We’re not happy here at HoR covering just the Irish provinces in the RaboPro12, so throughout the season Liam Sinclair will keep an eye on the rest of the league for us.
4/6 correct from last week. I’ll take that. A quick look at the actual standings (on the left of the photo) compared to how I saw it working out (right) and you’ll see that there’s really not that much in it. It’s one week I know, I’m just enjoying it while it lasts.
It was a great weekend here in Pro12 country but as usual all it does is whet the attitude for more greedy souls that we are. So without further ado we’ll have a look at the state of our Non-Irish Pro12 nation and see if we can get the chat started.
Treviso: The champs came to town last week and were sent home without the win most people were expecting. Not a classic by any stretch but Treviso will gladly take it. 80 minute performances are needed to be successful at the highest level and the Italian’s showed that they have it in them. 4 great points by anyone’s standard. Not much time to enjoy it though, up next another team who made last year’s playoffs. You’ve probably heard of Munster. A team who are themselves enjoying a good feeling following a solid victory. Will Treviso feel like they’ve started down a good path? A path where solidity and consistency become the words associated with Benetton Rugby? It’s a good step on a long journey sure but short term I’m expecting more heroic losses then landmark victories and a solid showing in defeat is the most likely outcome in Thomond.
Zebre: No surprises there so. It’s going to be a tough season for Aironi 2.0. The Dragons were allowed freedom to play to the delight of the home crowd and gladly took the 5 points. This is likely to be the first of many Try BPs conceded by the new boys. Away trips are going to be particularly hard and I’m going to go on record now with my belief that they will go the whole season without a victory on the road. No need to worry about that for now with Stadio XXV Aprile ready to welcome its first visitors, Connacht. They get another shot at a team expected to finish near the bottom so, once again, the best approach would be hard and fast from the beginning. Lazy journalism time. They just don’t have it in them. Brutally and patiently Connacht will see this out.
Scarlets: Will be very happy with this display against the monarchs of European rugby and are deservedly top of the pile at this early stage. They’ll know this wasn’t the star studded team Leinster have in enforced reserve and, while many predicted the win, the demolition handed out was a statement of intent which will open eyes across Europe. A gauntlet thrown down for the league and, as if more spice was needed, a warning shot at their European pool rivals. Only a month until the rematch at the same ground. A trip to the Scottish capital to help open Scotstoun is up next and I fancy them to keep up the good work. Scarlets victory.
Ospreys: No problems creating chances. No cutting edge. Not an ideal start. Was this a result of being rusty at the start of the season or did the Ospreys just underestimate the challenge they would face? Unsurprisingly I’m going to sit on the fence and say there were elements of both here. Jason Tipuric headed a group of first team players missing through injury and the lads that were left weren’t prepared for the determination Treviso brought to the game. Dan Biggar was a no show and the Ospreys will feel like they left a lot of points on the park. Ever onwards and upwards though and the next hurdle is a visit from an Ulster team who fancy their chances this season. The northerners, ensconced in a feeling of positivity will smell blood and I fancy them to run riot in The Liberty Stadium. Two losses out of two for the defending champs and a mountain to climb.
Cardiff: Victory in Galway to start the season. Another Welsh team with injury problems but The Blues showed resilience to brush those concerns aside and take this game to Connacht. A healthy lead built in the first forty minutes and well-guarded in the second forty. Connacht did their best to chip away at the lead but good 80 minute rugby saw Cardiff through. Next up will see the rebirth of Cardiff Arms Park. Edinburgh are coming to town. Cardiff and Edinburgh are two teams I expect to be very close to the top and very close to each other come season’s end so a win even at this early stage could come in handy. It bears repeating; these teams are close. I fancy Edinburgh to edge it.
Dragons: Kept their heads, kept the tempo and dished out what will no doubt be the first of many hidings to Zebre. Job done and most likely little learned. On the other hand this is a possible banana skin skilfully side-stepped. Five decent points and fears of a last place finish allayed a little. To Dublin we go. Last week’s dismissal of Leinster by their fellow countrymen will have the Dragons chomping at the bit for a performance. The biggest difference between the teams though is quality. Kind of a big deal really and it will be telling. Leinster to bounce back with a decent win to please the RDS faithful.
Edinburgh: Will be disappointed not to have done better against Munster as they looked good for large patches of the match. Visser was, once again, the man. Always in the right place, clinical, ruthless. The man. The team as a whole didn’t do much wrong. Their forwards brought grit but they were just outmuscled at key times by a strong Munster pack and denied by a robust and determined defence. A trip down to Cardiff, while not straight forward, should be just the tonic to get over this disappointment. More of the same expansive play and breakdown dominating mayhem should see them to victory in Wales.
Glasgow: Played well at times in Ravenhill but fell victim to sloppy play and an Ulster team coiled and ready to punish these mistakes. Finishing was the key again with some promising phases of play petering out when the team just ran out of ideas. A BP would’ve been a just reward for a decent performance and definitely would’ve come in handy given the tough task that awaits them next week. A rampant Scarlets team will be looking to build on an impressive opener and Glasgow will have a tough time containing their dynamic play. I’d say they’ll still be pointless this time next week and it doesn’t get much easier in the medium term. Mediocrity is the key word for the season.
That’s how it looks from my angle. As a signoff thought let’s see if we can’t beat this weekend’s 22 tries?
Liam Sinclair (@liam_bs) – Guesses, generalisations and clichés.
