Great close of season fight in the RABBO Pro 12

RaboDirect Pro12 Table

1 Leinster 77
2 Ospreys 67
3 Munster 62
4 Glasgow 57
5 Scarlets 57
6 Ulster 56

Still four teams separated by two points fighting for two places.

Results
Ospreys 31-12 Newport-Gwent D'gons
Ulster 8-16 Leinster
Scarlets 20-20 Munster

Treviso v Glasgow today at 14:05

If Scarlets get five points against Airioni that would out three teams on 56 points. Corrected

Yup its a cracking finish all right!

maestegmafia wrote:If Scarlets get five points against Airioni that would out three teams on 56 points.

Could be a close one.

Scarlets are back in the hunt after Connacht and Munster did them a favour.

maestegmafia wrote:If Scarlets get five points against Airioni that would out three teams on 56 points.

Although wouldnt Glasgow be on 57?

Yep, current table is

Leinster 73
Ospreys 62
Munster 60
Glasgow 57
Ulster 56
Scarlets 51

That LBP could be crucial for Glasgow

Aye looks like BBC Rugby got it wrong last night.

And nearly all the teams in selection are still playing each other in the last two weeks...

Fri 20 Apr 19:05
Ospreys v Dragons Liberty Stadium

Ulster v Leinster Ravenhill


Sat 21 Apr 18:30
Scarlets v Munster Parc y Scarlets


Sun 22 Apr 15:05
Treviso v Warriors Stadio di Monigo



Sat 5 May 19:30
Warriors v Connacht Firhill Stadium

Munster v Ulster Thomond Park Stadium

Scarlets v Blues Parc y Scarlets

I want a Leinster v Ospreys final....but I don't want them to play the Warriors to get there. I'd rather we had Munster.

All very tough fixtures Cari...!

We have had a great run against the Irish this year, the only game we lost was Ulster at Ravenhill. If you had asked me at the start of the season if we would like Connacht Wins home and away I would have said yes... But to get Leinster and Munster Home and away has been fantastic.

We have a reasonably simple run in to the Playoffs without any un-forseen CockUps. Dragons will be tough as old boots in the sun and could be our stumbling block.

But the other teams in contention facing each other and other good mid table teams or Leinster are going to have a really hard time

Maes - they are indeed, but if I could choose between Munster and Warriors, I'd go for the former. Warriors have been superb this season, and they've beaten O's home and away. I just think we'd stand a better chance against Munster. Whatever happens it's going to be a very exciting finish to the P12 season. I can't see Leinster winning the final if they win the HC again either. BUT, if they lose in the HC...look out. They'll want to get something to show for the mantlepiece at the end of the season.

True Cari...!

I think the great thing is that all the teams in contention and the ones below can rock the ship... Connacht taking Ulster is a good example

With the O's failing to pick up a BP yesterday that means Leinster have a home semi and a home final should we need it. Now I know Glasgow and Ospreys have beaten us at home this season, but in our current form, in a knockout game I'd fancy our chances of a league win.

Didn't the Ospreys beat you two weeks ago? Thats pretty recent.

Mickado wrote:With the O's failing to pick up a BP yesterday that means Leinster have a home semi and a home final should we need it. Now I know Glasgow and Ospreys have beaten us at home this season, but in our current form, in a knockout game I'd fancy our chances of a league win.

Mick, is that regardless of what happens to Leinster in the HC?

I did also say "in a knockout game"...

Cari, yeah regardless of the HC, but I have a feeling we'll lose to Clermont anyway.

Mickado wrote:Cari, yeah regardless of the HC, but I have a feeling we'll lose to Clermont anyway.

Its all pretty tight at the top of both HEC and Rabbo

Leinster 2nds have walked the league up until now. If they get knocked out of the Heino someone is going to suffer bigtime.

maestegmafia wrote:Didn't the Ospreys beat you two weeks ago? Thats pretty recent.

The Ospreys did beat Leinster recently - a result that ended a long home winning streak. However, I don't think that was a full strength team and was that the debut match for Thorn and comeback for O'Driscoll.

And a knockout match with something on the line is a different prospect. However, if Leinster succeed in the European Cup, which ain't a given with Clermont standing in their way, then completing the double would be very difficult.

Pot Hale wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Didn't the Ospreys beat you two weeks ago? Thats pretty recent.

The Ospreys did beat Leinster recently - a result that ended a long home winning streak. However, I don't think that was a full strength team and was that the debut match for Thorn and comeback for O'Driscoll.

And a knockout match with something on the line is a different prospect. However, if Leinster succeed in the European Cup, which ain't a given with Clermont standing in their way, then completing the double would be very difficult.

Thats a given, that said i think any of the teams in the top six this weekend have a realistic chance.

Leinster won the league this weekend - resoundingly.

Congrats.

maestegmafia wrote:

Mickado wrote:Cari, yeah regardless of the HC, but I have a feeling we'll lose to Clermont anyway.

Its all pretty tight at the top of both HEC and Rabbo

Last time I checked we were 11 points clear...

I have to say if we beat Clermont I'd be happy to lose the Rabo Semi Final and take no further part in it.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I have to say if we beat Clermont I'd be happy to lose the Rabo Semi Final and take no further part in it.

Fock no. I want it all. We nearly did it last year. We will have home advantage in any knockout Rabo games this year. We can rest players v the Dragons if we beat Clermont. (huge IF there)

The one thing that might hurt us is (again if we get over the massive IF) We may well face Ulster in Twickenham. They will possibly be out of the playoffs and could rest players the week before the HC final. We could face a tough home semi against possibly Glasgow or even Munster or Scarlets.

If Embra beat Ulster then they will be even more rested. I remember Leicester having a hard game the week before they lost the HC final to us. We were rested as there were no playoffs in the Magners that year.

Our squad are in good shape (crossing fingers here) and hope they stay that way.

The Leinster squad is in great shape. We've been rotating effectively all season. We brought Thorn in who's added even more to our scrum and rucking. Our injured players are back. Do we actually have any injury concerns?

I think we'll lose a close HC semi to Clermont, if they turn up and bring their A game. They got the home draw. It's their centenary year. It's their year I think. In that case we'll be very driven to win the PRO12. We've lost two league finals in a row now. And haven't won the trophy since 2008.

Leinster 73
Ospreys 62
Munster 60
Glasgow 57
Ulster 56
Scarlets 55

Scarlets kept themselves in the running.

maestegmafia wrote:Leinster 73
Ospreys 62
Munster 60
Glasgow 57
Ulster 56
Scarlets 55

Scarlets kept themselves in the running.

Only mathematically.

I think Glasgow and Ospreys will win their last two games. (against teams who are out of contention)

Scarlets only hope is for Leinster and to beat Ulster, and for Scarlets and Ulster to beat Munster. Not impossible but unlikely. Especially for Ulster to come back after a HC semi (win or lose) and beat Munster in Thomond (again) despite having feck all to play for. Munster would be desperate to win that one.

for the Scarlets to sneak in would require them to win both games plus either Glasgow to lose away to Treviso or the very unlikely scenario in Ireland described by JM above. Neither of which is likely.

Its far more likely that Munster come over and get the win at PYS unfortunately ending a season of near misses.

I hope I'm wrong though.

2ndtimeround wrote:for the Scarlets to sneak in would require them to win both games plus either Glasgow to lose away to Treviso or the very unlikely scenario in Ireland described by JM above. Neither of which is likely.

Its far more likely that Munster come over and get the win at PYS unfortunately ending a season of near misses.

I hope I'm wrong though.

I wouldn't say it is that likely that Munster will win in PYS. I would put Scarlets as favourites, especially with the lightweight team they picked against Airioni, resting big names for an easier fixture.

Ospreys and Leinster are unlikely to not qualify as top two, Glasgow are in fine form but I would say the fourth place is very open between Munster Ulster and Scarlets. None of whom I see as certs to win their remaining games...

Great finish to the season.

Maestegmafia.

Even if the Scarlets do beat Munster they would need to do it with a bonus point to realistically have a chance of qualifying as both Munster and Glasgow will remain infront of them unless Treviso beat Glasgow, Ulster also will likely be a point in front after playing an already gauranteed 1st placed Leinster. this would make it impossible for the Scarlets to qualify unless Glasgow lose at home to Connaught.
Failing to get the try bonus in the Aironi game realistically ended any chance of making the play off's unfortunately.

Nothing is an improbability other than anyone catching Leinster, by the look of it.

I hope your right, maybe I've sat in PYS and watched them fall on the big hurdles to often. No one will be cheering louder than me on May 5th if they pull it off.

Ospreys 31-12 Newport-Gwent D'gons
Ulster 8-16 Leinster
Scarlets 20-20 Munster

still really close. Four teams separated by few points in the fight. Looks like Ospreys are ahead now and almost guaranteed a home semi in the play offs like Leinster.

O's ARE guaranteed 2nd place and Munster are assured of 4th at least so there's only 1 spot to play for! Toight loike a toiger!

Glasgow will most likely sort out the last place in a few hours. The order of third and 4th will be decided next week.

O's have definitely got their home semi final on the 11th May at 7:35pm - bit of a bummer again because it's a late kick off on a Friday

Mickado wrote:O's ARE guaranteed 2nd place and Munster are assured of 4th at least so there's only 1 spot to play for! Toight loike a toiger!

You are correct. My mathematics has been awful all weekend. I couldn't work out a 15% tip on a bill yesterday...! Its like Math Dyslexia.

15% ? Hark at thee

maestegmafia wrote:

Mickado wrote:O's ARE guaranteed 2nd place and Munster are assured of 4th at least so there's only 1 spot to play for! Toight loike a toiger!

You are correct. My mathematics has been awful all weekend. I couldn't work out a 15% tip on a bill yesterday...! Its like Math Dyslexia.

Its called Dyscalculia

wales606 wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

Mickado wrote:O's ARE guaranteed 2nd place and Munster are assured of 4th at least so there's only 1 spot to play for! Toight loike a toiger!

You are correct. My mathematics has been awful all weekend. I couldn't work out a 15% tip on a bill yesterday...! Its like Math Dyslexia.

Its called Dyscalculia

QI

Mickado wrote:

wales606 wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

Mickado wrote:O's ARE guaranteed 2nd place and Munster are assured of 4th at least so there's only 1 spot to play for! Toight loike a toiger!

You are correct. My mathematics has been awful all weekend. I couldn't work out a 15% tip on a bill yesterday...! Its like Math Dyslexia.

Its called Dyscalculia

QI

It seems to be temporary... Thankfully.