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

Sexton takes a drop kick with Ulster creaking. Surprising.

8-16. Ulster need at least a losing bonus point here.

Pot-
Ulster need to win this game. if they don't they need glasgow to lose their next two

oh and beat Munster again

Been a great workout for both though. Not really been full-on, in fairness.

Some players put their hand up. Ryan & McFadden stand out.

Cave excellent in defence.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:oh and beat Munster again

No bother. But the losing bonus point here might be a problem

Here comes Madigaaan. Lets see shum shexshy moves.

O'Driscoll is having a mare

Great steal mcFadden

Leinster get a penalty and Sexton decides to kick for touch.

But they stuff up the attack again in Ulster's 22 with Toner knocking on.

Humphreys comes on.

Ulster win the scrum and Jackson receives the ball and fires another beauty 60 metres and finds. Top class.

Great kick Jackson.

Unreal kick Paddy J

And a penalty to Ukster but they play it. They continue to attack but the game is lost now.

One minute to go.

And Leinster complete the triple Irish double over the provinces.

A lot done, more to do for next week.

Thats the provincial SLAM. 6 from 6.

Weather made a mess of this one. Leinster just doing enough.

Hope Ulster's injury list does not grow. Badly need Paddy and Wanneberg for Lansdowne next weekend.

Pot Hale wrote:And Leinster complete the triple Irish double over the provinces.

A lot done, more to do for next week.

can't argue with that really, hope the ulster injuries aren't bad

What sort of team are Ulster going to be putting out against Munster now

Thats all depends on what happens next week. But, even then, they'd have nothing to play for but pride, if they lose the HC SF.

Its all about next week. Ulster, like Edinburgh - are playing cagey. They will throw everything at it. A HC Final, for either - would be dreamland.

Expect a whole different level next week.

Just stating the bleedin obvious. As is my wont.

Good win Leinster

Just want a clean bill of health more than anything. Pretty pleased with that all in all; great warm up for the Heineken Cup semi-final. I'd say it's about 60% of how well we can play but as we say a lot in music; great rehearsal, average gig. You have to hold your best chops back for the real thing. A good hit out, and I think Paddy Jackson has put his hand up to start next weekend.

No Pro12 playoff is a blessing in disguise for us if we manage to do the business against Edinburgh. To win a Heineken Cup final versus ASM or Leinster will require the best performance of Ulster since- well, possibly ever.

There's simply no way our first team could produce that if we had to play a Pro 12 playoff the week before. We'd be resting players in the semi-final and it's better for the tournament if Scarlets or Glasgow take that spot.

Ulster did as well as they could but they just don't have the quality. The loss of Wallace in particular effectively kills the season - but they have already exceeded expectations. Losing Henry and Wannenburg shows how shallow the depth is and Edinburgh have to be favourites now.

One bright spot was the Ulster front row, especially Fitzpatrick laying it down on Healy after zero gametime. Maybe the Leinster boys were saving themselves for next week?

One dark spot was Muller not kicking for goal twice, when Ulster needed two scores and as many points out of this game as they could garner. It was defeatist in the extreme.

I strongly suspect all three players will start next week Aukster.

Thought the Ulster scrum was hugely dominant, really didn't see that coming

Court and Fitzpatrick should start next week. If we move Court to tighthead now I'll facepalm so hard my brain is propelled out the back of my skull. Jackson to start at 10. The rest as you were from the game at Thomond.

I agree with that Mr Notch.

Really hope your injuries aren't bad ones. What did you guys think of mcFadden at 12?

Chris Henry was on crutches at half time.

Prob won't know anything til until Monday or so

Notch wrote:I strongly suspect all three players will start next week Aukster.

Henry and Wallace would be doubts at this stage. I'd say best we can hope for is two out of those three fit.

Could this team win a semi-final?

1. Tom Court
2. Rory Best
3. Declan Fitzpatrick
4. Johann Muller (c)
5. Dan Tuohy
6. Stephen Ferris
7. Willie Faloon
8. Robbie Diack
9. Ruan Pienaar
10. Ian Humphreys
11. Craig Gilroy
12. Paddy Jackson
13. Darren Cave
14. Andrew Trimble
15. Stefan Terblanche

Maybe... I'm not exactly dying to find out though. Please let those three pull through! I really, really hope Paddy is fit, sounds like Pedrie could well be and fingers crossed for Chris.

what you guys think of SOB at 8?

I really didn't think he was great there. Still want to see him at 6. Though Ryan played well, but again I think he is just another 6. Made some good carries, put in some good tackles and has good pace. He isn't the same player as the likes of Jennings though..

Well done Leinster.

Didn't have the best view of the game so will have to rewatch it but from what I saw Leinster were comfortable enough winners.

There defence was excellent and their tactical kicking was very good. We missed Ferris badly I think as well as Henry when he went off.

Disappointed with the loss but will need to rewatch to see were we fell short.

Bit of undue deference given to Leinster here, I thnk. Hard to tell watching live and getting swept up, but looked like the ref was a Leinster fan. Probably natural bias, but he looked rubbish. The real difference between the teams, though, was the goal kicking. Too many points left on the pitch. Leinster "comfortably better" me hole. Two team keeping their powder dry for their semis.

Thought Jackson very good, and a good front row. Thought Gilroy looked the best winger out the - Zoolander will have to step up if he wants back on the Ireland team. Thorn and Ryan very good.

We can't afford to be without Henry and Wallace.

Don I think the red had a very his game and was fair.

The missed kicks is what cost us. Pienaar's kicking has won us many games in the past so can forgive an off day.

Paddy Jackson looked like he was being nursed by the team,slightly. First half he didn't kick once but passed like a link man, second half as free in confidence he placed some lovely kicks. To me it looks like the team are allowing him to grow confident with the seniors. I just wish he had got more game time earlier in the season and was further down the road, before the biggest game in the last 10 years.

Agreed that jackson was being nursed. He seemed happy to ship it on rather than take it to the line. Couple of quality kicks tho. He was so good off the floor in Galway that I hoped he would take over from Pienaar last night. His defence was pretty good too.

I don't think that the ref was that bad just Leinster's breakdown work was class. so often they, 1-15, drove past the ball carrier and disrupted the next man. If they were wearing green at Lansdowne I'd have been cheering it on. Did I see O'Driscoll give Trimble a clip in the first half btw?

Don Alfonso wrote:Bit of undue deference given to Leinster here, I thnk....... Leinster "comfortably better" me hole. Two team keeping their powder dry for their semis.

Well, yes "comfortably better" is a tad too kind - but given that Leinster were already home and dry for the Pro12 playoffs and Ulster kinda needed the win to keep their chances in Pro12 alive; and that it was an Ulster home game, and that the crowd were pretty vocal in their extra-man support and wanting the win despite HC hopes, you might think that two such sides might see Ulster emerge the victors in a 'powder-dry' game that had more meaning for them than Leinster?

But yes too, kicking blew Ulster's chances in a game where neither side tried too hard to be HC tough or inventive. I think Leinster will have relished that game though. It looked a good, hard, contact based workout for solid, if not showy, rugby. The nuts'n'bolts playform without the dazzle, so to speak.

Really hoping we have Chris Henry for next week. Left the ground with a big boot on around his ankle, really hope it's precautionary.

I thought Ryan had a very good game at 7. He was at the breakdown quite reguarly and added width to our forward game due to his pace. Though sob played very well too.

Any thoughts on McFadden at 12?

I only saw the second half but I would have said, Ulster played like they did against Munster, just some things that went right in the HC game didn't go right last night. Some stupid penalties and decisions but all correctable.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I thought Ryan had a very good game at 7. He was at the breakdown quite reguarly and added width to our forward game due to his pace. Though sob played very well too.

Any thoughts on McFadden at 12?

I thought Leinster in general were superb at the breakdown. Though in the back row I thought O'Brien was the worst of Ryan, McLaughlin and himself. Will watch the game again, it was sometimes hard to tell O'Brien and McLaughlin apart but I wasn't all that impressed.

I know what you mean about getting McLaughlin and O'Brien mixed up. MrP and I had a bit of an arguement over which one had scored. I won't say who was right!



I think they should have their number on the head gear, a bit like Post Office vans!

Were you at the game? Even on tv it was very hard to tell the difference! The numbers on their back were even very similar.

Yeah. We were there. Really didn't want to miss the last home game for Pedrie et al .

And I REALLY didn't want to miss BM's last home game in charge. What a reaction he recieved!

Thomond wrote:I only saw the second half but I would have said, Ulster played like they did against Munster, just some things that went right in the HC game didn't go right last night. Some stupid penalties and decisions but all correctable.

Yeah, pretty much. I thought it was like the Heineken Cup quarter-final in some ways- but we had Leinster do to us in the second half what we did to Munster. We had the territory and possession to win that game, but not the cutting edge and Leinster did a great job disrupting us at the breakdown.

One thing I'd just say to Ulster fans re: Jackson.

His defence is so far superior to iHumph it is astounding. I can remember we used SOB out in the 13 channel a few times to try and get the rest of our guys around the corner further away from the breakdown. At one stage SOB attacked the 10 channel and for some reason I though iHumph was playing and I saw he (actually Jackson) was isolated without support from his backrow and I immediatly expected SOB to run over iHumph (actually Jackson) and break the line.

Jackson made a great tackle.

Just one moment but it could have been a linebreak and score if iHumph had been in there

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Were you at the game? Even on tv it was very hard to tell the difference! The numbers on their back were even very similar.

Yeah I thought is was McLaughlin who scored, we were right in front. He had a super game actually.

Rewatched the game this morning. I though Leinster were very impressive. They controlled the pace of the game and it was their superior skills at the breakdown in attack and defence that was the difference. We were always struggling to retain our own ball whereas Leinsters ball was clean and quick.

Sexton had a brilliant game and I'm surprised that he wasn't motm. Thats BBCNI for you. Brad Thorn was immense too, almost unseen but he's like a big slab of concrete at the breakdown when he gets over the ball. He's the perfect fit for Leinster.

After rewatching I though BOD had a very good game too. He was organising the Leinster defence the whole game, he spilled a few balls but made one crucial steal and made one excellent line break. McFadden looked very good too and Dave Kearney was excellent.

In terms of Ulster I think there are a lot of positives. Leinster are the best team around but we were able to match them for long periods and played some pretty decent rugby at times. Paddy Jackson looked really classy and I think he has done enough to start the HEC SF. Ditto Fitzpatrick.

I think this game will stand bith teams in good stead for the Weekend. Leinster got as tough a workout as they've had recently and Ulster showed we could go toe to toe with the best.

Hopefully we've learned from this and can get our own back in the HEC final ........

Oh yeah BBCNI did a really nice piece with Pedrie at half time...... was welling up watching it man......

rodders wrote:was welling up watching it man......

Don't talk, you wanted to see me at the game yesterday. Had to catch myself on

Nice one Shauna, we made it down in the end but were at the Memorial end behind the posts.

The atmosphere is really poor there. Won't be getting tickets for there again until Rava builds the new stand.

Wanted to go down and clap the boys off though so glad I went. The GF got her pic taken with BOD so that was nice....even if I'd rather I did ....

Happy Days Rodders, we were at the front of the prom at the memorial end (usual spot when we go down). Love it in the prom, always a load of people shouting and roaring, great atmosphere.
My fella was too in awe of BOD to ask for his picture, he was totally starstruck, couldn't even speak. I was glad I was able get my picture with Stefan, the total legend that he is.

I was the same Shauna.... totally awestruck...just about managed to take a photo with him and the GF. He called me a slow coach or something for taking so long to take the photo. Best day of my life ....

Yeah I actually really like it down there in the Promenade too. Left it too late for the tickets though.

Its official. I love you Rodders (in a manly way). A realistic post from an Ulster rugby fanatic. I thought Leinster cruised through that game. But, thought best not to say it last night.

Just do the biz next weekend and we'll have pints at Twickers mo chara. Now that would be a completely different game. I pray it happens for us both.

Believe.