Pro14 2017-18 season thread

Clegg

Just learned that Robbie Fruean signed for Edinburgh. I know he hasn't fulfilled the huge potential he had when he was younger, but he's still a good player. Looking forward to seeing him play.

Wexfordboy89

b.gud wrote: »

Up and running now, they aren't going to start scoring until next week though

Thanks have my team set up is anyone doing a boards league at all?

thomond2006

I'm already in two NFL fantasies so I'm out.

Neil3030

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm already in two NFL fantasies so I'm out.

Mother of god, I can't even handle one!

pickarooney

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm already in two NFL fantasies so I'm out.

Full Jets roster I hope. Those boys look like they mean business.

thomond2006

pickarooney wrote: »

Full Jets roster I hope. Those boys look like they mean business.

If I want to lose, sure.

Tigerandahalf

Pro12/14 have an app in the play store. Not updated to pro14 yet but looks promising.

thomond2006

Good result for Edinburgh who won 10-20 at Cardiff. Their next two games are Dragons and Treviso at home so they have a great opportunity to build momentum.

Akrasia

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Pro12/14 have an app in the play store. Not updated to pro14 yet but looks promising.

Not that promising if they can't get the name of the league right

Tigerandahalf

Akrasia wrote: »

Not that promising if they can't get the name of the league right

Well there was no app last year!

ClanofLams

b.gud wrote: »

Up and running now, they aren't going to start scoring until next week though

They should put up a decent first prize to generate interest. Surely a trip for 2 to any game of your choice with flights and accommodation covered would be worth it. It would cost a few grand (though they could surely find sponsors) but that's not exactly big money. Current prizes are tickets/merchandise which is garbage tbh.

thomond2006

Ospreys 22-13 Zebre. No BP.

thomond2006

Kings winger got gas. 5-7 to the Kings.

thomond2006

The kick from Coleman for the try was brilliant.

vienne86

And 1/2p gets his first try for Scarlets......and converts from the touchline.

Hastentoadd

Was really hard to assess Ulsters performance last night. Were Ulster really good or were Cheetahs really poor? Last thing anybody wants is a PRO14 with 4 bottom of the table teams (Italian and SA). Thankfully Kings are putting it up to Scarlets so maybe there is hope for this new competition. It has been proven that the old Pro12 teams can compete with French and English teams so it would be a shame if it the brand was weakened by adding two bottom of the table teams

thomond2006

Good game this. Both sides looking to play at pace.

Burkie1203

Hastentoadd wrote: »

Was really hard to assess Ulsters performance last night. Were Ulster really good or were Cheetahs really poor? Last thing anybody wants is a PRO14 with 4 bottom of the table teams (Italian and SA). Thankfully Kings are putting it up to Scarlets so maybe there is hope for this new competition. It has been proven that the old Pro12 teams can compete with French and English teams so it would be a shame if it the brand was weakened by adding two bottom of the table teams

Cheetahs werent poor. They will cause a lot of problems for quite a few teams and will challenge for playoffs

thomond2006

This is an excellent debut so far considering it's a thrown together team that only started training 2-3 weeks ago.

Clegg

The Kings are very dangerous. Their entire backline is rapid.

Sithole just gassed McNicholl and then ran over Halfpenny.

thomond2006

The Kings came close twice to tries. They look full value at the moment.

Hastentoadd

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Cheetahs werent poor. They will cause a lot of problems for quite a few teams and will challenge for playoffs

Its hard to be sure if what you say is true. Ulster had such a poor season last year its difficult to say how good they really are this year.

bilston

Enjoying this, although I expect the Scarlets to pull away eventually.

The Kings back row like a carry!

bilston

Hastentoadd wrote: »

Its hard to be sure if what you say is true. Ulster had such a poor season last year its difficult to say how good they really are this year.

Yeah but the difference the two Saffas in the Ulster back make can't be overstated, but time will tell.

I reckon the Cheetahs will run teams into the ground playing at home at altitude.

.ak

So nice to have rugby back on the tv...

Clegg

Scarlets/Kings was the right way to start the season. Both teams love running with the ball.

vienne86

Scarlets are looking good, but Kings are giving them a good match, and I don't think 29-10 does them justice. - very entertaining stuff.

thomond2006

Scarlets look as strong as their run-in last season. Add Jonathan Davies at outside centre and their backline is truly frightening. Steff Evans and McNicholl on the wing are a constant threat.

damianmcr

I know the results dont look great but I would rather watch these two SA teams than that Italian crap. They might have a tough first season but unlike the Italians I think they will improve.

thomond2006

Poor Kings. You wonder if the league should have started one of the SA teams in Italy or the Dragons to give them an easier start.

.ak

I am officially subscribing the McNichol fan club.

thomond2006

.ak wrote: »

I am officially subscribing the McNichol fan club.

Was he a starter in Super Rugby? He's excellent.

thomond2006

Ah heor, this is cruel.

Tigerandahalf

Scarlets handling is so good for first game.
It is a long season though.
The setup of the league now favours a late charger.

.ak

thomond2006 wrote: »

Was he a starter in Super Rugby? He's excellent.

I remember him at Crusaders but I can't remember if he was a starter that often. . .

He played 15 mostly last year but he's looking great on the wing. As a winger he's a joy to watch, knows when to come in field and knows how to counter and come off his wing.

damianmcr

Fecking Munster and Connacht next for the two of them.

Burkie1203

Hastentoadd wrote: »

Its hard to be sure if what you say is true. Ulster had such a poor season last year its difficult to say how good they really are this year.

Cheetahs have some serious pace in their backs and will score a lot of tries. At altitude i expect them to be good at home

They wont be resting guys the way other sides will rotate as they get some weeks off when the reat of the league has europe

thomond2006

Leinster vs Cardiff
Edinburgh vs Dragons

---

Glasgow vs Ospreys
Munster vs Cheetahs
Benetton vs Ulster
Connacht vs Kings
Zebre vs Scarlets

All games are televised.

It doesn't get much easier for the South African sides as Connacht will want to bounce back and Munster are in form. Glasgow vs Ospreys is the pick of games.

errlloyd

thomond2006 wrote: »

Glasgow vs Ospreys is the pick of games.

I'm increasingly thinking of the old Pro12 as the top 6 and the bottom 6. I didn't realise how dominant the top6 were. (Only once have Connacht finished higher than 6th in the last 6 years. No one else of Cardiff, Edinburgh, Dragons, Treviso or Zebre have done it).

This game is the first game between two Top6 teams. It's a cross conference game though.

errlloyd

errlloyd wrote: »

I'm increasingly thinking of the old Pro12 as the top 6 and the bottom 6. I didn't realise how dominant the top6 were. (Only once have Connacht finished higher than 6th in the last 6 years. No one else of Cardiff, Edinburgh, Dragons, Treviso or Zebre have done it).

This game is the first game between two Top6 teams. It's a cross conference game though.

In terms of the run of results yes, but over the course of a season those bottom 6 teams regularly take a few scalps so on a week to week basis there are good fixtures that on the face of the entire season seem more insignificant than they are.

thomond2006

Edinburgh have a litmus test of Scarlets and Leinster away in Rounds 4 and 5. If they can win one of those then perhaps they can break into the top 6 this year. Cardiff look like they will disappoint again. Dragons haven't a hope. It remains to be seen on Ospreys.

Homesick Alien

Yeah hard to know what to take away from round one. Leinster, Glasgow and Scarlets looking good but the jury's still out on the others. Felt bad for the two SA teams shipping almost 100 points between them as they were good to watch. They will come good though. Cheetahs in particular will put it up to teams. Could give Munster a scare this weekend. Do the Kings not even have a shirt sponsor at the moment?

errlloyd

Deleted User wrote: »

In terms of the run of results yes, but over the course of a season those bottom 6 teams regularly take a few scalps so on a week to week basis there are good fixtures that on the face of the entire season seem more insignificant than they are.

I wasn't sure if this was true or not, so I checked. The top 6 played the bottom 6 72 times. Of those there were 8 wins by "bottom 6 teams" last year. Two away from home (Cardiff v Munster, Edinburgh v Glasgow). There was also an away draw. No team in the bottom 6 beat Leinster.

To me that represents a fairly big gap. To be fair the Blues almost caught Glasgow last year - but the consistency of that gap is notable.

errlloyd

errlloyd wrote: »

I wasn't sure if this was true or not, so I checked. The top 6 played the bottom 6 72 times. Of those there were 8 wins by "bottom 6 teams" last year. Two away from home (Cardiff v Munster, Edinburgh v Glasgow). There was also an away draw. No team in the bottom 6 beat Leinster.

To me that represents a fairly big gap. To be fair the Blues almost caught Glasgow last year - but the consistency of that gap is notable.

I totally agree there is a gap, I'd have thought the win rate of bottom 6 against top 6 was higher than 11% tbh. I guess though with a scalp every second or so week it's not insignificant but not ideal.

The issue developing from what I can see is squad depth. Some of the teams can put out two squads at this stage and both sets will have internationals in them.

Dog Botherer

https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/905415570941767680

thomond2006

That's dreadful news for the league, Biggar has been one of its top players for years. I am surprised, given the new monies from SA, that Wales wasn't able to retain their first choice 10. He only turns 28 next month so is in his prime.

CatFromHue

Northampton seems very much a sideways move from Ospreys, unless the money is much better.

Will this have any affect on his International career?

CatFromHue

CatFromHue wrote: »

Northampton seems very much a sideways move from Ospreys, unless the money is much better.

Will this have any affect on his International career?

I'm sure they'll just change whatever the definition of Gatland's Law is to allow them to select him.

Burkie1203

CatFromHue wrote: »

Northampton seems very much a sideways move from Ospreys, unless the money is much better.

Will this have any affect on his International career?

600k a year. WRU statement said market forces meant they couldnt compete. Biggar says he is moving to win things. The championship might not be what he means but its about all that Saints might win any time soon if last saturday is anything to go by

Burkie1203

Burkie1203 wrote: »

600k a year. WRU statement said market forces meant they couldnt compete. Biggar says he is moving to win things. The championship might not be what he means but its about all that Saints might win any time soon if last saturday is anything to go by

Disappointing for Ospreys and the pro14 to be honest. Biggars comments also odd as Northampton are well and truly gash the last few years.

Can't remember the name of the no.2 at Ospreys but I know he was getting a lot of positive commentary last season so hopefully steps things up again this year.