Matches that matter, brought to you by competent Pro 12 sides - Pro12: Semi-Finals

[Leonormous Boozer]

Leinster Rugby v Scarlets (Home of Rugby, Friday - 19:45)
Munster Rugby v Ospreys (Thomond Park, Saturday 18:15)

I was going to do this one all fancy but I can't find any Munster badges from old threads that are compatible with the new software soooooooooooooooo....

This weekend sees two David v Goliath affairs but its safe to say that God won't side against his nephew who is lining up against a very undeserving 2017 Lion in Jonathon Davies, he probably has Axel in his ear too for the other game but who really wants to hear about that.
On Friday night we will witness something wonderful, red vs blue, good vs Scarlets, Sexton vs Patch.... errr 5 Lions and the only member of the standby list vs 3 Lions, the well dressed vs player(s) who publicly don blackface. There is but one winner but everyone is in for a treat as they watch the champions elect swagger their way to their 24th consecutive home victory allowing them to make it 25 and kill the feel good story of the 2016/17 season in Lansdowne road on 27th May. This is the one they all want having thrown away the one they all wanted in a mad 15mins in Lyon, I won't call it a formality but you should know I think it is one, because gate receipts are important and we can't just skip to the inevitable good bit I bring you the Guinness Pro 12 semi finals of 2017.

 

[Amiga500]

Tune in this Friday night to watch a pack of blue donkeys trot around the horse showgrounds against a pack of red-painted mules from Wales. While it makes a change from the annual whipping of the Nordies, latte and Heino will still be served aplenty... apart from at the bars at the royal dublin stables where service is slower than Paul Marshall running through 6" of water and half drowning. Expectation is that the blue donkeys will have too much for the red mules who by their nature won't be able to score enough to survive.

If your in attendance, watch out for the hipsters though - they might bore you to death with talk of daddy's stock investments and their latest round of golf at the k-club.

Meanwhile on another misty Saturday night with at the time of the dew fall, the chants and songs of the brave and faithful will one again resonate through the foggy dew. PASHUN and stout (none of that Heino crap here) will be flowing in abundance as Munster attempt to clip the wings of the Ospreys who are flying fairly low at the minute. Expect CJ Stander to carry Munster over the line (and about 8 Welshmen while he's at it - no big deal when he's already carrying a whole province) and into the final against their arch rivals from West Britain.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The RDS serves Carlsberg... Unpopular opinion of mine is that its the far nicer premium lager*.

*P!sh

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Where is final this year?

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Where is final this year?

Dublin. Aviva I think.

Come on you Scarlets. Best record in the league over the last 17 weeks and solid across the board. Ball is injured though, so they are probably screwed as get the feeling the Welsh clubs don't have the depth of the Irish ones.

At least the Italians go undefeated this week. Ya dancer!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Joey Carbery (22)
14. Adam Byrne (23)
13. Garry Ringrose (38)
12. Robbie Henshaw (12)
11. Isa Nacewa (169) CAPTAIN
10. Johnny Sexton (135)
9. Luke McGrath (74)
1. Jack McGrath (112)
2. James Tracy (41)
3. Tadhg Furlong (66)
4. Ross Molony (44)
5. Hayden Triggs (30)
6. Rhys Ruddock (130)
7. Josh van der Flier (45)
8. Jack Conan (50)

16. Richardt Strauss (146)
17. Cian Healy (171)
18. Michael Bent (86)
19. Devin Toner (197)
20. Dan Leavy (38)
21. Seán O’Brien (110)
22. Jamison Gibson-Park (28)
23. Zane Kirchner (87)

Interesting side, Strauss and Toner definitely deserving their shepherd's hooks in my opinion but I can't figure out what Leavy has done to deserve his. A starting backrow of Ruddock - Conan - VdF with a finishing backrow of SOB - Conan - Leavy would have me praying for salvation as a Scarlets fan though. Leinster by 10+.

 

[Groundhog]

Also probably not the thread but the Chimpions Cup for apes has announced that the top 7 teams from the Pro 12 regardless of nationality will qualify in future. Good move.

 

[munstermuffin]

On backrow. There alot of talent and in my eyes it show's Sean O'Brien really needs to up his game or he will filter.
On Toner. If and it's a big IF Molony does well. Add in James Ryan next year and Fardy. The set piece being less reliant on Toner and well he could drop slowly to being a squad guy too.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Also probably not the thread but the Chimpions Cup for apes has announced that the top 7 teams from the Pro 12 regardless of nationality will qualify in future. Good move.

Take it there's no playoffs in to the comp so? They realise that no one outside those involved gives a **** about those matches... Much like their tournament!

 

[munstermuffin]

Take it there's no playoffs in to the comp so? They realise that no one outside those involved gives a **** about those matches... Much like their tournament!

I'd say it's more linked to fact they have to financially aid the away teams travel costs and well let's just say they thought 3 extra games would bring in a bit of extra revenue but instead the figures reportedly are cancelling some Christmas Bonus'.

Also if they don't get an All Ireland Pro12 final then the final will be a loss. Ticket sales aren't as good as they thought. I know this part is Pro12 and not European,

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'd say it's more linked to fact they have to financially aid the away teams travel costs and well let's just say they thought 3 extra games would bring in a bit of extra revenue but instead the figures reportedly are cancelling some Christmas Bonus'.

Also if they don't get an All Ireland Pro12 final then the final will be a loss. Ticket sales aren't as good as they thought. I know this part is Pro12 and not European,

Bringing it to Lyon, Bilbao and Newcastle isn't going to sell out stadiums? Who saw that coming?! The admin of the competition is farcical!

 

[Groundhog]

Take it there's no playoffs in to the comp so? They realise that no one outside those involved gives a **** about those matches... Much like their tournament!

Don't expect me to interpret how those tournament ruining **** flinging chimps think.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

SOB out, Ross Byrne to bench.

 

[Bluemoon]

Nice try for the Scarlets. If they get that offload game going they can break defences down.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Catching the ball could take us far...

 

[Bluemoon]

That's a great try from Leinster. Good game this!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

This is attrocious rugby

 

[Bluemoon]

Scarlets with those offloads again! What a try.

Both teams are finding the space in the midfield for the trys. Leinster looking shaky at the moment, few handling errors, feeling the pressure at the moment, but Im not writing them off!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Head first...

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Arrive the door cheese Steff.

 

[Bluemoon]

Feel for him a bit, but letter of the law its a red. Big task for the Scarlets now. Shame as I felt they had Leinster on the ropes.

 

[TommiG88]

Wow!

Lee getting involved caused that, but wow.

Edit: the Scottish tackle on Daly in the 6 nations was a hell of a lot worse. Really says it. No intent there.

 

[Tadginator]

Why does the second tackler never get a red as well? There's two of them in it. Bonnie and Clyde have nothing on these murderers

 

[TommiG88]

Why does the second tackler never get a red as well? There's two of them in it. Bonnie and Clyde

So you give 2 tacklers red? Hmmm...

Lee caused the rotation, so should have seen the red if anything as the 11 couldn't really do much.

 

[Bluemoon]

So you give 2 tacklers red? Hmmm...

Lee caused the rotation, so should have seen the red if anything as the 11 couldn't really do much.

I guess you could argue that Steff lifted the player from the floor, which is the dangerous part of a tackle like this. Lee changed the trajectory that's for sure! I think you have to have a bit of empathy for the game. The Scarlet and the player has been punished. A red is suppose to be a deterrent for that reason.

 

[Tadginator]

So you give 2 tacklers red? Hmmm...

Lee caused the rotation, so should have seen the red if anything as the 11 couldn't really do much.

I actually found out it was the coward blue moon downvoting, apologies Tommy. Why wouldnt 2 tacklers get red? They both did it. How can you say one is more responsible than the other.#Repmania2017

 

[TommiG88]

I guess you could argue that Steff lifted the player from the floor, which is the dangerous part of a tackle like this. Lee changed the trajectory that's for sure! I think you have to have a bit of empathy for the game. The Scarlet and the player has been punished. A red is suppose to be a deterrent for that reason.

I agree, it was just a series of unfortunate events. It's a shame as it's been a great game.

 

[TommiG88]

I'd ask you kindly to remove that down vote. Why wouldnt 2 tacklers get red? They both did it. #Repmania2017

I didn't down vote you.

 

[Bluemoon]

I agree, it was just a series of unfortunate events. It's a shame as it's been a great game.

Completely agree. Has been some of the best rugby of the pro 12 up to now. the attacking intent of both teams has been great. Feel the Scarlets have to be a little more conservative now, if they are hoping to sneak through.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I don't think I agree lads, its well established at this stage that endangering the head is a red card offence, they may have got the culprit wrong at best but that was sloppy and deserving of the card.