I'm actually looking forward to the playoffs, if we can tap in to the confidence we had in last years pro12 semi and final we can beat any English or French team

I think Glasgow should be our target for the rest of the season. We should be ok to finish above Cardiff. Even if its not enough for Euro qualification a Top 6 finish would still make a positive statement in terms of breaking the monopoly the current Top 6 have had on those positions in recent years (apart from last year ) and would be more than I expected for the majority of the season.

Completely deluded. Edinburgh & Treviso at home and Dragons and away will be good for 14 points, in which case we'd need 29 of 30 points available to pip them. Not happening. The mathematics regarding Ulster are similarly grim, though there's at least a small chance if they screw up at home to Cardiff.

sligsup wrote: We are 14 behind Scarlett's , I am not sure how tough their run in is but assuming they lose tonight to Leinster that will be 14 with a game in hand. I would assume our target will be hopefully they hit a rocky patch we continue our run and finish ahead of them or am I deluded?

They have Edinburgh, Treviso and Dragons up next and they're only 3 points behind Leinster at half time.. No harm in being optimistic though

In any case I retract "pretty much impossible" and am going to go with "highly improbable"

We are 14 behind Scarlett's , I am not sure how tough their run in is but assuming they lose tonight to Leinster that will be 14 with a game in hand. I would assume our target will be hopefully they hit a rocky patch we continue our run and finish ahead of them or am I deluded?

Mark Mostyn wrote:

Enda wrote: I don't think we need to worry about Cardiff now, its Glasgow we need to catch to have any chance. You would think we need to win all our remaining games to have any chance. Have to beat Glasgow, simple as that I feel and that might kick start the confidence till the end.

Glasgow are irrelevant because the highest placed Scottish team qualifies no matter what. We absolutely do need to worry about Cardiff because automatic qualification is pretty much impossible so we need to finish 7th to guarantee a playoff

Glad to see someone understands the Pro 12 qualification rules and bothers to read Pinky's posts on the subject.

Enda wrote: I don't think we need to worry about Cardiff now, its Glasgow we need to catch to have any chance. You would think we need to win all our remaining games to have any chance. Have to beat Glasgow, simple as that I feel and that might kick start the confidence till the end.

Glasgow are irrelevant because the highest placed Scottish team qualifies no matter what. We absolutely do need to worry about Cardiff because automatic qualification is pretty much impossible so we need to finish 7th to guarantee a playoff

I don't think we need to worry about Cardiff now, its Glasgow we need to catch to have any chance. You would think we need to win all our remaining games to have any chance. Have to beat Glasgow, simple as that I feel and that might kick start the confidence till the end.

Munster keeping Cardiff pointless is a great result for us. Can see Cardiff losing their next 3 games (Leinster away, Ulster away, Ospreys home) so we have a good chance to pull away from them a bit

Thought Andrew Brown did great. Unlikely to be an Irish international but a crucial player for our lineout. Craig a crucial player at 12, don't think Bundee will win any awards there. So as critical players go, they ain't internationally recognized but two of the most important players on the team

Was actually a worthwhile evening. I do wonder how close the game was to be called off before kick off though. The Sportsground is usually good at absorbing rain but I think that's the worst I've ever seen it.

The team selection was a bit of a calculated gamble but it worked out. Got the 5 points and good for squad competition and morale. Also it gave the game a bit of atmosphere as the crowd got involved a bit. At 12-3 early in the 2nd half and Zebre really piling on the pressure it looked a small bit worrying but Marmion and Muldoon off the bench in particular game us an impetus again. Great to see Andrew Browne and Eoghan Masterson back again. Scrum held up well with Zebre trying to keep it in there for as long as possible but we kept them from making any headway which wasn't something I expected. Stevenson was very destructive on their ball at lineout time too while our lineout was generally good in the conditions.

It was only Zebre but I'd like to get another look at Crosbie, thought he had a good first game.

Seeing Ulster get only 3 tries against Treviso shows this is a good result. 18 points from this 6 nations period is a good return. Roll on Glasgow.

I have to say we played well under the conditions.
Special mention for McCoy, Ili and Farrell, we have noticed how much they've shown up to gain a new contract.
Ronaldson was impressive (again), and Masterson has proven how great he still is, even after a year out. From Zebre to Zebre for him, that's destiny!

connachta wrote:

salmson wrote:

connachta wrote: Ronaldson ignored again.
I'm really pissed off

When asked recently about Ronaldson at 10, Lam said he's a better centre. And he is a fantastic centre and is probably needed to cover Bundee - no way is he playing 80 5 days after playing an hour in his first game back.

He's probably 6th choice 10 after Carty, Boshoff, SOL, Crosbie & Cooney. I think it might be a season and a half since the last of his starts at 10 (Zebre start last year season? Ospreys & Edinburgh 2 years before that?) and he certainly didn't tear up any trees in those games.

I can't disagree more.

1) Lam isn't in charge next season, and I thought this team was experimental. Keane could (and should) have a different opinion
2) Even if "a better centre" it doesn't mean by any case he can't be a covering outhalf. Cooney is in the same situation
3) And there's no evidence he's better than Ronaldson to cover 10 as 5th choice (on the contrary IMO...)
4) Cooney is leaving, O'Leary didn't play 10 for a year too, and may be released.
5) Crosbie is yet to be seen and young
6) My conclusion is Ronaldson should be our 3rd choice outhalf in August, and tested there tonight from the bench.. Doesn't mean he has to give up being mainly 12

These things are mutually exclusive, Ronaldson is more than capable of stepping in at 10 tonight, but usually Muldoon could do that against Zebre and it still wouldn't impact the score too much, so even if this selection is partly for Keane's benefit I'm sure he will be told what the quality of the opposition is.

Secondly, given how bad the weather has become I doubt there will be much for him to take out of this game.

Third, I personally hope O'Leary isn't released but at the same time now sure how much more he's going to improve as a 10, but he is still quite young and deserves at least a percentage of the time that Jack and others have been afforded.

Lovely evening for ducks at the sportsground!!

Banm must be ratarsed by now

Anyone else getting increasingly worried about this game? Horrible evening will make it even more difficult for an unfamiliar team to click. Don't fancy us much on set pieces