Ulster v Zebre Match thread 17th November 2012

[neilthom7]

First topic message reminder :

With all the Internationals happening right now it is important to remember that this Sunday the 18th November at 2pm Ulster face off against Zebre in the Rabo Direct Pro 12. Ulster were off course due to take on Zebre earlier in the season but due to the tragic loss of Nevin Spence and his family this will be the first time the 2 sides play. Zebre are currently bottom of the Rabo having lost all 7 games so far scoring the least points of any side and conceding the 2nd most. They have picked up just 1 losing bonus point. Ulster of course are top of the table and so far remain unbeaten. Neither side has been named yet and I will update when this happens. Ulster will however be missing players to Ireland who face Fiji this weekend and who plays will depend on who Ireland choose to release. The biggest issue for Ulster looks to be in the second row with Muller and Stevenson both missing through injury. If neither Henderson or Tuohy are released from the Ireland squad then we will be down just one senior lock in McComb. So guys what are your predictions for the game and who do you think will play.

Ulster Team
R Andrew; M Allen, J Payne, P Wallace, C Cochrane; N O'Connor, M Heaney; C Black, N Brady (capt), J Afoa, R Diack, N McComb, N Williams, M McComish, R Wilson.

Replacements: R Herring, T Court, D Fitzpatrick, J Simpson, A Birch, B McIlroy, S Olding, P Nelson.

Zebre Team
15. David ODIETE
14. Leonardo SARTO
13. Matteo PRATICHETTI
12. Samuele PACE
11. Alessandro CASTAGNOLI
10. Daniel HALANGAHU
9. Tito TEBALDI

8. Andries VAN SCHALKWYK
7. Filippo CRISTIANO (cap)
6. Filippo FERRARINI
5. Filippo CAZZOLA
4. Josh SOLE
3. Luca REDOLFINI
2. Andrea MANICI
1. Matias AGUERO

Replacements
16. Andrea DE MARCHI
17. Salvatore PERUGINI
18. Flavio TRIPODI
19. Emiliano CAFFINI
20. Nicola BELARDO
21. Alberto CHILLON
22. Ross McCANN
23. Nicola CATTINA

[Rava]

Lads, lets also not forget the reason Ulster are playing this game today. Couldn't help thinking last night that Spence would have been involved in that game in Thomond Park.

[MrsP]

Indeed Rava.

Seeing a blond centre just makes me think of Nevin everytime!

[neilthom7]

That was awful

[Artful_Dodger]

Hooker lifting a no.8 for the restart instead of a lock - Brady and Diack completely misconstrued where that restart was landing.

[neilthom7]

There was no need for that miss out pass by O'Connor there simple hands would have seen us in but he butchered it

[rodders]

Barsteward thought this kicked off at 5pm.... missed the first 20min...

[MrsP]

Be thankful for small mercies Rodders!

[neilthom7]

Yeah Rodders you wouldn't have liked what you missed anyways so you didn't do so bad lol

[rodders]

What a hit from Williams there!

Have faith guys...Niall O'Connor will see us through here .

[neilthom7]

Yeah Rodders the awkward moment when it's Nick Willaims who has lined you up, we are very loose and disjointed in our play at the minute especially the forwards.

[Rava]

Huffing and puffing a bit.

[rodders]

Great stuff lads! Excellent defense there.

[Rava]

Penalty for NOC. 9-5.

[rodders]

Very fetching those black jerseys..... hope Santa is reading this

[rodders]

Brilliant by Roger Wilson there!

[Rava]

Great defence again.

[Notch]

What a rip Roger Wilson!

Defence has been good, apart from the mess we made of that restart. It's our atrocious discipline that has cost us.

[neilthom7]

On the positive side we lead at the break

[Rava]

Poor execution and no rhythm to our play.
Hoping for better second half.

[MrsP]

The lads don't look up for this at all.

They look like they would rather be somewhere else. Hope Anscombe has some magic words at half time.

[rodders]

Stop yer yapping McComish..... right lads time to front up....

[rodders]

Jesus wept.....

[Artful_Dodger]

Nice kick from McComish

[rodders]

[neilthom7]

something tells me staying in the same hotel as Mark Anscombe will not be fun tonight

[rodders]

Awful from Brady there..

[neilthom7]

Poor tackling by Williams we may see some changes soon, I can see Birch being called upon in the back row somewhere.

[MrsP]

Okay lads!

That's enough of the "letting the other team have a go!"

Sporting and all as it is. Time to wise up!

[Artful_Dodger]

We need scrums!!

[Rava]

If we can keep in their territory we will win this. Can't afford to give up possession so easily.

[Artful_Dodger]

Dodgey touch judge

[Notch]

Penalty count is ridiculous from Ulster. Throwing away the game.

[Artful_Dodger]

Anscombe taking Brady off, says a lot about Brady's performance really.

[rodders]

Flip!

[neilthom7]

Awful performance all round here, completely disjointed. Anscombe will be furious.

[Notch]

Few chickens coming home to roost.

No lineout calling second row available, only one second row in total = lineout disaster. Cost us a try just then.

Halfbacks all unavailable = no structure in attack.

No excuse for our poor discipline and lack of intensity.

[rodders]

Come on lads! Need some points here...

[Notch]

This is where we need to go up a gear and get the try.

[rodders]

Brilliant stuff! Good man Paddy!

[neilthom7]

Finally some constant posession and no errors only took 57 mins

[Notch]

Nicely done Ulster. Good try.

I think if we keep the heads we still have the winning of this.

[rodders]

Great stuff from Herring.

[Smirnoffpriest]

whats the score at the minute?

[rodders]

Drop goal time....

[Notch]

Zebre a point ahead, 18-17.

[neilthom7]

18-17 I'll give O'Connor his due he has kicked well out of hand

[Notch]

Anotehr chance for a try, come on Ulster.

[rodders]

Yes great stuff, take the 3 lads...

[Notch]

Zebre about to have a man in the bin- we should retake the lead here. Must get this 3 and the next score.

[rodders]

Disaster!

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