Pro12 Final Build up thread: uppity westerners v their ladyboy brothers

sydthebeat

have at it .......


dont care about anything cos

Stan27

Really wish Buckley wasn't injured.

sydthebeat

Stan27 wrote: »

Really wish Buckley wasn't injured.

How tight are you looking on props now that ah you could be in trouble. Is white due back?

Stan27

sydthebeat wrote: »

How tight are you looking on props now that ah you could be in trouble. Is white due back?

Not sure when white is back to be honest.

freyners

sydthebeat wrote: »

How tight are you looking on props now that ah you could be in trouble. Is white due back?

Resumed non contact during last week. No timetable on his return

gally74

Location is terrible for conn, Friday advantage, no chance now to travel very difficult

Synode

Shame it can't be played in the Aviva. Would be a hell of a lot easier (and cheaper) for all involved.

gally74

Synode wrote: »

Shame it can't be played in the Aviva. Would be a hell of a lot easier (and cheaper) for all involved.

It's just impossible

2 conferences and a marathon on for months,

Very poor location either way, the blue boys hoovered up all possible options Friday night,

Poor planning by the pro 12!!! A marathon always takes up hotel rooms

Podge_irl

The Edinburgh location is a poor choice because of the other events happening, but having a set location for the final makes sense in my mind. It's a long term strategy and I agree with it - they're trying to make the final an event that people go to regardless of the participants. It hasn't worked out perfectly, but had Glasgow been in it (which was not an unreasonable prospect given they are the reigning champions) it would have been a much better event.

former total

30,000 tickets sold. It was a great decision by the Pro12.

Could be a lot of empty seats but there you go.

gally74

former total wrote: »

30,000 tickets sold. It was a great decision by the Pro12.

Could be a lot of empty seats but there you go.

I'm fine with a venue being picked in advance just not a marathon

Its strange. I'm a Leinster fan but I wouldn't be terribly disappointed to see Connacht win it.

peckerhead

No such conflict down 'round Munster way...

b.gud

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Its strange. I'm a Leinster fan but I wouldn't be terribly disappointed to see Connacht win it.

peckerhead wrote: »

No such conflict down 'round Munster way...

Relevant
https://twitter.com/Kinlay_Galway/status/734338906397802496

Quint2010

Great and all as it was to see Connacht make the final I think their post match reaction of mad celebration smacks of Ulster in 2012. While all the while Leinster wait in the long grass...

ClanofLams

Quint2010 wrote: »

Great and all as it was to see Connacht make the final I think their post match reaction of mad celebration smacks of Ulster in 2012. While all the while Leinster wait in the long grass...

The crowd celebrated like mad. There was nothing different in the teams celebration than previous wins this season against Glasgow Leinster or Munster, few hugs and high fives and off they went.

Also not to get too technical about it but a team that are favourites can't be waiting in the long grass.

BrokenMan

Look at the post match video interviews. The players and managers were totally grounded. Good win but time to focus on leinster. It was all about getting back in Monday and getting the game plan in place.
The crowd went nuts and let's be honest who can blame us. Remember where we were a couple of years ago.
The final may not go our way but it won't be because the players got overly carried away after last night's result.

Digifriendly

Quint2010 wrote: »

Great and all as it was to see Connacht make the final I think their post match reaction of mad celebration smacks of Ulster in 2012. While all the while Leinster wait in the long grass...

Can you elaborate on the Ulster of 2012? I know they reached the Heineken Cup Final but I can't remember any OTT celebrations.

Quint2010

ClanofLams wrote: »

The crowd celebrated like mad. There was nothing different in the teams celebration than previous wins this season against Glasgow Leinster or Munster, few hugs and high fives and off they went.

Also not to get too technical about it but a team that are favourites can't be waiting in the long grass.

Why not? Waiting in the long grass means going quietly and unobtrusively about your business. This is actually what favourites normally do. The experience of contesting several major finals telling them that winning a semi final means nothing.

Digifriendly wrote: »

Can you elaborate on the Ulster of 2012? I know they reached the Heineken Cup Final but I can't remember any OTT celebrations.

Well they celebrated way more than Leinster did. Leinster did a quick thank you to their travelling support and that was it. Ulster did a lap of honour, photos with the crowd the whole lot.

BeardySi

"Quint2010 wrote: »

Well they celebrated way more than Leinster did. Leinster did a quick thank you to their travelling support and that was it. Ulster did a lap of honour, photos with the crowd the whole lot.

How dare they...

errlloyd

The crowd going crazy is a motivator for me. There is a difference between celebrating winning a semi, and celebrating getting to a final - in my opinion. Those players will be tired physically, but mentally they will be completely refreshed.

I won't be too gutted if connacht beat my team next week. They've played glorious rugby thus far. Can't possibly be bad for Joe when we have 4 teams choc full of belief winning. What an occasion for Ireland.

Zzippy

former total wrote: »

30,000 tickets sold. It was a great decision by the Pro12.

Could be a lot of empty seats but there you go.

It's Murrayfield. There will be a lot of empty seats anyway!

former total

Treadhead wrote: »

How dare they...

The point is that over-exuberant celebrations after one game are often followed by a flat performance in the next.

Cf: Ireland v France, RWC 2015.

Zzippy

former total wrote: »

The point is that over-exuberant celebrations after one game are often followed by a flat performance in the next.

Cf: Ireland v France, RWC 2015.

Muldoon was apparently highly critical of his own performance after the game. I'm sure the review tomorrow will also be tough listening for a few players. They know there is a lot to improve on. The way this team has consistently backed up good performances all season with further wins tells a lot about how grounded they are. The celebrations just show how good the team spirit is. I don't think they were over-exuberant on the part of the players, they've been doing stuff like that all season when winning big games. The pitch invasion and fans celebration made it seem a lot more emotional than it was.

mansize

Quint2010 wrote: »

Great and all as it was to see Connacht make the final I think their post match reaction of mad celebration smacks of Ulster in 2012. While all the while Leinster wait in the long grass...

Would they not cut it?

mansize

What I don't get is intelligent pundits wondering why the game can't be just moved- at 1 week's notice...

mansize

former total wrote: »

The point is that over-exuberant celebrations after one game are often followed by a flat performance in the next.

Cf: Ireland v France, RWC 2015.

I think it was the injuries what done it. Don't recall any of them being caused by celebrations...

former total

Zzippy wrote: »

Muldoon was apparently highly critical of his own performance after the game. I'm sure the review tomorrow will also be tough listening for a few players. They know there is a lot to improve on. The way this team has consistently backed up good performances all season with further wins tells a lot about how grounded they are. The celebrations just show how good the team spirit is. I don't think they were over-exuberant on the part of the players, they've been doing stuff like that all season when winning big games. The pitch invasion and fans celebration made it seem a lot more emotional than it was.

Yeah I'm not reading anything into anything.

These things are always judged with hindsight anyway:

Scenario A: team goes bananas after semi final win, goes on to win final: "you could see how much this tournament meant to them, nothing was going to stop them".

Scenario B: team goes bananas after semi final win, goes on to lose final: "they were drained after the semi, that was their final and they were never going to reach that intensity again".

BrokenMan

That's true but it wasn't the players that were jumping around over celebrating. It was the fans. The players were looking to get off the pitch and back to the dressing room. They were shaking hands and posing for photos but certainly not joining in the singing and cheering. Any more than for any big win.

Except for Finlay jumping up o the bench and falling on his backside of course.

jcon1913

Quint2010 wrote: »

Great and all as it was to see Connacht make the final I think their post match reaction of mad celebration smacks of Ulster in 2012. While all the while Leinster wait in the long grass...

The celebrations were such that youd think theyd won the Pro 12. Itll be hard to get back down from that high to prepare for Edinburgh.

Steve

Who picks the location for these? serious?

.ak

ClanofLams wrote: »

The crowd celebrated like mad. There was nothing different in the teams celebration than previous wins this season against Glasgow Leinster or Munster, few hugs and high fives and off they went.

Also not to get too technical about it but a team that are favourites can't be waiting in the long grass.

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15183/10290633/bundee-aki-leads-connacht-celebrations-after-beating-glasgow

I have to agree with the OP a bit here... They haven't won anything, they should be keeping the champers on ice.

wp_rathead

They sing after every win ak- nothing new here except there are camera's in this time

ClanofLams

.ak wrote: »

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15183/10290633/bundee-aki-leads-connacht-celebrations-after-beating-glasgow

I have to agree with the OP a bit here... They haven't won anything, they should be keeping the champers on ice.

Check videos on Connacht Rugby tv on YouTube to see them doing this after other games this season. Leinster might well win on Saturday but it's nonsensical to suggest that any celebrations yesterday will have an impact. Muldoon specifically said nothing won yet in an interview. Jesus.

The Lost Sheep

Steve wrote: »

Who picks the location for these? serious?

Whats the issue? Its the start of pre selected venues? Ideally we'll have more time between semis and finals in future and we can try turn finals into 'events' and people will buy tickets regardless.

.ak wrote: »

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15183/10290633/bundee-aki-leads-connacht-celebrations-after-beating-glasgow

I have to agree with the OP a bit here... They haven't won anything, they should be keeping the champers on ice.

They, like most rugby teams, sing after a win. Nothing out of ordinary there....

lostboy75

I have no problem with the location, it's just getting there and finding a place to stay that is the problem.
Think Rugby, marathon, two confrences On the one weekend is the problem. Hope they take this into account going forward.
As for the celebrations. It was an important game to win, they did, Job done. They will move on.

Zzippy

It's seriously poor planning to pick Edinburgh on a weekend with other big events on. Impossible to find accommodation at this stage. If they're going to pre select the final venue they need to take the fans needs into account a bit more.

its_phil

.ak wrote: »

ClanofLams wrote: »

The crowd celebrated like mad. There was nothing different in the teams celebration than previous wins this season against Glasgow Leinster or Munster, few hugs and high fives and off they went.

Also not to get too technical about it but a team that are favourites can't be waiting in the long grass.

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15183/10290633/bundee-aki-leads-connacht-celebrations-after-beating-glasgow

I have to agree with the OP a bit here... They haven't won anything, they should be keeping the champers on ice.

Did it two weeks previous against Glasgow too.

Mountains and mohills...

former total

Zzippy wrote: »

It's seriously poor planning to pick Edinburgh on a weekend with other big events on. Impossible to find accommodation at this stage. If they're going to pre select the final venue they need to take the fans needs into account a bit more.

Where should it have been?

There are a few things to keep in mind here:

1) They can only select from the cities/venues that bid for it. That narrows the field down straight away.

2) Every previous final has been in Ireland.

3) It's a bank holiday weekend in summer. Most cities are going to have a heap of stuff on.

Considering all of the above, Edinburgh was probably the only choice. It hasn't panned out great in retrospect because it's an all-Irish final but that's the risk of pre-selecting the venue.

Would Connacht rather be coming to the RDS as they would have under the old system? I doubt it.

thomond2006

former total wrote: »

Where should it have been?

There are a few things to keep in mind here:

1) They can only select from the cities/venues that bid for it. That narrows the field down straight away.

2) Every previous final has been in Ireland.

3) It's a bank holiday weekend in summer. Most cities are going to have a heap of stuff on.

Considering all of the above, Edinburgh was probably the only choice. It hasn't panned out great in retrospect because it's an all-Irish final but that's the risk of pre-selecting the venue.

Would Connacht rather be coming to the RDS as they would have under the old system? I doubt it.

Apparently the Welsh teams didn't bid for it.

In future if a final weekend is going to clash with something, then move the season forward by a week.

Tell me how

thomond2006 wrote:

In future if a final weekend is going to clash with something, then move the season forward by a week.

Are you serious? How much of the season? You (potentially) solve one problem by creating several more.

former total

thomond2006 wrote: »

Apparently the Welsh teams didn't bid for it.

In future if a final weekend is going to clash with something, then move the season forward by a week.

The Liberty Stadium was supposed to be the front runner last year but they pulled out because they couldn't guarantee viability if a Welsh team didn't qualify.

You can't move the date to suit the venue. So many reasons why that's not possible.

All in all, Edinburgh was the best choice. 30000 tickets would seem to vindicate the decision.

thomond2006

former total wrote: »

The Liberty Stadium was supposed to be the front runner last year but they pulled out because they couldn't guarantee viability if a Welsh team didn't qualify.

You can't move the date to suit the venue. So many reasons why that's not possible.

What reasons? Moving the Pro12 season forward a week does what? You'll move the date to suit a venue if you believe it's worth it.

molloyjh

thomond2006 wrote: »

What reasons? Moving the Pro12 season forward a week does what? You'll move the date to suit a venue if you believe it's worth it.

With all the other fixtures in the calendar this wouldn't get approved I wouldn't think. The Unions will want access to the internationals as early as possible for the summer tours so adding an extra week to the end of the season wouldn't be a runner for them.

At the end of the day we simply don't know how many of those events in Edinburgh were finalised and known about when the decision was made. A lot of people here seem to be assuming that the Pro12 arranged the final for the same time as the marathon and 2 conferences. Is there a reason for this? What if 1 or 2 of those were arranged after the Pro12 final was?

There's no way the final could have been in Ireland as they've all been in Ireland so far and if the Welsh didn't put in a bid then it was either Scotland or Italy. Did the Italians even put in a bid? And so was there really anywhere other than Edinburgh that this could be held?

thomond2006

molloyjh wrote: »

With all the other fixtures in the calendar this wouldn't get approved I wouldn't think. The Unions will want access to the internationals as early as possible for the summer tours so adding an extra week to the end of the season wouldn't be a runner for them.

I mean starting the season a week earlier, not later which wouldn't work for the reason you state.

former total

thomond2006 wrote: »

What reasons? Moving the Pro12 season forward a week does what? You'll move the date to suit a venue if you believe it's worth it.

Ah thomond, think about it.

1. Move it forward a week - you clash with the Heineken Cup final.
2. The dates are common across all three leagues. You can't move the Pro12 in isolation.
3. The dates are set before the venue is chosen. You'd be looking for a weekend, in May, with no events in any of the possible host cities.

Also, there is always the chance that something comes up in the interim. Imagine the Pro12 had said "oh, the Edinburgh marathon is on that weekend, no bids from Wales, so let's hold it in Dublin" - and then Glasgow qualify, only to find that every room in Dublin is taken up by 160,000 Bruce Springsteen fans...

The 'Double David' is currently available at ~ 12/1 for any of the Romantics about.

(Exeter to beat Saracens and Connacht to beat Leinster)

Bazzo

Connacht are going to lose because the crowd celebrated too much after the semi win? (Nothing the players did was beyond what they normally would)

Jesus lads ye must have been very bored yesterday.

thomond2006

former total wrote: »

Ah thomond, think about it.

1. Move it forward a week - you clash with the Heineken Cup final.
2. The dates are common across all three leagues. You can't move the Pro12 in isolation.
3. The dates are set before the venue is chosen. You'd be looking for a weekend, in May, with no events in any of the possible host cities.

Also, there is always the chance that something comes up in the interim. Imagine the Pro12 had said "oh, the Edinburgh marathon is on that weekend, no bids from Wales, so let's hold it in Dublin" - and then Glasgow qualify, only to find that every room in Dublin is taken up by 160,000 Bruce Springsteen fans...

Start the Pro12 season a week earlier. That is not me saying clash with it with the European final.

Podge_irl

thomond2006 wrote: »

Start the Pro12 season a week earlier. That is not me saying clash with it with the European final.

But if you move everything forward a week then you will end up clashing with the European final or you end up with no gap between end of season games and playoffs.

former total

thomond2006 wrote: »

Start the Pro12 season a week earlier. That is not me saying clash with it with the European final.

I'm sorry, maybe it's my Monday haze but I don't see how this helps.