Get a whiff of this, this week's best rugby! Guinness Pro 14 - R. 9

[Leonormous Boozer]

https://www.ultimaterugby.com/pro-14-2017-2018/matches
​

Cheetahs v Edinburgh - Cheetahs to get back to winning ways against the more depleted Scots, it'll likely get them a bit of breathing room in that last play off spot in Conference A.

Ulster v Treviso - The best time to get an Italian team, fortunately for Ulster, I don't think they're capable of anything short of five points here but the Nordies never cease to amaze!

Cardiff v Connacht - Biggest game of the weekend, winner stays in playoff contention, an all but full strength Connacht play an almost full strength Cardiff. In the league's interest we'd want a green win who are more capable of a playoff push then the Welsh outfit, I think they'll fall short though!

Ster v Dragons - James Lowe

Ospreys v Glasgow - It'll just get worse and worse for the O's, maybe with a full complement they could beat Glasgow's u12's but I doubt it.

Kings v Scarlets - I have no clue how good or bad Scarlets' reserves are, hopefully they're worse than the Kings because Ster need it but I somehow doubt it.

Zebre v Munster - Mah bois aren't in good nick because of the national team, Munster don't lose a huge amount at Pro 12 level during internationals, 5 points red.

 

[big ginger 8]

*James Lowe + Garrry Ringrrose.

 

[MikeTheNative]

Dragons away in ireland - pick such a 2nd string team there's a chance I might get a game.

 

[collace]

Reports are that James Lowe won't be involved this week. He's only just started training with the squad.

 

[munstermuffin]

*James Lowe + Garrry Ringrrose.

Neither playing this week it seems

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Lanc said Ringrose "could play and definitely will next week" while James Lowe is "bedding in nicely". I'll live in hope.

 

[big ginger 8]

When they name the team you are all gonna be like:

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Edinburgh backs should be alright but there pack is missing really going to stuggle against the cheetahs who don't have currie cup going on.

 

[collace]

"He has just got himself on the training field so it's unlikely he'll be available this week,"

http://www.the42.ie/james-lowe-leinster-dragons-3707818-Nov2017/

Just trying to spare you the inevitable disappointment... Maybe I shouldn't, then you would know how Ulster fans feel on a continuous basis.

 

[MikeTheNative]

What?? Wales online saying that Mike Phillips is set to come out of retirement to be on the bench for Scarlets at the weekend!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Four reasonable fixtures.

Cheetahs to take down Edinburgh fairly comfortably due to having some quality players available (only missing Venter and Pietersen from their early season top performers I think).

Kings to lose to Scarlets reserves as Patchell's understudy Dan Jones did the business last year when Patchell was injured.

Cardiff and Connacht to play to a standard that belies their lowly league rankings.

Ospreys to pip Glasgow reserves, but Adam Hastings to impress again and help Glasgow fans get over the forthcoming departure of Finn.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

What?? Wales online saying that Mike Phillips is set to come out of retirement to be on the bench for Scarlets at the weekend!

Must have fancied a spot of winter sunshine!

 

[MikeTheNative]

Must have fancied a spot of winter sunshine!

Reading Privac's comments it was more of case there was literally nobody else, they even asked English championship sides to loan a player. James Davies is back in the squad which is a massive positive for them.

 

[munstermuffin]

Lanc said Ringrose "could play and definitely will next week" while James Lowe is "bedding in nicely". I'll live in hope.

Hope is for LOOOOOOSERS

But yeah seems both will be left alone until next week. Although if I was to guess then maybe Ringrose will play as he needs to try get up to speed for double header where Lowe is up to speed just needs to fully learn systems

 

[Groundhog]

On us not missing players by the way, we're missing 9(?) to Ireland, as well as Bleyendaal, Williams, O'Donnell, Cronin, Grobler, Oliver, Goggin, O'Callaghan, Taute and Scannell to injury. We're far from stuck and the rotation will serve us well, but we could be a tad sluggish. Really worrying for me is that Earls could be out for the Leicester games.
Expecting an XV of Boomer, Marshall, Archer, Holland, Kleyn, Cloete, O'Connor/ O'Donoghue, Copeland, Hart, Hanrahan, Wootton, Scannell, Farrell (surely released), ehhhhm Fitzgerald is our only other available wing, Zebo.
Hopefully Johnston will get some time as well as Arnold. Could see Arnold getting a decent run.

Also, I thought it would be a good idea to mention my proposal for a Pro 14 subform secret santa. Think the famous Reddit secret santa as a model except instead of being paired with a member from around the world at random I give you all Alpha Bro's address and you guys mail him anthrax, dog ****, possessed dolls what have you, until he's either driven out of his position of thread starter through illness or gets the message to stop phoning his predictions in.

 

[TRF_heineken]

So the games are all on Friday night and Sunday, with the internationals on Saturday. I like this a lot. Rugby all weekend long!

Hopefully the Cheetahs will continue their unbeaten run at home, even without their captain.

 

[MikeTheNative]

My predictions for the Welsh teams:
Cardiff v Connacht - cardiff to take this while scoring 4 tries, connact will probably get 3 and it be reasonably close

Kings v Scarlets - Scarlets still too strong for the kings even with a load of players out. Mike Phillips to father multiple children in SA in 9 months time.

Ospreys v Glasgow - The textbook definition of turgid attack, ospreys, struggle to get 2 tries glasgow win comfortably scoring 4 tries

Leinster v Dragons - A pro rugby team puts 40 odd points on a bunch of children and players who shouldn't be playing higher than semi-pro rugby.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

So the games are all on Friday night and Sunday, with the internationals on Saturday. I like this a lot. Rugby all weekend long!

Hopefully the Cheetahs will continue their unbeaten run at home, even without their captain.

Glasgow won there, but yes they do seem to have the measure of their rivals when playing at home.

 

[Amiga500]

Marty Moore coming to us next year.
George North going to somewhere in Wales next year (Dragons is my guess).
Ross Moriarty going to Dragons next year.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Ster:

15. Jordan Larmour
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Rory O'Loughlin
12. Noel Reid
11. Isa Nacewa (captain)
10. Ross Byrne
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Ed Byrne
2. Seán Cronin
3. Michael Bent
4. Ross Molony
5. Scott Fardy
6. Josh Murphy
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Max Deegan

Replacements:

16. Richardt Strauss
17. Peter Dooley
18. Andrew Porter
19. Ian Nagle
20. Jack Conan
21. Nick McCarthy
22. Cathal Marsh
23. Conor O'Brien

Connacht:

15. Tiernan O'Halloran
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Tom Farrell
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Caolin Blade

1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Quinn Roux
5. James Cannon
6. Eoin McKeon
7. Jake Heenan
8. John Muldoon (captain)

Replacements:

16. Shane Delahunt
17. Peter McCabe
18. Conor Carey
19. Gavin Thornbury
20. Eoghan Masterson
21. James Mitchell
22. Steve Crosbie
23. Pita Ahki

Cardiff Blues:

15. Matthew Morgan
14. Owen Lane
13. Garyn Smith
12. Willis Halaholo
11. Tom James
10. Jarrod Evans
9. Tomos Williams

1. Corey Domachowski
2. Matthew Rees (captain)
3. Taufa'ao Filise
4. George Earle
5. Damian Welch
6. Macauley Cook
7. Olly Robinson
8. Nick Williams

Replacements:

16. Kirby Myhill
17. Brad Thyer
18. Anton Peikrishvili
19. James Down
20. Josh Turnbull
21. Lewis Jones
22. Gareth Anscombe
23. Harri Millard