Pro14 2017-18 season thread

MJohnston · 03-05-2018 10:22pm

****e news if you're a Virgin Media customer.

its_phil · 03-05-2018 11:10pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

Starting to be become very hard to justify the sky package just for super rugby

Summer tour and the GAA semi-finals then I’ll be dropping Sky. Follow the PL but not enough to not subscribe to Eir for Champions Cup and Pro 14

Dubinusa · 04-05-2018 5:20am

The Welch sides, bar Cardiff, are conducting exorcisms. Massive turnover. Dragons has dumped a dozen or so and bringing in 10 or so.
Scarlets right there too, big clean out and some new players coming in. Ospreys are not quite as active yet. Insane cull, tough being on a Welsh side right now.

prawnsambo · 04-05-2018 7:02am

Dubinusa wrote: »

The Welch sides, bar Cardiff, are conducting exorcisms. Massive turnover. Dragons has dumped a dozen or so and bringing in 10 or so.
Scarlets right there too, big clean out and some new players coming in. Ospreys are not quite as active yet. Insane cull, tough being on a Welsh side right now.

Well between retirements and non-renewals, Connacht have lost at least ten players this season too. Ulster can't be far behind.

Bazzo · 04-05-2018 7:05am

prawnsambo wrote: »

Well between retirements and non-renewals, Connacht have lost at least ten players this season too. Ulster can't be far behind.

12 out I think.

prawnsambo · 04-05-2018 7:18am

They're also trying to get airline sponsorship to reduce the costs of travelling to and from SA. According to the Indo, the TV deals add up to about €29 million for the league. That's more than twice what the previous deal was worth (before the Saffers joined).

Burkie1203 · 04-05-2018 7:22am

prawnsambo wrote: »

They're also trying to get airline sponsorship to reduce the costs of travelling to and from SA. According to the Indo, the TV deals add up to about €29 million for the league. That's more than twice what the previous deal was worth (before the Saffers joined).

Next year has potential to be a really tight league. If Italians can maintain progress, Kings and Dragons can improve even to the level of Zebre it would be a great boost to the league

League needs to consolidate its position now.

The conferences for next season will hopefully have 3/4 sides swapping around to mix it up

prawnsambo · 04-05-2018 7:28am

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Next year has potential to be a really tight league. If Italians can maintain progress, Kings and Dragons can improve even to the level of Zebre it would be a great boost to the league

League needs to consolidate its position now.

The conferences for next season will hopefully have 3/4 sides swapping around to mix it up

I've no doubt that the success in Europe has helped. With three Pro 14 teams in the semi-finals, it's an easy sell in terms of quality at the top end. And as you say, the Italian teams making a go of it helps too.

razorblunt · 04-05-2018 7:28am

Eod100 wrote: »

Does that mean no Sky from next season? No Champions Cup there either. Guess they will still have Top14 and some internationals..

No more Graeme Simmons, Stuart Barnes, Scott Quinnell, Will Greenwood, Mark Robson, Dewi Morris, Alan Quinlan.

What a time to be alive!

I, for one, welcome our new Eir Sport/Premier Sports overlords.

Burkie1203 · 04-05-2018 7:31am

razorblunt wrote: »

No more Graeme Simmons, Stuart Barnes, Scott Quinnell, Will Greenwood, Mark Robson, Dewi Morris, Alan Quinlan.

What a time to be alive!

I, for one, welcome our new Eir Sport/Premier Sports overlords.

I will miss scott. Punditry version of James Lowe for enthusiasm

Bazzo · 04-05-2018 7:37am

Quinnell and Greenwood I don't mind. The rest you can keep.

04-05-2018 7:56am

Bazzo wrote: »

Quinnell and Greenwood I don't mind. The rest you can keep.

Yeah and I actually thin Quinlan has gotten a lot better this season also. Seems more comfortable and his Off the Ball stuff has been fairly decent at times.

prawnsambo · 04-05-2018 8:00am

prawnsambo wrote: »

They're also trying to get airline sponsorship to reduce the costs of travelling to and from SA. According to the Indo, the TV deals add up to about €29 million for the league. That's more than twice what the previous deal was worth (before the Saffers joined).

Actually, I think I read that wrong. The figure is for next season according to The Indo. I was wondering because Anayi had said that it brought the Pro 14 much closer to the Premiership and €29 million wouldn't be within an ass's roar if it was for three years. The closest I can estimate the Premiership deal to be, is around £45 million a season. So that's a good deal closer alright.

Bazzo · 04-05-2018 8:02am

prawnsambo wrote: »

Actually, I think I read that wrong. The figure is for next season according to The Indo. I was wondering because Anayi had said that it brought the Pro 14 much closer to the Premiership and €29 million wouldn't be within an ass's roar if it was for three years. The closest I can estimate the Premiership deal to be, is around £45 million a season. So that's a good deal closer alright.

The figure I've seen everywhere is £90 million over 3 seasons or £30 million a season. The previous deal was supposedly around £12 million per season before the saffers joined.

prawnsambo · 04-05-2018 8:04am

Bazzo wrote: »

The figure I've seen everywhere is £90 million over 3 seasons or £30 million a season

Sorry, but you're confusing me.

I could assume you're talking about the Pro 14 because the amounts match, but you're stating it in sterling, so...

Edit: Missed your ninja edit.

, so is it sterling or euro?

Bazzo · 04-05-2018 8:06am

prawnsambo wrote: »

Sorry, but you're confusing me.

I could assume you're talking about the Pro 14 because the amounts match, but you're stating it in sterling, so...

Yeah, I'm stating it in sterling because up until now, mainly after the premier sports deal, that's the figure that was reported. It would be a few mill more than the €29 million the indo is going with.

prawnsambo · 04-05-2018 8:09am

Bazzo wrote: »

Yeah, I'm stating it in sterling because up until now, mainly after the premier sports deal, that's the figure that was reported. It would be a few mill more than the €29 million the indo is going with.

In either currency, it's a massive jump. Really good bit of business all round. Over £2 million per team per season. I wonder is there a SA TV deal to follow or is that already tied up?

Bazzo · 04-05-2018 8:15am

prawnsambo wrote: »

In either currency, it's a massive jump. Really good bit of business all round. Over £2 million per team per season. I wonder is there a SA TV deal to follow or is that already tied up?

Yeah, huge injection of cash. I think those figures are supposed to include the entire TV deal, South Africa included.

Bazzo · 04-05-2018 8:28am

Couple more pieces of news

Pro14 working 'furiously' to avoid clash of finals with Champions League
Pro14 CEO Martin Anayi also hopes to see South African teams in European tournaments in the coming years.

Peter File · 04-05-2018 8:41am

Bazzo wrote: »

Couple more pieces of news

They were foolish to schedule the final for 6:30. Do they not have sports calendars in their head office!!

molloyjh · 04-05-2018 8:43am

Peter File wrote: »

They were foolish to schedule the final for 6:30. Do they not have sports calendars in their head office!!

It wasn't solely down to them. The broadcaster have a big hand in the decision. And there was no way to know how much interest there would have been in the final. Had it been Real vs Roma for example then it wouldn't have been that much of an issue.

prawnsambo · 04-05-2018 8:52am

Yeah. I think it was sandwiched between the Aviva Premiership final and the Champions League final.

irishbucsfan · 04-05-2018 9:17am

I wonder if we’ll start seeing the big signings soon.

prawnsambo · 04-05-2018 9:33am

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I wonder if we’ll start seeing the big signings soon.

What? Like Owen Farrell to Ulster?

arsebiscuits1 · 04-05-2018 11:07am

Not mad keen on Sky coverage.

But it will be a Hay-ooge disappointment not to be seeing as much of Quinnell

prawnsambo · 04-05-2018 11:37am

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

Not mad keen on Sky coverage.

But it will be a Hay-ooge disappointment not to be seeing as much of Quinnell

When these changes happen, I always feel for the commentators and pundits who've made a career from this. It has to be a bitter pill for them to swallow.

It's possible that they'll be picked up by the other broadcasters, but it's not a certainty by any stretch.

irishbucsfan · 04-05-2018 12:41pm

prawnsambo wrote: »

When these changes happen, I always feel for the commentators and pundits who've made a career from this. It has to be a bitter pill for them to swallow.

It's possible that they'll be picked up by the other broadcasters, but it's not a certainty by any stretch.

Yeah I’m certain Stuart Barnes’ decision to join Twitter this year was driven by a desire to become more attractive to other broadcasters. Not a fan of his commentary but feel for him personally.

thomond2006 · 04-05-2018 2:11pm

Scarlets team to take Toyota Cheetahs at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday 5th May, kick-off 18:35;

15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Gareth Davies,
1 Rob Evans, 2 Ken Owens ©, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Lewis Rawlins, 5 Steve Cummins, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 James Davies, 8 John Barclay

Replacements; 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Aaron Shingler, 20 Will Boyde, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Steff Hughe

Toyota Cheetahs

15 Clayton Blommetjies**
14 William Small-Smith
13 Francois Venter ( C)
12 Niel Marais
11 Sibahle Maxwane
10 Johan Goosen
9 Tian Meyer

1 Ox Nche
2 Torsten van Jaarsveld
3 Johan Coetzee
4 Carl Wegner
5 Rynier Bernardo
6 Paul Schoeman
7 Oupa Mohoje
8 Uzair Cassiem

16 Jacques du Toit
17 Charles Marais
18 Tom Botha
19 Reniel Hugo
20 Henco Venter
21 Zee Mkhabela
22 Clinton Swart**
23 Lloyd Greeff

**Player subject to final fitness test.

The following players are not eligible for team selection due to injury:

Dennis Visser (knee), Elandruggett (knee) Ruan van Rensburg (hand), Luan de Bruin (chest muscle), Shaun Venter (knee), Nico Lee (ankle), Luther Obi (knee).

04-05-2018 3:32pm

Interesting that the two favourites for the weekend both are likely reeling from disappointing semi final results in the champions cup.

I wouldn't be hugely surprised if there was an upset in one or both.

Buer · 04-05-2018 4:03pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Interesting that the two favourites for the weekend both are likely reeling from disappointing semi final results in the champions cup.

I wouldn't be hugely surprised if there was an upset in one or both.

I think both home teams will win but I think Edinburgh will give it a good rattle. Cockerill has done a great job there and they've become a decent enough side. They've the ability to score a couple of tries even if Munster dominate most of the match.

I can't see the Cheetahs getting too close in Wales. The distance will be an issue along with the fact that half of their starting team hope to start their new lives in the UK straight after the final whistle...

Pro14 2017-18 season thread

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