Turn off the phones, lock the kids in the soundproof basement, prepare your food and drink and turn on the telly, ‘cos it’s time for the European cups again.
Prognostication is not my forté, but I’ll give it a bash for the Big Cup matches.
Northampton v Racing 92
I was surprised to discover that Racing 92 are only in 8th position in the Top 14, whereas the Saints are sitting pretty in third place in the English Premiership. However, Racing know how to bring their best game to an important match, so I’m going for les Parisiens by 7.
Cardiff v Toulouse
Can’t see anything other than a Toulousain trouncing of the hosts by about 15 points.
Leinster v Bath
With Bath languishing at the bottom of the Premiership, this can only go one way. Blue Meanies by 40.
Bordeaux v Leicester
The two top teams in their respective leagues, again to my surprise. I’ll raise a glass of Haut-Médoc to the home side by 3.
Clermont Auvergne v Ulster
Having attended this fixture in a previous competition, ordinarily I’d say a safe win for the home side. However, TomPirracas’ sleuthing informs us that Clermont is a Covid-ravaged camp, so that and downright foolish optimism leads me to predict Ulster by a point.
Exeter v Montpellier
Another tough one to predict, so home advantage to provide a narrow win.
Ospreys v Sale
Ospreys must be exhausted after last week, but Sale are not doing very well this year. Ospreys by 7.
Connacht v Stade Français
Connacht are on good form, and have been unlucky to narrowly lose a couple of their matches so far. I have no similar insights on SF, but they are towards the bottom of the table. Connacht by 4.
La Rochelle v Glasgow
Two fifth-place sides competing. Hmm. Chez nous by 3.
Wasps v Munster
Given Munster’s very depleted squad, Wasps by 15. At least.
Onna telly this week
Friday 10th December
| Northampton v Racing 92 | 20:00 | BT Sport 2 |
| Lyon v Gloucester | 20:00 | BT Sport 3 |
Saturday 11th December
| Cardiff v Toulouse | 13:00 | Channel 4 / BT Sport 2 |
| Leinster v Bath | 15:15 | BT Sport 2 |
| Bordeaux v Leicester | 15:15 | BT Sport 3 |
| Clermont v Ulster | 17:30 | BT Sport 2 |
| USAP v Dragons | 17:30 | S4C |
| Exeter v Montpellier | 20:00 | BT Sport 2 |
Sunday 12th December
| Ospreys v Sale | 13:00 | BT Sport 2 | ||
| Connacht v Stade Français | 13:00 | BT Sport 3 | ||
| La Rochelle v Glasgow | 15:15 | BT Sport 3 | ||
| Wasps v Munster | 15:15 | BT Sport 2 |
Ovally Balls 
Saints just about clawing their way back into staying in touch, but need to stop giving away soft tries.
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Oh, brilliant. Poor Saints.
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Superbe
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Proof that Finn lurks here, putting on a show to prove Deebee wrong.
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‘I’m injured. Take me off. I want no more part of this.’
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Healy needs to re read the laws, if he ever did in the first place
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Lauret deserved player of the match, but Finn wasn’t too far behind, imo
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Well, that was convincing.
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Nice to see Dan and Finn having a gab after the game.
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BB, I liked seeing that, I think fans are too combative and should probably take a lead from the players, tbh
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Wow. Finn was excellent but his back row ( Lauret, Diallo, Tanga) was even better. Racing have rarely been that good this season and the backs had a field day. Doubt though they’ll go all the way. Better packs will make it hard for them, they lack power in the second row. Very enjoyable nevertheless.
Again the main factor today might be the damn covid. Cardiff, ASM, Munster etc will miss so many players the results may as well be already printed.
Says the couch potato who’s been so wrong so many times in the superbru.
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Bordeaux vs Leicester should be tasty. Bordeaux were excellent last week vs Toulouse – one has to to beat them- but they lost Jalibert to injury. TrinhDuc can do the job but he’ll be less of a threat ball in hand. An away win wouldn’t surprise me.
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Well! Cardiff holding up not badly so far.
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TRY Cardiff, and the conversion puts them ahead 7-6.
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But Toulouse retaliate quickly.
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Toulouse sloppy as most teams facing depleted opposition.
Funny how motivation and fear of a spanking makes teams better.
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Without Dupont, Toulouse would be in trouble.
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Much more competitive than I thought it would be, but Toulouse get another one shortly before HT, and it’s 7-20.
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Without Dupont, Toulouse would be in trouble.
With someone other than Tovey, Cardiff would have a lot more points.
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Bit of absolute magic from Dupont to put over the BP try.
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Cardiff semi.pros and academy players should be proud of themselves.
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Deserved RC for the young Cardiff FB. Not sure the public is right to applaud him ( sure he played well before) on his way out. He seriously injured the Toukouse replacement scrum half.
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I’m pretty sure it was entirely accidental, Flair. A learning experience!
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That was a great match. Hope the injured players are okay.
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Think it was the Cardiff tackler from behind that landed on the Toulouse player’s ankle that caused the injury. The Cardiff 15 just hit his head with his shoulder.
*Just*.
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Yes, there was an ankle-tap, then the 15 and another bloke at the same time, and somehow the ankle got trapped.
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Thaum, not sure it was accidental. That shoulder went straight to his head with little or no wrapping with the arm. Even if it was, it’s the public’s attitude I question, not the FB’s, who’s young and inexperienced.
I admired the Cardiff players’ spirit but thought the game was littered with errors. Except for a couple of Dupont’s inspirations, I thought it was tedious.
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The booing for the subsequent try was certainly out of line.
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Excellent try by Leicester, with a delayed pass by Ford.
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Harry Potter and the Ditch of Woe.
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Today we learned that the Bordeaux pitch is surrounded by a moat, as Harry Potter (not that one) disappears over the hoarding into it.
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That was funny, the fact he’s called Harry Potter makes it even better
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Leinster have the BP try already.
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Sam Skinner to join Edinburgh next year.
This is a big deal because it’s down to the salary cap being brought in to the Gallagher Premiership, Hill is supposedly leaving Exeter too.
They won’t be the last.
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Leinster 31 – 13 Bath at HT.
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Tense and tight game in Bordeaux.
10/10 at HT.
My money is on Leicester, they do the basics much better.
Harry Potter’s stunt was fun, glad he didn’t hurt himself.
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Embra leading Sarries 12-13 at half time
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Marketing genius in job search shocker: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/dec/11/john-lewis-removes-lollita-childs-party-dress-from-sale-after-backlash
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Knock-on
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Harry Potter and the Half-cocked Fly-half
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Leinster 45 – 20 Bath at FT.
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Tense finish. Unspectacular but effective. Leicester deservededly win in Bordeaux.
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Just heard that 11 out of the 23 Leicester players had never played the big cup before. Kudos to them .
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WP Nel has scored a try, Embra 18 – 21 up with five minutes to go
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Gwan Embra!
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It’s not good for your heart following a game on twitter
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We
Won,
Fucking hell, we beat Saracens away.
I need a beer.
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Embra win! Well done (and congrats to our Embra fans). Not exactly a Sarries B team either.
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YAAAY!!!!
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