Pro12 Semi Finals, build up and info

Leinster Rugby
FRI 19 MAY
19:45
Scarlets
RDS ARENA

Munster Rugby
SAT 20 MAY
18:15
Ospreys
THOMOND PARK


No team news yet, nor any news on who is officiating, so here is the place to be just to talk about this weekends semi finals. I will update when needed.

Ospreys are bringing in the cavalry for their trip to Munster:-

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/ospreys-set-welcome-back-cavalry-13043789

This could be a very good weekend of rugby. Scarlets are in fine form, and if they have their full Welsh contingent available then they could prove to be a handful for Leinster. The only player they will be missing is Jake Ball, I think.

I'm so down on the Ospreys for what they've served up as performances since the Treviso game, the only chance we have is if we used actually cavalry and the players were on horseback brandishing swords. Practically a bye for a fired up Munster at a packed Thomand..

Breadvan wrote:I'm so down on the Ospreys for what they've served up as performances since the Treviso game, the only chance we have is if we used actually cavalry and the players were on horseback brandishing swords. Practically a bye for a fired up Munster at a packed Thomand..

Breadvan, you have to be more optimistic than that mate, according to reports AWJ, Beck, and Sam Davies are expected back, and probably Biggs as well, Mujati is 50/50. If we have those 5 back and Tandy actually picks the best 23 available for this game, we have a chance. Still underdogs but chances significantly improved IMO.
A squad of Evans, Giles, Fonotia, Beck, Habberfield, (Howells apparently crocked) Biggar, Webb, Smith, Baldwin, Mujati, BBBD, AWJ, Underhill, Tipuric and Ardron with Otten, James, Jones (I'm sorry), Beard or Thornton (they've been selected for Wales so they must be fit) King or Baker, Leonard, Davies, Matavesi. There is talk of Jay Baker being close to a call up, if so he can take over on the wing and Habbers can replace Leonard. That 23 is good enough to give Munster a decent match whether it will on the day is another matter.

I'm going to be controversial here, but I can see the Scarlets turning Leinster over. I think they have a real chance. Leinster are the favourites of course but they fell asleep quite badly against Clermont which was the last game I saw them play in.

However I think the munster vs ospreys game has a whiff of inevitability about it. Can't see then losing at Thormond Park and I can see them winning the whole thing.

Even as a Leinster fan I don't see them winning the fixture this Friday. The vibe is far too relaxed and Scarlets are in-form. Leinster players doing too much medjia, talking about the Lions and the concentration doesn't appear to be there that this is a knockout match against the most in-form of the remaining 4 sides.

Ospreys have been poor, but Munster expect them to be poor and this to be a walkover. It's going to be a close game but Munster to do the necessary in the end.

Scarlets to be come pick up a very rare award this Friday, a pro-12-away-side-semi-final-winner!

I can't see past an all Irish final, and two thumpings this weekend too. Scarlets were totally man shamed in Dublin only a few weeks ago. The Ospreys beat Ulster, but have been poor in the rest of their recent games.

Some top-notch underdogging going in here gents, nice work!

I think all 4 teams are underdogs and all 4 will lose

as I've said on another thread...(https://www.606v2.com/t65700-scarlets-v-ospreys-pro12-final-in-dublin)

Sadly, I also think its likely to be a Mun v Lei final... BUT!!!

Scarlets are more than capable of beating Leinster and the Ospreys more than capable of beating Munster, so until the final whistle, lets have faith...

Ok, history says an away semi-finalist doesn't progress and win the Pro12. But that's history, not future events. Lets look at the positives.

Scarlets, have recently played some brilliant rugby, so why cant they build on this and beat Leinster. No reason at all.

Ospreys, since Judgement Day, have been p!ss poor.. Cant remember seeing such bad Osprey performances. But, they do have quality. They are a good team, so now is the time to turn this poor run into a win.

I'm not a betting man, but if forced to put a fiver on a final, I'd probably agree with most and predict an all Ireland event. But, until the final whistle there's hope, and in the Scarlets and Ospreys, we do have teams that could spoil the IRU party in the Aviva and for one, I'm going to keep the faith....

C'mon OSPREYS... and for an Osprey fan.. GULP... C'mon Scarlets...

I hope I'm wrong, and I'm not sure why I think this way, but something deep down tells me that the Lions players for these 2 Welsh regions will be taking it easy to avoid injury and missing the tour, while the Irish province Lions players will still be going all guns blazing regardless of what (Lions-wise) is at risk. I can't explain why I think that, but I've often felt that Welsh international players have an eye on the internationals a bit too much and don't give as good in the club games as they do in the internationals. A sweeping generalization I know. And I always feel that the Irish players live and die for their province and reckon they'll be putting more in on the weekend.

Two home wins for me, sadly.

Probably clutching at straws, but when Munster beat us 33-0 before Christmas, there will be practically 10 new players in our team for this game, and apart from Sam Parry and Dmitri Arhip, all the others are improvements and in some miles better. Even though Munster comprehensively beat us on the scoreboard, they were 14-0 up in 15 minutes and didn't score again in the next 40 minutes, and scored 2 tries in the last 10 minutes. I don't think it will be that sort of game again. Then again I'll probably be eating humble pie after the weekend.

Griff wrote:I hope I'm wrong, and I'm not sure why I think this way, but something deep down tells me that the Lions players for these 2 Welsh regions will be taking it easy to avoid injury and missing the tour, while the Irish province Lions players will still be going all guns blazing regardless of what (Lions-wise) is at risk.  I can't explain why I think that, but I've often felt that Welsh international players have an eye on the internationals a bit too much and don't give as good in the club games as they do in the internationals.  A sweeping generalization I know.  And I always feel that the Irish players live and die for their province and reckon they'll be putting more in on the weekend.  

Two home wins for me, sadly.

This describes Sam Warburton to a tee.

Predicted Munster team to face the Ospreys.

01 : Dave Kilcoyne
02 : Niall Scannell
03 : John Ryan
04 : Donnacha Ryan
05 : Billy Holland
06 : Peter O'Mahony
07 : Tommy O'Donnell
08 : CJ Stander
09 : Conor Murray
10 : Tyler Bleyendaal
11 : Keith Earls
12 : Rory Scannell
13 : Jaco Taute
14 : Darren Sweetnam
15 : Simon Zebo

Substitutes

16 : Rhys Marshall
17 : James Cronin
18 : Stephen Archer
19 : Dave O'Callaghan
20 : Jean Deysel
21 : Angus Lloyd
22 : Ian Keatley
23 : Andrew Conway

That is a seriously strong team for Munster. The Ospreys will have to pull something very special out of the bag to beat this team, especially with the huge home support.

AWJ is available for this weekend.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39936856

Taken from the Guinness Pro12 website:-

With a week to go until the Guinness PRO12 semi-finals, we take a look at the title credentials of the four contenders.

Each of them have won the crown before, Leinster and Ospreys have four apiece, Munster have three and Scarlets one.

Who will add to that tally over the next fortnight and be crowned the 2016/17 Guinness PRO12 champions?


Munster

Rassie Erasmus’ side finished top of the regular season table for the first time in six years.

That coincidentally was also the last time they won the whole thing, beating Leinster in the 2010/11 Grand Final.

How they would love a repeat of that this time around as the Munster of old have returned in a season dedicated to club legend Anthony Foley, who suddenly passed away back in November.


They were runners-up for the title in 2014/15, but have also missed the play-offs twice since they were introduced seven season ago – including last year.

But their pedigree cannot be discounted; they have three titles and a further three runners-up finishes in their history so the Ospreys know they have a tough task ahead of them.


Leinster

Neck-and-neck with Munster throughout the season, Leinster had to settle for a second-placed finish in the end.

They have four titles to their name and a further five runners-up finishes but their record in the final four since the play-offs were introduced is impeccable.

Never have they lost a semi-final and the Scarlets will head to the RDS next weekend knowing the history books are not on their side.

However, Leinster have not lifted the title since 2014; they missed the play-offs a year later for the one and only time in their history, and then in 2016 finished runners-up to the fairytale Connacht side.


Scarlets

While Leinster know exactly what it takes to win a play-off game, Scarlets do not.

Their one and only title came back in the 2003/04 season before the semi-finals were introduced.

And in the seven seasons since the play-offs’ inception, the men from West Wales have only once cracked the top four.

That came in the 2012/13 season before they were downed by Ulster in Belfast – can they go one better this time around in Dublin?


Ospreys

Ospreys, like Leinster, have won the title four times – most recently in 2011/12.

But their recent history in this league has been less successful – they finished down in eighth last year to miss out on the end of season skirmishes.

But having secured fourth on the final day of this season, the Welsh region will head to Thomond Park looking to make amends for other semi-final defeats.

Twice before have Munster beaten them in the final four, in 2010/11 and again in 2014/15, so Steve Tandy’s side will be hoping it is third time lucky.

And if they can do it, then they will be back in the final for first time in five years and confident of grabbing their fifth league title – and maintaining their 100 per cent record in Grand Finals.


Read more at http://www.pro12rugby.com/2017/05/12/final-four-former-champions-set-collide/#4m7ZesgoSgb7o5jZ.99

eirebilly wrote:Predicted Munster team to face the Ospreys.

01 : Dave Kilcoyne
02 : Niall Scannell
03 : John Ryan
04 : Donnacha Ryan
05 : Billy Holland
06 : Peter O'Mahony
07 : Tommy O'Donnell
08 : CJ Stander
09 : Conor Murray
10 : Tyler Bleyendaal
11 : Keith Earls
12 : Rory Scannell
13 : Jaco Taute
14 : Darren Sweetnam
15 : Simon Zebo

Substitutes

16 : Rhys Marshall
17 : James Cronin
18 : Stephen Archer
19 : Dave O'Callaghan
20 : Jean Deysel
21 : Angus Lloyd
22 : Ian Keatley
23 : Andrew Conway

That is a seriously strong team for Munster. The Ospreys will have to pull something very special out of the bag to beat this team, especially with the huge home support.

Yes Billy that looks ominously strong, if we play anything like the last month or so, the score could be even bigger than 33-0

Leinster: Joey Carbery; Adam Byrne, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Isa Nacewa (capt); Johnny Sexton, Luke McGrath; Jack McGrath, James Tracy, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, Hayden Triggs, Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Cian Healy, Michael Bent, Devin Toner, Dan Leavy, Seán O'Brien, Jamison Gibson-Park, Zane Kirchner.

Scarlets: Johnny Mcnicholl; Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Steff Evans; Rhys Patchell, Gareth Daviess; Rob Evans, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Lewis Rawlins, Tadhg Beirne, Aaron Shingler, James Davies, John Barclay (capt).
Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Wyn Jones, Werner Kruger, David Bulbring, Will Boyde, Jonathan Evans, Hadleigh Parkes, DTH van der Merwe.

Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson (SRU), Simone Boaretto (FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Douglas Hunter (SRU)
TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)

My goodness, when you look at that Leinster line-up... Well, it would be a great achievement by the Scarlets to win, anyway.

That Scarlets line-up looks pretty impressive as well, a lot of Welsh internationals in there, also, dare I say it, but the bench looks pretty strong as well. I just hope Marius Mitrea does not have one of his home crowd nights.

This match has all the ingredients to be an epic.

Ah so home crowd nights will be to blame if Scarlets lose

BamBam wrote:Ah so home crowd nights will be to blame if Scarlets lose

No. Why would you say this ? I think it's time I put you on ignore, as you only come on here to troll me.

For the record, Marius Mitrea is known for wilting when the home crowd gets on his back in the Pro12, but that may well not be the reason why any team loses. But it could spoil a potential epic of a game.

Griff wrote:

BamBam wrote:Ah so home crowd nights will be to blame if Scarlets lose

EDIT.

Mitrea is lovesacks. Leinster didn't need a homer but they've got one.

Can't see why Scarlets have rushed Cubby back in when their back row performs much better with Boyd and Macleod starting. That's just me though because personally speaking I prefer flankers in my back-row rather than a wannabe-winger.

Gutted that Owens is injured and potentially out of the Lions tour tool.

munkian wrote:Gutted that Owens is injured and potentially out of the Lions tour tool.

That's a bit harsh! Talk about kicking a man while he's down!

Think I'll support Scarlets for this one, just because John Barclay is their captain!

I think the Scarlets will give Leinster a game. The RDS is one of the toughest places you can go, but they're playing some good rugby at the moment and they won't die wondering.

I'd say it's two sides that will want to put width on the ball, but Leinster might think they can get on top through their pack.

Munster: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland, Peter O'Mahony (capt), Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Jean Deysel, Jack O'Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Jaco Taute.

Ospreys: Dan Evans; Keelan Giles, Kieron Fonotia, Ashley Beck, Tom Habberfield; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin, Rhodri Jones, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Sam Underhill, Justin Tipuric, James King.

Replacements: Scott Otten, Paul James, Dan Suter, Lloyd Ashley, Olly Cracknell, Brendon Leornard, Sam Davies, Josh Matavesi.

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

Assistant referees: Matthew O'Grady (RFU), Wayne Falla (RFU)

TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)

Sean O'Brien has been ruled out.

LondonTiger wrote:Munster: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland, Peter O'Mahony (capt), Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Jean Deysel, Jack O'Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Jaco Taute.

Ospreys: Dan Evans; Keelan Giles, Kieron Fonotia, Ashley Beck, Tom Habberfield; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin, Rhodri Jones, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Sam Underhill, Justin Tipuric, James King.

Replacements: Scott Otten, Paul James, Dan Suter, Lloyd Ashley, Olly Cracknell, Brendon Leornard, Sam Davies, Josh Matavesi.

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

Assistant referees: Matthew O'Grady (RFU), Wayne Falla (RFU)

TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)

Even though we have a very good boilerhouse, we surely will struggle at scrum time, we've been very unfortunate in the tight head department, our top 3 all injured, and basically we have a loose head playing there and a very small replacement to cover for him, who we are releasing at seasons end. Why no Tyler Ardron? Personally I would also have Dan Baker before King for this kind of game. A youngster who won one of our awards at seasons end was pulled out of a Welsh Premiership game last weekend, because of an injury to Dafydd Howells and Tandy still puts a scrum Half on the wing.
Not at all optimistic about this game, I just hope we can keep it respectable for at least an hour or so.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Sean O'Brien has been ruled out.

He wasn't meant to be close to starting, Ross Byrne was lined up for the bench with a traditional forward/backs split. Leo playing a bit of silly buggers. I always thinks those kind of silly gamesmanship unsettles the late replacement player more than it worries the opposition coaching setup. Why not just back your matchday squad from the start of the week? These are my guys for the next game and i've every confidence in them getting the victory. And less of the antics. As it is, the current matchday squad don't seem to be properly focused anyway.

What injury is he carrying? Perhaps it has something to do with proving his fitness for the Lions.

Van der Flier has had a great start.

Sexton not so much...

Leinster's handling is totally guff tonight. Opportunity for Scarlets!

I'm knackered just watching this.

Leinster struggling to catch the ball though

Doesn't Adam Byrne remind you of Zane Kirchher.

Hell of a play from Leinster then.

Great try!

That was terrible from the reserve 9 - had to chop him down low

Jeez there's like one blind-side in the Wales squad and we have Shingler playing like that. McBryde .

One-eyed Leinster crowd booing legit decisions and tries again.

Good old fashioned hand off there.

Leinster have been pretty terrible here. Especially Sexton.

mikey_dragon wrote:Jeez there's like one blind-side in the Wales squad and we have Shingler playing like that. McBryde .

One-eyed Leinster crowd booing legit decisions and tries again.

Shingler isn't in the Wales squad??

There was a forward pass that time

Great play from Scarlets.

Leinster playing like they did in last year's final - very flat and lots of mistakes.

The reality is this: you can have all the possession in the world, but it is pointless if you don't do anything with it. Look at New Zealand and the Saracens, when they get the ball they score. When they don't have the ball, they defend well.

Every time the Scarlets get the ball, they make the most of it. Leinster are playing such a loose game, it's as if they aren't taking it seriously.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Jeez there's like one blind-side in the Wales squad and we have Shingler playing like that. McBryde .

One-eyed Leinster crowd booing legit decisions and tries again.

Shingler isn't in the Wales squad??

He's been playing very well this season but no. The back-row players were Jenkins, Young, Navidi, Griffiths, King. No room for Cracknell either.

Gotta love Gareth Davies and Sexton, tough little guys who don't take no sh't!

If they penalise Davies that's a joke!

If the Scarlets win and Munster win tomorrow - who gets to wear the red in the final?

Looked like Davies threw a few slaps/punches when Sexton was on the ground - hard to see though