the_side_step says...

If leinster qualify(hoping munster don't get the bonus point) they could have a good show with this competition!!! strange how a few people can completely change that team!! if they were at full strength early on they would probably still be odds on to win!! Regardless this is still a team full of quality!! im not sure joe would even worry if sexton left for france(dont think it will happen) he has a brilliantly capable option in maddigan who seems to have a an ability to score tries like no irish man has everv had before( I'm not a football fan but ole gunner solsjear comes to mind)!! if this year only turns out to be a reshaping i don't think any leinster fan is worried about whats coming!!if ruddock can play second row he has to play 6 nations his talent is just on another level!

Posted 07:16 20th January 2013

ashley71 says...

@armchairgeneral:

it's probably going to be toulon v toulouse/leicester & saracens v ulster...

the likely seedings:

1. harlequins: 28 pts (28 tries)

2. clermont auvergne: 28 pts (23 tries)

3. toulon: 23 pts (22 tries)

4. saracens: 23 pts (assuming bonus point win) with a minimum of 14 tries

5 .ulster: 23 pts (12 tries)

6. leicester/toulouse (toulouse could finish as high as 4th if they get a bonus pt win!)

7. montpellier: 22 pts

8. munster if they get a bonus pt win against racing metro: 20 pts (leinster if they don't!). leicester could squeeze in too in the unlikely event that they beat toulouse without a bonus point but toulouse get 2 bonus points (highly unlikely!)

the other 2 1/4 finals will be harlequins v munster/leinster & clermont v montpellier.

Posted 04:11 20th January 2013

TVaddict says...

You know what I'd love. To see a Leinster try without a throng a foul play before it. I know that is ridiculous, as ridiculous as the idea of a successful Irish economy. However I believe it is possible with the liked of Healy, Ross, O'Brien, O'Driscoll. Sexton, Kearney to put together an attack that actually plays legal rugby. As opposed to the shamble, ref pressurising, ruck rule abuse that is the Leinster attack. Obviously it's not Leinster to blame, the officials should penalise them for breaking the rules. If Leinster player was ever penalised for playing the ball of their feet consistently then blow me down. Pulling defending players back. Taking players off the ball out. They are a disgrace. It's a shame that so many players I love (the ones I mentions earlier) have to be associated with such tripe.

If they get through I'll be both happy and sad. Happy so many players I love to see are getting to play more high grade rugby. But sad to see the fouling, abuse of the rugby rules, Leinster style keep going. Better to let it die, and let good players play the game they love, than the filth they play. They are the equivalent of the bankers that got us into the economic crisis. They say they did nothing wrong, they played by the laws, but in effect their rubbish is what devalues the game.

Posted 00:32 20th January 2013

carpelone says...

I think that Leinster is already in, right? Whatever happens in the MUN - SAR game.

Posted 23:37 19th January 2013

lardon says...

"Exeter meanwhile, had sold out Sandy Park for the final home game "

As a season ticket holder at Sandy Park let me correct you... It wasn't a sellout.. 600 odd short

@Papchinzo

So did Leinster.. Scaysbrook held in by O'Brian when Heaslip went over.

Posted 22:33 19th January 2013

ArmchairGeneral says...

Looks like Quins get Leinster or Munster. Clarmont get Monpellier. Toulouse or Leicester play Sarries which leaves Ulster Toulon I think. Seriously great set of quarters!! One of my favorite weekends in the year is the HC quarters.

Posted 21:05 19th January 2013

leinster_goy says...

ah romain, mon vieux...i know you hate Leinster with a passion and will do everything in your power to make them lose (see: vs london irish 2009, vs northampton 2011 (didn't work that time though), vs ospreys 2012, just to name the most egregious examples) but taking 73 mins to bin one of the Exeter Cheats was really extracting the urine. what are you doing on a rugby field? you should be refereeing games of tiddlywinks

that being said, we did well to get the 4 tries but you could sense the desperation sometimes. many times, we tried to force it too much. lineout execution is a real concern at the moment. we got off to a great start but Robbo's moment of idiocy cost us in the long-run, as it gave exeter the belief and momentum they needed to stay in the game and keep plugging away

and now, a special message for my good friends in the province of munster:

any chance you could throw the match tomorrow? even the thickest munster fan would have to agree that ulster and Leinster are the only teams capable of keeping the european cup in ireland. no offence or anything, but yous have been kind of rubbish for past few years and you haven't a hope in hell of winning the Heino this season. no offence, like (ok, some). if you do render this favour though, it won't go unnoticed by Yours Truly. a complimentary basket of neeps would be making its way doan soath faster than you can say "hoe's she cuttin' der"

Posted 20:22 19th January 2013