Leicester v Ulster

Leicester Tigers (v Ulster, Welford Road, Saturday 6pm)
15 Mathew Tait
14 Niall Morris
13 Matt Smith
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Toby Flood (c)
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Ed Slater
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Louis Deacon
20 Steve Mafi
21 David Mélé
22 Owen Williams
23 Scott Hamilton


Ulster

Callum Black
Rory Best
John Afoa
Johann Muller
Dan Tuohy
Roger Wilson
Chris Henry
Nick Williams
Ruan Pienaar
Paddy Jackson
Craig Gilroy
Luke Marshall
Darren Cave
Andrew Trimble
Jared Payne

Rob Herring, Tom Court, Ricky Lutton, Iain Henderson, Robbie Diack, Paul Marshall, David McIlwaine, Michael Allen

Get discussing folks!

Benjamin injured knee injury.

 Looks like Ulster gone with a heavy weight Back row.

 Goneva will be targeted with kicks, which will either be very bad (if he is off) or very good (if he is playing well) he is the best counter runner in the squad followed by Tait.

 Tigers have gone with a solid defensive but not really an attacking centre partnership, Crane offers more grunt in the tight areas, and controls the scrum and mauls better than waldrom, so right call with mafi adding more coverage than TTE, if crane goes off would like to see Slater playing at 8 with deacon at 2nd row.

Will be interesting to see who get the upper hand at scrum time, could be decisive.

Tigers didn't loot too confortable against Treviso.
Ulster have gone for a more technical scrummager with Black instead of Court.

I think big Nick is picked from scrum time too. That and the fact we lack carriers in the pack.

Who's reffing? Now that the scrum law interpretations are supposed to be simpler but the loose remains a lottery, the ref usually determines the winner in balanced contests such as this.

Leicester have a very strong bench - stronger than Ulster's, so Ulster will have to be two scores up going into the last quarter if they are going to win this.
Cockers will be hoping he has picked a more aerially secure back three than last time - we'll find out soon enough.
Much prefer this front row for Ulster than the last game, hopefully they will set a better platform. I would have preferred Williams on the bench and Wilson at 8 but maybe the scrum has something to do with that.

I get that they are going for a big pack - but Williams has been largely nullified this season, and Wilson - I still don't rate. Makes very little ground for his size.

Henderson and Diack may well be a good idea off the bench though against a tiring team.

I agree with Black over Court. Court may have already checked out judging my recent performances.

Standulstermen wrote:I think big Nick is picked from scrum time too. That and the fact we lack carriers in the pack.

Good shout - probably that helped Wilson get the nod too, although Diack has played a lot of games on the trot so good to freshen things up - looks like we've gone for size to whether an early onslaught up front with a bit more dynamism to bring on later in Diack and Hendo if we are chasing the game.

For me Tigers are heavy favourites, we'll need one of our best ever Heino performances here...although our recent experience in winning at Northampton, Montpellier, Thomond pk and even pushing Clermont away should stand us in good stead....we are a very experienced side now.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:Who's reffing? Now that the scrum law interpretations are supposed to be simpler but the loose remains a lottery, the ref usually determines the winner in balanced contests such as this.

Answering my own question:

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), Jonathan Mason (Wales)
Television match official: Tim Hayes (Wales)

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9119614,00.html

Hope he's in his default homer mode.

Agreed Vince they did look iffy in the first half but they improved a lot in the second when the subs we made. Interesting to note all three of the subbed players Briggs de Chaves and Waldrom are dropped from the squad for this week.

Don't know what to expect, in theory this team is stronger but Allen, Flood and Smith have all got question marks over their fitness. Allen and Smith are also strong defenders but limited in terms of attacking creation. Back three should handle the high balls better than the last three standing we had to choose from in Belfast. Think this one will be very close indeed.

Ok I'm going to do it - I'm tipping Ulster to pull off the win.... yup I think it's on.

rodders wrote:Ok I'm going to do it - I'm tipping Ulster to pull off the win.... yup I think it's on.

I'm not going to be so daring, rodders. This is a cup final effectively. I predict more yellow cards than tries and with a celeb ref to polish his ego, I'm not calling it.

With Owens reffing at least it should be the teams who decides who wins this one and not the officials. I am more than pleased to see Nigel taking control of this match.

That's as strong an Ulster side as we could hope for and personally I'm happy with Wilson at 6 with Diack and Hendo benching. It will of course be a battle of the packs but it's what you do with the ball when you have it and I fell Ulster have a little more cutting edge in attack. It's getting the possession to do anything will be the problem.

Close call....heart of course says Ulster but head says european wins at Welford Road are as hard to get as they come.

Ulster by 5 in a gripping and gladiatorial battle.

Please.........

Can't believe how selfish Tigers are by selecting England's only fit international standard tight head (out of the 2 we have) . Selfish beyond for a dead rubber .

Being serious can't wait, game of the weekend for me. Pretty evenly matches sides (Tigers marginally stronger up front, Ulster in the backs). Is Thompstone also injured? Think the Tigers backs would be been more threatening if he was on the wing with Goneva moved inside and Smith on the bench.

Should have been a French ref and not Rabo but that's another story. At least it's Ownes who is one of the better officials so it could be worse. Tigers just to sneak it at home for me.

Me and a mate are going to the game tomorrow. Can anyone recommend a decent pub for a few pints beforehand? Cheers.

1) We lose, without a bonus point. Ulster are top seeds. Saracens will be best runners up assuming they pick up 5 points at home against Connaght. If they do, we get to play Ulster again (3rd time lucky, perhaps), but if Saracens fail to get a bonus point, we will travel to the 2nd seed - probably Toulon, who should win at Glasgow. LIKELY RESULT - Tigers travel to Ravenhill. Again.

2) We lose, with a bonus point. We would be the best runner up and take th 7th seed spot. As described above, this probably means a replay of last year's quarter final, facing Toulon in France. If Glasgow spring a shock, then we would probably play Toulouse or Clermont (most likely Toulouse, owing to their better try tally) in France, as they are both likely to pick up 5 points at the weekend. LIKELY RESULT - Tigers travel to Stade Mayol. Again.

3) We win, with no bonus point (assuming Ulster don't pick up a losing bonus and a try bonus). Ulster would become the best runner up. We could become the top seeds if Toulon fail to win, and Clermont and Toulouse don't pick up winning bonus points. If the French clubs play as predicted (and they probably won't), we will end up with a home quarter final, but as the 4th seed. The likely visitors in this scenario would be Munster, who should beat Edinburgh at home, although Leinster is also a slight possibility. LIKELY RESULT - Tigers host Munster. Party time.

4) We win, with a bonus point. We will be either 1st or 2nd seeds, dependant on whether or not Toulon pick up a try bonus point win in Glasgow. If they don't, we will likely be welcoming are good friends the Saffacens, as 2nd best runners up, to Welford Road. If they do, as they should, then there will be a strong sense of deja vous in a couple of months time as Ulster will come to visit. LIKELY RESULT - Tigers host Ulster. Again.

Goldenboy, try The Pub on New Walk or the Swan in the Rushes.

Nathan, I'm hoping for option 3 there. Be a nice change in fixture and a cracking game.

wouldn't be shocked to see mulipola come on the bench on gameday.

Maybe he's not quite ready. He's been busy though, according to the offy his girlfriend is expecting twins. His girlfriend is Ines Castrogiovanni, so imagine the size (and hair) of those kids!

formerly known as Sam wrote:Maybe he's not quite ready. He's been busy though, according to the offy his girlfriend is expecting twins. His girlfriend is Ines Castrogiovanni, so imagine the size (and hair) of those kids!

Nice pic of Ines and Mulipola with his hair died white.

 

Nice Nathan. If it's twin boys their just a little brother away from a front row. How I hope they have double barrelled names and play for Tigers! 1. Fit that on a shirt, 2. Good luck Mr Commentator!

Back on topic, it's a blow he's not back as promised. His loose play is a huge asset and he's tidy on either side of the scrum.

6oldenbhoy wrote:Me and a mate are going to the game tomorrow. Can anyone recommend a decent pub for a few pints beforehand? Cheers.

There, s a few of us 606ers meeting up in the Swan & Rushes at 4pm.

PM me if you want a contact number.

Metal Tiger wrote:

6oldenbhoy wrote:Me and a mate are going to the game tomorrow. Can anyone recommend a decent pub for a few pints beforehand? Cheers.

There, s a few of us 606ers meeting up in the Swan & Rushes at 4pm.

PM me if you want a contact number.

Cheers mate. Will head along there. Will pm you tomorrow.

6oldenbhoy wrote:

Metal Tiger wrote:

6oldenbhoy wrote:Me and a mate are going to the game tomorrow. Can anyone recommend a decent pub for a few pints beforehand? Cheers.

There, s a few of us 606ers meeting up in the Swan & Rushes at 4pm.

PM me if you want a contact number.

Cheers mate. Will head along there. Will pm you tomorrow.

My PM function isn't working. Will aim to be there are four.

Oooh... getting all excited now. Just setting off to Leicester. My daughter is driving so Daddy can have a few beers! I knew there was a good reason for having kids. he he.

Not long now for what should be the match of the weekend. Good luck to both teams but I really want Ulster to win

Good luck both teams, i'll say it now, unlucky Ulster (i hope)

Should be a cracking game nathan, I may be a Munster fan but I have been looking forward to this match more.

I cut a rather sad figure here, I am forced to watch this on my laptop with headphones as herself has taken control of the TV because The Voice UK will be on in an hour.

Come on Ulster.

I'll be rooting for Ulster this evening.

At least you still get to watch it Nachos! Imagine if you actually had to watch The Voice - shudder...

Oh, and come on Tigers!!

Just first half for me - am going out - the second half on Sky+

Biltong wrote:I'll be rooting for Ulster this evening.

Typical. Everyone hates the English   

[anything to do with half the team being South African? You must love Saracens ]

ah big nick shuda taken that one

stub wrote:At least  you still get to watch it Nachos! Imagine if you actually had to watch The Voice - shudder...

True, not my favourite viewing

Leicester have started very well.

Doesn't a mark have to be called from a clean catch? Or am I mistaken on that?

As long as the catch is completed you can call mark JmD.

HammerofThunor wrote:

Biltong wrote:I'll be rooting for Ulster this evening.

Typical. Everyone hates the English   

[anything to do with half the team being South African? You must love Saracens ]

Truth be told I usually just watch the HC to see how the SA players are doing.

Technically you are both right it does say clean catch JMD but this is more to do with the ball not hitting the ground really than anything else

Looked like a knock on their from Tait?

Ulster look there for the taking, Leicester are playing at some pace.

Both teams well up for it unsurprisingly. Not going to be much difference in the scores by the look of it..

What a run by Kitchener, showed some real pace.

Great work in defence lads held him up beautiful

Ukster really do have to get into this game, they are being outplayed so far.

I cant say enough how much I like Nigel Owens as a ref. Always a great game when he is in charge.

Cole very lucky there should be taking a seat right now

He is a class ref for sure.

neilthom7 wrote:Cole very lucky there should be taking a seat right now

Very clear yellow but Leicester are now on a final warning.

oh flood looks like hes hurting there