Leinster-Cardiff QF and following SF

Without an ounce of disrespect to Cardiff, I don't think we could have asked for a better QF than to get Cardiff and certainly it's a lot more preferable to a a red-hot local derby QF against a hugely improved Ulster. If we do beat Cardiff, semi-final is an altogether different matter and especially if Clermont beat Saracens (which I think they will) and Leinster have to go to France for a SF. At least a Clermont-Leinster SF won't be in the Marcel Michelin bearpit so Clermont won't have quite the home advantage as if they were on their home patch. Bookies are expecting Clermont-Leinster and Munster-Toulouse SF's and a Munster-Leinster final.

For info, revised odds from bookies are 2-1 Leinster, 7-2 Munster, 9-2 Toulouse, 11-2 Clermont, 6-1 Saracens, 12-1 Ulster, 40-1 Cardiff, 50-1 Edinburgh

Are those odds to win the whole thing? Or just to get to the next round?

Lot's of rugby to be played between now and April and any side could suffer long term injuries to key players.
Any team that thinks that they have a easy game next round would be very foolish indeed and the same goes for the fans.

Cymroglan wrote:Lot's of rugby to be played between now and April and any side could suffer long term injuries to key players.
Any team that thinks that they have a easy game next round would be very foolish indeed and the same goes for the fans.

Not saying game against Cardiff will be easy Cymru - far from that - simply saying that of the runner-upteams we could have faced Ulster would present a bigger challenge than Cardiff. And agree fully, in 10 weeks time who knows what the injuries will be like all around - and bad injuries to our props and out half will be a huge handicap

Cymroglan wrote:Lot's of rugby to be played between now and April and any side could suffer long term injuries to key players.
Any team that thinks that they have a easy game next round would be very foolish indeed and the same goes for the fans.

Well Leinster have a relatively easy game compared to Munster/Ulster, Sarries/Clermont, and Edinburgh/Toulouse. Though Toulouse might think they've got it handy enough too.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Are those odds to win the whole thing? Or just to get to the next round?

Odds are to win HC outright, no odds up yet for the individual games

If Clermont win the semi would be in St Etienne.

I have already booked flights from Cardiff and 3 nights in Dublin to cover all possibilities. Anyone know when exactly the game will be?

It will be on the 7th or the 8th. The 6th is a dry day in Ireland so the pubs will all be closed.

My booking has us coming back the morning of the 9th so thanks for the update.

You should be safe enough then.

I wouldn't be a bit suprised if we we playing on Sunday (AGAIN!!). Seems that there are more glamourous QFs that are likely to get prime time billing.

brennomac wrote:Bookies are expecting Clermont-Leinster and Munster-Toulouse SF's and a Munster-Leinster final.

I agree with those semi-final match-ups, though some matches are tighter than others. After that - who knows. where would Munster play a "home" semi (or Ulster in fact)?

Munster v Ulster 60/40
Leinster v Cardiff 65/35
Edinburgh v Toulouse 40/60
Saracens v Clermont 45/55

PS.

The smifinal lineup I would like to see:

Ulster v Edinburgh
Clermont v Leinster

(sorry Beshocked but I am not sure I have the will power to watch much more of Sarries wasting the huge amount of talent in their squad and playing such a conservative gameplan)

With an Ulster v Clermont final.

Munster or Ulster will use Lansdowne road for that one. The semi final is home country advantage so they can’t use TP or RH.

Please don't be a Munster Leinster final - a trip to London for that one would cost me a bloody fortune

LondonTiger wrote:

brennomac wrote:Bookies are expecting Clermont-Leinster and Munster-Toulouse SF's and a Munster-Leinster final.

I agree with those semi-final match-ups, though some matches are tighter than others. After that - who knows. where would Munster play a "home" semi (or Ulster in fact)?

Munster v Ulster 60/40
Leinster v Cardiff 65/35
Edinburgh v Toulouse 40/60
Saracens v Clermont 45/55

Munster v Ulster 65/35
Leinster v Cardiff 85/15
Edinburgh v Toulouse 40/60
Saracens v Clermont 50/50

For me

Cardiff have'nt been playing very well yet this season, they've never really got properly going, some of that is down to Parks at 10, some down to a veil of lethargy running over the team.

I actually think after some of the boys come back from Wales duty they'll be a different team, Gatlands said to be livid at the fitness standards of the regions, apparently the international players fitness levels have dropped significently from where they were during the world cup.

Still, this is one of the toughest draws to get for the blues, if they can win in Dublin, they'll have shown the ability to take the whole thing.

"if they can win in Dublin, they'll have shown the ability to take the whole thing"

Well done for finding a positive in being drawn away to Leinster!

well, put it this way, if somehow the Blues do win this game, would you fancy being their next opponents...

but, they'll probably limp out with Parks refusing to tackle anyone running like they mean it, and generally being a walking advert for erectile dysfunction.

Comfort wrote:

I actually think after some of the boys come back from Wales duty they'll be a different team, Gatlands said to be livid at the fitness standards of the regions, apparently the international players fitness levels have dropped significently from where they were during the world cup.

Comfort don't forget the pointless International match Wales v Outer Mongolia that the WRU wil squeeze in between the end of the 6 Nations and the next round of HC matches so all the Blues players will be knackered when back at the CCS.

Cardiff dont stand a chance in this match. Leinster by 15+ points

Steffan wrote:Cardiff dont stand a chance in this match. Leinster by 15+ points

Not many semi-pro clubs would stand a chance against the reigning HC Champs. cardiff Blues might do bit better though lol

It's hard to make a prediction before the 6 Nations. That can change things.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

Steffan wrote:Cardiff dont stand a chance in this match. Leinster by 15+ points

Not many semi-pro clubs would stand a chance against the reigning HC Champs. cardiff Blues might do bit better though lol

I watched the game yesterday and Sky constantly referred to them as 'Cardiff' so its no issue really is it

Could Blues beat Leinster in Dublin? Never, never, never. And neither could Wales ever beat Ireland when we've just beaten Australia, have our tails up and are on our way to the WC semis!!!!

In other words..with all due respect....let's just show respect rather than 'due'ing any

SecretFly wrote:Could Blues beat Leinster in Dublin? Never, never, never. And neither could Wales ever beat Ireland when we've just beaten Australia, have our tails up and are on our way to the WC semis!!!!

In other words..with all due respect....let's just show respect rather than 'due'ing any

It's true, never say never.

its true, if nothing, i take heart from the way Wales stood no chance in the quarters according to everyone, and well, we all saw how that ended.

Leinster are a different beast to Ireland though. Blues will do very, very well to win out there, the 6nations could change things, and in the meantime, an angry blues fan may cut dan parks brakes.....

Could complacency sink Leinster in the quarter final? Some of us fans are talking about who we'd prefer to meet the semi's. Looking beyond the next game to future glory is something I think the Ireland team have been guilty of a few times. Hope the players are fully focused on the quarter final when it arrives.