Rosbif says...

100% agree lacroix. They have actually been fairly poor (by their own standards) for most of this season imo. Only a few bursts of energy in a few games. And a lack of clear thinking at critical points during games. With the pool they had, and the effective handicap placed on them by the IRFU player welfare program, and the French clubs "figuring out" how they have been playing the system these past few seasons (by resting players etc) and copying them, the crown has finally slipped.

That said, the very fact that so many rival fans around Europe will breathe a sigh of relief that they are out, just shows how dangerous we know they would be in April. Why? Well, I don't mean to re-open the T14 vs AP vs Pro12 debate, but it can only be that their domestic league allows them to concentrate on the HCup, keep their players fresh, and peak for important games.

I, for one, will miss seeing them play. But it's also nice to think someone else can have a crack at the trophy for once.

Posted 14:51 20th January 2013

shrimps says...

@ lardon

as sky correctly pointed out, he was illegally held by sean o'brien because he illegally broke from the scrum. I'd say on that occasion the penalties cancelled themselves out. leinster had dismantled the exeter scrum anyway, only illegal play would have stopped them going over the line.

great match overall but referee wasn't the best. ive said it before, he is probably the worst ref in top flight rugby right now. that said he didnt just guess at the scrum today (for the most part) but he was still very poor as usual

Posted 12:23 20th January 2013

jontheref says...

As a neutral, I thought Poite should have gone to yellow earlier, labouring why he wasn't going to with leinster, and then going straight to it for exeter!

Froggy, cannot agree he had a good game, as he allowed Cullen to dictate the pace of the game, by continually getting in front of him, and Exeter trying to go quickly.

he has tunnel vision, as he ignores offensive fouls, and PK's immaterial defensive ones!

Unfortunately, the gin soaked selectors think he knows what he is doing!

Posted 11:33 20th January 2013

Mr_Right says...

Poite is a terrible referee. At least some of the others who often get things wrong are still consistent. With Poite you just don't know what's going to happen. It was still a great game to watch and fair play to Exeter for not rolling over, I think they made a lot of people stand up and take notice of them after their first H-cup season.

Very few people are mentioning the possibility of Sarries losing to Edinburgh, I know everything points to a Sarries win but still Edinburgh are more than capable of beating them if they get a few things sorted out.

Regardless of who goes through the quarter finals look great. I love the format of this competition and all the permutations, please don't change it by reducing it to 20 teams.

Posted 11:00 20th January 2013

Qkram79 says...

Leinster are falling into the same trap

Munster did. Had some success and then become arrogant and despised by the rest of Europe. I really hope they get nothing this year purely based on how bad their supporters are. Reading this thread helps you understand why they are hated.

Posted 10:07 20th January 2013

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