Ulster V. Aironi

First topic message reminder :

Provisional Ulster Squad to play Aironi, Friday 30th March, Ravenhill (kick off 7.05pm):

Forwards:
Callum Black, Tom Court, Adam Macklin, Declan Fitzpatrick, John Afoa, Jerry Cronin, Paddy McAllister, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy, Johann Muller (captain), Neil McComb, Stephen Ferris, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack

Backs:
Paul Marshall, Ruan Pienaar, Ian Porter, Ian Humphreys, Paddy Jackson, Luke Marshall, Paddy Wallace, Ian Whitten, Nevin Spence, Darren Cave, Stefan Terblanche, Craig Gilroy, Andrew Trimble, Adam D’Arcy

Unavailable due to injury:
Jared Payne, Simon Danielli, Mike McComish, Tim Barker


Is there any rugby-playing adult male in Ulster not named in these lists? Would like to see Deccie get a bit of game time. Still our second best tight head.

Final score 45-7. Happy with that but next week will be incomparable.

Can't wait, are you over Billy?

Brilliant game from Ulster. They look on fire...must be favourites for next week based on that performance. Presume Humphries will start next week . I hope he does

Ah feic off DOD favourites yer a*rse!

Are you going sir?

Nope. Not going. I don't bother with the shiny shed...only go to games (the few we have) in Cork.

Nah, not over mate. Saving that for the final

Well played to you guys, its going to be a cracking match and it would not suprise me if Ulster turn Munster over.

Think the ref said his hamstring had gone when switching with Dudley Phillips.

With regard to who plays in the second row next week - I would definitely go with Tuohy ahead of Stevenson to accompany Muller.

no worries guys hey good luck tomorrow!

Can't wait for next week, hope its a cracker!

Thanks rodders.

Looking forward to the match next week, I will probably start Wumming around tuesday

I've been wumming for weeks Billy!

Well i will start tomorrow then

Have to say, Cave has really been impressing me lately. I have no idea how he does some of the wee off-loads or slick inside passes he does. Also runs wonderful lines in support. Reminds me of Conrad Smith the way he plays. Both smart defenders too.

McLaughlin has said Ferris could be doubtful for next weekend!!!!

DOD wrote:Brilliant game from Ulster. They look on fire...must be favourites for next week based on that performance. Presume Humphries will start next week . I hope he does

What on earth are you talking about? We looked completely in second gear. It was a boring game against a team that offered no challenge.

Notch - It is DOD, I sense a lot of sarcasm in his comment. He likes to be cynical.

MrsP wrote:

McLaughlin has said Ferris could be doubtful for next weekend!!!!

No, really. Thats a real bugger for you. I may be a Munster fan but i do wish Ferris the best and hope that he can play

MrsP wrote:

McLaughlin has said Ferris could be doubtful for next weekend!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rory agree on Cave. So clever, very like Smith or dare I say it BOD in his later years.

In contrast, Spence is the Jaque Fourie 13 big direct runner, who can be clever at times, but thrives on pace and physicality.

Rory

Cave and Spence best two centres in the world...no doubt about it

Rory_Gallagher wrote:In contrast, Spence is the Jaque Fourie 13 big direct runner, who can be clever at times, but thrives on pace and physicality.

Jeez, that's a bit much comparison-wise isn't it?

Hardly - I am simply comparing their styles of rugby to other greats of the game. Not putting them on par with them..

DOD wrote:Cave and Spence best two centres in the world...no doubt about it

Wouldn't say that now.. just many times better than Earls, the "best irish player by a mile".

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Hardly - I am simply comparing their styles of rugby to other greats of the game. Not putting them on par with them..

Fair nuff... I must have misinterpreted it .

Ferris shouldn't play against Italian sides - not good experience for him ......

Quite a decent selection of centres on view last night - any next week is their chance to rub other peoples noses in it

Good professional showing last night.

Not sure who got motm but Cave and Wallace look in great shape. we look so much more threatening with those two in tandem. Caves basketball pass to tuohy which set up the muller chance was pure class.

Good to see the scrum being dominant with McAllister and Macklin in harness. Hopefully Ferris will be fit for next week. Its going to be a cracker.

Tuohy i thought made a good impact and the lineout looked better with him on albeit it was against a beaten side. Thats really the only selection dilemma albeit iHumphs dreadful intercept has me worried.

WillyGilly wrote:BDV you wouldn't know a Peter Dillon per chance?

The name isn't ringing a bell mate, is he at Edinburgh?

I thought he was study vetinaryness at Edinburgh aye. He could well be a year or two older than you now I come to think of it.

DId you see the article on John Andress in the Indie today ? On the subject of tight heads and hoping Court would get a go there for Ulster soon ...... and the increasing mentions of the unmentionable namely just possibly electing the odd Irish Aviva player (it's not like they are from SA or NZ or somwhere)

Anyway - really hope Ulster beats Munster - Irish rugby needs a bit of a shake up and what better way to do it

The front five looked good last night with good options on the bench whoever starts - Ferris had his Italian moment let's hope he's fit but probably the form 8 in Ireland at the moment (though I like Coughlan too he's probably the second)

Full-back wings and centres all top drawer

so we are onto IanH - looks a bit out of sorts though his goal and out of hand kicking was master class stuff last night - if he just reigns in a bit of his adventurous passing he'll do fine - and it's not like Wallace isn't in great attacking form so he doesn't have to do it all by himself - I like him as a player and he's got good memories of Limerick so let's hope he's inspired by that

guess it might be down to not panicking and weathering the Munster end of half and end of match storm

DOD wrote:Cave and Spence best two centres in the world...no doubt about it

+ 1 good man dod.

Stand Paddy Wallace was motm, another fine display from him.

Fair call rodders. He is in ridiculous form. Wonder can Geoff give us an update of fez. Depending on where you look it is either nothing to worry about or there is no chance for next week.

Would be gutted for Ferris to miss it but if there's a doubt he shouldn't be risked. Hes being playing like a human dynamo so there was always the risk he'd break down.

We'd definitely miss his ball carrying but it doesn't really change my view of the game. The scrum will be the key for us and the backrow is functioning well enough even without Ferris.......

besides we want him fit for the SF..... ....

Should also say that Pedre was brilliant last night again..... we love you sir and you'll be missed next year

Chris Henry was excellent as well. I don't blame that furno lad for smacking him because he is such a nuisance at every single ruck. Pedrie was excellent as well

Tries are up on YouTube. Tom Courts really is the pick of the bunch.

Just watched Court's try on Youtube. Didn't appreciate last night how good Paddy's pass was. Sublime. Ferris is supposed to be okay as well.

Paddy Wallace and Stefan Terblanche radiated class last night. Just pure class all-round games on them. Skill, composure, agility, vision- the lot. And against a team like Aironi they are allowed time on the ball; you have to get in Wallaces face and pressurise him and try and turn it into a physical battle. It looked easy for them out there.

Cave played well too. But Trimble was pretty one-dimensional, would like to see him back to his best. He never really got into the game. We really just went from side to side last night and waited for Aironi to leave a big hole in their defence. They often did actually. They aren't great. Not a great side. Sinoti Sinoti is good though, think he was greased up before the game. We missed a lot of tackles we'd have wanted to make.

Hasn't been mentioned before but 10130 or so is a pretty good crowd for an Aironi match.

Don - you're comment on Ferris that he's supposed to be ok - Have you heard this from a reliable source? My weekend has halted since he hobbled off!!

I'm not sure about Fez's ankle.

I have no info that is not in the public domain but it was said to be swollen pretty soon after the game.

I doubt they will know much more than that until mid week.

I will be very happy to be proved wrong!

I spoke briefly to a member of the ulster staff after the game last night and asked about Ferris's injury. Was told he had turned his ankle, but he didn't seem unduly concerned about the injury as he told me this.

Obviously MrsP is right in that its too soon to be sure with that sort of injury, but the tone of the chap i talked with would encourage me that Ferris will be fine for sunday.

Pedrie showed us last night exactly why we should have done everything possible to keep him. Will be missed!