Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

Guinness Pro14 Season 2018-2019

13567…56

Comments

  • #62
    molloyjh
    Registered Users Posts: 24,745 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    awec wrote: »
    Leinster are an outlier, you have enough players to field two teams that can be competitive in interpro games.

    The other three struggle more. Winning back to back interpros is extremely difficult, not least because they usually happen when there are restrictions on who can be picked.

    The point is that there won't be too many restrictions at that stage. Almost no players are still rested by the last week in September. A good few are rested in the last week in October, which is normally when we have the second inter-pro. The provinces should have full squads to chose from, or very, very close to that. The Leinster squad I posted for that Edinburgh game was close to full strength. The only internationals that were missing were the ones who were injured or the ones who had clocked up a good deal of minutes prior to that game. There shouldn't be shadow squads sent anywhere at that stage.

    By the same time last season, Best was injured while Henderson and Stockdale were back starting games for Ulster.

    I can't see any province choosing to field weakened teams when they are trying to build continuity for the HEC games.


  • #63
    molloyjh
    Registered Users Posts: 24,745 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    awec wrote: »
    Well, you can call me skeptical, but I don't see provinces fielding first choice teams 4 weeks in a row right before the AIs start.

    For starters, I didn't say that we'd have completely full strength teams for all 4 weeks. I said we wouldn't have shadow sides. There's a difference. But here are Leinsters selections for the same 4 weeks last year. SOB, Sexton, Nacewa, Hensahaw, Ringrose and Rob Kearney were all injured for some/all of the 4 weeks. Other than those enforced changes there were very few changes to the line-ups. You are skeptical, but the evidence is there that you have no real reason to be. The Edinburgh selection had some unenforced departures from full strength and the Ulster game after those 4 did too, although there was a core of full strength players over 5 weeks last season.

    Leinster vs Edinburgh 29/09/2018

    McGrath Cronin Furlong
    Toner Fardy
    Ruddock SOB Murphy

    McGrath Sexton
    Reid ROL
    Kearney Carbery McFadden

    Byrne, Byrne, Porter, Molony, Deegan, JGP, Byrne, Larmour


    Leinster vs Munster 07/10/2018

    McGrath Tracy Furlong
    Toner Fardy
    Ruddock Conan VDF

    McGrath Sexton
    Henshaw ROL
    Daly Carbery Byrne

    Cronin, Healy, Bent, Molony, Murphy, JGP, Byrne, McFadden

    Leinster vs Montpellier 14/10/2018

    McGrath Tracy Furlong
    Toner Fardy
    Ruddock Conan VDF

    McGrath Byrne
    Nacewa Henshaw
    Daly Carbery Byrne

    Cronin, Healy, Bent, Molony, Murphy, JGP, Reid, McFadden

    Glasgow vs Leinster 21/10/2018

    Healy Cronin Furlong
    Toner Fardy
    Ruddock Conan VDF

    McGrath Sexton
    Reid Henshaw
    Daly Carbery Byrne

    Tracy, McGrath, Bent, Ryan, Leavy, JGP, Byrne, D Kearney


  • #64
    Eod100
    Registered Users Posts: 11,625 ✭✭✭✭Eod100


    awec wrote: »
    Well, you can call me skeptical, but I don't see provinces fielding first choice teams 4 weeks in a row right before the AIs start.

    Read AI as All Ireland first.. Rugby season has been finished too long haha


  • #65
    Jump_In_Jack
    Registered Users Posts: 3,587 ✭✭✭Jump_In_Jack


    molloyjh wrote: »
    For starters, I didn't say that we'd have completely full strength teams for all 4 weeks. I said we wouldn't have shadow sides. There's a difference. But here are Leinsters selections for the same 4 weeks last year. SOB, Sexton, Nacewa, Hensahaw, Ringrose and Rob Kearney were all injured for some/all of the 4 weeks. Other than those enforced changes there were very few changes to the line-ups. You are skeptical, but the evidence is there that you have no real reason to be. The Edinburgh selection had some unenforced departures from full strength and the Ulster game after those 4 did too, although there was a core of full strength players over 5 weeks last season.

    Leinster vs Edinburgh 29/09/2018

    McGrath Cronin Furlong
    Toner Fardy
    Ruddock SOB Murphy

    McGrath Sexton
    Reid ROL
    Kearney Carbery McFadden

    Byrne, Byrne, Porter, Molony, Deegan, JGP, Byrne, Larmour


    Leinster vs Munster 07/10/2018

    McGrath Tracy Furlong
    Toner Fardy
    Ruddock Conan VDF

    McGrath Sexton
    Henshaw ROL
    Daly Carbery Byrne

    Cronin, Healy, Bent, Molony, Murphy, JGP, Byrne, McFadden

    Leinster vs Montpellier 14/10/2018

    McGrath Tracy Furlong
    Toner Fardy
    Ruddock Conan VDF

    McGrath Byrne
    Nacewa Henshaw
    Daly Carbery Byrne

    Cronin, Healy, Bent, Molony, Murphy, JGP, Reid, McFadden

    Glasgow vs Leinster 21/10/2018

    Healy Cronin Furlong
    Toner Fardy
    Ruddock Conan VDF

    McGrath Sexton
    Reid Henshaw
    Daly Carbery Byrne

    Tracy, McGrath, Bent, Ryan, Leavy, JGP, Byrne, D Kearney

    I assume those dates should be 2017?

    I thought you predicting the fixtures and teams for this season at first glance.

    When will the fixtures for 2018 be published?


  • #66
    thomond2006
    Registered Users Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Still no fixtures. Feck sake.


  • Advertisement
  • #67
    Burkie1203
    Registered Users Posts: 11,099 ✭✭✭✭Burkie1203


    thomond2006 wrote: »
    Still no fixtures. Feck sake.


    They are written somewhere on the scarlets jersey.....


    https://twitter.com/scarlets_rugby/status/1020322191848747009?s=19


  • #68
    razorblunt
    Registered Users Posts: 17,300 ✭✭✭✭razorblunt


    I presume they're giving those jerseys away free seeing as you're effectively a glorified sandwich board in that (more so than normal).


  • #69
    Eod100
    Registered Users Posts: 11,625 ✭✭✭✭Eod100


    thomond2006 wrote: »
    Still no fixtures. Feck sake.

    Hopefully next week. Seems bit odd that there's an outline available to reporters but nothing finalised yet. Guess they're nearly there with them


  • #70
    Eod100
    Registered Users Posts: 11,625 ✭✭✭✭Eod100


    Eod100 wrote: »
    Hopefully next week. Seems bit odd that there's an outline available to reporters but nothing finalised yet. Guess they're nearly there with them

    Pro 14 have just announced they will be releasing dates and ko up to round 17 on Tuesday next. Timing! ☺️


  • #71
    Cookiemunster
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 11,792 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster


    https://twitter.com/PRO14Official/status/1020584452882423808

    Weirdly it says 2pm UTC. So actually 3pm.


  • Advertisement
  • #72
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 53,334 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Ulster's first 6 are:

    Scarlets H
    Edinburgh H
    Kings A
    Cheetahs A
    Munster A
    Connacht H


  • #73
    thomond2006
    Registered Users Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    awec wrote: »
    Ulster's first 6 are:

    Scarlets H
    Edinburgh H
    Kings A
    Cheetahs A
    Munster A
    Connacht H

    3/6 minimum I'd say.


  • #74
    LEIN
    Moderators Posts: 9,936 ✭✭✭LEIN


    Some of you may be interested in this

    Ends 31st of July, first two months of the new season for 2€

    A lot of rugby to be had in this sub.

    456287.PNG


  • #75
    bilston
    Registered Users Posts: 17,742 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    thomond2006 wrote: »
    awec wrote: »
    Ulster's first 6 are:

    Scarlets H
    Edinburgh H
    Kings A
    Cheetahs A
    Munster A
    Connacht H

    3/6 minimum I'd say.

    I'd be aiming for 18/19 points. Munster and Cheetahs away will be tough but the other 4 are winnable. If we want a top 3 finish that's what we need to be targetting.


  • #76
    Neil3030
    Registered Users Posts: 16,971 ✭✭✭✭Neil3030


    Given no head coach, early season variability etc., Kings Away is about the only fixture on that list where I'd be surprised if Ulster lost.


  • #77
    bilston
    Registered Users Posts: 17,742 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    Neil3030 wrote: »
    Given no head coach, early season variability etc., Kings Away is about the only fixture on that list where I'd be surprised if Ulster lost.

    To be fair apart from the head coach part you could say that about any team in September.


  • #78
    Neil3030
    Registered Users Posts: 16,971 ✭✭✭✭Neil3030


    bilston wrote: »
    To be fair apart from the head coach part you could say that about any team in September.

    I could indeed. But no other team thus far has statements such as "3/6 minimum" or "I'd be aiming for 18/19 points" associated with it, with regard to a list of 6 pretty challenging games.


  • #79
    jacothelad
    Registered Users Posts: 5,902 ✭✭✭jacothelad


    Neil3030 wrote: »
    I could indeed. But no other team thus far has statements such as "3/6 minimum" or "I'd be aiming for 18/19 points" associated with it, with regard to a list of 6 pretty challenging games.


    I don't think it's the Ulster team making those statements. The posters on here aren't actually playing in the games so what they say has absolutely zero effect on the results....:D:D


  • #80
    Neil3030
    Registered Users Posts: 16,971 ✭✭✭✭Neil3030


    The issue isn't whether they impact results (we'd all be very wealthy if they could!), the issue is with how reasonable it is to assume 3+ victories from that fixture list, and I'd be hesitant to deem it so.


  • #81
    thomond2006
    Registered Users Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Ulster should win every game next season or be shut down.

    Come on, three wins from the opening games is surely achievable. I'd regard Kings away and Connacht at home as comfortable wins and they should pick up another from the remaining four.


  • Advertisement
  • #82
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 53,334 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    I'm happy enough to play Scarlets in the first round. By that stage nobody has any momentum, and teams will still be finding their feet.


  • #83
    bilston
    Registered Users Posts: 17,742 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    Neil3030 wrote: »
    bilston wrote: »
    To be fair apart from the head coach part you could say that about any team in September.

    I could indeed. But no other team thus far has statements such as "3/6 minimum" or "I'd be aiming for 18/19 points" associated with it, with regard to a list of 6 pretty challenging games.

    I don't see why it is unreasonable to aim for 3 to 4 wins from our first 6 games. To be fair we were unbeaten in our last 5 games last season.


  • #84
    stephen_n
    Registered Users Posts: 12,920 ✭✭✭✭stephen_n


    Will the Scarlets have all their internationals available for that game?


  • #85
    PTH2009
    Registered Users Posts: 37,712 ✭✭✭✭PTH2009


    LEIN wrote: »
    Some of you may be interested in this

    Ends 31st of July, first two months of the new season for 2€

    A lot of rugby to be had in this sub.

    456287.PNG

    Still a lot if u subscribe to both Sky sports and Eir/BT

    Is IP TV worth it ?


  • #86
    Burkie1203
    Registered Users Posts: 11,099 ✭✭✭✭Burkie1203


    Jeff Hassler still without a club. Think he would be worth a punt for most teams in the league. Ulster in particular given they are short in back 3.


  • #87
    errlloyd
    Registered Users Posts: 12,598 ✭✭✭✭errlloyd


    Burkie1203 wrote: »
    Jeff Hassler still without a club. Think he would be worth a punt for most teams in the league. Ulster in particular given they are short in back 3.

    There are a few good players knocking around unemploydom right now. Tom Heatcote has 3 Scottish Caps at fly half and is doing nothing. He's 26 and never set the world on fire. Might have a slight concussion issue hanging over his head though, not certain.


  • #88
    Cookiemunster
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 11,792 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster


    It's been confirmed that the conferences will stay the same this year. Looks like they'll change every second year. https://www.pro14rugby.org/2018/07/24/existing-conference-line-ups-unchanged-for-the-2018-19-guinness-pro14-season/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=PRO14Official&utm_content=Existing%20Conference%20line-ups%20unchanged%20for%20the%202018/19%20Guinness%20PRO14%20Season


  • #89
    Eod100
    Registered Users Posts: 11,625 ✭✭✭✭Eod100


    Are the fixtures out at 2?


  • #90
    Cookiemunster
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 11,792 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster


    Eod100 wrote: »
    Are the fixtures out at 2?

    It's saying 2pm UTC, which is 3pm. Although most are taking it up as 2pm.


  • Advertisement
  • #91
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    errlloyd wrote: »
    There are a few good players knocking around unemploydom right now. Tom Heatcote has 3 Scottish Caps at fly half and is doing nothing. He's 26 and never set the world on fire. Might have a slight concussion issue hanging over his head though, not certain.

    Pun not intended!


Advertisement