Ulster vs Ospreys

First topic message reminder :

Game on Friday, another sell-out crowd, but like everyone else we're scrabbling around with the Six Nations and injuries, trying to make ends meet. Declan Fitzpatrick, Rory Best, Chris Henry, Iain Henderson, Paddy Jackson and Craig Gilroy are all with the national side. John Afoa and Jared Payne are on leave to ensure they stay fresh on the home straight of the season. And Adam Macklin, Paddy McAllister, Stephen Ferris, Nick Williams, Roger Wilson, Tommy Bowe, Chris Farrell, Peter Nelson and Adam D'Arcy are all still injured.

Selection is further complicated by the news that Darren Cave and Andrew Trimble have been called into the Ireland squad as cover for Earls and D'Arcy- they are included here but aren't likely to be released from tacklebag duty until Thursday.

Forwards (14)

Nigel Brady, Rob Herring, Niall Annett, Callum Black, Ricky Lutton, Andrew Warwick, Tom Court, Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy, Neil McComb, Johann Muller, Mike McComish Robbie Diack, Ali Birch.

Backs (11)

Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Niall O’Connor, Stuart Olding, Paddy Wallace, Luke Marshall, Darren Cave, Michael Allen, Andrew Trimble, Chris Cochrane, Ricky Andrew.

There is some good news- Johann Muller, Dan Tuohy and Luke Marshall are back and available for selection. But it's a squad with no recognised tighthead, only 3 recognised backrows and only one recognised fullback. Of the props, it is to be hoped Tom Court stays at loosehead- the joke of trying him at 3 is testament to how we will fail to get the best out of him in that position and would further damage his international chances. Of the 4 looseheads in the squad the burden will probably fall on Richard Lutton to wear the 3 shirt with 21 year-old Prop/Hooker Andrew Warwick covering for him on the bench.

I would move the hard-grafting Neil McComb to the blindside flanker as a lineout option and a ball carrier, given how light we are in the backrow. With Jackson missing at 10, it's a good opportunity to look at Stuart Olding outside Ruan Pienaar and Luke Marshall to come off the bench.

Notchs XV;

1. Tom Court
2. Nigel Brady
3. Richard Lutton
4. Johann Muller (c)
5. Dan Tuohy
6. Neil McComb
7. Mike McComish
8. Robbie Diack
9. Ruan Pienaar
10. Stuart Olding
11. Andrew Trimble
12. Paddy Wallace
13. Darren Cave
14. Michael Allen
15. Ricky Andrew

16. Rob Herring 17. Andrew Warwick 18. Callum Black 19. Lewis Stevenson 20. Ali Birch 21. Paul Marshall 22. Luke Marshall 23. Chris Cochrane.

Morgs is doing really well to be fair...imagine being a 19 year old up against the likes of Pienaar.

Good defence Ulster (boooo!)

Ulster absolutely on the ropes here. Good take from Trimble.

Good defending by them though Willy...O's have been a bit loose...

Ospreys forwards are doing really well, why is it they are the only 'region' that regularly produces decent forwards?

Well Ulster need to withstand this pressure now just if they can then we can get a grip of this game. Not liking hearing that Court hasn't had a good time in scrum, it's why we don't play him there and enthasises our need to get in a irish qualified TH. Hey everyone btw. I'm guessing Cari has gone back to Ospreys for tonight, Tommy will not be pleased lol

Anyone agree that refs have gotten slack in the tackler releasing law. I remember a time where if you even had a hand on the player as he went down, you were deemed a tackler.

Neilly - he'll forgive me when I'm shouting for Ireland on Sunday I do have an Ulster shirt though with Bowe 14 on the back, but that's in the wardrobe tonight...

Good kick Pienaar. I wish he'd stop all that good kicking business. He could make more of an effort to be rubbish...

Com'on lads!

SUFTUM!!!

Looks like it could be a long night for Tom Court.

Anyone see this game as highlighting the difference between Irish and Welsh rugby at present, the big spending of Ulster signing Pienaar and the O's bargain of Fortuali and being unable to keep hold of him after a bit of form?

Oh that's done it. All your shouting MrsP and look, Ulster are on the attack...

Ach Olding you plonker.

Luke Marshall was garrotted there also.

He's just making the rest of us look lazy Cari by being that good. It's ok we forgive you for tonight better not make a habbit of it though. We at least look reasonably threatening in attack here

It was high, wasn't it.

Good man paddy wallace

Paddy Wallace with a break there that d'arcy could only dream of...

Ulster looking well organised there, and here comes a try...nope, penalty.

Pienaar does the honours...

9-6 at 32 minutes.

Headless chickens, but good break / offload from wallace

FFS O's...you must learn to release...as per usual the penalties are adding up.

Headless chickens, but good break / offload from wallace

Com'on lads!!!

Let's use this!

I'm pretty sure Ruan Pienaar could start a cult and get everyone in Ulster to follow he's that good lol

Great maul

Good diving maul from Ulster, and you've got some massive forwards. Possibly another penalty coming....nope thankfully not.

Ach jubblies turnover

Been very impressed with John so far

Connacht beating the Scarlets at the moment 3-5.

ALL 4 REGIONS ARE BEHIND AFTER 30 MINUTES...

So not only are our fist teams not good enough our squad depth is lacking too... good to know!

What's the score in CAP Bluesman?

Interesting way to step over a player Fotuali'i...not sure if it's worthy of a penalty kick, mind...anyway...

Good attacking position for Ulster.

Why isn't the Blues game on. This game is on BBC NI too.

Blues 3 - 3 Leinster

6 - 0 I think.

That penalty highlights the problem with the game, he wasn't even rucking him, just trying to get some footing!!

super kick Michael Allen

Ahhhhhh another ulster spill

thebluesmancometh wrote:ALL 4 REGIONS ARE BEHIND AFTER 30 MINUTES...

The other games started at 7.30 - so they are only 15mins or so in

Great kick from Allen there!

Don't know Bluesman, but this is the only game that's on this weekend from the P-12 so I'm not moaning. Of course BBC NI and BBC Wales are one of the same, so...

thebluesmancometh wrote:6 - 0 I think.

That penalty highlights the problem with the game, he wasn't even rucking him, just trying to get some footing!!

He sure wasn' rucking him but his footing attempts where poor to say the least he was well over the man before he drove his feet into him. I think the ref got it right.

Oh balls! If that hadn't been a forward pass, we'd be in then!

Jeez Louise another messy messy ulster line out.

Cari wrote:Don't know Bluesman, but this is the only game that's on this weekend from the P-12 so I'm not moaning. Of course BBC NI and BBC Wales are one of the same, so...

That was me, not bluesman :P

Sorry, I got you two confused then.

HT 9-6

Ulster should be fairly eased with that half. The first 25 where all ospreys and in truth if the scores where reversed I wouldn't be complaining.

Not having that as a pen Niell, he was in the ruck and the player sat on the wrong side without his own movement... he deserves a good rucking IMHO!

Well we lead at the half, need a big second half now we look rusty, Birch has got through work well though and Pienaar has een outstanding, we need to just shake off the rust

Tom Court is no longer the Irish 2nd TH!

Has this bloke been watching?

Ulster should be very happy with the refereeing so far. They seem to me to be allowed to slow the ball down a hell of alot.

Did I just hear that right? Ryan Bevington an 'outside bet' for the Lions?

I didn't know they used crystal meth as drinking water at BBC Wales...

Dragons 0 - 14 Treviso

Oh dear

I am big fan of rucking as many of my opponents will tell you but look again Blue Allen wasn't in the ruck when those feet went back he wasn't rucking him but I guess it could go either way so we will have to agree to disagree lol