Scarlets V Glasgow

First topic message reminder :

Ciao Juve, I've been away and the boards seem quiet as regards the Warriors so let's get started. Very much a must win for the Scarlet Women. Although four points may not even put them fourth. Whereas even an LBP will keep the Warriors in the top three. As for team selection, assuming everyone is fit ( where's UIG when you need him?) I'D start with
1.Grant
2. WeePee
3.Angela, although Muzza made a huge difference when he came on against the former Irish giants at Scotstoun.
4. Big Al
5. Swinson who seems to be betting better all the time
6. Bluto if we want to attack them from the off Harley if we want to take the sting out of them and then bring on Bluto
7. Barclay wears the jersey till he leaves just so we can appreciate him
8. Wilson
9. Niko/Henry same logic as 6
10. got to start with Rhurarb after Munster 51
11. DTH
12. Hornee furra Linee
13. Dunbar
14. NoMaits
15 Lion in Waiting
Murchie, Schlong and the Messiah can all feel hard done by OR could all play. If we come close to replicating the second 40 against Munster 51 then we will pocket 5 pts. If we reproduce the first 40 it could be a long, frustrating night.

I revise my prediction. George Clancy is ref, and the weather is wet and grey. It will be down to who gets the first few scrums going their way, and pen after pen after pen.

Yes Clownshoes the Clown and 4 Welsh officials - doomed ah tell ye !

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Looks like Toonie starts with Jacko and Wee Henry tomorrow - team up later :-

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/rug

ASBO/Jimbo - Picked up the ET at Glasgow Central on arrival from the Deep South and went straight to the rugby section - how sad after a week in Paris and London Ms.(?) Schizoid thinks I have lost it but I thought there would be some team news.

C21st, there I was on the vaporetti fron Lido approaching San Marco when I fell into conversation with an English chap. We were discussing the 6Ns when Mrspip and English Wifie gestured towards the Doge's Palace, Basilica San Marco, Bridge of Sighs etc and asked how we could be talking about rugby in the face of such beauty! Women eh? Sometimes I just don't get them.

jimbopip wrote:

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Looks like Toonie starts with Jacko and Wee Henry tomorrow - team up later :-

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/rug

ASBO/Jimbo - Picked up the ET at Glasgow Central on arrival from the Deep South and went straight to the rugby section - how sad after a week in Paris and London Ms.(?) Schizoid thinks I have lost it but I thought there would be some team news.

C21st, there I was on the vaporetti fron Lido approaching San Marco when I fell into conversation with an English chap. We were discussing the 6Ns when Mrspip and English Wifie gestured towards the Doge's Palace, Basilica San Marco, Bridge of Sighs etc and asked how we could be talking about rugby in the face of such beauty! Women eh? Sometimes I just don't get them.

I once spent an entire Saturday afternoon in Venice looking for a pub or hotel showing Italy vs Scotland in the 6 Nations. To my horror I was unsuccessful, so ended up spending the afternoon watching it in my hotel room. Mrs FES not remotely impressed, we were only there for the weekend.....

I once spent an entire Saturday afternoon in Venice looking for a pub or hotel showing Italy vs Scotland in the 6 Nations. To my horror I was unsuccessful, so ended up spending the afternoon watching it in my hotel room. Mrs FES not remotely impressed, we were only there for the weekend.....[/quote]
And I'll bet she never offered to go out and get you a pie and Bovril at half-time.

Jimbo old son,

there is no accounting for the deviousness of the female psyche. That was a warning from Mrs Pip that a re-visit may be on the cards as you could have spoiled the cultural karma of the occasion !

21st, it goes much deeper than that. Having visited a Disney Christmas Shoppe in 96 degree heat to buy baubles "for the trees" (note plural) she managed to pick up another such bauble in Venice. We can never go back anywhere as she has discovered her mission in life: to visit foreign climes and buy Chrimbo tat. (As in as many cities as possible and one bauble per city)
She has accepted that her previous mission was doomed from the start: I'm still drinking beer, rolling around in the mud and endlessly debating mobile props or fat lumps? Hey ho, as we say.

- nice one mate !

Glasgow Warriors team to play Scarlets in Round 20 of the RaboDirect PRO12, Parc y Scarlets, Friday 12 April (kick-off, 7.05pm):

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Sean Maitland
13 Mark Bennett
12 Peter Horne
11 DTH van der Merwe
10 Ruaridh Jackson
9 Henry Pyrgos
1 Gordon Reid
2 Pat MacArthur
3 Moray Low
4 Tom Ryder
5 Al Kellock (Captain)
6 Josh Strauss
7 John Barclay
8 Ryan Wilson

16 Dougie Hall
17 Ryan Grant
18 Ed Kalman
19 Tim Swinson
20 Rob Harley
21 Niko Matawalu
22 Duncan Weir
23 Sean Lamont

Not available for selection through injury:

M Cusack (shoulder), C Cusiter (shoulder), A Dunbar (knee), C Fusaro (groin), F Gillies (neck), R Lamont (ankle), T Seymour (knee)

That would be me - I think.

Ulster have been told that unless one of their new stands is ready they will not be allowed to hold the Semi Final at home.
Fortunately it will be no problem.

Now I took that to mean that 15,000 was a limit.
I may well have misinterpreted that but it does sugggest to me that a capacity in excess of Ravenhill's
current 12,00 is required; otherwise why say to Ulster they may not be allowed to play at home

I suppose it could be something to do with access, health and safety etc but we have been playing with a building site for a number of games - from a health and safety perspective what makes a Semi-Final any different?

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:2nd time, after finding out you need 15k capacity stadium for a semi final, and we only have 14.5k, a home semi would have to be either the library or ms, so no real gain for us as such. But I do love your optimisum

Ah. That's who dreamt it. Or perhaps someone likes winding up spiders?

It was mentioned by a knowledge irish (i believe) poster on a thread about If glasgow get a home final. That said there were no facts given so I may have just accepted it as true without any proof at all

It's the final you need the capacity for Geoff 18000. I hear the builders won't make that before the end of may......Perhaps you will have to move it to Lansdowne rd.....

A lot of water to go under the bridge before that though, and by the looks of that Glasgow team, Leinster may not make the final.

Bennett starts. Game won.

No mention of Jon Welsh which is odd, and surprised that Ryan Grant isn't starting.

Suggestion in this selection of keeping a few players fresh for the play-offs, which is a slight gamble.

Plenty quality on the bench though, and if Glasgow need to change the game in the second half, bringing on Swinson, Harley, Matawalu, Weir and Lamont will certainly do that.

Captain_Sensible wrote:Glasgow Warriors team to play Scarlets in Round 20 of the RaboDirect PRO12, Parc y Scarlets, Friday 12 April (kick-off, 7.05pm):

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Sean Maitland
13 Mark Bennett
12 Peter Horne
11 DTH van der Merwe
10 Ruaridh Jackson
9 Henry Pyrgos
1 Gordon Reid
2 Pat MacArthur
3 Moray Low
4 Tom Ryder
5 Al Kellock (Captain)
6 Josh Strauss
7 John Barclay
8 Ryan Wilson

16 Dougie Hall
17 Ryan Grant
18 Ed Kalman
19 Tim Swinson
20 Rob Harley
21 Niko Matawalu
22 Duncan Weir
23 Sean Lamont

Not available for selection through injury:

M Cusack (shoulder), C Cusiter (shoulder), A Dunbar (knee), C Fusaro (groin), F Gillies (neck), R Lamont (ankle), T Seymour (knee)

What can you say? Bonkers strong bench with huge impact players due to come on in the front row, back row and at lock.

Pyrgos and Jackson in the hinge makes a big statement. Toonie clearly looking for fast ball and structured play.

Glad to see the Messiah start. Moray back to tighthead - I have no problem with that in the absence of the Coo.

Looking forward to seeing Niko unleashed once the game has broken up a bit.

Big Welshie still at the beauticians ?

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Big Welshie still at the beauticians ?

I'd have thought he was a "nailed" on starter....

He seems to have varnished from the match day squad!

DrTreasure wrote:He seems to have varnished from the match day squad!

Surely that's your cue(ticle) to leave?

George Carlin wrote:

DrTreasure wrote:He seems to have varnished from the match day squad!

Surely that's your cue(ticle) to leave?

Ha, taxi booked though I heard they went with Reid because he is buffer....

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:It's the final you need the capacity for Geoff 18000. I hear the builders won't make that before the end of may......Perhaps you will have to move it to Lansdowne rd.....

A lot of water to go under the bridge before that though, and by the looks of that Glasgow team, Leinster may not make the final.

Ulster have been told that they need to complete one end for the Semi-Final breinging the capacity up to 15,000 and have been told they must complete both ends in time of the final to bring the capacity up to 18,000

Both targets wil be met if, hopefully, required.

The reason for the insistance of one end being completed by the semi-final I don't know but the demand has been made.

Liam Williams
George North
Jon Davies
Scott Williams
Andy Fenby
Owen Williams
Aled Davies

Phil John
Ken Owens
Samson Lee
George Earle
Johan Snyman
Arron Shingler
Jon Edwards
Rob McCusker

(Bench -: Matthew Rees, Rhodri Jones, Deacon Manu, Sione Timani, Josh Turnbull, Gareth Davies, Aled Thomas, Gareth Maule/Gareth Owen)

Not a bad Scarlets side, or bench (not sure if it is Maule or Owen on the bench, the text from the Scarlets only had the G). I am really looking forward to this game now. I believe that if the Scarlets get a front foot (or even parity) in the forwards then we have the personnel in the backs to run wild.

While I have never seen the requirement anywhere for a semi final. They have only ever been in...

RDS x 3
Liberty x 2
Thomond x 3

RDS is the smallest of those at 18500 (Though it was 20000 the first year because of temp HC seating)

Hang about, i understood there was a min capacity for the final of 18,000, which is far it is the show case event, but never realised that for a home playoff there was a min capacity

that means if it is min 15,000 to host play off.

Maybe Ulster, (this season)
Maybe Scarlets ((14,870))
Benetton Treviso
Cardiff Blues
Connacht
Glasgow Warriors
Newport Gwent Dragons
Zebre

Would not be able to host a home play off game, and would have to move to a bigger ground. That seams silly to me.

Kingshu, seeing as Ulster will have capacity normally and PYS has the corners available for tempory seating (as mentioned by 2nd time around somewhere earlier, not sure where), then that list of teams unable to host a home semi would be

Treviso,
Blues
Connacht
Glasgow
Dragons
Zebre

And appart from Glasgow, lets be honest none of them are ever going to get a home semi final even if there wasn't a min capacity.

The Scarlets face one of their most important games this season as they host in-form RaboDirect PRO12 leaders Glasgow Warriors at Parc y Scarlets this Friday (kick off 7.05pm).






With only three rounds left - and all three fixtures at home for the West Wales side, the Scarlets are still firmly in the race for a top four finish and play-off semi-final as they sit on equal points as 4th placed rivals the Ospreys.
Head Coach Simon Easterby said his side were very conscious of the threat brought by a confident Glasgow Warriors side that had put so many points on Munster and when last in Wales against the Newport Gwent Dragons.

He said: "Both teams are going to be determined to come away with points from Friday night's game. This is going to be a very big test for us and it's a high pressure game for us all but one we look forward to.

"They showed against Munster in particular how effective they can be; it's been positive that we've had some added time to study them, with the break for European games and really look at areas we want to attack in their game. They are obviously on form and are playing a decent brand of rugby and scoring plenty of points."

The Scarlets have won six of their last seven fixtures in all competitions and have won their last four encounters at Parc y Scarlets and are going for a clean sweep over Scottish opponents this season.

Glasgow Warriors only loss in their last nine PRO12 fixtures was 17-22 to Leinster at the RDS on 23rd March. The Warriors have won eight of their last nine encounters with the Welsh regions. However, Glasgow have won just one of their last five matches against the Scarlets: 19-9 at Firhill in February 2012. Warriors have not won at Parc y Scarlets since May 2010.

Easterby said that the Scarlets needed to find the top of their game on Friday night, particularly without the ball and ensure they don't let a buoyant Glasgow side get into their stride.

He said: "We'll have to be effective without the ball and much more secure than we've been in the last two matches otherwise Glasgow will punish us, we are very mindful of some key areas of their game when they have the ball.

"But we have plenty of focus and drive as a group right now with this opportunity for silverware still in our hands, which has given a real energy to our preparations at Parc y Scarlets. We really want to kick on in these last three games the PRO12 and show what we stand for - particularly in front of our home crowd."

Easterby said the coaching team and players recognised what a huge game Friday night was for the Scarlets Region.

He said: "This is a massive game in the context of our season - it will be a tough with Glasgow playing so well but this is what it's all about and the boys have worked very hard this week. We need as much of our home support behind as we can get. It's set be a great occasion on Friday night at Parc y Scarlets."

The Scarlets Head Coach has made just two personnel changes to his match day 23 from the winning side that beat the Newport Gwent Dragons in the derby double header at the Millennium Stadium last time out.

Wing Andy Fenby comes back into the starting line-up; scrum-half Gareth Davies comes onto the bench. Liam Williams moves from wing to full-back for Gareth Owen (illness) and Ken Owens starts at hooker with Matthew Rees on the bench.

Scarlets Team v Glasgow Warriors; Friday 12th April 2013 kick off 7.05pm at Parc y Scarlets 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Aled Davies, 1 Phil John, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Samson Lee, 4 George Earle, 5 Johan Synman, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 8 Rob McCusker (capt).

Replacements: Matthew Rees, Rhodri Jones, Deacon Manu, Sione Timani, Josh Turnbull, Gareth Davies, Aled Thomas, Gareth Maule.

Exciting selection. Toonie talked about the Scarlet Women kicking to invite kicks back so he leaves our kicking 10 on the bench and plays Hornee and messiah outside Ruaridh, plus an electric back three! C'mon the Warriors

Good to see some confidence from the Scarlets fans.

This could be the game of the season so far. If there are fewer than 5 tries scored, I will drink a pint of local tapwater.

Not really fair that you've brought Fenby back. I've seen him.
He can run and pass and all sorts. If you're not careful, he'll be messing things up by scoring tries.

Decent outside backs on both sides. Liam Williams, George North, JD2 and Scott Williams are all high quality players who will punish Glasgow if errors are made and things get too loose, I also rate that Scarlets back row, plenty mobility there, if perhaps slightly lacking in beef.

All signs point to this being a high scoring cracker. What are the conditions like down there?

GC - confidence is swinging back and fore. The weather is hammering it down right now, but meant to be ok on friday, so that swings my confidence a bit both ways. George Clancy is ref, so that means it will come to kicking and Owen Williams is good, so I get positive, but then Jon Edwards is a compusive pen machine, so that means he will be a liability, and that gets me negative.

All in all I think it is not going to be a good game for my blood pressure either way.

A Glasgow selection that points towards an intention to control the ball, with a fairly mobile pack, and a very exciting bench to come on as the Scarlets tire. Surprised not to see Welsh and Grant start, but I guess that is a sign of confidence that Toonie has in those deputising. Sadly I suspect that this match will be decided by Clownshoes :-(

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:A Glasgow selection that points towards an intention to control the ball, with a fairly mobile pack, and a very exciting bench to come on as the Scarlets tire. Surprised not to see Welsh and Grant start, but I guess that is a sign of confidence that Toonie has in those deputising. Sadly I suspect that this match will be decided by Clownshoes :-(

I think you got that one 100% correct, that guy could spoil what has the potential to be one of the best games of the season.

I'm surprised he's still allowed to ref after the Ulster debacle, where he genuinely appeared to be trying to influence the outcome of the game.

Glasgow need to be wary and get on the right side of him early doors. Once he's picked his side, he rarely wavers.

I think the less intelligent element in the North stand will pick his side for him, as soon as he give 1 decision the wrong way the usuall suspects will all start chanting "Cheat, Cheat, Cheat"...
It never ceases to amaze me that they actually think this will help to sway a referee the way the want it to!!!!!
1 or 2 chants like this and Clancy will be a Glasgow fan for the evening.

I wouldn't get down about it, every team has idiotic fans (apart from Edinburgh, but only because we don't have any fans).

Neither side will want to win because of the ref. This is momentum time of the season, and both sides will want to put down a performance they can build on.

We'll have to leave an apple on Clancy's desk first.

How sad that we're already anticipating a refereeing car crash at this easrly stage. Lots of people pay lots of money to go to these games. The referees really should be up to scratch, but we've had no end of problems this year. It's making the difference between games being competitive and enjoyable and just being a penalty procuring urination contest.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Kingshu, seeing as Ulster will have capacity normally and PYS has the corners available for tempory seating (as mentioned by 2nd time around somewhere earlier, not sure where), then that list of teams unable to host a home semi would be

Treviso,
Blues
Connacht
Glasgow
Dragons
Zebre

And appart from Glasgow, lets be honest none of them are ever going to get a home semi final even if there wasn't a min capacity.

To further qualify whilst Ulster have been told they have to complete the stand it may be for non capacity reasons.

Secondly, and more likely, I suspect is I have jumped to a conclusion that as 12,000 is enough it must be 15,000.

It may just be 12.500 in which who would suffer?
That would let Cardiff Blues off the hook, Connaught have a lot of capacity for temporary stands and Dragons are only just short. To be honest Glasgow are the only likely contenders with an issue of limited capacity. Even they have talked about 10000 at one stage.

Agreed GC - the standard of refereeing in the Rabo this season has been a complete shambles, and they need to work hard in the close season to improve the standards.

geoff998rugby wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Kingshu, seeing as Ulster will have capacity normally and PYS has the corners available for tempory seating (as mentioned by 2nd time around somewhere earlier, not sure where), then that list of teams unable to host a home semi would be

Treviso,
Blues
Connacht
Glasgow
Dragons
Zebre

And appart from Glasgow, lets be honest none of them are ever going to get a home semi final even if there wasn't a min capacity.

To further qualify whilst Ulster have been told they have to complete the stand it may be for non capacity reasons.

Secondly, and more likely, I suspect is I have jumped to a conclusion that as 12,000 is enough it must be 15,000.

It may just be 12.500 in which who would suffer?
That would let Cardiff Blues off the hook, Connaught have a lot of capacity for temporary stands and Dragons are only just short. To be honest Glasgow are the only likely contenders with an issue of limited capacity. Even they have talked about 10000 at one stage.

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/statzone/competition_rules.php

3.6. In the RaboDirect PRO12 Semi-Finals, the Team placed first in the league shall play the Team placed fourth and the Team placed second shall play the Team placed third. The RaboDirect PRO12 Semi-Finals shall be held at the home grounds of the first and second placed Teams respectively. The winners shall meet in the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.

3.7. The RaboDirect PRO12 Final is provisionally scheduled to take place on the weekend of 26/7th MAY. RaboDirect PRO12 will determine the venue for the RaboDirect PRO12 Final however the Team that finished highest in the league stage competing in the Final will be able to propose a venue within its own Union's jurisdiction (which may include the team's own ground) to host the RaboDirect PRO12 Final, provided that the venue meets certain commercial criteria and has capacity for a minimum of 18,000 spectators.

So the question remains why have Ulster been told they must complete the buiding of one end to hold a SF

2ndtimeround wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:A Glasgow selection that points towards an intention to control the ball, with a fairly mobile pack, and a very exciting bench to come on as the Scarlets tire. Surprised not to see Welsh and Grant start, but I guess that is a sign of confidence that Toonie has in those deputising. Sadly I suspect that this match will be decided by Clownshoes :-(

I think you got that one 100% correct, that guy could spoil what has the potential to be one of the best games of the season.

And that delightful young ref Mr Hennesey as a touch judge too

That's interesting, so it sounds like Glasgow could play their semi-final at Scotstoun, but would play the final at (presumably) Murrayfield.

Works for me.....

funnyExiledScot wrote:That's interesting, so it sounds like Glasgow could play their semi-final at Scotstoun, but would play the final at (presumably) Murrayfield.

Works for me.....

Now all they have to do is make sure they get their home semi final first, but starting next weekend please

It's ok, if you ask really nicely, Glasgow might let you finish the game without too much damage to your points difference....

geoff998rugby wrote:So the question remains why have Ulster been told they must complete the buiding of one end to hold a SF

Have you tried getting builders to shorten their tea breaks with any less of a threat?

George Carlin wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:So the question remains why have Ulster been told they must complete the buiding of one end to hold a SF

Have you tried getting builders to shorten their tea breaks with any less of a threat?

Could also be that they just want the ticket revenue. Guaranteed to sell out a semi.

George has scored 9 in the league this season, Fenby 8. Hmmm.

That's dangerously close to Visser territory, that.

How many does DTH have ? He has had a bit of a drought this year but still a fantastic back.

Alphabite has 8 in the league, I think.

So GC should have said George and Fenby are seriously close to DTH territory I think !

Are we sure of the officials? I trusted the Beeb

Apparently George Clancy, and his full team (TMO and all) will be at PYS and Ravenhill tonight officiating both games. Well done BBC on top notch journo work again