From the tournament that is far too competitive for a Grand Slam - Pro 14 - R.18

[Leonormous Boozer]

https://www.ultimaterugby.com/pro-14-2017-2018/matches
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Connacht v Edinburgh - Two sides in a battle with their nearest Welsh rival, Ospreys and Scarlets respectively. Connacht will want to hold home court to lead in to a strong 4 game finish to give themselves a shot at Europe. Edinburgh are chasing down the Scarlets hoping to grab that home semi final spot. Home win here bois.

Glasgow v Zebre - 11 points clear with a game in hand to boot, Glasgow will run four tries in and all but secure top spot.

Dragons v Cheetahs - Dragons were the first team to lose to the kings and will be the second to lose at home to the Cheetahs. They are muck lads!

Southern Kings v Benetton - Benetton want a sniff at Europe, Ulster are within reach and very bad, this BP win could leave them as close as 1 point but more likely 2-3 points behind after the snow games are done and dusted.

Cardiff v Ulster - You'd hate to support either of them. The Welshies will take it!

Munster v Scarlets - 2 B sides will play with an eye to Europe next week, should see the home side win all but securing their position as 2nd in their conference and forcing Scarlets into a battle for 2nd in theirs rather than a fight for 1st.

Ospreys v Leinster - A Leinster A side should do Connacht a favour here, they're the best after the starting team!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Edinburgh team to face Connacht in the Guinness PRO14 at The Sportsground on Friday 23 March (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on BBC ALBA.

15. Blair Kinghorn (59)
14. Dougie Fife (101)
13. Mark Bennett (6)
12. Chris Dean (61)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (12)
10. Jaco van der Walt (12)
9. Nathan Fowles (54)
1. Darryl Marfo (9)
2. Neil Cochrane (70)
3. Simon Berghan (43)
4. Ben Toolis (83)
5. Grant Gilchrist (114)
6. Magnus Bradbury (47)
7. John Hardie (28)
8. Bill Mata (32)

Replacements: 16. Cameron Fenton (10); 17. Jordan Lay (6); 18. WP Nel (111); 19. Lewis Carmichael (27); 20. Cornell du Preez (99); 21 Sean Kennedy (58); 22. Duncan Weir (29); 23. Phil Burleigh (69)

Very strong team.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

My "upsets" this week are wins for:

Connacht over Edinburgh (Connacht have had their mojo back the last couple of games)

Kings over Benetton (Kings finally not abject)

Cardiff over Ulster
Munster over Scarlets.
Zebre over Glasgow with a trio of Minozzi tries

(maybe not that last one)

 

[Amiga500]

Must be some come down for our fellas to come from Carton House back to Ravenhill/Newforge.

 

[munstermuffin]

Must be some come down for our fellas to come from Carton House back to Ravenhill/Newforge.

Most of Leinster and Munster boys along with Best are in Dubai.

 

[Leinster Fan]

15. Joey Carbery (30)
14. Fergus McFadden (165)
13. Rory O'Loughlin (36)
12. Noel Reid (97)
11. Barry Daly (22)
10. Ross Byrne (44)
9. Luke McGrath (90) CAPTAIN
1. Jack McGrath (125)
2. Seán Cronin (146)
3. Andrew Porter (22)
4. Ross Molony (59)
5. Scott Fardy (16)
6. Josh Murphy (7)
7. Jordi Murphy (100)
8. Jack Conan (68)

16. James Tracy (57)
17. Ed Byrne (21)
18. Michael Bent (103)
19. Ian Nagle (16)
20. Max Deegan (15)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (45)
22. Dave Kearney (121)
23. Adam Byrne (34)

 

[big ginger 8]

Jordan Larmour is out for a few weeks, nice to get 4 wingers in the 23 to audition.

 

[Groundhog]

Is it not weird that Leinster and Munster are missing their Grand Slam players, while Ulster are getting Hendy and Stockdale but not Best.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Is it not weird that Leinster and Munster are missing their Grand Slam players, while Ulster are getting Hendy and Stockdale but not Best.

I'd see it as matches for guaranteed home quarter/semi-finalists are less important than one for a side trying to sneak into Europe and Rory Best is more important than Ulster.

 

[munstermuffin]

Is it not weird that Leinster and Munster are missing their Grand Slam players, while Ulster are getting Hendy and Stockdale but not Best.

They are in Dubai. This is Ulsters European season now trying to survive Pro14

 

[Leinster Fan]

Ulster are just desperate at this point plus they'll have next week off anyway. Normally I'd say that a season away from Europe would do the place some good and make the blazers up there take a look at themselves but with I want them to get in this year for Jordi's sake.

 

[Groundhog]

Connacht just conceded the most incompetent try I've ever seen literally 10 seconds after kickoff. Terrible O'Halloran kick blocked down. Three Connacht players who could have made it back saunter towards the line all assuming the others will touch it down and the Edinburgh guy picks their pocket.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Yup. Comical try but a great response. Taking control of the game and the first sign that there could be life after Aki for Connacht next season.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

A good match in Galway. Meanwhile Cheetahs losing 10-3 in Newport to the Dragons who have a kid at flyhalf I've never heard of.

The Cheetahs have been a shadow of themselves since losing their backline to other sides and dropping the lad Stapelberg from flyhalf. He led them to a string of victories and was dropped for his troubles.

 

[Groundhog]

Quinn Roux has to be one of the most braindead players I've seen.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

That's probably all she wrote in Galway and Newport (joint holders of worst weather in Pro14). Might be pretty much over as a contest in Glasgow too.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Duncan Weir having a bit of a blinder since coming on.

 

[Bluemoon]

Elliot Dee with a very cheeky try there. Put Dragons back in striking distance! Might do Cardiff and Connacht a favour. They could equally let Cheetahs have a winning BP as well though haha.

EDIT: and there we are haha.

 

[Leinster Fan]

Connacht are so incompetent it's ridiculous.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Glad to see a Bradbury get MotM, he's had a season going in reverse since getting stripped of the captaincy. The match wasnt exactly of the highest quality but the weather was poor again. Entertaining enough considering.

Connacht had a purple patch in the first half then just went flat. Glad Edinburgh have finished their spell of playing Irish sides - hopefully their next opponent will actually give them a contest.

And Zebre. Lordy me. Very depressing against Glasgow reserves.