NH club rugby

[sparky]

European Challenge Cup

Clermont Vs Harlequins

The teams:

Clermont: 15 Setariki Tuicuvu, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 George Moala, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra (c), 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Arthur Iturria, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Etienne Falgoux
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Beka Kakabadze, 18 Mickael Simutoga, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams, 23 Peter Betham

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Ross Chisholm, 13 Alofa Alofa, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Charlie Walker, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 Jack Clifford, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Alex Dombrandt, 5 Ben Glynn, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Rob Buchanan, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Elia Elia, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Josh Ibuanokpe, 19 Stan South, 20 Semi Kunatani, 21 Niall Saunders, 22 James Lang, 23 Francis Saili

Venue: Stade Marcel-Michelin
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 BST, 19:00 GMT)
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), George Clancy (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

La Rochelle v Sale Sharks

The teams:

La Rochelle: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Vincent Rattez, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Botia Veivuke, 11 Arthur Retiere, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Alexi Bales, 8 Victor Vito (c), 7 Grégory Alldritt, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 Mathieu Tanguy, 4 Romain Sazy, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Jean-Charles Orioli, 1 Dany Priso
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Vincent Pelo, 18 Arthur Joly, 19 Thomas Jolmes, 20 Kevin Gourdon, 21 Thomas Berjon, 22 Maxime Lafage, 23 Jules Favre

Sale Sharks: 15 Luke James, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Sam James, 12 James O’Connor, 11 Chris Ashton, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jono Ross (c), 7 Tom Curry, 6 Ben Curry, 5 James Phillips, 4 Josh Beaumont, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 Joe Jones, 19 Matthew Postlewhaite, 20 Sam Moore, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Cameron Redpath, 23 Aaron Reed

Venue: Stade Marcel Deflandre
Kick-off: 18:30 local (17:30 BST, 16:30 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales), Ian Davies (Wales)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

[Stargazer]

So that's in NZT:

Sun 21 April, 2am: Saracens v Munster
Sun 21 April, 4.30am: La Rochelle v Sale Sharks
Sun 21 April, 7.00am: Clermont v Harlequins
Mon 22 April, 2.15am: Leinster v Toulouse

It doesn't look like any of these games will be televised in NZ.

Does anyone know whether these games are (legally) livestreamed somewhere for countries where the games aren't televised? I don't mean something like Rugbypass, but something similar to what WorldRugby does for sevens (livestreaming on its FB page or website).

[Machpants]

@Stargazer I really doubt it, this is from a profit making group, not something that actually wants to see rugby grow and improve. ABs do it to spread their brand recognition

[sparky]

Very short highlights of European Cup and European Champions Cup games end up on Youtube on this channel:

Investec Champions Cup & EPCR Challenge Cup

🏉✅Welcome to the Official YouTube channel of European Professional Club Rugby and...

[Stargazer]

Too bad, I'll have to look for dodgy streams again. I may try it for the Clermont game, which is at a reasonable hour.

[Machpants]

Some odd halfs decisions there for Toulouse, half back in 10, France starting 10 on the bench, and noob Ahki put up too. I hope they win to knock Sexton back even more, and Kaino is captain

[sparky]

@Machpants

Joe Tekori at 7 caught my eye as an interesting selection. I thought he was a Lock.

[Tim]

@sparky what the hell?

[Stargazer]

All European semis are on Spark Sport: https://www.sparksport.co.nz/

Maybe it's time to take that free trial

[sparky]

Highlights of Saracens- Munster with lots of spoilers and talking points:

[sparky]

This post is deleted!

[Bones]

Channel 4 with live coverage of Toulouse Vs Leinster. Not a good start with them virtue signalling their way to the sigh bucket, they're not working with Billy Vunipola anymore though eh. Wow how very noble.

[Bones]

Love Sexton, such a humble guy. Kicks it out on the full and immediately starts shouting at everyone else because it's their fault.

[Billy Tell]

So I watched the 2 HEC semis.

Saracens vs Munster was men vs boys. Saracens remarkably had not a single Kiwi in their side. Munster had Bleyendaal starting at 10 - not our world cup 3rd choice 10 based on this anonymous display (admittedly behind a beaten pack). Munster also had Rhys Marshall off the bench at hooker and Alby Mathewson as back-up 9.

Leinster vs Toulouse. Leinster had James Lowe who scored a very good try and looked lively throughout. Leinster also had Michael Bent off the bench.

Toulouse, who were tactically and mentally a shambles, had Faumuina at 3, still in fine fettle, Kaino at 8 (pulled early in the 2nd half) and unbelievably they stuck Pita Ahki at starting 12.

Think Saracens will win, at a neutral ground, they will play smarter rugby than Toulouse and have just a little too much for Leinster.

[sparky]

@Billy-Tell Sean Maitland is a kilted Kiwi.

[sparky]

Leinster bearing Toulouse.

[Billy Tell]

@sparky said in NH club rugby:

@Billy-Tell Sean Maitland is a kilted Kiwi.

Wasn’t in saracens team though for this game.

[sparky]

@Billy-Tell

Okay, David Strettle was a late injury replacement.

A tenuous one then. Mako Vunipola was born in Wellington.

[Bones]

@Billy-Tell said in NH club rugby:

Toulouse, who were tactically and mentally a shambles, had Faumuina at 3, still in fine fettle, Kaino at 8 (pulled early in the 2nd half) and unbelievably they stuck Pita Ahki at starting 12

Whaaaaat. He is fat and a unfit and was fucked after ten minutes. He was walking and offside for most of the game that I saw and offered zero.

[Billy Tell]

@Bones said in NH club rugby:

@Billy-Tell said in NH club rugby:

Toulouse, who were tactically and mentally a shambles, had Faumuina at 3, still in fine fettle, Kaino at 8 (pulled early in the 2nd half) and unbelievably they stuck Pita Ahki at starting 12

Whaaaaat. He is fat and a unfit and was fucked after ten minutes. He was walking and offside for most of the game that I saw and offered zero.

Nah he was grand. Maybe you had a few, for this game I was stone cold sober.