RaboPro12 13/14 season thread

Podge_irl

Edinburgh are still very much in with a shot of qualifying the European tournament next season. Bloody odd move.

CatFromHue

Laidlaw is moving to Gloucester next season and he's going on tour with Scotland in June when they play USA, Canada, Argentina, and SA (now that's some air miles!) so he'll be playing until June 28.

I'd imagine Gloucester have no interest in giving him a late start to the 14/15 season so Edinburgh are taking the fall for them.

Eod100

CatFromHue wrote: »

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/14569.php#.UzLiTfl_tgg

Laidlaw has been given 5 weeks off.

Now this is bad for the league!

Seems odd with Edinburgh not qualifying for next season's European Cup. That's 6 games they won't have to play. Surely could have just benched him for a few games..

Podge_irl

Eod100 wrote: »

Seems odd with Edinburgh not qualifying for next season's European Cup. That's 6 games they won't have to play. Surely could have just benched him for a few games..

Not with Edin next season and they're far from out of the HEC at the moment. Between them, Scarlets and Connacht.

neilmulvey

Eod100 wrote: »

Seems odd with Edinburgh not qualifying for next season's European Cup. That's 6 games they won't have to play. Surely could have just benched him for a few games..

Laiwlaw is off to the AP next season and edinburgh will be in the 2nd tier competition if the dont make the new HEC.

Eod100

Podge_irl wrote: »

Not with Edin next season and they're far from out of the HEC at the moment. Between them, Scarlets and Connacht.

neilmulvey wrote: »

Laiwlaw is off to the AP next season and edinburgh will be in the 2nd tier competition if the dont make the new HEC.

Had forgotten that. Forgot they're still in contention.

phog

Rumour from Twitter

David K (@munsterman1) tweeted at 8:53 PM on Wed, Mar 26, 2014:
Sounds like heineken will be new pro12 sponsor hinted at on irish radio -well known beer brand current high profile in the sport! @simonrug

Swan Curry

No doubt this is due to the league's Leinster bias...

phog

Swan Curry wrote: »

No doubt this is due to the league's Leinster bias...

Wtf?

LEIN

Swan Curry wrote: »

No doubt this is due to the league's Leinster bias...

Come again?

Swan Curry

That was meant as a joke,I was supposed to put one of those faces in there.

phog

Swan Curry wrote: »

That was meant as a joke,I was supposed to put one of those faces in there.

Am I missing something, aside from the smiley

Swan Curry

phog wrote: »

Am I missing something, aside from the smiley

Heineken?Leinster?You know what,forget it.

jjjd

Swan Curry wrote: »

Heineken?Leinster?You know what,forget it.

What's Heineken got to do with Leinster ? Serious question.

Hagz

jjjd wrote: »

What's Heineken got to do with Leinster ? Serious question.

Heino, but I'm not gonna tell you.

Swan Curry

Surely I'm not the only Leinster fan who's heard jokes involving Heineken being a D4 drink?It's all Ross O'Carroll Kelly drinks in the books.That's what I was (in jest) referring to.

Hagz

Don't worry about it. Everyone is just on edge with the week that's in it.

molloyjh

I got it, I got it!

molloyjh

Could be Guiness either? Although if Heineken are losing the HEC then that might make sense.

jjjd

Swan Curry wrote: »

Surely I'm not the only Leinster fan who's heard jokes involving Heineken being a D4 drink?It's all Ross O'Carroll Kelly drinks in the books.That's what I was (in jest) referring to.

Ah fair enough, not from Leinster so wouldn't know about that. Thought it may have been a snide remark about a certain trophy up for grabs and who may be the eventual winner of it this year. Counting chickens and all that.

keps

phog wrote: »

Rumour from Twitter

Heineken and Sky

Good combo

former legend

Swan Curry wrote: »

Surely I'm not the only Leinster fan who's heard jokes involving Heineken being a D4 drink?It's all Ross O'Carroll Kelly drinks in the books.That's what I was (in jest) referring to.

If you were a real Leinster fan, you'd know that it's just "Ken". Or Vitamin H if used to cure a hangover.

Neil3030

Heino and Sky certainly have form in this area. Hopefully exciting times ahead for the Pro 12.

Morf

molloyjh wrote: »

Could be Guiness either? Although if Heineken are losing the HEC then that might make sense.

Alcohol advertising is illegal in France.

Arthur's Rugby Champions Cup then?

former legend

Morf wrote: »

Alcohol advertising is illegal in France.

Arthur's Rugby Champions Cup then?

Look at the thread title...

vienne86

keps wrote: »

Heineken and Sky

Good combo

I like the sound of that! Looking forward to Sky coverage next season anyway.

OldRio

vienne86 wrote: »

I like the sound of that! Looking forward to Sky coverage next season anyway.

Not in this household.

molloyjh

vienne86 wrote: »

I like the sound of that! Looking forward to Sky coverage next season anyway.

Yes in some ways it would be good, but with the Welsh regions haemorrhaging players the way they are along with the relative lack of quality in Scotland and Italy it's going to be a very tough product to promote and sell. At the moment there are 3 provinces, Ospreys and Glasgow that are properly competitive. That's less than half the league. And there's more Welsh players on the way out.

CatFromHue

You could argue that the Rabo is just as competitive at the top as the Aviva, if not slightly more, as a league in itself.

In the Aviva the top 4 is nearly finalised as Leicester, in 4th, are 7 points ahead of Sale, in 5th, and 9 points ahead of Quins, in 6th. Only the top 6 in the Aviva have won more games than they've lost.

In the rabo the top 4 hasn't been decided as Glasgow and Ospreys are still in the mix. Though it's only the top 5 who have won more than they've lost.

Morf

former legend wrote: »

Look at the thread title...

Oooh . . . ummm.

Cookiemunster

Thornley saying that Turkish Airlines are in for the league sponsorship, but Heineken aren't.

vienne86

Just watching Glasgow v Ospreys - a dull affair - 3-0 to Ospreys at half time. Quite a strong wind, which Glasgow will have in their favour in the second half.

rockbeast

Ospreys are in trouble for the play-offs now...

CatFromHue

I thought they were going to sneak it at the end there, a bit more composure in setting up the drop goal was needed but they snatched at it.

They're home to Leinster next and then have Dragons (a), Zebre (a), and Connacht (h), so have a handy enough run in.

rockbeast

CatFromHue wrote: »

I thought they were going to sneak it at the end there, a bit more composure in setting up the drop goal was needed but they snatched at it.

They're home to Leinster next and then have Dragons (a), Zebre (a), and Connacht (h), so have a handy enough run in.

Great last 5.

GW have Munster away and Ulster at home so that's tough enough I suppose.

Although if they could take 5 points from those games I'd favour them:)

CatFromHue

I think it depends on how Ulster do in Europe. If they beat Saracens I'm not sure they'll make the play offs in the Rabo.

I can see Ospreys winning nearly all, if not all their remaining games and Glasgow have a great run in too.

Ulster finish up with games against Glasgow, Munster and Leinster!

eyeball kid

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Thornley saying that Turkish Airlines are in for the league sponsorship, but Heineken aren't.

The Turkey 12?

vienne86

rockbeast wrote: »

Great last 5.

GW have Munster away and Ulster at home so that's tough enough I suppose.

Although if they could take 5 points from those games I'd favour them:)

Remember that Glasgow have two games in hand - one v Zebre (I think) and one v Edinburgh - cold be 10 points there.

rockbeast

vienne86 wrote: »

Remember that Glasgow have two games in hand - one v Zebre (I think) and one v Edinburgh - cold be 10 points there.

don't think they'll get 5 vs edinburgh but should be interesting for 3rd/4th.

Think Ulster are safe for at least 4th.

vienne86

rockbeast wrote: »

don't think they'll get 5 vs edinburgh but should be interesting for 3rd/4th.

Think Ulster are safe for at least 4th.

I'd say Ulster will be 3rd/4th with Glasgow. I can't see the Hairsprays making the knock outs.

Buer

Great finish from Seymour for the try. He had no right to score that and the Ospreys will be raging with their defence. Biggar should never have let him get in front of him to touch down. Very lazy pillar defence also from Adam Jones who allowed Glasgow come straight through the ruck to make the try. Given that he had only come onto the pitch 5 minutes beforehand, there's no excuse.

With only 4 games left, it's near impossible to see the Ospreys making the top 4 now.

vienne86

Buer wrote: »

With only 4 games left, it's near impossible to see the Ospreys making the top 4 now.

I think you're right - I think it'sll be three Irish provinces and Glasgow, and just a toss up for the order.

CatFromHue

With 20 mins to go Zebre are beating the Dragons 19-18!

Good news for Edinburgh and Connacht

matthew8

22-18 now, good news for Zebre really. They might get in ahead of Treviso at this rate.

CatFromHue

Well they will if they win today but Treviso have a game in hand, which they'll play next week away to Glasgow!

CatFromHue

Leinster 68pts: Toulon (a), Ospreys (a), Treviso (h), Possible HEC SF, Ulster (a), Edinburgh (h)

Munster 63pts: Toulouse (h), Glasgow (h), Connacht (a), Possible HEC SF, Edinburgh (a), Ulster (h)

Ulster 60pts: Saracens (h), Connacht (h), Glasgow (a), Possible HEC SF, Leinster (h), Munster (a)

Ospreys 52pts: week off, Leinster (h), Dragons (a), week off, Zebre (a), Connacht (h)

Glasgow 51pts: Treviso (h), Munster (a), Ulster (h), Edinburgh (h), Treviso (a), Zebre (h)

You'd worry for Ulster now. I can see Ospreys getting at least another 14pts if not more (they could/should have won last night so I think they could beat Leinster) and Glasgow will fancy going to Munster the week after the Toulouse game so could bring in 17-21pts not incl what happens in the Ulster game.

neilmulvey

big chance for connacht tomorrow. Dragons drew in italy, Edinburgh lost.

CatFromHue

Realistically I think it's too much for Connacht overall. If they lose tomorrow that'll be it for them regarding Europe. A win will keep them alive and I'd say they'd fancy their chances against Ulster if they did get the win.

Tin Foil Hat

CatFromHue wrote: »

Realistically I think it's too much for Connacht overall. If they lose tomorrow that'll be it for them regarding Europe. A win will keep them alive and I'd say they'd fancy their chances against Ulster if they did get the win.

Don't write them off. Connacht, with 19 points from their last 4 games, are the in-form team in the league.

They have a horrible run in to the end of the season though.

CatFromHue

It sure is.

To qualify for Europe they need to win in Lanelli for the first time in how many years, win in Belfast for the first time in how many years, and beat Munster for the first time in how many years?

If Munster and Ulster make it to the HEC SF's it makes their games against them take a different slant I think.