Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 16 May

by **George Carlin** Mon 11 May 2015, 9:30 am

First topic message reminder :

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby
Saturday 16 May 2015
KO: 15:00
Chateau Soapdodger, Glasgow

Live on Sky Sports

Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 31st competition game)
Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson, Sam Grove-White (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: Paul Minto (SRU)
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)

A. Head to Head

25 Played 25
11 Wins 13
13 Losses 11
1 Draws 1
40 Tries 46
28 Conversions 31
62 Penalties 65
6 Drop Goals 0
460 Points 487
26 Avg. Age 27

B. Form

Sat 11 Oct 2014 - Ulster Rugby 29 - 9 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 18 Apr 2014 - Glasgow Warriors 27 - 9 Ulster Rugby

Fri 13 Sep 2013 - Ulster Rugby 12 - 13 Glasgow Warriors

C. Teams

Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 16 May - Page 5 Amy_ma10

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 16 May - Page 5 Amy_ma10

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Richie Vernon
12. Peter Horne
11. Sean Lamont
10. Finn Russell
9. Niko Matawalu

1. Ryan Grant
2. Dougie Hall
3. Rossouw de Klerk
4. Jonny Gray
5. Al Kellock (Captain)
6. Josh Strauss
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Adam Ashe

16. Pat MacArthur
17. Gordon Reid
18. Mike Cusack
19. Leone Nakarawa
20. Ryan Wilson
21. Henry Pyrgos
22. Duncan Weir
23. Peter Murchie

Ulster Rugby
Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 16 May - Page 5 Kiera_10

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 16 May - Page 5 Kiera_10

(15-9): L Ludik; R Scholes, S Arnold, S McCloskey, M Allen, I Humphreys, P Marshall;

(1-8): A Warwick, R Herring, R Lutton, L Stevenson, F van der Merwe, C Ross, C Henry (C), R Diack

Replacements (16-23): R Best, K McCall, B Ross, I Henderson, R Wilson, R Pienaar, P Jackson, T Bowe.

by JmD Sat 16 May 2015, 3:36 pm

I'm not sure what the Glasgow card was for, but Ulster are going off their feet at a lot of these rucks.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 16 May 2015, 3:36 pm

Why are we not kicking for posts? Glad to get the try there, but this is an interesting tactic.

by cakeordeath Sat 16 May 2015, 3:39 pm

The ref needs to pull the finger out, Ulster are joining the ruck from everywhere and Marshall was miles in front of the mark in the lead up to the try.

Also Ulster are paying out penalties now, but i haven't heard a warning

by **Notch** Sat 16 May 2015, 3:41 pm

With Ospreys and Munster looking like getting five pointers, no point in Ulster bringing out big guns in the second half.

by **Notch** Sat 16 May 2015, 3:44 pm

Pienaar, Wilson, Best, Jackson all staying on the bench to rest up for next week seems to be the best strategy.

by Guest Sat 16 May 2015, 3:56 pm

So this terribly weakened Ulster side are making a game of it Very Happy

Going to be difficult playing into the wind second half, but still can't see where Glasgow are going to get their four tries from.

Agree, Notch. Keep those guys on the bench and hopefully turn up with a strong team for the semi. Hopefully Van der Merwe's injury isn't as bad as it looked, but I think he might be out of the semi.

by **Notch** Sat 16 May 2015, 3:57 pm

Yeah, and Bowe too. Other than the two props and maybe saving Henry we shouldn't be looking to make any unforced changes.

by 123456789 Sat 16 May 2015, 4:14 pm

I think Pyrgos ought to come on now Matawalu if forcing it every time

by 123456789 Sat 16 May 2015, 4:18 pm

Hogg is simply on another level to any other Scottish player

by GLove39 Sat 16 May 2015, 4:20 pm

Just 3 more to get...

by 123456789 Sat 16 May 2015, 4:23 pm

Russell is also not too bad, pretty sure we're on the way to winning the world cup with players like that...

by GLove39 Sat 16 May 2015, 4:24 pm

Make that 2!!

by 123456789 Sat 16 May 2015, 4:29 pm

We can't have people chanting "off" then, that's just ridiculous

by GLove39 Sat 16 May 2015, 4:40 pm

anyone got a link

by GLove39 Sat 16 May 2015, 4:41 pm

Also, wow 4th try. If Connacht can just hold out, its a home semi!

by **Notch** Sat 16 May 2015, 4:42 pm

This is actually working out quite nicely for Ulster. If Ospreys don't score, we're heading back to Glasgow. Id Ospreys do score, we're heading to Swansea- by conceding those tries the hardest away semi against Munster is off the table!

And in a re-match with Glasgow and our top team, we'd be feeling good about it.

by **Notch** Sat 16 May 2015, 4:43 pm

GLove39 wrote:Also, wow 4th try. If Connacht can just hold out, its a home semi!

Doesn't matter, you're home. 2nd or 1st, you finish ahead of Munster.

Pienaar?! Why!! Ffs rest him up Doak

by GLove39 Sat 16 May 2015, 4:44 pm

Notch wrote:
GLove39 wrote:Also, wow 4th try. If Connacht can just hold out, its a home semi!

Doesn't matter, you're home. 2nd or 1st, you finish ahead of Munster.

Pienaar?! Why!! Ffs rest him up Doak

even better Very Happy

by **Notch** Sat 16 May 2015, 4:47 pm

Game over in Galway, Connacht 20-24 Ospreys

Semi-final decided

Glasgow (1st) vs Ulster (4th)
Munster (2nd) vs Ospreys (3rd)

by **Notch** Sat 16 May 2015, 4:52 pm

I'm extremely happy with this outcome, almost the best possible one for Ulster once it became obvious we couldn't get the home semi- the rematch with a fully rested team is perfect. We got to do analysis on what Glasgow had when they were going all-out for the win whilst keeping our own cards close to the chest.

Big minus is the injury to Franco, but thats a winnable away semi-final for Ulster and we avoid the team I was most worried about until the Final Smile

by Guest Sat 16 May 2015, 4:55 pm

Congrats to Glasgow.

What a result at Connacht to deny Ospreys the home semi, and Munster theirs.

So we take on the Weegies again away. It won't be so easy the second time for Glasgow Very Happy

by **BigGee** Sat 16 May 2015, 4:57 pm

Wow, what a great result for Glasgow. They can still turn it on when they needed and next week will be a very different game. Knock out rugby, no need for 4 tries next time.

I know it was no the strongest Ulster team, but to score 4 tries under that sort of pressure says an awful lot about the character of this team, the big players really stepped up when they had to!

by **Notch** Sat 16 May 2015, 4:59 pm

Munchkin wrote:So we take on the Weegies again away. It won't be so easy the second time for Glasgow

No, I don't think we necessarily quite start as favourites but we're into Cup Rugby now with all of the big guns to come back and to be honest we have a massive opportunity, whereas I'd be feeling pretty downhearted if Glasgow hadn't got those 4 tries and sent us away to Munster. I'm feeling confident. That extra weeks rest for most of the team with a six-day turnaround could prove important.

Actually a lot happier that we conceded four tries than I would be if we had had a close, battling loss. How bizarre is that.

by jimbopip Sat 16 May 2015, 5:02 pm

jimbopip wrote:
George Carlin wrote:Just to write that Glasgow side in plain English:
quote]

That's rich that is coming from a member of the legal profession. Or that's coming from a rich member of the legal profession that is.

However, I am unimpressed with Ulster's transparent tactic of pretending they have written off the fixture and are just going through the motions. Yeah right. Whichever 15 they put out will fight for every blade of grass.

Also, I still have a sneaky feeling Glasgow will finish top and play Ulster the following week. I wonder how many of the 30 starting tomorrow will start that match.

p.s. George, you mentioned earlier how some comic lines stay in your head forever...
W.C. Fields, "It was a woman that drove me to drink. I'll be a son of a gun, I forgot to thank her."

by Guest Sat 16 May 2015, 5:05 pm

With Glasgow playing at home they have to be favourites, but I'm very happy with that result as I think we have a decent chance of winning it, even if it does go against the grain of semi final history.

by **Notch** Sat 16 May 2015, 5:07 pm

Munchkin wrote:With Glasgow playing at home they have to be favourites, but I'm very happy with that result as I think we have a decent chance of winning it, even if it does go against the grain of semi final history.

Yep, playing for a home Final with all the big guns out- I honestly think we can go anywhere and win, and if we get Herbst and Black back thats a massively different scrum.

by jimbopip Sat 16 May 2015, 5:13 pm

So, basically, having beaten their reserves can we beat their Firsts?

by **BigGee** Sat 16 May 2015, 5:16 pm

jimbopip wrote:So, basically, having beaten their reserves can we beat their Firsts?

You can only beat what is in front of you!

Reserves or not, there was an awful lot of pressure to get those 4 tries today, especially in those conditions.

Next week will be a very different game, one point will do!

by **RDW** Sat 16 May 2015, 5:19 pm

How did Kellock play? Worthy of keeping his place?

by 123456789 Sat 16 May 2015, 5:21 pm

Definitely think that it's time to scrap the play-offs... Whistle

by Guest Sat 16 May 2015, 5:22 pm

Notch wrote:
Munchkin wrote:With Glasgow playing at home they have to be favourites, but I'm very happy with that result as I think we have a decent chance of winning it, even if it does go against the grain of semi final history.

Yep, playing for a home Final with all the big guns out- I honestly think we can go anywhere and win, and if we get Herbst and Black back thats a massively different scrum.

Not sure about Herbst. Hopefully he has a miraculous recovery angel

It was always going to be against us getting a home semi, but fair play to Connacht for coming so close to causing an upset and upsetting the master plan.

Hoping for an Ulster v Munster final Very Happy

by **BigGee** Sat 16 May 2015, 5:26 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:How did Kellock play? Worthy of keeping his place?

Kellock played ok and helped keeps the heads right when they were playing into the Hurricane in the first half. He was subbed by Naka just as we started to cut loose.

Will he play next week?

If Swinson still not fit, then almost certainly and there is really no point having him on the bench, if he is going to be n the squad then he needs to start. If Swinson is fit though, I would not play him. Naka and JG to start and Swinson coming off the bench. Strauss played very well today and really provided the go forward in the late charge to the line, he could lead the team just fine.

All the backrowers played well, including Wilson. It is going to be a hell of a job to leave someone out!

by neilthom7 Sat 16 May 2015, 5:31 pm

Well played Glasgow came through the tough opening 50 to win well. We will have an entirely different team next week so hopefully we will really put in a huge performance

by jimbopip Sat 16 May 2015, 5:37 pm

Gee, I think Ashe helped Bluto in as much as having another ball carrier took a lot of pressure off him. Harley could struggle to get back in.

by 123456789 Sat 16 May 2015, 5:40 pm

I think given the nature of Harley's game, which verges on one dimensional, he has to be at the very top of it to warrant selection. Ashe and Strauss were absolutely outstanding.

by Pete330v2 Sat 16 May 2015, 5:49 pm

So we've to do the trip to Weegieland again.
Can you lot do something about the weather for the semi and we'll see a prettier game.
Very much looking forward to our first XV having a pop at ya Wink

by **BigGee** Sat 16 May 2015, 6:41 pm

123456789 wrote:I think given the nature of Harley's game, which verges on one dimensional, he has to be at the very top of it to warrant selection. Ashe and Strauss were absolutely outstanding.

All true, probably won't get picked purely on form. Ashe and Strauss had enormous games and any doubts about Strauss getting into the WC squad must be gone now. He lasted the whole game as well, he has probably benefitted from having been given an easier few weeks recently and being used sparingly.

But then again, when have Toonie's selection ever had anything to do with form or sense?

The only ones you can be sure about are Vernon and Horne in the centre and that is because there is no-one else fit!

by Pot Hale Sat 16 May 2015, 7:18 pm

Congrats to Glasgow for finishing top of the regular season - never an easy task.

I really hope they go to win the title this year - well deserved, and it would be good for the league for a Scottish side to win it.

The second season of Top 6/7 has worked out very well for the Pro 12.

Glasgow top of the table for the first time. They were in 11th spot in 2010/11 season, then jumped to 4th the following season, then 3rd, 2nd last season, and 1st top of the pile this season - a great story in progression for Scottish rugby.

Wales managed to get two regions into the Euro qualification places, and the Irish have managed to get all four provinces into the qualification places - all on their own steam for the first time. Connacht in the play-off spot have a lot to do still to be in the competition next season, but it's a gradual improvement.

There's a danger that the top Big 5 will hog the play-off spots in continuing seasons, so lets hope that Scarlets, Connacht, Edinburgh can push them even harder from now on. The RWC next season may give them a leg-up with international players absent for a time.

The semi-finals should be tasty - Munster v Ospreys at Thomond, and Glasgow v Ulster at Scotstoun. I'm hoping that 1st and 2nd come through, and then hopefully look forward to Glasgow raising their first league title in the final.

by The Great Aukster Sat 16 May 2015, 7:57 pm

Well done to Glasgow in getting a home semi.

Next week will be very different though. Glasgow will assume that since no one have ever won an away semi that they're in the final and since they beat Ulster so easily this week - that could be their downfall.

For Ulster losing Franco is huge, but at least Chad is starting to look like he is top notch again. It was also good to see how well Lutton and Warwick coped with the Glasgow first teamers, and even McCall who hasn't played all season looked good.

by **RDW** Sat 16 May 2015, 7:58 pm

Pleased to hear Strauss had a good game - his form of late has been a bit 'meh' and Glasgow (and Scotland) really need him to be more boomshakalaka!

by **BigGee** Sat 16 May 2015, 8:09 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:Pleased to hear Strauss had a good game - his form of late has been a bit 'meh' and Glasgow (and Scotland) really need him to be more boomshakalaka!

Strauss has shown over and over that he is a big game player. He is coming good at just the right time and that is why he needs to be in the Scotland WC squad. The big ball carriers like him take a battering and need to be managed a bit more than some other players, Toonie has done that sensibly with the end of the season in mind.

by The Great Aukster Sat 16 May 2015, 8:09 pm

I thought Strauss was OK - not great. He got the ball ripped from him on one occasion and only had one decent run of say 10m where he drew in the defence. Other than that he did what he was supposed to.

by **BigGee** Sat 16 May 2015, 8:16 pm

The Great Aukster wrote:Well done to Glasgow in getting a home semi.

It was also good to see how well Lutton and Warwick coped with the Glasgow first teamers, and even McCall who hasn't played all season looked good.

It is not clear, even to Glasgow fans, just who our first choice props actually are. At TH Welsh, Murray and Cussack all have their strengths and weaknesses and De Klerk, who started today, is just back from a groin injury and has not played for a couple of months! At LH, now that Allen is injured, it is much more down to Grant and Reid but Jerry Y also has his fans!

You may find that you get a completely different front row next week and not necessarily any weaker!

by Standulstermen Sat 16 May 2015, 9:07 pm

I think it's arguable you could even have two away wins in the semis. I was heartened by the ulster scrum today(I didn't think Davies reffed it well) but it also showed how you can't give Glasgow a sniff because of the calibre of their attack.

If herbst was back I would be a lot more confident. Has vdm been ruled out definitely yet?

Big Gee

I can guarantee you the ulster front row will be stronger though, even if herbst isn't fit. It will be a great battle I reckon

by **George Carlin** Sat 16 May 2015, 9:37 pm

The Great Aukster wrote:Well done to Glasgow in getting a home semi.

Next week will be very different though. Glasgow will assume that since no one have ever won an away semi that they're in the final and since they beat Ulster so easily this week - that could be their downfall.

Er, no. I really, really don't think that they will.

This Glasgow side lost a final last year when they had one of their worst games of the season following one of their best against Munster.
Nobody will be getting ahead of themselves, believe me. They've come too close before to take anything for granted.

For what it's worth, I think that Munster will take the trophy this year. If Glasgow had any 3 of the missing Bennett, Dunbar, DTH or Maitland fit and in form, I would say that we'd win it. But we don't. So I won't.

by Standulstermen Sat 16 May 2015, 9:39 pm

I'm not convinced Munster will win their semi. I think we have two absolute gems in store that will be very very tight unless someone takes the michael during the games.

by ME-109 Sat 16 May 2015, 9:49 pm

You're right stand. We will just give it away I would say. Even though it's the most important game for us in a while. In the meantime Ulsterrrrrr have given Glasgow the initiative and the first half performance showed how mediocre or average the Ulster players are in relation to the other provinces. Especially if you take away the saffer safety net

by Standulstermen Sat 16 May 2015, 10:04 pm

KME-109 wrote:You're right stand. We will just give it away I would say. Even though it's the most important game for us in a while. In the meantime Ulsterrrrrr have given Glasgow the initiative and the first half performance showed how mediocre or average the Ulster players are in relation to the other provinces. Especially if you take away the saffer safety net

That's up there with some of the finest sho1te posted on these boards lad. Congrats on that. Do you think it's perhaps a tad over the top in response to the mere suggestion we will have two close semi finals though? Might want to save that spite for later in the week or even a potential all Irish final though. Don't want to burn out?

kiss

by Guest Sat 16 May 2015, 10:18 pm

ME-109 wrote:You're right stand. We will just give it away I would say. Even though it's the most important game for us in a while. In the meantime Ulsterrrrrr have given Glasgow the initiative and the first half performance showed how mediocre or average the Ulster players are in relation to the other provinces. Especially if you take away the saffer safety net

Ah, ME, enough's enough. Get over Ulster fielding a weaker side for goodness sake. We hardly did it to spite Munster! It was the best move for us, and last time I checked we are not required to further weaken any chance of making the final for the better good of Munster. As it happens you got your home semi anyway. So stick a smile on it and stop your whinging. Very Happy

by ME-109 Sat 16 May 2015, 10:22 pm

Wow touchy up north are we. What do you want me to say..well done Ulster for not looking to get a home semi or just hope for the best against Glasgow away. Good luck with that. To be honest winning against Ulster in Satsuma park in the final would be much more enjoyable...

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