Champions Cup 2020

[wixfjord]

"Horrible group of fabricated teams though - 3 of them with little/no domestic talent, plus Ospreys.

I know that's probably tongue in cheek, but it ain’t really true is it!

I mean the majority of Sarries side is either properly academy grown or ‘domestic’ (George, Kruis, Itoje, Wray, the Vunipolas, Wigglesworth, Spencer, Farrell, Lowzoski, Goode etc).
Sarries have the highest % of academy graduates in the premiership in fact.

For all our laughing at Munster, the crux of their side is still backboned by academy (Kilcoyne, 2x Scannells, Ryan, POM, JOB, Murray, Earls) and and domestic players too (Beirne, Joey, Farrell, Conway).

Racing are probably the one you could level that accusation at most, and even then they have a chunk of French guys like Machenaud, Thomas, Chavancy, Chat, Lauret, Ben Arous etc.

[deco]

"Horrible group of fabricated teams though - 3 of them with little/no domestic talent, plus Ospreys.

I know that's probably tongue in cheek, but it ain’t really true is it!

I mean the majority of Sarries side is either properly academy grown or ‘domestic’ (George, Kruis, Itoje, Wray, the Vunipolas, Wigglesworth, Spencer, Farrell, Lowzoski, Goode etc).
Sarries have the highest % of academy graduates in the premiership in fact.

For all our laughing at Munster, the crux of their side is still backboned by academy (Kilcoyne, 2x Scannells, Ryan, POM, JOB, Murray, Earls) and and domestic players too (Beirne, Joey, Farrell, Conway).

Racing are probably the one you could level that accusation at most, and even then they have a chunk of French guys like Machenaud, Thomas, Chavancy, Chat, Lauret, Ben Arous etc.

Ya, twas tongue in cheek. Sarries have an excellent academy and a brilliant attitude to player welfare/development. I think you're being generous to Kilcoyne, Scanell x2, Ryan and JOB. They would struggle to make any top European squad. Murray & Earls are class. POM has an angry face.

Racing are Racing, ironically with 2 excellent Munster men on their books - Ryan is a real enforcer, much more than an angry face.

Still, far from the group of death it's been painted as. Albeit a though group, "Munster" should qualify in second (last up a disinterested Racing in Stab City, for the annual miracle match).

[wixfjord]

"Horrible group of fabricated teams though - 3 of them with little/no domestic talent, plus Ospreys.

I know that's probably tongue in cheek, but it ain’t really true is it!

I mean the majority of Sarries side is either properly academy grown or ‘domestic’ (George, Kruis, Itoje, Wray, the Vunipolas, Wigglesworth, Spencer, Farrell, Lowzoski, Goode etc).
Sarries have the highest % of academy graduates in the premiership in fact.

For all our laughing at Munster, the crux of their side is still backboned by academy (Kilcoyne, 2x Scannells, Ryan, POM, JOB, Murray, Earls) and and domestic players too (Beirne, Joey, Farrell, Conway).

Racing are probably the one you could level that accusation at most, and even then they have a chunk of French guys like Machenaud, Thomas, Chavancy, Chat, Lauret, Ben Arous etc.

Ya, twas tongue in cheek. Sarries have an excellent academy and a brilliant attitude to player welfare/development. I think you're being generous to Kilcoyne, Scanell x2, Ryan and JOB. They would struggle to make any top European squad. Murray & Earls are class. POM has an angry face.

Racing are Racing, ironically with 2 excellent Munster men on their books - Ryan is a real enforcer, much more than an angry face.

Still, far from the group of death it's been painted as. Albeit a though group, "Munster" should qualify in second (last up a disinterested Racing in Stab City, for the annual miracle match).

How am I being 'generous'? I'm saying they're a key part of Munster's squad. That's not referring to whether they're good or bad players, it's a fact!

It's by far the worst group of the lot btw, which is generally what people refer to when they say 'group of death'. Three potential genuine contenders.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Pool 2 isn't as box office but it's very tough as well. No weak team and I'd back each team to win their home games right now. It'll be some scrap between that group and Munster's for the last qualification spot.

[Blueberry]

Suppose with our group little to talk about....so let's discuss Munster. Think Sarries will beat them twice so probably comes down to Racing away, lose that and they will really struggle to make the qtr's. Timing of when this fixture takes place is key for them. First up away v Ospreys could be troublesome as well. Bottom line is it's 50:50 at best for me. Bonus points key.

[wixfjord]

Pool 2 isn't as box office but it's very tough as well. No weak team and I'd back each team to win their home games right now. It'll be some scrap between that group and Munster's for the last qualification spot.

Not nearly as much of a recent Euro pedigree though.

Sale will be the interesting one in that group, will cause a lot of problems.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Pool 2 isn't as box office but it's very tough as well. No weak team and I'd back each team to win their home games right now. It'll be some scrap between that group and Munster's for the last qualification spot.

Not nearly as much of a recent Euro pedigree though.

So? How does that affect what I've said?

[wixfjord]

Pool 2 isn't as box office but it's very tough as well. No weak team and I'd back each team to win their home games right now. It'll be some scrap between that group and Munster's for the last qualification spot.

Not nearly as much of a recent Euro pedigree though.

So? How does that affect what I've said?

Oooh very narky!

It's a comment in a thread about Euro groups about the quality of a specific group, will ye relax!

[The Doc]

Do any of the regular travellers here have any idea whether Benetton have played big games in their home stadium or whether they move games.

I'm wondering whether Treviso will be an away trip - or whether they'll move it (Milan?)

[Hornet]

Do any of the regular travellers here have any idea whether Benetton have played big games in their home stadium or whether they move games.

I'm wondering whether Treviso will be an away trip - or whether they'll move it (Milan?)

Milan! The other side of the country! I think they will most likely play this at the Stadio Monigo. (6700 Capacity).

[Peg Leg]

"Horrible group of fabricated teams though - 3 of them with little/no domestic talent, plus Ospreys.

I know that's probably tongue in cheek, but it ain’t really true is it!

I mean the majority of Sarries side is either properly academy grown or ‘domestic’ (George, Kruis, Itoje, Wray, the Vunipolas, Wigglesworth, Spencer, Farrell, Lowzoski, Goode etc).
Sarries have the highest % of academy graduates in the premiership in fact.

For all our laughing at Munster, the crux of their side is still backboned by academy (Kilcoyne, 2x Scannells, Ryan, POM, JOB, Murray, Earls) and and domestic players too (Beirne, Joey, Farrell, Conway).

Racing are probably the one you could level that accusation at most, and even then they have a chunk of French guys like Machenaud, Thomas, Chavancy, Chat, Lauret, Ben Arous etc.

I read that as
".... they have a chunk and French guys like Machenaud, Thomas, Chavancy, Chat, Lauret, Ben Arous etc."

[neill_m]

Do any of the regular travellers here have any idea whether Benetton have played big games in their home stadium or whether they move games.

I'm wondering whether Treviso will be an away trip - or whether they'll move it (Milan?)

Milan! The other side of the country! I think they will most likely play this at the Stadio Monigo. (6700 Capacity).

They should stay in Treviso. Very good away weekend. Can fly into proper Venice airport or Ryanair Venice Airport just outside Treviso. In the past in bad fog, flights into the latter have needed to be diverted to Milan Bergamo. 2 decent hotels in town beside each other - Continental and Carlton with the main "rugby" bar - the Celtic Pub a short walk from them. The pizzeria Da Pino in the main square - Piazza Dei Signori is decent.

[Hornet]

Do any of the regular travellers here have any idea whether Benetton have played big games in their home stadium or whether they move games.

I'm wondering whether Treviso will be an away trip - or whether they'll move it (Milan?)

Milan! The other side of the country! I think they will most likely play this at the Stadio Monigo. (6700 Capacity).

They should stay in Treviso. Very good away weekend. Can fly into proper Venice airport or Ryanair Venice Airport just outside Treviso. In the past in bad fog, flights into the latter have needed to be diverted to Milan Bergamo. 2 decent hotels in town beside each other - Continental and Carlton with the main "rugby" bar - the Celtic Pub a short walk from them. The pizzeria Da Pino in the main square - Piazza Dei Signori is decent.

Was in Treviso in 2010. We lost and I got soaked! Great town in itself, and a short train trip to Venice. Looking forward to going back.

[blockhead]

I'm happy with that draw, I'd imagine the sarries fans are to. Usually its us in the group of death. Might be a problem filling the Aviva though in December.
Looking through the other groups, there really isn't anything easy.

[Degz]

EPCR weekends – 2019/20 season
Round 1: 15/16/17 November 2019
Round 2: 22/23/24 November 2019
Round 3: 6/7/8 December 2019
Round 4: 13/14/15 December 2019
Round 5: 10/11/12 January 2020
Round 6: 17/18/19 January 2020
Quarter-finals: 3/4/5 April 2020
Semi-finals: 1/2/3 May 2020

So much will come down to the fixture list. That's 4 weekends out of five from mid-Nov, going straight then into our inter-pro festive games. Gonna be tough.

Lyon home and Treviso away to start must be the ideal to start. Got a feeling its gonna be the other way around though, Lyon away on the first Sunday is the fear.

[johng]

Munster could get...

Away to racing on the first Sunday. Home to Ospreys the following week and back to back Sarries going into the interpros......

[Morf]

Great town in itself, and a short train trip to Venice. Looking forward to going back.

You can do Padua, Venice & Verona at a stretch.

All within 90 minutes on good trains that far north.

Treviso is a grey industrial place by comparison (possibly grand by Irish standards).

[leinsterforever]

Booked northampton for the 7/8 December as I can't see them picking anyone else for the return Aviva xmas game.

Does anyone know when the actual fixtures are being announced?

Is there also the possibility that it might be the following weekend ?.

No the game days are 6/7/8 and the week 13/14/15 Dec.

We've always had the second game in the Aviva and I'd say it's a very, very good bet it'lll be Saints.

Is that right? The home game in the back-to-backs has never been before the away one?

[wixfjord]

Is that right? The home game in the back-to-backs has never been before the away one?

Since we've been playing one of the back to backs in the Aviva (2010 I think?) we've always played the second one at home yep.

[blockhead]

Is that right? The home game in the back-to-backs has never been before the away one?

Since we've been playing one of the back to backs in the Aviva (2010 I think?) we've always played the second one at home yep.

I can't think of one tbh. Although I haven't heard the Welsh complain about it, which is odd.