Big rugby weekend too, with a lot on the line for the top 10 or so teams in the URC. Your results foretold:
Edinburgh v Munster: Edinburgh are in a must-win home game against Munster and come into the match on a three-game winning streak, although (with respect, nah, just joking) it’s only been against Zebre, Cardiff and Scarlets. Munster, on the other hand, are unbeaten since losing New Year’s Day and have thrashed Connacht at home and the Lions away after dispatching the Bulls at Loftus as well. One of the form (unsmiling Irish) teams and they’ll be good to sneak past Edinburgh.
Result: Munster by 4
Zebre Parma v Scarlets: Two pretty crappy sides who’ll gain no solace in consistency, when it’s going home empty-handed week in and out. Bald men fighting over a comb and all that. Zebre started the season with some agonisingly narrow losses, which could possibly have given them a boost to aim for higher up the table. But it wasn’t to be, and they’ve been hammered in recent weeks, with an average deficit of 32 points a match in their last three. Scarlets have been princely by comparison, losing only by about 11 a match over that period. Still, Zebre are overdue a win, it’s lazy ‘home-win punditry’ and this one would pull them off the bottom and above Scarlets (and the Drags).
Result: Zebre Parma by 2
Bulls v Benetton: The Bulls are a side that can really turn it on when they smell blood (and let’s face it, if your average Saffer can’t smell blood, they’ll batter something – not a Mars Bar – until blood spills, so they can smell it), and with a home semi still theoretically up for grabs, they’ll be at their beastly best. Benetton actually have the better recent record – three from their last four – and are also still well in the hunt for a last eight berth. A win on Saturday would probably be enough to secure a QF spot, but the Bulls will chuck everything at them and as they showed against the Warriors last weekend, when the mood takes them, they can be lethal. Saw my first opera at Loftus; this won’t be a day of song for the Italians.
Bulls by 27
Ospreys v Dragons RFC: The Ospreys can still theoretically make the top eight, if everyone above them loses their last two matches, which will be motivation enough for the men from Swansea. Might be stupid, but, you know, I’m sure their coach has been filling the airwaves with the usual guff about playing to the end, results going our way, blah blah. Battered by Leinster and the Bulls in the last couple of weeks (albeit after a fine win in Cape Town), they’re on a less-losing streak than the Doused Dragons. Only two wins this year (squeakers against the Scarlets and Zebre), suggests they’re more puff, than the magic.
Ospreys by 12
Lions v Glasgow Warriors: The Lions could really put the cat (cough) among the pigeons if they turn over Glasgow in their quest for an unlikely quarterfinal spot. Unlikely though, as the Lions have not been consistent enough this season (or any other for the last 7 years!), either dishing out hideous hidings, or being on the receiving end of brutal beatings. The Warriors showed against the Bulls last weekend that the altitude beast is a pussycat, roaring back in the last twenty to almost beat the hosts. They’re top of the table, have a wining culture this season and are damned difficult to beat. Should be a Glasgow win, quite easily actually, but….
Lions by 2
Connacht v Stormers: The Wesht is a wicked place to try to get a result, especially for Saffer sides, but as the Lions showed a few weeks ago, and down to 14 men to boot for most of the match, if you’re handling is good and you get quick ball to your strike runners, Connacht can be clobbered. The Stormers will be buoyed by their thrashing of the Drags last weekend and will look to add another Irish scalp this season after wins over Ulster and Leinster. Connacht got battered by Munster last weekend and have to go back to early January for a win against a top side – a Munster that were still finding their rhythm this season. Still a very difficult side to beat, but with places 5 to 8 so close, the Stormers will need to match the wind from the Wesht.
Stormers by 7
Sharks v Cardiff: Tricky one this, with many of the Sharks side to play Glos in the mini-Heini next weekend jetting out early. Should give the Diff a sniff, but they haven’t won since Santa Puff (see above) gave them a Boxing Day pressie. I’ve no idea what kind of Sharks combo will take to the field, but you feel that home ground advantage in what’s still a steamy Durban will see them home against a locked Diff. Nothing more to add, really.
Sharks by 8
Ulster v Leinster: A terrific Irish derby to finish the weekend with. Leinster will be hoping Glasgow get jolted in Jozi, giving them a shot at the top of the log again, whilst Ulster can still sneak a home semi, if others get stiffed (or not, as it were). Ulster have been patchy this season and have been involved in some very tight affairs (stop it, now) both for and against them. Leinster sent their U14 academy side to the land of sunshine and they got clobbered, but bounced back to batter the hapless Ospreys last weekend. It’ll be a hard, uncompromising match, with the visitors nosing ahead at the end. Sorry gracious host.
Leinster Rugby by 3
Bum steers by Deebee7
Onna telly this weekend
Showing matches that are televised in the UK and Ireland or on popular subscription services. Bold indicates that it’s on a free to view channel. Times are in the UK zone, so adjust as necessary.
Friday 17th May
| Zebre v Scarlets | 19:35 | BBC2 Wales / iPlayer / Premier Sports 2 |
| Edinburgh v Munster | 19:35 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
Saturday 18th May
| Bulls v Treviso | 13:00 | PremierPlayer |
| Ospreys v Dragons | 15:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Lions v Glasgow | 15:05 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Bath v Northampton | 15:05 | TNT Sports Extra |
| Gloucester v Newcastle | 15:05 | TNT Sports Extra |
| Harlequins v Bristol | 15:05 | TNT Sports 2 |
| Leicester v Exeter | 15:05 | TNT Sports Extra |
| Saracens v Sale | 15:05 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Connacht v Stormers | 17:05 | RTÉ2 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Sharks v Cardiff | 17:15 | S4C / iPlayer / Premier Sports 2 |
| Ulster v Leinster | 19:35 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
That was amusing. Toulouse picked up Van der Flier with the ball, and the ref shouted, Put him down! So they deposited him over the touch-line. Is this all right, ref?
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Extra time! It’s a match worthy of it.
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Bloody hell! This is fantastic stuff! Both sides deserve to win; the lovers will be gutted.
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Wish they could replay the game rather than going into ET. They must be knackered.
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*Losers. There’s not much love and harmony being sprinkled around.
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Sorry, I can’t help but smirk at Lowe getting a yellow.
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That looks like a red.
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Why’s that Refit? Must admit I don’t like Lowe and think he’s a smug pr!ck, but largely cause he’s a Kiwi and we don’t like them down here.
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Ref agrees. Arnold is gone.
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Deebee – purely because Lowe is a smug prick.
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Lowe does sometimes come across as a smug prick, but he’s very talented.
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Can Leinster make the man advantage count? Game is slowing down with the players pretty stuffed.
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Thaum – sometimes?!
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Smug prick it is then. Talented or not. More importantly, have Leinster scored?
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Yes, they have!
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A bit parochial, but will Leinster be up for their final URC match next weekend?
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Apparently, he’s ‘Josh’ Lowe now.
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Deebee – it’s a Friday match, too….
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Remember that Sexton bloke? Think he might have been more important than some thought.
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Didn’t he play the last couple of finals and World Cups? Great player, no doubt, but he’d have been a liability today with the pace and physicality.
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Yeah, too old now, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone replacing his generalship.
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Sexton played in the first final against La Rochelle, but not the second.
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Either way, a helluva match, a worthy final and both sides can be proud of being the best in European competition, possibly the world. Thanks for the great entertainment! 👍
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Tight result but fair.
Leinster have a great defence but unlike Toulouse, few ideas when in possession. For me it sums up the difference between the two teams.
Toulouse immediately took advantage of Lowe’s YC whereas Leinster couldn’t capitalize on Arnold’s brainfart until too late in the game.
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‘takes’ from the weekend:
1. Mercer (Glos) is a -poor scrum half and a luxury/showboat player – Gloucester’s pack aren’t good enough to carry him
2.Leinster need an attack coach
Great final; had everything for me and glad my local team won!
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Slade – Squidge was on the Blood & Mud podcast last week and he was saying that he really doesn’t rate Mercer, for those reasons and he’s confident that the likes of Borthwick etc see that as well, despite the repeated calls for him to be called up for England.
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I don’t understand anyone who compares J G-P with Dupont as they did in the prematch, it’s not fair on J G-P because it sounds like ragging on him when you point out there is not a gap as such, it’s a huge gulf and it’s not disrespectful to say so, imo.
J G-P is a very good player, definitely a candidate for the best of the rest. I don’t know why that is the point I chose to make after that very tense final, but there we go.
I have to say that I’m very chuffed for Blair Kinghorn, he continued his good form and now he has a Champions Cup winner’s medal – something he would never have achieved with Edinburgh.
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Ticht – agree. Enjoyed Kinghorn’s post-match interview; he was very excited!
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Thaum, my favourite bit of Kinghorn’s post match was him atop the Investec Zebra, geeing it on
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I missed that bit!
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Here you go
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Cheers, Refit! That was fun.
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JGP is a great 9, possibly the best traditional scrum half in the past years, besides Aaron Smith.
It’s a bit unfair to compare him with Dupont who’s in a different league in terms of pace, kicking abilities, physical prowless and jackalling. Like an extra forward.
I thought JGP played better than Dupont in the first half, doing the SH basic duties simply and well when Dupont was overplaying, mostly because the excellent Leinster third row were constantly in his face. Mola may have had a word or two to remind Antoine what his first job was. It paid off.
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Had that drop goal attempt at the 79th minute flown in between the posts instead of marginally outside, we’d be reading – and writing- entirely different comments. How Leinster kept their composure and how Dupont had a howler, etc etc… Fine margins indeed. Razor thin.
Chapeau to Leinster and Toulouse for a wonderful game that could’ve gone either way, tremendous talent on both sides, played in a good spirit with an excellent ref.
More of the same, next year!
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Flair, I thought Dupont had a massive game, even if he wasn’t splitting the opposition open with darting runs, four jackal turnovers, three of them on his own line, would have any flanker puffing their chest out, let alone a scrum half, Austin Healy made me chuckle in commentary when he asked, “How does he manage to get in there whilst wearing a cape?”
Speaking of comms, Ben Kay is a retired international lock and professional commentator on rugby. Yesterday he described accurately during a replay how Porter swing his hips out and drives in on the angle at the scrum. Kay said this is brilliant scrummaging. It’s not, it’s illegal and was missed every time. I suppose the fact the prop gets away with it could be described as brilliant, he won scrum dominance and a good few penalties for Leinster this way.
Going back to Toulouse, their backrow put in a huge shift.
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Btw, I read this morning that Blair Kinghorn said he spent nine years at Edinburgh and had never beaten Leinster before
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Jack Willis not getting enough praise in some quarters…………..
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Ticht – point of order, regarding Porter. It is brilliant scrummaging, right up until he gets caught. Then he’s a dirty, dirty cheat.
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Refit – point of order, he’s a dirty, dirty cheat all along: he’s just a bust cheat once he’s bust. So not really much different to any other player ‘pushing the envelope’ in the underworld of scrums, rucks and mauls, tackle or anywhere else! At least he’s not a smug prick, he’s got that going for him.
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It might be a help if the TMO had access to an overhead camera view of the scrum?
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Slade, possibly, but how far down the road of tech do we want to go? The dark arts of the scrum confuse most, even props in the commentary box. As long as the refs are consistent, fans, scribes and coaches should accept that you get the rub of the green sometimes and not others. Every fan can reel off the matches their side has been done over, but not the ones they got the bounce of the ball. I know this, because every match the Boks have lost is because of outrageous refereeing. True story!
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Still think that assistant refs should have a bigger role though – prop putting his elbow/hand on the ground on the opposite side to the ref, standing on the offside line to prevent defences encroaching, straight lineout throws, probably other things I haven’t considered.
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(I am not even considering the possibility that we might win.)
Munster will be full strength vs Ulster. Winning leaves them top of URC with home QF.
If all top 4 win this coming w/e – then Leinster go (if they win QF) to the Bulls again. Granted they sent the “espoirs” just recently, but it’s not been a happy place for them generally.
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Had to watch the “Heino” final on watch back as I was at family event on Sat and only caught the second half of ET live
As by a few here – Leinster’s attack is fairly flat (and has been going that way for a couple of years). Days of “leinstertainment” are in the dim and distant past.
They rely on 2 main elements – 1st phase strike play (esp off lineouts). For this they’re happy to kick back and forth till opposition kick it out around 10m line. Win the lineout and play off that.
Second is to win a pen – kick to the corner and pick and go until they score. This strategy was successful vs Toulouse late on but it’s failure early on left them trailing all match – in retrospect taking 3 was obviously the better strategy. What works against Zebre and the Dragons is probably not the best Plan A vs Toulouse.
Its obvious once they settle into “phase play” they’re going back and forth with no real penetration. Of course, Ross Byrne isn’t a running threat so you can drift across knowing he’ll pass or kick (and to his credit he’s good at both) but no-one sits the defenders down. [We saw same issue vs NZ in RWC]
Leinster need an attack coach
@slade
Bad/Good news – Goodman is leaving
Bad/Good news – he’s going to Ireland
@flair
Had that drop goal attempt at the 79th minute flown in between the posts instead of marginally outside
Well, Leinster certainly learned 1 thing from last year’s loss to LaR – try the drop goal – not successful, but they tried it, so that indicates some thought….
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Week 2 in Malawi. Managed to change hotels! Yay! So much better! Proper wine! Actual stuff on the actual menu! Worse wifi. Feels like Leinster hiring Nienaber: so much to look forward to, but lacking in vital communication tools.
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You’ve got mail, Thauma.
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Fixtures out for next season. We start away to Ulster (looking forward to the 5 points there…*) and finish away to Leinster (looking forw…., nah, can’t do that one).
*Just kidding Thaum!
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BB – just remember that we’ve beaten Leinster home and away this season. :-p
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Apparently oli Kebble and George Turner are both leaving Warriors this summer. Hadn’t realised Turner was 31, as is Oli. Still a few years in them I think for someone.
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We have nine players leaving, but none of them is Stuart McCloskey, as previously rumoured.
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