Ulster Rugby 2017-2018 Part 2

geoff999rugby wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:Here are my predictions, and even with a season ending win Ulster will finish 5th!

SCARLETS
ROUND 16: Scarlets (5) v Toyota Cheetahs ACTUAL 5
ROUND 17: Scarlets (4) v Munster - Munster will be missing their 6N guys and won't risk any doubtfuls as they still have R18 before Europe ACTUAL 4
ROUND 18: Cardiff Blues v Scarlets (1) - Tight game with both scrapping for respective playoffs
ROUND 19: Scarlets (4) v Edinburgh - The Scots either elated from Europe and rest players or deflated and lose focus by licking wounds
ROUND 20: Scarlets (5) v Zebre
ROUND 21: Dragons v Scarlets (4) - Dragons will have nothing to play for and will be looking towards the summer hols
Current 36 plus 23 = 59

BENETTON
ROUND 16: Benetton (5) v Dragons - woeful Dragons away form ACTUAL 5
ROUND 17: Benetton (4) v Edinburgh - The Italians will have more first teamers back from 6N camp than the Scots ACTUAL 4
ROUND 18: Connacht v Benetton (1) - Connacht may rest some players for Europe, while Benetton only have the league to go for
ROUND 19: Leinster v Benetton (0)
ROUND 20: Benetton (2) v Munster - Munster probably secure in their playoff spot and may still be in Europe, home advantage but Munster will scrap
ROUND 21: Zebre v Benetton (5) - Zebre nothing to play for
Current 41 plus 17 = 58

EDINBURGH
ROUND 16: Edinburgh (4) v Cardiff Blues - home advantage and form ACTUAL 1
ROUND 17: Benetton v Edinburgh (1) - LBP as more depleted by 6N and away from home ACTUAL 0
ROUND 18: Edinburgh (4) v Leinster - The Irish missing more players and Edinburgh looking for a hard run in to their HEC tie.
ROUND 19: Scarlets v Edinburgh (0) - can't see Edinburgh getting up for this game whether they win or lose in Europe the previous weekend
ROUND 20: Edinburgh (4) v Ulster - home win
ROUND 21: Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh (4) - Edinburgh have the wood over Glasgow and may need the win more
Current 41 plus 17 = 58

ULSTER
ROUND 16: Ulster (4) v Zebre - Ulster don't have the fire power to get a TBP while missing Stockdale and Addison ACTUAL 5
ROUND 17: Dragons v Ulster (4) - Very tough away fixture, but if Ulster can beat the Ospreys maybe they can do the same at Dave. ACTUAL 5
ROUND 18: Ulster (5) v Southern Kings - Hopefully some Test returnees against the worst team in the league
ROUND 19: Glasgow Warriors v Ulster (0) - Glasgow are likely to be out of Europe but will be fired up to get home playoff and will be playing a game Ulster struggle to contain.
ROUND 20: Edinburgh v Ulster (1) - Ulster haven't a great record in this fixture and will do well to get anything
ROUND 21: Ulster (4) v Leinster - a backs to the wall performance against freewheeling Dubliners who will be probably still in Europe
Current 39 plus 18 = 57

Ulster might be best advised to rest players for the Glasgow game, as there is a short turnaround from Europe and the Edinburgh game is now the most important game of their season. Qualification for next season's competition could hinge on that game, but they will still have to beat Leinster as well.

Adjusting the above for actual results we now have a prediction of:
Scarlets 59
Benetton 59
Edinburgh 55
Ulster 58

I believe the prediction for the coming weekend is optimistic for Scarlets
Yes Munster are missing their 6n guys but so are Scarlets
I also believe Ulster will probably get 5 points - Dragons are very poor and we have a number of players who will come back
Not sure a 6N time Edinburgh are capable of a point at Benetton

By time Edinburgh play Ulster they could easily be down and out with three more defeats on the bounce

Artful_Dodger wrote:All four try scorers from the Leinster academy.  Telling.

Standulstermen wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:All four try scorers from the Leinster academy.  Telling.

Surely Timoney and O’connor Didn’t make the academy and are actually products of the Ulster academy. O’Sullivan  I’m not sure on when we picked him up

marty2086 wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:All four try scorers from the Leinster academy.  Telling.

Surely Timoney and O’connor Didn’t make the academy and are actually products of the Ulster academy. O’Sullivan  I’m not sure on when we picked him up

Neither made the academy, Timoney missed out to Leavy and van Der Flier, what ever happened to them. EOS only joined ulster 18 months ago