The Home Straight


By Dragons' Den
March 18 2014

With only five games to go and barring total meltdown, the top four looks pretty settled and with Welsh having no further interest in the B&I Cup, and the Witney story having been put to bed, there really is only one thing to concentrate on, The playoffs.

 

 

The current top four have pretty much stood head and shoulders above the rest all season and now we approach the crunch time of the season who is in the best position to secure promotion?

Bristol have pushed themselves forwards as self promoted favourites and have confidently recruited some very high profile signings in anticipation of next season, whilst London Welsh have hardly been idle in the transfer market, with all of their signings being available to play immediately and a few rumours abound that there may be others who although not actually on the payroll, may have been registered before the February transfer deadline.

With Justin Burnell having built such a tight knit team, some have questioned whether introducing new faces so late in the season might have a negative effect whilst it is clearly obvious that last minute injuries without cover could have a serious effect on any clubs title aspirations.

Also word on the streets is that several key players have commited for next year regardless of league status and that together, with Justing Burnell extending his contract, can only further indicate the depth of goodwill and harmony surrounding the playing staff.

The new signings that have already played have seemed to settle in well and winning ways have continued on the pitch.

Obviously even at this late stage in the season , nothing is to be taken for granted, but what are your views on the new signings, Welsh's and the other contenders chances, the playoffs and the final run in in general.

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The Home Straight
Discussion started by The Dragons' Den , 18/03/2014 17:04
The Dragons' Den
18/03/2014 17:04
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peterh64
18/03/2014 18:27
Well welsh are certainly in form, on the Bristol site they reckon Leeds are the biggest threat however if we play the right game using our big loose forwards who have been sensational recently
Leeds didn't look that great when we played them and we are in much better form now

paddytaf
18/03/2014 19:18
LONDON SCOTTISH still have a say in who takes the forth birth in the play-offs. As for us LONDON WELSH. From my point of view i don't mind who we play in the semi's, as i'm very confident that we will get to the FINAL AND WIN IT C'MON YOU WELSH! PADDYTAF.



"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"

chappers
18/03/2014 20:58
Indeed theres talk around other sites, about whether you want to play the best teams in the semis or the finals , but to be honest when we are firing on all four, we will beat anyone. Bristol on Good friday will tell us where both teams are and will be a massive game for playoff confidence.

EverOptimistic
19/03/2014 09:18
Mmmm - don't know where you got this from:
"Bristol have pushed themselves forwards as self promoted favourites and have confidently recruited some very high profile signings in anticipation of next season"

Bris don't consider themselves favourites and haven't promoted themselves as such. They have a stated long term plan to put together as near a Prem standard side as they can, to compete with any relegated team. That doesn't suggest they expect to be in the Prem next season.

From everything I hear, Welsh are favourites. But I stll think it wil be Leeds.

Y Drenewydd
19/03/2014 09:42
Bristol are favourites according to the BBC/Andy Robinson

Agree about Leeds , they will a real threat in the play offs.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:03:19:09:48:45 by X~Pat.

Gray_Lensman
19/03/2014 11:34
So, Andy Robinson asked a question by a reporter before the start of the season constitutes self promoted favourites does it? I think that might be pushing things just a little too far don't you?

What Bristol have made no secret of is the desire to achieve promotion. I don't see what is wrong with that. Of course lazy reporting turned that into 'expect' promotion. And of course that's all most people pick up on. Just as we are labelled as 'fallen giants', 'big-spending' and , yes, 'favourites'

None of which have anything to do with what the clubs has said or how it behaves.

Back to the rugby, the best side I've seen all season was Leeds without a doubt.

Y Drenewydd
19/03/2014 12:28
No I'm not suggesting anything !Agree with you completely Gray ,leading questions from reporters are a minefield for subsequent speculation as LW know only too well ....

An interesting few months await us all .

metalman
19/03/2014 14:44
Bristol splashing the cash,own stadium, big fan base ex england coach certs on promotion. Ticks all the boxes for the rfu despite the team coming down has a better stadium,probably a bigger fan base and a coach that the media love with HIS plan!
Rugby is a game of 80 mins(160 in playoffs) and last year Welsh did better than expected (come on wuss not winning a game is embarrassing not only for the club but the league!)and that exp last year ,imo,will give Welsh the edge in the last 4 games.

paddytaf
19/03/2014 15:01
LEEDS appears to be on some followers/supporters lips as the OUT & OUT favourites to WIN promotion. I can only speak from what i've seen, and i have seen both our games against LEEDS. At Headingly they were a very tough outfit to beat, but at the Kassam LONDON WELSH held all the aces in the pack and could/should have won by much more. Since those games LONDON WELSH have improved no-end, which i'm sure LEEDS have as well, all of this said though LONDON WELSH will be on FIRE(Sm73) come the play-offs. C'MON YOU WELSH! PADDYTAF.



"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"

thorpebayexile
24/03/2014 16:25
As a Bris fan, I fear LW most of all the four teams. You have the confidence of winning the play offs before - despite not beig favorites then, then you managed to win some very tough games last season.

What I see in LW is a team that can grind out a win. If I were a neutral I would put money on you guys. I Hope i'm wrong.

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