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French officials haven't given up hope on Marseille hosting 2020's European finals

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

French officials haven’t given up hope yet that Marseille can still host this season’s Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals despite the coronavirus outbreak.

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With the April 3/5 quarter-final fixture schedule on ice due to the outbreak and no firm indication that the clubs involved will definitely be back playing domestic rugby by the end of April, especially as France is currently on lockdown, there is an acceptance that the European finals won’t be going ahead as planned on May 22 and 23. 

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Defending Champions Cup champions Saracens were among the teams still in the hunt for silverware as they were due in Dublin to take on Leinster in an April 4 quarter-final.

However, rather than scratch the tournaments entirely, one hypothesis in France is that the showpiece deciders could be held over until July and played two months after originally planned.

If there is a resumption in the rugby season, French officials apparently want to focus first on their suspended Top 14.

Only 17 of the 26 regulation season rounds of fixtures have been played, but there is a suggestion that the scheduling of midweek fixtures can clear the backlog and ensure that the planned June 26 final at Stade de France can go ahead as planned. 

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Only then would thoughts turn to Europe and finishing out those competitions. “We are studying all the possibilities,” said a source in a Midi Olympique story. 

“We notably noticed that the Velodrome stadium in Marseille could possibly be free in July. But this is only one of several working hypotheses for the moment… we can only really move forward when we know a little more about the evolution of the epidemic.”

EPCR postponed its quarter-finals last Monday but insisted they were committed to finding a solution which would allow the campaign to be completed.

“Amid growing public health concerns due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the decision was taken during a conference call… to postpone the eight matches on the weekend in question and to suspend the European club rugby season,” read a statement.

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“EPCR’s priority is the health and welfare of players and club staff, and an update regarding the knockout stages of the tournaments will be communicated to all stakeholders as soon as practicable.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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