Lads I'm far too shook to think of anything! Guinness Pro 14 - R.15

[Leonormous Boozer]

https://www.ultimaterugby.com/pro-14-2017-2018/matches

Friday​

Connacht v Zebre - Zebre's tour of Ireland continues with a more than daunting fixture. Following a comprehensive win against the ever improving Ospreys Connacht will likely make short work of the bottom feeders who showed so much early promise!

Glasgow Warriors v Toyota Cheetahs - The Cheetahs came up short of what would be a very valuable away win against Cardiff, Glasgow however were disappointed not to leave Rodney Parade with a W. Home advantage and a few fringe players returning should see Glasgow comfortably over the line.

Ulster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby - One of two hugely important Conference B games this week, where the winner will take the last playoff spot for the meantime. Both sides buoyed by a romping of the Southern Kings and a late match winner against the conference leaders respectively in the last week makes this a hard one to call. Do Ulster have any bottle whatsoever? If they do, they should win at home.

Ospreys v Southern Kings - The kings still don't look a professional outfit, handy win for the Welsh.

Saturday
​

Leinster Rugby v Scarlets - Level on points at the top of conference B, both sides on the back of majorly disappointing losses and hoping to redeem themselves with a rematch two weeks down the road. This could get feisty. Leinster rarely lose games in the RDS but the Scarlets broke a two year unbeaten record in the Pro 12 last May, I expect Leinster to suffer less from lost internationals and to see a similar story to the game this time last year with Leinster taking an easy win to propel themselves back into the form that took them to two semi finals last year, a benchmark that must be beaten this year for the Dublin outfit to have a successful season.

Cardiff Blues v Munster Rugby - Ehhhh... A Munster win... Lads, I got to Leinster and motivation has gone...

Sunday​

Dragons v Benneton Rugby - Uggggggh, seriously?

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Ugh!? Benneton going for five wins on the bounce I think! No ughs to be found there. No siree!

Fancy Cheetahs and Edinburgh as "upset" away wins.

I'm picking the Blues to... lose.

 

[big ginger 8]

15. Jordan Larmour (14)
14. Adam Byrne (32)
13. Rory O'Loughlin (34)
12. Noel Reid (94)
11. James Lowe (5)
10. Ross Byrne (42)
9. Luke McGrath (89) CAPTAIN
1. Ed Byrne (18)
2. Seán Cronin (145)
3. Michael Bent (100)
4. Ross Molony (56)
5. Scott Fardy (14)
6. Josh Murphy (4)
7. Jordi Murphy (99)
8. Max Deegan (12)

16. Richardt Strauss (152)
17. Peter Dooley (43)
18. Oisín Heffernan (2)
19. Ian Nagle (14)
20. Will Connors (1)
21. Nick McCarthy (18)
22. Ciarán Frawley (0)
23. Barry Daly (19)

That back three turns me on.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

No Carbery is disappointing. He definitely trained with them this week, rested for next week's pro14 maybe? I hope not!

 

[Groundhog]

15. Jordan Larmour (14)
14. Adam Byrne (32)
13. Rory O'Loughlin (34)
12. Noel Reid (94)
11. James Lowe (5)
10. Ross Byrne (42)
9. Luke McGrath (89) CAPTAIN
1. Ed Byrne (18)
2. Seán Cronin (145)
3. Michael Bent (100)
4. Ross Molony (56)
5. Scott Fardy (14)
6. Josh Murphy (4)
7. Jordi Murphy (99)
8. Max Deegan (12)

16. Richardt Strauss (152)
17. Peter Dooley (43)
18. Oisín Heffernan (2)
19. Ian Nagle (14)
20. Will Connors (1)
21. Nick McCarthy (18)
22. Ciarán Frawley (0)
23. Barry Daly (19)

That back three turns me on.

It's certainly an attacking minded back three, which hopefully they'll be doing a lot of because they can't actually defend. Seriously weakened Scarlets backline on the other side as well though and Leinster's pack looks a lot better on paper. Leinster should really take the game.

Munster:

15. Stephen Fitzgerald
14. Darren Sweetnam
13. Sammy Arnold
12. Rory Scannell
11. Ronan O'Mahony
10. Ian Keatley
9. Duncan Williams

1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Rhys Marshall
3. John Ryan
4. Gerbrandt Grobler
5. Darren O'Shea
6. Jack O'Donoghue (captain)
7. Chris Cloete
8. Robin Copeland

Replacements:

16. Mike Sherry
17. James Cronin
18. Stephen Archer
19. Jean Kleyn
20. Dave O'Callaghan
21. James Hart
22. Tyler Bleyendaal
23. Simon Zebo

Cardiff Blues:

15. Rhun Williams
14. Aled Summerhill
13. Garyn Smith
12. Rey Lee-Lo
11. Owen Lane
10. Jarrod Evans
9. Lloyd Williams

1. Gethin Jenkins (captain)
2. Matthew Rees
3. Taufa'ao Filise
4. George Earle
5. Seb Davies
6. Macauley Cook
7. Ellis Jenkins
8. Nick Williams

Replacements:

16. Kirby Myhill
17. Rhys Gill
18. Dillon Lewis
19. Josh Turnbull
20. Olly Robinson
21. Tomos Williams
22. Steven Shingler
23. Ryan Edwards

Great to see Sherry, Bleyendaal, and DOC v2.0 back in action. Same goes for O'Mahony who's been fit a while, but starting again. That centre partnership looks really balanced and should do damage. Clearly a decent amount of faith in Fitzgerald in the setup. I'll be honest, I've not been wildly impressed with him at senior level to this point, but a specialised fullback is something we're thin on despite the wealth of back three talent we have. Pretty heavy rotation in our last three games. Ryan will be eager to play more games and justify an Irish spot I'd say. Scrummed v well last week in his cameo and should do well against an ancient Cardiff front row. Our backrow looks great, and O'Donoghue is our first Waterford captain. Fair play to him. Plenty of beef in the pack in general and a big big pair of second rows.

 

[Leinster Fan]

Don't get the absence of Carbery. He needs game time massively and this was more or less a perfect opportunity. Surprised that we didn't get Porter back as well, maybe he's been kept just in case Furlong isn't fit.

That back three could tear the Scarlets to pieces, but they're all poor in defence so it could be a crazy high scoring game.

I'm going to have to assume that Nacewa is injured because we could really use him. (I'm fairly confident we'd have won last week with him at 15). The only other potential reason is that we're wrapping him in cotton wool until April because he's going to be needed for Saracens.

I'm fairly confident we'll take the win this week but we'll see what happens in two weeks. Maybe Ulster can do us a favour in the middle.

​

 

[munstermuffin]

It's certainly an attacking minded back three, which hopefully they'll be doing a lot of because they can't actually defend. Seriously weakened Scarlets backline on the other side as well though and Leinster's pack looks a lot better on paper. Leinster should really take the game.

Munster:

15. Stephen Fitzgerald
14. Darren Sweetnam
13. Sammy Arnold
12. Rory Scannell
11. Ronan O'Mahony
10. Ian Keatley
9. Duncan Williams

1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Rhys Marshall
3. John Ryan
4. Gerbrandt Grobler
5. Darren O'Shea
6. Jack O'Donoghue (captain)
7. Chris Cloete
8. Robin Copeland

Replacements:

16. Mike Sherry
17. James Cronin
18. Stephen Archer
19. Jean Kleyn
20. Dave O'Callaghan
21. James Hart
22. Tyler Bleyendaal
23. Simon Zebo

Cardiff Blues:

15. Rhun Williams
14. Aled Summerhill
13. Garyn Smith
12. Rey Lee-Lo
11. Owen Lane
10. Jarrod Evans
9. Lloyd Williams

1. Gethin Jenkins (captain)
2. Matthew Rees
3. Taufa'ao Filise
4. George Earle
5. Seb Davies
6. Macauley Cook
7. Ellis Jenkins
8. Nick Williams

Replacements:

16. Kirby Myhill
17. Rhys Gill
18. Dillon Lewis
19. Josh Turnbull
20. Olly Robinson
21. Tomos Williams
22. Steven Shingler
23. Ryan Edwards

Great to see Sherry, Bleyendaal, and DOC v2.0 back in action. Same goes for O'Mahony who's been fit a while, but starting again. That centre partnership looks really balanced and should do damage. Clearly a decent amount of faith in Fitzgerald in the setup. I'll be honest, I've not been wildly impressed with him at senior level to this point, but a specialised fullback is something we're thin on despite the wealth of back three talent we have. Pretty heavy rotation in our last three games. Ryan will be eager to play more games and justify an Irish spot I'd say. Scrummed v well last week in his cameo and should do well against an ancient Cardiff front row. Our backrow looks great, and O'Donoghue is our first Waterford captain. Fair play to him. Plenty of beef in the pack in general and a big big pair of second rows.

Fitzgerald is a very good talent if he stays fit. Needs a run of games and great shot for him on a pitch that'll suit him.

On Carbery its a very strange call. And well it is fair to say if Sexton gets injured early or Carbery comes on and has an iffy game then there will be limelight on him and it could really hamper his confidence and effect him a bit.
Porter also is an interesting call. Is it due to having to play nearly 80 last week or is Tadgh Furlong a risk

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

All Ulster so far. I don't know if the announcement that four central players are leaving the club is having an impact or if they are just struggling away from home. They need to wake up quick as this game is effectively their final this year.

World Player of the Year 2016 TOH was out for Connacht. Still doesn't give Zebre a sniff of a chance mind!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

"John Hardie having a sniff of the white line" LOLOLOLOLOL

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

"John Hardie having a sniff of the white line" LOLOLOLOLOL

How did I miss that!

Edinburgh have well and truly woken up and making a fist of it. Soft penalty call that from the TMO, well done Nigel in standing up to it as much as he could.

Evans actually caught on mic telling the TMO off and telling him to just say what he sees and refrain from talking about sanctions.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Lovely try

 

[munstermuffin]

Ulster really will miss Ruan now

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

SHC truly playing like a man with no contract. Disasterous injury for Ulster. A shame for that to be a factor in a big game.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Edinburgh need to just keep it tight and grind hard.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Ulster with so much spirit tonight. Saved three tries with try-line stands in the first half and making Edinburgh have to compete so hard at the breakdown just to get the ball back. Totally lost track of all the Ulster injuries too (before and during match). Won't begrudge them a win here if they hold on.

Kings winning

Filthy conditions in Glasgow and strong set of backs for Glasgow so I switch my prediction to favoure them. Some cracking action in the first half despite the weather. I love synthetic surfaces.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Putting the dummy into "dummy throw".

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Never seen a guy that big that can move his hips like that.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Oh Connacht...

 

[Brigantine]

Kings winning

No South African team has won in the home nations since the world cup. Kings to be the first?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Duncan the pudding Wier King of the clutch.