RaboDirectPRO12 Race to Playoffs 2012/13

awec

The Oval would never be allowed to host such a game. It's restricted massively and isn't much more than a glorified bomb crater.

The only alternative in Belfast would be Casement Park and they won't allow it.

P_1

awec wrote: »

The Oval would never be allowed to host such a game. It's restricted massively and isn't much more than a glorified bomb crater.

The only alternative in Belfast would be Casement Park and they won't allow it.

Is it that bad? From looking at pictures it reminds me a lot of the Bradford Bulls' home ground

awec

Yes, Glentoran are planning to leave the stadium as it isn't viable for them anymore.

P_1

awec wrote: »

Yes, Glentoran are planning to leave the stadium as it isn't viable for them anymore.

Ah right, strikes me as being similar enough to Dalymount I guess.

Larbre34

Munster

It'll have to be Lansdowne Road really. The schedule there is clear, itll be in rugby setup after the HEC, Rabo will love the exposure and theyd probably get 40,000 at it, especially after both sides miss out on the big enchillada.

Just reviewing the run-in, has to be Scarlets nailed on to get 4th place now, Ospreys have to play Leinster and Glasgow and Scarlets have the comparatively easy Cardiff and Treviso. Its very much in Leinsters interests to thump Ospreys at the RDS in Round 22, although as usual those buggers will be well rested having had a typically rubbish European campaign!

molloyjh

Larbre34 wrote: »

It'll have to be Lansdowne Road really. The schedule there is clear, itll be in rugby setup after the HEC, Rabo will love the exposure and theyd probably get 40,000 at it, especially after both sides miss out on the big enchillada.

Just reviewing the run-in, has to be Scarlets nailed on to get 4th place now, Ospreys have to play Leinster and Glasgow and Scarlets have the comparatively easy Cardiff and Treviso. Its very much in Leinsters interests to thump Ospreys at the RDS in Round 22, although as usual those buggers will be well rested having had a typically rubbish European campaign!

I'll still be cheering the Ospreys on this weekend. Should they win and should we beat Zebre that will put anywhere from 4 to 6 points between us going into the last round.

awec

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/11384.php

"Ulster Rugby has today nominated the RDS in Dublin as its 'home' venue for a potential RaboDirect PRO12 Final on Saturday, 25 May."

its_phil

Munster

awec wrote: »

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/11384.php

"Ulster Rugby has today nominated the RDS in Dublin as its 'home' venue for a potential RaboDirect PRO12 Final on Saturday, 25 May."

:eek:

Leinster fans must be feeling like a pig in s*** today. Here is hoping Ulster fans don't do what Quins fans did and actually go to the game making it enough of a fortress so not to give Leinster an advantage. All on the proviso they make it of course

I presume the tickets wouldn't go on general sale like ticketmaster then if it happened? Ulster to sell them on their own?

ssaye

Last year the grand final tickets for Leinster went to your season ticket account, buy your own seat and no more and if not bought by x date, its goes to a public pile.

18500 seater

12-13k Leinster season ticket holders first 9000+ and thats it

First come first served for your 50/50 split

Podge_irl

Ulster and Leinster will each sell half and presumably only to their STHs.

Won't be enough tickets for every STH though. Which could be unpleasant.

awec

Podge_irl wrote: »

Ulster and Leinster will each sell half and presumably only to their STHs.

Won't be enough tickets for every STH though. Which could be unpleasant.

All the more reason why any all irish final should be punted over to the Aviva.

pc7

Is there any way if it was an Ulster V Leinster final that they could use the Aviva? Or now that Ulster have picked RDS as their 'home' final venue that's that?

Podge_irl

They'd be moving it to the Aviva on two week's notice, which I think would be unfeasible.

ssaye

awec wrote: »

All the more reason why any all irish final should be punted over to the Aviva.

It wont be unfortunately.

The weather last May, the players on show, the possibility of a double. I would have imagined Leinster alone would have sold the Aviva for the final easily maybe more.

awec

I think it would be a real shame for an Ulster Leinster final to be played at the RDS.

Not because I dislike the RDS, but because I think such a fixture would be yet another rugby spectacle in Dublin this year and if it's in the RDS there will be a lot of disappointed ticketless fans.

ssaye

Oh yeah , it will be 50/50 with probably 500 or so less for corporate sponsors
so 9000 each I imagine.

jamiedav2011

There were loads of tickets around for last year's final, think I remember a good bit of space on the North/South Stands too.

Think the lack of marketing time would put paid to a possible Aviva final.

Will Leinster increase the capacity for the final? Think we've done that before to up around 21,000.

ssaye

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

There were loads of tickets around for last year's final, think I remember a good bit of space on the North/South Stands too.

Think the lack of marketing time would put paid to a possible Aviva final.

Will Leinster increase the capacity for the final? Think we've done that before to up around 21,000.

Clermont home QF 2010 extra seats where the TV's were afaik

Probably wont happen.

Podge_irl

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

There were loads of tickets around for last year's final, think I remember a good bit of space on the North/South Stands too.

Think the lack of marketing time would put paid to a possible Aviva final.

Will Leinster increase the capacity for the final? Think we've done that before to up around 21,000.

This is true, though Leinster also had a slightly bigger final in London the week before so people would have spent a lot travelling to that. That won't be the case this time around.

jamiedav2011

ssaye wrote: »

Clermont home QF 2010 extra seats where the TV's were afaik

Probably wont happen.

Didn't they do it for the first Ospreys final too?

ssaye

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Didn't they do it for the first Ospreys final too?

Could be right just remember the first time cause it was new, too many games since.

.ak

If I was an Ulster fan I'd be gutted over it. Especially after all the hard work they've done this season. Having said that, it is what is, and Ravenhill won't be done in time... I guess jacothelad you should've borrowed that hard hat n shovel I was offering!

awec

Some irritating individual on facebook keeps calling Ulster narrow minded for not using one of the Ulster GAA grounds.

I despair! :mad:

Quint2010

If they are moving it to Dublin why not have it in The Aviva? More of a neutral ground than the RDS if Leinster make it.

ssaye

Quint2010 wrote: »

If they are moving it to Dublin why not have it in The Aviva? More of a neutral ground than the RDS if Leinster make it.

Ulsters decision, they may see that Leinster haven't won at home in a grand final so its not a huge issue.

pc7

ssaye wrote: »

Ulsters decision, they may see that Leinster haven't won at home in a grand final so its not a huge issue.

Ouch!

ssaye

pc7 wrote: »

Ouch!

I am a Leinster STH but just am being honest.

Would love to win the league home or away.

pc7

ssaye wrote: »

I am a Leinster STH but just am being honest.

Would love to win the league home or away.

Lost in textation, I should have put one of these in after it
I've a good feeling for this year.

its_phil

Munster

Where would Glasgow host their game if they finished top seeds and won the semi final?

Parkhead and Ibrox are a bit big?

P_1

its_phil wrote: »

Where would Glasgow host their game if they finished top seeds and won the semi final?

Parkhead and Ibrox are a bit big?

Sure aren't the Scots well used to seeing Hampden half empty for matches :pac:

its_phil

Munster

P_1 wrote: »

Sure aren't the Scots well used to seeing Hampden half empty for matches :pac:

They'd probably have it as a warm up game to one of Celtics games. Pre-Match entertainment

errlloyd

Munster

If we can host a regular season league game against munster in the aviva and do a decent job at filling it, I reckon we can host a league final there. I just laugh at the dent taking 30k ulster fans would do the NI economy. The stormont government must be cursing not getting their act together sooner with ravenhill.

P_1

Only logical thing to do for the Leinster branch is to nominate Lansdowne as their 'home' venue. The ground should still be set up for rugby and I don't think there are any football friendlies scheduled for that weekend

thomond2006

Ospreys

Going into tomorrow:

Ulster 76
Glasgow 72
Leinster 68
Ospreys 62

---

Scarlets 62

with Zebre vs Leinster and Scarlets vs Cardiff to come.

Another impressive result for Glasgow tonight!

jamiedav2011

Scarlets get a BP win tomorrow and they're almost guaranteed.

durkadurka

Munster

Ospreys never got over losing the first three games of the season, and Munster will rue those sloppy home defeats in Musgrave.

tolosenc

Munster

Ospreys' loss means Leinster officially clinch a playoff spot.

thomond2006

Ospreys

Scarlets 10-6 Cardiff at halftime

thomond2006

Ospreys

Scarlets 24-6 up now, 15 minutes left to get the bonus point

cruiserweight

No bonus point for the Scarlets, finished 24-6

thomond2006

Ospreys

Ulster 76 (16 wins, +205)
Glasgow 72 ( 15 wins, +200)
Leinster 68 (15 wins, +162)
Scarlets 66 (15 wins, +54)

---

Ospreys 62 (14 wins, +147)

3.5. If two or more Teams finish with the same number of league points, their placings will be determined by the following criteria in descending order:

• number of matches won;
• the difference between points for and points against;
• the number of tries scored;
• the most points scored;
• the difference between tries for and tries against;
• the fewest number of red cards received;
• the fewest number of yellow cards received.

thomond2006

Ospreys

TOP 5 AFTER ROUND 21:
Ulster 76 (16 wins, +205)
Leinster 73 (16 wins, +181)
Glasgow 72 ( 15 wins, +200)
Scarlets 66 (15 wins, +54)

---

Ospreys 62 (14 wins, +147)

3.5. If two or more Teams finish with the same number of league points, their placings will be determined by the following criteria in descending order:

• number of matches won;
• the difference between points for and points against;
• the number of tries scored;
• the most points scored;
• the difference between tries for and tries against;
• the fewest number of red cards received;
• the fewest number of yellow cards received.


Final weekend of fixtures (to be simultaneously played on Fri 3 May 7:45pm):
Connacht vs Glasgow
Edinburgh vs Dragons
Leinster vs Ospreys
Scarlets vs Treviso
Ulster vs Cardiff Blues
Zebre vs Munster

As it stands Ulster, Leinster and Glasgow have all qualified for the playoffs.

Glasgow will have to finish with superior league points to Ulster or Leinster in order to finish above either, since both Irish teams have 16 wins while Glasgow have 15.

Any win for Leinster will guarantee a home semi-final, while two points will do for Ulster. Scarlets will need two points to be absolutely sure of a playoff spot, since Ospreys have one more win and a superior points difference.

awec

Playoffs will be Ulster v Scarlets and Leinster v Glasgow IMO.

thomond2006

Ospreys

awec wrote: »

Playoffs will be Ulster v Scarlets and Leinster v Glasgow IMO.

I think all the top four will win their games alright.

awec

thomond2006 wrote: »

I think all the top four will win their games alright.

What's your prediction for the final, as a neutral who can make such predictions without tempting the gods of scuddery?

thomond2006

Ospreys

awec wrote: »

What's your prediction for the final, as a neutral who can make such predictions without tempting the gods of scuddery?

Neil Francis

totallegend

Ospreys

awec wrote: »

What's your prediction for the final, as a neutral who can make such predictions without tempting the gods of scuddery?

If all four win next week and we end up with Ulster v Scarlets and Leinster v Glasgow, you'd have to back an All-Irish final.

Could be a busy couple of weeks for Leinster.

vienne86

Ospreys

totallegend wrote: »

If all four win next week and we end up with Ulster v Scarlets and Leinster v Glasgow, you'd have to back an All-Irish final.

Could be a busy couple of weeks for Leinster.

Could have two finals, two weeks running, in the RDS....I'm afraid to think about that but whatever happens, we have a few great weeks of rugby coming up. Terrific end of season.

Podge_irl

Win against the Ospreys and Leinster won't be leaving the RDS for the rest of the season.

ulster_Beef

ssaye wrote: »

Ulsters decision, they may see that Leinster haven't won at home in a grand final so its not a huge issue.

It was not their decision... There is more behind it than you and we all think.