RaboPro12 13/14 season thread

former legend

Buer wrote: »

Unfortunately the Pro12 looks like it might well be a joke league from next season. The Welsh teams will be non entities at this rate. Glasgow have gone backwards.

Will the league be sustainable?

The next problem is that, with the league struggling for credibility or even its continued existence, it will be very difficult to attract a title sponsor (or indeed for teams to attract individual sponsors).

Then you're into a vicious circle of falling revenues meaning more player departures making the league less viable which means even more departures...

awec

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Exactly what they need, their front five is a joke. Nabbing Afoa (has that been announced?) would be another huge coup.

Afoa to Gloucester is a done deal.

jamiedav2011

awec wrote: »

Afoa to Gloucester is a done deal.

Wood, Hibbard and Afoa added to Morgan, Kvesic, James, Hudson etc will give a bit more steel.

Mal-Adjusted

In fairness, Last years playoffs had Leinster, Ulster, Glasgow and Scarlets. Nice bit of variation there. While I agree, we're facing a downward spiral, I don't think it's as imminent as some are making it out to be...yet, as least.

phog

Scarlets coach Harrington given 12-week ban for abusing match official

Scarlets’ head of conditioning coach Brad Harrington has been given a 12-week touchline ban for abusing a match official in their victory over Ulster back in October.

The Australian, who worked with Leinster, appeared before an independent disciplinary committee in Dublin yesterday.

“The committee found that Mr Harrington had verbally abused the match official during the match and accordingly, upheld the misconduct complaint.

The committee considered Mr Harrington’s previous record and previous cases of a similar nature,” read a Pro12 statement.

He is banned from “any activity within the playing enclosure and further” and “from having any contact, either directly or indirectly, with any match officials on match days for a period of 12 weeks.”

Harrington’s previous record includes a 12-month suspension for swearing at a linesman back in 2010 in a loss against Munster.

He hasn't learnt his lesson.

thomond2006

How on earth did he keep his job after being banned for a year?!

irishbucsfan

thomond2006 wrote: »

How on earth did he keep his job after being banned for a year?!

It's a touchline ban, he's a conditioning coach.

awec

Seems a pretty pointless punishment to be honest. But then again what else can they give.

phog

awec wrote: »

Seems a pretty pointless punishment to be honest. But then again what else can they give.

but warranted.

thomond2006

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It's a touchline ban, he's a conditioning coach.

I get you, but still...

.ak

He must've said something pretty harsh to cop that kind of ban.

jacothelad

.ak wrote: »

He must've said something pretty harsh to cop that kind of ban.

Terrible. He accused him of being Welsh apparently.....:D:D:D

hmmmm

...the Pro12, which as well as needing a new title sponsor may be reduced to 10 in number, with the Italian Rugby Federation debating whether to keep its two professional teams, Treviso and Zebre, in the tournament. Its participation agreement with the three Celtic unions runs out at the end of the season and there is deadlock over its renewal.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/19/rugby-union-wales-deadline-heineken-cup

uhoh

(probably separate from PRL megathread - so long as we just talk about Rabo12 issue)

irishbucsfan

That was reported before. Seems they don't like being charged to participate according to the Scotsman article from a while ago (which speculated they would want to break away). It would be a terrible move by the Italian union, unless they have another trick up their sleeve?

who_me

Deleted User wrote: »

hmmmm


http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/19/rugby-union-wales-deadline-heineken-cup

uhoh

(probably separate from PRL megathread - so long as we just talk about Rabo12 issue)

Jesus, at this rate there'll be no rugby to watch next season. Please don't make me watch football..

durkadurka

Glasgae Treviso is off

matthew8

Halfpenny misses from straight in front on the opposition 22!

Buer

matthew8 wrote: »

Halfpenny misses from straight in front on the opposition 22!

I'm absolutely convinced that he doesn't bother his arse unless he's in red. I've seen him make so many sloppy errors this season that can be put down to a lack of concentration. He simply isn't tuned in anywhere near as much if it's not international level.

phog

durkadurka wrote: »

Glasgae Treviso is off

That will play havoc with the top 4 or 5 in the table for a while, I suppose the game will be penciled in around the 6Ns.

CatFromHue

The Scottish derby could get interesting this year. Glasgow have been on top for the past few years but are in a bit of a slump this year and Edinburgh are getting it together.

I wouldn't be surprised with two wins from Edinburgh which would then put them in a position where they'd be aiming for a playoff spot! Though looking at the Glasgow team and it looks pretty strong, plus no Matawalu too. If they can remember how to pass and catch the ball it could go the other way too!

The Dragons v Cardiff double header will be really interesting as well as there's only 3 points between them in the table at the moment. A good showing here from the Dragons and they could put daylight between them and Cardiff.

RuggieBear

Seemingly parc y scarlet is sold out.

Grimebox

Unbelievably close call for the TMO in Ospreys V Scarlets

LeinsterDub

RuggieBear wrote: »

Seemingly parc y scarlet is sold out.

Any sign of a protest?

matthew8

Treviso Zebre is a decent game. While Treviso have taken a bit of a fall it's nice to see someone being able to compete with them in Italy.

CatFromHue

If Treviso were to win both games they'd go ahead of Edinburgh on points difference to 7th.

Buer

Alas, if Zebre pinch it, Connacht go bottom again.

matthew8

Both teams are headless. Treviso turn down a chance to run down the clock (and deny the BP) and kick for touch, then try a grubber which bounces off Orquera and end up on their 22. They try another grubber which fails but Zebre take the man off the ball for no reason and end the game with 13 men. FT 20-15 to Treviso.

vienne86

CatFromHue wrote: »

If Treviso were to win both games they'd go ahead of Edinburgh on points difference to 7th.

Don't think that's right. They are on 14 and Edinburgh are on 22. They'll overtake Cardiff and go to 9th with today's win, but they do still have a game in hand because of the postponed game against Glasgow.

OldRio

BBC 2 Wales

Blues 9 v Dragons 10

37mins gone.

ScrubsfanChris

Cardiff Blues skin head look, was that a charity thing?

Blues 15 - 13 Dragons
14 minutes left.

errlloyd

Dragons are having a great season. Mad to think Cardiff are the only Welsh team not propping up Europe, but they will miss out next year as things stand.

Hagz

I just thought of a good nickname for Robin Copeland.
=RoboCop.

It's happening. Get used to it.

Howard Juneau

Hagz wrote: »

I just thought of a good nickname for Robin Copeland.
=RoboCop.

It's happening. Get used to it.

That was his nickname back in primary school

ScrubsfanChris

Game over
Blues 21 - 13 Dragons

Very poor second half from the Dragons.

Davei141

Glasgow - Edinburgh postponed. Was looking forward to that.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/25560746

phog

Davei141 wrote: »

Glasgow - Edinburgh postponed. Was looking forward to that.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/25560746

That's two Glasgow home games postponed, going to play havoc with the top of the table and their own fixtures.

ScrubsfanChris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkEGV7AZZJU

CatFromHue

phog wrote: »

That's two Glasgow home games postponed, going to play havoc with the top of the table and their own fixtures.

The HEC QF and SF weekends should be able to cover these fixtures. Treviso are out of the the HEC and Glasgow and Edinburgh are pretty much out too.

Buer

It will be fine for them with them being home games. None of the teams involved will be in the latter stages of the ERC competitions so there will be no problem arranging a date as there was with Leinster and Glasgow a few years ago.

They might actually benefit somewhat from the rescheduling. They're due to play two of the perceived weaker sides in the league. The chances are now they're going to play them on a dry track late in the season providing a much better chance to score tries.

If today's game had gone ahead, Edinburgh would have kept within striking distance and, potentially, could have caused an upset. There wasn't a hope of any try BP. Bring them back in good conditions and Glasgow will see them off. The same with Treviso.

thomond2006

Ospreys 14-3 Scarlets - HT score

matthew8

Ben John just bottled a try for Ospreys after a beautiful hoof from Adam Jones.

vienne86

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ospreys 14-3 Scarlets - HT score

Full time 17-12. Losing bonus point for Scarlets.

Grimebox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGw_t8hSHPw

matthew8

A week after having a decent game, Zebre-Treviso is absolutely dire. Neither team can get any attack going and the referee is a little bit whistle happy. 12-11 to Treviso, could go either way. Lots of back and forth kicking and very little need to concede the penalties that lead to the points. Zebre's try a fluke too.

matthew8

Zebre win! 14-12

vienne86

matthew8 wrote: »

Zebre win! 14-12

Delighted for Zebre, but disappointed for Connacht. Mind you, as a Leinster supporter, I don't want Connacht to improve their position in the table tonight!

errlloyd

Is that Zebre's first home win ever?

Taco Corp

errlloyd wrote: »

Is that Zebre's first home win ever?

it is according to the Rabo facebook page

Mahatma Geansai

This weekend's interpros have had a huge impact on the Pro12 table. Munster losing to Ulster, and Leinster getting the win, has really tightened up the competition at the top of the table. It is now, conceivably, a 5 horse race for the top 4 playoff spots. It could have been very different, but its making for a very interesting second half of the season.

phog

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

This weekend's interpros have had a huge impact on the Pro12 table. Munster losing to Ulster, and Leinster getting the win, has really tightened up the competition at the top of the table. It is now, conceivably, a 5 horse race for the top 4 playoff spots. It could have been very different, but its making for a very interesting second half of the season.

Glasgow are 10 points behind us, if they manage to get BP wins in their two rescheduled games that would tie us on top of the league.