Pro 12: Edinburgh Rugby vs Ulster Rugby Fri 16th Oct

              
Edinburgh Rugby v Ulster Rugby
Friday 16th October 2015, KO 19:45
BT Murrayfield

TV - Live on Sky

Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU, 52nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White, Mike Adamson (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: Iain Goodall (SRU)
TMO: Iain Ramage (SRU)

Form:

Edinburgh
Last 3 Matches
2/10/15 Edinburgh 20 - 9 Ospreys
12/9/15 Treviso 24 - 27 Edinburgh
4/9/15 Edinburgh 16 - 9 Leinster

Ulster
Last 3 Matches
2/10/15 Ulster 48 - 7 Treviso
12/9/15 Scarlets 22 - 12 Ulster
4/9/15 Ulster 28 - 6 Ospreys

TEAMS:

Edinburgh Rugby

15 Greig Tonks
14 Tom Brown
13 Chris Dean
12 Andries Strauss
11 Damien Hoyland
10 Phil Burleigh
9 Nathan Fowles

1 Rory Sutherland
2 Neil Cochrane
3 John Andress
4 Anton Bresler
5 Fraser McKenzie
6 Mike Coman (capt)
7 Hamish Watson
8 Nasi Manu

16 George Turner
17 Allan Dell
18 Simon Berghan
19 Alex Toolis
20 Cornell Du Preez
21 Sean Kennedy
22 Will Helu
23 Jack Cuthbert

Ulster Rugby

(15-9): Louis Ludik; Craig Gilroy, Sammy Arnold, Stuart McCloskey, Andrew Trimble; Peter Nelson, Paul Marshall; (1-8): Callum Black, Rob Herring (captain), Wiehahn Herbst, Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe, Roger Wilson, Sean Reidy, Nick Williams;

Replacements (16-23): John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross, Lewis Stevenson, Willie Faloon, David Shanahan, Ian Humphreys, Rory Scholes.

Wow popular match thread this one.

Hoping Ulster get a few more players called up prior to this match.

Edinburgh haven't been playing great so far, but we've managed to get a few wins, hopefully will continue that run into this game.

It is only Tuesday!

We could certainly do with McClosky getting called up for Payne and one of their forwards for O’Connoll / O’Mahony.

Either way, Edinburgh’s performance is going to be much better than the Ospreys game – that was dreadful.

It doesn't look like Schmidt is making the call-ups so hopefully we'll still have a strong side show up. The problem is however stron the selection they tend to fall to pieces when they find out it's an away game so I can only assume they'll be kept in the dark about the venue. Blindfold them, tell them they're going on a mystery tour and whisper 'it's OK we're only going to Ravespan'.

Well we've kept hold of Tuohy so far since McCarthy was called up to replace POC, who else gets called up might depend on Sextons injury

McCloskey won't get called up. I doubt Tuohy will either, think McCarthy is ahead of him. Best case scenario for Edinburgh is O'Brien isn't banned and Trimble is called up. If O'Brien is banned we can't call up a replacement for him so we will call up another back row or lock instead of an outside back to replace Payne- might be Tuohy if they decide Henderson will move into the back row.

Sexton may miss the weekends quarter-final but he hasn't been ruled out yet and if he is he's still got a chance of being fit of the semi-final, should Ireland make it past Argentina. Don't think he'll be replaced.

McClosky vs Strauss

Is Beard injured? Strauss shouldn't be anywhere near the field but i guess he will..

Dunno, be we could have De Allande available and Solomons would still pick Strauss.

It's funny (well not really actually) Edinburgh had a good season yet and then Coman and Strauus come back into the team and we witness by far the worst performance of the season but i guess rugby abilities can't beat leadership abilities

RDW_Scotland wrote:McClosky vs Strauss

Terrifying.

Notch wrote:McCloskey won't get called up. I doubt Tuohy will either, think McCarthy is ahead of him. Best case scenario for Edinburgh is O'Brien isn't banned and Trimble is called up. If O'Brien is banned we can't call up a replacement for him so we will call up another back row or lock instead of an outside back to replace Payne- might be Tuohy if they decide Henderson will move into the back row.

Sexton may miss the weekends quarter-final but he hasn't been ruled out yet and if he is he's still got a chance of being fit of the semi-final, should Ireland make it past Argentina. Don't think he'll be replaced.

I thought I read Sexton look set to be fit for Sunday but then again Joe and his way could change that

RDW_Scotland wrote:McClosky vs Strauss

I know, I know.

Don't know about this one. Our away form wasn't great last season, and not looking too bright this season. We were rubbish against Scarlets, and deserved to lose. We were rubbish against you last season, and should have lost. We got away with a steal.
Edinburgh seem to be on a good run, playing at home and if Ulster don't lift their away game, I can see us losing this.

That Edinburgh chick is not hot.

Don't think much of the Ulster one either - there is a young lady next door better looking than her.

You can only work with the raw material that the region gives you. If this was a Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs game, you would be tripping over the gorgeous team rep options.

All suggestions for alternative reps this week are much appreciated.

George Carlin wrote:You can only work with the raw material that the region gives you. If this was a Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs game, you would be tripping over the gorgeous team rep options.

All suggestions for alternative reps this week are much appreciated.

Geoff's next door neighbour, but you may have to ask him for a photo from his personal collection...

This is a huge game for Edinburgh when you think about it. They've beaten Leinster and Ospreys and to beat Ulster now would be a huge statement of intent and show they weren't just lucky.

I think the pack is a match for any in the league and our half-backs are good. Also want to see more of Hoyland - he could be a real standout player this season.

Agreed Tode. Win this then I think we can really claim to have had a great start to the season and hold out genuine hopes of finishing in a position to qualify for the proper European tournament.

Also agree on Hoyland. He's a proper finisher and I really hope that he doesn't just get dropped as soon as other players return (Allen, Helu, Fife etc.). His allround game needs plenty work, but his ability to beat players and his pace are skills you can't really create. He's a natural.

There will be a real fight for positions on the wings this year with Hoyland, Fife, Brown and Helu all in the mix, and Allan covering there as well.

I'd like to see him stick with Hoyland on the left and the others fight it out on the right.  I'd like to see Helu at 13 outside of Matt Scott - he has had a quiet world cup for Tonga, but he is still a big strong runner.

Chris Dean has been OK but will need carefully managed - we're about to play 16 consecutive weeks in a row! Even Nel would struggle with that.

George Carlin wrote:You can only work with the raw material that the region gives you. If this was a Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs game, you would be tripping over the gorgeous team rep options.

All suggestions for alternative reps this week are much appreciated.

How about one of these ladies:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1853489/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2415436/?ref_=rvi_nm
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829815/?ref_=rvi_nm

I had assume Allan would be the preferred choice at 13, with Helu at 11. No reason why they can't switch though. Fife vs Hoyland is an interesting battle. Fife the better allrounder but I'd back Hoyland to get over the line in a tight spot.

I really do think that Brown will have to look again at playing 15.

Team's up



I don't know in what universe Mike Coman is a better option than Du Preez at 6, but it's not a complete disaster. Great to see Watson getting a start.

Helu on the bench having only just come back from the world cup!

Strauss

Backs (15-9): L Ludik, C Gilroy, S Arnold, S McCloskey, A Trimble, P Nelson, P Marshall

Forwards (1-8): C Black, R Herring (c), W Herbst, D Tuohy, F van der Merwe, R Wilson, S Reidy, N Williams

Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, A Warwick, B Ross, L Stevenson, W Faloon, D Shanahan, I Humphreys, R Scholes

Strong Ulster team, looking forward to seeing Arnold and McCloskey together and glad to see Nelson keeping his place at 10 just hope he has a better game than he did against Scarlets

Would like to have seen Luke Marshall there for this game. Maybe injured? Interesting to see how Arnold manages.
Humphs on the bench. He has a fight on his hands now with Nelson slotting in nicely. That's if he could be bothered fighting for a starting place.
Good to see both Van der Merwe and Tuohy starting together. Hopefully Tuohy continues to improve on his last game.
Williams to rip up trees.

Strong team. Should get the job done, but not convinced they will. They will have to at least look like they are playing for the win.

Glad to see Faloon back, albeit on the bench. Where's Diack, though? Marshall? Would still like to see O'Connor as well.

What's the story with O'Connor? I was really hoping to see more of him this season, and disappointed that he hasn't played a game yet.

Didn't O'Connor play for the Ravens 'A' team last week?

Had to go over to the Connacht Clan to find out  

Ulster Rugby probably not wanting to name names after that pitiful result v Connacht A.

This was the team:

Ulster A team to play Connacht Eagles, Saturday 10th October, Deramore Park, Belfast (kick off 5pm):

(15-9): Rob Lyttle; David Busby, Sam Arnold, Mark Best, Rory Scholes; Johnny McPhillips, Dave Shanahan;

(1-8): Callum Black, John Andrew, Bronson Ross, Alan O'Connor, Lewis Stevenson (captain), Robbie Diack, Clive Ross, Nick Williams;

Replacements: Jonny Murphy, Ruaidhri Murphy, Kyle McCall, Alex Thompson, Conor Joyce, Stephen Mulholland, Paul Rowley, Andrew Magrath, Kieran Joyce, Alex Kane.

So, O'Connor was there. Strange that he's not getting a shout. Maybe he's went backwards? Playing with Ulster A, I wouldn't be surprised.

The team wasn't announced on the Ulster site at all before the game from what I could find, it speaks volumes to the thought put into the team when they arranged it to be played the same time as Wales and Australia its not like that game wasn't announced well in advance

Ulster Rugby are not very good at marketing Ulster A. I'm of the impression that Ulster Rugby don't give them much thought, other than somewhere handy to keep a few of the senior side fresh.

All fixtures for the 'A' have been listed on the site, including venue date and time.
The team for the Connacht match was posted the day before the match i.e when it was announced.
It is still there - so those criticisms are unjustified

Both L. Marshall and Diack are injured

Don Alfonso wrote:Glad to see Faloon back, albeit on the bench. Where's Diack, though? Marshall? Would still like to see O'Connor as well.

Diack out with a thigh injury picked up playing for the Ravens, Luke Marshall has a thumb injury. Alan O'Connor on the other hand seems to be being Allen Clarke'd. If his absence is for similar non-reasons to Luttons absence last season and we waste the potential of O'Connor I'll be seriously peed off.

Munchkin wrote:Ulster Rugby are not very good at marketing Ulster A. I'm of the impression that Ulster Rugby don't give them much thought, other than somewhere handy to keep a few of the senior side fresh.

To be fair, given the way they've played over the last few seasons, I can see why Ulster don't want anyone to know about them! Some embarrassing results for our second string recently, being humped at home to Connacht last weekend being the latest. Hopefully our new Academy coach Alex Codling can do something with them.

geoff999rugby wrote:All fixtures for the 'A' have been listed on the site, including venue date and time.
The team for the Connacht match was posted the day before the match i.e when it was announced.
It is still there - so those criticisms are unjustified

Keep your hair on. I looked and couldn't find it. My mistake. I apologise for such an unjustified view of Ulster Rugby who are doing a superb job of promoting Ulster A.

Edinburgh Rugby team v Ulster, Friday 16 October, BT Murrayfield kick-off 7.45pm

15 Greig Tonks
14 Tom Brown
13 Chris Dean
12 Andries Strauss
11 Damien Hoyland
10 Phil Burleigh
9 Nathan Fowles
1 Rory Sutherland
2 Neil Cochrane
3 John Andress
4 Anton Bresler
5 Fraser McKenzie
6 Mike Coman (capt)
7 Hamish Watson
8 Nasi Manu

Substitutes
16 George Turner
17 Allan Dell
18 Simon Berghan
19 Alex Toolis
20 Cornell Du Preez
21 Sean Kennedy
22 Will Helu
23 Jack Cuthbert

Notch wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Ulster Rugby are not very good at marketing Ulster A. I'm of the impression that Ulster Rugby don't give them much thought, other than somewhere handy to keep a few of the senior side fresh.

To be fair, given the way they've played over the last few seasons, I can see why Ulster don't want anyone to know about them! So embarrassing results for our second string recently, being humped at home to Connacht last weekend being the latest. Hopefully our new Academy coach Alex Codling can do something with them.

Hopefully. The results so far are embarrassing, especially so when filled out with senior players.  Because of those results I have formed the impression that Ulster A are an afterthought. Hopefully that changes under the guidance of Codling.

As expected from Edinburgh. Agree that the decision to include Coman ahead of Du Preez looks odd, but Du Preez has not played well in his last couple of outings. He is a better player, but perhaps a kick up the rear from Solomons is in order.

Great to see Helu coming onto the bench - would be good to see a 20 minute cameo. Otherwise the bench is still a bit scratchy.

Munchkin wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:All fixtures for the 'A' have been listed on the site, including venue date and time.
The team for the Connacht match was posted the day before the match i.e when it was announced.
It is still there - so those criticisms are unjustified

Keep your hair on. I looked and couldn't find it. My mistake. I apologise for such an unjustified view of Ulster Rugby who are doing a superb job of promoting Ulster A.

Merely pointing out Ulster are promoting the 'A' team this year.
Not sure why you felt the need to post 'Keep your hair on'

geoff999rugby wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:All fixtures for the 'A' have been listed on the site, including venue date and time.
The team for the Connacht match was posted the day before the match i.e when it was announced.
It is still there - so those criticisms are unjustified

Keep your hair on. I looked and couldn't find it. My mistake. I apologise for such an unjustified view of Ulster Rugby who are doing a superb job of promoting Ulster A.[/quote

Merely pointing out Ulster are promoting the 'A' team this year.
Not sure why you felt the need to post 'Keep your hair on'

It was your remark about it being 'unjustified'.

Sorry, I'm a wee bit edgy at the moment. Must be the world cup thing, Ulsters away form, or a combination. Take no mind of me. I can be an ejit o0

Feck me surely there are more pressing issues in life than the trials and tribulations of the Ulster A team??

Hell hath no fury like two Irish fans discussing rugby!!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Feck me surely there are more pressing issues in life than the trials and tribulations of the Ulster A team??

Andress, Coman and Strauss have no business being in the starting lineup.

Munchkin wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Feck me surely there are more pressing issues in life than the trials and tribulations of the Ulster A team??

I'd understand if it was a quiet time of the season without much on, but Ireland have one of their biggest ever games on Sunday!

Not to mention the fact that the Earls/Payne debate still hasn't been properly resolved!

VinceWLB wrote:Andress, Coman and Strauss have no business being in the starting lineup.

Agreed on Coman and Strauss, but I'm yet to be convinced that Berghan is a better option than Andress. Tighthead is a problem area for us - behind Nel we have no-one.

ah no, you won't get many Ulster men arguing that Payne isn't the man for the job. The Payne at centre for Ulster now..... that debate lasted for about a year

....anyway, geoff knows I love him

Munckin NP

Actually think the reason you see our 'A' mention is that it is part of our wider malaise of Ulster failing to progress our development teams.
As I posted elsewhere our school, club, aged and 'A' teams are currently siting with W1 L11 against the other provinces.
It feels like Ulster have little to offer underneath the front line troop.

It is a worry