PRO14 Championship Final - 12 Sep - Leinster v Ulster

Leinster looking for their 24th win on the spin to crown their unbeaten season.

Ulster, the comeback kings, looking to cause another upset and bring silverware back to Ravenhill after a long gap.

Get your digs in early.

Injury updates for Leinster are that James Ryan will be available this weekend to give either Fardy or Toner a break. Ryan Baird is in good form to take a bench spot if necessary.

With former Munster prop, Ciaran Parker, coming into the squad on a 3-month loan, it’s likely Furlong won’t be selected just yet.

Jury is out on whether Dan Leavy will get game time with Connors, VdF competing well for 7 shirt.

Halves are all in good nick. As are midfielders. It’s possibly in the back three that Ulster may find a weakness. Larmour is recovering following a HIA with Rob Kearney ready to step in. His brother, Dave is still out as is McFadden and Adam Byrne. So Lowe, and one of Kelleher or Keenan, for the wing spots.

Leinster are indeed, GOING DOWN!!!!

Pete330v2 wrote:Leinster are indeed, GOING DOWN!!!!

Met Eireann have forecast the occasional blasts of hot air in a northerly bluster during the week but should die out by Sat evening......

Ulster need to go all guns blazing and if it clicks, who knows.

Your unbeaten run probably would have ended at Rodney Parade. Bloody lockdown and restrictions eh...

This is the second, of at least a minimum, of three consecutive knock out games for Ulster. They did amazingly well to react to Edinburgh getting caught in the headlights in the final quarter last week. Unfortunately for Ulster that final quarter is where Leinster are at their strongest and most clinical. I would be amazed if the men from the Kingspan stadium could do it for two weeks on the bounce.

Anyone in white who is left standing after Saturday night will have the small matter of an away champions cup QF in Toulouse to look forward to next week.

Statistically Leinster are overdue a loss.
The stats don't lie.

That's all I'm saying

Pete330v2 wrote:Statistically Leinster are overdue a loss.
The stats don't lie.

That's all I'm saying

Yeah, but, but, I mean, although, on the other hand....


Fair enough.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Jordan Larmour (48)
14. Hugo Keenan (16)
13. Garry Ringrose (74) CAPTAIN
12. Robbie Henshaw (46)
11. James Lowe (45)
10. Ross Byrne (87)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (91)
1. Cian Healy (218)
2. Rónan Kelleher (13)
3.Andrew Porter (64)
4. Devin Toner (247)
5. James Ryan (37)
6. Caelan Doris (31)
7. Josh van der Flier (82)
8. Jack Conan (91)

16. James Tracy (109)
17. Ed Byrne (55)
18. Michael Bent (138)
19. Scott Fardy (60)
20. Will Connors (18)
21. Luke McGrath (125)
22. Johnny Sexton (165)
23. Rory O’Loughlin (69)

Ulster team to play Leinster Rugby, Guinness PRO14 Final, Aviva Stadium, Saturday 12 September

(15-9) Michael Lowry, Rob Lyttle, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, Alby Mathewson.

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson (Capt.), Matthew Rea, Sean Reidy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements (16-23): John Andrew, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Sam Carter, Jordi Murphy, John Cooney, Ian Madigan, Nick Timoney.



Nick Timoney is sitting on a strange place on the bench isn't he ?

Keenan gets his place and deservedly so. Bent on the bench is a weakness. Sexton on the bench I don't mind, if it means a 55-25 minute split between both of them then Sexton is coming on to change the game. Looks more like Luke is the one getting the kick up the arse with JGP picked ahead of him.
Looking forward to this, should be a good game.

Pete330v2 wrote:Ulster team to play Leinster Rugby, Guinness PRO14 Final, Aviva Stadium, Saturday 12 September

(15-9) Michael Lowry, Rob Lyttle, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, Alby Mathewson.

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson (Capt.), Matthew Rea, Sean Reidy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements (16-23): John Andrew, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Sam Carter, Jordi Murphy, John Cooney, Ian Madigan, Nick Timoney.



Nick Timoney is sitting on a strange place on the bench isn't he ?

He is, looks like they expect an attritional forwards battle and a 6-2 split but keep cooney and madigan in their usual numbers?

Are these first games back for Henderson and Ryan at locks?

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Are these first games back for Henderson and Ryan at locks?

Yes and both of them have made wolverine-like recoveries.

Pete330v2 wrote:

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Are these first games back for Henderson and Ryan at locks?

Yes and both of them have made wolverine-like recoveries.

Then I’d support Ulster having an extra forward on the bench in those circumstances and question Leinsters choice (on bench split).

Ulster need to play with the intensity and drive of the last 30mins against Edinburgh. Is that sustainable for 80 mins though?
All I can say though is Ulster bench looks pretty strong! We aren't used to that over the last decade.

I expect Cooney hurting a bit - wonder might we see a great performance off the bench from him and perhaps some of his trademark heroics from the tee in the closing minutes?

The Ulster bench does look strong, particularly in comparison to the Leinster 16/17/18 picks. Ulster clearly taking an SA approach and hoping to bully Leinster into mistakes.

Given Furlong and Leavy are still out, not sure who else Leinster could field that would make a huge difference.

I’m 50/50 on the match, Ulster may have more hunger especially with Henderson back.

Well as a neutral. I am certainly looking forward to the final tonight.

Head, unsurprisingly says Leinster but heart is 100% for the Ulstermen. Its been a long time since they won anything and we are all fed up with Leinster's dominance.

It is going to have to be the game of their lives to beat the boys from Dublin though. I just wonder if the lack of a serious hard game against them all season (in truth it has been far to easy and that is entirely down to the opposition they have faced who have not performed) might just catch up with them tonight. I certainly hope so!

Ulster have nothing to lose, the pundits have just gone 4-0 Leinster. Give them hell and see where it gets them!

and Leinster decide that tackling is optional and Ulster wander in for a try.

Burns misses the conversion

5-0 Ulster

Really important for Ulster to make the running here

and Leinster come back with some really sustained pressure and Lowe scores in the corner.

That was quite an attacking set.

Byrne kicks it true 7-5 Leinster

Leinster turn the screw again and win a very kickable penalty

10-5 Leinster

Leinster's miss firing lineout is all that is keeping Ulster in the game at the moment

Ulster put the ball through the hands and get some great joy from it, then every time they go to this one out take the contact, one out take the contact, repeat, until they end up 30 meters back and lose it, learn the lesson Ulster

Ulster back themselves for a 5m lineout

Leinster defence is immense though

A lot of effort now from ulster but nothing to show for it, you have to say thats where Leinster excel if they get opportunities like that they take them.

Ulster 10 and 12 aren’t having good game, Leinster line out struggling, but they are masters at the breakdown.

Ulster not exploiting the space behind the rush defence of Leinster

10-5 Leinster at Ht

a cracking first half with everythingh to play for.

Leinster have the edge in the scrum but can't win a lineout for fun.

Both defences are fantastic but it has been a very attricious game so far and that will no doubt start to take a toll.

Lots of effort from Ulster in the first half, they certainly haven't looked afraid of taking it to Leinster but they must make these opportunities count, they have turned down a few opportunities at points for the corner and not made them count, could be crucial

Well what a great first half! Very even contest. Leinster defence looks good and if they get their attack going they'll probably win but Ulster look much better than last week. Henderson and Coetzee have been excellent and the backs look dangerous with ball in hand. Shame Burns threw a poor pass late in second half, they looked like they were going to score.

https://i.servimg.com/u/f77/17/25/81/46/screen22.png

Every single game

Poor start to second half for Ulster who give away a soft penalty

13-5 Leinster

Ulster need to score next

and Henshaw scores an intercept try

It's going to be a long way back now!

Offt! That was well read. Burns not having a great game unfortunately for Ulster.

Terrific Ulster defence

And even better Leinster defence

Game just slipping away from Ulster, fantastic defence but the blue tide keeps coming

Dores powers over to make the score look pretty poor for Ulster

27 unanswered points, Ulster just not taken their chances

Billy Burns is a complete and utter waste of space. Fly half is Ulster's biggest weakness and I can't understand how McFarland continues to persist with Burns. Can't kick, can't tackle, makes very few line breaks. Completely out of his depth for a team that is trying to win something. Surely must be a better alternative available?

The scoreline is flattering Leinster but Ulster have just struggled to breakdown that Ulster defence. I agree that they could really use a more dynamic fly half to help that backline fire. It's all a bit left to right at times and not much use of the boot for crossfield kicks, grubbers or chips over the top of the defence.

27-5 Leinster at FT

Bad luck Ulster but outplayed really, Leinster were just phenomenal once again.

Well congratulations to Leinster fans! What a season for them despite the interruption from covid. Totally deserved, they're a class above everyone else in the Pro14 at the moment.

bsando wrote:Well congratulations to Leinster fans! What a season for them despite the interruption from covid. Totally deserved, they're a class above everyone else in the Pro14 at the moment.

Hard to argue!

Ooooooooooh yeeeeeeeesssssssssss!

Come On Ye Boys in Blue.

Congrats Leinster! Well deserved.

I hate you very much... but fair play. Congrats!

I thought that lacked intensity, not sure why. Kind of expected Leinster to win, we all did right? Their entire set-up is world class and it’s hard to see who can break their dominance. They should beat Saracens on this form.

Leo Cullen deserves a lot of praise. He stays out of the limelight for the most part but is well on his way to becoming the most successful Irish club coach and a pretty good record as a player too.

Well done Leinster. Ulster need Cooney to turn the backline and without him they don't do so well.

Incredibly disappointing to hear Henderson in his after-match interview talking about how Ulster want to get into semi-finals and finals. Didn't mention actually winning a competition. Speaks volumes about the mindset of that group of players - especially from one of the leaders and key players. Just happy to get there.

I hope McFarland is more ruthless than that.