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Premiership Rugby have been thrown into an invidious position ahead of the Gallagher Premiership final this week with a number of Wasps players contracting Covid-19 before the English league showpiece versus Exeter. After another round of testing, Wasps will find out this Wednesday if they can make the final.
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The contingency plan that was in place when the season restarted was that if a team could not make the final, the next highest placed team would replace them. That is Bristol Bears in this situation, who could step in to face Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham.
That may not have been too problematic had Bristol not succumbed to a resounding 47-24 loss to Wasps in the semi-final. Consequently, the general feeling is that Pat Lam’s side are undeserving of a potential place in the final.
Such an ending, though, is equally symptomatic of this bizarre season. If the match has to be played, there is one idea that is being mooted online as an attempt to assuage the outcry from those that feel the integrity of the Premiership is at stake if Exeter must play Bristol.
Bristol may have lost their Premiership semi-final against Wasps, but they did win the European Challenge Cup final last week against Toulon. A day later Exeter were crowned Heineken Champions Cup winners with a victory over Racing 92.
It's proving to be quite a week so far… and we're only into Tuesday ?https://t.co/vlvyEh7VQm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 20, 2020
The situation, therefore, has fallen into the laps of organisers to create a European Super Cup between the two clubs. This is an idea taken from football where the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League compete for the UEFA Super Cup.
It means that Exeter could be named Premiership champions, but can still face Bristol in a match that has meaning and legitimacy. The majority of people feel it is only fair that Rob Baxter’s side are crowned champions if they cannot face the other semi-final winners, particularly after topping the league.
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With less than a week’s notice, this idea may be wishful thinking as Premiership Rugby had already accounted for this exact situation arising. However, it was not foreseen that this potential match would be between two European champions, meaning there is a chance to make the best of a bad situation.
If it comes to it, put on a ‘European Super Cup’ exhibition game as suggested elsewhere. No way you can possible justify giving Bristol a shot at the the title, having shipped nearly 50 in a semi. Risk losing an audience.
— Ross Hancock (@RossiHancock) October 19, 2020
Personally however, if the TV Broadcasters are willing to accept it, and if Wasps can’t make it, annoint Exeter the champions and make it a “Super Cup Challenge” between the European Champions Cup Winners and the European Challenge Cup Winners.
— Tony Dyer (@TonyDDyer) October 19, 2020
It’s a silly situation really. Let’s see if Wasps can play or not. There may yet be more to the story if/when Bristol are thrust into it!
Like the idea of giving Exeter the win and still having a Super Cup type match tho ?
— Neil Wilmer (@NeilWilmer) October 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/jackthrelk/status/1318177542252224523?s=20
If Wasps can’t play then Exeter should be handed the win. If TV demands a game then play Exeter v Bristol as a “European Super Cup”
— Drew (@drewlaing48) October 19, 2020
If they are desperate for TV money play a Champions Cup v Challenge Cup style match between the two at Twickenham on Saturday. Just don’t have the Premiership trophy up for grabs at the end of it.
— The Wasps Report (@TheWaspsReport) October 19, 2020
How about if wasps can’t play then give Exeter the title and then Bristol and Exeter play a kind of super cup match ( challenge cup winners v champions cup winners ) so a game takes place just not for the title ????
— Tim Coles (@trc669) October 19, 2020
How about this…give Exeter the title but have Bristol v Exeter fill the tv time in a European Cup Winners Cup…Exeter aren’t robbed of the title, Bristol play in a game they fully deserve to be in, and no lost tv money. Everybody wins (except Wasps)
— James Ashrafi-Tari (@JAshrafiTari91) October 19, 2020
As a Bristol fan (with a 50/1 bet on too btw) I quite liked the suggestion that if Wasps cannot play Exeter are awarded the trophy but to satisfy TV Bristol play Exeter for a ‘Super Cup’ after the recent European wins …..
— Dave Gardner (@deeg159) October 20, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the and Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he always say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
37 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
122 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
6 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
122 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
37 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
6 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
122 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
37 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
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