Always a Wasp
General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: Heathen on April 02, 2023, 09:08:13 PM
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Some tasty match ups!
Quarter-Finals
Fri 07 Apr 2023
Leinster Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Sat 08 Apr 2023
Stade Toulousain v Cell C Sharks
Exeter Chiefs v DHL Stormers
Sun 09 Apr 2023
Stade Rochelais v Saracens
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Interesting to see English clubs providing 3 of the 8 teams given the ongoing financial mess in the Premiership, the generally boring gameplans of English teams, and the shocking state of the national team.
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Worthy of note that the three English games had the lowest attendances of all the games in the round.
Welford Road looked pretty sparsely populated on the TV coverage.
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Nicked from RiL -
LAST 16 ATTENDANCES
1) Leinster 🔵 51,700 ☘️
2) Stormers ⛈ 33,501 🇿🇦
3) Toulouse 🚽🚽 32,000 🇫🇷
4) Sharks 🦈 27,987 🇿🇦
5) La Rochelle ⛵️ 16,000 🇫🇷
6) Leicester 🐯 12,844 🏴
7) Exeter ❌ 10,582 🏴
8) Saracens 💫 9,350 🏴
Certainly the PRL figures inc STH whether they attended or not. Strangely I heard today that relatives could not take a junior rugby team to Exeter because 75% of them had covid - this included 6 STH and 32 others (or maybe the 6 were inc in the 32 not sure).
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Of the teams through I would like the winners to be -
1) Don't care but Leinster the lesser evil
2) Toulouse - for Jack (and their style of rugby)
3) Exeter - only because I don't agree with Saffers in it.
4) La Rochelle - because they are THE Black and Gold (Yellow) and well who would want the other lot!
We are going to Dublin next month so I want some decent rugby (and supporters). Spent too many finals supporting ABS!
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Nicked from RiL -
LAST 16 ATTENDANCES
1) Leinster 🔵 51,700 ☘️
2) Stormers ⛈ 33,501 🇿🇦
3) Toulouse 🚽🚽 32,000 🇫🇷
4) Sharks 🦈 27,987 🇿🇦
5) La Rochelle ⛵️ 16,000 🇫🇷
6) Leicester 🐯 12,844 🏴
7) Exeter ❌ 10,582 🏴
8) Saracens 💫 9,350 🏴
Certainly the PRL figures inc STH whether they attended or not. Strangely I heard today that relatives could not take a junior rugby team to Exeter because 75% of them had covid - this included 6 STH and 32 others (or maybe the 6 were inc in the 32 not sure).
No idea how the formatting on this will work, but I'll try...
Who Where Att Capacity %
La Rochelle Stade Marcel Deflandre 16000 16000 100%
Leinster Aviva Stadium 51700 51711 100%
Toulouse Le Stadium Toulouse 32000 33150 97% Not at the usual Stade Ernest-Wallon due to capacity restrictions
Saracens StoneX Stadium 9350 10500 89%
Exeter Sandy Park 10582 15600 68%
Stormers DHL Stadium 33501 55000 61%
Sharks Hollywoodbets Kings Park 27987 54000 52%
Leicester Welford Road 12844 25849 50%
So by "ground-fullness" rather than just attendance, Sarries and Chiefs fared better than both SA sides. Reinforces how empty Welford Road looked, though.
By contrast, Toulouse moved their game from the Stade Ernest-Wallon because it doesn't hold enough.
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Nicked from RiL -
LAST 16 ATTENDANCES
1) Leinster 🔵 51,700 ☘️
2) Stormers ⛈ 33,501 🇿🇦
3) Toulouse 🚽🚽 32,000 🇫🇷
4) Sharks 🦈 27,987 🇿🇦
5) La Rochelle ⛵️ 16,000 🇫🇷
6) Leicester 🐯 12,844 🏴
7) Exeter ❌ 10,582 🏴
8) Saracens 💫 9,350 🏴
Certainly the PRL figures inc STH whether they attended or not. Strangely I heard today that relatives could not take a junior rugby team to Exeter because 75% of them had covid - this included 6 STH and 32 others (or maybe the 6 were inc in the 32 not sure).
No idea how the formatting on this will work, but I'll try...
Who Where Att Capacity %
La Rochelle Stade Marcel Deflandre 16000 16000 100%
Leinster Aviva Stadium 51700 51711 100%
Toulouse Le Stadium Toulouse 32000 33150 97% Not at the usual Stade Ernest-Wallon due to capacity restrictions
Saracens StoneX Stadium 9350 10500 89%
Exeter Sandy Park 10582 15600 68%
Stormers DHL Stadium 33501 55000 61%
Sharks Hollywoodbets Kings Park 27987 54000 52%
Leicester Welford Road 12844 25849 50%
So by "ground-fullness" rather than just attendance, Sarries and Chiefs fared better than both SA sides. Reinforces how empty Welford Road looked, though.
By contrast, Toulouse moved their game from the Stade Ernest-Wallon because it doesn't hold enough.
Good try and readable
THere were chunks of Barnet empty which points to STHs counting whether there or not.
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Like most stats, I don't think these are as obvious as it appears.
the Saffer teams have, I think, 3 separate competitions they are playing in. From a fans perspective their sides playing some team from Europe they have never heard of is unlikely to galvanise support. There was also talk on the TV for the quinns game that they had been giving tickets away to build up support. I also wonder how often they actually sell out those stadiums?
For Toulouse & La Rochelle they are both very sell supported within their own towns so you wold expect good numbers.
Sarries we know have low supporter numbers so no real surprise there
I am a bit surprised at the Chiefs & Tigers numbers though. Given Chiefs form maybe the fans weren't expecting a win!
On a side topic, I was really surprised at the Prem cup final a few weeks ago. At Irish, with Irish playing and yet it wasn't sold out?
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Cost of living bites?
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I'd be surprised if STH's would be included, considering the Knockout rounds wouldn't be included in the season ticket.
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I'd be surprised if STH's would be included, considering the Knockout rounds wouldn't be included in the season ticket.
Now that is true.
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If the Sharks get a home semi final it'll be played at Saracens. Someone at EPCR has a sense of humour... (Quins would host a Stormers home semi-final).
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If the Sharks get a home semi final it'll be played at Saracens. Someone at EPCR has a sense of humour... (Quins would host a Stormers home semi-final).
Is there scope to move it to a larger stadium? Limiting the capacity to 10K at the soulless StoneX sounds like a sense of warped humour!
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Don't think so: https://www.epcrugby.com/2023/04/06/heineken-champions-cup-semi-final-venues-3/
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Cost of living bites?
I've been in Devon this week, heading back today, had a look on Chiefs website to see if it was worth trying to go as seeing Stormers someting different and they are doing u16s for a quid so my family of 2 adults 2 u16s could go for ?52 (seated and not restricted view), unfortunately Easter weekend hotel prices scuppered my plan!
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Don't think so: https://www.epcrugby.com/20204/06/heineken-champions-cup-semi-final-venues-3/
Why does it always feel like every year Leinster ( or Ireland B ) are so favoured ? With the choice of independent s/f being their second home. If the stonex can be picked then why not Ulster at least?
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Don't think so: https://www.epcrugby.com/20204/06/heineken-champions-cup-semi-final-venues-3/
Why does it always feel like every year Leinster ( or Ireland B ) are so favoured ? With the choice of independent s/f being their second home. If the stonex can be picked then why not Ulster at least?
StoneX is only because SA teams have to play semis in UK.
Leinster situation is similar to likes of Cardiff choosing Principality or Quins choosing Twickenham or Edinburgh choosing Murrayfield, they happen to have appropriate "neutral" national stadiums on the doorstep and Leinster always get to home semi so it happens more regularly plus final often in Dublin adds to impression!
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Many Tigers fans are moaning their team were playing pretty much the Irish national XV when, in reality, the overwhelming majority are local lads who have gone through their Academy system.
There is no reliance on expensive galacticos and their few overseas signings (eg Lowe, Gibson-Park) were pretty much unheard of before moving to Leinster. Since then they have been expertly coached and subsequently developed into international players.
The Leinster model should be applauded and copied.
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Nice double header about to start now
Willis v Kolisi
Young v Umaga
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Half time the two Wasps ahead
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And the two Wasps win through
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Marcus Watson, Jacob Umaga, Jack Willis and Tibaut Flament all in the SFs.
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Marcus Watson, Jacob Umaga, Jack Willis and Tibaut Flament all in the SFs.
So I'll be supporting Benetton and Toulouse then!
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Many Tigers fans are moaning their team were playing pretty much the Irish national XV when, in reality, the overwhelming majority are local lads who have gone through their Academy system.
There is no reliance on expensive galacticos and their few overseas signings (eg Lowe, Gibson-Park) were pretty much unheard of before moving to Leinster. Since then they have been expertly coached and subsequently developed into international players.
The Leinster model should be applauded and copied.
The Irish model is definitely superior to the English model in many ways - player welfare and development being two examples.
However, I don't think it's all that great.
My understanding is that the IRFU finances the game in Ireland and the national team is the main focus.
The IRFU can, and have, moved players around the provinces to meet the needs of the national side (for example, Joey Carbery moving to Munster from Leinster as the thought at the time was that Carbery would take over from Sexton eventually).
Also, it means the provinces rarely see their top stars playing (I think Tagdh Furlong played 13 games last season with most of those being European games). This isn't a huge issue when the national side is doing as well as it is right now but would that change if success is limited in the future.
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Depends what you want. If your focus is the national team the Irish model is great. If you are more interested in club rugby it?s made a farce of the URC. Personally I much prefer the English model.
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Marcus Watson, Jacob Umaga, Jack Willis and Tibaut Flament all in the SFs.
Add Dan Frost to that list.
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Marcus Watson, Jacob Umaga, Jack Willis and Tibaut Flament all in the SFs.
Add Dan Frost to that list.
Plus the other four Exeter Wasps.
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Marcus Watson, Jacob Umaga, Jack Willis and Tibaut Flament all in the SFs.
Add Dan Frost to that list.
Plus the other four Exeter Wasps.
Also Lee Blackett at Scarlets, lots of positive mentions for his impact there this week.
Plus Kieran Brookes at Toulon and Sione Vailanu at Glasgow if going back a bit!
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Marcus Watson, Jacob Umaga, Jack Willis and Tibaut Flament all in the SFs.
Add Dan Frost to that list.
Plus the other four Exeter Wasps.
Also Lee Blackett at Scarlets, lots of positive mentions for his impact there this week.
Plus Kieran Brookes at Toulon and Sione Vailanu at Glasgow if going back a bit!
Ex Wasps yes but not part of the falling apart. Or else you can have LoL in commentary duties.
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Marcus Watson, Jacob Umaga, Jack Willis and Tibaut Flament all in the SFs.
Add Dan Frost to that list.
Plus the other four Exeter Wasps.
Also Lee Blackett at Scarlets, lots of positive mentions for his impact there this week.
Plus Kieran Brookes at Toulon and Sione Vailanu at Glasgow if going back a bit!
Ex Wasps yes but not part of the falling apart. Or else you can have LoL in commentary duties.
Flament wasn't either then!
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Marcus Watson, Jacob Umaga, Jack Willis and Tibaut Flament all in the SFs.
Add Dan Frost to that list.
Plus the other four Exeter Wasps.
Also Lee Blackett at Scarlets, lots of positive mentions for his impact there this week.
Plus Kieran Brookes at Toulon and Sione Vailanu at Glasgow if going back a bit!
Ex Wasps yes but not part of the falling apart. Or else you can have LoL in commentary duties.
Flament wasn't either then!
Nope
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Just watching the Toulouse game.
In all the justified applause for Dupont, Ramos [an extraordinary player] gets a bit forgotten.
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I've just noticed that this afternoon's game is on ITV, I might break a vow not to watch the EAs and support La Rochelle as I'm feeling a bit starved of rugby.
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I've just noticed that this afternoon's game is on ITV, I might break a vow not to watch the EAs and support La Rochelle as I'm feeling a bit starved of rugby.
I've done the same. Feeling a bit guilty though. I don't think I can watch a Prem game yet however.
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Excellent semi finals.
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Well, if that's England's best club team by a long stretch there's no wonder the England team are struggling. Everything we see bad about England we saw in EAs - conceding needless penalties, bereft of ideas near their line, lots of pretty play when it didn't matter, inability to change things on the field and sourness.
And no 37 YO back rower has the right to sell a dummy and make a line break like that after 60 minutes of intense work at the breakdown. Botia was amazing.
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I've just noticed that this afternoon's game is on ITV, I might break a vow not to watch the EAs and support La Rochelle as I'm feeling a bit starved of rugby.
I've done the same. Feeling a bit guilty though. I don't think I can watch a Prem game yet however.
I enjoyed that, and not just because a Black and Gold side beat the EAs. I might even watch next weeks game on ITV, not least to support ITV showing club rugby on free to air.
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Genuinely thought beforehand Sarries had a chance and La Rochelle weren't as strong as last year, very wrong!
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and Austin Sprite thinks it's ok to put your shoulder into someones head because it's a ruck.
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They're a gobby lot those Cheats from Barnet. Some one should get carded. I would be tempted to red card the captain if he can't keep his team mates mouths under control.
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They're a gobby lot those Cheats from Barnet. Some one should get carded. I would be tempted to red card the captain if he can't keep his team mates mouths under control.
+1
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He can't even keep his own mouth under control, Ross. I watched it all (by chance) and thoroughly enjoyed it; it was great to watch La Rochelle, esp. as they were in yellow. I found myself chanting ''Allez Allez Allez .... La - Ro - chelle'' at one point. Will look out for them in future.
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He can't even keep his own mouth under control, Ross. I watched it all (by chance) and thoroughly enjoyed it; it was great to watch La Rochelle, esp. as they were in yellow. I found myself chanting ''Allez Allez Allez .... La - Ro - chelle'' at one point. Will look out for them in future.
+1
We?re thinking about driving down to Spain next Jan/Feb in our motorhome and I was already planning to go via La Rochelle because the area is meant to be so nice. I might try to plan it to watch a game, but don?t let Mrs BiND know 😁
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He can't even keep his own mouth under control, Ross. I watched it all (by chance) and thoroughly enjoyed it; it was great to watch La Rochelle, esp. as they were in yellow. I found myself chanting ''Allez Allez Allez .... La - Ro - chelle'' at one point. Will look out for them in future.
+1
We?re thinking about driving down to Spain next Jan/Feb in our motorhome and I was already planning to go via La Rochelle because the area is meant to be so nice. I might try to plan it to watch a game, but don?t let Mrs BiND know 😁
It is a cracking ground and very friendly. Wear black and gold and you will be rxtra welcomed.
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Pleased to see a La Rochelle win but something has to be done about French TV and the use of it for officiating. Several contentious things ignored with the potential to benefit Sarries and Woolstencrofts incident replayed endlessly. It?s basically cheating.
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Pleased to see a La Rochelle win but something has to be done about French TV and the use of it for officiating. Several contentious things ignored with the potential to benefit Sarries and Woolstencrofts incident replayed endlessly. It?s basically cheating.
No with that particular team the TV officials were excellent.
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It?s a fair point!
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Not so sure about the TMO - Joy Neville? Mind you, she was probably hampered by the television editor not showing her what she needed to see. Brace was OK, as were the ARs.
Delighted to see that Foxtons were well beaten.
La Rochelle are going to be very hard to beat.
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It's good to know that I'm not the only one who can't watch Prem rugby. To be honest European rugby is pushing it a bit as well.
I was also cheering for La Rochelle but it didn't feel right, to have only negative feelings about a game.
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Did not watch it- only saw a bit of Cardiff's match vs Benetton fro the whole weekend. Struggling to see how TV rights will go up when people like me have plenty of other things I can watch. For the record, I watched Middlesex vs Essex, it was free, had a crowd of 2500 in on day 4 and 1 to 2k online, the players would be picking up 30k a year on average- plus any sponsorship deals, - have a think about that when Itoje et al are on 500k- and nobody was breaking a salary cap.
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Did not watch it- only saw a bit of Cardiff's match vs Benetton fro the whole weekend. Struggling to see how TV rights will go up when people like me have plenty of other things I can watch. For the record, I watched Middlesex vs Essex, it was free, had a crowd of 2500 in on day 4 and 1 to 2k online, the players would be picking up 30k a year on average- plus any sponsorship deals, - have a think about that when Itoje et al are on 500k- and nobody was breaking a salary cap.
According to TRP yesterday Itoje is on 900k plus 25k per game for Engerland.
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I don't think Itoje's real estate deal with Wray has been included.
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We can not afford this bullshit.
It is rugby, we are paying salaries the game cannot afford. There is only international money and tv money and sponsorship and it is pathetically small compared to so many sports. It is nuts. Cricket has the IPL - the second or most valuable sports league in the world. That includes our prem football. We are paying rugby players as if we are top table, when we are small fry.
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Cap has to come down to approx ?3m. Also, backroom staff quotas have become totally ridiculous. It?s indulgence, and it makes little difference. I?ve lost count of the myriad of coaches it is possible to have : Forwards, backs, attack, defence, scrum, line out, transition, kicking, skills etc etc etc.
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So, in the Champions Cup:
Leinster v Toulouse (at the Aviva, of course, 29th April)
La Rochelle v Exeter (at Std. Matmut, Bordeaux, 30th April)
And in the Challenge Cup:
Scarlets v Glasgow (at Parc y Scarlets, 29th April)
Toulon v Benetton (at Std. Felix Mayol, 30th April)
La Rochelle game at Std. Matmut (capacity 42,115) rather than Std. Marcel-Deflandre (capacity 16,000).
So... Jack in the Toulouse side, Jacob and Marcus in the Benetton side, and Exeter have a few ex-Wasps, but I imagine only Frosty likely to play.