Pro 12 - General Thread

[kermischocolate]

The Welsh teams suffer from the fact the rugby in Wales is very like GAA in Ireland in its affiliations. Parish and Club is the bedrock. Regions / Provinces don't cut it, even if the standard is notionally higher.

Since 1995, the outlook hasn't changed. It's either Club or Country. No space for Regions. e.g. Pontypridd is only aj few miles from Cardiff but they hate each other and Ponty would plan a Welsh League at the same time as Cardiff play a European game, primarily to ensure their supporters aren'ttempted to go to the EPCR game.

No chance of solving that unless a Welsh Region wins something big. As soon as that happens, the others will follow suit and support Regions.

Thats a good point, regional rugby there is like the Railway Cup here. But also Ospreys have done the best as theyre the most regional

This was exactly the problem with the Borders. Or so I'm told.

[simonokeeffe]

that got mentioned before, maybe likes of Jim Telfer will piece that together with Lions representation

[paddyor]

Tom Coleman‏ @LeinsterRoyalty

With home pro12 semi final this year Leinster total tickets sales surpass €9.5m
That's right. Just ticket Sales.

Given how few home games we get our star players for that's a hugely impressive figure.

[simonokeeffe]

That is good
Plus I suspect season ticket sales will go up next season

Clickbait media picking this up with glee but president of The Kings reckons the Cheetahs and they can join pro12, despite the cost, logistics in general, most of their players leaving, clash of seasons, clash with Currie Cup, SA fans wouldnt give 2 hoots, etc

[ronk]

That is good
Plus I suspect season ticket sales will go up next season

Clickbait media picking this up with glee but president of The Kings reckons the Cheetahs and they can join pro12, despite the cost, logistics in general, most of their players leaving, clash of seasons, clash with Currie Cup, SA fans wouldnt give 2 hoots, etc

It'll happen one year after Borders, Celtic Warriors, London Welsh and Aironi join the S15

[simonokeeffe]

That is good
Plus I suspect season ticket sales will go up next season

Clickbait media picking this up with glee but president of The Kings reckons the Cheetahs and they can join pro12, despite the cost, logistics in general, most of their players leaving, clash of seasons, clash with Currie Cup, SA fans wouldnt give 2 hoots, etc

It'll happen one year after Borders, Celtic Warriors, London Welsh and Aironi join the S15

SA teams joining Pro12 or LV Cup will happen same time as Real Madrid

[blockhead]

Leinster now have 84 points in the Pro12. Thats the highest ever attained, beating Munster's total of 83 in the 2010-11 season.

[Ruckedtobits]

But whilst Leinster have scored 31 points per match and conceded just over 17 points per match, averaging I believe better than 5 tries a match. This has been a great campaign for attacking. However, the four teams below us have better defensive records for the Season.

Unlike Season 2011-12, the Leinster emphasis has been primarurily attacking and tries and 96 to date testifies to that focus. A great performance but not yet the finished product. Winning nearly always requires us to be tops at both.

[blockhead]

But whilst Leinster have scored 31 points per match and conceded just over 17 points per match, averaging I believe better than 5 tries a match. This has been a great campaign for attacking. However, the four teams below us have better defensive records for the Season.

Unlike Season 2011-12, the Leinster emphasis has been primarurily attacking and tries and 96 to date testifies to that focus. A great performance but not yet the finished product. Winning nearly always requires us to be tops at both.

Glass half empty?
Either ways, its very exciting stuff altogether.

[blockhead]

Also, 661 pts is the highest in Pro12 history, surpassing Ulsters 617 in the 2003-2004 season. Only 2 teams to break the 600 pt mark.

[johng]

90 league tries with a possible 3 and a guaranteed 2 more games in the season. The only time it has ever hit 70 previously was in the same season when cardiff hit 73.

We could also equal Munster's 19 wins in a season next week. A record that everyone said would never happen again. Munster did it in the first season with Italian teams.

[Ruckedtobits]

Totally agree that our points and try scoring has been superb. But I want us to be the best team in the competition, not just in the season. Three games to go. Three wins would be great but I'd be happy with two, so that its the last two.

[Ruckedtobits]

Based on whar has been on show since the end of the 6N, including this weekend, it won't surprise me to see a Leinster v Scarlets Pro12 Final and a real fight in that final.

[johng]

Based on whar has been on show since the end of the 6N, including this weekend, it won't surprise me to see a Leinster v Scarlets Pro12 Final and a real fight in that final.

As long as Leinster are in it I don't care what the team in red are called......

[paddyor]

The booby price is no more.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... k-12987441

Are bt still involved with Glasgow?

[simonokeeffe]

Wow that was the shortest ever naming rights deal
Welsh regions shirt sponsorship deals will be on less money now too

BT basically took a Starbucks approach to British non English rugby/publicity and now we're seeing the roll back

Does this mean shirt sponsorship of Scottish sides is up too? Think Murrayfield naming rights were for longer though?

[rooster]

The booby price is no more.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... k-12987441

Are bt still involved with Glasgow?

Was the whole BT thing not a teaser to get them to back the English for the BT led European Cup coup ?

[cormac]

http://www.pro12rugby.com/2017/05/05...12-dream-team/


Pro12 ‘Dream Team’ 2016/17
15. Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht Rugby)
14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors)
13. Jaco Taute (Munster Rugby)
12. Rory Scannell (Munster Rugby)
11. Charles Piutau (Ulster Rugby)
10. Tyler Bleyendaal (Munster Rugby)
9. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster Rugby)
1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster Rugby)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets)
3. John Ryan (Munster Rugby)
4. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby)
5. Billy Holland (Munster Rugby)
6. Dan Leavy (Leinster Rugby)
7. James Davies (Scarlets)
8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby)

The team who've broken practically every scoring record in the competition this season seem a tad under-represented there.

[Laighin Break]

http://www.pro12rugby.com/2017/05/05...12-dream-team/


Pro12 ‘Dream Team’ 2016/17
15. Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht Rugby)
14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors)
13. Jaco Taute (Munster Rugby)
12. Rory Scannell (Munster Rugby)
11. Charles Piutau (Ulster Rugby)
10. Tyler Bleyendaal (Munster Rugby)
9. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster Rugby)
1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster Rugby)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets)
3. John Ryan (Munster Rugby)
4. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby)
5. Billy Holland (Munster Rugby)
6. Dan Leavy (Leinster Rugby)
7. James Davies (Scarlets)
8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby)

The team who've broken practically every scoring record in the competition this season seem a tad under-represented there.

I agree. Don't want to start a provincial fight, but only 2 spots for the team at the top of the table, and 6 for the team in second seems a bit off...

[simonokeeffe]

Tbf a lot more of our lads miss a lot of games on Ireland duty

Ben effing Toolis though?

Jack Conan was also semi inadvertantly dissed by Woody on OTB