The run in

[CIMANFOREVER]

A win of any kind is enough? Ie no BP required

If the league rules are to be believed then yes. We have 12 wins the stormers have 11. If we both win next week, we stay ahead no matter if we get BP or not.

We have a much better points and BP difference

[Neill_M]

I'm talking b*lls just saw the table and Stormers 2 lbps. 5 pointer required then, as they'll hump Treviso

You are talking balls. 4 pts required.

I am right I assuming that Embra have nowt to play for and should mentally be on their hols? Although with this league's crazy rules you can never be too sure

Stuffed Ospreys tonight, lots of Scottish internationals. Not straightforward for Ulster.

[CIMANFOREVER]

I'm talking b*lls just saw the table and Stormers 2 lbps. 5 pointer required then, as they'll hump Treviso

You are talking balls. 4 pts required.

I am right I assuming that Embra have nowt to play for and should mentally be on their hols? Although with this league's crazy rules you can never be too sure

But I suppose it's good balls lol. Sharks or Bulls? I'd rather Bulls tbh

[jean valjean]

I'm talking b*lls just saw the table and Stormers 2 lbps. 5 pointer required then, as they'll hump Treviso

You are talking balls. 4 pts required.

I am right I assuming that Embra have nowt to play for and should mentally be on their hols? Although with this league's crazy rules you can never be too sure

Stuffed Ospreys tonight, lots of Scottish internationals. Not straightforward for Ulster.

One for you Neil. Ulster draw while scoring 4 tries and stormers win without a bp. Who gets 2nd?

[Neill_M]

I'm talking b*lls just saw the table and Stormers 2 lbps. 5 pointer required then, as they'll hump Treviso

You are talking balls. 4 pts required.

I am right I assuming that Embra have nowt to play for and should mentally be on their hols? Although with this league's crazy rules you can never be too sure

Stuffed Ospreys tonight, lots of Scottish internationals. Not straightforward for Ulster.

One for you Neil. Ulster draw while scoring 4 tries and stormers win without a bp. Who gets 2nd?

Would go to PD, Ulster currently 38 better.

[StandUp]

Bulls please bob. Apart from a win against the worst team on the planet, they’ve been having a torrid time lately. Another flight north won’t help them either.
Having said that, there’s a very good chance Ulster will find a way to choke on this.

[big mervyn]

I'm talking b*lls just saw the table and Stormers 2 lbps. 5 pointer required then, as they'll hump Treviso

You are talking balls. 4 pts required.

I am right I assuming that Embra have nowt to play for and should mentally be on their hols? Although with this league's crazy rules you can never be too sure

Stuffed Ospreys tonight, lots of Scottish internationals. Not straightforward for Ulster.

One for you Neil. Ulster draw while scoring 4 tries and stormers win without a bp. Who gets 2nd?

Would go to PD, Ulster currently 38 better.

They'd be doing well to win by 39 without getting a bp

[Neill_M]

In terms of who Ulster could face, couple of discussion points. Will Glasgow rotate their side v Connacht with the Parker Pen the week after and they can't move from 4th?

Bulls host Leinster kids, will the youngsters be able to do a 2nd game on the High Veldt?

[jean valjean]

Given what's on the line for finishing 8th I'd expect both the bulls and sharks to win. Munster don't have the same motivation this week and while the bulls are not great, they should have the power game to squeeze past leinsters kids. Glasgow may rotate a bit, but I can't see a connacht BP win there to overtake munster.

[CIMANFOREVER]

If we don't screw up agin Edinburgh, Bulls or Sharks qf, then Stormers home sf is the likely path to our Nemesis. That's a physical route.
We'll ship injuries. Squad depth will be tested to stretching point

[BR]

In terms of who Ulster could face, couple of discussion points. Will Glasgow rotate their side v Connacht with the Parker Pen the week after and they can't move from 4th?

Bulls host Leinster kids, will the youngsters be able to do a 2nd game on the High Veldt?

Glasgow - given their focus is split - may prefer to play Connacht in the QF. That could be something they could guarantee. Obviously that would be immoral, so Glasgow wouldn't do it.

[Dave]

If we don't screw up agin Edinburgh, Bulls or Sharks qf, then Stormers home sf is the likely path to our Nemesis. That's a physical route.
We'll ship injuries. Squad depth will be tested to stretching point

TOT on crutches. Obviously, no Marty Moore. We now rely solely on Jeff and Milo. If we lose Jeff it would be an unmitigated disaster. Next season, we will be in a worse situation.

[UlsterNo9]

If we don't screw up agin Edinburgh, Bulls or Sharks qf, then Stormers home sf is the likely path to our Nemesis. That's a physical route.
We'll ship injuries. Squad depth will be tested to stretching point

TOT on crutches. Obviously, no Marty Moore. We now rely solely on Jeff and Milo. If we lose Jeff it would be an unmitigated disaster. Next season, we will be in a worse situation.

Soper said the crutches were a precaution, when interviewed after the game. Which is a positive, doesn't mean O'Toole is not injured, just means the crutches doesn't necessarily mean the worst.

[CIMANFOREVER]

If we don't screw up agin Edinburgh, Bulls or Sharks qf, then Stormers home sf is the likely path to our Nemesis. That's a physical route.
We'll ship injuries. Squad depth will be tested to stretching point

TOT on crutches. Obviously, no Marty Moore. We now rely solely on Jeff and Milo. If we lose Jeff it would be an unmitigated disaster. Next season, we will be in a worse situation.

Soper said the crutches were a precaution, when interviewed after the game. Which is a positive, doesn't mean O'Toole is not injured, just means the crutches doesn't necessarily mean the worst.

It highlights our vulnerability in a key position though

[UlsterNo9]

1. Leinster Pts 79 Wins 16
2. Ulster Pts 64 Wins 12
3. Stormers Pts 63 Wins 11
4. Glasgow Pts 58 Wins 12
5. Munster Pts 53 Wins 10
6. Connacht Pts 49 Wins 10
7. Bulls Pts 48 Wins 9
8. Sharks Pts 46 Win 9

Round 18 Fixtures

Stormers v Benetton
Glasgow v Connacht
Bulls v Leinster
Sharks v Munster
Ulster v Edinburgh


Leinster, Glasgow Benetton have European fixture weekend after. Glasgow and Benetton may prioritise selection to suit Europe as said elsewhere.
Munster and Connacht competing for 3rd best placed Irish team for European Cup qualification
Bulls and Sharks competing for 3rd best placed Irish team for European Cup qualification
Ulster and Stormers battling for 2nd place

I hope Leinster end up facing Bulls or Sharks, they'll match them physically. Leinster could then face Munster in Semi Final. No easy route whilst juggling Europe.

I don't really mind who we get as long as we retain second spot. The Bulls gave us a really tough game, so probably would like to avoid them.