Rosbifs Rugby

Two late changes for Pau, and two big ones.

Montoya out, Lucas Rey in - probs helps their lineout, but de-powers the scrum and breakdown.

Maddocks out, Valentino in - they’ll lose a bit of physicality in midfield there.

Haha too right on the pronunciation!

He’s not been perfect for Pau, but he’s exactly what they needed in terms of power and dynamism in that back row.

What’s worse: sending a weakened side for the second round of the tournament or for the first round when all eventualities are possible?

From the Tigers fan half of Rosbifs, very disappointed with the side they sent over to France - even worse given La Rochelle’s form coming in to this weekend.

He played like a man who was enjoying himself and finding things pretty easy.

Being 30kg (or 25%) heavier than your opposite man probably helps a bit too…

Own Try of the Season contender from Charlie Titcombe

Also, the food at the Hameau is 👌😋🤌

Envious of Saints fans who will enjoy:
> beef brisket baguette
> bavette steak with chimmichurri & duck fat potatoes
> duck breast baguette with foie gras and fig jam 🤤🤤🤤

#InvestecChampionsCup #FrenchRugby #Pau #SectionPaloise

@northamptonsaints.bsky.social

NEED TO KNOW: Pau🐂🏔️

And of course, here is our pre-Champions Cup Need to Know for Section Paloise.

Even the Section fan half of Rosbifs is surprised by how the season is going. They are getting it right tactically and they are more physical now.

🐂🏔️PAU Team News!

This *could* be one of the games of the round. Pau have gone semi strong. Most notably their French internationals and best JIFF players are rested.
>Jolmes needs to fire
>Back row has work rate for days
>Desperes’s tactical kicking game with Arfeuil will be 🔑
>Plenty of pace

🐺LYON: Need to Know

R1: Newcastle 🏠
R2: Dragons ✈️
R3: Lions ✈️
R4: Benetton 🏠

Will want to improve their Top 14 position but it’s a very kind fixture list and they should progress easily.

Plenty more Lyon recommendations if needed!

@dragonslairpodcast.bsky.social @spritzandscrums.bsky.social

Ⓜ️ MONTPELLIER: Need to Know

R1: Black Lion ✈️
R2: Zebre 🏠
R3: Connacht 🏠
R4: Ospreys ✈️

As often the case, they should be among the favourites for the Challenge Cup of the teams starting off in the pool stage.

@the2ndrow.bsky.social @ospreyspodcast.bsky.social

🌸STADE FRANCAIS: Need to Know

R1: Cardiff 🏠
R2: Cheetahs ✈️
R3: Exeter 🏠
R4: Ulster ✈️

They might be going better in the league this year, but they have put zero effort into Europe for the best part of a decade (since they won the Challenge Cup in 2017)
Paris though 😍
@cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social

Top 14 Teams in the Challenge Cup — explained! 🇫🇷🏉

If your club is facing a French side in Europe this season, this thread is for you.

We’ve created short guides for every French side in Europe to help non-French fans understand who you’re up against 👇

#InvestecChampionsCup

We also had Tigers fly half Billy Searle on The Rosbifs Rugby Podcast this week to preview the game - absolutely brilliant to have someone at the top of the game talk us through how Leicester are shaping up!

Download & Listen here 👇
linktr.ee/rosbifsrugby

#InvestecChampionsCup #ChampionsCup #Top14

NEED TO KNOW: La Rochelle ⛵️

And of course, here is our pre-Champions Cup Need to Know for Les Maritimes.

For the hundreds of Tigers fans in La Rochelle, we are incredibly jealous.

@rollingmaulpod.bsky.social @rugbytigers.bsky.social

⛵️LA ROCHELLE Team News

Unsurprisingly, is as strong as they can go, given injuries and suspensions.
>Plenty of their breakdown threats available
>West & Lleyds have been in sparkling form
>Atonio returns for first game this season - HUGE boost
>19yo fly half Jurd is amazing

🍇UBB: Need to Know

Great to see them back to full strength for pretty much the first time this season - they’ve been a bit sticky so far!

#InvestecChampionsCup #ChampionsCup #Top14

@thalamsutu.bsky.social

🍇BORDEAUX Team News

Very disappointing that UBB don’t start their defence with a game at home…WTF!? 😡

BUT they have gone full noise for their trip to Pretoria 👏🏼
>Moefana returns for 1st time this season!
>Palu & Woki have been great this season
>Keep an eye on Matiu 🧨

🌋CLERMONT: Need to Know

For all your need to know about the club generally, of course we had our Clermont Team Overview 👇

You can see that they don’t have all of their key players, but still plenty.

#InvestecChampionsCup

@rugbysaracens.bsky.social

🌋CLERMONT Team News

Clermont have actually gone pretty strong for this game - could be a cracker!

> First choice half backs are critical to how they play
> Changed up pack, but still plenty of power
> Moala returns to the bench 🧨🔥👀

Clermont poor on the road generally - Sarries strong favourites

We did a deeper dive previewing the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup on our The Rosbifs Rugby Podcast this week - and we had a bit of help from Leicester Tigers fly half Billy Searle!

Download it here 👇
linktr.ee/rosbifsrugby

#ChampionsCup #InvestecChampionsCup #EPCR #Top14

TOULOUSE 🛡️

R1: Sharks 🏠
R2: Glasgow ✈️
R3: Saracens ✈️
R4: Sale 🏠

They’ll want revenge for that semi final exit. Crushing sides at home and it feels like they haven’t clicked into gear yet. Maybe the return of You Know Who will help them with that…

Favourites for the 🏆?

TOULON 🏴‍☠️

R1: Edinburgh ✈️
R2: Bath 🏠
R3: Munster 🏠
R4: Gloucester ✈️

Arguably just as much chance of winning the Champions Cup as they do the Top 14 - and the fans are restless for silverware.

Toulon v Bath a contender for game of the group stage.

PAU 🗻🐂

R1: Northampton 🏠
R2: Bristol ✈️
R3: Scarlets ✈️
R4: Bulls 🏠

After their bright start in the Top 14, expect them to focus on that. Publicly stated aim of play offs for that. They do have so much exciting young talent, hard to know where to start!

LA ROCHELLE ⛵️

R1: Leicester 🏠
R2: Stormers ✈️
R3: Leinster ✈️
R4: Harlequins 🏠

Their list of unavailable players would make up a pretty decent XV capable of beating most international sides. ROG’s red card at the weekend shows he’s feeling the strain…

CLERMONT AUVERGNE 🌋

R1: Saracens ✈️
R2: Sale 🏠
R3: Glasgow 🏠
R4: Sharks ✈️

Urios doesn’t have a good record in these comps as a coach, but Clermont are building quite nicely. Marcel Michelin remains one of the best - if you can get there!

CASTRES 💙

R1: Gloucester ✈️
R2: Edinburgh 🏠
R3: Bath 🏠
R4: Munster ✈️

Still don’t know if they will turn up in Europe. It may not matter cos their players are back and it’ll be entertaining!

UNION BORDEAUX-BÈGLES 🍇

R1: Bulls ✈️
R2: Scarlets 🏠
R3: Northampton Saints 🏠
R4: Bristol Bears ✈️

The champions start their defence (underwhelmingly) with a trip to Pretoria.

BAYONNE: NEED TO KNOW 🚣‍♂️

R1: DHL Stormers 🏠
R2: Harlequins ✈️
R3: Leicester Tigers ✈️
R4: Leinster 🏠

Their focus will be on the Top 14 and their proud home record - but if you are visiting, you are in for a treat!

Top 14 Teams in the Champions Cup — explained! 🇫🇷🏉

If your club is facing a French side in Europe this season, this thread is for you.

We’ve created short guides for every French side in Europe to help non-French fans understand who you’re up against 👇

#PROD2 Round 13 🔮

Just the 18 games left in PROD2 then, kicking off with fancied Colomiers vs a Grenoble side building back to full strength.

Oyonnax and Provence will fancy their chances away on recent form, whilst SAXV will surely respond after some firm words last week!