to top seeding in the pool stages of the CC. Glasgow will have to win all 4 of their games to be in with a shout of a home QF never mind a home SF. And away fixture in France or Dublin would end their hopes straight away. So therefore, they need to beat Toulon and Harlequins away and neither of those are gimmes. In my humble opinion, the only teams that can afford to slip up in the pools and then recover in the knockouts are Leinster, Toulouse, La Rochelle and possibly (because of their pedigree) Saracens.

[@inBODwetrust13]

​@@Zveebo Munster were a seeded team last year. You can fluke your way to the URC due to the SA travel, but you can't fluke your way to a Heineken Cup because the standard is so much higher

[@chrisbossman1978]

@@paulennis2996 I agree, I hope Glasgow make it to the semi's, but the French teams with their stars and huge budgets will probably prove to strong in the end, outside of the big 3 French clubs I think its likely that only Leinster joins them in the semi's

[@neilmac6049]

Tim! Did I see you interviewing for Premier Sport at the weekend?? Well done dude, I didn’t realise you were on the TV as well!!

[@intagliated9545]

Thanks for the content Tim. Any insights in to which leagues are offering the most promising prospects for the final? Very early days, so potentially a bit of an unfair question 🙂. But am interested to see what your thoughts are on the relative strengths of the different leagues. Hard to look beyond Toulouse especially but also Bordeaux as potential finalists?

[@davynewcomb8054]

Tim, you not do the pod around about now?

[@jbuck147]

Not great weekend for the English Premier league only 2 home wins against sides that are not expected to feature in the latter stages. They may improve as the competition proceeds but at the moment, any of the top French and URC sides will not be unduly concerned about the challenge presented by any of the Premier teams for the Champions Cup.

[@patrickvasse6752]

And we love Jacques Noël too!

[@trapstarwavey]

Can see Toulouse winning the title again regardless that it was Ulster.. they just have it all

[@leleucof64]

Diffrence between Willis and Meafou is that Meafou had no cap for Australia. So no Willis cannot play for France unless he finds a secret grand parent born in France

[@Zveebo]

Hmmm, we need to get men on that, haha…

[@ConorOLeary-rl4bs]

Spot on

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

Alas, having children born in France doesn't count. Maybe in 20 years we will see a son playing for Toulouse and France, like Joshu Brennan.

[@OlivierLebo-n3h]

Jack Willis was Toulouse 's captain a few weeks ago, it shows how they think of him there. I wish he was french but he should be able to be selected for England, what a mess...

[@john9508]

Great review as usual Tim. Anton wasn't that good today against Ulster, apart from a couple of things, but the Rouge et Noire were totally dominant, Lucu was better for Bordeaux and was excellent

[@filmsaboutfilms6964]

Disappointed by the weekend in general. 12 games and only 1 of them ended within 7 points. Pretty much blow outs across the board. A product of the new format reducing the jeopardy of the pool stage? Who knows.

[@CamusAl]

Jacques Villisse ! 😂 You are anytime welcome to our French team! 😊

[@malibongwemalinga8871]

Toulouse are playing Xbox

[@mathiasdevy4411]

maybe you noticed it but bordeaux didn't have the good wind in the firt half, leicester played so well but we managed to stay cloth to leicester. with the wind behind us in the second half it was a lot easier. LBB with wind in the back is unstobable

[@cashel77]

Ref was very poor in Leinster match

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

On French TV whe have been treated to Jack(al) Willis, man of the match, joking about the weather, in French. Julien Marchand coming back from injury, did jackle as well, so ST has this 80 minutes jackling capacity, as he was on the bench and played when Jack left.

[@kieranoconnor4334]

Munster are starting to show some signs... now we need consistency.

[@axxey]

That score back to front reversed in the picture for Leinster Bristol kept throwing me when i only watched the highlights.

[@gavindoyle692]

Can we just have Leinster play Stade Toulousain already? They are by far the best two club teams in Europe. Test quality. 🥂

[@ConorOLeary-rl4bs]

I can’t disagree with that lol

[@conormarren]

Leinster were down to 13 and scored a try

[@Driver2616]

I was at the game in Ashtongate. It was obvious right during the first half that the referee was a little out of his depth and that he wasn’t commanding very much respect from the players. Not sure he’s of the standard required. But by the end of the first half there was never going to be any other outcome that we could see, other than Leinster crushing Bristol in the second half. So that’s what actually happened and we move on to Clermont in the Aviva next week.

[@ColmOCallaghan-i6b]

When will Leinster have to rest Porter, mccarthy, vdf, Doris, Jgp, Ringrose, Prendergast.

[@aonghus3860]

I think they all get at least a week off over Christmas. Some will be rested Vs Connaught and some Vs Munster I'm sure

[@kerrylass2]

Anytime within a 5 week window I believe.

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

Are there some URC matches they should not be needed for their team to win?

[@zisssssou]

UBB, Durban Sharks and Glasgow could be the real dark horses to break the Toulouse-Leinster-LaRog dominance in this competition.

[@kiaoragin]

England should make exceptions for elite players like Ireland did when Sexton played in France.

[@Dreyno]

They shouldn’t. And I didn’t think Sexton should’ve been selected at Racing either. If you can’t compete on money, test caps is your only leverage.

[@Tereyoc]

Sexton was playing for Ireland at the time because he was and he knew he was the only proper test out half we had for a year or two.

[@markheffernan8914]

Willis for the loins tour?

[@SMacCuUladh]

residency rules were changed from 3 to five years a while ago Tim.

[@sportsdictionary590]

Hi Tim, are you a fan of any other sports besides rugby? Just curious

[@CutieSenussi]

Please don't answer this question Tim. Maintain the enigma.

[@HeidiLandRover]

There are other sports?

[@DoddyIshamel]

Citizenship by naturalisation is irrelevant for representation, which is just as well as its handed out like sweets in sports whete its allowed. The residency rule is set at 5 years to align with the core unions citizenship by residency times (most of Europe, NZ, SA are all 5 years, Aus is 4) but prevent a nation who hands out citizenship with a handshake abusing it.

[@paulennis2996]

Who are you having a conversation with and what is the topic?

[@DoddyIshamel]

@paulennis2996 Tim imagining Willis will become available to select for France if he gets citizenship. Did you not watch the video?

[@Zveebo]

Meafou had to wait five years to get French citizenship. It certainly wasn’t handed out like sweeties there. He literally turned down Australia several times in that period (unsurprisingly, given how they treated him as a youngster).

[@DoddyIshamel]

@Zveebo You know that France is a "European country" right? He qualified on residency, exactly as I said, and would have qualified even if he had not become a citizen.

[@paulennis2996]

@DoddyIshamel I did but I might have been distracted because I don't remember that. Has Willia not already been capped by England? Therefore he cannot play for France without a birth certificate or Granny from France. I also think I missed your original point as it seemed like you were having a pop at a particular country (for abusing the residency rule) and I couldn't work out who or why. Having read it again I believe you are defending the residency rule set at 5 years. Am I right? Therefore I agree.

[@heretoplay8199]

Waiting for you to realize that they have the scores switched around for the Leinster v Bristol game

[@pascalpibouleau2265]

You’re so right about Jacques Willis…. England rule is not good for you. Thanks for that.

[@moebiusmoebius9041]

Jack Willis can acquire French nationality after living in France for 5 years. 2 years have already passed. 3 more to go. I think he'd prefer to play for England, but if the RFU still refuses to select him, and he wants to get back into international rugby, who knows?

[@juderyan1561]

Thanks for correcting yourself it is indeed is Jacques OuiLisse

[@mtabrahams]

I remember when I visited my grandmother in our small town, she dropped some serious wisdom on me. She said “Grandson, one day some people will waste their time reading your comment.” Today is that day.

[@28copland]

Scoreboard is wrong way round in background mate

[@LFire12]

The ref was odd. But odd for both sides. I'd actually have him at fault for the some of the troubles with the scrum. He was slow as molasses with his set up calls...and instead of telling them what he expected he just started handing out frees and penalties, and it just went from bad to worse. I've never heard Kelleher ever react like that to a ref. That being said someone needs to work with the top third of the Leinster lads. It was telling that they only really rolled up the sleeves when they were down to 13 men. They were sloppy, ill disciplined and sluggish...and while Porter's was a team yellow, the other two were fully deserved. They need the hairdryer treatment. It was only when they felt they were under the cosh having gone down to 13 that they finally focused the mind went from third to fifth gear. Thought JVDF was immense, as he has been all through the Autumn Internationals. Really hitting the form that got him World Player of the Year. The bench had a killer impact...and it's nice to see Prendergast as a running threat as well.

[@davidwalker2402]

@@LFire12 kelleher card was also a team card, referee was totally out of control and never allowed the game to flow, missed many calls, the Doris try was a try and then Bristol kicked the ball out on 80 min and he allowed game to play on .

[@daithipol]

The Kelleher yellow was for collapsing a maul that didn't collapse. Mc Carthys trip was as much a trip as Deegans. Scrum was a joke. Vdf called for a knockon with blatent Bristol hands in the ruck was nailed on yellow. The 2 prop yellows were given for the exact same thing that saw leinster penalised for earlier. Changing his mind for the Doris 'try' screwed Bristol so he miraculously found a hindmost foot to penalise Doris to even it up.. I fully expected him to penalise Porter at the uncontested scrum 😂

[@andrewharris1837]

1st round shows the Premiership (excl Sarries) have inferior sides to top Irish (Leinster),Scottish( Glasgow) and a number of SA &French teams so pls keep up the campaign to sack the RFU.😮

[@davidwalker2402]

Referee at the Leinster/bristol game is rubbish, he almost destroyed the game constantly blowing it up delays,

[@InsanelyIrish]

Was a great weekend of rugby but it's mad the amount of penalties and cards we saw this weekend. Feel bad for Ulster but there was a massive gulf in class. If Leinster fail to win anything this year they'll be a massive joke. Toulouse looked incredibly impressive today they're the team to beat hands down.

[@gavinwhindus2932]

Would you agree that the refereeing was not the greatest. We really need to get our refereeing up to the same standard as the players playing it. There were some shockers!!

[@JoeBell-e8q]

Ref was terrible stop start scrum was a mess what’s going wrong , he was the focal point that says it all .

[@darylcummins9236]

Presume Willis would qualify for France after 5 years residency

[@DoddyIshamel]

No, he was capped by England.

[@Zveebo]

Nope can only switch after a few years if you were born / have relatives in a country residency doesn’t cut it.

[@jerhall123]

How about instead of international representative teams, we have “all star” teams for each League instead? Four way competition between: Prem, Top14, URC, and Super?

[@Damomasts]

So, England, France, NZ and an Ire/SA combo? Nice idea but not practical. When would they play and for what purpose? Best clubside? Never get the timings right, end of season vs start of season....

[@jerhall123]

@ if I had to pick, I’d say at the end of the professional season, so in place of the July tours. But honestly, my comment was a bit more holistic about binning off national teams entirely, with their respective levels of “must play in our domestic league” rules, and instead just see the best players from each league form teams and play each other.

[@Damomasts]

@@jerhall123 I got the sentiment and appreciate the concept. More realistic would be a hybrid Lions vs Barbarians format, North v South maybe? Promo charity matches every other year, different venue each time..?

[@davidwalker2402]

@@jerhall123 so the richest clubs can buy championships like in soccer ..🤣

[@jerhall123]

@@davidwalker2402 fair point. But keeping on the football analogy, wouldn’t it be interesting to see the best players from the Premier League play in a team against their Bundesliga and La Liga counterparts? It feels like a more practical solution to the club vs country debate in both sports too. (See also Tim’s video about NZ being unhappy about France not sending their top players next July)

[@jean-paulhirrien6413]

Sorry, guys, but Fance must try to adopt definitly Jacques Ouiliss....

[@wonruleforthem4816]

What’s the point in the English clubs talking part? They just can’t afford to compete with French and Irish squads who have such massive strength in depth.

[@mickeencrua]

Unfortunately, the reason for the high penalty count is that the "Professional Players" don't actually know the Laws of the game. That's quite easy to fix. Why not do it??

[@daramaccarthy]

Got your scores reversed 😂😂😂

[@fomora12]

Ross Byrne, just on the pitch, didn’t find touch and other team scores. My God does he earn the name mistakes Byrne. Frawley is another one couldn’t find touch mistakes EVERY game which led to try. Error Frawley and mistake Byrne, never gonna win anything with these 2 in any squad. And don’t get me started on Harry Byrne, he’s an elite tier fuck-up. Anyhow happy Christmas

[@emmettoal8410]

Time to offload the Byrnes

[@Zveebo]

@@emmettoal8410Ross Byrne is off to Montpellier supposedly.

[@ConorOLeary-rl4bs]

That is exactly what fucked me off. One penalty and he banjaxed the thing. Tector should be the 10 replacement

[@bengormley2517]

Leinster bench will be the difference going forward...strange game...Sam is the man

[@justsceptic3085]

how willis plays much better with toulouse than england team?

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

He fitted quickly in the Toulouse style of play, became more versatile, more adept with broken play, his passing skill improved. But he was not asked the same things when he played for England. Toulouse had him as captain when Dupont played the Autum series, his leadership is recognised, the upcoming players in the backline (U20 internationals) look up to him.

[@justsceptic3085]

@@jean-pascalesparceil9008 je sais c'etait pour faire c§ier les anglais...

[@poo2764]

Look lets call a spade a spade, the bulls had no horns no grit no answer to Leinster simple as that!

[@BoomsRiddico4868]

leinster v bears, You got your scores reversed on the screen

[@conoromelia8435]

The ref for the Bristol Leinster game was a disgrace.

[@BaneofBalor]

I know, right? I think he got almost every scrum call in the first 30 mins the wrong way around, a Bristol player reaching into the ruck while on the ground is a knock on against leinster and he's giving attacking teams yellow card warnings 15m from the opposition try line. It was bloody bizarre. I'm sure Bristol fans will have their own complaints, but as a leinster fan, obviously those stand out to me.

[@MrFubber]

Was at Ashton Gate this evening. The salary cap kills the Prem in this tournament. How do you compete with that Leinster bench? You can’t.

[@joelyons886]

you mention Leinster..... you do know the top 7 teams in the T14 are all spending budgets greater that the entire IRFU's annual spend which pays Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht as well as the ladies game and 7's??? The Leinster team today the starting 15 had 13 Irish players raised and schooled in Ireland the bench 6 of the 8 again school and raised in Ireland... check the facts before simply posting something to make you look bitter

[@ronanfurlong2708]

Maybe you're right? The Prem teams don't look like they can compete with the likes of Toulouse, Bordeaux, LaR, Leinster, Glasgow, Sharks etc .... Which begs the question: why do so many Prem clubs get automatic entry into the competition? I'm being a little facetious obviously, but you wouldn't hear Leinster fans complaining that Bordeaux's budget is 3 times as big as ours. When I hear this narrative about Leinster's budget (mostly emanating from England or Wales) I often wonder how it's ok for the likes of Toulouse and LaR (the supposed "good guys") to buy players like Kinghorn, Chocobares, Capouzzo, Arnold, Mallia, Willis, Scalvi, Skelton, Botia, Kerr-Barlow, Seuteni etc .... but when Leinster bring in 3 foreign born players alongside 40+ homegrown squad members, we're somehow creating an unfair playing field? Not buying it mate, sorry.

[@joelyons886]

​@@ronanfurlong2708 The French teams also have the luxuary of JIFF players that are funded by the FFR so again the likes of La Rochelle who already have an annual budget of over 35 million DON'T have to pay all of their own bloody captain Gregory Alldritt's wages hahaha but yup throw crap at a team that produces more home grown players than ANY other team in the entire EPC Competition...

[@Damomasts]

It's not the salary cap that's the problem, it's the fact that the entire setup in England (and Wales) is financially unsustainable. With no salary cap, more clubs would go bust because they'd spend more than they make. French rugby is going great guns because they've got the right setup. French TV money is shared with the clubs in the lower leagues so those players can earn a good living as pro players, that drives standards for players and spectators which generates more money because people actually go to the games. France then benefit from having a nursery for their young talent and the top clubs benefit from a steady stream of potential players to choose from. The RFU have destroyed the Championship by cutting funding meaning England have ten teams to supply them with players, as far as I'm aware, very few are playing professionally in the true sense of the word in the Championship, they all have day jobs! Look at how many English players have gone to play in the D2 in France this season....RFU is a joke.

[@joelyons886]

@@Damomasts yet most English fans slag or point fingers at Ireland. Maybe they need to sort their own house before throwing rocks at others... M2CW

[@Kenny-zn6dl]

Poor crowd at that game, alot of empty seats and one entire stand empty.

[@DufftronicOk]

It's a football stadium, so it always looks empty. There were 15,000 at it.

[@BonuxCouleur]

About Jacques Ouillisse, I don't think there is a risk of Galthie selecting him unless there is an unprecedented amount of injuries. Besides and unless I am mistaken he has played for the England' senior team already, I am pretty sure the rule allows for U20 to change allegiance but not if you have played with the big boys. Last but not least, Jack Willis would only play for England and rightly so. It is not that he would not be good enough to play for France, he definitely is but the 3rd Row is probably the position where France has the most depth: Ollivon, Cros, Alldritt will most likely make it to 2027, their experience is invaluable, Boudehent and Roumat are developing nicely, Jelonch, Macalou, Cretin could all easily return and the future is bright between Nouchi, Jegou, Haddad, Castro Ferreira, Ntamack, etc May I say the commonwealth countries are very backward in so many aspects of managing the game of rugby. Can you imagine the Three Lions not selecting Jude Bellingham because he is playing for Real Madrid? Well, that's exactly what we have here and it is downright absurd and quite arrogant too. I would understand if the Premiership was super competitive on all fronts but if it was, the London Wasps would have survived and Jack Willis would still be playing there. So the RFU has to accept there are better leagues out there and the Champions and Challenge Cups show exactly that. If you had several great English players in the Top 14 or URC, it would be crazy not to select them. It is not like they are playing on the other side of the Equator either. I hear the London Wasps might be coming back soon, so maybe Jack Willis will return to England, it is just that he is 27yo so the RFU are literally wasting his international career. The guy wants to play for England and Stade Toulousain always stated they will support him doing that, what more could the RFU want? The politicians of rugby really are obtuse. Surely Andy Farrell would select Jack Willis if he could. When Dupuy (Leicester), Kayser (Leicester), Chabal (Sale), Yachvili (Gloucester), Ibanez (Wasps) went on to play in the Premiership which is a rare thing for French players to do, I don't think anyone in the Top 14 considered it to be a waste of time and experience, quite the contrary. I remember Michalak playing for the Durban Sharks, it was like a rebirth for him too, just like Toulon was for Johnny Wilkinson. Sometimes you just have to reinvent yourself for the better.

[@kenrehill8775]

Willis won’t come back to England u less there’s a huge cheque available. I chatted with his wife in the summer, she and he aren’t at all concerned about playing for England. He’s signed for at least three year at Toulouse and has decided his life is there.

[@juderyan1561]

French authorities will refuse him permission to leave the country.

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

Jack has baught a house on one island, Ré or Oleron.

[@kenrehill8775]

@ are you sure that’s not Ronan o’gara?

[@Eric-1924]

Stop wasting time to hype up this competition. It is all about these two test teams, Ireland (Leinster Barabarians, with some AB and SA help added!) v France (Toulouse). Play the final next weekend these two test teams (one a international test team), and then we can go back to club v club rugby. Rest of the teams there as cannon fodder for these two test teams.

[@bryanellis459]

Willis has caps for England, Meafou didn't have any caps for anyone else so just needed citizenship/a passport, while Willis would have to wait.The Bulls had game in Ireland last week, so may have just left their internationals in Europe from the Autumn series

[@DoddyIshamel]

Don't think Willis has a French granny does he?

[@Zveebo]

Desperately searching for one right now 😂

[@davidanderson5517]

Group the games more or less on budget.. Glasgow well done.

[@daithipol]

The ref was watching a different game to me. Probably the worst ref display in an age.

[@mjomalley]

awful refereeing of the Bristol Leinster game

[@siriusb22]

After a day thinking and a rewatch of munster match I have come to the conclusion that the shit housery in the French has reignited the f£%k you we are munster attitude that has not only been missing in the players but us fans too. Effort was never our boys issue. Lack of swagger has been. Currently the swagger is back. Mumhan abú

[@emmettoal8410]

Peter o'mahony was made for games like that 💪💪💪💪💪💪

[@siriusb22]

It's not him on his own anymore, Nankivell and farrell go back from nothing. Kendellan was a pest and casey was a little shit. It's what you want

[@daithipol]

They almost lost the 13 V 15 end game. And the stands weren't full and the terraces empty. It takes more than a chip on your shoulder to win this cup these days.

[@daithipol]

​@emmettoal8410 he played well. He tends to do that once a season. Probably the most annoying part of his game.

[@siriusb22]

@@daithipol the score was 33 7 Daithi. If you're going to be bitter go somewhere else. Unconstructive criticism will be pointed out and ridiculed. Where do I say they'll win the Champions Cup? These boys confidence was in the toilet and I'm happy there's noted improvements. All your doing is giving out for giving outs sake and it's fairly pathetic to be fair.

[@Gilescowdemdem]

Leinster have a few cheeky (dare I say dirty) play tendencies. Both those obviously intentional trips were shocking.

[@davidwalker2402]

Like what ?

[@DM-rp9ik]

Bristol got away with playing the ball on the ground early on off a Van der flyer, and stopped a near certain try

[@Gilescowdemdem]

​@@DM-rp9ikeveryone plays the ball on the ground, it's illegal but part of the game. Outright intentionally tripping twice in one game is next level imo

[@insmallportions]

Tim, I understand your frustration with Jack not playing for England, but picking foreign based so England can win games today is what would be short sighted. Having a healthy league is taking a long term view, you need that to develop enough players to have a good national team.

[@Poppillon]

Like SA you mean?

[@Zveebo]

Like South Africa and Argentina? At the very least England should be allowed a couple of exemptions in the team. Stopping Willis playing for England is not going to bring him back - he’s just signed another long contract with Toulouse.

[@davidwalker2402]

@@Zveebo well it works for France New Zealand Ireland , why not develop the premiership like France have done with the top 14.

[@Zveebo]

@ France has no restrictions on player selection - they can pick from wherever they want.

[@daithipol]

​@@Zveebohow many foreign based French players are there? I can't think of any.

[@Randombourg]

The "England team" doesn't represent the country, it represents the English "RFU", so if you don't play in an English competition, why do so many armchair experts carry on about picking guys who are not in a ERFU competition? Ffs Michael Hooper was born in England, but he didn't play in an ERFU competition, so he didn't get picked to play for England Players represent their union not a very vague definition of country

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

The Bulls looked like a team where the bulk of the team had been living out of a suitcase for the last 9 weeks. Flat and unimaginative. I still cannot believe I watched the officials trying their hardest to find some sort of mitigation to downgrade the tackle on Libbok from red to yellow. That was EXACTLY the type of tackle the laws were meant to prunish, not accidental glancing head contacts which have been the cause of the majority of reds under these rules. The Stormers need to find some backup players ASAP. Too many big names missing to compete. The Lions look like they're focussing on URC. French refereeing is so sub-standard it's almost comical. But not. They look like they've identified teams who might be threats to French teams, and are penalizing them out fo results where possible.

[@WayneCalsen]

This has nothing to do with this but Steve Hanson must now stop saying that the all blacks where robbed off the 2023 world cup just shows what type off man he is thay lost so grow up and stop crying abaut u got a problem then go to world rugby and see what thay will say to u just sad that a growing man will go on and on just stay at home and eat your pudding u retired nw so stay it please and all teams are beatable even the springboks that's why it is a game.

[@alexmunro8231]

Is it just me or do we really need to invest in refs. I think they should pick a team that is going to work together for a season. With replacement. Define how the team works together. Then evaluate the performance of the team. Bulle game the 2 refs speak to each other's in French I assume. This like watching a line out mis fire. The injury on Manie the ref lost the overall dissipline in that game in the second minute.

[@davidwalker2402]

You seem to have a real set against the Irish, you said Ireland should be 4th in the world without considering any stats in 2024, you now are rating Leinster about the same , Leinster went away to the second team in the premiership played 10 minutes with only 13 men , were awesome in defence and in the end won easy yet you really don’t want to rate them mmmmm

[@EggchasersRugby]

The ill discipline that led to them having 13 men is one of the reasons I thought they were sub par. Still very good which is why I put them as just a notch below Toulouse despite not playing well. And I specifically credited their defence shutting down the Prems best attack. So not sure what you mean to be honest.

[@emmettoal8410]

Get a life dave

[@CutieSenussi]

wtf are u saying

[@davidwalker2402]

Much of the indiscipline came from how the referee judged the scrum and he really didn’t seem to know what he was doing, he made so many mistakes it was hard to know what he was likely to. But to think a team who won a game against one of the best premiership teams with a bonus point away from home and you call that below par , thats what I mean.

[@davidwalker2402]

@@CutieSenussi can you not read ?