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French heavyweights stumble in latest round of Champions Cup pool play
By Peter Thompson
Leinster halted Toulouse's 12-match unbeaten run to replace them at the top of European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1, while Ulster and Edinburgh also claimed big Top 14 scalps on Saturday.
Toulouse had not been beaten since September, but Leinster ended their 100 per cent Champions Cup record with a 29-13 bonus-point victory at the RDS Arena on a great day for Pro14 clubs.
Injury-hit defending champions Leinster lost Luke McGrath to a knee problem, but lead Toulouse by three points and will be assured of a home quarter-final if they win at Wasps next weekend.
Toulouse are still on course for the last eight with a home clash against Bath to come given their points tally, but they were brought back down to earth on a windy afternoon in Dublin.
Leinster, missing Johnny Sexton and a whole host of fellow internationals, led 10-6 at the break after Jack Conan ploughed his way over from close range and three second-half tries put them out of sight.
Dave Kearney took a pinpoint cross-field kick from Ross Byrne before finishing superbly, then Sean Cronin and Adam Byrne crossed before Cheslin Kolbe touched down right at the end for a well-beaten Toulouse side.
Jacob Stockdale claimed a double as Ulster kept their hopes of securing top spot in Pool 4 alive with a 26-22 defeat of previously unbeaten leaders Racing 92 in a classic battle at Kingspan Stadium.
The prolific Stockdale maintained his record of having scored in every round, the competition's leading scorer chasing onto his own kick for a magnificent solo try in the second half in Belfast.
Simon Zebo's try reduced the deficit to 16-10 at the break and last year's runners-up were only a point behind following tries from Brice Dulin and Olivier Klemenczak, but Will Addison's second penalty completed the scoring as Ulster ground it out.
Edinburgh will head into their decisive Pool 5 clash with Montpellier with a three-point advantage at the summit after downing struggling three-time champions Toulon 28-17 at Stade Mayol.
Richard Cockerill's side rallied from 12-8 down at the interval, Blair Kinghorn and James Johnstone adding to a Darcy Graham try to keep Toulon rooted to the bottom.
Montpellier thrashed Newcastle Falcons 45-8, while Bath edged out Premiership rivals Wasps for their first Pool 1 win courtesy of a late Rhys Priestland penalty and the Scarlets hammered Leicester Tigers 33-10 in Pool 4.
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I wouldn’t think the risk is cash flow, as they have large cash reserves they said all through covid.
I suspect the author has it completely wrong as it pertains to the pool as well, because I can’t see the contracts of players changing year to year like revenue does.
I’d imagine there is an agreed principle to a ‘forecast’ figure of revenue for a cyclical period, and this is what 37% or whatever of is used for player salaries. So it would not change whatever that figure is until the next cycle. Cash flow, as you said, would be the main factor, but as they aren’t paid all it once, they’d not be hindered in this manor I don’t believe. Of all the references I’ve seen of a the player pool agreement, not once have I seen any detail on how the amount is determined.
But yes, that would be a very reasoned look at the consequences, especially compared those I’ve seen in articles on this site. Even with turnonver north of $350 million a year, 20 is still a sizeable chunk. Like this RA’s broadcast deal, they might have smaller sponsorship for a short period to align with everything else, then look to develop the deal further heading into the Lions tour cycle? Perhaps trying to take a deal from low to high like that is unlikely to a long term investor, and NZR want to get a good shortterm deal now so they can capitalize on growth for the Lions (i’m assuming that series has consequences on more than just broadcast deals right).
Go to commentsAnd a few Australians too ……
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