Leinster and Glasgow have achieved the top two spots in the Rabo12 table, and therefore get the benefit of playing home semi-finals this weekend.
Leinster topped the table, their final win coming against Edinburgh in a very close game, and they now face Ulster at the RDS Arena on Saturday, May 17, at 7pm local time.
Glasgow have jumped to second place, their final win seeing a trouncing of Zebre, so they now face Munster at home on Friday, May 16 at 7.35pm. They have become the first Scottish team to achieve a home semi-final in the Rabo tournament.
As well as that, with the Rabo12 pool stages over, we now know which seven teams have qualified for the newly-devised European Rugby Champions Cup, which replaces the Heineken Cup as of next season.
The seven teams will be: Leinster, Glasgow, Munster, Ulster, Ospreys, Scarlets and Treviso.
Treviso qualify as the highest-ranked Italian team. These teams will join the top six or seven teams in both the English Premiership and the French Top 14.
Leinster versus Ulster
Leinster have retained top spot on the table, despite recent subpar performances. They managed to beat Ulster away, in a very close game, 22-20. Leinster then hosted Edinburgh at the RDS, in what looked like a sure-fire drubbing.
Edinburgh put up quite a fight in the end and Leinster just held in there to win the game, 15-13. Though Leinster won both games, Ulster and Edinburgh still gained bonus points for keeping the score so close. This helped Ulster secure a top-four spot and therefore a semi final.
Ulster bounced back from their close loss to Leinster to win a very tight game against Munster, 19-17, last week.
It was a doubly impressive win for Ulster as they had a depleted side, and the game was at Thomond Park, where Munster rarely lose in any tournament. It was a great win for what was effectively a second-string Ulster side.
Ulster will hope to be able to pick a close to full-strength side for the semi final against Leinster, but they will be without Rory Best and Ruan Pienarr (injured) and Tom Court (suspension). Leinster have a full-strength side and also have the upper hand in terms of results – they have won the last three games against Ulster.
While winning their last few games, neither side has looked impressive. Leinster have the advantage in player personnel and also have the added incentive of this possibly being the last home game for Leo Cullen and Brian O’Driscoll, who both retire at the end of this season. Their fellow players will want them to finish their careers on a high.
Glasgow versus Munster
Glasgow finished their season off on a high, crushing both Italian sides in their last two games. First they thrashed Treviso, 38-16, and then annihilated Zebre, 52-0.
Glasgow will hope to become only the second-ever Scottish side to reach a Rabo final, since Edinburgh were beaten by Munster in 2009. No Scottish team has ever won the Rabo.
Munster have had a tougher time. After crushing Edinburgh, 55-12, they paid the price for putting out a second-string side against Ulster and were duly defeated, 19-17. Munster haven’t being at their best since losing the Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulon. But they have a very strong team, with explosive runners like Simon Zebo, Keith Earls and Casey Laulau in the backs and a powerful pack, boasting the likes of Paul O’Connell.
Munster also say goodbye to their coach, Rob Penney, who is leaving at the end of the season. Penney was recently crowned the Rabo12 Coach of the Year and has been at the club since 2012.
Glasgow have some great players of their own, like Stuart Hogg, Sean Lamont, Duncan Weir and Ryan Grant. Munster will want to gain revenge against Glasgow, who took their second place spot. Glasgow have had a great record against the Irish provinces this season, having beaten both Connacht and Ulster, home-and-away and Leinster at home.
Although Munster beat Glasgow at home earlier in the season, Glasgow returned to crush Munster, 22-6, in Thomond Park, one of the heaviest defeats Munster have endured in their fortress. Interestingly, Glasgow have actually won more games than Leinster this season, but Leinster have accumulated more bonus points so they get the top spot.
Both Glasgow and Munster are pretty even in terms of player personnel and form. Glasgow have the slight edge in terms of results and have had a great season, possibly their best ever. They’ll want to go out on a high.
Glasgow were knocked out by Leinster in the semi final stages of the last two Rabo tournaments and they won’t want to go out to an Irish team for the third time in a row.
We could very well see a Glasgow versus Leinster Rabo12 final.
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