Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 18 April

First topic message reminder :

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby  

Friday 18 April 2014, KO 19:35
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow

Referee: John Lacey (IRFU, 34th competition game)
Assistant Referees: David Changleng, Graeme Marshall (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: John Montgomery (SRU)
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)

Live on BBC ALBA/NI

A. Teams:

I. Glasgow

15 Murchie
14 Maitland
13 Bennett
12 Horne
11 Seymour
10 Russell
09 Cusiter

08 Wilson
07 Fusaro
06 Strauss
05 Gray
04 Swinson
03 Welsh
02 Hall
01 Reid

16 MacArthur
17 Grant
18 Cross
19 Nakarawa
20 Harley
21 Matawalu
22 Jackson
23 Vernon

II. Ulster

15 R Andrew
14 T Bowe
13 D Cave
13 L Marshall
11 A Trimble
10 P Jackson
09 P Marshall

1 T Court
2 R Herring
3 R Lutton
4 J Muller (Captain)
5 I Henderson
6 C Henry
7 S Doyle
8 N Williams

16 N Annett
17 A Warwick
18 D Fitzpatrick
19 L Stevenson
20 M McComish
21 M Heaney
22 J McKinney
23 C Gilroy

B. Form - head to head:

28 Played 28
12 Wins 15
15 Losses 12
1 Draws 1
44 Tries 49
30 Conversions 31
66 Penalties 75
7 Drop Goals 2
499 Points 538
25 Avg. Age 25

C. Form - this season & last:

Fri 31 August 2012, 19:05
Ulster Rugby 18 - 10 Glasgow Warriors
Ravenhill

Fri 22 February 2013, 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 20 - 14 Ulster Rugby
Scotstoun

Fri 13 September 2013, 19:05
Ulster Rugby 12 - 13 Glasgow Warriors
Ravenhill

IanBru wrote:I'm high on Calpol and Cantonese rice wine.

The recession is biting hard indeed.

But can we get back to the matter at hand please? Schizo, what are the available direct lines of sight to Mrs McDonald's house like? From, say, a tree in a neighbour's garden?

Don Alfonso wrote:

IanBru wrote:I'm high on Calpol and Cantonese rice wine.

The recession is biting hard indeed.

But can we get back to the matter at hand please?  Schizo, what are the available direct lines of sight to Mrs McDonald's house like? From,  say, a tree in a neighbour's garden?

No need she cuts aboot the West End - saw Niko McMad Mata get out a taxi in Novar Drive tonight too. Al together now Nikooooooooo!!!!!

Aaaaandd... "NIIIIIIIIIKOOOOOOOO!!!"

Incidentally, what will we be chanting at Waxy's when Isles sets the dry Venetian pitch on fire with a final quarter hat-trick against Treviso?

WESSSSSSSTERN !!!!!

 

IanBru wrote:I'm high on Calpol and Cantonese rice wine.

I like that response - good one

I hasten to add I think you have the better bench and you are at home so in truth too close to call

Boys, boys... nothing is too close to call.
The fifteen that triumphed in Thomond would, in most clubs, normally be smiling quietly in training and looking forward to starting on Friday. However, there were some very impressive performances at the Sevens. I would hard agues that training this week has been competitive to say the least. His Toonieness will surprise us all with his selection and we will step up a notch in terms of performance. If we continue stepping up ever so slightly in the remaining games we will be firing on all cylinders come the play offs. Either that happens or we scrape fourth place and lose away to Leinster again.
I sense that Scotstoun will be buzzing this week (Harley and Holmes sign new contracts, Murray McConnel signs again) and Friday can't come soon enough whereas Ulster are under the cosh as regards injuries and players missing.
Momentum is with us
the pendulum is swinging
the wave is rising
we're going to the play offs
WHATEVER IT TAKES    

I am not so sure about that jimbopip. Ulster may have too many crucial players out of the picture at the moment but we are still very strong and won't be the walkover that Munster were. They seemed utterly disinterested whereas we know that we must win. Failing to is unthinkable.

Just remember, 7's ain't union

Pete330v2 wrote:I am not so sure about that jimbopip. Ulster may have too many crucial players out of the picture at the moment but we are still very strong and won't be the walkover that Munster were. They seemed utterly disinterested whereas we know that we must win. Failing to is unthinkable.

Just remember, 7's ain't union

I think that Mr Isles is praying quite hard that it's not so different.

I also agree that Ulster will be much tougher all over the park, but I also think that the Irish press does itself no favours (there was some tooth grinding stuff in the Independent as well as the Times) in perpetuating the myth that Munster lost because they didn't take it upon themselves to play - the undercurrent being that Munster could have taken it up a few gears and won if they'd been so inclined. In fact, when you look at the whole game, the defensive performances and the breakdown especially, the fact is that Glasgow didn't let them play and I think if Ulster go in to this match with less than that understanding they will lose this one.

George Carlin wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:I am not so sure about that jimbopip. Ulster may have too many crucial players out of the picture at the moment but we are still very strong and won't be the walkover that Munster were. They seemed utterly disinterested whereas we know that we must win. Failing to is unthinkable.

Just remember, 7's ain't union

I think that Mr Isles is praying quite hard that it's not so different.

I also agree that Ulster will be much tougher all over the park, but I also think that the Irish press does itself no favours (there was some tooth grinding stuff in the Independent as well as the Times) in perpetuating the myth that Munster lost because they didn't take it upon themselves to play - the undercurrent being that Munster could have taken it up a few gears and won if they'd been so inclined. In fact, when you look at the whole game, the defensive performances and the breakdown especially, the fact is that Glasgow didn't let them play and I think if Ulster go in to this match with less than that understanding they will lose this one.

Absolutely Glasgow didn't let Munster play how they'd have liked. The fact is that where Glasgow fans fear no team (quite rightly so as they are a huge force in the pro 12) Ulster fans can say the same. We can grind just about anyone down. This is a different weekend, different circumstances and different headsets going into this one. It is set to be a titanic armwrestle of a game. I am looking forward to it.
Any word on the weather this weekend in Glasgow?

Pete, as a politician once said; there are known knowns, there are known unknowns and there are unknown unknowns.
Ulster will be granite hard and competitive all over the pitch. Known
The bounce of the ball, the referees mood or a lapse of concentration may well decide the match. Known unknowns.
Some players can conjure up match winning performances which leave us wondering WWTF was that. Unknown unknowns: we won't know till we see it. Tommy Bowe can do this, but I'm not sure who else on the Ulster side. Big Naka, Niko, Dunbar, Maitland, Cooseater (on recent form), Bennett, Gray (simply colossal at Munster), Horne and Niko again because he does it twice as often as mere mortals. If we had a 10 we could rely on I would feel a lot more confident, but hey ho.
Glasgow to win, just.

jimbopip wrote: the referees mood or a lapse of concentration may well decide the match. Known unknowns.

Fixed - its Lacey and he is a plank.
Will probably spoil the game   

Ulster were magnificent against Sarries even though a man down. If they bring that game to Scotstoun we will have a real battle on our hands. Don't know how or why anyone bothers making predictions re the result - for me it's far too close to call and all I predict is that one set of supporters are going to very disappointed... Just hope they are Ulster fans!

The weather in Glasgow is forecast to be glorious all week, with a bit of rain tonight and a light sprinkling tomorrow lunchtime. Otherwise sunny and in the low teens.

Firm, dry track, suiting the sevens specialists (Niko, Bennett, Big Naka). Except, of course, that sevens isn't fifteens...

IanBru wrote:The weather in Glasgow is forecast to be glorious all week, with a bit of rain tonight and a light sprinkling tomorrow lunchtime. Otherwise sunny and in the low teens.

Firm, dry track, suiting the sevens specialists (Niko, Bennett, Big Naka). Except, of course, that sevens isn't fifteens...

Hope Toonie doesn't read that and think..."yes, why not give him a run out" "Oh, Carlin, a quick word re Friday...."

A dry track will possibly suit Ulster more. It's up front where we are weakest with our first choice front row all missing, as well as a lock and two of our backrows.

A dry pitch could suit the ulster backs (I'm hoping anyway)

George Carlin wrote:I think that Mr Isles is praying quite hard that it's not so different.

Thought all the Isles were hoping to be independent - not great for a team sport...


If it's going to be dry Ulster's odds improve because PMarshall is far better when he's just passing rather than thinking about passing. Jackson has a better running game than kicking game too so that's a plus.

The Great Aukster wrote:

George Carlin wrote:I think that Mr Isles is praying quite hard that it's not so different.

Thought all the Isles were hoping to be independent - not great for a team sport...


If it's going to be dry Ulster's odds improve because PMarshall is far better when he's just passing rather than thinking about passing. Jackson has a better running game than kicking game too so that's a plus.

Nah, the Isles merely want more local control of their local affairs

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:

George Carlin wrote:I think that Mr Isles is praying quite hard that it's not so different.

Thought all the Isles were hoping to be independent - not great for a team sport...


If it's going to be dry Ulster's odds improve because PMarshall is far better when he's just passing rather than thinking about passing. Jackson has a better running game than kicking game too so that's a plus.

Nah, the Isles merely want more local control of their local affairs

In other words more independence .....  

rodders wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:

George Carlin wrote:I think that Mr Isles is praying quite hard that it's not so different.

Thought all the Isles were hoping to be independent - not great for a team sport...


If it's going to be dry Ulster's odds improve because PMarshall is far better when he's just passing rather than thinking about passing. Jackson has a better running game than kicking game too so that's a plus.

Nah, the Isles merely want more local control of their local affairs

In other words more independence .....  

 Bad Rodders. Bad. Please, please can we not do this again...

jimbopip wrote:Pete, as a politician once said; there are known knowns, there are known  unknowns and there are unknown unknowns.
Ulster will be granite hard and competitive all over the pitch. Known
The bounce of the ball, the referees mood or a lapse of concentration may well decide the match. Known unknowns.
Some players can conjure up match winning performances which leave us wondering WWTF was that. Unknown unknowns: we won't know till we see it. Tommy Bowe can do this, but I'm not sure who else on the Ulster side. Big Naka, Niko, Dunbar, Maitland, Cooseater (on recent form), Bennett, Gray (simply colossal at Munster), Horne and Niko again because he does it twice as often as mere mortals. If we had a 10 we could rely on I would feel a lot more confident, but hey ho.
Glasgow to win, just.

Trimble, Cave, L.Marshall, Stevie Ferris and Big Nick Williams can change the momentum of a game in a heartbeat.
Then again there's P.Marshall who can have the odd brain fart.

Mind you now that I've seen it's that eejit Lacey officiating it won't be left up to the players who wins.

Not do what, GC?

I just looked back over our injury list, flippin hell we have the guts of a full side crocked or banned, a damn good side at that.
We do seem to have an annual problem with injury lists. It did give the likes of Olding a chance to shine in the past and the likes of McCloskey this season thankfully. However without Besty, Pienaar and Payne and a full starting front row missing I will have to rethink this one.

Premature congrats on the win Glasgow

Apparently ferris is doubtful too. At least according to word on the uafc

I just saw that Stand, went over on the ankle in training. I have very little hair left to pull out. We are severely depleted.

Did you hear that Weegies, we are depleted, severely, excuses in early

If all injuries true our pack will be

Court, Herring, Lutton, Stevenson, Muller, Henderson, Williams, Henry
Bench - Warwick (academy), Annett, Macklin, McComb, Doyle

Good starting 8 but really down to bare bones - can only think of MCormish who is on a full contract and not selected.
What is slightly worrying is that 13 contains 4 who are leaving and 1 Ulster would drop if they could.

I would rather we went with Hendo in the row and brought Doyle in. We need that mobility

Has Ferris a contract for next season? If not it doesn't look good if he is out again.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Not do what, GC?

Let's just say:  + ( + ) =

No contract yet but if he does get one it will be with Ulster - noone else

If I had to search for an excuse... I suppose... could we be suffering from Thomond Park Heroics hangover?

Just adopt the Munster approach, and say that the team didn't play well.

Under no circumstances credit the opposition performance though.....

Which is the strongest 1-9 ?

The fit one - Court, Herring, Lutton, Stevenson, Muller, Henderson, Williams, Henry. Marshall
or
The injured one - Black, Best, Afoa, Tuohy, Diack, Ferris, Wilson, ????, Pienaer

funnyExiledScot wrote:Just adopt the Munster approach, and say that the team didn't play well.

Under no circumstances credit the opposition performance though.....

Glasgow played well against Munster and deserve credit.

But I don't know if you can argue that Munster were fully focused on that game or that they performed anywhere near the standard they should have been at.

Notch wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Just adopt the Munster approach, and say that the team didn't play well.

Under no circumstances credit the opposition performance though.....

Glasgow played well against Munster and deserve credit.

But I don't know if you can argue that Munster were fully focused on that game or that they performed anywhere near the standard they should have been at.

Ah, but it's six of one and half a dozen of the other, Notch old socks. One man's poor attacking performance is another man's opposition defensive suffocation. To suggest that one team if they'd played as they usually did would have won completely discounts the other side picking up their own performance to match it. You play the team that's in front of you. Quite a different thing from saying that your first choice players aren't on the pitch. Now that genuinely is a good excuse.

Fair enough Notch, but they've been similarly distracted by the HC before and you have to go back to 2009 before they score fewer than 5pts in a game. They wanted to win, some of the collisions were titanic! Glasgow were the better side on the day.
I'm pretty confident all three Irish sides (it's that flag thing again) and Glasgow will make the play offs. The only question is who gets home advantage. I'm also pretty confident that these are the four best teams in the league, by some way.

Yeah, I think so too. I think the winner of this game and Leinster will have home advantage. So the finalists will be the winner of this game and Leinster.

I think there are fairly good odds that the eventual champions will be the winners of this game.

Glasgow are good enough to win this league on current form. Not a great season at the start but growing in belief now. Home advantage did not help Munster last week. If only they had a better 10 than the inconsistent Weir, they would probably be favourites at this point in the campaign going forward. WHATEVER IT TAKES

Hey Weegies, what about the rumour of Hogg moving to Ulster next season? Seen having dinner with our lad Anscombe. EH? EH?

Pete330v2 wrote:Hey Weegies, what about the rumour of Hogg moving to Ulster next season? Seen having dinner with our lad Anscombe. EH? EH?

Probably trying to get to the bottom of who is the dirtier player - him or Payne.

I sense a subtle ploy to destabilise Glasgow before the big game. I like it.

Seriously though why sign a 15 when we have Payne, Olding, Gilroy, Bowe and Andrew who can all play there. Not to mention he wont be available during internationals

Players talk to lots of people. David Humphreys talks to lots of players. Not all of them come, not everything works out.

I reckon it's just a bit of a windup on t'other forum that cannot be named. It does look like Hogg from the back but could be anyone lets face it.

Nice attempt Ulster amigos !   

Can we all now indulge in some proper old-fashioned 'You're going down'-ness?

Pete330v2 wrote:Hey Weegies, what about the rumour of Hogg moving to Ulster next season? Seen having dinner with our lad Anscombe. EH? EH?

He's supposed to be under contract for another year but, so was Cusiter I suppose.

I suspect it is an absolute non-story, but let's say it did happen it would go down very badly with Scotland fans indeed. Plus Ulster hardly need him.

Apparently Toonie was seen talking with Beyonce in the Rogano last week.

At least, it looked like her from behind. From certain angles. In the dark.

Looking forward to her leading the half time entertainment in our Rabo final in that case.  

"All the single laddies!"

Sorry, but I've been waiting three years to make that joke.

Team's out:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BlaxdVdCYAEA329.jpg