Pro12 Playoff 1; Ulster (1st) vs Scarlets (4th) at Ravenhill

First topic message reminder :

Got my ticket booked for this one- expecting a good game if the weather holds up! Scarlets will probably raise their game from their abject home display against Treviso. Having watched them this season, I have noticed that when things don't go well for them and they start making mistakes they tend to get frustrated and make more and more. It seems they once again succumbed to this malaise against an excellent Treviso side who are slowly and surely growing into a team that can contend for a Top Six placing. But at Ravenhill, there is little pressure on them and they have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Totally different scenario.

Ulster were pretty poor for the first 40 minutes against Cardiff, no denying it, and will need an improved 80 minute display to see of the challenge of Scarlets and hopefully, in the event of a win, get primed to peak in the final two weeks later. Paddy Jackson has to return to the team at 10- a better defensive organiser and tackler, a more creative outhalf and it sees Pienaar return to his best position. Diack has to play too. Diack adds a great deal of balance to our backrow and I think dropping him to accommodate both Henderson and Williams would be a big mistake. Too unbalanced. Tuohy and Muller is a better balanced second row too, especially at lineout time, and Henderson hasn't been as impressive at lock as he has at 6. It seems like Henderson and Gilroy might both miss out- Gilroy maybe even not making the bench if Fridays selection is anything to go by, although I'd like to see him in there. Peter Nelson would be unfortunate to lose his place on the bench. In terms of impact subs, I actually think Tom Court can be a good impact sub coming on at loosehead. With Court, Henderson and Gilroy leading the charge from the bench in the second half hopefully we have enough to make it to our first ever Pro12 final.

Preferred Team;

1) Callum Black
2) Rory Best
3) John Afoa
4) Johann Muller (c)
5) Dan Tuohy
6) Robbie Diack
7) Chris Henry
8) Nick Williams
9) Ruan Pienaar
10) Paddy Jackson
11) Tommy Bowe
12) Stuart Olding
13) Darren Cave
14) Andrew Trimble
15) Jared Payne

16) Rob Herring 17) Tom Court 18) Declan Fitzpatrick 19) Iain Henderson 20) Sean Doyle 21) Paul Marshall 22) Michael Allen 23) Craig Gilroy

Did Priestland just pull out? looks like he was being walked from the field with the physios in tears.

Think he has. Not an excuse, but that will f up our game plan.

Is Aled Thomas there too or will G Owen be back up fly half?

I would of thought Gareth Maule would of been the travelling replacement?

Injured too

Glad to be back being an Ulster fan. Have to admit did enjoy my time as a Scarlets fan, spent most of the day on Ospreys boards reminding them who the top region are.

Must be a bit of a downer to go back to been a supporter of the 2nd best province then!

Trimble's kicking technique is hilarious.

Evening Spidey, Kings, mcp28 et all.............

Going to balance this out and take my good mans Kingshu place as the adopted "Turk" for the next couple of hours

Rhys out due to Achilles probs

Couple of things Nick Williams has twice picked up from the front of the maul and no pens given!!, and Jared Payne is looking damn good

It's ok folks never worry I'm here now and just in time to see payne do brilliant

Liam Williams is one hell of a dirty player

Trimble rubbin his eye? doesnt sound good

well now what is gunna happen here oh both into the bin i dont know about that

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Liam Williams is one hell of a dirty player

Not as dirty as the player who hit him first!

well now I hope Trimble absolutely smashes him when they come back on

Liam Williams has been a filthy player every time I have seen him take the pitch. Hid usual is extremely high tackles.

Griff wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Liam Williams is one hell of a dirty player

Not as dirty as the player who hit him first!

but dirty enough to be doing stuff on the ground and tbh i don't think trimble hit him pushed certainly but hit i dont know

To be fair Trimble threw the first cheap shot their, they were probably both very lucky to get away with yellows.

The ref even said that Trimble threw the first punch!

Liam Williams dirty ahem Trimble started that!!............Trimble wacked Liam Williams when his arms were pinned under the maul Williams retaliated

Some intensity to this game.

this has got really heated now everyone needs to calm down a wee bit i think

neilthom7 wrote:

Griff wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Liam Williams is one hell of a dirty player

Not as dirty as the player who hit him first!

but dirty enough to be doing stuff on the ground and tbh i don't think trimble hit him pushed certainly but hit i dont know

OK then, an open handed bit*h slap.

Trimble was wrong to grab Williams even though he was all over the ball in the ruck. Williams however threw at least four punches like a thug. Disgraceful and a stone cold red card

How on earth did they miss that trip?

not sure who was on the floor there but ulster should have just walked right over him teah him not to do it again

Evening Griff....... I am your adopted Scarlet for tonight....... so no fighting with me tonight cariad!!!!

yes you beauty Tommy B put that in your pipe and smoke it

Tommy Bowe 1-0 George North

i should specify that pipe and smoike it was about North who he beat not anyone here and Pienaar what a kick

Good try Bowe. North with his usual arm flapping tackling!

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Trimble was wrong to grab Williams even though he was all over the ball in the ruck. Williams however threw at least four punches like a thug. Disgraceful and a stone cold red card

Trimble threw the straight arm across Williams face and throat when he had no hope of defending himself, cheap shot and you can see why Williams lost it

TOOOOOOOMMMMMYYYYYYYY BOOOOOOWWWEEEEE!!!

Golden wrote:Rolland and Tommy Bowe 1-0 George North

Fixed that for you.
Why select Rolland for this game? He's not exactly neutral.

Rolland is having a shocker. How on earth is he still an elite ref?

Bowe is class all over the place, wing, midfield and defence

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Trimble was wrong to grab Williams even though he was all over the ball in the ruck. Williams however threw at least four punches like a thug. Disgraceful and a stone cold red card

Trimble didn't exactly behave like a man either. You seem to be ignoring the fact he hit somebody lying on their back!

The Saint wrote:

Golden wrote:Rolland and Tommy Bowe 1-0 George North

Fixed that for you.
Why select Rolland for this game? He's not exactly neutral.

Damn right, he hates Ulster ....

Irish ref in Ireland. Not good. Try to Ulster when Scarlets should have had a penalty for a trip. Ulster are a pretty dirty team. I suspect though that this forum will be full of the usual one eyed Irish whose team are always angels.

neither is any welsh ref when we play welsh teams wind your neck in he has been good to Scarlets so far ask Owens and his very unstraight throws or the 4 punches which didn't result in a red card

Don't go there Saint!

flyhalffactory wrote:

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Trimble was wrong to grab Williams even though he was all over the ball in the ruck. Williams however threw at least four punches like a thug. Disgraceful and a stone cold red card

Trimble threw the straight arm across Williams face and throat when he had no hope of defending himself, cheap shot and you can see why Williams lost it

Take off the eye patch Hookisms. Williams is a fiery character, so hopefully Trimble will think twice next time.

Williams was on the wrong side illegally and Trimble reacted poorly and deserved his yellow. Williams reacted by throwing several swinging punches- unacceptable thuggery. Should have been red and he will certainly be cited for that offence

The Aussie wingers will have a field day againat North.

doctornickolas wrote:Irish ref in Ireland. Not good. Try to Ulster when Scarlets should have had a penalty for a trip. Ulster are a pretty dirty team. I suspect though that this forum will be full of the usual one eyed Irish whose team are always angels.

yeah thats why they won the fair play award wise up

doctornickolas wrote:Irish ref in Ireland. Not good. Try to Ulster when Scarlets should have had a penalty for a trip. Ulster are a pretty dirty team. I suspect though that this forum will be full of the usual one eyed Irish whose team are always angels.

Few Ulster football fans on the board and at the ground tonight

so anyway I tuned into the Ulster v acarlets game and apparently there is no such thing as a forward pass or a trip with the boot. This be......american football!!!

neilthom7 wrote:neither is any welsh ref when we play welsh teams wind your neck in he has been good to Scarlets so far ask Owens and his very unstraight throws or the 4 punches which didn't result in a red card

This is a high profile game and now he's going to be accused of being biased......
And I don't want to turn this into a Rolland-slagging thread but he missed a blatant trip on Davies, then for some unknown reason gave a penalty to Ulster shortly after. So Ulster shouldn't have been in that position. Once again I reiterate high profile games require a neutral ref.

hahaha Williams you genuis lol