RaboPro12 13/14 season thread

CatFromHue

If Ulster get 5 points they'll be safe no matter what as they've won more games.

durkadurka

Treviso have remained fairly decent at home so Glasgow may struggle to take five points there.

I think leinster will send a very strong team up to ulster so I think Leinster should be good for first place .

Leinster vs ulster/ ospreys ( can't decide)
Glasgow vs Munster

awec

CatFromHue wrote: »

If Ulster get 5 points they'll be safe no matter what as they've won more games.

Yea that's what I meant.

Getting 5 will be difficult. I can't see us getting a TBP against Leinster, will just have to aim for at least a LBP in Thomond.

[Jackass]

Semi-Finals:

Leinster v Ulster
Glasgow v Munster

Final:

Leinster v Glasgow

Champion: Leinster

You heard it here first.

[Jackass]

Semi-Finals:

Leinster v Ulster
Glasgow v Munster

Final:

Leinster v Glasgow

Champion: Leinster

You heard it here first.

thomond2006

You heard it here first and second! :pac:

awec

I'd prefer a trip to Dublin over a trip to Glasgow tbh.

justsomebloke

awec wrote: »

I'd prefer a trip to Dublin over a trip to Glasgow tbh.

That's cause your cheap!!!

awec

justsomebloke wrote: »

That's cause your cheap!!!

:pac:

I'd fancy us to beat Leinster more than we'd beat Glasgow.

Tox56

awec wrote: »

:pac:

I'd fancy us to beat Leinster more than we'd beat Glasgow.

Agreed, and vice versa for Leinster, Glasgow are undoubtedly the form team in the league at the moment. They don't have great experience/pedigree in finals though so that counts for something, but I'd very much appreciate someone else knocking them out in the semis

vienne86

[Jackass] wrote: »

Semi-Finals:

Leinster v Ulster
Glasgow v Munster

Final:

Leinster v Glasgow

Champion: Leinster

You heard it here first.

Hard to see anything other than this - hope we're right!

justsomebloke

Tox56 wrote: »

Agreed, and vice versa for Leinster, Glasgow are undoubtedly the form team in the league at the moment. They don't have great experience/pedigree in finals though so that counts for something, but I'd very much appreciate someone else knocking them out in the semis

I'm still of the point of view that I wouldn't mind Glasgow winning the thing though.

Tomtom364

justsomebloke wrote: »

I'm still of the point of view that I wouldn't mind Glasgow winning the thing though.

If Munster dont make the final, and Glasgow do Ill be behind them even against an Irish side, they deserve something, really come on in the last few years.

vienne86

Tomtom364 wrote: »

If Munster dont make the final, and Glasgow do Ill be behind them even against an Irish side, they deserve something, really come on in the last few years.

You're right, they do deserve something, but not at our expense! And I want another day out in the RDS like the Rabo final last year!

Eod100

CatFromHue wrote: »

If Ulster get 5 points they'll be safe no matter what as they've won more games.

True, had forgotten that. Also no guarantee that Ospreys will beat Treviso and Connacht, let alone get 2 tbps against them. Think Ulster def have the harder run-in though so could get hairy for them if they don't win either game.

Molester Stallone

Anyone betting against Munster for a final berth will lose a few quid methinks!

Podge_irl

Molester Stallone wrote: »

Anyone betting against Munster for a final berth will lose a few quid methinks!

Possibly, but they haven't managed to win away to Leinster in a very, very long time and Glasgow are very much the form team in the league.

Larbre34

I'd agree, I don't think Munster are nailed on for a final berth at all.

Leinster may well lose in Ravenhill (but can afford to) and Glasgow have a very jammy run-in against the two Italians, so either way Munster have to go away in a semi, against either of the two teams that have beaten them most recently.

As much as Id love the final to be Leinster against A.N. Province in Lansdowne, I really think it will Leinster V Glasgow in the RDS

Eod100

Larbre34 wrote: »

Leinster may well lose in Ravenhill (but can afford to) and Glasgow have a very jammy run-in against the two Italians, so either way Munster have to go away in a semi, against either of the two teams that have beaten them most recently.

I guess they can but would need to lose by 7 or less and beat Edinburgh with a tbp. Glasgow could very well end up on 79 but if both teams finish on 79, Glasgow would come first cos they'd have won more games.. Think both teams will be very up for the occasion with this being their only chance of silverware and after the week break so wouldn't expect Leinster to not turn up.

Riskymove

Larbre34 wrote: »

I'd agree, I don't think Munster are nailed on for a final berth at all.

given recent performances I don't think any of them are nailed-on for a final berth

its actually the most open in a while imo

Eod100

Is it after the regular season that semi-final exact dates and kos are released? Thought other years they released them beforehand..

CatFromHue

Yeah I think it is.

The SF are played the week after the last regular season game so the turnaround is usually very quick.

All the games on the last day of the regular season kick off at the same time too, 6.30 on the Saturday.

vienne86

Eod100 wrote: »

Is it after the regular season that semi-final exact dates and kos are released? Thought other years they released them beforehand..

I think it's only after they know the line up. Maybe TV has something to do with it.

molloyjh

vienne86 wrote: »

I think it's only after they know the line up. Maybe TV has something to do with it.

Yeah it would have to. Until they know where the SFs are going to be hold they can't arrange anything with the broadcasters.

Riskymove

as mentioned before, over previous seasons it has been the Friday and Saturday evenings

errlloyd

Btw that "SOB is almost fit story" popped up in the IT today, no mention of a potential Rabo Final, but they seem to suggest he'll go to Argentina.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/se%C3%A1n-o-brien-may-be-fit-for-series-with-argentina-1.1776754

Eod100

Ospreys play Zebre this evening away. If they get the tbp, Ulster know that they need to beat Leinster or Munster and get a lbp in their other game. If Ospreys win without the tbp, a win for Ulster will guarantee they make play-offs.

Hoping for the Italians to play out of their skins vs Ospreys and Glasgow, would help Munster/Ulster get a home semi but think that ship has sailed at this stage..

Just on next season's sponsorship, has there been any updates on it? Haven't really been following. Guess even if it's sorted they'd probably wait til after the season to officially launch it.

former legend

Eod100 wrote: »

Just on next season's sponsorship, has there been any updates on it? Haven't really been following. Guess even if it's sorted they'd probably wait til after the season to officially launch it.

Did I read something about Turkish Airways? Can't remember where I saw that, and it would be an odd choice so maybe I've got it wrong.

danthefan

All anecdotal but apparently there's been a fair bit of interest, I don't think it's a concern.

Don't think Turkish would be especially odd, they fly routes in and out of Ireland, the UK and Italy. They're advertising heavily at the moment too, see those ads with Kobe and Messi.

irishbucsfan

I've heard it's all been lined up but it makes sense that they wouldn't want to cut across the toes of the current sponsor.

.ak

The Turkish Airlines' Celtic League (with Italian Teams).

:pac:

thomond2006

I suggested it last year....


The John Hayes Ligind League

CIARAN_BOYLE

thomond2006 wrote: »

I suggested it last year....


The John Hayes Ligind League

John Hayes is too humble for any of that craic.

thomond2006

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

John Hayes is too humble for any of that craic.

I'm not! :pac:

molloyjh

former legend wrote: »

Did I read something about Turkish Airways? Can't remember where I saw that, and it would be an odd choice so maybe I've got it wrong.

No that was for the ERCC (the Champions one not the Challenge one!). The rumour was a big drinks company was taking it on, possibly Guinness.

former legend

Strong Glasgow team going to Treviso. Hogg makes his first start for Glasgow since before the 6N.

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Mark Bennett
12. Peter Horne
11. Niko Matawalu
10. Finn Russell
9. Henry Pyrgos

1. Gordon Reid
2. Pat MacArthur
3. Geoff Cross
4. Tim Swinson
5. Jonny Gray
6. Rob Harley
7. Tyrone Holmes
8. Josh Strauss (Captain)

Substitutes

16. Fraser Brown
17. Ryan Grant
18. Jon Welsh
19. Leone Nakarawa
20. Chris Fusaro
21. Chris Cusiter
22. Ruaridh Jackson
23. Sean Maitland

An upset here (even Treviso denying Glasgow the BP) would be great.

CatFromHue

I have to say I hope both Glasgow and Ospreys make the play offs. It's good for the league.

Eod100

CatFromHue wrote: »

I have to say I hope both Glasgow and Ospreys make the play offs. It's good for the league.

Glasgow will probably get a home semi. Ospreys could nab 4th spot depending on how Ulster do.

Eod100

Zebre get the 1st try, 10-3 up atm.

matthew8

10-6 now, nice to have the rugby weekend start a day early.

awec

GO ON ZEBRE!

Eod100

13-6 now. Dunno would it have happened anyway, but new qualifying system could make end of season games like these much more competitive.

matthew8

The Ospreys look terrible. Every time they get in the opposition 22 they're a disaster.

Eod100

16-6. Half-time.

matthew8

Lovely try by Tipuric. Baker made a huge run from the half way line and offloaded a few metres out for an easy run in.

matthew8

Ospreys nearly in again but for a good block by Ratuvou. Could be a BP win yet.

matthew8

16-13 down, very kickable penalty and they go for the corner. No question here, they want the bonus point.

matthew8

Try number 2 and it's 20-16 to the Ospreys.

awec

Bah!

matthew8

They look very threatening in attack, breaking the line at will. Awful set piece (Baldwin is in shocking form) but I really expect the BP from here.