Pro14 structure

Here is an idea...

Connacht and Munster play the two SA teams over the same two weekends.

One Charter aeroplane takes us all from Shannon to Johannesburg on the Thur night.
One team goes to Port Elizabeth, the other to Bloemfontein. A week in Capetown for the supporters and then on the following weekend we swap venues.
Then we all get back on board the same plane on Sunday for the overnight flight back to Shannon and work on Monday morning.

At least the engines won't freeze up sitting at the Airport in Johannesburg.

You mean us and Leinster as i think we're the only two Irish teams that know for sure we'll be heading to SA

connemara man wrote: You mean us and Leinster as i think we're the only two Irish teams that know for sure we'll be heading to SA

We are all going down, only issue is, one or two away games down there this year.

Leinster are going twice

Comparing the two conferences, we are involved in the most difficult of the two. So I understand the logic of how the conferences were selected. The problem I see is that Connacht has been dealt a triple whammy. First we get nailed with the decided selection process. Next, to add insult to injury, we get only 10 home games, and to put us right on the back foot, next years conferences will be decided by performances this year.

So if we do not have an incredible season this year we will have a very poor rating for next year and we will have to try and build that rating from there. So its really two years out before we get to see a more favourable draw within this conference system (obviously based on a progression as the groups even out).

Personally I wouldn't have minded a 4 Irish team conference and a 4 Welsh team conference with only 19 games. The reason I say that is we struggle to have the depth of players so a shorter season would be to our favour.

In the longterm we can add the US, maybe we can add Argentina (they're going nowhere in the 4 nations) and then why not Japan. And I think it was Connemara Man who said that this would be a disaster. And I agree. I think we need to build towards a Division 1 and Division 2 Proxx adding teams such as Germany, Georgia, Romania, Netherlands. We simply do not need to head too far abroad. And the reason I say that is because it adds a disconnect between fans and team. Many folks simply don't have the money power to travel to games all over the world. So you end up watching the game on TV. And the fun is then lost. The engagement between team and fans is lost, the engagement between both sets of fans is lost, and then its just all about money. Just my perspective

Doddy

You make some good points but can I just point out a few things.
Very few fans, as it is, travel to the regular season away games in Wales or Scotland which can be done for less than €200 so I don't think it is just money issues. Time off work might be a bigger factor.
A 2 division system in Europe would require at least 16 teams, (2 x 8 ) to keep us in Division 1 based on our finishing position last year.
With the 2 Itallian, Edinburgh and Dragon's, that still leaves you trying to find 4 additional teams from among the developing counties to make up the other division, at the moment the next 2 best teams in Europe are in Russia (Krasnoyarsk) and we know all about travelling there.
With 2 divisions, I am assuming there would be promotion / relegation. Based on last year we would be the ones going down.

Honestly the idea of any teams from the US or anywhere outside the adjacent time zone joining is a non starter for simple logistics and player well-being. SA is possible because it's an overnight flight and there is only 1 or 2 hour in the time difference. (No different than Italy)

I know the loss of a home game this year will impact us more than the other but if they keep the structure we will have the 11th home game back the following year and so on (10, 11) until the next format change.

Our goal for next year has to be to finish as one of the top 3 European teams in the Conference to guarantee Champions Cup rugby in 18/19 (SA teams don't qualify)

I just wish they would get on with publishing the dates. The season is suppose to start in 4 weeks and just 10 weeks to the first European games.

Fourdogs wrote: Very few fans, as it is, travel to the regular season away games in Wales or Scotland which can be done for less than €200 so I don't think it is just money issues.

I know what you say fourdogs. I am a fairweather supporter, I might go to the odd away game. At the same time I know you were likely in Russia while I was very snug at home. But to take your point, if few people travel (and the same is true of super rugby) maybe the idea of the 4 irish teams in one group isn't stupid. We compete primarily against each other normally. So Scarlets won the Pro12 last year but like it or not we compete against our provincial friends most. So Scarlets won it, and deservedly so, but I want to so see interpros most, and the welsh want to see similar for themselves. I think the new interpro structure is a bit daft

dobby wrote: . I think the new interpro structure is a bit daft

How exactly is the new interpro structure (we play Leinster, Munster & Ulster home and away) dafter than the old interpro structure (we play Leinster, Munster & Ulster home and away)?

Stop reading Wales Online, young man. You'll go blind!

salmson wrote:

dobby wrote: . I think the new interpro structure is a bit daft

How exactly is the new interpro structure (we play Leinster, Munster & Ulster home and away) dafter than the old interpro structure (we play Leinster, Munster & Ulster home and away)?

Stop reading Wales Online, young man. You'll go blind!

Salmson, as a young man your parents told you would go blind because? Loads of myths Still have my sight . At least when I squint anyways

dobby wrote: I think the new interpro structure is a bit daft

There are going to be the same number of interpros/derbys for Ireland and Wales- will play eachother Home and Away like before
There will be extra derby games for Italians, Scottish and South African side's (is gonna mean no more Zebre Vs Edinburgh as part of "Big Weekend")

dobby wrote: Salmson, as a young man your parents told you...

Why* would you assume I'm no longer a young man?

*reason and intuition asides, obviously...

wp_rathead wrote:

dobby wrote: I think the new interpro structure is a bit daft

There are going to be the same number of interpros/derbys for Ireland and Wales- will play eachother Home and Away like before
There will be extra derby games for Italians, Scottish and South African side's (is gonna mean no more Zebre Vs Edinburgh as part of "Big Weekend")

Appreciate that wprathead. I want to be in front of my other provinces. So I would much more enjoy if we were playing against each other within the one conference. Point is I want to win or lose against the other provincial teams. That is what matters to me. I find the current construction sucks

John Muldoon confirmed we've got the Kings up here in round 2, and heading down to South Africa to play the Cheetahs in March. No mini tour this season then - gives us all some time to save

RonanL wrote: John Muldoon confirmed we've got the Kings up here in round 2, and heading down to South Africa to play the Cheetahs in March. No mini tour this season then - gives us all some time to save

If we're playing Kings at home (plus the other 6 in our conference and Leinster & Ulster from the other conference) that's nine home fixtures known. Then we have only one of Dragons, Edinburgh, Scarlets and Treviso at home.

There isn't really a lot of difference which we get at home. Best option is Scarlets at home, in which case the four "missing" fixtures (Dragons home, Edinburgh home, Scarlets away, Treviso home) cost us about 12 points I reckon (the average we've taken from those fixtures over the last 7 seasons). The worst option, Edinburgh home, only costs us an extra point.

Over the 3 SA games, just to make up what we've lost, I reckon we need to make three quarters of those points back (since everyone loses a game). That means we need 2 home wins and one or two bonus points over the 3 games, which seems doable, especially as we're hosting a rejigged Kings early on.

RonanL wrote: John Muldoon confirmed we've got the Kings up here in round 2, and heading down to South Africa to play the Cheetahs in March. No mini tour this season then - gives us all some time to save

Any word on the Cheetahs at home?
Having both SA teams in Galway before we go out there will give us a chance to hopefully make contact with their Supporters and get structure in place for our visit.

Wales Online leaking first 3 rounds (good on 'em):

www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-...vealed-find-13434254

Connacht fixtures:
Round 1 at home to Glasgow
Round 2 at home to Southern Kings
Round 3 away to Dragons

(Friday/Saturday and k/o times yet to be announced).