Guinness Pro 14 - Round 14ish

[Groundhog]

Good afternoon gentlemen,

This is a reminder Johnny Sexton got big because he's afraid of getting beaten up by a 21 year old he initiated a fight with again.

Fixtures for this weekends return to action are below.

Fri 21/8
19:00 - Benneton v Zebre

Sat 22/8
15:00 - Scarlets v Blues
17:15 - Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh
19:35 - Leinster v Munster

Sun 23/8
14:15 - Ospreys v Dragons
16:30 - Connacht v Ulster

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I've not been following what's happening with the Pro14 restart - is it just local derbies/do they count towards the points tables?

 

[Groundhog]

I've not been following what's happening with the Pro14 restart - is it just local derbies/do they count towards the points tables?

So firstly every game that was postponed before the full on hiatus goes down as a draw. Two sets of local derbies (only two teams for the Saffas, Italians and Scots so they just play each other back to back, but the Irish and Welsh will play two different teams) will be played, both of which count for points before we go straight into semi finals then a final. Same format of top two teams from each conference get through. Whole thing should take four weeks with a September 12 final.

 

[Al Bangor]

Welcome back Pro14 Rugby. There's some great matches this weekend. My picks are...

Benetton
Glasgow (I'm a Warriors fan)
Leinster
Ulster

 

[Al Bangor]

There's no mention on ESPN+ about streaming these games which sucks because they've been doing it the past three seasons. Hopefully it's just because they haven't updated their schedule yet. But they have this weekend's Super Rugby matches scheduled, so who knows? I really want to watch these matches, especially Glasgow vs Edinburgh.

 

[Leinster Fan]

I know these are glorified warmups for us cause we won our conference back in February but it'd be very annoying to lose this weekend. Obviously an unbeaten season won't have the same gloss it would have had in normal years but it'd still be nice to pull off.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Good afternoon gentlemen,

This is a reminder Johnny Sexton got big because he's afraid of getting beaten up by a 21 year old he initiated a fight with again.

Fixtures for this weekends return to action are below.

Fri 21/8
19:00 - Benneton v Zebre

Sat 22/8
17:15 - Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh
19:35 - Leinster v Munster

Sun 23/8
16:30 - Connacht v Ulster

Hmmm .... missing some teams and games it seems ...

Sat 22/8
15:00 - Scarlets v Blues

Sun 23/8
14:15 - Ospreys v Dragons

 

[Groundhog]

Hmmm .... missing some teams and games it seems ...

Sat 22/8
15:00 - Scarlets v Blues

Sun 23/8
14:15 - Ospreys v Dragons

Apologies, no idea how I missed those. Pormise it's not anti-Welsh bias..... this time. If any kind mod can whack those fixtures into the OP I'd be much obliged.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Apologies, no idea how I missed those. Pormise it's not anti-Welsh bias..... this time. If any kind mod can whack those fixtures into the OP I'd be much obliged.

 

[munstermuffin]

I know these are glorified warmups for us cause we won our conference back in February but it'd be very annoying to lose this weekend. Obviously an unbeaten season won't have the same gloss it would have had in normal years but it'd still be nice to pull off.

Not sure how Leinster will approach it but they have effectively said as you mentioned. Next 2 weeks are preseason tune ups. The 2 weeks can do nothing in terms of status and unbeaten season is irrelevant now.
I thought I seen Lowe is not available as he is behind in preseason set up.

 

[Leinster Fan]

I thought I seen Lowe is not available as he is behind in preseason set up.

Pretty sure he was on holiday around when the rest of the squad was starting back so seems likely.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

What the pundits are predicting.

 

[Redman7]

Benetton
Scarlets
Edinburgh
Leinster
Dragons
Ulster

 

[Al Bangor]

Since the Welsh games were left out of the schedule when I originally made my picks, I've come back to add those.

Scarlets
Dragons

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Looks like we are all set ... fingers crossed.

 

[Djad]

There's no mention on ESPN+ about streaming these games which sucks because they've been doing it the past three seasons. Hopefully it's just because they haven't updated their schedule yet. But they have this weekend's Super Rugby matches scheduled, so who knows? I really want to watch these matches, especially Glasgow vs Edinburgh.

I think you can see them in DAZN at least I can here in Canada

 

[big ginger 8]

Ulster team to play Connacht, Guinness PRO14 Round 14, Sunday 23 August at Aviva Stadium (kick-off 4.30pm, live on Premier Sports & TG4):

(15-9) Jacob Stockdale, Craig Gilroy, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns (Capt.), John Cooney;

(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O'Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, Jordi Murphy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O'Sullivan, Tom O'Toole, Sam Carter, Matthew Rea, Alby Mathewson, Ian Madigan, Michael Lowry.

Leinster:

15. Jordan Larmour
14. Dave Kearney
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Johnny Sexton (captain)
9. Luke McGrath

1. Cian Healy
2. Ronan Kelleher
3. Andrew Porter
4. Ryan Baird
5. Scott Fardy
6. Caelan Doris
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin
17. Ed Byrne
18. Michael Bent
19. Devin Toner
20. Will Connors
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ross Byrne
23. Max Deegan

Munster:

15. Shane Daly
14. Andrew Conway
13. Chris Farrell
12. Damian de Allende
11. Keith Earls
10. JJ Hanrahan
9. Conor Murray

1. James Cronin
2. Niall Scannell
3. Stephen Archer
4. RG Snyman
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O'Mahony (captain)
7. Tommy O'Donnell
8. CJ Stander



Replacements:

16. Rhys Marshall
17. Dave Kilcoyne
18. John Ryan
19. Jean Kleyn
20. Chris Cloete
21. Craig Casey
22. Rory Scannell
23. Matt Gallagher

 

[Groundhog]

Ulster team to play Connacht, Guinness PRO14 Round 14, Sunday 23 August at Aviva Stadium (kick-off 4.30pm, live on Premier Sports & TG4):

(15-9) Jacob Stockdale, Craig Gilroy, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns (Capt.), John Cooney;

(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O'Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, Jordi Murphy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O'Sullivan, Tom O'Toole, Sam Carter, Matthew Rea, Alby Mathewson, Ian Madigan, Michael Lowry.

Leinster:

15. Jordan Larmour
14. Dave Kearney
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Johnny Sexton (captain)
9. Luke McGrath

1. Cian Healy
2. Ronan Kelleher
3. Andrew Porter
4. Ryan Baird
5. Scott Fardy
6. Caelan Doris
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin
17. Ed Byrne
18. Michael Bent
19. Devin Toner
20. Will Connors
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ross Byrne
23. Max Deegan

Munster:

15. Shane Daly
14. Andrew Conway
13. Chris Farrell
12. Damian de Allende
11. Keith Earls
10. JJ Hanrahan
9. Conor Murray

1. James Cronin
2. Niall Scannell
3. Stephen Archer
4. RG Snyman
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O'Mahony (captain)
7. Tommy O'Donnell
8. CJ Stander



Replacements:

16. Rhys Marshall
17. Dave Kilcoyne
18. John Ryan
19. Jean Kleyn
20. Chris Cloete
21. Craig Casey
22. Rory Scannell
23. Matt Gallagher

Sorry, just not to be a dick, but please don't post inconsistent team lineup formats in my thread. Next one is a ban. The two interesting things from the Munster lineup are obviously the new signings and that Billy Holland has kept his spot over Kleyn. Excited that Casey has made the bench as well. Scannell as I thought will cover 10 from the bench. I'm pretty doubtful it will be a great game with all of the rustiness and a good chance of shite weather, but its good to be back and we have a decent chance with that pack we have out.

 

[Leinster Fan]

Like the look of that Leinster team. Baird starting is a big call but if he acquits himself well against that Munster pack he's ready to play the big games.

Main worry is the lack of cover from 9-15. 6-2 split is interesting and I understand the want to get as many backrows (we've got 5 there and that's leaving out Ruddock and Leavy) in the 23 as possible but still JGP (I assume) covering 11-15 is a scary idea.

 

[Groundhog]

Watching a few minutes of Benneton Zebre and again the amount of breakdown penalties is just ridiculous and not watchable. Teams will need to adapt very quickly.