Guinness Pro12 Season 2020-2021

Buer wrote: »

Will certainly take it but it feels somewhat facile or even hollow. Maybe it's due to going from playoffs and knock out rugby to run of the mill Pro14 in just a couple of weeks but the Pro14 feels like it's in real difficulty now.

The 4 wins were achieved with worrying ease. Leinster's kids blew apart Zebre. Ulster did the same to the Dragons. Connacht had Edinburgh (last season's pool toppers) beaten with a BP in the bag after an hour in Scotland. Munster pretty much dominated Cardiff with a weakened selection and will be baffled as to how they conceded 27 points.

We're now a few weeks into the season and no team outside the provinces has impressed me really at all. I've misgivings about the South African expansion and logistics of the proposal but the league is going backwards at this stage which few would have thought possible after last season's procession.

Most impressive are Treviso, "hard-done-by" loosers in their 3 games


Connacht has to be careful this week vs them

Digifriendly wrote: »

I tend to agree but could you explain your last couple of lines for as I read them they don't make logical sense. Surely after last season's procession this season's results are simply a continuation of that?

I meant that it's going backwards even more rapidly than it was. At least last year Edinburgh and the Scarlets were competitive winning 11 and 10 of their 15 games respectively. This season, they've won a single game between them and that was this weekend when the Scarlets scraped a win over Treviso.

Right now, I'd back Ulster, Leinster and Munster to get a win away to any Scottish or Welsh team which is not a good situation. I couldn’t have said the same a year ago and it's not due to the provinces improving hugely.

I'd argue that Edinburgh have been muck full stop regardless of who they've had. They've lost 6 in a row including 4 at home. They've had their first choice players available for some of those too. Cardiff look great in space but they're utterly brainless. They beat Connacht at home and Zebre before Munster's second/third string dominated them. A full strength Munster would strangle them. They don't have the smarts or power.

Treviso were a better side 2 years ago. They were a really tough team to beat. They've regressed since then. Leinster beat them by 12 points but we're never going to cut lose. They were in 2nd gear for the full game and were a couple of scores clear entering the final 15 minutes.

The biggest issue is that there were two teams who were able to give the provinces difficulties and they're no longer able to do that. Edinburgh and the Scarlets were teams that were playoff contenders throughout the season but they look miles off that now and no other side looks close to filling that role.

UAEguy2020 wrote: »

Because they are the best teams. At least would be good enough to at least make the KO phase in Europe and 2 make the semi final.

I wouldn't be using this seasons European competition to judge anything tbh. Its such a bastardised version of itself.

Its early days in the season, but the league does look to be in bother this season. Cardiff are keeping pace with Connacht, but otherwise the Irish provinces are already pulling away from everyone else. Munster are 7 points clear of Cardiff in Conference B while Ulster are 9 points clear of Ospreys with Leinster 2 points clear of them. They are big margins after only 4 games.

They can be reeled in, but that will need a big change in performance levels. But we've 4 games before the internationals return so its hard to see that happening in that time. And if the provinces extend that lead over the next 4 games its going to be very hard to catch them.

molloyjh wrote: »

I wouldn't be using this seasons European competition to judge anything tbh. Its such a bastardised version of itself.

Its early days in the season, but the league does look to be in bother this season. Cardiff are keeping pace with Connacht, but otherwise the Irish provinces are already pulling away from everyone else. Munster are 7 points clear of Cardiff in Conference B while Ulster are 9 points clear of Ospreys with Leinster 2 points clear of them. They are big margins after only 4 games.

They can be reeled in, but that will need a big change in performance levels. But we've 4 games before the internationals return so its hard to see that happening in that time. And if the provinces extend that lead over the next 4 games its going to be very hard to catch them.

Yeah this seasons European Cup is a mess.


Yeah I’m not sure what’s happening this season, is it the Irish provinces being really or the rest being terrible, usually Europe would give us the indication but sadly we are going to have to wait for those answers.

On the other teams until tonight I thought the Ospreys looked quite good and was quite concerned for Leinster next week but now I’m not sure and even more so now as I’d imagine Leinster will get some players back from Ireland.

I think Edinburgh will get back into it when they get their internationals back. Scarlets I’m not sure, they have looked quite meh this season even with their best players available. Cardiff I hate with a passion as they are such an annoying team to play against because they are just good at the basics of the game, I would never count them out with the other flattering to deceive. Glasgow I really don’t know what to make of, have a good squad but definitely think losing Hogg and Russell is hurting them badly.

At his point you would have to say the Irish teams have justifiably been the best 4 teams in the league, just not sure if they have been excellent or the opposition have been poor.

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Because the format is an absolute sh!tshow. It will be possible for a team to win its 4 games and still end up dropping into the Challenge Cup. 12 teams (tier 1 & 2) could win all their matches, but there are only 8 qualifying spots. It absolutely will not be the same indicator it was.

1) those scenarii are highly unlikely, and the draw is kinda fair with 4 Pot

2) qualication for QF doesn't change anything to the quality of the opposition in pool games. Meeting Racing, Bath, and so on, that's the international best as ever

awec wrote: »

The opposition are crap.

Like the Dragons for example, a big deal made out of their signings etc. They're still absolute dross. And nobody really cares.

Leinster will win it again this year, no question about it. And I reckon they won't lose a single game outside of Ireland, and may even go unbeaten again if they're arsed enough about it.

There's nothing I enjoy more than disagreeing with awec but I struggle to do so on this topic. I've defended the league repeatedly in the past but this season, the drop off is siginificant. The provinces have lost one game all season and that was Connact away to Cardiff (who many would cite as being one of the impressive teams so far).

That's 14/15 wins for the provinces so far with the rest of the league combining for 9 wins in total. Leinster are not a notably better side than they were last season. The team that went to Glasgow last night was certainly weaker than the one that won there last season in a proper battle (as was the Glasgow selection admittedly). But the team last night won with relative ease and a TBP well before the end.

The teams that were in contention in the last 2-3 years and made the league somehwat competitive have fallen off a cliff in terms of performance. Scarlets, Edinburgh and Glasgow hold no fear for any province now. The Ospreys showed some signs of life this season but last night was disappointing; 17-0 down to Zebre before coming to life.

My concern is that the league really plummets this season due to the standard as well as the lack of attendance and financial issues. It's going to be very hard for them to attract any new talent into the league. If that all comes to pass, will the league struggle to rebound even when crowds are back?