think the game could have swung either way, Leinster just looked like they wanted it more. I'd take our chance against them if we get to the final as Ulster have always been our bogey team

Leinster very impressive, best I've seen them in ages. They really looked like a team with experience of the business end of tournaments which of course they are. Ulster played well but lacked cutting edge, starting to wonder if we might have been better off playing them in the final if we make it.

Worst we can be is 3rd seed, which would guarantee tier 2 for the Champions Cup draw.

Leinster looking fairly dominant at the RDS, despite letting Ulster back into it. Hard to see them losing this.

Glasgow have no major injury worries and appear to have rediscovered how to play.

Although I agree it should be a tight game.

If they beat us narrowly in the Sportsground though, what are they going to do to us in Murrayfield?
On the other hand, we could definitely take Leinster on a neutral ground with all the neutral support behind us.
We're going to have to beat Glasgow at some stage, so let's just do it now, and again in two weeks, and be done with it

RonanL wrote: does anyone else have a sneaky feeling we'll lose narrowly to Glasgow on Saturday, and beat Leinster in an epic semi final at the RDS?

Me. I think that an away semi to Leinster would be a hell of a game. I want a home semi, in Galway, against Scarlets. However, I think that Connacht would beat Leinster away.

does anyone else have a sneaky feeling we'll lose narrowly to Glasgow on Saturday, and beat Leinster in an epic semi final at the RDS?

menacethedenis wrote: More on the line than a guaranteed home semi?! I respectfully disagree sir.

Being in or out of the semi would surely be considered a bigger deal than home/away, despite the fact that I don't think an away team has ever won a semi.
Sir Rupert agrees with me, as his lot have plumped for the Ospreys game, denying us the pleasure of Shaggy's company in the Sportsground.

More on the line than a guaranteed home semi?! I respectfully disagree sir.

menacethedenis wrote: They have been demolishing good sides like Scarlets lately

Weren't Scarlets all allegedly sick, or was that just an excuse someone made up?
Aside from that, Glasgow have had 4 away wins this season and they were against the bottom 4 sides.
Not questioning their form by any means - they have been playing some savage rugby and are peaking at the right time.

menacethedenis wrote: On a side note: Ian Davies is a good ref can anyone explain why Nigel Owens is reffing the mid-table scrap between Munster and Scarlets and not the top of the table clash between the 2 best teams in the league?

There is more on the line in the other game really, Scarlets are scrapping for a semi-spot and Munster are fighting for their Euro place (and supposedly their very future, if all the media talk is to be believed). Other big game is Ospreys v Ulster, which is pretty much the same situation and they've given that to Marius.

Also, Nigel tweeted that he was looking forward to his first trip to Thomond this season, so maybe he just decided that's where he wanted to go for the weekend.

connachta wrote: Oh come on! Is Glasgow scrum so powerful?
Because if not I can't see any other position where they are above of us!
Look at our full-strenght backline, look at McKeon and Heenan both back to the business, look at Dillane/Muldowney pairing!

Don't tell me I'm the most optmistic, it's so unusual!

Glasgow haven't lost in the league since mid-February when they got all their international's back. They have been demolishing good sides like Scarlets lately and are undoubtedly the form team in the league at the moment. Our home record should stand to us but this is too tight to call for me.

On a side note: Ian Davies is a good ref but can anyone explain why Nigel Owens is reffing the mid-table scrap between Munster and Scarlets and not the top of the table clash between the 2 best teams in the league?

connachta wrote: Oh come on! Is Glasgow scrum so powerful?
Because if not I can't see any other position where they are above of us!
Look at our full-strenght backline, look at McKeon and Heenan both back to the business, look at Dillane/Muldowney pairing!

Don't tell me I'm the most optmistic, it's so unusual!

I don't know the Glasgow injury situation but at the top of my head.
Finn Russel, Duncan Weir, Nakarawa, Strauss(just because of the beard), Jonny Gray, and that up and coming fella called Hogg.

Oh come on! Is Glasgow scrum so powerful?
Because if not I can't see any other position where they are above of us!
Look at our full-strenght backline, look at McKeon and Heenan both back to the business, look at Dillane/Muldowney pairing!

Don't tell me I'm the most optmistic, it's so unusual!

So I have been wrong all season but like a Bundee Burst there is no stopping me.
This is how I see it falling over the weekend. Brackets are league points gained.

Glasgow (4) to beat Connacht (1)
Edinburgh (4) to beat Cardiff (0)
Leinster (5) to beat Treviso (0)
Scarlets (4) to beat Munster (1)
Ospreys (4) to beat Ulster (1)
Zebre (5) to beat Dragons (0) * By a high score too.....

So final table:
Glasgow (75)
Leinster (73)
Connacht (70)
Scarlets (67)
Ulster (65)
Munster (59)
Ospreys (58)
Edinburgh (57)
Cardiff (52)
Dragons (26)
Zebre (24)
Treviso (20)

So the semi finals will be Leinster v Connacht & Glasgow v Scarlets.
Also, it could be a nervy weekend for Munster.

Yeah, that's the way I read it too.
Good news is we're not likely to need to plan any last minute trips abroad. I think in order to be away to Glasgow we would need to get nothing from the game and also Ulster would need a try bonus in the Liberty. Then we would be fourth and off to Scotstoun (or Kilmarnock or somewhere). Not impossible of course but Ospreys can still get into Champions Cup so will hardly capitulate.