Guinness Pro12 2015/2016 Season thread

Bazzo

I think not televising matches purposefully to try to drive up attendances is alienating a large portion of your potential fanbase who actually can't physically get to the game.

I can't get to the majority of Connacht games but I go when I'm home and I buy plenty of merchandise. If they were trying to drive their attendences up by not airing matches I'd be pretty pissed off and a lot less likely to part with my cash.

errlloyd

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Also there's a reason that NFL has the blackout rule in the US and the English FA don't allow any televised games at 3pm on Saturdays. Live matches on TV takes from attendances.

They ban the televising of those games to drive up attendances at lower division matches. The equivalent of not televising Leinster matches that clash with AIL fixtures.

neelia11

zebre 14-7 glasgow after 35

bilston

neelia11 wrote: »

zebre 14-7 glasgow after 35

That will never last.

bilston

Someone posted viewing figures for the last weekend of March on uafc earlier.

5 matches on pay tv that weekend. 4 premiership games on BT and 1 Pro 12 game on Sky and the Pro 12 game came 3rd in terms of viewing figures. Given BT pay a hell of a lot more for the Premiership than Sky do for the Pro 12 that is quite interesting.

BrokenMan

neelia11 wrote: »

zebre 14-7 glasgow after 35

Bonus point in the bag for Glasgow now.

bilston

BrokenMan wrote: »

Bonus point in the bag for Glasgow now.

I live in hope but I assume you don't mean LBP!

BrokenMan

bilston wrote: »

I live in hope but I assume you don't mean LBP!

Unfortunately not. 38 - 14 after 75 mins.

BBDBB

3 mins to go

Zebra 14 Glasgow 43

vienne86

BBDBB wrote: »

3 mins to go

Zebra 14 Glasgow 43

That's the TBP we all expected.

MarinersBlues

Pos Team Current R20 R21 R22 Total
Scarlets (a) Zebre (h) Connacht (a)
1 Glasgow 61 4 5 4 74
Edin (h) Ulster (a) Treviso (h)
2 Leinster 63 4 1 5 73
Munster (h) Treviso (a) Glasgow (h)
3 Connacht 63 4 5 1 73
Zebre (a) Leinster (h) Ospreys (a)
4 Ulster 55 5 4 1 65
Glasgow (h) Dragons (a) Munster (a)
5 Scarlets 58 1 4 1 64
Connacht (a) Edin (h) Scarlets (h)
6 Munster 53 1 4 4 62
Leinster (a) Munster (a) Blues (h)
7 Edinburgh 52 0 1 4 57
Treviso (h) Blues (a) Ulster (h)
8 Ospreys 44 5 4 4 57
Dragons(h) Ospreys(h) Edinbrugh (a)
9 Blues 48 4 1 1 54

thomond2006

Zebre have conceded on average 30 points a game. That's madness.

The current record for points conceded since the Italians joined is 641 points by Treviso last season. Zebre have conceded 579 points in 19 games so far this season and with Ulster (H) and Glasgow (A) left you'd expect they will break 641 conceded this season.

RAKM

I've spoken a lot about the Italian clubs leaving the Pro12 or at least not giving them a place in the CC. However as long as they are in the league it is probably the best of a bad lot to let them compete for a CC place. The reason is that they still have something to play for whenever they take the field. If they did not have this think of how bad their efforts might be...or could they get any worse?

irishbucsfan

RAKM wrote: »

I've spoken a lot about the Italian clubs leaving the Pro12 or at least not giving them a place in the CC. However as long as they are in the league it is probably the best of a bad lot to let them compete for a CC place. The reason is that they still have something to play for whenever they take the field. If they did not have this think of how bad their efforts might be...or could they get any worse?

Their CC place is effectively the relegation battle that other people mistakenly claim we are missing. Zebre and Treviso need points in the same way Newcastle/London Irish need points.

As you alluded to, in any competition structure it's important to keep teams incentivised until the last day. We've almost arrived at that situation now (albeit dragged kicking and screaming) thanks to European qualification. The only team in the league who aren't playing for something at this stage are probably the Dragons. Not long ago it would have been just the top couple of sides still interested. Makes for a much better league.

thomond2006

Scarlets didn't train today as 20 players have a stomach virus. :eek:

.ak

thomond2006 wrote: »

Scarlets didn't train today as 20 players have a stomach virus. :eek:

Has the French national squad many any comment yet?

b.gud

thomond2006 wrote: »

Scarlets didn't train today as 20 players have a stomach virus. :eek:

That probably puts to bed any hope they might get one over in Glasgow

Zzippy

b.gud wrote: »

That probably puts to bed any hope they might get one over in Glasgow

Indeed. You could even say their chances are in the toilet...

b.gud

Zzippy wrote: »

Indeed. You could even say their chances are in the toilet...

Are these the kinda jokes that we can expect now that your honeymoon is over and you've officially accepted life as a married man

CatFromHue

this could get awkward for Munster if the stars align.

If there's not a Welsh team in the top 6 at the end of the season then one of the top 6 teams will miss out with the top ranked Welsh team going through in their place.

It's fairly unlikely as Munster play both Edinburgh and Lanelli before the season is out.

Zzippy

b.gud wrote: »

Are these the kinda jokes that we can expect now that your honeymoon is over and you've officially accepted life as a married man

Yes. I can now officially turn into my old man... his jokes are horrendous!

neelia11

cardiff, ospreys and embra all hot on munsters tails now. they really need a win tmrw

Cookiemunster

neelia11 wrote: »

cardiff, ospreys and embra all hot on munsters tails now. they really need a win tmrw

They don't really need to win this one. If Munster get nothing in Galway and win their last two with no BP, then neither Ospreys or Edinburgh can catch them. Cardiff can, but they need to win all three games getting 2 BPs.
If Munster get a BP tonight and two wins, then Cardiff need 3 BP wins. They play Ospreys (N) and Edinburgh (A).

MarinersBlues

Cookiemunster wrote: »

They don't really need to win this one. If Munster get nothing in Galway and win their last two with no BP, then neither Ospreys or Edinburgh can catch them. Cardiff can, but they need to win all three games getting 2 BPs.
If Munster get a BP tonight and two wins, then Cardiff need 3 BP wins. They play Ospreys (N) and Edinburgh (A).

Connacht don't need to win this for a top two either.
It's still in our control, BP in Treviso and win against Glasgow in Galway will do it.

Although I don't think anyone will be holding back!

errlloyd

Oh finn Russel

thomond2006

3-10 so far

thomond2006

TMO for a Russell try in the corner. Glasgow turned down an easy 3 points with a tap and go that lead to a Glasgow 5m lineout.

Try given, brilliant finish.

b.gud

thomond2006 wrote: »

TMO for a Russell try in the corner. Glasgow turned down an easy 3 points with a tap and go that lead to a Glasgow 5m lineout.

Try given, brilliant finish.

It's looking like it'll be a 5 pointer for Glasgow

thomond2006

A Glasgow win pretty much seals the Top 3 and it opens the door to Ulster or Munster to sneak into the final playoff spot.

barry rainey

finn russel what a player