The Quickening 2017

[simonokeeffe]

Would rather Ospreys than Scarlets for the semi. We would beat either but not sure even return of AWJ will get Ospreys out of their slump

[Oldschool]

From an Irish provinces point of view a 5-2 from today's game would be ideal as it would cement Connacht in 7th place and give them an easier EC playoff qualification match.
A similar result in Ulster's favour would also work quite well too.
It would give Ulster a great chance of a playoff place and keep Munster ahead of Ospreys and Scarlets, who are likely to be involved in a winner takes all match(SF place) on the last day of the regular season.

[Made Of Ale]

From an Irish provinces point of view a 5-2 from today's game would be ideal as it would cement Connacht in 7th place and give them an easier EC playoff qualification match.
A similar result in Ulster's favour would also work quite well too.
It would give Ulster a great chance of a playoff place and keep Munster ahead of Ospreys and Scarlets, who are likely to be involved in a winner takes all match(SF place) on the last day of the regular season.

Actually coming eighth gives a better draw than coming seventh. The rules are here:
http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbych ... /index.php

19/20/21 May 2017

Play-off 1: Aviva Premiership (seventh-ranked club) v Guinness PRO12 (ninth-ranked club)

Play-off 2: TOP 14 (seventh-ranked club) v Guinness PRO12 (eighth-ranked club)

The Premiership and TOP 14 clubs will have home advantage

26/27/28 May 2017

Play-off Final: winner Play-off 1 v winner Play-off 2

The winner of Play-off 1 will have home advantage

So actually finishing eighth in the league (i.e. ninth ranked) would be better - away in England rather than France, then home advantage for the "final". Finishing seventh (i.e. eighth ranked) requires winning in France, then winning in England or Wales in order to qualify.

BTW has this changed recently? I'm pretty sure it was listed as an open draw (with the Pro12 teams away at first, of course) the last time I checked.

[mauler72]

Blues leading Ospreys 21-3 after 27 minutes. O's look like a busted flush

[leinsterfan100]

33-3 now. Another step closer to a home semi for us

[simonokeeffe]

Os going to be so mentally damaged come semi final time even AWJ wont be able to save them from a hiding

[Peg Leg]

Os going to be so mentally damaged come semi final time even AWJ wont be able to save them from a hiding

Am I having Deja vu or did you say that elsewhere already?

[paddyor]

Munster guaranteed a home SF now. 11pts up on the Ospreys with just 10 available.

If we take 1 pt today we're guarnateed one as well.

[Cianostays]

Munster guaranteed a home SF now. 11pts up on the Ospreys with just 10 available.

If we take 1 pt today we're guarnateed one as well.

Think you're forgetting that Scarlets are playing Dragons in a couple of mins. You'd expect them to pick up at least 4 match points. That'd put them on 67 I think. That'd mean we need 4 match points to seal a home SF.

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[simonokeeffe]

Os going to be so mentally damaged come semi final time even AWJ wont be able to save them from a hiding

Am I having Deja vu or did you say that elsewhere already?

Ive been saying they look awful without him every game since the 6n so that might be it

[Grumpy Old Man]

We have a five day turnaround between European SF and Glasgow game and then we're away to an Ulster team who will be looking to cement a Top 4 position. Neither will be easy.

[Cianostays]

Dragons 6-3 up at HT

If Scarlets fail to win then, as stated above, a losing bonus point this evening will ensure a Home SF. Given the scenario that GOM lined out it would be wonderful to have a Home SF locked down before Clermont next week.

[leinsterfan100]

Would rather Ospreys than Scarlets for the semi. We would beat either but not sure even return of AWJ will get Ospreys out of their slump

bump

[cormac]

Scarlets win but no try bp. Four more points guarantees a home semi-final

[Grumpy Old Man]

Scarlets win but no try bp. Four more points guarantees a home semi-final

You'll take 5 though...

[D4surfer]

Home semi-final secured

[neiliog93]

Ospreys final two games are home to Ulster (who need the win) and away against Scarlets. Based on their abject capitulation of late, I can see Scarlets getting third and Ulster fourth, with Ospreys slipping to fifth. So we'd likely be home to Scarlets, and Munster home to Ulster.

[johng]

Top 6 Fix

Round 21 28/29/30 Apr Ospreys v Ulster Rugby Liberty Stadium
Round 21 28/29/30 Apr Leinster Rugby v Glasgow Warriors RDS Arena
Round 22 Round 22 Saturday 6 May 17:15 Scarlets v Ospreys Parc y Scarlets
Round 22 Saturday 6 May 17:15 Ulster Rugby v Leinster Rugby Kingspan Stadium

Home and away for each team

Home
Glasgow: Edi.
Leinster: Gla.
Munster: Con.
Ospreys: Uls.
Scarlets: Osp,
Ulster: Lei.

Away
Glasgow: Lei.
Leinster: Uls.
Munster: Tre.
Ospreys: Sca.
Scarlets: Con.
Ulster: Osp.

Leinster now have complete control of the league. They could losr 100 nil in their last 2 games and still have a home semi.

Munster are a draw in treviso away from a home semi now. Or a losing BP and another in Thomond v Connacht.

Ulster fecked. They have to shoot out away to the Ospreys for 4th place next round. Scarlets come to the sportsground to keep themselves in 3rd.

The rest done and dusted. 6th place down set in stone. Treviso and Zebre still a live issue, but no one knows what Italian teams will even be in the league next year.

[Cianostays]

Really has been a fantastic effort from everyone over the past 2 weeks to get that home SF

If we manage to win in Lyon we can completely focus on a Final in Murrayfield knowing that we've an RDS SF already locked up. Terrific stuff.

[simonokeeffe]

The only thing that could make the semis lively is players potentially injured or rested after the Euro final