Ulster v Dragons Friday 10th February 2012 KO 7.05pm

by Rava Tue 07 Feb 2012, 12:31 pm

First topic message reminder :

So amid the Bowe signing, McLaughlin leaving and Ferris citing, its back to Pro 12 this weekend. The squad should be announced at lunch-time and I will update when that happens.

Ulster team to face Dragons, Friday 10th February 2012, Ravenhill (kick-off 7.05pm)

(15-9): A D'Arcy; C Gilroy, I Whitten, P Wallace, S Terblanche; I Humphreys, R Pienaar;
(1-8): C Black, A Kyriacou, J Afoa (capt), L Stevenson, D Tuohy, M McComish, W Faloon, R Diack;

Replacements (16-23): N Brady, P McAllister, A Macklin, T Barker, A Birch, P Marshall, N Spence, S Danielli

Dragons 25 man squad

Backs

Martyn Thomas, Jamie Smith, Aled Brew, Adam Hughes, Andy Tuilagi, Tom Riley, Ashley Smith, Lewis Robling, Jason Tovey, Joe Bedford, Wayne Evans,

Forwards

Gavin Thomas, Darren Waters, Rhys Jenkins, Hugo Ellis, Tom Brown, Jevon Groves, Adam Jones, Rob Sidoli, Phil Price, Nathan Williams, Nathan Buck, Dan Way, Steve Jones, Rhys Buckley.

by geoff998rugby Thu 09 Feb 2012, 12:38 pm

Sorry Rava that should say match sharpe not match fit..a typo Erm

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 09 Feb 2012, 12:43 pm

Dragons by 105.

by Rava Thu 09 Feb 2012, 12:47 pm

Looking forward to seeing some more of Ali Birch.

by toml Thu 09 Feb 2012, 1:11 pm

Luke Marshall was so far off the pace at the ravens a few weeks ago that he'll have to work hard at club level for a month or 2 before we see him.
Hope Black has a big game, hes looked good every time i've seen him.
Gilroy could use a few tries to remind people hes as good as Zebo

by WillyGilly Thu 09 Feb 2012, 1:27 pm

Henry not in the ireland team? Confused.

by **Notch** Thu 09 Feb 2012, 2:15 pm

Hmm. Dragons have a great chance to spring a upset. Should be a close game.

by Sin é Thu 09 Feb 2012, 2:18 pm

WillyGilly wrote:Henry not in the ireland team? Confused.

Could be travelling sub - there are usually 2/3 in case anything goes wrong in the warm-up. Alan Quinlan got a Grand Slam medal as one.

by Rava Thu 09 Feb 2012, 2:33 pm

I would think Sin é has got it correct.

by bedfordwelsh Thu 09 Feb 2012, 2:54 pm

Notch wrote:Hmm. Dragons have a great chance to spring a upset. Should be a close game.

Our away form has been shocking and despite us being able to call upon pretty strong squad I doubt that will change tomorrow night. Would love it if it did mind you.

by Impossible Standards Thu 09 Feb 2012, 2:55 pm

Ashley Smith is back as captain of the side which sees a number of changes since the last Dragons match that played the Ospreys in Bridgend a fortnight ago.

Adam Jones and Rob Sidoli both return in the second row having been rested after a busy December and January period. Back row Gavin Thomas is also fit again having recovered from injury.

Newport Gwent Dragons Team
Martyn Thomas, Jamie Smith, Adam Hughes, Ashley Smith (c), Aled Brew, Jason Tovey, Wayne Evans, Nathan Williams, Steve Jones, Nathan Buck, Adam Jones, Rob Sidoli, Jevon Groves, Darren Waters, Gavin Thomas

Replacements
Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Dan Way, Hugo Ellis, Tom Brown, Joe Bedford, Andy Tuilagi, Lewis Robling

by Impossible Standards Thu 09 Feb 2012, 2:56 pm

Hmm. Dragons have a great chance to spring a upset. Should be a close game

Notch last year I would have agreed with you. This year I don't rate our chances with any team we put out as we haven't performed all season. Home or away! Go on Dragons prove me wrong I dare you!

by WillyGilly Thu 09 Feb 2012, 2:58 pm

Wow Jamie Smith to make a triumphant return?

by bedfordwelsh Thu 09 Feb 2012, 3:02 pm

Is Lewis Evans injured?

by Impossible Standards Thu 09 Feb 2012, 3:03 pm

Wow Jamie Smith to make a triumphant return?

He's been injured a lot with us and the games he has played he was poor at best so I doubt it...

by Standulstermen Thu 09 Feb 2012, 3:10 pm

I would hope the likes of Afoa, Tuohy, Pienaar, Wallace and terblanche can see us through.

by **Notch** Thu 09 Feb 2012, 3:36 pm

Yeah, our backline is great and a lot of experience. PLEASE release Wallace and Tuohy, Declan, you conservative old... A massive amount depends on Afoa up front. Of course our front row is quite good so if we can get a nudge on in the scrums our life will be a lot easier.

by Standulstermen Thu 09 Feb 2012, 3:44 pm

I think paddy is guaranteed to be released. He is in the errigle tonight for that area 22 thing in place of chris Henry.

by **Notch** Thu 09 Feb 2012, 4:10 pm

Well thats fine. So long as he's in at 12 we should be alright. A Whitten/Spence centre combo is a pretty one dimensional!

by Rory_Gallagher Thu 09 Feb 2012, 6:34 pm

Almost as one dimensional as D'Arcy and McFadden would you say?

by Don Alfonso Thu 09 Feb 2012, 6:37 pm

No, not quite that one-dimensional...

by **Notch** Thu 09 Feb 2012, 11:05 pm

Scarlets lost tonight and didn't get the bonus. Thats good for us.

Hopefully we can capitalise.

by geoff998rugby Fri 10 Feb 2012, 4:38 pm

Hope some can make it tonight - looking forward to it.

Outside chance I might meet up with a few of the lads after the match - we'll see.

by WillyGilly Fri 10 Feb 2012, 4:44 pm

T'would be an honour Geoff. Doesn't look as though I'm going to get away from work in time though. So if anyone needs an extra ticket on the way in my friends will probably be looking to give one away.

by Don Alfonso Fri 10 Feb 2012, 6:38 pm

Nervous, nervous, nervous..,

Suftum.

by MrsP Fri 10 Feb 2012, 7:15 pm

Why can I never find the right page to watch the Ulster matches on line?????

Is it because our puter seems to think we live in Glasgow???

by Backrower678 Fri 10 Feb 2012, 7:26 pm

What a fantastic try that was, some super offloads all round.

by MrsP Fri 10 Feb 2012, 7:29 pm

Anyone care to send me a link to the web page?

My puter will only let me find the Culture Show!!!!!

by JayMaster3000 Fri 10 Feb 2012, 7:43 pm

http://tvonline-live.com/player/ch.php?title=Ulster%20vs%20Dragons&type=veetle&id=CC80049109F27CC802B7DF68CAB3F8FD

illegal link. Can't it on the new BBC site.

by MrsP Fri 10 Feb 2012, 7:45 pm

Maybe it's not just me then?

Thanks though Jmaster!

by Backrower678 Fri 10 Feb 2012, 7:51 pm

Cant find a link on the page at all MrsP, best of luck really dont like the new format

by MrsP Fri 10 Feb 2012, 7:51 pm

No worries lads.

Thanks anyway!

by JayMaster3000 Fri 10 Feb 2012, 7:57 pm

Use the link?

by Golden Fri 10 Feb 2012, 8:58 pm

Well done Ulster nice bp win.

Gilroy is excellent

by MrsP Fri 10 Feb 2012, 9:05 pm

Wooo Hoooo!!!!

Commandeered the telly off the littlest P so saw the second half!

Not sure why John Afoa decided to go for the 3 from that penalty but heyho!

Strangest moments for me were Poor Willie Faloon getting carded for not releasing in the tackle when he hadn't been the tackler, (you owe him one DanT) and Adam Darcy getting penalised for not releasing the tackled player after he had been on the bench for 5 mins!

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 10 Feb 2012, 9:05 pm

Spence I thought looked absolutely class. No idea why he was at 12 and Whitten was at 13 though. Incredibly bizarre call.

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 10 Feb 2012, 9:14 pm

More on Spence actually, he has received so much criticism lately for his lack of awareness and his passing. Well if you watched today you can't say he lacked any awareness or that his passing wasn't good. He timed each pass beautifully, had a part to play in most of our tries and his off-loading was stellar. Not to mention his huge defence and breaking the gain-line everytime he got the ball. My MOM. Very happy he had such a good game.

by MrsP Fri 10 Feb 2012, 9:19 pm

I think that may have been the first time I have heard Dan Tuohy speak!

by WillyGilly Fri 10 Feb 2012, 9:20 pm

Ditto Rory.

by WillyGilly Fri 10 Feb 2012, 9:25 pm

Your first post btw Rory, the add on was just a load of crap :-P

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 10 Feb 2012, 9:30 pm

Not agree about Spence? Why was it crap?

by WillyGilly Fri 10 Feb 2012, 9:39 pm

He isn't a 12! No idea why on earth he was put there. Much as his passing and overall game awareness have improved at 12 I still thinks he takes the ball too much into the contact area. Still not good enough at 12, an improvement don't get me wrong, but we all know that isn't his best position. Offloading, defense etc where all excellent, aside from one occasion where both caught out.
To be honest we are blessed with 13s at Ulster and whichever of them is fit should be in the ireland squad. Especially as there is currently no specialist 13 in Paris.

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 10 Feb 2012, 9:42 pm

No no I totally agree with you, he isn't a 12 at all, though he still played class. I think Spence really does have a brilliant rugby brain though, many people have said he doesn't lately, or that he hasn't got the awareness or that his passing hasn't been good. I think he was brilliant at all three of those things today.

Still no idea why he was at 12 with Whitten at 13. Very strange. Hope he isn't being considered a 12 for both Ulster and Ireland.

by WillyGilly Fri 10 Feb 2012, 9:47 pm

Maybe they'd preped the 12 shirt for someone off Paddy's size and couldn't squeze Whitten into it.

by The Great Aukster Fri 10 Feb 2012, 9:47 pm

Spence looked a class player, always made ground and always stopped his man.
Stevenson had his best game for Ulster as did McComish. Black is a great scrummager.

At least the Scottish referees now know they aren't the worst in the league.

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 10 Feb 2012, 9:48 pm

You know, that actually crossed my mind Laugh

however I thought at least they would stand in their positions, but they didn't. Spence played inside Whitten. Whitten didn't have a great game.

by **rodders** Fri 10 Feb 2012, 10:03 pm

Bollix missed this one had to go out for a meal.... furious

...

Great result, caught the replay of tries ....the Pienaar try was unbelievable!

Sounds like young Spence had a good game? Any other standout performances?

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 10 Feb 2012, 10:17 pm

Faloon offered a bunch in attack, made plenty of offloads and played the link man role very well. When Birch came on, he did the exact same. Birch looks a real player. Diack shown great skill for his try, and I thought McComish looked pretty good too. Tuohy made some devastating carries as always. Stevenson did a lot of the hard work. In the backs Gilroy shown just how strong and dangerous he can be with the ball, and D'Arcy also was a huge threat.

by **Notch** Fri 10 Feb 2012, 10:20 pm

MrsP wrote:Not sure why John Afoa decided to go for the 3 from that penalty but heyho!

That was surreal. The coaches, everyone on the bench in fact, were jumping up and down and pointing at the corner. Screaming go for the corner, pointing, waving... Afoa and Pienaar took a good long look at this animated display and utterly overruled them. You do get the impression the senior players have as much influence as the coaches or more.

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 10 Feb 2012, 10:20 pm

And yeah Spence I thought was absolutely brilliant and shown pure class throughout. Huge hits, contested the ball every time, beautifully times passes, great awareness, broke the gain-line multiple times. Just thought he was brilliant. Strangely he was playing 12 though with Whitten outside him. Hope he gets back into the 13 shirt and shows everyone who has forgotten just how good he was last season.

by **Notch** Fri 10 Feb 2012, 10:21 pm

Rory, I have to disagree with you. The backrow was a disaster area tonight.

The breakdown was dire. That's their main job. Awful. McComish was slipping off tackles all over the shop too.

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