Rugby is Back - Guinness Pro 14: R. 7

[Leonormous Boozer]

https://www.ultimaterugby.com/pro-14-2017-2018/matches
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Glasgow v Kings - The worst team in the Pro 14 away to The worst team in Europe (I joke, Northampton have no pints either!) Nothing but the easiest of victories for the Scots to bounce back from crashing and burning out of Europe.

Ospreys v Dragons - Ospreys were surprisingly not **** as their horrible losing streak continued the last two weeks, same can not be said for baldy's army. Ospreys to get their season off to a very late start with a five pointer.

Connacht v Munster - The Volkswagen Passat Derby is Ireland's fifth favourite derby and could go either way this week, Munster are limping their way into the season having three less points in Europe than they'd have hoped for and two wins for the Westerners could be exactly what they need... I'm still backing red though.

Benetton v Edinburgh - Easy win for the supreme overlords of European rugby, Cockers can't handle Italian rugby.

Zebre v Cheetahs - Two of the more entertaining sides in the competition, Zebre failed to make an impact in Europe with two bad losses but at home in the competition you imagine they're focusing on they could catch the Saffas, I suspect they will too.

Ulster v Leinster - The second favourites to win Europe and hot favourites for this tournament travel to Belfast, which has often been a happy hunting ground when it mattered. Ulster probably kissed their European dream goodbye in La Rochelle and will likely say goodbye to top spot in the conference for good this week... Handy win for Leinster A v Ulster A!

Scarlets v Cardiff - Scarlets said goodbye to Europe as well this weekend with a loss to Bath... Yeah... Cardiff are on a high but won't likely upset the Scarlets who are in their safe space in a competition where teams don't play their best stuff!

 

[Groundhog]

Just spitballing here, but I don't think camp Joe will start until next week based on what other people have said, so the provinces should be full strength this week if they want to be, unless there's a directive to rest players before camp. Either way I think we should have too much for Connacht in the pack and if our linespeed is like last week, they'll likely panic their way to a loss ala their game v Ulster.
Two of the more interesting fixtures involve Italians. What fresh heaven is this.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Just spitballing here, but I don't think camp Joe will start until next week based on what other people have said, so the provinces should be full strength this week if they want to be, unless there's a directive to rest players before camp. Either way I think we should have too much for Connacht in the pack and if our linespeed is like last week, they'll likely panic their way to a loss ala their game v Ulster.
Two of the more interesting fixtures involve Italians. What fresh heaven is this.

Fair point, thought the EOYT's started a week earlier than they do, Leinster will probably be down Sexman and maybe Henshaw and a few others who played three weeks in a row will get a break, I still expect a win through a dominant pack performance regardless.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Fred Zeilinga will be back for the Cheetahs for this game, and was announced in the touring squad for the Cheetahs for their next 2 games in Europe.

Raymond Rhule and Sergeal Peterson will play their last game for the Cheetahs against Zebre, and afterwards return to South Africa to join the WP/Stormers as they are from 1 November contracted WP players.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Lealifano, Herbst and Cooney all doubts... Paul Marshall behind a beaten pack with [Mediocrity] at 10 will be hopeless!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Genuinely anticipating two Italian home wins. Bonkers. Zebre's "bad loss" in Europe this week was losing to Pau with an 83rd minute penalty. Not exactly a capitulation.

A shame to see Rhule and Petersen leave the league. Stapelberg has done enough to be retained as starter I think.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Genuinely anticipating two Italian home wins. Bonkers. Zebre's "bad loss" in Europe this week was losing to Pau with an 83rd minute penalty. Not exactly a capitulation.

A shame to see Rhule and Petersen leave the league. Stapelberg has done enough to be retained as starter I think.

They threw away a massive lead did they not?

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

They threw away a massive lead did they not?

I stand erected. I'm getting that close loss muddled up with Benetton's close loss to Toulon. :s

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

We can't all be flawless fans of Italian rugby Bruce! It's all good!

CONNACHT: Tiernan O'Halloran; Darragh Leader, Bundee Aki, Tom Farrell, Cian Kelleher, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham; Ultan Dillane, James Cannon; Eoin McKeon, Jarrad Butler, John Muldoon (Capt).

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Denis Coulson, Conor Carey, Quinn Roux, Eoghan Masterson, Caolin Blade, Craig Ronaldson, Niyi Adeolokun.

MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls, Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, John Ryan; Mark Flanagan, Billy Holland; Peter O'Mahony Capt., Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.


Replacements: Kevin O'Byrne, Liam O'Connor, Stephen Archer, Sean McCarthy, Jack O'Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Darren Sweetnam.

 

[Bluemoon]

I stand erected. I'm getting that close loss muddled up with Benetton's close loss to Toulon. :s

I'm guessing you mean 'corrected'. Although I feel the post is stronger if you leave it as 'erected'.

 

[Groundhog]

#Istanderected with Italian rugby. Share to show your support.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I'm guessing you mean 'corrected'. Although I feel the post is stronger if you leave it as 'erected'.

A local collocqualism (sic) rather than an incriminating instance of predictive text, honest guv! I'm not quite that excited by Italian rugby at the moment; not when Tommaso Allan is injured anyway.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

#Istanderected with Italian rugby. Share to show your support.

Connacht are "Front Up, Rise Up" - so why not?

 

[Amiga500]

I don't think our first team* would beat Leinster A never mind our second string.


*with current injuries. A fit Coetzee in the back row and everything would change.

 

[munstermuffin]

I don't think our first team* would beat Leinster A never mind our second string.


*with current injuries. A fit Coetzee in the back row and everything would change.

Aren't Ulster in Souh Arica too next week?
Could be tough without internationals

 

[dullonien]

Good to see Ashley Beck back for the O's, although I'm not sure he and Watkin make the most balanced of partnerships. Both similar in the way they approach the game.

Been disappointed that Cory Allen hasn't been given a proper go at 13, and is mainly filling in on the wing. Imo they could really use his pace and power outside either Beck or Watkin. He's shown up well on the wing, but he's a far better center! Fonotia has been a massive let-down as well, so I don't understand their reluctance to play him there.

 

[Bluemoon]

Good to see Ashley Beck back for the O's, although I'm not sure he and Watkin make the most balanced of partnerships. Both similar in the way they approach the game.

Been disappointed that Cory Allen hasn't been given a proper go at 13, and is mainly filling in on the wing. Imo they could really use his pace and power outside either Beck or Watkin. He's shown up well on the wing, but he's a far better center! Fonotia has been a massive let-down as well, so I don't understand their reluctance to play him there.

Weirdly this was happening with Cory at the end of his stay at Cardiff. He's OK as a winger, but he's come through the system playing 13 and I've always thought that was his best position. I couldn't get my head around it as he was selected at wing for Wales last summer too.

 

[collace]

Ulster

15. Charles Piutau
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Luke Marshall
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Christian Lealiifano
9. Aaron Cairns

1. Callum Black
2. Rory Best
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Alan O'Connor
5. Iain Henderson (captain)
6. Sean Reidy
7. Chris Henry
8. Jean Deysel

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring
17. Andy Warwick
18. Ross Kane
19. Kieran Treadwell
20. Robbie Diack
21. Jonny Stewart
22. Peter Nelson
23. Louis Ludik.

Leinster

15. Rob Kearney
14. Adam Byrne
13. Rory O'Loughlin
12. Noel Reid
11. Dave Kearney
10. Ross Byrne
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Jack McGrath
2. James Tracy
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. James Ryan
6. Dan Leavy
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Seán O'Brien (captain)

Replacements:

16. Richardt Strauss
17. Cian Healy
18. Andrew Porter
19. Ross Molony
20. Jack Conan
21. Luke McGrath
22. Cathal Marsh
23. Jordan Larmour

As is the case most weeks I would take our backs but much depends on whether we can get parity up front. Also worried about the inexperience at 9.

 

[munstermuffin]

Sean O'Brien 8 Again?
Said it a few weeks ago I think Schmidt wants him there

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

What's an Aaron Cairns?