Taça Ibérica 2017-2018

[Armchair Fan Profile]

I open a new thread since it's an international game and it seems there will be live streaming available, quoting CDUL president.



CDUL opened its European campaign with a win against Viadana, but then scored three heavy defeats against Timisoara Saracens, Rovigo and Heidelberg. In national competition it has only lost one game against Coimbra out of 7 matches so far.

VRAC Quesos Entrepinares is undefeated this season (13 wins in 13 games) but declined to take part in Continental Shield. It has a pretty poor record in Copa/Taça Ibérica (only one title back in 2014) and their #10 Tomás Carrió looks set to miss the game after a rib injury last weekend.

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CONVOCATORIA VRAC: Pablo César Gutiérrez, Francisco Blanco, Ignacio Castellote, Pablo Miejimolle, Alberto Blanco, Jody Allen, Raúl Calzón, Kalo Gavidi, Dani Stöhr, Jose Basso, Gabriel Vélez, Adrián Pescador, Nathan Paila, Pablo Gil, Chris Eaton, Álvaro Ferrández, Gareth Griffiths, Alvar Gimeno, Álex G. Müller, Pedro de la Lastra, Fede Castiglioni, Guillo Mateu y John Wessel Bell

Short video preview by CDUL:
https://www.facebook.com/CDULRugby/vide ... 749434276/

BTW, Juan Couselo reminds me on Twitter that CDUL lost Portuguese Supercup against Agronomia. VRAC won Spanish Supercup against Sant Boi.

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Live streaming, it's in two hours: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/SGsYPEnrwq4

[amz Profile]

Live streaming, it's in two hours: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/SGsYPEnrwq4

Cheers!

[Armchair Fan Profile]

Quality looks poor, but it's working and it's much more than I would have expected considering there was no live coverage from Continental Shield...

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13-9 at HT. Spanish fans pretty angry because Ustream limits viewers to 50 per country as CDUL account is a free one.

[Canalina Profile]

Spanish team leading 27-13 now, with seventeen points by Gareth Griffiths, former flyhalf in my city's squad

https://twitter.com/VRAC

[Armchair Fan Profile]

VRAC wins it, first time they clinch the title in Portugal.

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There have been strong words from CDUL president regarding the lack of involvement of both FPR and FER (none were present at the game yesterday). For example CDUL had to buy a trophy and it was presented by their captain: https://www.dn.pt/desporto/interior/esp ... 07320.html

VRAC president declared Thursday that they intend to work during the first semester of 2018 to sort out a new expanded format for Copa Ibérica, but I'm quite pessimistic. Any talks regarding an Iberian League have always come from Spain, I don't think it is a thing in Portugal and clubs from each side of the border have very different philosophies and goals. It's great that CDUL was able to offer a streaming for this edition, but quality and server were poor, miles away from what leading clubs from Spain, those most keen on a pseudoprofessional league involving Portuguese teams. You only need to compare coverage from last year's Copa Ibérica and this year's one.

If structure and marketing don't match skills (because nobody can doubt Portugal can play excellent rugby) we're just losing time. VRAC, El Salvador, Alcobendas (...) already have a hard time convicing sides like Santboiana with a big amateur ethos, I don't see how can they convince similar thinking teams from a different country.

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A small feature from RTP TV:
https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/desporto/rt ... esporto%29

[Armchair Fan Profile]

Spanish producer Emisiones Deportivas has uploaded a recording of the game to YouTube: