Who Is Europe's New Champions Cup Powerhouse? | Rugby Pod

[@gleneagles-e3i]

Lads not talking about Toulouse isn't going to make them disappear 💀

[@Lochvey]

But it's worth a shot

[@MattRose-f2n]

who?

[@Eric-1924]

They really should change the name to.. 'Touwin'... don't see any 'louse'-ing (again)!

[@bunnychowmuncher]

International team with 14 non-French internationals in their squad in addition to their French internationals. All the top 14 teams should be embarrased if they lose especially LaRochelle and Toulouse.

[@iansinclair7581]

Or Glasgow.

[@TomRichards-s9r]

Toulouse and Leinster clear favourites.Glasgow an outsider with a home draw in knockout games.

[@whitebear5405]

Sharks?

[@TomRichards-s9r]

Sharks if they get home draw in South Africa will be tough

[@T2Lam10]

@@TomRichards-s9rcan’t really see them get a home draw. I don’t see them beating Toulouse home though it might be close and there is absolutely no way they beat Bordeaux away 7 days later.

[@murrad23]

Bordeaux ad La Rochelle guna be up there too

[@MattRose-f2n]

How was that 2nd try from Prendergast not nominated for try of the round !?!? It was sublime!!

[@LeMerch]

let me guess… leinster fan?

[@barrypower6822]

@@LeMerch still a very good try

[@MattRose-f2n]

@@LeMerch you obviously don't like Irish people, and that's fine, now back to Rugby - it was a very good try.

[@LeMerch]

@@MattRose-f2n because I asked if you are a Leinster fan?

[@andrewkelly7065]

​@LeMerch who do you support?

[@jimcusack433]

Prendergast’s first try was almost identical to Sexton’s just after half time, 22 - 6 down to Saints in 2011 Heineken final in Millennium Stadium. Leinster then scored 27 points without reply.

[@ciaranbrk]

I noticed that too watching the game.

[@dylano9929]

SA team to watch out for might be the Sharks. French team to watch out for - all of them probably.

[@zasalameleuh2289]

Minus Castres, Stade Francais or Racing I think (parisians clubs good on paper but poor level of play this year)

[@gregorwallace5853]

Glasgow game?

[@patrickpb3353]

How do they select those games to cover yet not cover a Scottish team against an English team? I assume we can sit back and wait for an individual review. 😂 Otherwise no matter there’s plenty of other pods to follow 🥳😉

[@blutoarsky]

@patrickpb3353 Goode probably mortally embarrassed by his juvenile attempt at co-commentary in the Glasgow v Sale match.

[@atoms-to-atoms]

more French ref imitations pls🤣

[@PaddyV]

Racing 92's stadium is still the olympic swimming pool venue

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

It is a local stadium, the owner of Racing 92 also own a nice statium on par with the Millenium in Cardiff, the Arena, but it is often used for concerts that bring more money than rugby. French Rugby supporters think that his priorities aren't in the right place, but that is billionaires investing in rugby, there a few in France, that has caused the increase in salary caps since Toulon gathered his "Galactics" team.

[@PaddyV]

@@jean-pascalesparceil9008 try English rugby for size, a few billionaires and the rest are nearly bust, including my club London Irish....

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

@@PaddyV Are city or county helping out, with stadium or as sponsors?

[@EdgarJnrJnr]

Nz & Australian teams should join the investec.

[@nicolasmaligner8753]

No

[@markbeechey8901]

No

[@EdgarJnrJnr]

@ yes

[@EdgarJnrJnr]

@@nicolasmaligner8753 yes

[@EdgarJnrJnr]

@@markbeechey8901 yes

[@AttackTheGasStation1]

Toulouse : final boss. 😅

[@thomasaverous-u3k]

What about Stade Toulousain lads? Nothing to say about them? 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟…🌟?

[@BonuxCouleur]

Racing 92 is the biggest underachiever considering what Jacky Lorenzetti is investing in. Leinster with 4 stars on the jersey are not the biggest chokers of the European Champions Cup never mind the last few finals lost, their 4 stars on the jersey speak for themselves. Racing 92 are the biggest chokers when it comes to the ECC finals and Clermont comes close but I do have sympathy for Clermont because they did everything right and they do have a unique Identity and Culture and they are resurging now. Three times runners up in 2016-2018-2020 for Racing 92. Since the professional era (1995), they have won only one Brennus shield (Top 14 title) in 2016. This is abysmal for a club with such financial firepower. This week, Cameron Woki actually criticized his own teammates stating that most of them are not hungry enough, and I could not agree more. Even their leaders are unconvincing. More than 10 years ago now, Jacky Lorenzetti was announcing that they would recruit far fewer big names and focus more on developing their own players and that's what they have to do if Racing 92 ever wants to compete with Stade Toulousain. They have not quite done it. Jonathan Sexton, Jamie Roberts, Siya Kolisi, Dan Lydiate, Brian Mujati, Casey Laulala, Juandre Kruger, Josua Tuisova, they have all been a disaster but the problem is they came to Racing 92 for retirement or for the paycheck, not for winning titles. Somehow, Racing 92 could not emulate what Toulon managed to emulate. You could find these players excuses like the climate, food and scenery in Paris is never going to match that of Toulon but when you get paid close to the 1,000,000 Euro or more in a year, you have to at least lead the team by example. Kolisi running away from Racing 92 after 18 games (...) I can tell you he lost respect not just from Racing 92 fans but from the entire Top 14. It is like dude, what are you doing, you fall from the horse, you get back on it. Life in Paris is too hard, really? On your pay grade? Could not you visit Paris first to see if you would like it or not? Supporters are not going to love you for your name, they are going to love you for the efforts you put in, your resilience and what you deliver. Because the Boks won back to back World Titles, you expect them to be made of a different steel, not cardboard. Kolisi disrespected not only Racing 92 but the whole Top 14. He was not up for the challenge. We don't want players like that in the Top 14, regardless how good they are for country because they are taking someone else's game time. Club rugby is something else and not many franchise players understand it. This is where Stade Toulousain and Stade Rochelais and I think Bordeaux now have been so much smarter: you don't always want to pick the big names, you want to pick players with big potential who have something to prove. Jack Willis came out of a difficult time with his club London Wasp collapsing and not wanted to play for another English club understandably, Cheslin Kolbe was in disarray when he join Toulouse, rejected by South African rugby, same goes with Emmanuel Meafou rejected by Australian Rugby, etc. If you look at the type of big names Toulouse and La Rochelle have hired, look no further than Jerome Kaino and Victor Vito. These are two big names, super experienced, workhorses of the game, very low profile, they are DOERS and so humble after achieving so much, and they have honour. Incidentally, they are Samoan, anyone who have befriended Polynesians know they are family oriented, have immense respect for the institution, they have Faith many of them are Christians, they have a positive mindset and they have been raised old school very often. You cannot ask for more. It is very rare that Toulouse hire big names and they certainly don't buy a bulk of them, just one or two where additional leadership by example might be needed but guess what Toulouse players who were formed in Toulouse are bound to become the leaders hence the unique identity and Culture of the club. Racing 92 has not achieved that and they are going to lose Le Garrec to Stade Rochelais this summer so their recruiting policy is hurting their hard work. When Sexton was playing poorly, he was not getting benched because you're not going to bench a player who cost you a 1,000,000 Euro a year no matter how bad he is, this is the cage Racing 92 put themselves in. They would have been far better off entrusting Antoine Gibert like they did with Henry Chavancy and Wenceslas Lauret who have been pillars of the club, and invest money into players development or buying jiff players who want to stay and win titles. Toulouse would never trade a Lauret for a Kolisi unless they were absolutely convinced he was worth his salt. Besides, Toulouse salaries are not as high as other clubs in the Top 14, keep that in mind, when Owen Farrell and Mario Itoje had passed the 1,000,000 BPD cap with Saracens, Dupont and Ntamack who had just won the ECC and Top 14 were still under 500,000 BPD. That's because you come to Toulouse for the Badge of Honour and the 6 Stars on the jersey, you don't come there to retire or buy a new house. I can guarantee players and agents who talk money within the first interview are out of the door before they know it. Reliability, loyalty and consistency is key in the Top 14 success. Franchise rugby is not testing enough for the Top 14 and you can see clearly with far less games in a season, the South African franchises are not where they should be in the European Champions Cup. Southern Hemisphere players who come to the Top 14 do not realize how grueling it is and they get bent because they come there thinking it is going to be a walk in the park. They don't understand do or die, they don't understand what a huge difference relegation makes, they don't understand what responsibility mean, they don't understand what pressure lays on their coaches and President shoulders. You're not qualifying automatically in the Top 14, you have to bleed for it, even against the minnows. Look at newly promoted Vannes this season, they have already taken La Rochelle' scalp. There is no resting in the Top 14. I don't understand why Racing 92 keep recruiting these big names, it is a complete waste of time and money and as a result Racing 92 has lost its Culture and Identity entirely. They have to be smarter with big name signings instead of which they keep making the same mistake time and again. I would not want to be a Racing 92 supporter, Lancaster was a weird choice for coach, I understand he even managed to place his son at fly-half from Ealing Trailfinders (...) enough said.

[@jmo8934]

Toulouse, Leinster, La Rochelle in other words the exact same as last season will all be in the mix. They are all great teams. Then you have the bulls, sharks and stormers also acclimatising to the competition who are very dangerous. Saracens, Glasgow will also have their eyes on it. There might be one or two dark horses as well. The standard is very high with some great teams in it.

[@T2Lam10]

Stormers probably won’t even make it out of the group stages, not sure they are dangerous. I see this as : Two clear favorites : Leinster - Toulouse Three teams just below : La Rochelle - Glasgow - Bordeaux And then the bunch of 10 teams for the remaining QF seats : Sharks - Bath - Toulon - Racing - Saracens - Northampton - Bulls - Bristol - Quins - Munster

[@bunnychowmuncher]

The French Top 14 has 213 non-French international players (and average of 15 per team) and the B division has 230. These teams are in reality International teams at club level so its hard to compete - especially for the South Africans who have many of their top players playing in Europe or Japan.

[@rugbymandan]

… So no other league does more to develop rugby internationally, especially struggling nations like SA - thank you Top 14

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

@@rugbymandan Wrong. As for that "struggling nation" ... those players are 99% developed before they leave South Africa, so all France does is piggyback on the South African (& wider southern hemisphere) players development pipeline. Funny how "struggling" South Africa has 4x RWC's (despite missing the first couple of tournaments) ... and France's chicken team has how many??

[@thierrybo6304]

​@@LittleBigMediaCotoo bad for other countries that don't do the same

[@T2Lam10]

@@LittleBigMediaCoso you’re basically criticizing us, French, for offering competitive salaries to foreigners ? 🤨 Do we force anyone to come and play in France ? That’s such a nonsense, how can one be so short sighted 😂

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

@T2Lam10 No, I'm accusing your clubs of being unsustainable hobby horses for billionaires ... the same billionaires you're regularly burning trash in the streets about, but just aren't smart enough to join the dots. Just like you're not smart enough to understand the implications of modern medicine & lifestyle on extending life expectancy and working life feasibility. And then there's the irony of you burning trash one day to protest foreigners, and sheering for them on the rugby pitch the next. French IQ really is plummeting, apparently. Keep proving that point, please.

[@cathalsheehan9596]

There's 2 (possibly 3) in Toulouse & Leinster. Im still touch and go on La Rochelle after last season, if they can get back on track maybe they can get back into this category.

[@SiphoMhlahlo]

For me only 3 teams are favourites, Toulouse, Leinster and La Rochelle then darkhoses are Glasgow, Bordeaux, Toulon,Saracens, Northampton, Sharks, Munster and Bulls

[@pgdsfcv5552]

1)Toulouse 2)Leinster 3)Bordeaux 4)La Rochelle 5)Sharks/Northampton/Toulon/Munster

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

IMO La Rochelle team is under Bordeaux because their play is very one dimentional. They will have to play in other conditions than downpour, when power in the pack is not enough to win.

[@DerekChaplin-mu1gc]

Sharks were down to 12 players for 8 minutes if my memory serves!! Just for info Investec is a SA headquartered Bank. Great show, thank you!!

[@SmcdMcd-d2k]

Not anymore, it’s not it was taken over by a UK company about two years ago

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

@@SmcdMcd-d2k Wrong. South African origins, listed on the London Stock exchange.

[@SmcdMcd-d2k]

@ I never said it wasn’t originally South African. Fact of the matter is it was bought over by a UK group over two years ago it’s no longer just South African.

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

@@SmcdMcd-d2k You are picking up stompies ... look up that term. A PART of Investec, the UK based wealth and investment business, was sold. The rest remains unaffected and is part of the company that was listed on the London Exchange, but is essentially a South African company.

[@ashleysoudah]

how about this for an England back-row? Tom Willis, Jack Willis and Sam Underhill. you're welcome Steve

[@jlsimonable]

how do ask such a question and not review and mention Toulouse? odd odd Dont be shy ;)

[@kev63inuk]

Joe heyes tighthead been vastly improved all season.

[@TheRealSlimNelly]

Lunch time in work, sorted 🙏

[@glaw5ter]

English premiership clubs coming up short in champions cup, as the gap between the leagues becomes more apparent.

[@wrighton33]

No mention of the URC champions starting with a BP win?

[@brunolopez8614]

I think Leinster will win it but i hope Toulouse will. It's only for these guys that this team exists.

[@richard-king-]

Castres have finished above second last in the pool stage exactly once...

[@TomRichards-s9r]

I think they played Munster in semi in 2002 but haven't done much since

[@chrisbossman1978]

Toulouse and Leinster are miles better than other teams so will be another shoot out between them

[@NormandieDiexAie]

It's Toulouse

[@kieranoconnor4334]

Bristol ....Top of the Premiership?! I mean really?!

[@malcolm9650]

Glasgow?

[@DM-rp9ik]

If they had everyone fit the Leinster bomb squad could have been Porter Sheehan Furlong Snyman Doris Mcgrath Byrne Barrett I hope they do this bench at Rodney parade in Newport

[@edconway8599]

The dragons don’t deserve that

[@DM-rp9ik]

@edconway8599 I know but it would just be funny

[@giddygiddy85]

Keenan , Osbourne and Healy aswell

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

The media hype around the Champions Cup is completely opposite to the fan and even team interest. Let's be honest, there are no more than 6 teams who are taking the competition seriously, probably closer to 4 ... to the rest it's a distant sideshow to their 'domestic' league, and that apathy filters down through the fans. Looking at the engagement numbers on social media, the past weekend's fan involvement was between 30% & 60% of a normal weekend of URC or Premiership rugby, and less that 10% of the November test weekends. And treating South African teams like burglars there to steal your dinner, is not going to win many of those 10 million plus rugby fans. Forcing South African teams to play "home" games in Europe is actively rubbing people up the wrong way & chasing them away from the competition. If Europe doesn't want our teams playing there, why should we bother watching?

[@pheasantplucker6117]

Goodey only makes sense under that dart board.

[@michaelvdunne]

There is little or no time difference between SA and Europe. It helps for both tv and travel.

[@gavindoyle692]

For the love of Christ, could someone please teach Big Jim the difference between a demonstrative adjective (these, those) and a pronoun (them). These players, those signings, not “them players” or “them signings”. 🙉

[@bunnychowmuncher]

@gavindoyle692 this is a rugby discussion not an English grammar class.

[@BrendanDoherty-x8j]

@@bunnychowmuncher hare hare

[@dlenny3369]

He's from Coventry via China and Scotland. We are lucky he speaks English

[@mahasamatman12]

😂😂😂I sense a mental block here. Maybe a few sessions of psychological counseling could help ?

[@222-i6o]

lol tomb stone

[@gideonvanniekerk4252]

Dead right - bulls were terrible.

[@RubyJack1717]

Apparently Leinster looking to sign Kwagga Smith or similar to add some oomph to the back row. Ninebar not convinced by existing BR options in a tight physical game although RG should add physicality which has been sorely missed in KO games over the last 5 years.

[@harryocallaghan8082]

That’s just not true 😂 Doris, JVDF, Conan, Baird, Deegan, Penny, Connors, Culhane??? That’s the best backrow depth of any club in world rugby.

[@bunnychowmuncher]

And seven months later Kwagga will be accused of wasting their money.

[@bunnychowmuncher]

@@harryocallaghan8082 We heard about how many great locks you have yet you still recruited RG Snyman.

[@fawltyoldboybasil.2178]

@@harryocallaghan8082 I wouldn't have Deegan on that list - he simply is nowhere as good as Doris, VDF, Conan, Baird, Connors. He is a constant penalty offender in crucial games.

[@jasonwall5012]

What a stupid comment, a previous winner of the world player of the year award and a nominee of this years selection. Yet you say the back row is no good?? Absolute Gobshite. 😂

[@antoinedescours2459]

je ris

[@BonuxCouleur]

Pourquoi = why Pour quoi = for what