Provisional Pro12 fixtures sent to teams

Sorry for this being Irish-specific, but the details are only available for the provinces...

More details here

First week: Munster V Dragons, Ospreys V Leinster, Ulster V Glasgow, Treviso V Connacht.

As usual there will be a two week round of derbies at christmas.

One thing I find a bit frustrating is Munster V Leinster and Leinster V Munster will both take place the week before a HC weekend. Wouldn't mind if the marquee games were a bit better spread out.

greybeard wrote:
One thing I find a bit frustrating is Munster V Leinster and Leinster V Munster will both take place the week before a HC weekend.

They usually are no?

Nice plum start to the season for Ulster. Without its Scotland players, Glasgow are in tatters. Definitely a side to play early in the season.

What will the O's be like without their internationals?

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:What will the O's be like without their internationals?

probably better as they have good acadamey players, however biggar will still play at 10 =/ and alot of their internationals have left already like hook, bryne etc

Any idea what their possible XV will be?

I'd be backing 3 home wins and Connacht to take Treviso.

red_stag wrote:

greybeard wrote:
One thing I find a bit frustrating is Munster V Leinster and Leinster V Munster will both take place the week before a HC weekend.

They usually are no?

I think you're right, but it's still annoying!

I like them as I feel it brings our players into these games far more battle hardened than if it was Leinster v Aironi or Munster v Glasgow. It has a sense of occasion and our boys are used to the intensity before HEC.

red_stag wrote:I'd be backing 3 home wins and Connacht to take Treviso.

Interesting. I'd agree with Munster and Ulster winning, and Dragons will be tough (so lets call that a draw ) but I'd say Treviso will want to start like they did last year when they beat Scarlets. They'll be missing internationals and Connacht won't be, but I'd still pick them to win at home.

red_stag wrote:I like them as I feel it brings our players into these games far more battle hardened than if it was Leinster v Aironi or Munster v Glasgow. It has a sense of occasion and our boys are used to the intensity before HEC.

I'm of the opinion that the approaching HC weekend tends to take away from the build up. A few weeks of build up and another few weeks of bragging isn't really possible.

on a purely selfish note, do you know who Ulster are playing weekend of 9 - 11 September and if they're home???

All I know is what was in the linked article, sorry. It's not big on details and it mentions that the fixtures are entirely provisional at the moment and subject to change anyway.

ok thanks fella

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Any idea what their possible XV will be?

not sure.

Front row will go (possibly bennet aswell) leaving Duncan jones at lossehead and not sure for other two positions, Jon thomas will still be there, AWJ, Ryan Jones will most likely be gone, tipuric will be there as will the guy they just signed from the dragons.

so for the forwards

adam jones
hibbard
James
AWJ
Ryan jones
Bennet??
will all be out

backs

shane williams
Bowe

out,

so backline not affected too much, its the forwards which are more the problem

The Scots will be badly hit. I'm not too worried for Munster anyway in terms of player loss.

red_stag wrote:The Scots will be badly hit. I'm not too worried for Munster anyway in terms of player loss.

Actually I think Edinburgh will be ok. Glasgow are the team in trouble.

So the blues have either edinburg or aironi up first - nice games to settle in, especially if we are at home.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Actually I think Edinburgh will be ok.

Have you seen who their coach is?

red_stag wrote:I'd be backing 3 home wins and Connacht to take Treviso.

I'd be predicting Dragons putting forty points on you and you crying into your beer as the realisation that all your vicious words about the Dragons and I are well have well and truly come back to haunt you.

I only wish that I could be there to see it

funnyExiledScot wrote:Nice plum start to the season for Ulster. Without its Scotland players, Glasgow are in tatters. Definitely a side to play early in the season.

Yeah always nice to get a home game to start as teams usually take time to shake off the pre-season rust. We'll be missing experienced players as well of course, but Glasgow are probably going to be affected a little bit worse unless we lose Humphreys and Muller.

South Wales Arseguff reckon the Dragons opening month is

Munster Away
Leinster Away
Aironi Home
Connacht Away

Good start probably down the toilet.