Will we know our six playoff teams after this week? Probably Five... Guinness Pro 14 - R.17

[Leonormous Boozer]

ultimaterugby.com/pro-14-2017-2018/matches
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Southern Kings v Dragons - A first win... Maybe? Any one who watches this probably deserves to be paid!

Cardiff v Treviso - Having Scraped home against Zebre away last week Cardiff will hope to keep the Cheetahs in their sights while Treviso will hope for something to snatch the European playoff spot from Ulster. All to play for here and I hope my Benetton bois do the business but don't expect it!

Ulster v Glasgow - It doesn't get much easier for Ulster as they play contender after contender, Glasgow will want to put the previous two weeks' failures behind them and get a win against Ulster, Ulster need to fend off Benetton. Glasgow should have enough to put away the hapless Nordies.

Edinburgh v Munster - A probable quarter final match up here, if Edinburgh want to have any say in the last two rounds of the competition they'd want to make a statement here, possibly the league's form team since the start of the 6n should see off a Munster team who have struggled in challenging away matches this season.

Scarlets v Leinster - A rematch of the battle two weeks' ago, expect the Carbery, Isa, Ringrose axis to improve upon the inexperience of a fortnight ago. The Scarlets may escape one of Fardy and Lowe with Cullen and Lanc likely to not be overly keen on starting Nick McCarthy and pulling another 9 from the nursery to accommodate. Top spot again on the line and its vital for the Scarlets to grab it with a significantly more difficult run in.

Zebre v Ospreys - Conference A's bottom two battle it out with Ospreys trying to salvage that European playoff spot from Connacht, old boys Gaffney and Parata will inadvertently help their new natural enemies by putting Os away with little difficulty.

Cheetahs v Connacht - Cheetahs are tiring but should have come away from their tour of Wales with two wins, they'll want to rectify this and keep Cardiff at bay, Connacht's brief revival was brief, they've a battle to make Europe on their hands.

 

[Groundhog]

I think games played in UK and Ireland have a good chance of being called off to be honest.

 

[munstermuffin]

I think games played in UK and Ireland have a good chance of being called off to be honest.

We have been informed to keep all weekend time slots open.

On playing front. Tommy O Donnell may return to squad. Niall Scannell should be left out to rest ribs although he can play. Rory Scannell, John Ryan are back and Sammy Arnold may be a doubt for starting as he has to go to Ireland Mini Camp

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

How cold does it have to be to call off a rugby match if there is undersoil heating?

Edinburgh to be -1 and a very stiff breeze on Friday. Still cold at weekend but wind reducing a fair bit. Worth getting it done on the Friday if that forecast holds. It's on the telly in English so I'll be wimping out and staying at home.

 

[munstermuffin]

How cold does it have to be to call off a rugby match if there is undersoil heating?

Edinburgh to be -1 and a very stiff breeze on Friday. Still cold at weekend but wind reducing a fair bit. Worth getting it done on the Friday if that forecast holds. It's on the telly in English so I'll be wimping out and staying at home.

Depends more on 1. The pitch and 2. Access to ground.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Depends more on 1. The pitch and 2. Access to ground.

I'll be embarrassed if there is an issue with either of those unless the airport is closed. Murrayfield isn't far off sea level.

 

[munstermuffin]

I'll be embarrassed if there is an issue with either of those unless the airport is closed. Murrayfield isn't far off sea level.

True but I'd have guessed the message was said to every club just as a caution

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Shame the weather doesn't look like it will clear up a big chance for Edinburgh to pull in a decent crowd really with the right marketing.

 

[ThebigARena]

]Buoyant from the win last weekend against Ulster I see this as perfect preparation to go on and beat Leinster this weekend at home , looking forward to the match just hope it doesn't rain

Although I'm hoping this summer with bierne and Barclay heading back there respected nations I'm hoping this Blade - Thomson can fill the huge void sounds like a talent though for the hurricanes and was on the fringes of ABs selection at one time

 

[Leinster Fan]

Big opportunity for Leinster to put a bit of distance between themselves and Scarlets in the table and to avoid being drawn into a dogfight for the first place spot in the conference which would help given that the main focus after this game will be solely on Europe.

The return of Garry Ringrose to competitive rugby after a decent stint in the farce that was last week's game will be a big boost for Leinster and has massively increased in importance now that Farrell's injury means he'll be straight back into the Ireland 13 jersey.

Fingers crossed we get Carbery back because talented though Frawley is, he doesn't have the experience for this game and I'd feel much more confident with Carbery there although Isa Nacewa will help a lot as he always does.

It looks like we're going to have to choose between one of our two best players from two weeks ago and having a massively inexperienced player at scrumhalf. Given that Sean O'Brien won't be back I'd be inclined to choose Fardy because our pack is looking much weaker than our backs at the moment.

We'll probably see something like Larmour, Daly, Ringrose, Nacewa, Kearney (Dave), Carbery/Frawley, Gibson-Park, Ed Byrne, Bryan Byrne, Bent, Molony, Fardy, Josh Murphy, Jordi Murphy, Deegan although this is all contingent on certain players being released from the Ireland squad and who we play in the back three is anyone's guess.

 

[Welshdragon2000]

It's a shame that both of the games between Scarlets and Leinster have come in the international window. These are the best two teams in the league for goodness sake, why make them each play weakened sides against each other?

 

[Leinster Fan]

It's a shame that both of the games between Scarlets and Leinster have come in the international window. These are the best two teams in the league for goodness sake, why make them each play weakened sides against each other?

Have to agree, it's very sloppy organisation, although in fairness there aren't that many times of the year where everybody plays their first team.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Ulster v Glasgae postponed. I imagine more games will follow.thank God it wasn't a 6 Nations weekend!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Ulster v Glasgae postponed. I imagine more games will follow.thank God it wasn't a 6 Nations weekend!

Yeah. Edinburgh is a ruddy joke too. I had a five mile hike home from work today in the snow because of an absence of snow ploughs. I was still quicker than the buses. I wouldn't invite any sporting team here until we, as a city, can get our **** together when faced with what would historically be considered a modest snowfall. Harrumph!

 

[munstermuffin]

Yeah we unlikely to be playing Edinburgh. Games likely to be played Paddy Weekend by way is what is being said

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yeah we unlikely to be playing Edinburgh. Games likely to be played Paddy Weekend by way is what is being said

Shite! I'll be wrote and Scarlets would be able to field a better side!

 

[munstermuffin]

Shite! I'll be wrote and Scarlets would be able to field a better side!

Not concrete but not too many free weekends left

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Confirmed Edinburgh game postponed to March 16/17/18 weekend.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

The silver lining to all these consolations is that the box office Kings vs Dragons fixture will take centre stage!

...

But seriously, sounds like long suffering Kings coach Davids has got over his illness and is back in the saddle. If they don't win this then surely a winless debut season awaits.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

The silver lining to all these consolations is that the box office Kings vs Dragons fixture will take centre stage!

...

But seriously, sounds like long suffering Kings coach Davids has got over his illness and is back in the saddle. If they don't win this then surely a winless debut season awaits.

Match being livestreamed on YouTube just now.