Montpellier vs Ulster

First topic message reminder :

Montpellier

1. Yvan Watremez - 2. Mickaël Ivaldi - 3.Maximiliano Bustos - 4.Jim HAMILTON - 5. Thibaut Privat - 6. Fulgence Ouedraogo (Captain) - 7. Mamuka Gorgodze - 8. Kélian Galletier - 9. Jonathan Pélissié - 10. François Trinh-Duc - 11. Yoan Audrin - 12. Wynand Olivier - 13. Anthony Tuitavaké - 14. Timoci Nagusa - 15. Anthony Floch

Replacements 16. Thomas Bianchin - 17. Misha Nariashvili - 18. Nicolas Mas - 19. Fred Quercy - 20. Robins Tchalé-Watchou - 21. Benoit Paillaugue - 22. Thomas Combezou - 23. Benoit Sicart

Ulster

1. Tom Court - 2. Rory Best - 3. Declan Fitzpatrick - 4. Johann Muller (Captain) - 5. Dan Tuohy - 6. Robbie Diack - 7. Chris Henry - 8. Roger Wilson - 9. Ruan Pienaar - 10. Paddy Jackson - 11. Tommy Bowe - 12. Luke Marshall - 13. Darren Cave - 14. Andrew Trimble - 15. Jared Payne

Replacements 16. Rob Herring - 17. Callum Black - 18. John Afoa - 19. Lewis Stevenson - 20. Iain Henderson - 21. Paul Marshall - 22. Stuart Olding - 23. Michael Allen

No problem with motivation this week- whoever wins this game, takes control of the group.

Is a win possible? Very much so, although we couldn't be up against a more in-form team. Recent thrashings of Clermont and Toulouse at the hands of Montpellier on their own patch will mean we are the underdogs for the bookies and most neutrals. Right now, its probably one of the hardest places to go in Europe.

That said, we have the depth up front and the classy tactical kickers in our backline to get through this game with a result. A losing bonus point would not be the end of the world but we should be targeting this as a win; play territory, gain parity in the set piece and take our points when on offer and we will be in the mix in the last 10 minutes. Pienaar, Jackson and Payne will be crucial in guiding us through this game but if our tactical kicking and our kick chase is as good this week as it was on Friday we can frustrate them. But we'll also have to negate a typically powerful scrum and maintain very high standards in the breakdown and lineout. Enough to win? We'll see but I genuinely think we have the tools to win away from home in Europe this season- in this group away wins will be like gold dust so this is massive opportunity for us to assert our credentials.

Tactics were perfect and to be he next I can't remember a bad kick. There must have been one or two but by and large they shafted Montpellier.

We were definitely conservative compared to say how we played in last seasons QF but we have learned. We managed the game and we forced the errors including a couple on our line. I'm not convinced they should have had a try either but they deserved it.

We deserved and got much more

Congratulations to Ulster. Watched the game today and thought you took the game to them in the right way and once you got your noses in front never let them back in.

A potentially very important win on the road and beating the French in their own back yard is never to be sniffed at.

Cheers MT, hopefully you guys and Montpellier take points off each other and we do the double over Treviso   

Excellent result for Ulster. I guess the only worry for them is whether this defeat means Montpelier decide to concentrate on T14 and rest players for the December matches with Leicester.

However Ulster firmly in the box seat now - at the very least a best runner up spot looks fairly easy to attain.

MrsP wrote:I know I shouldn't but...

I've just seen this comment on FB.

"Judging by the results this weekend, I'm starting to think the French-Anglo Cup could rival the Amlin."

Sorry Grey, but it had to be done!!!

Ouch, that was a good shot.

When did you post that on Facebook?
Attacking helpless people when they are suffering.............

Shock, dismay, sadness.

Jim Nagusa posted a photo of himself on twitter a while ago in a cafe surrounded by Ulster fans, posing in a red and white feather boa with what he says is one of Darren Caves parents.

I love Jim Nagusa- that is all!

Oh no!

It was far too witty and clever to have been me. I just laughed when I read it and then thought I would be kind and share it with everyone on here! Afterall, there are folks here whose teams lost today, or last week and I thought they might want cheering up.

 

You
are
like
a
duck.

You
quack
me
up.

Interesting match stats from this game as they suggest that Montpellier were superior in pretty much every aspect -possession, territory, metres run, defenders beaten - in fact we missed a whopping 20 tackles. The set piece was marginally in their favour too.

The two areas were we had the clear advantage were penalties conceded (12 - 5) and turnovers conceded 22 - 10 in our favour.

Montpellier really shot themselves in the foot with their indiscipline - although in fairness I think they won't be entirely happy with the referees performance - the language barrier aside, he definitely didn't do Montpellier any favours at the scrum or breakdown.

Touhy and Jackson must surely have played themselves into green jerseys after this one. Wilson deserves a call up to the extended squad at least. Fitzpatrick has overtaken Mike Ross as the no1 TH for me too.

They didn't do themselves favours though rodders. I looked back at the penalties and two were fortuitous but one (scrum) penalty came after the Mas clearout incident which should have been a penalty anyway and I think Hodges was evening up there.

I would agree though it's not often you get a ref with the balls to have that kind of penalty count favouring an away team (unless you wear a black shirt)

No they didn't stand however Hodges let us away with a lot of handling in the ruck when we were defending compared to Montpellier - there were a couple of times he called hands away and let us away with it but penalised Montpellier for the same, one in particular with Court when he gave a scrum rather than penalty.

That's not to say Montpellier didn't deserve to lose - they got frustrated and dropped their heads - we were the better, more clinical side. Considering some were calling them dark horses I was surprised at how poor they were here.  

This group is between us and the tigers now for sure. Can't see Montpellier coming back from this. I can see both us and the Tigers coming out of this group.

Hmmm.

They were pretty daft at the scrum though. If the ref keeps telling you that you must stay close and not move back from the mark but you keep moving back from the mark to try to get a hit then you are asking for trouble. I accept that the language barrier makes it more difficult but he did explain repeatedly and they could have got clarification at half time if they needed it but instead they kept on breaking the rules to try to gain an advantage.

The breakdown was a bit of a mess though. Let's just be thankful it was a French team it happened against rather than, well, you know...

 

MrsP wrote:The breakdown was a bit of a mess though. Let's just be thankful it was a French team it happened against rather than, well, you know...
 

Excuse me, Madam?
I cannot sit here and have you make a veiled swipe at.............the Italians.  The Italians are sorting their game and developing, and their government is a mess.  If they go into the breakdown with thoughts of economic meltdown and bunga-bunga on their minds, I will not judge them.

What we want now is Montpelier and Leicester to take lumps out of each other whilst we take 9/10 point out of Treviso.

If Montpelier win at home to Leicester we should be out of sight before we even go to Welford Road

What???

An Englishman (albeit AmericaniZed) getting all indignant about a thinly veiled swipe at the Welsh???

A true gentleman.

 

MrsP wrote:What???

An Englishman (albeit AmericaniZed) getting all indignant about a thinly veiled swipe at the Welsh???

A true gentleman.

 

Of course I am a gentleman. A true and proper son of Mother England (though I only qualify by residency and parentage).

And, yes, AmericaniZed. When living amongst the great unwashed in the colonies, one must adopt or at least show some respect for certain local mores and customs, no?
Exactly as trained by the Foreign Office. And, as a true and proper gentleman.

That sounds like you have just repaced your Bowler Hat with a Baseball Cap and are approaching the point when you might even be prepared to wear it back to front!

Yo Bro!

Is that a smile???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbXbken4Qo0

Nearly! Here's Trimbys try. Such a good try- brilliant pass from Payne to create the initial break, brilliant pass from Cave to release Trimble then there are about 3 white shirts around the ball carrier, great support. Trimble to Bowe, Bowe to Trimble- beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbWAikY2T4I

And Jackos tackle; how on earth does he get over to make this one. It was a try for all money! Reminds me of the one Fofana missed in the semi against Leinster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJcITYrDvFw

YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES

I figure it is safer to celebrate Saints win here amongst friends rather than on the Ospreys-(dislike) Saints/Hartley/England/self thread.  

Hope you don't mind, you happy peoples.

doctor_grey wrote:YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES

I figure it is safer to celebrate Saints win here amongst friends rather than on the Ospreys-(dislike) Saints/Hartley/England/self thread.  

Hope you don't mind, you happy peoples.

You curtain track. Or coat tailer, or whatever

Yeah, only for the last 25 years or so.
I am really quite shallow.....

doctor_grey wrote:Yeah, only for the last 25 years or so.  
I am really quite shallow.....  

first step to redemption - admitting the problem. Just 6 more to take

Well done Saints.

The team I like, dispite having a couple of players I strongly dislike. Great supporters!

Mostly!

 

MrsP wrote:Well done Saints.

The team I like, dispite having a couple of players I strongly dislike. Great supporters!

Mostly!

 

Except for that Doctor fellow of course. Damned glory seeker

I couldn't possibly comment!

 

I've decided that after further reflection that I am very satisfied with this result and the manner through which it was achieved....

SUFTUM.

rodders wrote:I've decided that after further reflection that I am very satisfied with this result and the manner through which it was achieved....

SUFTUM.

You and Mark Anscombe are actually happy at the way Ulster played? 

Makes a change  

A smile from Mr Anscombe and a "very satisified" from Mr Rodders?????

 

Were we that good?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbXbken4Qo0&feature=youtu.be

MrsP wrote:A smile from Mr Anscombe and a "very satisified" from Mr Rodders?????

 

Were we that good?

Yea jobs a good'un I suppose....  

Lot of people saying this is our best ever away display in Europe but for me there are a couple of others in there ahead of it;

1) Munster 16-22 Ulster, QF at Thomond Park
2) Northampton 6-25 Ulster, Group Stages at Franklins Gardens
3) Montpellier 8-25 Ulster, Group Stages at Stade Yves Du Manoir

Cardiff coming up fast- six day turnaround so I'm sure we'll rotate and hopefully see Henderson, Olding, Gilroy and maybe Afoa drafted in. Hopefully big Nick Williams back too.

Franklins gardens 5 pointer was the best performance for me, followed by the loss to Clermont where they cheated ....

As results go though this was maybe the best.