Ulster v Ospreys. Friday 24th February 2012 KO 7.05pm

Ulster Match Day Squad to face Ospreys, Friday 24th February 2012, Ravenhill (kick-off 7.05pm):
(15-9): S Terblanche; C Gilroy, N Spence, P Wallace, I Whitten; R Pienaar, P Marshall;
(1-8): P McAllister, A Kyriacou, J Afoa, L Stevenson, D Tuohy, C Henry (capt), W Faloon, P Wannenburg;
Replacements (16-23): N Brady, C Black, A Macklin, T Barker, R Diack, I Humphreys, S Danielli, A D'Arcy
Unavailable due to injury:
Declan Fitzpatrick, Jared Payne, Johann Muller, Darren Cave, Ali Birch

Ospreys Team:
15 Richard Fussell
14 Hanno Dirksen
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Stefan Watermeyer
11 Eli Walker
10 Dan Biggar
9 Kahn Fotuali'i
1 Duncan Jones
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Joe Rees
4 Ian Gough
5 James King
6 Tom Smith (Capt)
7 Sam Lewis
8 Joe Bearman

Replacements:
16 Mefin Davies
17 Ryan Bevington
18 Will Taylor
19 Jonathan Thomas/Lloyd Peers
20 George Stowers
21 Rhys Webb
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Ashley Beck

I wouldn't bet much on Wannenberg being available

Really? Damn. We really need him back. Henry has been the only positive in our back row over the last few games.

just beat me to it, Rava.

Muller is the major loss.

Rava wrote: The South African back row has recovered

Blydi hell Rava, I know you have an agressive recruitment policy to achieve 'world domination' but that's impressive

As for the game, don't even know why we are turning up - we actually do have a CRISIS

Basically it is touch and go re Wannenberg.

So -

Paddy Mac
Kyri
Afoa
Stevenson
Tuohy
Henry (C)
Faloon
Wannenberg/Diack
Marshall
Pienaar
Terblanche
Wallace
Spence
Gilroy
D'Arcy

With Pienaar and Wallace avilable, I'd like to have seen Paddy J in there.

PenfroPete wrote:

Rava wrote: The South African back row has recovered

Blydi hell Rava, I know you have an agressive recruitment policy to achieve 'world domination' but that's impressive

As for the game, don't even know why we are turning up - we actually do have a CRISIS

You're not trying to pull the old, "We have no props suitable to prop at this level!" stunt again are you?



Seriously though, what's up?

If there is any way Wannenburg can play in this one we need him!

Nah - MrsP (you have a PM by the way) we've had them training on our undersoil heated pitch just this week

Seriously - we have a team that has NO idea what to do with our backs in attack. Well, that's a lie, the plan is "Lob it to Shane and see if he can do anything' cos we are shiote". 2 tries at home against Aironi FFS !!! No try bonus points at all for us this season then

We are cutting players adrift at the end of the season because of the financial constraints. Crowds are woeful. The straw I'm clutching is that appiontment of Steve Tandy proves to be inspired, but I'm not holding my breath. I foresee 3 or 4 wilderness years of pain before we get anywhere. The Scarlets were forced into a similar position a few years back and had , through neccessity, to look a growing talent at home. I only hope we make as good a job as they have over the last few seasons. From a Welsh perspective the immediate future is bright, but it is Scarlet

Paddy Jackson is training with the (Ireland) seniors, I heard. I imagine he will then play for the 20s against Italy.

Penfro,

I reckon we should have let you loose on the French the other week.

Penfro - to be honest mate, I don't think it is as doom and gloom for your lot as it may seem. Tandy is, form what I have seen, an honest grafting type of bloke. And I think that is what is needed at the Ospreys. Your kids coming through seem decent enough, however there are a few of them that have seemed to be trying to fit the Henson/Hook mold (arrogent best thing ever little sods). Maybe if Tandy can change their mindset more towards the original Ospreys (well second season) attitude then I don't think things will be dark for too long. That said your still sitting in second place ai'n't you.

ScarletSpiderman wrote: Your kids coming through seem decent enough, however there are a few of them that have seemed to be trying to fit the Henson/Hook mold (arrogent best thing ever little sods).

Who on earth could you be on about I know what you mean though, a bit of 'tough love' is required I fancy. What's the weather like down in Aberdaugleddau ? I'm down visiting the parents this weekend

News on Wannenberg seems more hopeful

geoff998rugby wrote:News on Wannenberg seems more hopeful

PenfroPete wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote: Your kids coming through seem decent enough, however there are a few of them that have seemed to be trying to fit the Henson/Hook mold (arrogent best thing ever little sods).

Who on earth could you be on about I know what you mean though, a bit of 'tough love' is required I fancy. What's the weather like down in Aberdaugleddau ? I'm down visiting the parents this weekend

Its that lovely misty rain nonsence, and the good old fashioned wind whipping off the haven sadly. You know the usual.

Just thinking about the clones, what happened to Gareth Owen?

Standulstermen wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:News on Wannenberg seems more hopeful

Any news on whether Pedre will be with us next season?

[quote="ScarletSpiderman"] Its that lovely misty rain nonsence, and the good old fashioned wind whipping off the haven sadly. You know the usual. [quote] Ah, summer has arrived. I'll dig out the shorts

ScarletSpiderman wrote: Just thinking about the clones, what happened to Gareth Owen?

- Cruciate ligament injury, in pre-season training last July. He was likely to be out for the whole season

Penfro I thought you might have pulled out the stops and got in a visit to Belfast this weekend.

I wonder who Chris Henry has to shag in order for him to get in the Irish team. Still he's available for us and by gum do we need him. IH needs to show a bit of interest this week.

roddersm wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:News on Wannenberg seems more hopeful

Any news on whether Pedre will be with us next season?

Not yet but with the Kaino deal looking far less likely you have to think it could still happen

Rava wrote:Penfro I thought you might have pulled out the stops and got in a visit to Belfast this weekend.

Would loved to have come over but what with Mam's accident and work it just wasn't on Don't fret though, we will be over soon. It'll probably be Wednesday 20th June, that is 'summer' over there isn't it ?

Darren Cave has tweeted he will be back next week...probably

What will that mean for Spence when he returns? I'm guessing Cave would be benched on his first game back, but when he starts again will we see Spence on the wing possibly?

Newsletter saying Humphreys has been droped and Pienaer moving to 10

geoff998rugby wrote:Newsletter saying Humphreys has been droped and Pienaer moving to 10

Heres hoping! Not wanting to write iHumph of completely, but certainly this move will be best for Ulster right now and best for Ian (hopefully) after time.

Just saw on Facebook that the priority booking period for those wishing to buy next years season ticket and QF for munster is open. It said the season tickets start at £215. Is that not a decent increase? can't recall

It would be a bit of an increase- I think around £20/£30. Will be interested to see what the loyalty price is.

Ulster Match Day Squad to face Ospreys, Friday 24th February 2012, Ravenhill (kick-off 7.05pm):
(15-9): S Terblanche; C Gilroy, N Spence, P Wallace, I Whitten; R Pienaar, P Marshall;
(1-8): P McAllister, A Kyriacou, J Afoa, L Stevenson, D Tuohy, C Henry (capt), W Faloon, P Wannenburg;
Replacements (16-23): N Brady, C Black, A Macklin, T Barker, R Diack, I Humphreys, S Danielli, A D'Arcy

Marshall in for humph and Diack dropped. Backrow looks a good deal better with Pedrie back.

Good team. I'm still slightly confused in the point of having D'Arcy and Danielli on the bench, even knowing Whitten and Terblanche can cover centre but I'm pretty happy with everything else.

Did we have much choice though Notch?

Not too many others fit and in any sort of form are there?

We don't need a 9 as we can rejig our halfbacks if necessary.

Happy enough. I'm never qute sure of the permutations of our backs. Is Danielli really so far down the pecking order? I presume Terblanche is at FB rather than wing so he can shout at Gilroy.

Glad Paddy Mac is starting. His handling takes a really long time to "warm up" when he comes off the bench. He's notably better starting. Excited to see Spence back where he belongs as well. Massively relieved to see P3 back.

I see the big decision has been taken about the halfbacks. Let's see what happens.

Luke Marshall could have been picked, might have been a good game to ease him back into things.

I would have expected that too notch especially if rumours are true and he will be here next year and whitten won't.

Maybe, but this game is not a given and we need the win. There must be easier game to blood players in.

Or Gaston but then you are dropping players in form for those maybe not so much.

Nah, Danielli isn't in form. Or even has much rugby under his belt.

I thought he looked better in his last game than he has in a while.

McL has made a big call. Hopefully this gives IH a right kick up the backside.

Happy with that team. Will be interesting to see how Marshall goes, I'm assuming this is his first start in ages... was it Leicester away? That's actually crazy considering how crap IH has been. If this fails I hope we see PJ playing a bit between Ruan and Paddy after six nations

I agree with that Maddog

SUFTUM

A decent Ospreys team, however that back row looks woefully light, I think Ulster will chalk up the win to be honest.

I wouldn't entirely write off the Ospreys though, thats a very good team apart from the back row.

Front row will be interesting. Ospreys hammered us in the scrum at the liberty albeit we had jerry cronin and Deccie fitz at LH I think. Still with big John getting pinged numerous times last week and ulster in general getting shafted at ruck time it will be interesting.

The scrum was reffed horrifically last week though, so I wouldn't worry too much.

Rava wrote:SUFTUM

+ 100

Should he a crakcer, excellent night for rugby. Gutted i was workin to 630 and couldnt get to the game, lets go Ulster big performance needed and a win too!!!!

Should he a crakcer, excellent night for rugby. Gutted i was workin to 630 and couldnt get to the game, lets go Ulster big performance needed and a win too!!!!

Ok I give up, the rabo direct website says its on bbc NI but according to i player, munster V Blues is on?