Tall Paul wrote: Great research connachta, I was not aware of all of those permutations.
I thought it would be harder than that to qualify via challenge cup.

This maybe why KK put all his eggs into the challenge cup.
I know, I personally thought the league would have been the easier route and he should have concentrated on that

2 months I ve been waiting for this specific game, so trust me, like Will Grigg, Im gonna put the Sportsground on fire this Sat, with Eddie the Eagle of course :silly:

MulMan wrote: Absolutely amateur hour if they forgot he wasn't part of the European squad and didn't add him because of it; at least in the Northampton game it was a little more unclear that only the European squad could be used. The fact we had the opportunity to add players only adds to the level of the mistake, and to add insult to injury they added Brennan who won't be used barring a disaster and Browne who is injured and could have been added in place of Gallagher as a reversal of a previous change to the 41 man squad as it was at the time.

Just in relation to that last bit, that's exactly what I though too: reverse the Brownse/Gallagher switch and add three other players (including SOB). In fact I was hoping that the error was EPCR's and they'd confused a re-registration/de-registration (Browne for Gallagher) with an addition. But it turns out you have to reverse changes during the pool stages: Challenge Cup Rules

"3.5 Each club may register up to three additional players during the pool stage, each to replace a player previously registered. If a club registers three additional players, one such player must be a front row player. Additional players must have a three-month contract with the club and must not have played for another club in the tournament. Additional player registrations must be submitted by 12 noon (GMT) on the Tuesday before the match. De-registered players may be re-registered (in place of the relevant additional players) during the pool stages."

Still no excuse for not registering SOB in place of Brennan or Browne.

salmson wrote: Sean O'Brien definitely ineligible for Saturday (and the rest of the competition if we go further). EPCR squad page ( Connacht Challenge Cup Squad ) updated to 44 players including the three new additions ( Additional Players ) Brennan, Browne, and O'Donnell. Shades of Northampton.

Absolutely amateur hour if they forgot he wasn't part of the European squad and didn't add him because of it; at least in the Northampton game it was a little more unclear that only the European squad could be used. The fact we had the opportunity to add players only adds to the level of the mistake, and to add insult to injury they added Brennan who won't be used barring a disaster and Browne who is injured and could have been added in place of Gallagher as a reversal of a previous change to the 41 man squad as it was at the time.

Great research connachta, I was not aware of all of those permutations.
I thought it would be harder than that to qualify via challenge cup.

This maybe why KK put all his eggs into the challenge cup.
I know, I personally thought the league would have been the easier route and he should have concentrated on that

I guess the selection decisions for this game are:

McCabe or Coulson on the bench?
Delahunt or Heffernan on the bench?
The entire second row.
McKeon or Masterson at 6?
Numbers 22 and 23.

Sol_ie wrote: So a losing Challenge Cup finalist might qualify, but a losing Champions Cup finalist won't?

Designed this way to increase importance of Challenge Cup I believe.

connachta wrote: In accordance with a decision of the EPCR Board comprising the nine unions, federations and league bodies, the 20th place in the Champions Cup will be determined as follows:
i) Champions Cup winner, if not already qualified
ii) Challenge Cup winner, if not already qualified
iii) Challenge Cup losing finalist, if not already qualified
iv) Play-off match between the losing Challenge Cup semi-finalists, if not already qualified
v) Highest ranked non-qualified club by virtue of league position from the same league as the Champions Cup winner

So a losing Challenge Cup finalist might qualify, but a losing Champions Cup finalist won't?

Sean O'Brien definitely ineligible for Saturday (and the rest of the competition if we go further). EPCR squad page ( Connacht Challenge Cup Squad ) updated to 44 players including the three new additions ( Additional Players ) Brennan, Browne, and O'Donnell. Shades of Northampton.

In accordance with a decision of the EPCR Board comprising the nine unions, federations and league bodies, the 20th place in the Champions Cup will be determined as follows:
i) Champions Cup winner, if not already qualified
ii) Challenge Cup winner, if not already qualified
iii) Challenge Cup losing finalist, if not already qualified
iv) Play-off match between the losing Challenge Cup semi-finalists, if not already qualified
v) Highest ranked non-qualified club by virtue of league position from the same league as the Champions Cup winner

It seems to need a miracle but we're pretty likely to get there, down to point iv)
It needs

i) Clermont being prevented to win CC by any of Leinster/Munster/another. Bad form, and even with injuries comebacks, key players won't fit back in the team that easily.

ii) and iii) Challenge Cup winner/finalist, with the home advantages should be either Pau or Newcastle. 4th and 5th in their respective domestic league. A bit tricky for Pau but they have 50% chance to make top 6 IMO. Newcastle, seeing their schedule and Bath defeat last night, are 90% qualified

iv) than a potential play-off, which, contrary to the Pro14 one, may be home. More important, it's likely we don't even neeed the Euro-play-off, if Edinburgh (likely losing SF) are qualified through the league (even finishing behind Ulster they have the home play-off vs Cardiff they should win)

So to sum-up, it is all about :
1) beating Gloucester
2) Pushing for Pau in Top14
3) praying to avoid quite unlikely results from Cardiff/Clermont/Sale (Newcastle last threat)

If we win next week, I'd say we have 25% chance to qualify. Which is very good as "only" losing Challenge Cup semi finalist.

That's why I said for months next Saturday is massive to keep hopes alive, and that's why I'd be in the Sportsgroud 110% behind the lads + of course the double revenge for Muldoon late-missed-tackle under Elwood and play-off referee-stolen