European Cup

[Puja]

What do you lot reckon on this? https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59492450

Cardiff are going to field a team of 6 international players and 17 academy and reserve players who were too far from first team action to have been flown to South Africa, against Toulouse and Harlequins, probably the most dangerous opponents they have. It is perfectly possible, with the right attitude and fortitude and a good chunk of luck, for them to get a backs-to-the-wall, show me what you're made of, let's go out and shock the world result, like when Leicester played South Africa with a similar mix about a decade or so back. But it's equally likely that this could end up with a Tour-of-Hell result where scores are racked up and young players' development heavily scarred.

I get the professional pride angle, but would it not have been better to concede and have a few weeks to rebuild?

Puja

[Sandydragon]

I was in 2 minds about this one. This is likely to be painful. On the other hand, what a day for some younger players.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I think it has to be done. How disheartening would it be for the youngsters to be deprived of this opportunity, and with some top-level teammates too? And they'll surely learn a lot from the experience.

[Sandydragon]

I think it has to be done. How disheartening would it be for the youngsters to be deprived of this opportunity, and with some top-level teammates too? And they'll surely learn a lot from the experience.

Yeah. Some may never get this opportunity again and I bet they are desperate to have a go in front of a big crowd.

[normanski]

We’re in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and European Rugby are playing strictly by the rules - amazing. I bet if this was happening to an Irish team they would have bent over backwards to have the match postponed until the the threat to health was minimised.

The WRU are spineless in not taking European Rugby to court to get a halt on playing such youngsters against battle hardened players. There is a danger that some of these young players might be permanently injured including concussion because they do not have the playing experience.

How ER can threaten a 28-0 bonus point win in the circumstances is beyond belief. A pox on ER and their dozy administrators.

[Puja]

We’re in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and European Rugby are playing strictly by the rules - amazing. I bet if this was happening to an Irish team they would have bent over backwards to have the match postponed until the the threat to health was minimised.

The WRU are spineless in not taking European Rugby to court to get a halt on playing such youngsters against battle hardened players. There is a danger that some of these young players might be permanently injured including concussion because they do not have the playing experience.

How ER can threaten a 28-0 bonus point win in the circumstances is beyond belief. A pox on ER and their dozy administrators.

In fairness, they are being consistent - they were handing out 28-0 walkovers for non-fault COVID withdrawals last season as well. I think they should be doing it like the Prem does - 4 points for the unaffected side and 2 points for the COVIDed side, which seems much fairer.

The problem with rescheduling a match is where else can it go in the season? Unless you want to play midweek somehow (which is probably worse for player welfare overall), there's no place to fit it in.

Puja

[paddy no 11]

We’re in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and European Rugby are playing strictly by the rules - amazing. I bet if this was happening to an Irish team they would have bent over backwards to have the match postponed until the the threat to health was minimised.

The WRU are spineless in not taking European Rugby to court to get a halt on playing such youngsters against battle hardened players. There is a danger that some of these young players might be permanently injured including concussion because they do not have the playing experience.

How ER can threaten a 28-0 bonus point win in the circumstances is beyond belief. A pox on ER and their dozy administrators.

Paranoid much - munster in the same boat

[whatisthejava]

There is a safety issue here and if someone gets hurt I think ERPC / home team are on the hook for it.

You can argue having 1-2 academy players in a match day squad is safe, playing boys against men who will want a cricket score against you to help seeding isn’t safe.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Could have done with more flexibility from the EPCR here over loaning players:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59553161

[Sandydragon]

Could have done with more flexibility from the EPCR here over loaning players:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59553161

Normally I'd suggest that's pretty standard, but in such strange times it would make sense to allow loans up to say the knockout stages. No one really wants games awarded by default, which may be the only realistic alternative.

[francoisfou]

Good to read that Cardiff are prepared to fulfill their fixture against Toulouse, albeit with a "slight misfits" side:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/59549760

I've got tickets for the return fixture on Jan 23rd, so let's hope you'll be able to send your strongest side!

[Son of Mathonwy]

And we get to see this mismatch on free to air C4. It's going to be interesting. The result's not in doubt but hope they keep fighting.

[Sandydragon]

And we get to see this mismatch on free to air C4. It's going to be interesting. The result's not in doubt but hope they keep fighting.

It will take a miracle to win, but it’s still only a game of rugby so an upset isn’t impossible. I hope the crowd remains vocal and Cardiff may unearth a future star or two in this process.

[francoisfou]

Toulouse have unsurprisingly picked a strong side to travel to Cardiff:

15. Médard; 14. Bonneval, 13.Guitoune, 12.Ahki , 11.Lebel; 10.Ntamack, 9.Dupont (cap.); 7.Jelonch, 8.Tolofua, 6.Cros; 5.Meafou, 4.Flament; 3.Faumuina, 2.Mauvaka, 1.Baille.

16. Marchand, 17.Neti, 18. Aldegheri, 19.Tekori, 20.Youyoutte, 21. Miquel, 22. Germain, 23. Mallia.

There can surely be only one result - can't there?

[Sandydragon]

Toulouse have unsurprisingly picked a strong side to travel to Cardiff:

15. Médard; 14. Bonneval, 13.Guitoune, 12.Ahki , 11.Lebel; 10.Ntamack, 9.Dupont (cap.); 7.Jelonch, 8.Tolofua, 6.Cros; 5.Meafou, 4.Flament; 3.Faumuina, 2.Mauvaka, 1.Baille.

16. Marchand, 17.Neti, 18. Aldegheri, 19.Tekori, 20.Youyoutte, 21. Miquel, 22. Germain, 23. Mallia.

There can surely be only one result - can't there?

No idea what the odds are for this one but you would have to be brave to put any serious amount on Cardiff.

I suppose it depends on how fired up the French are vs Cardiff. If the home team comes out of the blocks and tears into them, they could be badly disrupted. Then again, you have to say that on paper it’s looking very one sided.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Well played Cardiff - at the start, being the better team and taking a 7-6 lead, then sticking with it to the end and resisting a cricket score. To be honest, they deserved more than 7 points: some knock-ons were frustrating, as was Jenkins not quite having the gas to score from his interception. A fantastic day for the academy players and the crowd too.

[Son of Mathonwy]

The Dragons could have won that. They just didn't get the points they needed when they had one or two extra men. They should have taken their kicks at goal instead of risking it for tries. And their line out went to shit once Dee went off.

Very frustrating.

[WaspInWales]

No idea how the Ospreys failed to make that closer. Even at 21-3 down at half time, they were starting to find dominance which they held onto for pretty much all of the second half. I was expecting the Ospreys to win as they had the possession and territory and Sale's discipline was shit.

[Son of Mathonwy]

No idea how the Ospreys failed to make that closer. Even at 21-3 down at half time, they were starting to find dominance which they held onto for pretty much all of the second half. I was expecting the Ospreys to win as they had the possession and territory and Sale's discipline was shit.

Pretty disappointing result (I didn't see it). Surprised to hear that the Ospreys were not taking the 3 point option so much - this goes against their usual tactic this season - but I guess they were chasing the game.

The Ospreys were lucky not to have made a trip to SA recently, unlike Cardiff and Scarlets, but looking at the Sale lineup they got their fair quota of saffers this week: R du Preez, Janse van Rensburg, Schonert, J-Luc du Preez, de Jager, D du Preez, Oosthuizen, J-P du Preez.

[Numbers]

No idea how the Ospreys failed to make that closer. Even at 21-3 down at half time, they were starting to find dominance which they held onto for pretty much all of the second half. I was expecting the Ospreys to win as they had the possession and territory and Sale's discipline was shit.

Pretty disappointing result (I didn't see it). Surprised to hear that the Ospreys were not taking the 3 point option so much - this goes against their usual tactic this season - but I guess they were chasing the game.

The Ospreys were lucky not to have made a trip to SA recently, unlike Cardiff and Scarlets, but looking at the Sale lineup they got their fair quota of saffers this week: R du Preez, Janse van Rensburg, Schonert, J-Luc du Preez, de Jager, D du Preez, Oosthuizen, J-P du Preez.

Yeah, Sale are morphing into Saracens since Alex Sanderson has taken the reins, the mtach itself was an entertaining game, the Os could have done with Jac Morgan as the were bested at the breakdwon by Curry and Co but they put in a decent performance and there was no lack of endeavour, it's a shame Anscombe went off with a failed HIA at half time.

[paddy no 11]

Ridiculous yellow for josh Adams there

[Banquo]

outstanding from Cardiff again- for the first hour anyway.

[Son of Mathonwy]

They should have taken that held-up, disallowed try by Adams to the TMO. I don't think he grounded it but it looked like he was stopped by a high tackle, so it should have been a penalty try and presumably a yellow too. A big moment that didn't go Cardiff's way. After that, a finely balanced match tipped conclusively Harlequins' way for the last 20 minutes.

[Sandydragon]

Cardiff may have lost two but full credit to them.

Meanwhile the competition has become a farce.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Another successful weekend for Welsh rugby.