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

Mickado- do you know anyone with a spare ticket for Bordeaux?

BoyneRFC wrote:Mickado- do you know anyone with a spare ticket for Bordeaux?

I don't mate. But from what I've read it's not expected to sell out. Have they not gone on public sale yet?

They have but none available

Unreal, I had been asking the ticket office for a week and he comes back today saying he didnt receive an email from me.

Nice.

Sent you a PM there Boyne.

Go that! Cheersh!

Man, Leinster are going for the 6 out of 6- the clean sweep of inter-pro wins in the Pro 12. Only one team can stand in their way

It's going to be great. Hope we get a good chance to say goodbye to McLaughlin, Whitten and Faloon and thank the team for their efforts this year by celebrating a win over our oldest rivals!

efforts this year by celebrating a win over our oldest rivals!

Yip! No. 1 v No. 2 for the bragging rights!!

Can't wait!!

BoyneRFC wrote:

efforts this year by celebrating a win over our oldest rivals!

Yip! No. 1 v No. 2 for the bragging rights!!

Can't wait!!

I notice Ulster and Munster fans have been avoiding the whole 'who is no.2 now' issue, was only a matter of time before a Leinster fan took the initiative I suppose.

There is no issue. Munster are number 2. When we have some more trophies in the cabinet then we can have that debate.

Just because we are likely to give Leinster a good tonking this Friday isn't a reason to lose the run of ourselves .

There is no issue. Munster are number 2. When we have some more trophies in the cabinet then we can have that debate.

So Uruguay are a better football team than Spain because they have won more world cups??

No.

Just because we are likely to give Leinster a good tonking this Friday isn't a reason to lose the run of ourselves

Oh and, no again.

REminds me of one of my first posts on the old 606.
The Logan/Humph master plan was:

Year 1 - sort out the mess
Year 2 - become competitive in the HC
Year 3 - match Munster
Year 4 - be the undisputed number 2 Irish team

Coming to the end of Year 3 - I think we are on course

If Leinster start Ross and Thorn or even White and Thorn I think we could give them some real troubles in the scrum with Afoa out.

I think Ulster are the perfect team to play the week before ASM, very much in the same style. Massive forwards battering holes for pacey outside backs to exploit, a game managing scrum half, strong set piece etc.

Mickado wrote:If Leinster start Ross and Thorn or even White and Thorn I think we could give them some real troubles in the scrum with Afoa out.

Not if the Ravenhill crowd start heckling the referee you won't......

geoff998rugby wrote:REminds me of one of my first posts on the old 606.
The Logan/Humph master plan was:

Year 1 - sort out the mess
Year 2 - become competitive in the HC
Year 3 - match Munster
Year 4 - be the undisputed number 2 Irish team

Coming to the end of Year 3 - I think we are on course

Year 5 challenge for number 1
Year 6 challenge for number 1
year 7 be undisputed number 1
year 8 onwards stay/challenge number 1

year 9 complete devolution from the UK
year 10 apply to the UN to recognize Ulster as an independent state
year 11 grand slam champions
year 12 world champs (defeating the ABs 44-3 in the final)


...Well as long as you're in fantasy territory

...Carlsberg don't do posts....

Ooh, I can do this! Spotted on the notepad of Shane Logan recently...

Year 13; 'All Whites' justify World Champion Status in successful Grand Slam Tour of NZ and Australia.
Year 14; B&I Lions tour Ulster. Despite calling up many of Ulsters finest they are sent home with their tails between their legs
Year 15; Darren Cave becomes First Minister of Northern Ireland, community relations at an all-time high.
Year 16; Ulster vs World XV exhibition game held in the Gaza Strip, credited for outbreak of peace in the region. Ulster to fly to Mars to face Galactic Select XV...

...Believe.

Notch wrote:Ooh, I can do this! Spotted on the notepad of Shane Logan recently...

Year 13; 'All Whites' justify World Champion Status in successful Grand Slam Tour of NZ and Australia.
Year 14; European Lions tour Ulster. Despite calling up many of Ulsters finest they are sent home with their tails between their legs
Year 15; Darren Cave becomes First Minister of Northern Ireland, community relations at an all-time high.
Year 16; Ulster vs World XV exhibition game held in the Gaza Strip, credited for outbreak of peace in the region. Ulster to fly to Mars to face Galactic Select XV...

...Believe.

Fixed that Notch.

I think we could put you guys up to it big time in the scrum I must say. I would go Court-Best-Macklin if I was you guys because that is what you will probably have to go with against Edinburgh.

Really not sure what Leinster team are going to be selected. I imagine we will go for this one and take it easy in our last rabo game.

So against:

Ulster-full team
Clermont-full team
Newport-2nd team
Pro 12 semi-full team with some minor rotation
HCup Final if we get there-full team
Pro 12 Final if we get there-full team with some minor rotation

Minor rotation would mean some of:

VDM for Healy
Cronin for Strauss
White for Ross
Jenno for SOB
Ruddock for Mcl/Heaslip
Boss for Reddan
Madigan for Sexton
Kearney Jr. for Nacew/Kearney
Darcy for McFadden (yeah I went there)

I can see us playing this team vs Ulster

Healy-Strauss-Ross
Cullen-Toner
McL-Heaslip-SOB
Reddan-Sexton
McFadden-BOD
Fitz-Kearney-Nacewa

Cronin-White-VDM-Thorn-Jenno-Boss-Madigan-Kearney Jr.

If we look like we will win, then start bringing on the subs!

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

Paddy Jackson starts! Big call, everyone will be watching closely

No Tuohy. Hopefully fitzpatrick goes well

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

*gulp*

Good side. Not too surprised really.

Ferris is in Cotton wool. Tuouhy being dropped for Stevenson brought the best out of him in the QF, so I'd imagine the same is happening here.

Good to see Jackson get the nod but I'll eat my hat if Humphreys doesn't start the SF.

TH is the interesting one but I still think Court will start the SF.

Man I so want to go to this! Are there tickets left?

BoyneRFC wrote: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

Dear god in heaven!

I sooooo want to go to this!!

Declan is physically fit but a long way from being match fit.

Would not be surprised if the plan in this game and against Edinburgh is to flog him for 50 mins and then take him off.

He is our best IQ TH in terms of scrummaging technique and could be key against Edinburgh. He will prevent Jacobsen causing any mischief

I disagree Rodders, I usually do , if the plan was to start Court at TH against Edinburgh I reckon he would have started the Leinster game at TH.

I am sure the plan is to get Fitzpatrick as fit as possible to start against Edinburgh. To be honest I am relieved if true.

Jacobsen is not the greatest but he would get the better of Court.

I hope you are right Geoff but don't you think the club are just looking at their options?

Clearly there is a bit of uncertainty at 10 and 3 and they are keeping their options open?

Oh and disagree away sir! I always respect your opinions !

Certaintly 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

Rodders I ave a few tickets that look like teywon be taken for the terrace. I will get you them fo face value if you want

Leinster replacements:

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

Standulstermen wrote:Rodders I ave a few tickets that look like teywon be taken for the terrace. I will get you them fo face value if you want

Thanks Stand. Will give you a bell later today if I want them. Getting up in time for KO is the main issue.

Just saying, I predicted O'Brien to play at 8.

Mickado wrote:Just saying, I predicted O'Brien to play at 8.

All you Ulster boys (and others) who were clamouring for SOB to play at 8 for Ireland. Prepare to reap the whirlwind tomorrow.

Not sure I like O'Brien at 8 myself.. that Leinster team has a lot of strange calls I think! Will be an interesting match.

Delighted Dom Ryan is playing in a very strong side. Rate him very highly. Strong team. Hammer time?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Not sure I like O'Brien at 8 myself.. that Leinster team has a lot of strange calls I think! Will be an interesting match.

No strange calls. Darce, Isa and Jamie are the only players who started the last 2 games. They are being rested. The rest of the team will start next week. i.e. all bar Ryan, Dave Kearney and Ferg. Ryan and Kearney will drop out and Ferg will replace Carr on the bench. Seanie will move to 7.

Sean at 8 I am not a massive fan of either. It is his worst and least favorite position in the back row.

Having said that he is better to have there than many other players who start there every week.

Seanie's worst is way ahead of most peoples best.

O'Brien will be grand at 8. No worries there.

Ryan and McLaughlin will do a lot of the dirty work for him so i expect to see his carrying skills on show. The tight 5 should give a good platform for the backrow too.

Mickado wrote:O'Brien will be grand at 8. No worries there.

Ryan and McLaughlin will do a lot of the dirty work for him so i expect to see his carrying skills on show. The tight 5 should give a good platform for the backrow too.

Absolutely. But there is not a lot riding on this game for Leinster bar a bit of momentum for next week. (I don't think they would give too much of a fock about the 1st Interpro slam since 95)

Yeah I'm not happy that O'brien is playing 8 either......

....... the last time he did that against us the feicer tore us to ribbons and scored 2 tries!

It should be a cracker - a near full strength Leinster side and a strong Ulster side.

Last game at home this season.

Saying goodbye to McLaughlin, Wannenberg, Terblanche, Faloon, Kyriacou - might not be a dry eye in the house.

My birthday too.

You guys do know its a rugby tradition that all fellow posters have to buy the birthday boy a drink right ?

roddersm wrote:Yeah I'm not happy that O'brien is playing 8 either......

....... the last time he did that against us the feicer tore us to ribbons and scored 2 tries!

That was one of the 2 games I missed in Ravenhill in the last 7 years. Still looked good on the telly though.

geoff998rugby wrote:

You guys do know its a rugby tradition that all fellow posters have to buy the birthday boy a drink right ?

Can you drink that much at your age? Yer some man I'll buy you one.

Happy Birthday Geoff!

o brien played a lot last year at no.8 and in my opinion its his best position cant wait for this game now!

geoff998rugby wrote:It should be a cracker - a near full strength Leinster side and a strong Ulster side.

Last game at home this season.

Saying goodbye to McLaughlin, Wannenberg, Terblanche, Faloon, Kyriacou - might not be a dry eye in the house.

My birthday too.

You guys do know its a rugby tradition that all fellow posters have to buy the birthday boy a drink right ?

I'm sure virtually all of us will get you a pint Geoff...


....Sorry i mean, i'm sure all of us will get you a virtual pint Geoff.

Nice one Mick!