The merits of Pat's actions last night have no bearing on our battle for sixth, the outcome may however...

But I've moved Rossie's comment and subsequent responses to a dedicated thread because it's a separate issue not entirely pertinent to this thread...

The way I see things is that we are 3 points ahead of Scarlets at the minute. If you told me at the beginning of the season that we would have Champions Cup qualification in our own hands plus a three point cushion with 5 games left I would have taken it. I'm not going to worry until I see Scarlets above us in the table again. It wasn't long ago that an away trip to a Welsh side outside of the Dragons was a guaranteed hiding, now we are complaining about touch judges screwing us out of matches. There has never been a better time to be a Connacht fan and I'm just going to enjoy the last 5 games and hope for the best!

Don't forget only managing a draw at home against Cardiff in Oct which lost us 3 point.
The loss at home to Edinburgh in Jan lost us another 3.
Missing the LBP against Leinster because of the last min try and the loss to Cardiff on Fri is 10 points we could and should have had.
If we had these points, Scarlets would be no where in sight.

Really after the Munster game we had put ourselves in the position to get top 6 but 2 wins in 5 games against sides in the bottom half of the table since then, 4 of them during the 6 nations where we should hope to make ground says it all really. Watching Scarlets at home this season they have been good. They were well deserving of their win tonight, as they were against Ospreys and they won the head to head against us 6-4. Also, they could have had another couple of home wins only they let Ulster and Munster back in when they really shouldn't have.

6th is a long shot at this stage. I said early in the season the bare minimum you need to do against the teams around you is break even in the double headers and Scarlets have beat us 6-4, Edinburgh 5-5, Cardiff 3-6. We did beat Dragons 8-2 and Treviso 9-1 and you'd hope we'd complete the double over Zebre but we haven't got the better of the sides around us and that is ultimately what costs us.

I don't even know would 4 wins do it at this stage. I know Scarlets have yet to win away but the Dragons "away" game is part of a double header at the Millenium Stadium which will neutralise it and there is next door to no chance of them slipping up at Treviso or Zebre no matter how you dress it up.

However, trying to be positive, 3 wins from our last 5 games is achievable and if we do that I'll be shocked if we don't get 7th place which would be a record finish with a record haul of points and a play off to look forward to. I think even 8 or 9 points may be enough if Munster and Leinster play ball. Also we have the European q/f to play yet.

Reality check; Scarlets have an easy run in compared to Connacht but it's scary how many decisions have gone against Connacht and have favored Scarlets, if money dictates ERC will want Scarlets next season and not Connacht in H cup.

Bit if realism needed here.
Scarlets last 5 games are against the teams below them in the league.
4 of our last 5 games are against the top teams in the league.
We can give out all we like (often justified) about poor officials but some very poor games both home and away are the reason we are in this position.

Maybe it's the conspiracy theorist in me but it feels like the ERC does not want 4 teams from Ireland in the H cup next season, and they are doing their best to relegate connacht and promote a 2nd team from Wales ie Scarlets to the fold which will probably generate more money for the ERC.

Robbo wrote: All that I can cling to at the moment is that through necessity, we *have* to break our streak in Limerick and against Ulster.

Scarlets have, bar 1 game, lost every away game this season, that one result was a draw, back in September. Long may that form continue. They have away games to Zebre, Dragons and Triviso.

So either we get the Ulster and Munster shaped Monkey from our back, or Scarlets get some away from. A lot to play for yet.

All that I can cling to at the moment is that through necessity, we *have* to break our streak in Limerick and against Ulster.

Fight not over yet but a lot of hard work to do.

Borders no.2 wrote: Scarlets 10 clear with 4 mins left. Game over and for me top 6 hopes definitely over. Focus must turn to 7th now.

With Edinburgh well on their way to a win vs Treviso that won't be easy either. Don't know what I'd prefer for the Scarlets Edinburgh game next week... Scarlets win and they're almost certain to beat us to 6th but would knock Edinburgh back a bit...

Scarlets 10 clear with 4 mins left. Game over and for me top 6 hopes definitely over. Focus must turn to 7th now.

Leinster lineout is a disaster. 4 or 5 crooked throws at this stage. Into the final 8 minutes. 20-13.

Try for Scarlets. 7 clear with conversion to come.

Leinster have pulled 3 back.

This weekend is getting more grim. Scarlets get a 2nd try against Leinster and lead 15-10 and Edinburgh already half way to a bonus point away to Treviso.