Munster Get Stade Francais in Quarter Final

[daveirl]

http://irish.rugbynow.net/archives/2004/02/munster_to_face_stade.php

Well is it better than getting Gloucester yet again?

Anyone want to start looking for tickets?

[pablo]

Stade Français won't be easy by any means, Diego Dominguez got 4 penalties and a try last week against Leicester to give them a final score of 26-13. Munster are ranked 3rd in the pool, does that guarentee them a home semi ?

from : http://www.planetrugby.com/News/story_33965.shtml
Meanwhile, the ERC has announced that the draw for the Heineken Cup semi-finals will take place on February 3, 2004, with the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue T.D., set to conduct the draw with ERC Chairman Jean-Pierre Lux.

The draw will take place at The Department of Foreign Affairs, Iveagh House, 80 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.

Heineken Cup quarter-final line-up:
Toulouse (1) v Edinburgh Rugby (8)
London Wasps (2) v Gloucester (7)
Munster (3) v Stade Français (6)
Llanelli Scarlets (4) v Biarritz Olympique (5)


Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final line-up:
NEC Harlequins v Connacht
Montferrand v Bath Rugby

[ciaran]

The draw for the semis is on Wednesday, there's no seedings - we have a 50% chance [if we win] of having a home semi [conspiracy theorists would say our chance is much less than that but we won't go there]

Funny place to have the draw!

I'd say Stade [in Limerick] is definitely better than playing Gloucester again, Glos have been there already this year and know what to expect - Stade will hopefully be taken back by the 'Thomond Park Factor', it's a while since they've been there...

[daveirl]

The draw for the semis is on Wednesday, there's no seedings - we have a 50% chance [if we win] of having a home semi [conspiracy theorists would say our chance is much less than that but we won't go there]I don't think you're right there. AFAIK the draw is for the semis of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup.

[pablo]

I don't think you're right there. AFAIK the draw is for the semis of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup.
nope , 'tis for the semi-final draw alright. It is supposed to be live on the net at 1pm today , www.ercrugby.com .
Quarter finals in 4 different countries is great. There were some rumors that Munster might play in Landstown Rd. but apparently there haven't been any talks to that effect.

[ciaran]

Apparently they were asked to by the IRFU but refused...

[pablo]

Ohhh , interesting.

Anyway they Musgrave park on Friday night is the time of the next match. It should be a good one, hopefully the weather is half decent for it. I wonder is Frankie back yet.

[ciaran]

The internationals are off at an Irish training thing, they won't be playing on Friday.

They're right to play it in Thomond, they need every advantage they can get! Stade are a good team...

[the evil belly]

slightly off topic but if anyone knows of spare tickets to the home 6 nations games i'd happily buy em. won't be in cork to try and get some and don't really know where to begin in dublin

[ciaran]

Tickets for Italy are still on sale I think [they were a while ago anyway...]

[the evil belly]

from where? i'll be home the weekend so i'll ask around then but other than that i'm in dublin until march

[neil jung]

Speaking of the semi-final draw, I know there's supposed to be a thing about the 'home' draw for the semis being played something like 120 miles away form the home teams ground which is why Munster played Stade in the middle of nowhere and playe Beziers in the middle of nowhere else but why then did we have to play in Toulouse itself last year?

Is it cause they removed the 120 mile rule and replaced it with a 20,000 capcaity stadium rule?? Anyone any ideas cause the ercrugby.com site has no info on competition rules at all.

And one last thing while I'm at it is England Italy, the first 6 nations game after being moved to the Stadio Olimpico (like the rumours said) or is it just on in the Flaminio as per ususal?

Anyways have de Craic.

[ciaran]

They got rid of the 120 miles rule last year [to suit Toulouse, and Leinster, apparently]