Ulster vs Cardiff Blues

First topic message reminder :

Ulster; 15 Stuart Olding, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Tommy Bowe, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar; 1 Callum Black 2 Rory Best, 3 Declan Fitzpatrick, 4 Johann Muller (c), 5 Dan Tuohy, 6 Robbie Diack, 7 Chris Henry, 8 Roger Wilson

Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Tom Court, 18 John Afoa, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Mike McComish, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Darren Cave, 23 Michael Allen

Cardiff Blues: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Richard Smith, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Dafydd Hewitt, 11 Harry Robinson, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Marc Breeze, 3 Scott Andrews, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 Filo Paulo, 6 Josh Navidi, 7 Sam Warburton, 8 Robin Copeland.

Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Taufa'ao Filise, 19 Lou Reed, 20 Rory Watts-Jones, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Chris Czekaj

So just two changes for Ulster and a positional switch; Payne moves to centre instead of Cave, Olding comes in at fullback and Callum Black comes into the front row at loosehead. Ulster will be targeting a bonus point win as we look to claw our way back up the table but Blues will have renewed confidence after their European scalping of Toulon. Cardiff are without Cuthbert and Matthew Rees- Ulster are missing Craig Gilroy, Iain Henderson and Nick Williams.

Massive welcome back to Ravenhill for Filo Paulo

And now Bradley Davies is captain...

wales606 wrote:If the Blues had started with Filise then they would have a LBP at least from this match

You having a laugh? Ulster are doing what they like at srumtime and Filise has never been that great at TH.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wales606 wrote:If the Blues had started with Filise then they would have a LBP at least from this match

You having a laugh? Ulster are doing what they like at srumtime and Filise has never been that great at TH.

Did you see what happened to Andrews in the first 30?

That cost us a lot of points

The big winger in again. Congrats Ulster. Best team won.

Hmmm, some positive to take from that

But we need a better scrum platform and we need a lot more possession than we had tonight.

Lineout and maul were very good, scrum was dire.

Wow delighted with that performance - impressed with the blues too. Good game.

Olding is my MOTM, what a talent ..... and Trimble, he must be gutted he couldn't find that form a few weeks ago when Joe Schmidt was watching.

Blues do so many things well, but that scrum is a serious weakness. Scott Andrew's cannot scrummage for toffee. Bare in mind that was Ulster's back up loosehead he was scrummaging against and he got murdered come scrum time.

But.....the Blues breakdown is good, backline is dangerous and they have probably the best place kicker around in Halfpenny. Sort out the tighthead and they are a very good outfit.

wales606 wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wales606 wrote:If the Blues had started with Filise then they would have a LBP at least from this match

You having a laugh? Ulster are doing what they like at srumtime and Filise has never been that great at TH.

Did you see what happened to Andrews in the first 30?

That cost us a lot of points

Who replaced Andrews?

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wales606 wrote:If the Blues had started with Filise then they would have a LBP at least from this match

You having a laugh? Ulster are doing what they like at srumtime and Filise has never been that great at TH.

Did you see what happened to Andrews in the first 30?

That cost us a lot of points

Who replaced Andrews?

Filise

rodders wrote:Wow delighted with that performance - impressed with the blues too. Good game.

Olding is my MOTM, what a talent ..... and Trimble, he must be gutted he couldn't find that form a few weeks ago when Joe Schmidt was watching.

Olding, Payne and Tuohy had great games. But its not often Black would get to be MOTM and I would be almost tempted to give to him for the number he did on the Blues scrum in the first half.

Roger Wilson as well - excellent game in the loose and that sort of control he possesses at the back of the scrum is something we just don't get out of Williams.

wales606 wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wales606 wrote:If the Blues had started with Filise then they would have a LBP at least from this match

You having a laugh? Ulster are doing what they like at srumtime and Filise has never been that great at TH.

Did you see what happened to Andrews in the first 30?

That cost us a lot of points

Who replaced Andrews?

Filise

Agreed. The same Filise that was in, out, shake it all about and back in again during the photo shoot that signalled the merciful end to the CCS con trick.

Good game tonight. Blues played well, but their scrum is pants.

Some stand out performances for Ulster, including Tuohy, Payne, Olding and Wilson. Wilson played well, but couldn't catch a cold tonight, so not in the running for MOTM. Between Payne, and Olding. Olding played very, very, well at 15 tonight   Payne for me though. As usual the man just oozes class, and because we are so used to it we sometimes miss him for MOTM, methinks. So I'm chuffed he got it.

SUFTUM

Payne or Olding motm. Marshall and Jackson did well dovetailing with them but the letters kicking let him down. Tuohy stood out again. Couple of errors from Wilson which were uncharacteristic but otherwise very good.

Trimble had an absolute shocker for me. Two tries down to his lapses. I was delighted he got the BP try for his own confidence. Not bad considering we were missing Williams and Hendo for go forward and our two leaders after the first quarter.

Stuart Olding really is special isn't he? Throw him in out of position and he's one of the best players on the pitch. And Jared Payne, I'd pay just to watch him.

Cardiff really stuck at it and played quite well bit was disappointed that we let them into the game a wee bit too easily at times? Forcing the play in our 22 or making errors.

I don't like Olding.

Cardiff were good but after watching them two weeks in a row I have no notion why that lad Scott Andrews is in their 23. 3rd best tighthead in their squad on form.

SecretFly wrote:I don't like Olding.

Olding for some, miniature Leinster flags for others!

And always twirling, twirling, twirling towards victory  

Notch wrote:

SecretFly wrote:I don't like Olding.

Olding for some, miniature Leinster flags for others!

And always twirling, twirling, twirling towards victory  

Damn... Notch why didn't you just ask me why? My whole plan revolved around someone asking me why.

Then I was going to say "Don't know...just think he might be suspect"

And then when the Ulster boys were ready to skin me alive, I was going to say "Meaning I suspect he might be just too good"

I really like him. So much so that I think a place should have been found for him in the Ireland camp.

He was fantastic tonight, wasn't he?

And still only 20?

He's special and I think he will displace Luke Marshall. Jackson and Olding is mouthwatering.

He might well do. I'm not sure what our balance will be truth be told as marshalls physicality is a big asset. It will be some battle but Olding just does look ludicrously good. They linked up well twice and we scored both times

You know in defence Lukes physicality is a great asset- but Olding consistently makes just as many yards if not more on attack despite being smaller. He makes so much space for himself with footwork. Marshalls physicality isn't an advantage in attack when it seems like he's trying to kick down doors but Olding has the skills to unpick the lock.

Could be a fascinating battle.

Can't call it to be honest notch. Olding is too good to be used as a utility though. Cave isn't free and clear in this either. I love the three of them!

But Luke Marshall is quality too- oh we are spoilt.

The little delay Olding puts on his pass to put Marshall through here is only rivalled in quality by the pass Marshall floats out Diack!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7WWSvC2Uwg

But that try shows how they could work as a 12/13 duo.

Actually the line Marshall takes behind Corey Allen is fantastic too. Made possible by olding holding the ball so close to the line.

We really do have no excuses this year folks, with the class we have in our squad we have to come up with the goods.
I said earlier that Jared Payne can walk on water but we have even more to see from the guy.

fair play to Cardiff this evening for making a really good game of things. You Diff fans can rest assured that your team is on the up but our wee Ulster are only starting to build up a head of steam. World domination soon?

Happy days

SUFTCAB!!!

I see you all still arn't buying my prediction that Olding is being moulded into a full-back.

Question - Marshall, Cave, Payne, Olding, Trimble, Gilroy, Bowe.
Which one sits on the bench???

Second question, after tonight who do you play at full back if Payne is made our number 1 13. Gilroy? Olding? Nelson?

Food for thought.

Also, Well done to Zebre getting a draw against Scarlets!  

Geoff alluded to this earlier this week. Payne will be used in the Rabo (at times) as a 13 but will revert to 15 for the HEC. The two wings and halfbacks pic themselves although Trimble will have to watch out should Gilroy come back in form.

As for centre.  We are blessed at present. If I were picking a team for an HEC game tomorrow I would go Marshall/Cave. Next week we don't have marshall so I would like to see Olding/Cave. Beyond that we can rotate but I would rule out any of the combinations of those three guys for the HEC games

What about ol' Paddy Wallace to come back as well?

Payne has always been the heir to the green 13 shirt and has more than enough class to more than fill that place. I am dying to see him and Olding as a centre partnership. In those two players alone we are oozing X factor.

Freakin hell I had forgotten about Paddy Wallace.

clivemcl wrote:I see you all still arn't buying my prediction that Olding is being moulded into a full-back.

Question - Marshall, Cave, Payne, Olding, Trimble, Gilroy, Bowe.
Which one sits on the bench???

Second question, after tonight who do you play at full back if Payne is made our number 1 13. Gilroy? Olding? Nelson?

Food for thought.

Difficult to know where to put Olding. He seems to fit in wherever he is placed. As to who sits on the bench? Maybe it's a 'horses for courses' thing according to whatever game plan. Olding and Marshall are both great at 12, but both offer something different.

Notch wrote:But that try shows how they could work as a 12/13 duo.

Exactly what I thought when I saw that try. Honestly, Ulster are genuinely spoilt right now with talent in our back line.

Schmidt, you have no choice but to sit up and take notice.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Notch wrote:But that try shows how they could work as a 12/13 duo.

Exactly what I thought when I saw that try.  Honestly, Ulster are genuinely spoilt right now with talent in our back line.

Schmidt, you have no choice but to sit up and take notice.

Cue D'Arcy at 12 in November  

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Notch wrote:But that try shows how they could work as a 12/13 duo.

Exactly what I thought when I saw that try.  Honestly, Ulster are genuinely spoilt right now with talent in our back line.

Schmidt, you have no choice but to sit up and take notice.

Cue D'Arcy at 12 in November  

Nooooooooo!!!!
If I see D'Arcy in an Irish side again I will eat my own arse

Oh....

That sounds VERY wrong

I'll just be disappointed

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Notch wrote:But that try shows how they could work as a 12/13 duo.

Exactly what I thought when I saw that try.  Honestly, Ulster are genuinely spoilt right now with talent in our back line.

Schmidt, you have no choice but to sit up and take notice.

Cue D'Arcy at 12 in November  

 

But.. you know, I wouldn't be surprised to be honest.

I do expect a very Leinster heavy team to begin with at least.

One thing to note, I do believe there is better balance with Luke at 12. Not only for his physical presence, but his awareness and playmaking skills are truly wonderful. Stuart has the feet to more than make up for his lack of size when going forward (and his tackling technique is seriously good in defence) but honestly there will be times where we need someone to take the ball into heavy traffic, and he simply isn't that sort of player. Luke offers both a playmaking option and the physicality, with a great ability to break the line himself. He is a very good decoy runner also.

As for Stuart, he just oozes class really. The fact is he seems to be able to play well in any position, and there could be a possibility he is actually just as good (or if we are lucky, possibly better) in a position other than 12. He did look very good at 15 tonight. We could potentially see more from him there.

I didn't see all the game but Olding was very good. He can play anywhere in the backline really. He does lack size but he has pace, good skills, speed of thought which means he has plenty of time on the ball like Payne. Thats something that is rare.


I think he could take the Payne route and end up being a 15 or 13 but I wouldn't rule him out of 12 or 10 either. For now I'd like to see him at 15 for Ireland because he would add a new attacking dimension to Irelands play.

Artful_Dodger wrote:What about ol' Paddy Wallace to come back as well?

Is he still playing??? Oh jeez.

While I'd prefer to see Olding at 13, if he gets a run at fullback he is increasing his International chances. Arguably 15 is the second most influential position in the backs so having a head up player there is invaluable.

Paddy Wallace back in December.
In practise injuries and Internationals will take care of most selection dilemma's

For the International period it is a straight choice between
10 McKinney 12 Olding and
10 Olding 12 Farrell

I hope it is the later, I suspect it will be the former.

As to keeping them all happy not a problem this year or next but then we may have a hard choice or two to make
Enjoy it while it lasts

profitius wrote:I didn't see all the game but Olding was very good. He can play anywhere in the backline really. He does lack size but he has pace, good skills, speed of thought which means he has plenty of time on the ball like Payne. Thats something that is rare.

Yeah good man Prof that's exactly right - only very special players look like they have loads of time on the ball when they don't - Olding pass for Trimble's try was majestic, it looked so simple but actually the timing and weight of the pass gives Trimble all the time and space for an easy finish, when in fact you only have a few metres to work in and a split second. So many NH players screw opportunities like that up by mistiming the pass or getting white line fever.

It's the Olding's step of the right foot that draws the two defenders and the perfect pass gives Trimble a walk in. Pure class.

link to the full game????

Pete here's a playlist that shows all the tries, major incidents- unfortunately it starts at the end and works backwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSsS27eWqKc&list=PLclPnIJd8nRsrt2r3b5N3cBrHNNh5DLw4

If you can get a UK proxy server you can get iPlayer and watch it on there?

Paddy Wallace is 12 caps off 200- currently stuck on 188.

I really hope he makes it to 200 caps, such a brilliant servant to Ulster Rugby, but the options we have at 12 make it really hard to justify him starting when everyone is around...