Martinclanconroy wrote: so who ye think we get for play off checking hotels

As it stands Gloucs have a 50% chance of winning the Challenge Cup and making the Premiership standings irrelevant, so they're hot favourites. If they fail to win the cup they haven't a rashers in the league, they'd need to beat Bath away *and* Exeter at home, and hope both Northampton and Quins lose in round 21, as Northampton host Quins on the final day.

Northampton hosting Quins on the final day should see them home (Quins away record is as shocking as their home one is good), but Quins could go into that game ahead if Quins beat Wasps at home in round 21 and Northampton lose away to Exeter.

Overall I'd say the probabilities are about 50% Gloucs, 33% N/hampton, 17% Quins.

Martinclanconroy wrote: so who ye think we get for play off checking hotels

Honestly it's too tight to tell between Northampton, Quins and Gloucester.

so who ye think we get for play off checking hotels

pinky wrote: By "the lad wearing 9" I assume you mean 47 times capped Springbok Ricky Januarie? He's earned his few strips of biltong.

Gloucester win complicates things a bit. Probably best for us if they finish seventh now so we know that they'll be the English representative without having to wait for the final ...

That'd be him alright. Not familiar with him at all to be honest, looking at his record with the boks I was a teenager in most of his active years but even then I'm (obviously) familiar with Pienaar but not him for whatever reason!

Conn Not 65 wrote: You reckon we could be back there again ?

Fourth time for me. Let's not go to the Shed this time. I'm beginning to feel it's not a lucky place for the Clan.

Racing took an absolute pasting in Montpellier. Now I look at the table they're probably not as secure as I gave them credit for. Paddy Power have their odds up for next weekend already and Paris, Bordeaux and Lyon are all favourites, which means Racing could go into their last game (at home to Bordeaux) tied eighth with Pau.
Paris Derby should be worth a watch next Sunday. Also Lyon v Clermont just before the Connacht game but it's not on Sky so probably won't be able to get it in Rabbitt's.

You reckon we could be back there again ?

By "the lad wearing 9" I assume you mean 47 times capped Springbok Ricky Januarie? He's earned his few strips of biltong.

Gloucester win complicates things a bit. Probably best for us if they finish seventh now so we know that they'll be the English representative without having to wait for the final ...

Personally I think its a non runner. Unlike Edinburgh for the Pro 12 final, flights will be way more affordable . There are plenty of cheap options for Harlequins and Northampton. We have taken a punt on Northampton and booked the Radisson !! €50 PP with breakfast. How bad ! After this season I think we deserve it......

The lad wearing 9 for Rochelle looks like the Andy Goode of scrum halves.

Edit: should point out I'm watching Gloucester V La Rochelle in the challenge cup as it could have an influence on our opponent in the playoffs

I wonder would ye give it a try or would it be affordable do it

It's a possibility if we had numbers, last time we were in this situation though very few people travelled to Gloucester for the playoff.
We only had a week's notice that time so maybe more will go this time. But there should hopefully be affordable flights to be had to London and anyone who wants to go by boat would probably be better off using SailRail or Eurolines.

Krasnyh Yar overturned the lead in Romania and will be in the Challenge Cup. As it stands they could have the same seeding in the draw as Toulouse!
The two Russian teams will have to travel from Krasnoyarsk to Edinburgh to play each other in the final of the Continental Shield (even though they're both qualified). So no trip to Romania next season anyway ...

Just popped into my head if we be going against quins... if we go England anyways... would much be interested in putting bus over... did anyone on this try before

As a guide last year the Pro 12 SF were Fri 7:45pm and Sat 6:30pm. AP SF were Sat 12:30pm and 3:15pm. That weekend will also be the 1st round of the Top 14 PO (last year Sat 7:45pm and Sun 3:15pm)

In only vaguely related news, if we don't navigate our way through the Playoffs, remember that we might have not one but two chances of going to Russia next season. Enisei take a 46 point lead into their second leg against Mogliano in Moscow tomorrow, so they are as good as qualified, while their neighbours Krasny Yar travel to Timosoara needing to overturn a five point deficit from the first leg, which was played in Georgia for some reason. If they win, there'll be a 40% chance of a trip to Russia for the Challenge Cup participants. No adventure to Siberia of course, just the short hop to Sochi, Moscow or now apparently Tbilisi. Just to get us motivated ...
www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychallengec...ntinental_shield.php

salmson wrote: English league semi-finals used be one Saturday and one Sunday but that was in the days when there was a fortnight between semis and final, last few years they've both been on Saturday. That leaves Sunday as the likely euro play-off semi-final date. That said the London sevens are in Twickenham that weekend, so if it's Quins I wouldn't rule out Friday night. Hope it isn't Quins, they have a good home record (8/10 home premiership games won) whereas both Gloucs and N/hampton have lost half their home games.

I was thinking it wouldn't be Friday on the grounds that there is normally a Pro12 semi on Friday night and Sky wouldn't be happy with the EPCR allowing BT to show a game at the same time. Pro12 mightn't like it either. Not sure what the agreement is there though so maybe there's nowt they can do about it.
Hadn't considered the six-day turnaround aspect of it. Could be a factor alright.

English league semi-finals used be one Saturday and one Sunday but that was in the days when there was a fortnight between semis and final, last few years they've both been on Saturday. That leaves Sunday as the likely euro play-off semi-final date. That said the London sevens are in Twickenham that weekend, so if it's Quins I wouldn't rule out Friday night. Hope it isn't Quins, they have a good home record (8/10 home premiership games won) whereas both Gloucs and N/hampton have lost half their home games.