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UK columnist bemoans 'priceless advantage' afforded to Leinster
By Ian Cameron
Sunday Times columnist Stephen Jones is not that happy at Leinster being allowed to play their “away” Champions Cup semi-final at Croke Park, a mere 3.4 kilometres from the Aviva Stadium.
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Last night Leinster defeated La Rochelle 40-13, ending the French club’s bid to secure a third consecutive Champions Cup title.
Under the guidance of Corkonian Ronan O’Gara, La Rochelle had previously bested Leinster in the finals of the last two seasons, albeit with a slender overall margin of just four points. However, Leinster got their sweet revenge in a relatively one-sided contest.
However, it’s the decision to host the semi-final at Croke Park that has stirred debate among rugby enthusiasts and commentators alike, particularly regarding the integrity of what constitutes an ‘away’ game.
Critics – including Jones – argue that playing so close to their usual venue provides Leinster with a “priceless” home-field advantage, not typically afforded to teams in similar situations.
Writing in his Sunday Times column, Jones observed: “They [Northampton Saints] will face Leinster, who beat La Rochelle 40-13, in the semi-final, and in a massive shock, Leinster are not hosting it at their home ground, the Aviva Stadium, because it is the venue for the Europa League final.
“It is not to cast aspersions on anyone, but the last time they played an away game, their boots had wooden studs.
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“They have the home country advantage as the competition’s second-ranked team but will now have to walk all the way to Croke Park, also in Dublin, of course.
“The organisers of this tournament have made it partially ridiculous by allowing the seedings from months ago to apply all the way through until the final, which has devalued the event and given Leinster a ludicrously priceless advantage.”
Regardless of venue, there’s no denying that Leinster are now hot favourites to add a fifth Champions Cup to their trophy cabinet, such was the manner of their victory over La Rochelle.
O’Gara – a long and bitter rival of Leinster – doffed his cap in the direction of the men in blue, copping the loss on the chin.
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“If it’s a close one, you always have a lot more regrets but if you have a small bit of cop on, you could see that the dominant team was in blue,” said O’Gara in the post match press conference. “They were shaper to everything and they made it difficult for us and their rush defence worked well and in the first 70, I don’t think we won a breakdown penalty bar the kick-off that we took.”
So an answer could be this:
CC 8 groups of 3 playing home & away, so 4 games with winner qualifying and 2nd into ChC ko’s. Post group, 2 leg QF then neutral SF and neutral F.
ChC 4 groups of 4 playing each team once. Top 2 qualify and play round of 16 with CC 2nd’s. Home for 8 CC teams. Then 2 leg QF followed by neutral SF and neutral F.
There, sorted! Wasn’t too difficult…
Every year we hear this same nonsense from Jones. Where would he like the game to be played - Cork? Belfast? (that would upset the Unionists). Toulouse will play at Stadium de Toulouse, 6.3km walk away from Stade Toulousain. Why is this not mentioned? The EPCR want the biggest stadium available to host. It just so happens, due to historical lack of development, all of those stadia (2 in total) are in Dublin (a very small city) 3.4km away from one another.
To try and stay relevant Jones has written increasingly controversial articles. It’s some sad, late-career attempt to become a ‘brand’ - the sort of grumpy Roy Keane pundit who gets people’s back up. Problem is he doesn’t have the know-how or talent to do it. Pathetic really.
Paper will always take ink and journalistic hacks must write something to make their living.
Jones is nothing more than a trolling hack and England apologist, it's surprising he gets so-called real rugby supporters so triggered.
As for European Rugby competition, it's so weighted in favour of the stronger teams it's also become a parody of itself. The inclusion of South African teams has diluted any integrity that the competitions may have had. All KO games from the ¼ finals onwards should be at neutral venues. It is supposed to be for the best teams, so a little travel should not present the contenders any great hardship. Why winning all your pool games gives you home ties all the way to the final is farcical and quite frankly, sounds like something Donald Trump would dream up.
Let’s be honest about this issue. The reason seedings are done this way is financial, to maximise ticket revenues and it ain’t going to change. However, the stats show it puts the away team at a massive disadvantage and that does impact the sporting integrity of the competition.
Stephen Jones has been Irish-baiting for at least 20 years. I've not seen much of his commentary in the interim but it seems he's not easily bored. I recall he also had a thing against NZ, and used to like referring to Pacific islanders playing for the ABs as ‘the browning of NZ rugby’. He's a hack, ignore him.
Toulouse will play his semi at about the same distance of Ernest Wallon….
This is nonsense. Home advantage is given to the teams who do best in the Pool stages. Leinster are playing a home game against Northhampton. Croke Park is the nominated ‘Home’ stadium for the match. Leinster, like La Rochelle in the last 2 years, play a lot of their matches at home because of their success in the Pool stages.
The English Premiership and French top 14 have gotten the concession of a 1/8 final which allows them to carry out half assed pool stages and still make the knock outs.
Jones is suggesting we also give them an open draw. Now that would devalue the tournament.
I don’t want to be paranoid or betray a victim mentality but that man has a go at Irish Teams at every opportunity. Have a go, rationalize with BS reasons after.