You might think that Cardiff are completely out of the Champions Cup, but you’d be wrong! And you’d probably get very rich betting on them to go through. They just need a bonus-point victory over Racing 92 in Paris and for Ulster to not get more than one point.
Connacht, languishing at the bottom of their pool on one point, also have a theoretical chance.
All the permutations have been not very clearly worked out by BBC Sport.
Onna telly this weekend
Showing matches that are televised in the UK and Ireland or on popular subscription services. Bold indicates free-to-view. Times are in the UK zone, so adjust as necessary.
Friday 19th January
| Connacht v Bristol | 20:00 | TNT Sports 2 |
| Glasgow v Toulon | 20:00 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Scarlets v Edinburgh | 20:00 | S4C / iPlayer |
| Gloucester v Castres | 20:00 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
Saturday 20th January
| Bulls v Bordeaux | 13:00 | TNT Sports Extra |
| Harlequins v Ulster | 13:00 | TNT Sports 2 |
| Black Lion v Clermont | 13:00 | epcrugby.com |
| Racing 92 v Cardiff | 15:15 | S4C / TNT Sports 2 |
| Leicester v Leinster | 15:15 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Oyonnax v Cheetahs | 15:15 | epcrugby.com |
| Treviso v Montpellier | 15:15 | epcrugby.com |
| Munster v Northampton | 17:30 | RTÉ2 / TNT Sports 1 |
| Stade Français v Stormers | 17:30 | TNT Sports 2 |
| Saracens v Lyon | 20:00 | TNT Sports 1 |
Sunday 21st January
| Sale v La Rochelle | 13:00 | ITV1 / STV / TNT Sports 2 |
| Perpignan v Newcastle | 13:00 | Viaplay Sports 2 |
| Lions v Ospreys | 13:00 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Toulouse v Bath | 15:15 | TNT Sports 2 |
| Bayonne v Exeter | 17:30 | TNT Sports 2 |
| Dragons v Sharks | 17:30 | Viaplay Sports 2 |
Ovally Balls 
Thaum, I did the “test” thing as I was tired of writing a full lenght post and see it disappear.
It’s happened after I accepted the invitation, so yes, the bot doesn’t like me. But it won’t last, as France lose all their ball carriers, so that I can finally post here.
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Flair, France are going to be heavily depleted, then. What a shame.
Mind you, you guys have far more depth than Scotland.
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This blog never stops to amaze me.
I had never heard of Niemoller. Wikied him and discovered that he is the one who wrote these words. Always thought it was B.Brecht.
Thanks Ticht. And grumble grumble… Deebee.
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Brecht! I was going to laugh at you, but now I’ve Wikied him, it seems plausible. In my mind, he was just a purveyor of light entertainment, but now I see I’m wrong.
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I absolutely hate musicals. This dad is me:
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I still don’t know why it’s going for you. You’ve accepted the invitation, which I thought would make you immune
Did you use a I’m a Celeb-obsessed AI bot to write this bit for you? Looks very suspicious…
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It must have been an AI bot, ‘cos I’ve never seen I’m-a-Sleb.
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See Wee Nickie was saying what everyone thought about BloJo….
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As usual, wee Nickie was talking perfect sense.
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For context:
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Also:
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I would genuinely like to have a drink with Nicola Sturgeon.
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She speaka my language.
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Angus Curtis, Ulster, has retired on medical grounds
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Can’t say I recall seeing Curtis play, but it’s always sad to hear of people retiring too young through injury.
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You can tell when Martin Bayfield is doing the pre-match interviews – the coaches are staring straight up.
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Refit, did you see the pic of Bayfield and Danny Care when they pitch-side as part of the coms team?
They looked like different species.
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https://twitter.com/DrStevenChapman/status/1510223610018992137?s=20
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Hrmmm
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That’s weird. It posted fine when I did it from my phone, but not from my laptop.
Well done WordPress, you’re breaking things again.
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I think the comment box has gone back to normal…
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I really like Fin Baxter, he is going to be a real player in the years to come.
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G’wan Bristol!
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Refit, I was thinking it was going to be a long afternoon for Bristol after five minutes, but it’s been some turn of events since then
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Bath down to 13. One of the locks (missed who) got a yellow ~8 mins ago for head contact (could have been a red) and now the 9 for a deliberate knock-on.
Bristol 3 tries to 1 up. 19-8
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Bradbury has played well this half
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33-15 at half time.
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Bristol starting the 2nd half the same as they started the first – conceding a quick try.
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Now Bristol are down to 13 and concede a penalty try. The #14 in the bin for off-side as he prevents a Bath score.
47-41 with 12mins to play
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Bristol hold out for a win. Final score 57-44.
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That was some game
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@thaum – recall Curtis with Ireland U20s a few years back - looked a promising player but clearly injuries took their toll….. another from the apparently never ending supply of Ulster centres
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ah….better……
you may enjoy the above
BTW the figure running the line on the far touchline is me….
“running” is a generalisation…..
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My birthday today. On the downside of 50s now, so I would ‘manage’ a touchline, as opposed to running it. Did a bit of kayaking yesterday in a dam outside Clarens, about 4 hours from Joburg, where the sandstone cliffs have been eroded by the water over the years, so you paddle through, or under, these massive overhangs. Was lovely until we had to paddle back. Sore muscles in places I didn’t know were places, never mind that they had muscles in them!
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Happy Birthday Deebee old chap. If you think you creak now, just wait until you get to 57 pal.
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Happy birthday Deebs! Still a youngster, wait til you hit 60….
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Happy birthday Deebee!
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Many happy returns, Deebee!
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Who are you all? And why am I on this site?
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We’re the voices inside your head you can’t get rid of.
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Happy Birthday Deebee :-)
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Good lord, Borthwick has broken Marcus Smith.
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SBT – so he has! Funny, the Beeb site doesn’t have anything about it, but the Graun does.
Good thing it’s Italy up first for England.
Oh dog, WordPress are playing with the comment box again.
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Apparently Ford is hobbling a bit too
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/jan/29/england-six-nations-injury-scare-marcus-smith-crutches-rugby-union
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Deebs – you’ll be paying full adult rates soon
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French team up, don’t look too poor. Lucu maybe a step down from Dupont, but the rest of the backline is pretty tasty, Jalibert was the second coming before his injury, and pack looks to be strongest in the tournament. Half a chance of running their big boys out of puff, but that will be Scotland, not Ireland. Don’t know about half the bench, but Marchand , Taofifenua, Woki would probably be starting in any other team, and BB is the speedster now Zammo is sunning himself in Florida. France by 12.
France (v Ireland, Friday): 15-Thomas Ramos, 14-Damian Penaud, 13-Gael Fickou, 12-Jonathan Danty, 11-Yoram Moefana, 10-Matthieu Jalibert, 9-Maxime Lucu, 8-Gregory Alldritt (captain), 7-Charles Ollivon, 6-Francois Cros, 5-Paul Willemse, 4-Paul Gabrillagues, 3-Uini Atonio, 2-Peato Mauvaka, 1-Cyril Baille. Replacements: 16-Julien Marchand, 17-Reda Wardi, 18-Dorian Aldegheri, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Cameron Woki, 21-Paul Boudehent, 22-Nolann Le Garrec, 23-Louis Bielle-Biarrey
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