Pro 14 - Round 13

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Benetton vs Glasgow
Ospreys vs Blues
Leinster vs Ulster
Scarlets vs Dragons
Connacht vs Munster
Edinburgh vs Kings
Zebre vs Cheetahs (Sun)

I'm actually picking Benetton to defeat the team leading Conference A. Nurse! Nurse!

If Parkes starts at fly-half I might even pick the Tovey led Dragons to sneak a win in Llanelli. But probably not.

A must win for Zebre if they are to avoid finishing in the bottom two sides overall. Probably won't happen.

Connacht vs Munster and Ospreys vs Blues are the two biggest fixtures in terms of playoff implications. I'm not even going to try predicting either game other than that both will be one score games.

Leinster vs Ulster and Edinburgh vs Kings aren't getting my juices fLoweing.

 

[Thingimubob]

Scarlets are in dire straits injury wise apparently, especially in the backrow! I've seen a few rumours on twitter that they may be forced to play Ken Owens at 8...

Huge game for the Blues - need to up the general performance from last week and need to keep hold of the ball far more than we did. Don't think it'll be too high scoring and will be a tight one!

 

[Bluemoon]

Yeah the Scarlets injuries showed last week, particularly at the breakdown. I think the Dragons will be looking to cause an upset.

Cardiff still have massive issues at the set piece, the line out has been awful and the young props have been a bit shakey. So happy to see Arhip return from injury as Dillion is still perfecting his scrummaging and if thing go wrong he's a fantastic player to bring on. Cardiff will need to take that defence from last week to the Liberty to get a win. Certainly should take a lot of confidence into the game after last weeks good form. Cardiff are Jekyl and Hyde this year so who knows haha.

 

[Thingimubob]

Lol so, Ken Owens at 8 has been confirmed:

Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl; Ioan Nicholas, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Paul Asquith; Dan Jones, Kieran Hardy; Rob Evans, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Josh Helps, David Bulbring, Ed Kennedy, Ken Owens (capt), Dan Davis

Replacements: Marc Jones, Wyn Jones, Werner Kruger, Tom Price, Tom Phillips, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Steff Hughes, Tom Prydie.

Dragons: Jordan Williams; Adam Warren, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Hallam Amos; Josh Lewis, Tavis Knoyle; Aaron Jarvis, Richard Hibbard, Dan Suter, Brandon Nansen, Matthew Screech, Cory Hill (capt), Aaron Wainwright, Harrison Keddie.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Gerard Ellis, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, James Benjamin, Rhodri Williams, Jason Tovey, Zane Kirchner.

Honestly, he's got the fitness, work rate and carrying ability to do alright back there probably!

 

[Amiga500]

Yeah the Scarlets injuries showed last week, particularly at the breakdown. I think the Dragons will be looking to cause an upset.

Speaking of injury worries at the Scarlets - Leigh Halfpenny to see concussion specialist due to repeated headaches after trying to train. Worrying. Very worrying. We might not see him grace a pitch again!



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46749552

 

[Amiga500]

Oh and as for us at the RDS.... if we keep it to under 50 I'll be happy.


edit: Oh wait a second. I just seen the Leinster team. So its now two two pretty young (and relatively untested) teams going at it with a few notable exceptions. On the strength of the Leinster academy you'd still have to favour them to win comfortably, but perhaps not by the margins I'd feared.

 

[Thingimubob]

Speaking of injury worries at the Scarlets - Leigh Halfpenny to see concussion specialist due to repeated headaches after trying to train. Worrying. Very worrying. We might not see him grace a pitch again!



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46749552

Thing that annoys me the most - the collision that caused the injury wasn't even bloody penalised, with the ref brushing it off as "accidental". Really undermines World Rugby's directives to protect the player

 

[Leinster Fan]

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Rob Kearney (203) CAPTAIN
14. Adam Byrne (45)
13. Conor O'Brien (9)
12. Noel Reid (110)
11. Barry Daly (28)
10. Ciarán Frawley (8)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (62)
1. Jack McGrath (137)
2. Seán Cronin (163)
3. Andrew Porter (42)
4. Ross Molony (75)
5. Mick Kearney (43)
6. Josh Murphy (14)
7. Scott Penny (2)
8. Max Deegan (31)

16. James Tracy (80)
17. Ed Byrne (33)
18. Michael Bent (114)
19. Oisín Dowling (0)
20. Caelan Doris (7)
21. Hugh O'Sullivan (5)
22. Ross Byrne (60)
23. Jimmy O'Brien (2).

A lot more callow than I expected, but equally a lot better than the Ulster team they're up against.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

https://www.the42.ie/ciaran-frawley-leinster-ulster-leo-cullen-4423702-Jan2019/
"It's about giving everyone in the group an opportunity to play across the three inter-pro selections," Cullen explained at this afternoon's pre-game press conference.

"So what we've done is started with different teams and mixed and matched from the bench. Ross started against Connacht, Johnny started last week and Ciaran starts tomorrow.

"We've started with three out-halves and with the 21 games we have in the league, and trying to challenge on two fronts, it's important we build depth. You need to rely on your squad, you can't rely on the same 15 to get you through the regular 21 Pro14 games, plus the six European games, plus what we hope is some playoff games at the end of the season.

It's just making sure we're conscious of the depth because it is a long season and we are going to have a fair share of injuries so this is a great opportunity for Ciaran.
"We wanted to expose him to Thomond Park last week and this is another great step for him, against Ulster in another inter-pro game and all the additional pressures that goes on top of that."

It's hard to argue with his Leo Cullen's logic.

Leinster are 16 points clear at the top of their conference with 9 games remaining. If they beat Ulster, they'll be at least 17 points clear of whoever is 2nd with 8 games remaining. They can afford to prioritize different games, give experience to up and coming players and bleed players back in from time out injured. The point is to peak for the playoffs in both the Pro 14 and hopefully Europe. Rest the front liners when you can so they're fresh for the ***le charges.

Given a top seeding in Conference B is almost certain, I'd expect a lot more opportunities to be afforded to players like Ciaran Frawley, Conor O'Brien, Hugh O'Sullivan and Scott Penny to give them experience now. They'll be needed next season in a big way with the World Cup shearing Leinster of a huge amount of players.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Lol so, Ken Owens at 8 has been confirmed:

Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl; Ioan Nicholas, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Paul Asquith; Dan Jones, Kieran Hardy; Rob Evans, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Josh Helps, David Bulbring, Ed Kennedy, Ken Owens (capt), Dan Davis

Replacements: Marc Jones, Wyn Jones, Werner Kruger, Tom Price, Tom Phillips, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Steff Hughes, Tom Prydie.

Dragons: Jordan Williams; Adam Warren, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Hallam Amos; Josh Lewis, Tavis Knoyle; Aaron Jarvis, Richard Hibbard, Dan Suter, Brandon Nansen, Matthew Screech, Cory Hill (capt), Aaron Wainwright, Harrison Keddie.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Gerard Ellis, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, James Benjamin, Rhodri Williams, Jason Tovey, Zane Kirchner.

Honestly, he's got the fitness, work rate and carrying ability to do alright back there probably!

Dan Jones at 10 and Parkes at 12 = Scarlets win. The margin will depend on how the pack adjusts to those injuries.

 

[Amiga500]

Glasgow getting 'er tight in Treviso.

 

[Groundhog]

Connacht
15. Darragh Leader
14. Cian Kelleher
13. Tom Farrell
12. Tom Daly
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Caolin Blade

1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan (Capt.)
3. Dominic Robertson McCoy
4. Gavin Thornbury
5. Quinn Roux
6. Paul Boyle
7. Colby Fainga'a
8. Eoghan Masterson

Replacements:

16. Tom McCartney
17. Peter McCabe
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Ultan Dillane
20. Cillian Gallagher
21. Angus Lloyd
22. David Horwitz
23. Colm DeBuitlear

Munster
15. Andrew Conway
14. Keith Earls
13. Chris Farrell
12. Dan Goggin
11. Alex Wootton
10. Joey Carbery
9. Alby Mathewson

1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Niall Scannell
3. John Ryan
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O'Mahony (captain)
7. Tommy O'Donnell
8. Arno Botha

Replacements:

16. Kevin O'Byrne
17. Dave Kilcoyne
18. Stephen Archer
19. Billy Holland
20. CJ Stander
21. Conor Murray
22. Tyler Bleyendaal
23. Sammy Arnold

Munster Connacht should be a very good game. We've a very good side out. Love to see Goggin playing but it's a pairing of two thirteens again. Don't rate that Connacht side highly on paper but they always put in a very good performance against us at home only to get mashed by average English sides in Europe weeks later. Ew imagine not only performing in Europe.
Robertson McCoy to get a red card for suplexing Alby Mathewson. That's my cheap shot against Munster of the week prediction.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Up Benetton

 

[munstermuffin]

Last minute fitness test for Archer. Ciaran Parker will bench if he fails

 

[big ginger 8]

I'd forgotten Dundon is up in Ulster.

 

[Leinster Fan]

Tom Farrell has got to be in the next Ireland squad.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Tom Farrell has got to be in the next Ireland squad.

He's consistently excellent. I've a huge amount of respect for him in building his career having been surplus to requirements at Leinster. I'd say Leinster are kicking themselves at not spotting his talent. He'd be ahead of Chris Farrell and Sam Arnold in the Ireland depth chart if I was picking the squad.

 

[Leinster Fan]

He's consistently excellent. I've a huge amount of respect for him in building his career having been surplus to requirements at Leinster. I'd say Leinster are kicking themselves at not spotting his talent. He'd be ahead of Chris Farrell and Sam Arnold in the Ireland depth chart if I was picking the squad.

I'm not sure I'd have him ahead of the other Farrell as he's proven himself at international level, but he's miles ahead of Arnold in my estimation.

 

[Groundhog]

I'm not sure I'd have him ahead of the other Farrell as he's proven himself at international level, but he's miles ahead of Arnold in my estimation.

Yeah he would in no way be ahead of Farrell if I was picking a squad.
Munster are so steez at rugby tonight. O'Mahony has been class again.

 

[Groundhog]

Really makes me proud of my poor level of Irish when I understand enough to notice how thoroughly TG4 ride Connachts knob.