Guinness Pro14 Season 2018-2019

Clegg · 27-04-2019 4:54pm

Scarlets make a balls of a drop goal attempt. 30 metres from the posts but Dragons weren't threatening at the ruck for fear of giving away a penalty. Rushed it far too much.

Funny moment when the commentator thought Patchell made the kick and Scarlets won.

ScrubsfanChris · 27-04-2019 4:55pm

Fair play to Dragons

bilston · 27-04-2019 4:57pm

My bad, the Scarlets can still squeeze through if both Benetton get nothing from their game and Edinburgh lose

ScrubsfanChris · 27-04-2019 4:57pm

bilston wrote: »

Tight finish.

Well done to the Dragons. They deserved that.

But now confirmed, no Welsh team in the Play Offs. That's a disgrace when you consider their national team won the Grand Slam this season.

Actually they're in 3rd as we speak, but even a losing bonus point for Benetton will move them from that spot.

Eod100 · 27-04-2019 4:58pm

Dragons not exactly helping out their compatriots there.. Though if Treviso win it's probably all the one, unless Edinburgh win too

Jewelers · 27-04-2019 5:25pm

Ray Donovan wrote: »

Is there any legal way of watching Treviso vs Zebre??

Be a brilliant achievement by Benetton to make playoffs and reach Heineken Cup next year.

freesports

Cookiemunster · 27-04-2019 5:54pm

bilston wrote: »

Tight finish.

Well done to the Dragons. They deserved that.

But now confirmed, no Welsh team in the Play Offs. That's a disgrace when you consider their national team won the Grand Slam this season.

Cardiff or Ospreys will be in the play off from Conference A.

ScrubsfanChris · 27-04-2019 6:15pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Cardiff or Ospreys will be in the play off from Conference A.

I think he was talking about Pro14 playoffs (knock outs)

ScrubsfanChris · 27-04-2019 6:22pm

Benetton with 2 tries and a 12-6 lead at half time.

troyzer · 27-04-2019 6:40pm

Treviso get the TBP so Scarlets are out.

Barring a miraculous comeback from Zebre, Treviso should get the 3rd spot in conference B.

Cosmo Kramer · 27-04-2019 7:05pm

Benetton are on 57 points, so guaranteed third I think. I say I think, because the official website has them on 56 which would mean Edinburgh could still catch them?

ScrubsfanChris · 27-04-2019 7:07pm

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Benetton are on 57 points, so guaranteed third I think. I say I think, because the official website has them on 56 which would mean Edinburgh could still catch them?

Site is wrong, Benetton started the day in 52 points and should now be on 57 if they got the try bonus

Cosmo Kramer · 27-04-2019 7:10pm

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Site is wrong, Benetton started the day in 52 points and should now be on 57

That's poor really.

A 4-2 or 5-2 to Glasgow in match points in the Glasgow v Edinburgh game would now do the job for both teams.

thebaz · 28-04-2019 12:58pm

is that the first time an Italian team has qualified ??

Podge_irl · 28-04-2019 1:36pm

For the knock outs? Yeah - also first qualification for Europe "on merit" also.

I was actually quite surprised Treviso lost at home to Munster. Don't think they have much of a hope away but great to see them there.

Exclamation Marc · 28-04-2019 2:09pm

thebaz wrote: »

is that the first time an Italian team has qualified ??

Yep, sure is! Delighted for them.

https://twitter.com/ianmck7/status/1122263013644435456?s=19

thebaz · 28-04-2019 8:16pm

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Yep, sure is! Delighted for them.

me too, as a long time critic of Italian rugby , delighted for them , and McKinley especially, hopefully they push on like Connacht did a few years ago - be good for overall tournament.

Eod100 · 29-04-2019 12:47pm

Kings letting go of 20 players. Presume they will have to take a similar number in but still not sure how that's sustainable long term

Cookiemunster · 29-04-2019 1:38pm

Eod100 wrote: »

Kings letting go of 20 players. Presume they will have to take a similar number in but still not sure how that's sustainable long term

New owners with money behind them. They've obviously got players lined up to improve the squad (and possibly players on loan from Toulon). I doubt it's something they plan to do every season, so it doesn't need to be long term sustainable if it's a once off.

CatFromHue · 29-04-2019 2:01pm

I'm kinda surprised to hear they're letting so many go, I mean they did have a 100% improvement on their win rate from last season

Eod100 · 29-04-2019 2:03pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

New owners with money behind them. They've obviously got players lined up to improve the squad (and possibly players on loan from Toulon). I doubt it's something they plan to do every season, so it doesn't need to be long term sustainable if it's a once off.

Has happened last few years too it looks like. https://twitter.com/rpetty80/status/1122827979602763776?s=19

sydthebeat · 29-04-2019 2:11pm

catrakilis would be great signing if they can get him..... and hopeful this toulon deal will give them some better quality players too... but in teh main it appears they are to be a nursery club

Cookiemunster · 29-04-2019 2:28pm

Eod100 wrote: »

Has happened last few years too it looks like. https://twitter.com/rpetty80/status/1122827979602763776?s=19

Again. They are now under new ownership and finally have a bit of money (and hopefully stability) behind them. The signing of Jerry Sexton on a 3 year deal tells you that they're no longer planning season to season after a few years of chaos.

thomond2006 · 29-04-2019 2:29pm

SA Rugby announced that the provinces' squads would be capped at 45 players. This mass release is related to this.

phog · 30-04-2019 12:47pm

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1123159224366829569

No Joy Neville and we have Ben Whitehouse - I suppose the knock out games being stacked with Irish Teams leads to neutral rather than good refs being appointed

Eod100 · 30-04-2019 12:59pm

Silly q, why does Pro14 publish that list? To show who was eligible to be picked? Presumably someone else will get the final then?

sydthebeat · 30-04-2019 1:03pm

i didnt realise Andrew Brace was IRFU.

i rate him as an up and coming.

Cookiemunster · 30-04-2019 1:31pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

i didnt realise Andrew Brace was IRFU.

i rate him as an up and coming.

He's Limerick based. Played for Old Crescent.

bennyl10 · 30-04-2019 3:20pm

Eod100 wrote: »

Silly q, why does Pro14 publish that list? To show who was eligible to be picked? Presumably someone else will get the final then?

These are the referee's for the 'final series'
so one of them will get the final

phog · 30-04-2019 3:34pm

bennyl10 wrote: »

These are the referee's for the 'final series'
so one of them will get the final

That would be my understanding too

troyzer · 30-04-2019 3:53pm

I'm going for a Munster win over Glasgow in the final.

24-13.

Rigor Mortis · 30-04-2019 4:11pm

troyzer wrote: »

I'm going for a Munster win over Glasgow in the final.

24-13.

Are they running a Plate this year?

Eod100 · 30-04-2019 5:22pm

bennyl10 wrote: »

These are the referee's for the 'final series'
so one of them will get the final

Ah yeah, and guess another 2 will ref the semis too. just wasn't sure why they would name whole panel with only handful selected

troyzer · 30-04-2019 5:55pm

Rigor Mortis wrote: »

Are they running a Plate this year?

Nah, I just think Munster will be too desperate in the RDS. They'll want it more.

Synode · 30-04-2019 6:27pm

troyzer wrote: »

Nah, I just think Munster will be too desperate in the RDS. They'll want it more.

Can't see them a beating us in the RDS if we field a decent team

Podge_irl · 30-04-2019 6:55pm

Synode wrote: »

Can't see them a beating us in the RDS if we field a decent team

Munster have beaten Leinster once away from home in 10 years and that was during Leinster's worst season in that period. Obviously possible, but would be very surprising.

bennyl10 · 30-04-2019 6:57pm

Synode wrote: »

Can't see them a beating us in the RDS if we field a decent team

Only lost by a point last year,
Weren’t far off in the Aviva
Won in thomond

There’s not much in the Munster Leinster derby at the minute at all

Podge_irl · 30-04-2019 7:38pm

bennyl10 wrote: »

Only lost by a point last year,
Weren’t far off in the Aviva
Won in thomond

There’s not much in the Munster Leinster derby at the minute at all

Except for the results :pac:

Paul Smeenus · 03-05-2019 4:18pm

From a poster on Planet Rugby:

Average age of the starting back three for the Pro 14 quarter-finalists this weekend:

Benetton - 28y 193d
Munster - 28d 31d
Connacht - 27y 97d
Ulster - 21y 203d

Exclamation Marc · 03-05-2019 4:22pm

troyzer wrote: »

Nah, I just think Munster will be too desperate in the RDS. They'll want it more.

I heard that last year.

thomond2006 · 03-05-2019 4:34pm

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

From a poster on Planet Rugby:

Average age of the starting back three for the Pro 14 quarter-finalists this weekend:

Benetton - 28y 193d
Munster - 28d 31d
Connacht - 27y 97d
Ulster - 21y 203d

What kind of parents would sign off on that?

Paul Smeenus · 03-05-2019 4:36pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

What kind of parents would sign off on that?

Get 'em hooked young.

Erik Shun · 03-05-2019 4:37pm

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

From a poster on Planet Rugby:

Average age of the starting back three for the Pro 14 quarter-finalists this weekend:

Benetton - 28y 193d
Munster - 28d 31d
Connacht - 27y 97d
Ulster - 21y 203d

4 weeks of pashun is all we need down here!

troyzer · 03-05-2019 4:40pm

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

I heard that last year.

And the gap between the teams has been closed since then.

Exclamation Marc · 03-05-2019 4:50pm

troyzer wrote: »

And the gap between the teams has been closed since then.

Maybe, maybe not. Munster played very poorly against Edinburgh and Saracens so arguably they've not made any significant ground on Leinster.

But the 'hunger' card means nothing. They're professionals and always want to win. Last year they were intensely fired up last year to immediately dethrone the European champions. And didn't.

If Leinster win next weekend, they'll be rolling in in incredible form. If they lose, they'll, to use your suggestion, be hungry to win some silverware.

aloooof · 03-05-2019 4:58pm

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Maybe, maybe not. Munster played very poorly against Edinburgh and Saracens so arguably they've not made any significant ground on Leinster.

But the 'hunger' card means nothing. They're professionals and always want to win. Last year they were intensely fired up last year to immediately dethrone the European champions. And didn't.

If Leinster win next weekend, they'll be rolling in in incredible form. If they lose, they'll, to use your suggestion, be hungry to win some silverware.

Leaving hunger aside, you're overlooking changes in personnel.

KBurke85 · 03-05-2019 5:12pm

https://www.pro14rugby.org/2019/05/03/stars-ready-to-be-honoured-at-guinness-pro14-awards/

Bit surprised by the player of the year nominees. From a Connacht point of view surprised Carty or Farrell didnt get a mention

Exclamation Marc · 03-05-2019 5:21pm

aloooof wrote: »

Leaving hunger aside, you're overlooking changes in personnel.

They have absolutely contributed to the equation and injuries will as well. If Carbery doesn't make it, that's a massive loss. Similarly, if a key Leinster player goes down it could spell trouble for them.

Form is more key and as I said in the last two games, Munster scraped past a poor Edinburgh and were demolished by Sarries. Leinster also scraped by Ulster thanks to a very lucky break but Ulster were good that day. And they then beat Toulouse handily. They're in good form.

Granted, Munster were away but their attack was listless and they looked like a team that's not at the top table of three or four teams in Europe.

I'm not saying that Leinster will absolutely win but hunger is a silly thing to claim will be a deciding factor.

Also. Munster have to beat Benetton first.

aloooof · 03-05-2019 5:35pm

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

They have absolutely contributed to the equation and injuries will as well. If Carbery doesn't make it, that's a massive loss. Similarly, if a key Leinster player goes down it could spell trouble for them.

Carbery would be a massive loss to Munster. But specifically, we were discussing the gap between the teams being closer than last year. So you can add Carbery being a loss to Leinster into that equation too.

Add in Nordi and Nacewa and I don't think it's too far off to say Munster's squad is improved while Leinster's squad has weakened, versus what they both had at their disposal last year.

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Form is more key and as I said in the last two games, Munster scraped past a poor Edinburgh and were demolished by Sarries. Leinster also scraped by Ulster thanks to a very lucky break but Ulster were good that day. And they then beat Toulouse handily. They're in good form.

Granted, Munster were away but their attack was listless and they looked like a team that's not at the top table of three or four teams in Europe. .

No one is saying that Leinster won't be favourites.

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

I'm not saying that Leinster will absolutely win but hunger is a silly thing to claim will be a deciding factor.

I literally said "leaving hunger aside". (Fair enough if you're directing this at the other poster, but your post is specifically a reply to me).

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Also. Munster have to beat Benetton first.

Yes, Munster still have to go out and get the job done, but they have taken 47 from a possible 50 points at home this season. They are 15 point favourites for a reason.

Exclamation Marc · 03-05-2019 6:33pm

aloooof wrote: »

Carbery would be a massive loss to Munster. But specifically, we were discussing the gap between the teams being closer than last year. So you can add Carbery being a loss to Leinster into that equation too.

Add in Nordi and Nacewa and I don't think it's too far off to say Munster's squad is improved while Leinster's squad has weakened, versus what they both had at their disposal last year.

Absolutely, losing those three players has reduced the overall quality. I agree that the squads are closer, impossible to argue otherwise given the squad changes although a James Lowe start would be an improvement on the total net loss with who has left. Bear in mind, Munsters squad improvements have been massively reduced with Zebo gone and they've found nobody nearly as good as him. I still think Leinster have the better squad though. Doesn't mean they'll win of course

aloooof wrote: »

No one is saying that Leinster won't be favourites.

Someone quite literally said that Munster would be favourites to win in their mind because of 'hunger' which is where my post originated.

aloooof wrote: »

I literally said "leaving hunger aside". (Fair enough if you're directing this at the other poster, but your post is specifically a reply to me).

It was.

aloooof wrote: »

Yes, Munster still have to go out and get the job done, but they have taken 47 from a possible 50 points at home this season. They are 15 point favourites for a reason.

For sure. It was more tongue in cheek really. Massively unlikely but its not impossible.

Guinness Pro14 Season 2018-2019

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