European Champions Cup [Most Improved]

[simonokeeffe]

That Glasgow result was a very pleasant surprise for me this morning. A great result for the Pro12 It's astonishing to think they are coached by the same Gregor Townsend who was in charge of one of the least effective backlines ever assembled when he was with Scotland.

TBF, he has done an excellent job with thw Warriors.

a few well placed foreigners go a long way

and not having Chunk or Ford in your team

Yea no one really has an answer for that hence why most folk were massively sceptical about his appointment in the first place.

Much as I agree with the foreigners bit in fairness 14 out of the starting 15 were all Scottish (well Maitland's not but he is really).

Anyhoo good performance, good result but a long way to go yet. Let's see what Montpellier brings.

in general/since his appointment Strauss, DTHVDM, Matawalu and others have made a huge difference and helped bring tempo

[kermischocolate]

in general/since his appointment Strauss, DTHVDM, Matawalu and others have made a huge difference and helped bring tempo

DTH has been around forever but I totally agree.

He seems to have an eye for imports that have been mediocre elsewhere but have done well for Glasgow. Or brought young talent back to/ kept in Glasgow.

The main point being that are part of the team, not it's core hence why 14/15 who started are SQ. As opposed to what Edinburgh appear to be doing.

[StrangeButBlue]

One unintended (?) consequence of the new European structure is that there is no difference between 4th in the group and non-QF 2nd place to the clubs involved. There is also even less usefulness in challange cup achievements. This is due to the ranking system based on league only.
This could become a factor in later group matches where one team has less to play for. It was always a small factor wth bourgoin springing to mind a few years back but at least then the club was unlikely to be a high seed in the group.
On a related topic, Edinburgh and Dragons away wins in France are great at first glance but could point to a larger problem of engagement in europe for France. For all the talk about the Premiership moneymen gaining influence in Europe the biggest risk to the competetion is French indifference

[blockhead]

One unintended (?) consequence of the new European structure is that there is no difference between 4th in the group and non-QF 2nd place to the clubs involved. There is also even less usefulness in challange cup achievements. This is due to the ranking system based on league only.
This could become a factor in later group matches where one team has less to play for. It was always a small factor wth bourgoin springing to mind a few years back but at least then the club was unlikely to be a high seed in the group.
On a related topic, Edinburgh and Dragons away wins in France are great at first glance but could point to a larger problem of engagement in europe for France. For all the talk about the Premiership moneymen gaining influence in Europe the biggest risk to the competetion is French indifference

IIRC the French's main priority (maybe only priority) in the whole debate was to get the Heino over and done early so as to concentrate on the only thing they really care about, the Top 14.

[simonokeeffe]

in general/since his appointment Strauss, DTHVDM, Matawalu and others have made a huge difference and helped bring tempo

DTH has been around forever but I totally agree.

He seems to have an eye for imports that have been mediocre elsewhere but have done well for Glasgow. Or brought young talent back to/ kept in Glasgow.

The main point being that are part of the team, not it's core hence why 14/15 who started are SQ. As opposed to what Edinburgh appear to be doing.

nearly threw in Tommy Seymour
yeah Edinburgh started playing silly buggers under Bradley
bringing Bennet back from the Auvergne was a good move
think part of it too is Glasgow werent having the same problems at halfback but especially 10 that Scotland were

[nc6000]

So have many of you taken out a second subscription so you can see all the games?

[John23]

So have many of you taken out a second subscription so you can see all the games?

Have resisted so far.

[Captain Average]

Wiziwig all the way. (Kingtiger would be my choice if I didn't live in the sticks with a sh!t connection)

[Vamos los azules]

So have many of you taken out a second subscription so you can see all the games?

I already had both since BT Sport got the Premiership rights

I barely watch anything apart from sports (don't do movies, don't get into serialised dramas - I may be the only person in the country that has never watched an episode of either Love/Hate or Breaking Bad) and it is just easier to have them there ready to go and particularly record. I used to stream but I prefer to see all the rugby matches from a particular weekend and can spend my week working through the recordings. I'm less obsessive about other sports, but my TV will always be tuned to one of the sports channels for something.

I still resent how much I have to pay though.

[johng]

So have many of you taken out a second subscription so you can see all the games?

I already had both since BT Sport got the Premiership rights

I barely watch anything apart from sports (don't do movies, don't get into serialised dramas - I may be the only person in the country that has never watched an episode of either Love/Hate or Breaking Bad) and it is just easier to have them there ready to go and particularly record. I used to stream but I prefer to see all the rugby matches from a particular weekend and can spend my week working through the recordings. I'm less obsessive about other sports, but my TV will always be tuned to one of the sports channels for something.

I still resent how much I have to pay though.

acrossthetasman is your friend. I downloaded our game from it after I came back from the pub on Sunday.

Streamed the Ulster game, and and Munster was on Sky. Glasgow bath was on a stream in the background while I watched someone else

Yes it's more convenient to have it on tap, but for 30 games a year (only a few of which I would be really bothered about) it's a bit steep. Don't miss the premiership and every other thing is on Sky.

Feck the fecken feckers for trying to get us to pay twice.

[Peg Leg]

What happened to " I wouldn't watch a game in sd"

[johng]

What happened to " I wouldn't watch a game in sd"

Needs must.

I would much prefer to watch in HD, at my leisure. But I can be stubborn too.

Kills me to pony up a few hundred bucks a year, for something I already had, to BT.

Rugby is the only sport I watch. Pro12, 6N, 4N, S15, AIs, Summer Tours. They are all on Sky or free, and they are what I want bar one comp.

Not that fussed on Prem or T14. Watch them now and again if I have them.

That just leaves the "I can't believe it's not the Heineken Cup" cup.

[nc6000]

I've had Sky for maybe 10 years and have had Sky Sports mainly for the Heineken Cup. I'm not too impressed that I'm now only getting half the games but I still don't see myself giving BT any of my cash. If I was to add a BT subscription that would bring my bill up to around €120 per month. I'll keep the Sky Sports as I now also get a couple of Top14 games each week and the odd Pro12 game also. For the Munster v Saracens game tomorrow I'll give wiziwig a go and see what it's like.

[Xanthippe]

I've had Sky for maybe 10 years and have had Sky Sports mainly for the Heineken Cup. I'm not too impressed that I'm now only getting half the games but I still don't see myself giving BT any of my cash. If I was to add a BT subscription that would bring my bill up to around €120 per month. I'll keep the Sky Sports as I now also get a couple of Top14 games each week and the odd Pro12 game also. For the Munster v Saracens game tomorrow I'll give wiziwig a go and see what it's like.

If that doesn't work try CricfreeTv

[ichabodscrane]

So have many of you taken out a second subscription so you can see all the games?

I already had both since BT Sport got the Premiership rights

I barely watch anything apart from sports (don't do movies, don't get into serialised dramas - I may be the only person in the country that has never watched an episode of either Love/Hate or Breaking Bad) and it is just easier to have them there ready to go and particularly record. I used to stream but I prefer to see all the rugby matches from a particular weekend and can spend my week working through the recordings. I'm less obsessive about other sports, but my TV will always be tuned to one of the sports channels for something.

I still resent how much I have to pay though.

You have found an equal, I too have never watched an episode of either of those just sports & porn.

[domhnallj]

I had both but ditched BT Sports when Sky gave me two years free broadband. I love it when competition equals more cost at the end point for the consumer.

[Dave Cahill]

Bordeaux's first try last night was worth the price of the sub

[berniemac67]

I've had Sky for maybe 10 years and have had Sky Sports mainly for the Heineken Cup. I'm not too impressed that I'm now only getting half the games but I still don't see myself giving BT any of my cash. If I was to add a BT subscription that would bring my bill up to around €120 per month. I'll keep the Sky Sports as I now also get a couple of Top14 games each week and the odd Pro12 game also. For the Munster v Saracens game tomorrow I'll give wiziwig a go and see what it's like.

i refuse to get bt sports on principle. can't let the ap moneygrabbers win. i'd prefer to read a match report in the papers than give one penny to them.

[blockhead]

Vincent Clerc scores a try for Toulouse. Now is that his 36th try in Europe or his 1st?

[paddyor]

Toulose look like if they were half arsed they could walk away with the BP. 2 easy tries so far. Not impressed with Ford particularly his defense, Lancaster won't start him.