big mervyn wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 8:35 pm
Remember the good old days when you just had to finish ahead of Connacht?
Was there not a time before that it didn't matter whether Connacht finished above us or not they still went into Parker Pen
Early days of the old Heineken Cup, Connacht were designated as a development side by the IRFU and were not permitted to qualify.
If memory serves this would’ve been Magner’s League days and there were 3 Irish teams who qualified so in theory we could’ve finished last and still qualified
Not actually sure if there even was a Parker Pen in those days
big mervyn wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 7:30 pm
Where's Neill? This sort of stuff is usually his bread and butter.
Neill was en route to Edinburgh last I heard.
I’d like to think he woke up this morning in a stranger’s bed in Leith with a smile on his face as wide as the Firth of Forth.
, had a good weekend, except for making mistake of using Dublin Airport (best avoided).
The European situation is definitely complicated. Basically 7 from the top 8 + Scarlets/Ospreys will be in. There are back door routes via Challenge Cup and winning the URC if Glasgow/Edinburgh finish 8th.
If we assume say Edinburgh finish 7th as top Scottish side and Glasgow 8th, then 6th placed side would be the one watching to see if Glasgow win Challenge Cup/URC. Simples
big mervyn wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 8:35 pm
Remember the good old days when you just had to finish ahead of Connacht?
Was there not a time before that it didn't matter whether Connacht finished above us or not they still went into Parker Pen
Early days of the old Heineken Cup, Connacht were designated as a development side by the IRFU and were not permitted to qualify.
If memory serves this would’ve been Magner’s League days and there were 3 Irish teams who qualified so in theory we could’ve finished last and still qualified
Not actually sure if there even was a Parker Pen in those days
great memory Soda
BRING OUR BOYS HOME #BOBH
THROWN UNDER THE BUS AND EXILED 14/04/18
They're building nicely for next year also with Etzebeth joining up with them at the end of the season.
I've a horrible feeling the Sharks / Saffer teams will be much more competitive up north in mild May compared to the winter conditions at the start of the league campaign.
Already looking forward to next season, we've now got a very comeptitive league, Saffers will be stronger now they are settled in, bar Zebre you've no right to win an away game.
BRING OUR BOYS HOME #BOBH
THROWN UNDER THE BUS AND EXILED 14/04/18
big mervyn wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 8:35 pm
Remember the good old days when you just had to finish ahead of Connacht?
Was there not a time before that it didn't matter whether Connacht finished above us or not they still went into Parker Pen
Early days of the old Heineken Cup, Connacht were designated as a development side by the IRFU and were not permitted to qualify.
If memory serves this would’ve been Magner’s League days and there were 3 Irish teams who qualified so in theory we could’ve finished last and still qualified
Not actually sure if there even was a Parker Pen in those days
great memory Soda
In 07/08 we finished 9th out of 10 in the Magners and still qualified!
Volunteer at an animal sanctuary; it will fill you with joy , despair, but most of all love, unconditional love of the animals.
Big Neville Southall
big mervyn wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 8:35 pm
Remember the good old days when you just had to finish ahead of Connacht?
Was there not a time before that it didn't matter whether Connacht finished above us or not they still went into Parker Pen
Early days of the old Heineken Cup, Connacht were designated as a development side by the IRFU and were not permitted to qualify.
If memory serves this would’ve been Magner’s League days and there were 3 Irish teams who qualified so in theory we could’ve finished last and still qualified
Not actually sure if there even was a Parker Pen in those days
great memory Soda
My memory of it is that the IRFU had three places for the ERC and it was up to them to decide who they gave them to. It was always assumed it would be us, Leinster and Munster, but there was one season in which we were particularly gash that Connacht had a real chance to finish above us in the league (but didn't). There was a lot of talk at the time about what the IRFU would do if that was the case without them ever clarifying. It was possibly the season immediately after where they stated right at the outset that it would be done based on league places?
I could be completely mis-remembering that though, think it was in the dark days post McCall, so circa 2006.
I distinctly remember one season - think it was the 1st one under mcloughlin where it was a battle royal with Connacht until the penultimate game of the season, when ulster turned the form book upside down and romped to a big win at Murrayfield. Really open game with lots of broken field tries. No rolling maul and beagle was in his element.
big mervyn wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 8:35 pm
Remember the good old days when you just had to finish ahead of Connacht?
Was there not a time before that it didn't matter whether Connacht finished above us or not they still went into Parker Pen
Early days of the old Heineken Cup, Connacht were designated as a development side by the IRFU and were not permitted to qualify.
If memory serves this would’ve been Magner’s League days and there were 3 Irish teams who qualified so in theory we could’ve finished last and still qualified
Not actually sure if there even was a Parker Pen in those days
great memory Soda
In 07/08 we finished 9th out of 10 in the Magners and still qualified!
Ah, the Matt Williams / Niall O’Connor nadir. God we were awful then.
Bart S wrote: ↑Mon May 02, 2022 10:31 pm
I distinctly remember one season - think it was the 1st one under mcloughlin where it was a battle royal with Connacht until the penultimate game of the season, when ulster turned the form book upside down and romped to a big win at Murrayfield. Really open game with lots of broken field tries. No rolling maul and beagle was in his element.
We seem to specialise in last ditch Euro qualification. Remember the inter-conference playoff agin Ospreys?
Still one of a small club of Euro top tier ever-presents
Volunteer at an animal sanctuary; it will fill you with joy , despair, but most of all love, unconditional love of the animals.
Big Neville Southall
Was there not a time before that it didn't matter whether Connacht finished above us or not they still went into Parker Pen
Early days of the old Heineken Cup, Connacht were designated as a development side by the IRFU and were not permitted to qualify.
If memory serves this would’ve been Magner’s League days and there were 3 Irish teams who qualified so in theory we could’ve finished last and still qualified
Not actually sure if there even was a Parker Pen in those days
great memory Soda
In 07/08 we finished 9th out of 10 in the Magners and still qualified!
Ah, the Matt Williams / Niall O’Connor nadir. God we were awful then.
Seemed to pi$h down every Friday too
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
NOC got about 60 caps for Ulster. Am sure McGlock had him as 1st choice for a while ahead of I Humps.
IIRC, NOC's great achievement was kicking 2 pens in an absolute gale at the Sports ground to give Connacht a 6-5 win over Quins which guaranteed ulster a heiny knockout place.