Time is short, time to pin the colours to the mast, so breaking the habit of lifetime, I am going to predict.
First a history lesson:
Of the 4 sides remaining, three have won the league, Glasgow the exception. Ospreys have won 4 titles, Munster 3 titles & Ulster one. Is there any significance?
I believe so others will disagree, I suspect both Weegies & Ulster are under more pressure for slightly different reasons, Glasgow have never own anything outside of Scotland, Ulster given the gap since the last tropy & the opportunities not taken.
I believe that if I were a Munster fan, I would be the most content at present, they are unlikely to win at Ulster but even if they take nothing at Ravenhill/Spanners they have a pretty safe 5 points in the last game leaving them more or less assured of a home semi, barring the one eventuality I expect to happen.
Ospreys despite sitting in fourth will be confident of 2 wins, for all the love towards Weegies here, away from home they have beaten the bottom 6 but managed only that 34-34 draw in Dublin when blowing a 27 point lead. I don't see them winning in Swansea. Ospreys have drawn one at home against Mexico and won the rest, most so conclusively that only Scaaaalets have taken a losing bonus point. Their half back give them a huge advantage over most, they will beat Glasgow, no question about it and then they go to Galway where they could have a fight but I expect them to win.
Glasgow, sitting pretty but they have two fixtures they cannot be feeling comfortable with. Ospreys are unbeaten at home and Glasgow haven't beaten a top 6 side away. Ulster at home, well more of that shortly.
Ulster have two games as tough as Glasgow have. Munster at full strength isn't something we have seen very often over the years but I expect an Ulster win, I actually believe it could be a sizeable win to complete the Irish sweep.
Now then, Weegies away. Everyone here seems to think that is a bridge too far, so here is why I think we will prevail. I believe momentum is everything in sport and Ulster will have it after three derby wins back to back. I believe the way the season has been restructured has helped us tremendously, we have got the lame & infirm back to where we are more or less at full strength and at full strength I believe that the ranking of the 4 teams is 1) Ulster 2) Ospreys 3) Munster 4) Weegies.
Weegies have been the consistent team all season and have a squad with something like 36 Scottish internationals. They have had no dumb results and have thrashed the bottom, home & away and whilst I am working from an admittedly dodgy memory but I believe that they have been least handicapped by injury over the season. I contend that they are consistent rather than potentially brilliant. They also have the pressure of never having won anything and coming off what I expect to be a defeat.
Ulster will go their barring injury with a team that we would have liked to field more often but which will have produced three big wins on the bounce. Momentum, it will be a tough game but I believe that will be decisive.
So for me, it's Ulster & Ospreys at home, just not sure whom will be top. Ulster v Ospreys final.
I now await cries of "Fantasist"
, immetesticle though that was.
As I say speculation is just that!