Pro 12 Semi-final vs Scarlets

[wixfjord]

Balls, that's a big loss.

Our bench shape completely changes with that too, albeit it does give more options.

You'd imagine they had an inclination that he might not make it though and Byrne was ready to step in.

[alanair]

SOB out: http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/sean-obrien ... d=16LS1479

Wonder what it means for his Lions tour. Personally, I would rather none of our players went but I am sure he would be devastated, so I'm sorry for him.

Interestingly, they have brought Ross Byrne onto the bench.
He certainly deserves to be in the mix but surely that totally alters how the bench would have been intended to be used?

SOB missing with injury,yet again...... not really a surprise anymore

[etak252]

I wonder was SOB ever going to play . With Leavy on bench surely it makes way more sense to have another back on bench especially with RH coming back from rib injury. Also Jonathan Davis and Scott Williams are pretty physical backs.

[blockhead]

PRO12 semis at RDS
2011-14,476
2012-15,113
2013-13,235
2014-18,246
2016-19,100

Think the last 2 were agin Ulster

[alanair]

Balls, that's a big loss.

Our bench shape completely changes with that too, albeit it does give more options.

You'd imagine they had an inclination that he might not make it though and Byrne was ready to step in.

Im sorry , but how can it be a big loss... we've barely seen him this season and we've done ok

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Who knows, maybe SOB won't make it and we put an extra back on the bench.

Apologies for quoting myself but what a ridiculous situation and Im sure I wasn't the only one who half expected it. We made accommodations for him by going with a 6-2 split and now we've disrupted our prep, changed the split on the bench, and Zane looks a worse call now. Maybe it was smoke and mirrors stuff and the coaches knew this would happen all along, but given the options we had and the number of weeks he's been out I just don't see why we selected him.

[Flash Gordon]

What size crowd is expected tonight ? Scarlets seem to be bringing a good number. Important the crowd make it as difficult as possible for them to play

Think we've sold 16,000 tickets. You'd hope for a full house for a semi-final obviously.

Look at the ticket prices. You are not going to get people in on a whim at those prices. Needs to be totally rethought for next season.

Might be a factor alright but even season ticket holders are not showing up.

[wixfjord]

Balls, that's a big loss.

Our bench shape completely changes with that too, albeit it does give more options.

You'd imagine they had an inclination that he might not make it though and Byrne was ready to step in.

Im sorry , but how can it be a big loss... we've barely seen him this season and we've done ok

It's the difference between having a test Lion on your bench and having a rookie 10 on your bench.

[wixfjord]

The only thing that would make me thing the SOB decision wasn't pre-planned is the selection of ZK at 23.
Makes that choice look even stranger if we knew he'd be 50/50.

[Grumpy Old Man]

What size crowd is expected tonight ? Scarlets seem to be bringing a good number. Important the crowd make it as difficult as possible for them to play

Think we've sold 16,000 tickets. You'd hope for a full house for a semi-final obviously.

Look at the ticket prices. You are not going to get people in on a whim at those prices. Needs to be totally rethought for next season.

I know this is a bugbear of yours but I just checked Ticketmaster. Terrace tickets are available for €20, South Stand for €34. I'm not sure these are excessive for a semi final. In addition, they are advertising student tickets in UCD - although take up there may be affected by ongoing exams.

[The Doc]

Might be a factor alright but even season ticket holders are not showing up.

Match not part of season ticket so 16k is actual tickets sold

[etak252]

I would have brought way more than the 2 tickets allowed at the discount price given as a season ticket holder.

[Flash Gordon]

Might be a factor alright but even season ticket holders are not showing up.

Match not part of season ticket so 16k is actual tickets sold

Quite right for tonight, I was referring to previous games. There have been matches this year where I wondered whether there were even 10k in the ground!

[Lar]

I wonder what the average attendance is for a season ticket holder. I missed two games this season one when I was away and one for a family event that was unavoidable and on both occasions made sure our tickets found good homes and were used. It's madness to me not to go or to offer the tickets to someone else if you can't when they are already paid for!

[curates_egg]

I know this is a bugbear of yours but I just checked Ticketmaster. Terrace tickets are available for €20, South Stand for €34. I'm not sure these are excessive for a semi final. In addition, they are advertising student tickets in UCD - although take up there may be affected by ongoing exams.

34 Euro in an uncovered stand is a big chunk of money. Real fans will pay it but punters considering how to spend a Friday evening and looking at the weather forecast will - at the very least - think twice.
I've gone to games in France (3 clubs) and England (1 club) this year and our prices are comparatively more expensive.

Most people posting on here are ST holders, so are not as affected. But, you can't complain about lower gates and ignore the correlation with rising ticket prices. I know Dublin is getting back close to 2007/8 prices...but I don't think that is matched by 2007/8 spending power for normal punters.

[Dexter]

I know this is a bugbear of yours but I just checked Ticketmaster. Terrace tickets are available for €20, South Stand for €34. I'm not sure these are excessive for a semi final. In addition, they are advertising student tickets in UCD - although take up there may be affected by ongoing exams.

34 Euro in an uncovered stand is a big chunk of money. Real fans will pay it but punters considering how to spend a Friday evening and looking at the weather forecast will - at the very least - think twice.
I've gone to games in France (3 clubs) and England (1 club) this year and our prices are comparatively more expensive.

Most people posting on here are ST holders, so are not as affected. But, you can't complain about lower gates and ignore the correlation with rising ticket prices. I know Dublin is getting back close to 2007/8 prices...but I don't think that is matched by 2007/8 spending power for normal punters.

I bought 4 tickets for €70, granted 2 were kids tickets and they're in an uncovered stand. That's the same price as the cheapest ticket you can buy at the moment for the final, in the back rows of the east or west stand - those are the prices that we should be complaining about, win or lose tonight.

[Grumpy Old Man]

I know this is a bugbear of yours but I just checked Ticketmaster. Terrace tickets are available for €20, South Stand for €34. I'm not sure these are excessive for a semi final. In addition, they are advertising student tickets in UCD - although take up there may be affected by ongoing exams.

34 Euro in an uncovered stand is a big chunk of money. Real fans will pay it but punters considering how to spend a Friday evening and looking at the weather forecast will - at the very least - think twice.
I've gone to games in France (3 clubs) and England (1 club) this year and our prices are comparatively more expensive.

Most people posting on here are ST holders, so are not as affected. But, you can't complain about lower gates and ignore the correlation with rising ticket prices. I know Dublin is getting back close to 2007/8 prices...but I don't think that is matched by 2007/8 spending power for normal punters.

I'd agreed with you on French games, but I think our ticket for behind the goaline in Franklins Gardens was c €60. I generally find English tickets to be expensive.

[nc6000]

I know this is a bugbear of yours but I just checked Ticketmaster. Terrace tickets are available for €20, South Stand for €34. I'm not sure these are excessive for a semi final. In addition, they are advertising student tickets in UCD - although take up there may be affected by ongoing exams.

34 Euro in an uncovered stand is a big chunk of money. Real fans will pay it but punters considering how to spend a Friday evening and looking at the weather forecast will - at the very least - think twice.
I've gone to games in France (3 clubs) and England (1 club) this year and our prices are comparatively more expensive.

That's 34 with another 3.50 service charge don't forget. If you want to be in a covered stand it's a minimum of 60 with another 5.95 on top. No terrace tickets left.

[Edna Kenny]

I don't think €34 is excessive for a semi final. Also, if there's no price advantage given to season ticket holders then people wouldn't buy season tickets.

[cormac]

PRO12 semis at RDS
2011-14,476
2012-15,113
2013-13,235
2014-18,246
2016-19,100

Think the last 2 were agin Ulster

There was a semi-final in 2010 at the RDS too. 19,750 was the attendance for the 16 v 6 win over Munster.

Basically we've sold out semi-finals against Irish opposition when we haven't had a European final a week later.