Ulster v Scarlets 2nd December 2011 at Ravenhill KO 7.05pm

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Ulster
(15-9): A D'Arcy; A Trimble, D Cave, N Spence, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, P Marshall;
(1-8): T Court, R Best, J Afoa, J Muller (capt), D Tuohy, S Ferris, C Henry, P Wannenburg;

Replacements (16-23): N Brady, P McAllister, A Macklin, L Stevenson, R Diack, R Pienaar, P Jackson, I Whitten

Scarlets:

15-9 Dan Evans, Iongi, Reynolds, Warren, Lamont, Jones, Gareth Davies
1-8 John, Owens, Manu, Reed, Powell, Gilbert, McCusker, Murphy

16-23 Phillips, Iestyn Thomas, Gardiner, Welch, Edwards, Rhodri Williams, Newton, Iolo Evans.

A lot of people are saying Faloon will leave at the end of the season- can you see another Pro12 or Aviva Premiership team willing to take him on? I'm not sure he'd be able to get a contract somewhere else as anything more than squad cover, which he is here. I couldn't see him starting every week for another Pro side at this level.

The Scarlets wont want an arm wrestle though Notch. They are like an attacking boxer, when they are coming forward, there is always a gap. They always give the other side a chance because they take risks.

I think Faloon is pretty underrated actually and would start on many teams in the Pro 12. He hasn't had any time to shine this season and his lack of gametime has been absolutely shocking. He played very well last week I thought, best Ulster player for me in fact, and he is rewarded by being dropped.

I don't think anyone who played last week can feel too hard done by at being dropped to be honest.

Faloon, Diack and these guys who haven't had much chances should have been playing like men posessed. I don't think anyone did themselves any favours last week, it was a shambles.

Notch wrote:A lot of people are saying Faloon will leave at the end of the season- can you see another Pro12 or Aviva Premiership team willing to take him on? I'm not sure he'd be able to get a contract somewhere else as anything more than squad cover, which he is here. I couldn't see him starting every week for another Pro side at this level.

Notch, you could have said that about Ryan Caldwell who has started a good few games for Bath

roddersm wrote:I don't think anyone who played last week can feel too hard done by at being dropped to be honest.

Faloon, Diack and these guys who haven't had much chances should have been playing like men posessed. I don't think anyone did themselves any favours last week, it was a shambles.

Faloon did take his chance, he was scavenging all night. He was a bit rusty though, which is to be expected since he has had barely any rugby all season. I don't know why Diack is chosen ahead of him for the bench even.

Rava wrote:

Notch wrote:A lot of people are saying Faloon will leave at the end of the season- can you see another Pro12 or Aviva Premiership team willing to take him on? I'm not sure he'd be able to get a contract somewhere else as anything more than squad cover, which he is here. I couldn't see him starting every week for another Pro side at this level.

Notch, you could have said that about Ryan Caldwell who has started a good few games for Bath

I could have, but I'm actually not very surprised at all by Caldwells form. It was always obvious that he had all the qualities of an international lock except the brain.

I don't really think Faloon will get many games unless it becomes the fashion to have a dedicated fetching openside again.

I think when Faloon plays we can see the impact he has. People have said all season Henry is probably best at 8 rather than flanker also, so we can still have our best players on the field if Faloon starts. I think it is very poor that Faloon has been neglected this season.

That's very much a Scarlets B team with only 1 regular starter, if Ulster can't win this game they may as well call it a season and hibernate till next year.

Lads i appreciate the strides the scarlets have made and at this point i do believe they are a much better team than Ulster but I genuinely cant see them getting anything from Ravenhill against an Ulster team with a point to prove. I may be wrong but i agree with Turkster, if we lose this then lets just blood the youngsters.

Realistically if we get a LBP it wont be a bad result. Saying that, if we can get enough ball it coul be interesting.

Is Roller Skates injured or just rested?

Rested hopefully. The refs talk to each other. He needs a game out if the limelight. We need him and Iestyn at their best for Munster week.

Big game. Ulster really need a win. Really need a win.

Rava wrote:Ohhhh I could crush a grape

I could rip a tissue

This could be a game to watch..!

Scarlet's have been on fire the last month. This is a stepped down side but has some cracking talent in youngsters like Gareth Davies, Adam warren, Murphy and Owens. Old heads in john and jones. It's not a bad side, two years ago Scarlett's we're fielding this quality as a first team, shows how well they are doing producing players.

Ulster are dying for a win and obviously value giving their likely HEC team a run against a light side.

Big opportunity for some scarlets to put their hands up.

But I would predict a home win at ravenhill.

Can't wait though, should be a cracker

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

roddersm wrote:I don't think anyone who played last week can feel too hard done by at being dropped to be honest.

Faloon, Diack and these guys who haven't had much chances should have been playing like men posessed. I don't think anyone did themselves any favours last week, it was a shambles.

Faloon did take his chance, he was scavenging all night. He was a bit rusty though, which is to be expected since he has had barely any rugby all season. I don't know why Diack is chosen ahead of him for the bench even.

Thats a fair comment Rory.

Very Quiet... making me nervous!

SUFTFUM!

Ymlaen Scarlets!!


So gutted I can't see this one

Reckon it's going to be a great match.

She's going to be a cold one at the 'hill the night!

Gutted i cant get to the game, had to work late so i guess the tv will have to do me, lets ge this season back on track Ulster!!!!!

Just chatting to a mate in ulster who is at the match, looks like there is a decent crowd building...

C'mon Scarlets

TRY!!!! LAmont

Silly start Ulster... 0-5 Scarlets

Awful by Ulster - running from their own 22 and they give away an intercept.

Ulster 0 - 5 Scarlets

3 minutes played

Jesus, great backline play by Ulster, , unlucky Gilroy

that was close with Cave

Gilroy should have backed himself against the much smaller Iongi

Is there a bit of a hill down ther ein the twenty two... hell of a roll on Wellies kick

i think its the wind

Stupid offside penalty to give away, luckily the wind beat Humphreys kick at the posts

good stuff by Ulster at the moment, some really talented lads... Lot of praise for the scarlets from the Irish com team, very kind of them.

Scrum to scarlets

0 - 5

14 min gone

Haha yea, but better than the one eyed Setanta commentators though

great try

Finding this difficult to watch.

Great try Iongi, pathetic tackle attempt Gilroy

Excellent try for the Scarlets

Brilliant vision and pass from Warren

Clinical finishing by Ionga.

Ulster - 0 - 10 - Scarlets

good restart from humphries - poor from Scarlets

10-3

Ulster on the board and can try and get into this now. Stephen Jones looks like he might be having an off night, two missed conversions and a disastrous restart.

Whats worrying is that with two tries this early Scarlets will be looking to play with their heads up.

Unlucky Ulster. Two forward passes so far.. But your backline looks magic ball in hand.

Half break by Ferris. What a Flip monster

Good communication between Roland and his touch judges.

Good performance by the ref so far...

Scarlets struggling a bit in the tight, some good defending though. Ferris is a monster

Ulsters should keep it with the forwards. The backs keep stuffing it up

I think this young Ulster back line want to play the Scarlets at their game. They have the talent, should make for an exciting match, so long as they dont make silly mistakes like that and lose so much territory and a through in at the line out...!

Ok, I'm here I had 2 choices, Kenfig Hill against Cross Keys or Scarlets Vs Ulster, I went into my back garden (Kenfig Hill main stand) but it's peeing down and freezing cold, so i will put the heating on and watch this on the tv.

The big news is Kenfig Hill have a player in the bin and are losing 5-0 though

No Pienaar, Wallace or Payne and Ulster really have no leadership in the backline what so ever, the youngsters like Gilroy and Spence really need to calm things down a bit.

saying that the scarlets have made a couple of bloomers too... Jees Wellies is so bloody slow at everything...!

Dan Evans playing very very well there with his kicking for touch...!

Artful_Dodger wrote:No Pienaar, Wallace or Payne and Ulster really have no leadership in the backline what so ever, the youngsters like Gilroy and Spence really need to calm things down a bit.

Spare a thought for the Scarlets - they are missing Li.Williams, North, Preistland, Sc.Williams, J.Davies, M.Stoddart and T.Knoyle

That an entire backline,

Not to mention their captain Rees.