Ulster V Leinster 20/4/12

First topic message reminder :

And perhaps for the 1st time of 3 in 4 weeks.

ULSTER

15-9): S Terblanche; A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar;
(1-8): T Court, N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller (capt), L Stevenson, C Henry, W Faloon, P Wannenburg;
Replacements (16-23): A Kyricaou, P McAllister, A Macklin, N McComb, R Diack, I Porter, I Humphreys, A D'Arcy

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: David Kearney
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Fergus McFadden
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Brad Thorn
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Sean O'Brien

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Nathan White
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: Fionn Carr

Have a good one (but not too good)..

Can you drink that much at your age?

I'm 33 and have no qualms in admitting that I am gee-eyed after 3 pints..

I think it has something to do with those plastic cups they give us in the RDS..

BoyneRFC wrote:

Have a good one (but not too good)..

Can you drink that much at your age?

I'm 33 and have no qualms in admitting that I am gee-eyed after 3 pints..

I think it has something to do with those plastic cups they give us in the RDS..

You do realise that you are not supposed to eat the cup Boyne, yes?

You do realise that you are not supposed to eat the cup Boyne, yes?

Beats the shoite they give you in the "sausage shack"

As you will all find out - the older you get the less it takes.

Mind you it means its cheaper

The dodgy matches are like next Saturday. Out on the streets of Dublin 7/8 hours before kick off - whats a man to do

Eat heartly is a very very good idea

Delighted Dom Ryan is at 7. Im a huge Jenno fan and think he should start v ASM. But, it is time to seriously look at succession at openside and Ryan is the man. Not SOB. Been saying it for ages now.

Good man Joe.

Leinster by 20.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Geoff, mo chara!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaTEdi9tKDM

Many thanks and cheers my mexican friend

Why do we call you mexicans by the way - I forget (another sign if old age I might add)

They're from South of the Border, Geoff.

Many happy returns! Another one down...

Well Geoff, I am 56 and I can drink all the Leinster youngfellas under the table. I normally pour them into a taxi at about 11pm roysh, and then go for a real drink. Bless em.

Gibson wrote:Well Geoff, I am 56 and I can drink all the Leinster youngfellas under the table. I normally pour them into a taxi at about 11pm roysh, and then go for a real drink. Bless em.

Ah Bollix. A challenge eh? You going tomorrow night then?

Cheers everyone all much appreciated.

Got the feeling tomorrow will be a real occassion - not many tickets left by the way.

Gibson wrote:Well Geoff, I am 56 and I can drink all the Leinster youngfellas under the table. I normally pour them into a taxi at about 11pm roysh, and then go for a real drink. Bless em.

Not sure if you're familiar with a drink thats very popular up here called Buckfast, but it sorts the men from the boys after a couple of bottles, if it doesnt breakout the Knockeen Hills 90% stuff and see whose left standing.

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-4335.aspx

Gibson wrote:Well Geoff, I am 56 and I can drink all the Leinster youngfellas under the table. I normally pour them into a taxi at about 11pm roysh, and then go for a real drink. Bless em.

We left at the same time at the last session ya bollix. Rava was asleep in the deck chair mind you.

Not sure if you're familiar with a drink thats very popular up here called Buckfast

Never head of it..

It big down there as well? I thought it was just the north and Scotland that did Buckfast, but having done a bit of research the stuff in the Republic isn't the same according to wiki yours doesnt have the vanillin in it.

What sort of rugby fan drinks Buckfast? .....

roddersm wrote:What sort of rugby fan drinks Buckfast? .....

Not me, no sirree

That's one part of playing I don't miss...the after match drinking sessions.... I was always the smallest guy in the side so used to have to pull all sorts of skulduggary to keep up in the drinking games......

Mick made a funny. Very good man

Happy birthday Geoff. This is going to be great. Toe to toe with the very best team in the league. I'm very pleased with the selection. Tom Court and Ian Humphreys were perhaps our most disappointing players against Connacht- one, understandably, given his clear superiority as a loosehead but all the same... what a day for Paddy Jackson. This is his big chance now.

Mickado wrote:

Gibson wrote:Well Geoff, I am 56 and I can drink all the Leinster youngfellas under the table. I normally pour them into a taxi at about 11pm roysh, and then go for a real drink. Bless em.

We left at the same time at the last session ya bollix. Rava was asleep in the deck chair mind you.

True Micko. Yer a young stalwart bud. Poor aul (Ulster) Rav was dead after 12 hours drinkin. But he's old like.

geoff998rugby wrote:Certainly think they are keeping their options open at 10 and 3 - the rest of the team is already decided.

At 3 I suspected they did not like what they saw last week and have gone for the best technical TH available. It is Fitzpatricks to lose- if he shows anything like adequate fitness he will start against Edinburgh. Switching Court or bringing on Macklin will still be possible in that game.

As for 10 I think it is similar Jackson last week was better than Humphreys against either Connacht or Munster. If he has a stormer he could be a surprise start.

Having said that my money is on Fitzpatrick and Humphreys starting against Edinburgh

Geoff - what about Tuohy. Despite not being named in Friday's matchday squad, surely he's a shoo-in for the Edinburgh game?

I would dearly love to see Jackson start the SF. If Munster can bring Zebo through the ranks on a fast track (and we saw what Griffin did for Connacht last Saturday), surely Jackson should be given every chance to win a starting spot for us. At the moment, I think we are winning games in spite of rather than because of iHumph. It's never too late to make a right decision.... so regardless of whether it's a European semi-final, or a dead rubber game, I'm in favour of Jackson being our starting outhalf right now.

Who knows? Maybe it will be the firecracker up the backside that Humphreys needs to get back to some sort of form.

Goes without saying that this is a massive game for Fitzpatrick too. If he can hold his own against the Leinster frontrow, then we could actually have some proper depth at tighthead... heaven forbid!!! We need big Deccie back to his very best because it's too early for Macklin to be thrown into the top level (although I do think he will get there eventually, all the more so thanks to Anscombe's track record at developing young forwards).

Friday night will be very very interesting. Can't wait.

Gibson wrote:

Mickado wrote:

Gibson wrote:Well Geoff, I am 56 and I can drink all the Leinster youngfellas under the table. I normally pour them into a taxi at about 11pm roysh, and then go for a real drink. Bless em.

We left at the same time at the last session ya bollix. Rava was asleep in the deck chair mind you.

True Micko. Yer a young stalwart bud. Poor aul (Ulster) Rav was dead after 12 hours drinkin. But he's old like.

Only 12 hours. I'm so ashamed of myself

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Gibson wrote:Well Geoff, I am 56 and I can drink all the Leinster youngfellas under the table. I normally pour them into a taxi at about 11pm roysh, and then go for a real drink. Bless em.

Ah Bollix. A challenge eh? You going tomorrow night then?

Cant make it Jen. Love to meet ya bud. Im saving meself for Twickers roysh.
Oh and the Grand Final at the Orr-Dee-Ess.

For those asking about Tuohy;

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/10412.php

Ulster have recalled a number of front line players to the starting XV for Friday's RaboDirect PRO12 match against Leinster at Ravenhill (kick off 7.05pm).
Head Coach Brian McLaughlin has made nine personnel changes and a further two positional switches to the team which lost 26-21 to Connacht last weekend, but there is no place for rested Ireland Internationals Stephen Ferris and Rory Best.

Dan Tuohy has a slight neck irritation and has been rested as a precaution, while Paul Marshall is ruled out with an elbow injury sustained in Galway. The former will definatley be available for selection next week, with the latter also hopeful of making a return for the heinekn Cup semi-final v Edinburgh.

Willie Faloon, Nigel Brady, Lewis Stevenson, Tom Court, Stefan Terblanche and Paddy Jackson are the only survivors from the team which started against Connacht.

Sounds good on Marshall. I wonder if we'll give Porter a run just in case.

Hope Marshall makes is fit for the HC SF. Have high hopes for that fella. Playing and training with Pienaar, is just the stuff of Masterclass for him. If he keeps improving at this rate - he should go to NZ.

Cave is a must for me.

Rava wrote:

Gibson wrote:

Mickado wrote:

Gibson wrote:Well Geoff, I am 56 and I can drink all the Leinster youngfellas under the table. I normally pour them into a taxi at about 11pm roysh, and then go for a real drink. Bless em.

We left at the same time at the last session ya bollix. Rava was asleep in the deck chair mind you.

True Micko. Yer a young stalwart bud. Poor aul (Ulster) Rav was dead after 12 hours drinkin. But he's old like.

Only 12 hours. I'm so ashamed of myself

Thank Jeebus we ate, Rav. That pub was a great call, mo chara.

Info to feed de Troops.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2012/0419/1224314946657.html

Love this piece on Terblanche. He just sounds as sound a guy, as he is a player. Hickie gave him his shirt in an International and he, in turn, gave Girvan Demspey, his shirt after his 1st International game. Class. Just class.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0419/1224314924224.html

I feicin love rugby.

Terblanche seems like a great guy, model professional. Given he's the same vintage as Dempsey and Hickie it's pretty amazing he's still performing at such a high level. He still looks class out there. I remember when he first came, he was playing against Munster and Cave put him away- I thought this old guy, he won't have the legs to get in...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmekPAmyQAQ

I think I've been won over since that!

Best, Ferris,Tuohy will all start next week just being rested for very very minor injuries.

I also think Paul Marshall will make the bench - he will play through pain ala Ferris.

As mentioned who plays 3 who plays 10 - the rested is already decided.

By the way mines a Guiness if I bump into anyone

Happy burfday tomorrow Geoff

Terblanche must be one of the nicest men ever to grace a rugby pitch.

Ok. A bit of lunch and into the car with me. I'll let you win if you promise not to injure anyone. Especially Mike Ross!

In Belfast and ready to roar

Sitting in the Taphouse with a wee
Really looking forward to this game later, gonna be a full house hopefully. Liking the idea of the wee McLaughlin song

Nice buzz goin on here between the Ulster & Leinster fans. Proper.

We are, after all, two the of oldest adversaries in NH rugby. Respect.

Here's to a great game tonight folks. Those going to the game - have a blast. And both sets of fans - give some up vocals for Brian McLaughlin. The man has so much dignity and class.

Believe.

Anyone got a link? Apparently the internet thinks that Ospreys v Dragons is more interesting.

[When I really couldn't care less]

Try Locky.

Good man Dom Ryan. Securing the ball again.

Yeah he did very well as did SOB at the scrum that fed the Kearney Jr break. Great control at base.

Good support play too

Great scrum by Ulster

Awful hands by a professional rugby player shown by Fitz

Great steal Strauss

Ulster 0-7 Leinster. Nicely taken try by McLaughlin

Leinster errors keeping Ulster in this game so far. Ulster look like they're not up for it.

No injuries lads! Ulster or Leinster

And lots of huff and puff by Leinster and they knock in the middle of the field and hand possession back to Ulster. A bit ho hum so far from both sides.

Ross is getting taken by Court so far

anyone else having problems with the bbc website?

Ulster getting on top in the scrums generally, but nothing coming from it. Lots of resets and collapses.

But finally Ulster get going in moving the ball about in the backs. And then lose it at the breakdown. sexton kicks and finds touch in the Ulster 22.

Poor kicking from both teams. Leinster looking stronger overall, reddan doing very well

And a Leinster error at the breakdown hands Ulster a kickable penalty. Front of the posts for Piennar. And it sails over to the right hand post and bounces away. Very surprising miss by the South African.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:No injuries lads! Ulster or Leinster

+100