pro 12 out of Europe

[johng]

And I'm in a dump of a pub in Coventry.....

[Dave Cahill]

And I'm in a dump of a pub in Coventry.....

All ospreys need is an LBP if it stays the same way in Clermont

[johng]

Bizarre pool. How did that happen?

I legged it when the Os were losing and Clermont were winning.

[johng]

I didn't even know Exeter were in with a hope.

So 5 English 3 French

[Made Of Ale]

Clermont had a penalty in front of the posts in the last minute that Parra tapped quickly - if they'd kicked it they would have qualified on points difference.

[Keith]

What has happened to the Pro 12? Is it the WC hangover or is the standard of the league really this bad?

Not only have Munster, Leinster, Ulster, Ospreys , Scarlets and Glasgow been hammered by various teams around Europe ,the likes of Edinburgh couldn't get through ahead of LI and Connacht just got through a very easy group by the skin of their teeth. Worrying times!

[Vamos los azules]

Guaranteed an English team in the final now with the way the quarter finals have lined up.

[Made Of Ale]

What has happened to the Pro 12? Is it the WC hangover or is the standard of the league really this bad?

Not only have Munster, Leinster, Ulster, Ospreys , Scarlets and Glasgow been hammered by various teams around Europe ,the likes of Edinburgh couldn't get through ahead of LI and Connacht just got through a very easy group by the skin of their teeth. Worrying times!

In fairness Ulster and Ospreys were both very close to qualifying. As far as I can see Ospreys only went out by one point on points difference, although the official website has them third in the pool for some reason. If Jim Mallinder's son hadn't scored a try for Northampton in the last minute last week then Ulster would have gone through. Agree about the other four teams you mentioned though.

[Dave Cahill]

although the official website has them third in the pool for some reason

(b) If two clubs in the same pool are equal on match points at the end of the pool stage, their ranking will be determined by the results of the two matches played between the relevant clubs as follows:
(i) the club with the greater number of match points from the two matches; or
(ii) if equal, the club with the best aggregate points difference from the two matches; or
(iii) if equal, the club that scored the most tries in the two matches.

So in this case, in the two games between UBB and Ospreys

In Swansea Ospreys won 19-16 without a BP and UBB got a LBP - 4-1 to Ospreys
In Bordeaux UBB won 33-27 with a TBP and Ospreys got an LBP and a TBP 5 - 2 to UBB
Which left it 6 all

So the points difference in those two matches is 49 to 46 in UBBs favor and thats why they are second and Ospreys third.

"Tighter than a ducks arse and thats watertight" as they say in Cavan, the home of tightness.

[CiaranIrl]

QF4
Tigers v SF Paris
QF3
Racing 92 v Toulon
QF1
Saracens v Saints
QF2
Wasps v Chiefs

With QF 1 v QF2 and QF3 v QF4 in semi finals

[CiaranIrl]

Hard to see past a Saracens vs Racing or Toulon final.

[StrangeButBlue]

Hard to see past a Saracens vs Racing or Toulon final.

A Tigers win gets a home semi vs Racing or away vs Toulon.
Could be an all AP final in Lyon

[StrangeButBlue]

Can we use the 9 April weekend ( Euro QF) for the missed Pro12 fixtures? May as well get something out of it.

Seems silly to play these matches over St Patricks weekend during the 6 Nations..

Round 12
Fri 18 Mar 19:15
Cardiff Blues v Munster Rugby BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park


Round 9
Fri 18 Mar 19:35
Glasgow Warriors v Leinster Rugby Scotstoun Stadium

[simonokeeffe]

What has happened to the Pro 12? Is it the WC hangover or is the standard of the league really this bad?

Not only have Munster, Leinster, Ulster, Ospreys , Scarlets and Glasgow been hammered by various teams around Europe ,the likes of Edinburgh couldn't get through ahead of LI and Connacht just got through a very easy group by the skin of their teeth. Worrying times!

change in seedings
Pro12 sides losing more players to world up
more English money
French money
delayed start to Premiership
Scarlets have no front 5 but lots of injuries
Axel Foley

[Donny B.]

English and French oligarchs have gotten what they wanted when they had the tournament redone in their liking. It's now the Anglo French cup and interest outside those two countries will be dead inside five years.

[simonokeeffe]

English and French oligarchs have gotten what they wanted when they had the tournament redone in their liking. It's now the Anglo French cup and interest outside those two countries will be dead inside five years.

after the disaster of an all French final in Twickenham and facing the potential disaster of an all English or even Sarries v Racing final in the South of France it mighnt last that long

another thread reminded me but Toulon claimed earlier theyll have to throw a semi (or more likely quarter away to racing) so they dont violate salary cap rules on bonuses in France which kick in in April
Think I'm right in saying Racing/Parisians notoriously bad for not travelling

Pro12 hopes lie with Leinster

[Keith]

English and French oligarchs have gotten what they wanted when they had the tournament redone in their liking. It's now the Anglo French cup and interest outside those two countries will be dead inside five years.

The last 2 finals have shown that the interest in the competition has already declined. They had to give away free tickets last year. The BT coverage is also appalling and is turning a lot of people off in Ireland.