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The road to Bilbao - Challenge Cup 2017/18
- connachta
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Could we win t'morrow and we're good to go to Sixways against a team who has not much to play for. except an impossible away QF...
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- pinky
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Nine points from the remaining 3 games would give us the top spot and almost certainly a home QF.
We would probably still need an away win in Worcester to get a top 2 seeding after the Newcastle and Pau wins (all depends on how Edinburgh and Pau get on away to Paris and Glaws respectively in Round 6), but as connachta says, Worcs will have much less motivation now.
The bad news tonight is the Newcastle win in Newport. With two games against Enisei left, they're odds on to be top seeds and have a good run to the final, if that happens, a runner up spot would be no good to qualify for Champions Cup as they would need it themselves.
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- connachta
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Let's enjoy what happens first.
if we have a home QF and if Toulouse is out, there's no team we should be afraid of. If we have to win a final vs Newcastle in Bilbao, that's highly possible
(No TBP against a 23 y-o-average team tonight for them, BTW)
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- connachta
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55-10 is great for goal-average.
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- Wasrednowgreen
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Let me repeat, I'd take a run to a European Final ahead of anything in the Pro 14 .
Cup runs inevitably mean - More Exposure / More Revenue / More Sales / More TV / More Profile / MOST Development for the club.
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- Newname
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Wasrednowgreen wrote: Let me repeat, I'd take a run to a European Final ahead of anything in the Pro 14 .
Cup runs inevitably mean - More Exposure / More Revenue / More Sales / More TV / More Profile / MOST Development for the club.
Big statement, but not sure how correct it is, the Challenge Cup get little news coverage, and little interest from many of the teams performing in the Competition (especially some of the French teams) and with so much less games played compared the Pro 14 (therefore the Pro 14 allows more exposure for sponsors and potential sponsorship). More TV . . what station was yesterdays game at the sports-ground against Brive, shown on?
I don't believe the same excitement and interest is there for the average fan.
Remember the excitement of a few seasons ago when we were on that great run in what was then the Pro 12, not at all comparable to when we have had good runs in the Challenge Cup, several years ago.
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- Borders no.2
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Going back the years this competition and the good runs we had in it are probably the reason there is a Connacht today so I'll always have a soft spot for this 2nd tier competition in whatever form it takes.
To be fair the group stage of this competition is of a very dubious standard and we have been fortunate with the draw and the circumstances of the other teams in our group. Yesterday was a nice confidence boost but has to be taken in the context of the lack of quality and half hearted effort by Brive. I don't blame Brive if I was them I'd disregard this competition too given their league position. These games can leave you a bit empty afterwards but they're necessary steps to where we want to get to.
This competition only really starts to get serious in the knock out phase. We need to make sure we are giving ourselves the most favourable draw for when the real stuff starts. To me that means we have to get the win in Worcester and a 5 pointer v Oyonnax.
We saw Stade stumble through the group last year and go on to win it so there is threats of these teams from the lower seeds upping their game when it matters but while not many will fear us there's no stand out team in this competition.
If I was offered qualifying for the European Cup by winning this or by 3rd in the league it'd be Europe all day long.
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- sea_point
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Borders no.2 wrote: Going back the years this competition and the good runs we had in it are probably the reason there is a Connacht today so I'll always have a soft spot for this 2nd tier competition in whatever form it takes.
To be fair the group stage of this competition is of a very dubious standard and we have been fortunate with the draw and the circumstances of the other teams in our group. Yesterday was a nice confidence boost but has to be taken in the context of the lack of quality and half hearted effort by Brive. I don't blame Brive if I was them I'd disregard this competition too given their league position. These games can leave you a bit empty afterwards but they're necessary steps to where we want to get to.
This competition only really starts to get serious in the knock out phase. We need to make sure we are giving ourselves the most favourable draw for when the real stuff starts. To me that means we have to get the win in Worcester and a 5 pointer v Oyonnax.
We saw Stade stumble through the group last year and go on to win it so there is threats of these teams from the lower seeds upping their game when it matters but while not many will fear us there's no stand out team in this competition.
If I was offered qualifying for the European Cup by winning this or by 3rd in the league it'd be Europe all day long.
Yep, French & English sides don't take this seriously unless they get through to the K/O rounds.
Critical that we finish the group strong and bag as many points as possible to ensure a higher seeding and home draw for 1/4 & 1/2 finals if we are to be in with a serious chance of winning this outright..
Winning silverware is habit forming, if we can get to the final we can win this...
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- Podge57
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Higher seeding does not guarantee a home semi final if we get that far.
see the rather complex "rules" below
Challenge Cup Semi-finals
Following the pool stage, the clubs ranked 1 to 4 will have home advantage for the quarter-finals as follows:
Club 1 v Club 8 (QF1)
Club 4 v Club 5 (QF2)
Club 3 v Club 6 (QF3)
Club 2 v Club 7 (QF4)
NB The format for the semi-final matches in the Challenge Cup recognises performances by clubs during the pool stages as well as the achievement of a winning a quarter-final match away from home.
The winner of QF1 will play the winner of QF2 in one semi-final, and the winner of QF3 will play the winner of QF4 in the other semi-final as follows:
Semi-final 1: winner QF1 v winner QF2
Semi-final 2: winner QF3 v winner QF4
The semi-final matches will be played at home venues, and the following clubs will have home venue advantage in their respective semi-final matches:
(a) For Semi-final 1
If the clubs ranked 1 and 4 win their QFs, the club ranked 1 will have home venue advantage
If the clubs ranked 1 and 5 win their QFs, the club ranked 5 will have home home venue advantage
If the clubs ranked 8 and 4 win their QFs, the club ranked 8 will have home venue advantage
If the clubs ranked 8 and 5 win their QFs, the club ranked 5 will have home venue advantage
(b) For Semi-final 2
If the clubs ranked 3 and 2 win their QFs, the club ranked 2 will have home venue advantage
If the clubs ranked 3 and 7 win their QFs, the club ranked 7 will have home venue advantage
If the clubs ranked 6 and 2 win their QFs, the club ranked 6 will have home venue advantage
If the clubs ranked 6 and 7 win their QFs, the club ranked 6 will have home venue advantage
2.5 The final match will be played at a venue designated by EPCR.
2.6 In the event of a tie at full-time in the quarter-finals, semi-finals or final, extra time of 10 minutes each way will be played. If the scores remain tied, the winner will be determined as follows:
(a) the club that scored the most tries in the match (including extra time) or
(b) if equal, by a place-kick competition.
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- connachta
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Well sadly we're likely to be 3rd, with a granted away SF.
Going to newcasltle (likely 2nd) wouldn't be a nightmare though.
No big names except Flood
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- connachta
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If Stade Fr don't really play the Cup (they didn't for now, but who knows, now they are still in a decent position to be one of the best 2nd)
1) Embra (29 or 30 points)
2) Falcons (28 with a good goal-average because of the Russian double-header to come)
3) Connacht (28, would be a miracle to have a BP in Worcester)
4) Pau or Gloucester (28 at best for Pau, but with an inferior goal-average)
5) Any of Cardiff, Toulouse, Lyon, worst 1st
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- pinky
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Even if Paris decide not to bother that much, I still can't see them giving up two TBPs (though one would be enough). Good chance Edinburgh will lose the away game even against a weakened team.
I think an away win in 6Ways will probably be enough for second seed. We could even sneak it with an LBP though that's a big ask (only 4 for Edinburgh + 6 for Pau to win the pool on head to head and finish behind us on points difference).
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- connachta
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pinky wrote: I think an away win in 6Ways will probably be enough for second seed.
Falcons difference + 36
Pau + 44
Connacht + 87
Seems ok at 1st sight but Newcastle have Russians both, and Pau faces weak Agen.
They should both end with smth like + 100
Connacht is able to win by more than 12 points at the Sportsground vs Oyonnax.
So in the end, that's right there's a decent chance any kind of win at Sixways would be enough.
Not sure, but anyway it would be massive to have both QF and SF in Galway (assuming best 2nd does not win away vs 3rd seed -ie Newcastle-). For European perspective next season, And for this season momentum
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- Tall Paul
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We need our old friend Bernard Jackman Dragons to do is a favour on St Stephen's day v Cardiff.
We are 4 points ahead, but they have a game in hand.
With Leinster and Munster coming up, I cannot see us getting max points.
I think 5 points from these games would be a great result. A win and losing bonus point.
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
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- pinky
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Edinburgh v Stade moved to Murrayfield due to risk of frozen pitch.
Might lessen the home advantage somewhat. A Stade win could be helpful for Connacht when it comes to seeding.
Will be interesting to see what kind of team they send over.
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- connachta
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pinky wrote: Edinburgh v Stade moved to Murrayfield due to risk of frozen pitch.
Might lessen the home advantage somewhat. A Stade win could be helpful for Connacht when it comes to seeding.
Will be interesting to see what kind of team they send over.
Nothing to hope from Stade away from Paris IMO
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