Pro 12 Predictions 2015/16

Its a hard one to call with it being world cup season and the changes to some of the squads.
The Italians have been busy in the transfer market which might have something to do with their medium/long term future in the league being secured.
I'm not sure what to make of the other teams, even my own team Munster, who had a bit of a clearout.


Here are the transfers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2015%E2%80%9316_Pro12_transfers


Last seasons table http://www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/table.php?includeref=11189&season=2014-2015#qd5gbsEj8dBBesyf.97
1 Glasgow
2 Munster
3 Ospreys
4 Ulster
5 Leinster
6 Scarlets
7 Connacht
8 Edinburgh
9 Dragons
10 Cardiff Blues
11 Treviso
12 Zebre



My prediction at the end of this season.
1. Leinster - They've a massive squad and a new coaching team.
2. Glasgow
3. Ospreys
4. Munster - it could well be Ulster.
5. Ulster - might be short a few forwards but have a strong backline.
6. Edinburgh - Just have a feeling they were beginning to get their act together at the end of last season.
7. Scarlets
8. Connacht - They havn't really added much to their squad but lost a few players.
Bottom 4. Cardiff, Dragons, Zebre, Treviso - The Italians look like 2 new sides so who knows how they'll go.

Treviso look to have done some good buisness, so they could be tough away from home again.

I would expect the Welsh regions to improve on last year, they are no longer at war with the union, they have not lost may players to the rich French and English clubs, only Preistland I can think of, and they have recruited quite sensibly this time.

Ospreys have added Delve and James to their already decent scrum. Scarlets have signed a swathe of players, DTH van der merwe , Will Taylor, Price, Aled Thomas, Morgan Allen, Jack Condy, Dylan Evans, so they will have plenty of cover. Blues and Dragons have signed shrewdly as well, filling in the gaps.

I reckon Dragons could make the early break in the league as they will not be as affected by WC call ups.

On the whole I expect the Welsh regions to finish at least one place higher than there respective final standings last season. But there is no reason why there cannot be at least three Welsh regions in the top 6 on one in 7th.

I like your optimism LD but that would mean Dragons and Cardiff would both need to finish above at least one of Glasgow, Leinster, Ulster and Munster. Surely not?

Leinster
Ulster
Munster
Ospreys
Scarlets
Glasgow
Dragons
Connacht
Edinburgh
Blues
Treviso
Zebre

From a Scottish PoV I don’t think Glasgow will be able to hit the heights of last season, for three reasons:

- The have more players away at the world cup than any other club
- They have lost some key players that haven’t been replaced with similar quality players.  
- They are really focusing on Europe this year

I think they’ll make the Top 4 again, but I can maybe see them losing in an away semi final.  Will be delighted to be proven wrong though!

As for Edinburgh, well it is now or never for a Top 6 finish really.  We finally have a settled squad with a settled coach, and have developed one hell of  a pack – one of the best in the league I reckon, certainly one of the best scrummaging packs.

Our backs aren’t as good as our forwards though, and that may hold us back from being top 6.

So I think we stand a good chance but there is going to be even greater competition this year. We need to improve our consistency too. Much better squad depth will help in that regard – over the past two years Solomons’ non-rotation policy has become a long running joke.

Weegie Wizard wrote:I like your optimism LD but that would mean Dragons and Cardiff would both need to finish above at least one of Glasgow, Leinster, Ulster and Munster. Surely not?

Why not ? Glasgow are seriously depleted by the WC so are the irish three. Get a good start and who knows.

Glasgow have lost 20 players to the RWC, and in anticipation of this, Toonie has bought a cast of thousands in the off-season- however, the quality is not what we would have hoped for if I'm being perfectly honest. Townsend has a huge reputation for spotting rough diamonds but losing DTH, Maitland, Matawalu, Welsh, Murray and Hall alone has left a massive void which I don't think will be filled by their replacements. I think that Glasgow may well place in the top 4 again, but I don't think that they'll get a home semi.

Most people here probably won't believe this but Edinburgh really may place top 4 this year. This is for one reason - they now have one of the most brutal and multi-talented packs in the league which was completed by signing the captain of the team which just won the Super Rugby Championship. If their main guys can stay fit they have the ability to choke the life out of just about everyone in the league. You read it here first (ish).

I think this thread already shows that many fans don't pay much attention of the goings on outside their own country. I for one have no idea how well Glasgow or Edinburgh have recruited in the off season and have put them fairly low in my predictions on the basis that both will have players missing at the WC

Leinster will not be topping the league this year. The first 6 rounds will all happen before the end of the RWC window. Leinster will be decimated during that time. With the exception of Rory Best and Nathan White, Leinster are now supplying all front row options for Ireland and that is even with Marty Moore being injured. I can't see them holding the scrum and lineout during RWC and 6Ns gaps this season. Toner is class, but there is very little beside him. The backrow is strong which should mean we can stay close in games and pick up LBPs where possible.

Add in the fact that it is a rookie head coach who only has 1 year of experience as a forwards coach (and that wasn't a highlight season for the club).

In my opinion, Leinster & Connacht flip positions this season..... there I said it.... they have another couple of new zealanders that no one has heard of but will turn out to be class coming in. They have great youth players coming through. Lam is into year 3 with the program so is well settled. Only issue for me is Bundee Aki (lovely player but the line is he likes Galway a little too much).

Munster
Ospreys
Leinster
Ulster
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Dragons
Connacht
Scarlets
Treviso
Blues
Zebre


I think the Italians have recruited very well in the forwards and will have very strong packs. Particularly Treviso will be very hard to beat. Though there are still question marks about both teams coaching abilities.
Glasgow will be worse as i feel they haven't replaced players leaving with players of the same calibre. Unless they intend to play Nayaravoro at TH they lost 3 very decent TH and failed to sign a decent one in replacement. I expect Edinburgh who had a strong preseason to overtake them.
Scarlets will be worse too as they lost a lot of 2nd rows and failed to sign any decent replacement. Dragons will be the surprise package as i think they now have a very good pack and some exciting young backs, also they aren't affected much by call ups.

Leinster will have a better season and Munster will continue to improve and finish 1st.

GavinDragon wrote:I think this thread already shows that many fans don't pay much attention of the goings on outside their own country. I for one have no idea how well Glasgow or Edinburgh have recruited in the off season and have put them fairly low in my predictions on the basis that both will have players missing at the WC

Glasgow have been decimated with 20 players away, but Edinburgh have only lost 8 or so. Of those 8 it could probably be argued that those filling their shirts during the world cup don't massively weaken the team - front row maybe aside - so I'm hoping for good results during the international period.

Our biggest loss is Sam Hidalgo-Clyne - Dragons fans should remember him well!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

GavinDragon wrote:I think this thread already shows that many fans don't pay much attention of the goings on outside their own country. I for one have no idea how well Glasgow or Edinburgh have recruited in the off season and have put them fairly low in my predictions on the basis that both will have players missing at the WC

Glasgow have been decimated with 20 players away, but Edinburgh have only lost 8 or so. Of those 8 it could probably be argued that those filling their shirts during the world cup don't massively weaken the team - front row maybe aside - so I'm hoping for good results during the international period.

Our biggest loss is Sam Hidalgo-Clyne - Dragons fans should remember him well!

Ha we lost the semi in the pack. I would like to see clyne go behind a beaten pack against us

GavinDragon wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

GavinDragon wrote:I think this thread already shows that many fans don't pay much attention of the goings on outside their own country. I for one have no idea how well Glasgow or Edinburgh have recruited in the off season and have put them fairly low in my predictions on the basis that both will have players missing at the WC

Glasgow have been decimated with 20 players away, but Edinburgh have only lost 8 or so. Of those 8 it could probably be argued that those filling their shirts during the world cup don't massively weaken the team - front row maybe aside - so I'm hoping for good results during the international period.

Our biggest loss is Sam Hidalgo-Clyne - Dragons fans should remember him well!

Ha we lost the semi in the pack. I would like to see clyne go behind a beaten pack against us

To be fair, Aaron Smith could have been playing for you guys that day and wouldn't have made a difference - it is very difficult for a 9 go play well going backwards.

Your challenge now is to beat our pack!

Quietly confident with our new signings that it would be far more even - if both sides fully fit. Cant wait till the game!

You beat us the week after the semi final - refer to what I was saying earlier aboiut consistency!

Munster
Glasgow
Leinster

I'd feel in the top three ...then any of Ulster, Ospreys or Scarlets for 4th.

Leinster will hopefully look more a real team, but I think Cullen will still find it a struggle to get them back to being peening pretentious prycks of the Pro12 podium variety on his first year as top dog coach.  I'd blame him for his own part in the rubbish that went down last year so we'll see how much of him was responsible or how much of his better ideas were suppressed by an over-ruling MOC.

I think Munster have been grumbling back into better condition slowly over the last few seasons and I think they may have a overpowering misogynistic year built into them this time round.  If they get an early foothold, Foley ain't getting any prettier or nicer.... he'll drive them home with a lot of venom and spite....

RDW_Scotland wrote:You beat us the week after the semi final - refer to what I was saying earlier aboiut consistency!

Because of one man. Boris. As soon as he was announced as starting right on kick off, I text people saying we would win.

The problem with Munster last season was the tactics. Foley is basically building a team that intends to bully the opposition. It ain't going to be subtle! They've a lot of big bruisers in the backrow now but no natural 7 apart from O'Donnell.

The playing personnel does look good though! They had a squad clearout over the summer with Donnacha O'Callaghan being the latest to go. So Foley has been ruthless there.

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Leinster will not be topping the league this year.  The first 6 rounds will all happen before the end of the RWC window.  Leinster will be decimated during that time.  With the exception of Rory Best and Nathan White, Leinster are now supplying all front row options for Ireland and that is even with Marty Moore being injured.  I can't see them holding the scrum and lineout during RWC and 6Ns gaps this season.  Toner is class, but there is very little beside him.  The backrow is strong which should mean we can stay close in games and pick up LBPs where possible.

Add in the fact that it is a rookie head coach who only has 1 year of experience as a forwards coach (and that wasn't a highlight season for the club).

In my opinion, Leinster & Connacht flip positions this season..... there I said it.... they have another couple of new zealanders that no one has heard of but will turn out to be class coming in.  They have great youth players coming through. Lam is into year 3 with the program so is well settled.  Only issue for me is Bundee Aki (lovely player but the line is he likes Galway a little too much).

I can't see Connacht being near Leinster. I don't think Connachts youth players are great either although they're not bad either. Leinster have some great players coming through though like Leavy, Ross Byrne and Ringrose who made their first Pro12 squad.

profitius wrote:
My prediction at the end of this season.
1. Leinster - They've a massive squad and a new coaching team.
2. Glasgow  
3. Ospreys
4. Munster - it could well be Ulster.
5. Ulster - might be short a few forwards but have a strong backline.
6. Edinburgh - Just have a feeling they were beginning to get their act together at the end of last season.
7. Scarlets
8. Connacht - They havn't really added much to their squad but lost a few players.
Bottom 4. Cardiff, Dragons, Zebre, Treviso - The Italians look like 2 new sides so who knows how they'll go.

We've reached the half way point in the league. Interesting looking back. Scarlets and Connacht have performed much better than I expected. Ulster are coming into form also as are the Ospreys.

Glasgow have yet to start firing and are in danger of missing out on the playoffs. Themselves and Leinster had most players away for the world cup.

Leinster looking good for top spot now. I expect Connacht to fall down the table although with the 6 nations coming up they might go on a run again.

Hard to call the playoffs at this stage.


The bottom 4 sides are as expected. Zebre have improved this season though so that's good news. Maybe the Italians should put all their eggs in the Zebre basket.

I think 4 teams is too many for Wales. 3 would be enough because I can only see the Dragons moving downwards in the coming years unless they have some serious investment.

Looking at the fixtures Leinster still have a lot of tough away games to play, they need to play Ospreys, Dragons and Cardiff Blues in Wales, Glasgow in Scotland and they have Ulster and Connacht both away from home, they will do well to finish top.

As expected though the teams who lost a lot of internationals are hitting form again. This is the league as it stands currently:-

1 Scarlets 11 8 0 3 243 188 4 36
2 Leinster 10 8 0 2 197 115 3 35
3 Connacht 11 7 0 4 236 201 6 34
4 Edinburgh 11 7 0 4 189 150 4 32
5 Munster 11 7 0 4 200 217 4 32
6 Ulster 11 6 0 5 203 139 8 32
7 Ospreys 11 6 0 5 220 206 4 28
8 Glasgow 10 5 0 5 212 201 7 27
9 Cardiff 11 4 0 7 272 268 7 23
10 Zebre 11 4 0 7 164 282 1 17
11 Dragons 11 3 0 8 172 222 4 16
12 Treviso 11 0 0 11 159 278 7 7


With only nine points separating 8th and first that is two bonus point wins going by form, I think the top four will be one Welsh side, two Irish sides and a Scottish side, top six will then be another Welsh and Irish side, I think Connacht might lose out, depending on how many games get played in the league during the 6N.

My prediction at the halfway stage (although it is incredibly difficult to call):

Leinster
Ulster
Ospreys
Connacht
Glasgow
Munster
Edinburgh
Scarlets
Blues
Dragons
Treviso
Zebre

I think connacht will stay strong and will make hay during the 6N with hardly any players away. I suspect Scarlets will slide with a number of injuries just now and other teams becoming stronger. I may be very wrong though.

It is incredibly hard to call though and I suspect I'll be very wrong - that's what makes it exciting!

From an Edinburgh PoV we've got ourselves in a great position but tend to fall off towards the end of the season due to a lack of depth. We stand a chance of the last 6 but life has been made difficult by Scarlets and Connacht having a great start. Ultimately I feel we'll fall just short and rue some bad losses (Zebre away)

Bump.


Always interesting looking back. Leinster topped as I thought they might, mainly down to the strength of their squad. They have not played great rugby.


Only big surprise really were Connacht and Ospreys. I didn't see Connacht having the season they've had. They've had about 10 players emerge that I didn't know much about so easy to see why they flew under everyones radar.


Next season I'd like to see one of Dragons, Zebre or Treviso get out of the bottom 3. I think the Italians are more likely to do it than Dragons.