Pro12 Round 8; Ulster vs Edinburgh

First topic message reminder :

Well, the Pro12 picks up at Ravenhill on Friday night under the shadow of the impending test matches and it's because of those this match is pretty hard to call right now. Ulster are heavy favourites on form, but there's a joker in the deck; a lot will depend on what players are released from their respective national squads for the weekend

Ulster are missing 14 players from their regular squad- either to Ireland duty or injury- and a number of niggling injury worries has meant players we might normally expect to get back haven't been released.

Ulster XV & replacements to face Edinburgh, RaboDirect PRO12, Friday 2nd November, Ravenhill (7.05pm):
(15-9): R Andrew; C Cochrane, J Payne, P Wallace, C Gilroy; R Pienaar, P Marshall;
(1-8): C Black, N Brady (capt), J Afoa, L Stevenson, N McComb, S Ferris, M McComish, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): N Annett, R Lutton, A Macklin, R Diack, N Williams, N O'Connor, S Olding, P Nelson.

Unavailable for selection (14):
Rory Best, Tommy Bowe, Tom Court, Darren Cave, Chris Farrell, Declan Fitzpatrick, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Paddy Jackson, Luke Marshall, Paddy McAllister, Johann Muller, Andrew Trimble, Dan Tuohy.

There's an element of rotation with Jared Payne moving to outside centre to allow Ricky Andrew to make his full Ulster debut at fullback and Roger Wilson making his first Ulster start in four years- the impressive Nick Williams will surely enjoy wreaking havoc form the bench in the second half. Whilst Ulsters depth has improved tenfold in recent times, this is a much weakened side- even if it does have a spine of experience (Brady, Afoa, Ferris, Wilson, Pienaar, Wallace, Payne).

However, Edinburgh themselves are missing 10 to the Scottish squad- Geoff Cross, David Denton, Ross Ford, Allan Jacobsen, Ross Rennie, Nick De Luca, Lee Jones, Greig Laidlaw, Matt Scott and Tim Visser are all taking part in preparations for Scotlands clash with New Zealand on the 11th November. Stuart McInally and Grant Gilchrist have been released to face Ulster this weekend.

Edinburgh team:

1 Yapp
2 Titterell
3 Nel
4 Gilchrist
5 McAlipne
6 Cox (Capt)
7 Grant
8 McInally
9 Leck
10 Hunter
11 Brown
12 King
13 Houston
14 Jones
15 Tonks

Subs Walker, Jacobson, Niven, VDV, Watson, Rees, Fife, Visser jnr

The absence of 21 players to either Scotland or Ireland plus injuries gives both teams a fairly unfamiliar look, with the honours likely to go to the side who adapts best.

The major threat to Embra is if Wallace and Payne get into their groove in the midfield and guys start picking lines off them. Too very creative ball players who need to be closed down quickly.

This team has a great deal of sexy rugby potential, if we can cut-out the knock-ons and turnovers that have blighted our attacking play at times this season.

Chris Cochrane actually bagged a try in this game last year; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o20bYqK84h4

Edinburgh are very good at getting opposition players back into form, or giving new players comfortable debuts - so I think you'll do just fine against us!

Good news is there are only tickets left for the area behind the posts.

Bad news is I discovered this after I realised I could go tomorrow night!!!!

Hope it's like last years meeting at Ravenhill. Full of open, running rugby. Give us a dry night! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhaTJA_rrag&feature=relmfu

Love to see this kind of ambition and running;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVsGLsZwWLQ&feature=relmfu

MrsP wrote:Good news is there are only tickets left for the area behind the posts.

Bad news is I discovered this after I realised I could go tomorrow night!!!!

Thats fantastic, especially so as I can't go ... the attendances must be well up this year. The Terrace has been absolutely crammed every game I've been at...

Come on Rava hurry up with this new stand man!!

No rain forecast for Belfast twixt now and the final whistle Notch!

MrsP wrote:No rain forecast for Belfast twixt now and the final whistle Notch!

that edinburgh team

Roger Wilson interview;

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/10923.php

Scot Abroad wrote:that edinburgh team

Try and think of the positives - look at that front row compared to last years!

1 Traynor V Yapp
2 Kelly V Titterell
3 Gilding V Nel

I'm sure Roger Wilson can't believe his eyes.

The last time he played at Ravenhill we were one from bottom of the table having amassed the grand total of 29 points in the whole season with only 6 wins to our name. Some change eh?

Edinburgh fans, do not despair of your side. Your time will come again.

Stop trying to make them feel better, MrsP, you're only deluding them!

I was fairly close with my team.
I assume Allen isn't 100% fit. What a boost to the confidence of Cochrane and Andrew though. Well done Anscombe.

rodders wrote:

MrsP wrote:Good news is there are only tickets left for the area behind the posts.

Bad news is I discovered this after I realised I could go tomorrow night!!!!

Thats fantastic, especially so as I can't go ... the attendances must be well up this year. The Terrace has been absolutely crammed every game I've been at...

Come on Rava hurry up with this new stand man!!

Feicin IRFU. Bunch of amateur cretins.

I had to take behind the posts a few weeks back. It wasnt THAT bad. Its a great view when tries are scored at your end, and a terrible view when tries are scored at the other end.

Rava wrote:

rodders wrote:

MrsP wrote:Good news is there are only tickets left for the area behind the posts.

Bad news is I discovered this after I realised I could go tomorrow night!!!!

Thats fantastic, especially so as I can't go ... the attendances must be well up this year. The Terrace has been absolutely crammed every game I've been at...

Come on Rava hurry up with this new stand man!!

Feicin IRFU. Bunch of amateur cretins.

Problem Rava???

clivemcl wrote:I had to take behind the posts a few weeks back. It wasnt THAT bad. Its a great view when tries are scored at your end, and a terrible view when tries are scored at the other end.

Pretty much! Easy to get to the bar and toilets though. Or wait until half-time when others have the same idea and try to sneak onto the prom!

If I ever did that, it was years ago when the stewarding was very laissez faire. I bet they're much more vigilant now. Have had season ticket for the past number of years so long time since I've been there.

I'm afraid my weather forecasting leaves a bit to be desired!

It's raining!

Discovered the problem with my forecast. Some eejit had turned off my puter so it had reset all my stuff including where I live. You will all be glad to know that there not expected to be any rain in LONDON but it will rain here on and off till lunch time tomorrow. It is due to be dry for the match though.

Chilly though!

Notch wrote:
If I ever did that, it was years ago when the stewarding was very laissez faire. I bet they're much more vigilant now. Have had season ticket for the past number of years so long time since I've been there.

Interesting you should say it I have noticed a certain lack of consistancy lately in the er assertiveness of the Stewarding from one end of the Terrace to the other.... .

This is not that bad a Edinburgh team, could give Ulster a run for their money.
They need big game from the likes of Cox, Nel and McInally though.

Hope everyone is well hopped up tonight.

Very cold out there.

Brrrrrrrrrrrr!

I think it has stopped raining though.

Game time!

C'Mon Uuuuuullllllssssstttttterrrrrrr!!!!!!!

SUFTUM!!

Mon Edinburgh!

Hope it's a great game RDW!

Right, can't seem to find the link to the game on the beeb, odd since BBC NI are doing it. Anyone got a link?

Is it on the website Glove?

Is it on the website Glove?

Well got it on Alba at the moment, just a shame I don't know Gallic

cadgey start both teams - all very tactical just now!

Good move that Edinburgh - wrong decision to kick it I think though

Actually scrap that found the NI link http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20157428

Definitely downward pressure!!

Clucking bell, what a bright start for Edinburgh. Now keep it up!

Great start - Ulster look half asleep! Long may it continue!

Solid conversion there as well.

NOC!

Who is off for Ulster?

Harsh pen against McInally there I think!

Pienaar is off. I hope it's just a bllod replacement!

And, he's back!

Wow thats the Edinburgh I remember. Think Bradley should keep this side when internationals return with Visser in for Brown.

So bloody frustrating - attacking lineout that totally messes up and suddenly we're defending our own try line!

Phew!

John Yapp totally destroyed in that scrum.

Strange to give penalty try straight away - the number 8 had lost the ball at the back!

Horrendous defence Edinburgh.

Normal service resumed! 2 minutes, 2 tries.

Gilroy and Payne. That was sensational!

Great run Gilroy!

I think the decision was made before the ball was lost RDW.

Great try lads.