Pro12 run-in to 2016 playoffs and placings

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Update:  After Round 21

Well you couldn't ask for a better final round to the regular season.  Every match has got something riding on it, with only two teams - Dragons and Cardiff - not able to benefit from either a play-off spot or a European Cup placing.

Glasgow now sit on top of the heap, displaying their cup-winning form of last season as they've hit the home stretch.  But they can still be overtaken by Connacht lying in second place.  Both sides want a home-semi-final let alone kudos of finishing at the top of the table.  The Sportsground will be rocking next weekend as the men from the west look to have their most successful season ever finish on a high.

Despite having more won more games than any other team in the league so far, Leinster are sitting in 3rd spot having been roundly trounced by Ulster at Ravenhill. 3 points behind Glasgow, the most they can hope for is second spot if Glasgow rule the day.  If Connacht win against Glasgow to gain 4 points and put them on 73, and Leinster get a try bonus point against Treviso, then Leinster will top the table by dint of more games won during the season.

But is a TBP or even a win against Treviso at RDS a foregone conclusion?   Connacht found out to their cost that Treviso are desperate to make the European placings, and now having got ahead of Zebre, want to remain there.   Zebre have a home match against the Dragons who have nothing to play for but pride.   Both teams have just won 4 matches this season, but Dragons have gained 10 LBPs in the course of the season.

Right in the middle of the table lies a double Welsh-Irish battle - with lots at stake for all four teams - Ospreys v Ulster and Munster v Scarlets. A win for Ospreys would put them level with Munster on 58 - although Munster have won 12 games to Ospreys 11.   It would also do their Welsh colleagues in Scarlets a favour who if they win their match could take the last play-off spot from Ulster.   And in turn, if Scarlets beat Munster, then Ospreys could go through into the last European spot, as their points difference would be better than Munster's.   Even if Munster beat Scarlets with a TBP, they can't overtake them in 5th place as Scarlets have two more wins than them currently.

Lastly, Edinburgh will be lying in wait, hoping for Ulster and Scarlets to do the business, and hope they can somehow get a TBP win against Cardiff who were knocked out of the running with their loss to Ospreys at the weekend.   5 points for Edinburgh would put them on 58 points equal to Munster, with 12 wins apiece but Edinburgh with the better points difference.

Think that covers all of the possibilities.   But feel free to add any in.

Connacht and Glasgow are sloppy but frenetically determined.

Both sides are going to be exhausted after this game.

TMO says no reason it can't be awarded. 26-46 with the kick to come. Jackson can't curl it in from the touchline.

Everyone looks absolutely knackered at this point! It's been end to end and the ball has stayed in play for very long periods. The forwards are all blowing...

Wouldn't be surprised if there's another try or two at either end before it's over.

Glasgow could nick this yet. They are coming at Connacht in waves. Connacht look out of it.

Squeaky for Munster in their game, even though other results have gone their way. 19-15 they lead.

Full-time at Ulster. 26-46 Ulster. Ulster through.

CJ gets the try for Munster's TBP

24-15 Munster after 69mins

Great win for Ulster, brilliant game with both teams going for the try bonus point- and ultimately getting it! Dare we dream?

Now come on Connacht...

Leinster hit the 50 mark with Treviso getting another try along the way.

50-19 they lead.


Ball bouncing all over the place as Glasgow have an attacking lineout. Connacht in desperation alley but somehow they clear.

Edinburgh have gone down to Cardiff losing 17-21.

Connacht's game delayed with injuries, etc. 8.5 minutes to play still.

Zebre have absolutely hammered Dragons 47-22!

Thats them into Europe.

Notch wrote:Zebre have absolutely hammered Dragons 47-22!

Thats them into Europe.

And there was someone on here saying teams from the welsh premiership would beat Zebre

Munster with their 5th try.

Scarlets fans must be gutted, Munster were there for the taking.

It ends 31-15

Excellent result for Zebre. Pleased for them.

Well done Connacht

And that is a win for Connacht!

Whatever happens in the play offs its been an incredible season for them.

Playoffs

Leinster vs Ulster
Connacht vs Glasgow

Champions Cup Qualification

Scarlets, Munster, Zebre

Well done Connacht. 

Same match up again next week. You have to wonder if they've just played their semifinal. With Glasgow down to 14.

Pot Hale wrote:Well done Connacht. 

Same match up again next week. You have to wonder if they've just played their semifinal. With Glasgow down to 14.

It will be interesting to see what pack they can put out with 3 props going off injured. Hopefully Buckley will be back

Finlay Bealham must be gutted. He's started all 22 matches this season for his team.  Hope he's ok.

Pot Hale wrote:Finlay Bealham must be gutted. He's started all 22 matches this season for his team.  Hope he's ok.

What happened to him? I missed the first 5 minutes.

Golden wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Finlay Bealham must be gutted. He's started all 22 matches this season for his team.  Hope he's ok.

What happened to him? I missed the first 5 minutes.

Didn't see exactly. I think injured he got concussion

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Pretty tidy win.  Was going to for a 12 way accumulator on all 6 Pro12 and all 6 AP matches but decided against it.

This is the best weekend of rugby I've had in a long time.  I watched the Ospreys vs Ulster game whilst keeping an eye on the other results.  Unreal weekend of rugby.

Artful_Dodger wrote:[/url]

Pretty tidy win.  Was going to for a 12 way accumulator on all 6 Pro12 and all 6 AP matches but decided against it.

This is the best weekend of rugby I've had in a long time.  I watched the Ospreys vs Ulster game whilst keeping an eye on the other results.  Unreal weekend of rugby.

Agreed.  I went for all irish wins.

All 4 Irish teams qualify for Europe! On merit! Three teams in the playoffs. Pretty good weekend for the IRFU all things considered.

Notch wrote:All 4 Irish teams qualify for Europe! On merit! Three teams in the playoffs. Pretty good weekend for the IRFU all things considered.

Indeed.  Gives the four teams stronger leverage in seeking more funding from central coffers for next season.

Had 16-1 accumulator on all four Irish teams, was sweating at the end in Galway but the €160 will top up the wine stash nicely. So it's Leinster v Ulster and Connacht v Glasgow, weegies will be gunning for revenge

Ps. 

Congrats to Leinster for topping the regular season league.  Not bad for having had most of their first team squad out for the start of the season as well as during 6N.

brennomac wrote:Had 16-1 accumulator on all four Irish teams, was sweating at the end in Galway but the €160 will top up the wine stash nicely. So it's Leinster v Ulster and Connacht v Glasgow, weegies will be gunning for revenge

Nice one! Enjoy your trip to off licence

It was a good Zebre result, but we did make six changes in our pack. Bound to have played a slight part. Though the Premiership comment was daft, but sometimes that can be par for the course. I think most sensible people would accept a semi pro team would not beat a pro one.

RiscaGame wrote:It was a good Zebre result, but we did make six changes in our pack. Bound to have played a slight part. Though the Premiership comment was daft, but sometimes that can be par for the course. I think most sensible people would accept a semi pro team would not beat a pro one.

Dragons were already in the off season as the only team in league with nothing to play for this weekend. By which I mean they were the only team not in contention for either the playoffs or the Champions Cup. I put Zebre in my four fold, was probably the easiest call out of the 4 to be honest.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:It was a good Zebre result, but we did make six changes in our pack. Bound to have played a slight part. Though the Premiership comment was daft, but sometimes that can be par for the course. I think most sensible people would accept a semi pro team would not beat a pro one.

Dragons were already in the off season as the only team in league with nothing to play for this weekend.  By which I mean they were the only team not in contention for either the playoffs or the Champions Cup.  I put Zebre in my four fold, was probably the easiest call out of the 4 to be honest.

Neither were Cardiff in the running for anything. They beat Edinburgh with nothing to play for.

Except pride.

Pot Hale wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:It was a good Zebre result, but we did make six changes in our pack. Bound to have played a slight part. Though the Premiership comment was daft, but sometimes that can be par for the course. I think most sensible people would accept a semi pro team would not beat a pro one.

Dragons were already in the off season as the only team in league with nothing to play for this weekend.  By which I mean they were the only team not in contention for either the playoffs or the Champions Cup.  I put Zebre in my four fold, was probably the easiest call out of the 4 to be honest.

Neither were Cardiff in the running for anything. They beat Edinburgh with nothing to play for.

Except pride.

Fair point.

Really impressed with the Munster result. The last two wins of the season were crucially important to Munster going ahead. Thought Keatley actually played well when he came on.

Scarlets will rue that match, I thought that they were the better team with ball in hand, unfortunately they could not keep control of the ball in crucial areas.

Thought that Owens made a few mistakes benefitting Munster as well. For me the big one was when Shingler was tripped after his kick through. The cover may have been there but it was (IMHO) a yellow card and a penalty. Scarlets were well in the game at that stage.

eirebilly wrote:Really impressed with the Munster result. The last two wins of the season were crucially important to Munster going ahead. Thought Keatley actually played well when he came on.

Scarlets will rue that match, I thought that they were the better team with ball in hand, unfortunately they could not keep control of the ball in crucial areas.

Thought that Owens made a few mistakes benefitting Munster as well. For me the big one was when Shingler was tripped after his kick through. The cover may have been there but it was (IMHO) a yellow card and a penalty. Scarlets were well in the game at that stage.

Fair comments, Billy.

What have Munster to look forward to next season besides the Erasmus Effect?

Will increased funding from IRFU Central make a difference?  Is Saili worth the money? Is Chisholm?

What do they need to make a strong comeback?

Erasmus will certainly have an effect on Munster, I think that he will bring a bit more control and structure to Munster. Foley may benefit from his leadership, still feel its too early for Foley.

Saili is definitely worth the money, not so sure about Chisholm but Munster also should have POM back and he will have a big influence on their performances.

Personally, even as a Munster fan, I am delighted for Connacht and their performances this year under Lam. They have been very refreshing in their approach and under Lam, I can see them going from strength to strength.