Pro 12 Grand Final 2016 - Leinster v Connacht

They're playing in Edinburgh.

They won the tender to host the final. On the same weekend as two other big events in the city - Edinburgh Marathon and bank holiday weekend.

Result?  Hoteliers charging up to €800 a night for this weekend. Cheapest is €556.

Destination Final seems to be a dud.

Meanwhile, Leinster and Connacht prepare to duke it out.

15. Rob Kearney (175)
14. Dave Kearney (102)
13. Garry Ringrose (21)
12. Ben Te'o (39)
11. Luke Fitzgerald (153)
10. Johnny Sexton (125)
9. Eoin Reddan (139)
1. Jack McGrath (94)
2. Richardt Strauss (130)
3. Mike Ross (134)
4. Ross Molony (22)
5. Mick Kearney (8)
6. Rhys Ruddock (112)
7. Jordi Murphy (79)
8. Jamie Heaslip (216) CAPTAIN

16. Sean Cronin (113)
17. Peter Dooley (20)
18. Tadhg Furlong (50)
19. Hayden Triggs (14)
20. Jack Conan (30)
21. Luke McGrath (49)
22. Ian Madigan (146)
23. Zane Kirchner (64)


15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 Niyi Adeolokun
13 Robbie Henshaw
12 Bundee Aki
11 Matt Healy
10 AJ MacGinty
9 Kieran Marmion

1 Ronan Loughney
2 Tom McCartney
3 Finlay Bealham
4 Ultan Dillane
5 Aly Muldowney
6 Eoin McKeon
7 Jake Heenan
8 John Muldoon (captain)

Replacements:

16 Dave Heffernan
17 JP Cooney
18 Rodney Ah You
19 Andrew Browne
20 Sean O’Brien
21 John Cooney
22 Shane O’Leary
23 Peter Robb

€800 a night?

Stay out. Walk all night - the exercise will do you all good. You won't be alone, some of the Marathon stragglers will join you.

SecretFly wrote:€800 a night?

Stay out.  Walk all night - the exercise will do you all good.  You won't be alone, some of the Marathon stragglers will join you.

Did that in Edinburgh one time. Even in May its not necessarily warm!

I did it once in Australia long time ago. What a magical night it was. Cops pulled over to talk to me. I ended up having a great chat with them about Ireland and where I was heading to in Australia. I was the only one on the streets.

I guess you did most of the talking Fly?

Maybe so, Notch.....

Seriously, I often laugh at that myself. I'm not exactly as mouthy as my 606 alter-ego Fly in real life. If we all 606ers got together one night in real time, I'm pretty certain few would point me out as Fly.

I didn't mind Edinburgh getting the final, but honestly don't think they should've since it was the same time as the Marathon.

The Marathon brings over 30,000 runners to the capital most of these will have booked months in advance, I'm guessing they wish to add about 25000 to this, and its not the middle of Feb like durning the 6 nations where hotels are struggling to attract people.

For the Pro 12 final most supports will only start booking it last weekend.
I'm sure there were plenty of Leinster fans have booked in advance confident that they would make it, and if not would enjoy the rugby anyway but most fans would have been less confident, but I'm sure there will be a certain amount of Glasgow, Ulster fans there.

But I don't think the most optimistic Connacht fan would have booked in advance, even Lam said
“I’m trying to get my family over there too and at the moment they’re going to have to go over on Thursday and back Monday, because the price to get all of them there, I could have only afforded one of them to go on Friday- Sunday."

With those prices if Ulster had made it I wouldn't have travelled, and I expect a lot of Connacht fans feel that its not worth that cost.

I hope this is a lesson learned for the Pro 12 organisers, they need the final venue area to have the capacity to hold a large number of fans booking at short notice, as it stands there isn't a big % of fans that will book the final ticket just for the rugby, most will wait to see if there team is there or not, as it becomes a bigger event I'm sure that there will be more just book it for the event, but thats not currently the case.

Yeah I wouldn't be able to afford to go over a weeks notice either. I considered booking when it was affordable but decided against it. There's nothing worse than turning up to a big game your team missed out on just a week before. It was bad enough when it was in Belfast!

Funny how no one questioned the tender criteria this year.

Obviously one of the criteria was not - do yiz have anything else going on that weekend?

I thought that it was meant to be a joint bid between club and city, so you figure someone somewhere might have said, there's 30,000 runners and visitors turning up that weekend as well as it's a bank holiday.

And did any other club put in a bid that anyone knows about?

See the bookies have Leinster as short-odds favourites at 4-9 with Connacht at 7-4 while Connacht starting +5 are 11-10. Those sort of odds on Connacht are very attractive even for a Leinster fan.

Conventional wisdom has Leinster with the advantage in the front row tho my own view is that the only clear advantage is Ross over Loughney on the TH-LH. I'd give McCartney the nod over Strauss/Cronin and McGrath-Bealham is too close to call. Second row is evens between Toner/Kearney and Dillane/Muldowney altho Dillane probably has more grunt and carrying power than any of the others. Leinster probably have clear advantage in back row. What this means is that I don't see Leinster duffing up Connacht in the front five like they did to Ulster and key for Leinster is deprive Connacht's back line of the ball.

SH - some will no doubt disagree and Reddan had a very good game v Ulster but Marmion's ability to snipe is a very strong weapon. OH - AJ has had a great season but you have to think Sexton has the edge here.

After that it comes down to whether Leinster can prevent Connacht getting possession because that Connacht back line is an awful lot more potent than Leinster - especially the back three of O'Halloran-Healy-Adeolokun. And Healy and Adeolokun have done a lot in the two Glasgow games to counter the view that they are defensively a liability. Saw Niyi doing a lot of clean-out grunt work in the Glasgow games - and if and when he and Healy get the ball and put on the afterburners well it's trouble. And that's not even mentioning Aki and Henshaw in midfield.

Against that we have a back three of RK-DK-Isa and a midfield of Teo and Fitz. Of those five could only see Fitz if he could stay fit getting into the Connacht back five.

So it all comes down to Leinster grunt against Connacht flair and somehow I think the grunt will find a way to counter the flair and here Leinster back row will be key.

Whatever, I haven't looked forward to a game more for years.

Connacht can win this. Leinster tend to blow hot and cold and had a massive emotional advantage going into the Ulster match after their performnce a few weeks earlier. They got heavily criticised one of the Ulster coaches added fuel to their fire by calling them "predictable" on TV. They used that to their advantage.


Connacht will have the luxury of going in as outsiders. They were under pressure to beat Glasgow because they had home advantage but against Leinster, that pressure is lifted. The season has already been a great success for them while Leinster need to win to make it a success.


Connacht are better coached and many of their players are still underrated. Main worry for them is thinking last weekend was their final.

Another thing I would change is the gaps, currently after the last game of the season theres a two week break until the semi's then a week to the final.

It would make more sense the other way round, last league game, next week semis then two weeks later the final.

As the semi finals, are at home, the home team can normally sell them out at a weeks notice.

Since currently the final isn't big event and we are relaying on traveling fans from the finalists we should give that the extra week to sell out.

As the final becomes a bigger showpiece event then we can go back to what we have now, but to grow it, we need to give the fans time to get tickets once they know their team will make it.

At present the only places I can see that could host the final and have it a sell out are Ravenhill and the RDS, maybe the Aviva stadium.

Everywhere else that is big enough would need the home team to make it.

Thing the figures for Edinburgh could have a bearing on who hosts it next an because of hotel prices its not going to be as big as it could've been.

It's a close one sure enough, no matter what angle you approach it from.

On the evidence of the last few weeks you'd say that the old dogs of past glories, Leinster, have the edge here in smarts.  They did the job against Ulster with a lot of endeavour yes, but also with a lot of cool systems purring without too much panic or tension pushing them on.  You could say they had things to prove to detractors but that of itself can add tension as much as add bile.  They didn't let it show.  It wasn't rushed, it was determined.  

Connacht got through Glasgow with a lot of endeavour too but they looked emotionally on the edge a bit.  They feared defeat because this was such a defining game for them.  Things at times were a little chaotic.  

But then you think, Connacht will fear Leinster a lot less than they perhaps feared the power and offloading spark of Glasgow.  That's not to say they don't respect Leinster but they'll be more familiar with the players and as Profitus said, pressure in a sense is off.
They'll be more comfortable to try things now knowing that a BIG hurdle was overcome in last year's champs.  If they're more comfortable then you feel more of their stuff will stick.

But Leinster didn't get to the top of the League by chance.  Connacht is there having played at the top of any form they've ever possessed.  Leinster are there having played ordinary stuff for them.

So I think Leinster have just an end of season bite that might be enough for them.  But I wouldn't be surprised at all if Connacht darted and sprinted their way to an easy enough win if passes stick.  I think Sexton is key again.  If Connacht can frustrate him......

Pot Hale wrote:They're playing in Edinburgh.

They won the tender to host the final. On the same weekend as two other big events in the city - Edinburgh Marathon and bank holiday weekend.

Same issue last year in Belfast when it was the same weekend as the Irish Open in County Down, if I recall correctly?

Would love to see Connacht do it but have to fancy Leinster's experience might just swing it, plus the extra days recovery.

Well I'll be going as a neutral and am really looking forward to it!

I'm sure the neutral support will go for Connacht but I wouldn't begrudge Leinster winning - their form has been excellent lately.

With Owens reffing and the game being played on the big Murrayfield pitch I think it will be an entertaining, high scoring game - I'm going for 26-20 to Leinster.

As for the choice of Edinburgh for the final, it really isn't ideal from a travelling fans perspective given that it is on a busy weekend in the City but it is going to smash the attendance record for a Pro 12 final - several weeks ago over 30,000 tickets were sold so i suspect we'll be looking at an attendance in the high 30s, maybe even pushing into the 40s. That is enough to give a decent atmosphere in Edinburgh, although if the majority of those are neutrals it probably will be a fairly tame atmosphere.

It is a real shame that hotels are hard to come by but there are alternative options - Glasgow, Fife, Falkirk, East Lothian etc all have very good transport links into town that take no more than 45 minutes. Not ideal but hopefully the fans find a way.

RDW_Scotland wrote:
With Owens reffing and the game being played on the big Murrayfield pitch I think it will be an entertaining, high scoring game - I'm going for 26-20 to Leinster.

Sexton will need his kicking boots for Leinster to hit 26 points

Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen has named his match day 23 ahead of tomorrow's Guinness PRO12 Final against Connacht Rugby in BT Murrayfield (Kick Off: 5.30pm - live on SKY Sports and TG4).

There are two changes from the starting XV that accounted for Ulster in the Play-Offs last Friday with Isa Nacewa and Devin Toner missing out and a further change on the bench.

Captain Isa Nacewa has been ruled out with an arm injury suffered in the game against Ulster. While that injury came back clear from the initial x-ray, a subsequent scan on Monday showed damage had been done to an older injury and in particular to one of the screws that he has in the plate in his arm which affected his ability to grip. As a result Jamie Heaslip, the club vice-captain, will lead the team.

With Nacewa absent from the number 15 jersey, Rob Kearney returns from the ankle injury suffered in the Round 22 game against Benetton Treviso. His brother Dave continues on the right wing, with Luke Fitzgerald on the left.

Ben Te'o will play his last game for Leinster in the centre with Academy centre Garry Ringrose outside him once again. Eoin Reddan will win his 140th cap in Leinster colours at scrumhalf with Johnny Sexton at 10.

In the pack Jack McGrath, Richardt Strauss and Mike Ross, who were all announced in Joe Schmidt's Ireland squad to tour South Africa during the week, have been named in the front row once again. Ross Molony and Mick Kearney will pack down behind them in the second row.

In the back row, Rhys Ruddock, Jordi Murphy and captain Jamie Heaslip complete the pack.

With Molony starting, Hayden Triggs comes on to the bench in line to win his 15th cap with Luke McGrath also in line to win his 50th cap should he be introduced at any stage.

LEINSTER (Leinster caps in bracket):

15. Rob Kearney (175)
14. Dave Kearney (102)
13. Garry Ringrose (21)
12. Ben Te'o (39)
11. Luke Fitzgerald (153)
10. Johnny Sexton (125)
9. Eoin Reddan (139)
1. Jack McGrath (94)
2. Richardt Strauss (130)
3. Mike Ross (134)
4. Ross Molony (22)
5. Mick Kearney (8)
6. Rhys Ruddock (112)
7. Jordi Murphy (79)
8. Jamie Heaslip (216) CAPTAIN

16. Sean Cronin (113)
17. Peter Dooley (20)
18. Tadhg Furlong (50)
19. Hayden Triggs (14)
20. Jack Conan (30)
21. Luke McGrath (49)
22. Ian Madigan (146)
23. Zane Kirchner (64)

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 136th competition game, 4th Final)
Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Officials: 4 Lloyd Linton; 5 Bob Nevins; 6 Tom Mc Nicol (all SRU)
Timekeeper; Paul Cyphus (SRU)
Citing Commissioner: Maurizio Vancini (FIR)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Ahead of this afternoon’s Captain’s Run at BT Murrayfield, Connacht Head Coach Pat Lam has named his match day squad to take on Leinster Rugby in the Guinness PRO12 final tomorrow (kick off 5:30pm – live on SKY Sports and TG4).

For the first time all season, the Connacht coach has made no changes to the match day 23 from the last fixture.

Galway man John Muldoon will captain the side in his 275th game for the province and is joined in the back row by flankers Eoin McKeon and Jake Heenan.

Finlay Bealham and Ultan Dillane, two of five Connacht players named this week in the Ireland squad for the June tour to South Africa, start up front. Tighthead Bealham is the only player to have featured in all 31 games for the province this season.

Ireland internationals Kieran Marmion and Robbie Henshaw are named in the backline with AJ MacGinty once again handed the reigns at outhalf. Niyi Adeolokun – last weekend’s try scorer against Glasgow Warriors – lines out on the right wing.

Commenting on the upcoming game, Pat Lam said:

“It’s exciting that this is the first time in 31 games that we’ve been able to name the same match day squad from one week to the next. These 23 players are the fortunate ones who have earned the opportunity to wear the jersey and represent their team mates and the whole of Connacht in our first final.

“Preparation continues to be our big focus this week. We know how tough it will be against Leinster who have a huge amount of experience in finals rugby. But we know that if we stick to our structures and systems and channel all the emotion and physicality in to our performance, we have a real chance of making history.”

Connacht team to face Leinster Rugby, Saturday 28th May, BT Murrayfield, 5:30pm

15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 Niyi Adeolokun
13 Robbie Henshaw
12 Bundee Aki
11 Matt Healy
10 AJ MacGinty
9 Kieran Marmion

1 Ronan Loughney
2 Tom McCartney
3 Finlay Bealham
4 Ultan Dillane
5 Aly Muldowney
6 Eoin McKeon
7 Jake Heenan
8 John Muldoon (captain)

Replacements:

16 Dave Heffernan
17 JP Cooney
18 Rodney Ah You
19 Andrew Browne
20 Sean O’Brien
21 John Cooney
22 Shane O’Leary
23 Peter Robb

Injured/Unavailable: Denis Buckley, Nathan White, Conan O’Donnell, Ben Marshall, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Eoghan Masterson, Dave McSharry, Api Pewhairangi, Darragh Leader.

Leinster

15. Rob Kearney
14. Dave Kearney
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Ben Te’o
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Eoin Reddan
1. Jack McGrath
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Mike Ross
4. Ross Molony
5. Mick Kearney
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Jamie Heaslip (Captain)
Replacements:
16. Sean Cronin
17. Peter Dooley
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Hayden Triggs
20. Jack Conan
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ian Madigan
23. Zane Kirchner


Connacht

15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. AJ MacGinty
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Ronan Loughney
2. Tom McCartney
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Aly Muldowney
6. Eoin McKeon
7. Jake Heenan
8. John Muldoon (captain)
Replacements:
16. Dave Heffernan
17. JP Cooney
18. Rodney Ah You
19. Andrew Browne
20. Sean O’Brien
21. John Cooney
22. Shane O’Leary
23. Peter Robb

Well what do I want?

It's win win really and genuinely.

It would be nice for Leinster to win to prove that using a lot of players through a season, keeping the revolving processes going to uncover new talent - it can still be a successful model; and truly, it's going to be more and more important if Pro12 sides are going to keep up with those AP and Top14 sides.

It would be lovely for Connacht to do it too though - Lam has thrown the kitchen sink at this season - on the pitch and off it.  Some might even suggest he's more successful in what he's achieving off the pitch and maybe should try being a politician instead.  He's embraced where he's situated - he's used that sense of place to unify the players and fans.  He has everyone buzzing.  It won't be for want of trying if they do come up short.

Whichever side wins, I hope it isn't by much.  A good hard perhaps beautiful game at times, if either side can manage it for us, with both sides feeling they've had a good crack at it even in defeat.  Plus - no injuries.

Losing Nacewa and Toner is a big blow for Leinster.

I fancy Connacht here to pull this off - if they can hold their own up front they definitely have more strike power.

Leinster will employ the same rush defense that Ulster struggled with but the ball out the back tactics worked against Glasgow for Connacht and should here too.

What's the problem with Toner - a big loss given Connacht's strength in the lineout

Sorry, just seen on babbblingbrook that Toner's dad passed away this morning, very sad for the lad and his family

Anyone got an idea of likely attendance at final today?

I suspect high 30s - probably would have been more if hotels hadn't been such a nightmare to come by.

Perfect day for rugby here in Edinburgh - dry, no wind and 13°

Summer weather in Scotland!

All the best to both sets of fans today, and all my fellow Glaswegians who bought tickets before the semi.

I'm hoping for a Craggy Island win; they deserve it after the back to back battles, and victories over the reigning champs.

Looking forward to this later.
Hopefully we can do it, will be tough.

Hopefully Aki can continue his fine form. Great scenes in the dressing room after the Glasgow win.

Going to be some good battles on the pitch.

Whatever happens, Connacht have had a great season.

Its a bit of a David vs Goliath story but the beauty about this match is Connacht are well capable of winning it.


Good to hear the weather is dry. That and a big pitch should make for an entertaining game.

I hope its a cracker but I fear it may be a step too far for Connacht after the tussles against Glasgow.

Nothing against Leinster but I'd really like for Connacht to win.

I hope Connacht can make history here but as TJ i fear this might be a step too far.

Has TJ complained about it going to be boring because both teams are from Ireland yet?

Turned into a cracking day - loads of Irish enjoying beers in the sun!

Come on, Connacht!

Pretty clear who the crowd are behind

Don't normally watch the pro 12. But as I'm in a pub in Dublin it would be rude not too. Not a clue who I should be cheering for though!

Cheer for Connacht damn it.

TOH clearly beating Rob Kearney there, superb Connacht try.

Yaaaaaaas.

Come on you Craggies.

eirebilly wrote:TOH clearly beating Rob Kearney there, superb Connacht try.

Rob was a fantastic player but looks lost out there. It's a disgrace he is going to SA ahead of Healy (who has played well at FB before) and TOH.

Leinster looking flat and jaded - Connacht got so much more spark!

Connacht are really playing superbly.

Have to say that the Kearney brothers, especially Rob, look well out of sorts and unable to cope with Connacht's pace out wide.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

eirebilly wrote:TOH clearly beating Rob Kearney there, superb Connacht try.

Rob was a fantastic player but looks lost out there. It's a disgrace he is going to SA ahead of Healy (who has played well at FB before) and TOH.

Lot of respect for what Rob has done but he is a shadow of the player he once was.

All Connacht so far. Really playing the Super Rugby way!

Thank you Connacht for restoring our faith in NH rugby. Phenomenal.

This Connacht back 3 should be starting for Ireland. The Kearneys are being torn apart.

Sexton looks hurt out there...