RaboPro12 13/14 season thread

rockbeast

CatFromHue wrote: »

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.

I didn't think this last night but now:eek:

durkadurka

Leinster look nailed on for a home semi now, but probably need another 11- 12 pts for first place.

Ulsters run in suddenly looks nasty after tonight.

Munster still looking good for home semi but will need to win everything to get first.

Ospreys back in it IMO, after looking dead and buried last night.

awec

At this stage I think we'll just be putting all eggs in the HEC basket.

vienne86

Worrying for Ulster all right - I must say, I didn't see this coming. I think a lot depends on how their HEC campaign progresses.

Tin Foil Hat

vienne86 wrote: »

Worrying for Ulster all right

Ah, I'm not so sure. They won't win the trophy this year, but they will make the knockouts. Of the top five, it's odds on for Ospreys to take extended summer holidays.

CatFromHue

Sean Cronin eat your heart out!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8xjmug4eAk

What happened to Smith? He had to be taken off after this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4aBoOs74dQ

madzers

Some photos from last night at the Aviva

https://www.flickr.com/photos/john-m...th/13505861165

vienne86

madzers wrote: »

Some photos from last night at the Aviva

https://www.flickr.com/photos/john-m...th/13505861165

Problem with that link - not found.

Buer

vienne86 wrote: »

Problem with that link - not found.

That's a shame because he's posted it on every bloody thread going!

Eod100

Looks like Connacht won't qualify for next European Cup unfortunately.

Probably be Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Glasgow making the play-offs.

thomond2006

Munster vs Ulster on the final weekend of the regular season could be a winner take all match for a home semi-final!

Leinster's run in (68 points):
Ospreys (A), Treviso (H), Ulster (A), Edinburgh (H)

Munster's run in (63 points):
Glasgow (H), Connacht (A), Edinburgh (A), Ulster (H)

Ulster's run in (60 points):
Connacht (H), Glasgow (A), Leinster (H), Munster (A)

Ospreys' run in (52 points):
Leinster (H), Dragons (A), Zebre (A), Connacht (H)

Glasgow's run in (51 points):
Treviso (H), Munster (A), Ulster (H), Edinburgh (H), Treviso (A), Zebre (H)

awec

I doubt it thomond. I don't think we'll get a home semi now.

vienne86

awec wrote: »

I doubt it thomond. I don't think we'll get a home semi now.

I can't see Ulster getting a home SF after yesterday. Top of the table is a real toss up between Munster and Leinster.

its_phil

Didn't realise Munster and Ulster play each other on final day. That could be interesting

Buer

Flying under the radar somewhat but there's an important game tonight in Glasgow, particularly for Ulster supporters as the Warriors host Treviso. A BP win and they're right in striking distance of Ulster for 3rd spot.

matthew8

Glasgow are murdering them. 5 minutes in and 2 tries already. 12-0.

CatFromHue

Glasgow have the lowest by about 100 points difference of the top 5 and they've one of the lowest tries scored in the league (only Cardiff and Treviso have scored fewer!) so they need a big win really.

Buer

CatFromHue wrote: »

Glasgow have the lowest by about 100 points difference of the top 5 and they've one of the lowest tries scored in the league (only Cardiff and Treviso have scored fewer!) so they need a big win really.

80 points fewer than Ulster but the games in hand which are against Treviso and Edinburgh at home could see a huge chunk of that eradicated. Alas, Ulster have to still go to Glasgow too.

matthew8

Treviso get a try back but almost instantly it's try number 3 for Glasgow. 19-7. Sounds like a bonus point is guaranteed.

[Jackass]

Ulster have a horrible run in... three interpro's and Glasgow away. Having said that, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that they could win all of those games, they'll need to to get a home semi though.

I think if Leinster beat O's next weekend and given two possible BP wins at home to Edinburgh and Treviso, we'll top the league regardless of what happens in Ravenhill. IF we win next weekend.

matthew8

Bonus point for Glasgow, very beneficial for them to have had that game postponed. Much nicer weather tonight than there was in December.

Eod100

Buer wrote: »

80 points fewer than Ulster but the games in hand which are against Treviso and Edinburgh at home could see a huge chunk of that eradicated. Alas, Ulster have to still go to Glasgow too.

That's the bp for Glasgow alright. Unless Treviso make a comeback, Glasgow will be on 56 with a game in hand. Have to play Ulster so that could be a big game.

Eod100

Less than 5,000 at Glasgow's game. Fairly bad from a city with almost 600,000 people.

matthew8

Eod100 wrote: »

Less than 5,000 at Glasgow's game. Fairly bad from a city with almost 600,000 people.

Treviso at home is one of the least attractive fixtures there is and it's a small stadium. I wouldn't have expected any more. A couple of years ago they'd have killed for this sort of attendance at any game,

[Jackass]

Very true. Add to that, Glasgow is a city absolutely hooked on football with one of the biggest and oldest sporting rivalries on the planet, it's a divided city and I would say very tough for rugby to make an impact.

The main thing is that they're making progress. Scotstoun is the best thing they ever did, Firhill was a disaster and was not uncommon to see crowds of only a couple of thousand.

Eod100

matthew8 wrote: »

Treviso at home is one of the least attractive fixtures there is and it's a small stadium. I wouldn't have expected any more. A couple of years ago they'd have killed for this sort of attendance at any game,

Fair point! Guess we're kinda spoiled in Munster/Ireland to have such huge rugby support.

rockbeast

[Jackass] wrote: »

Very true. Add to that, Glasgow is a city absolutely hooked on football with one of the biggest and oldest sporting rivalries on the planet, it's a divided city and I would say very tough for rugby to make an impact.

The main thing is that they're making progress. Scotstoun is the best thing they ever did, Firhill was a disaster and was not uncommon to see crowds of only a couple of thousand.

I'd love a shot at a marketing role with Glasgow:eek:

I don't know what they're doing on the ground there as haven't been over in 7 years but their current marketing team don't appear, to me at least, from over here(!), to be maximizing potential as an alternative to the obvious headline acts...

Morf

rockbeast wrote: »

I'd love a shot at a marketing role with Glasgow:eek:

I don't know what they're doing on the ground there as haven't been over in 7 years but their current marketing team don't appear, to me at least, from over here(!), to be maximizing potential as an alternative to the obvious headline acts...

Skag and Tennant's Super?

[Jackass]

Scarlets are pretty much down to scraping the barrel with ideas to try and get people coming to games :pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNQ2VHJ4Jic

CatFromHue

Ha and I thought some of the Leinster stuff was bad!!

Good win for Glasgow last night and the attendance was relatively high for them too for what wouldn't be a big game for the fans.

Nest weekend it's

Ospreys Leinster
Munster Glasgow
Ulster Connacht

Should be good. That's Ospreys last "hard" game of the season, they should beat the rest of the teams, Munster will be weakened by having played Leinster and Toulouse on following weeks, and Ulster might rest a few players too as they'll have to go to Glasgow the following week and possibly a HEC SF the week after!

Eod100

Couple of big games coming up this weekend. Think Leinster will secure 1st at this stage.

Munster v Glasgow and Ulster v Connacht are pretty big games. Was kinda doubtful about Glasgow's chances before now but if they beat Munster they'll have a good shot of coming 3rd and maybe even 2nd for the home semi.

Ulster having some tricky games coming up in Glasgow (a), Leinster (h), Munster (a) . Their injuries won't help either.

irishbucsfan

You'll see Glasgow's first team out. I wonder what type of team we'll see Munster put out... Could be a great game. And by great game, I mean an awful game of rugby with a narrow margin between the sides (this is Glasgow we're talking about).

molloyjh

[Jackass] wrote: »

Scarlets are pretty much down to scraping the barrel with ideas to try and get people coming to games :pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNQ2VHJ4Jic

Only seeing this now. Good God what the hell is that!?

vienne86

[Jackass] wrote: »

Scarlets are pretty much down to scraping the barrel with ideas to try and get people coming to games :pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNQ2VHJ4Jic

Oh that's frightful!

Eod100

Anyone know when semi final k.o times and dates are released? Thought it usually happened by now for other seasons..

awec

Eod100 wrote: »

Anyone know when semi final k.o times and dates are released? Thought it usually happened by now for other seasons..

Won't know until the semi finals are determined, no?

Riskymove

awec wrote: »

Won't know until the semi finals are determined, no?

they have always been the Friday evening and the Saturday evening

Eod100

awec wrote: »

Won't know until the semi finals are determined, no?

Think they're usually released on advance..Last year they were anyway on March, not too sure about other years..

matthew8

Zebree, 20 point underdogs, lead Scarlets 13-6. Could be a cracking upset for the teams below them.

thomond2006

matthew8 wrote: »

Zebree, 20 point underdogs, lead Scarlets 13-6. Could be a cracking upset for the teams below them.

They got an LBP in the end, decent result for them. Treviso beat Dragons. Suddenly the usually dead rubber matches are huge for the Italians, with one Italian spot in Europe up for grabs.

awec

So, how do tonight's results affect the playoff chances?

Someone want to write it up?

durkadurka

Leinster's run in (69 points):
Treviso (H), Ulster (A), Edinburgh (H)

Ulster's run in (65 points):
Glasgow (A), Leinster (H), Munster (A)

Munster's run in (63 points):
Connacht (A), Edinburgh (A), Ulster (H)

Glasgow's run in (60 points):
Ulster (H), Edinburgh (H), Treviso (A), Zebre (H)

Ospreys' run in (56 points):
Dragons (A), Zebre (A), Connacht (H)

durkadurka

Couple of bonus point wins at home should see Leinster at home all the way now.

Hard to see anyone get past our projected total of 79 points.

awec

durkadurka wrote: »

Leinster's run in (69 points):
Treviso (H), Ulster (A), Edinburgh (H)

Ulster's run in (65 points):
Glasgow (A), Leinster (H), Munster (A)

Munster's run in (63 points):
Connacht (A), Edinburgh (A), Ulster (H)

Glasgow's run in (60 points):
Ulster (H), Edinburgh (H), Treviso (A), Zebre (H)

Ospreys' run in (56 points):
Dragons (A), Zebre (A), Connacht (H)

So my guess is for the rest of the games -

Leinster - 11 points (2 BP home wins and a LBP at Ravenhill)

Ulster - 9 points (I think we'll beat Glasgow and Leinster with a LBP in Thomond)

Munster - 12 points (3 wins)

Glasgow - 15 points (LBP Ulster, win against Edinburgh, BP wins against Italians)

Ospreys - 12 points (3 wins)

Which would leave us:

Leinster 80
Munster 75
Glasgow 75
Ulster 74
Ospreys 67

We really need to beat Glasgow tbh.

matthew8

Munster could miss out on the playoffs by the looks of things. Ospreys should pick up 14 points meaning Munster will need to win 2 out of their 3 games. Not an easy task given 2 are away, the one home game is very difficult and their main focus is on Europe.

thomond2006

durkadurka wrote: »

Leinster's run in (69 points):
Treviso (H) 5, Ulster (A) 0, Edinburgh (H) 5

Ulster's run in (65 points):
Glasgow (A) 1, Leinster (H) 4, Munster (A) 1

Munster's run in (63 points):
Connacht (A) 4, Edinburgh (A) 4, Ulster (H) 4

Glasgow's run in (60 points):
Ulster (H) 4, Edinburgh (H) 4, Treviso (A) 4, Zebre (H) 5

Ospreys' run in (56 points):
Dragons (A) 4, Zebre (A) 4, Connacht (H) 5

Predictions added above.

Leinster 79
Glasgow 77
Munster 75
Ulster 71

---

Ospreys 69

durkadurka

It's looking like a right dogfight for the second home semi.

I wonder how much focus munster will have on the Rabo next week.

It's an interesting run in.

awec

I don't think the top 4 itself will change, just the order within it, but if it does I think Ulster are the most likely to drop outside it.

former legend

thomond2006 wrote: »

Predictions added above.

Leinster 79
Glasgow 77
Munster 75
Ulster 71

---

Ospreys 69

Yeah that's how I'd see the top 5 panning out but would not be surprised to see Glasgow end up top of the pile.

matthew8

durkadurka wrote: »

Leinster's run in (69 points):
Treviso (H) 5, Ulster (A) 1, Edinburgh (H) 5

Ulster's run in (65 points):
Glasgow (A) 1, Leinster (H) 4, Munster (A) 1

Munster's run in (63 points):
Connacht (A) 4, Edinburgh (A) 4, Ulster (H) 4

Glasgow's run in (60 points):
Ulster (H) 4, Edinburgh (H) 5, Treviso (A) 4, Zebre (H) 5

Ospreys' run in (56 points):
Dragons (A) 4, Zebre (A) 5, Connacht (H) 5

Predictions added.
Leinster 80
Glasgow 78
Munster 75
Ulster 71
Ospreys 70

But Munster's games are impossible to predict right now. I have no idea what sort of team they will put out and the result against Toulon will have a massive impact.