Connacht v Ulster. Sat 14th April, Sportsground (kick off 5.15pm)

First topic message reminder :

Ulster Team to play Connacht, Sat 14th April, Sportsground (kick off 5.15pm):

(15-9): S Terblanche; I Whitten, N Spence, P Jackson, A D'Arcy; I Humphreys, P Marshall;
(1-8): P McAllister,N Brady (capt), T Court, L Stevenson, N McComb, M McComish, W Faloon, R Diack;
Replacements (16-23): A Kyriacou, C Black, A Macklin, I Henderson, A Birch, R Pienaar, C Gilroy, M Allen

Unavailable due to injury:
Jared Payne (Achilles), Chris Cochrane (foot), Tim Barker (back), Simon Danielli (hamstring)

A great chance for some of the fringe players to put their hands up for possible squad places in the HC Semi Final.

Connacht XV to face Ulster

15 Gavin Duffy (C)
14 Tiernan O’Halloran
13 Kyle Tonetti
12 Henry Fa’afili
11 Fetu’u Vainikolo
10 Miah Nikora
09 Frank Murphy

01 Brett Wilkinson
02 Ethienne Reynecke
03 Ronan Loughney
04 Michael Swift
05 Mike McCarthy
06 John Muldoon
07 Ray Ofisa
08 George Naoupu

Replacements
16 Adrian Flavin
17 Denis Buckley
18 Rodney Ah You
19 Mick Kearney
20 Johnny O’Connor
21 Paul O’Donohoe
22 Matthew Jarvis
23 Eoin Griffin

No Niall O'Connor or Mark McCrea.

I had seen the tries alright.

Sublime.

Leinster players might have had to do a bit more running forwards than we did, apart from that I think our lads won the "exertion" battle!

Notch wrote:Are we seriously going to put Ballymena ahead of a possible Ulster play-off place? They may be happy to let Ballymena have him this weekend, but if they thought he was our best option he'd definitely be going to Galway.

It's frustrating for me because I really rate Luke Marshall. Hopefully this frustration makes him a better player in the long run. There's a new coach coming in so pre-season next year is going to be a great chance for a whole variety of players to out their hands up. I'm excited just thinking about next year.

MrsP, I doubt Court will play more than 40/50 minutes. I was surprised at his inclusion too. Rava, do you remember hearing in pre-season Fitzpatrick being made to do extra fitness? God knows how fit he is now after being out injured for the best part of five months!

Maybe he'll be back as a flying winger

Rodders I knew you would say about both teams wanting to field their 1XV before their SF, and i duno, maybe thats standard practice, but I just don't really agree.

How will it go down 1XV versus 1stXV with 30 players with one eye on HC semi, and the other eye on avoiding hard tackles?

I'm not sure about Ulster but if i were Leinster, I'd use the training ground to prep for the semi and send a weakened team to ravers for a nothing match.

But hey ho, The team might have a tremendous spirit going down to Galway. But on paper, the team should struggle. And lets remember, at this stage in the Rabo, 4 points probably isn't going to be good enough.

Ulllllllsteeerrrrrrr!!!!!!

Where the flip is everyone???

Connacht playing brilliantly. How come they're not in the semi final instead of Edinburgrgh?

20-16 to Connacht by the way. Half an hour to go.

Paddy Jackson wouldn't be a bad shout for MOTM

Ulster point the line and get over. Jackson misses the conversion. Ulster back in front - 21-20 - just.

Shauna784 wrote:Paddy Jackson wouldn't be a bad shout for MOTM

Gavin Duffy wouldn't be a bad shout either.

Great attacking play by Connacht and they win a penalty. Nikora steps up.

And it's over. 23-21 to Connacht. That's the fifth time the lead has changed hands.

Jeebus Stevenson has lost the plot.

roddersm wrote:Jeebus Stevenson has lost the plot.

You would too if someone elbowing you in the head

Handbags with the 4s. Both are yellow carded with Swift protesting loudly about lifted in the air in maul.

Connacht attacking with lineout. Muldoon playing a blinder.

Shoite!

Connacht keeping up the pressure and attacking Ulster strongly. At the breakdown, Ulster 20 prevent release, and gets carded. Ulster down to 13 and Nikora makes the kick. 26-21 to the boys in green. Five minutes to go.

Save us Nevin! save us!!!!

Flip!!!

Muldoon, Swift, Nikora, Duffy have been brilliant.

Last play. Time up.

Ah Jasus lads.

Ulster knock on. Game over.

Great win by Connacht and well deserved.

I predicted we'd lose this game with 12 players rested from the win against Munster and we did. No playoffs - pour all our chips into the HC now.

Bollix!

Well played Connacht . Another good win for them.

Knew this would be a tough one. We had to match Connacht's commitment, hunger and physicality over 80min but just couldn't do it.

Thats it in the Rabo for us I think.

Poor second half by Ulster. We lost it when we emptied the bench early in the second half.

We'll be praying our first XV stays fit because there's precious little behind that! Losing Afoa is a massive blow.

Well done Connacht, well deserved in the end. One team really wanted to win this game.

I agree Notch, the subs killed us off in the second half.

No excuses though, Connacht are a very good side, an 80 minute team and this was always going to be extremely tough.

Feic it, you win some you lose some .

Congratulations to Connacht

But from an ulster point of view Im not happy. Nothing against the 15 guys that went to Galway and played hard, but the management need to take a good hard look at that team selection.

Was it arrogance? Surely not, everyone knows how good Connacht are at home.

Resting players then, and if so then Im afraid thats a woeful error. We HAD to win that game and didnt pick our best team. As a result we may well be out of the playoffs. Disgrace.

No doubt some guys from last week were not in good enough shape to play this week and next, but surely most were, and lets be honest thats what men payed to do nothing but train and play rugby should be able to do! Rugby players play rugby. Today most of Ulsters best players didnt play, we paid the price, and I for one am rather angry about it.

Yeah not good really disappointed, but like Rodders says you win some you lose some, and Connacht are no pushovers at home.

Look at then end of the day even if the season ended without making the play offs and not getting into the final of the HC it is still a successful season when you consider making a HC semi-final. I understand that alot of Ulster supporters may feel otherwise but that's only because we have already made the semi's and know we are playing Edinburgh. Think of what your feelings would have been at the start of the season if you'd known we'd be in the position of a HC semi and just missing out on the play-offs. You'd prob have taken it!

No matter what happens, this season is not a failure. But yes I agree we should be looking for more now when you look at the position we're in! (or were in 2 hours ago).

Oh and well played Connacht, coming along nicely!

Sorry logie, but thats nonsense. You would seriously put out our strongest team six days after that game? Recovery is everything in modern sport. This squad hasn't been rotated much at all all season- they've already been playing too much rugby. And then we have two interpros and a Heineken Cup semi-final in the next three weeks. Besides, a playoff spot would be meaningless if we lose in Dublin. The coaches have one goal; to win the Heineken Cup. Pro 12 is considered a bonus.

You want to look at where it was lost, it was lost in the first half of the season. If we had beaten Treviso at home, won away to Dragons, won away against Glasgow, we'd still be in the league.

The coaches made the right call today. We have a Heineken Cup semi-final to prepare for and they have to make their team selection with that in mind.

Well if the HC means so much Notch, why is it that you suggested on another thread that this season is a failure for Edinburgh if all they have to show for it is a HC semi-final and a close to bottom league placing after they just got humped by Leinster?

Part of my post above was directed towards you!
Almost seems to me that because you now see Ulster doing well at this point in the season that you are setting us unrealistic goals whereby nothing less than a HC Final or win will do. Like I said we should be looking for that now (and in many ways expecting it) in many respects but at same time don't lose sight of what would still be a successful season, and what you would have taken at the start of the season!

Disagree notch. Did court not work hard last week? Humph? Could we not have had 1st teamers on the bench to close the game out? Would 20 mins have been too much? Come one admit it, management throught the towel in with this selection.

Well done Connacht - they wanted it more and deserved to win.

Yet again Ulster go into half time in the lead and lose the second half - it's really no wonder why McLaughlin is being replaced.

I think we've left ourselves too much to do in the Rabo after the poor start to the season.

We've done really well to get back in the play off mix but with the tough run in we were always up against it.

This was as tough a fixture as we could have had after last weekend and it was going to take a super effort to front up against Connacht and we just fell short.

Its disappointing but not the end of the world. We can still make the play offs but it is unlikely.

We had to rest players tonight but over the season I don't think we rotated the squad well. There were too many inexperienced players and untested combinations tonight and at this stage of the season that shouldn't be the case.

You just can't throw players in who haven't played in a month or more and expect them to hit the ground running and combinations take time to gel, especially in defence.

Thats were we have just fallen down imo and its an area we need to improve on next season.

Im afraid I disagree Notch, and to call my opinion nonsense is a bit much.

This is the business end of the season, when profession teams step up to the mark and go out to win things. I can fully understand rotation during the season, but, I repeat, this was a must win game and we selected a team that said 'screw the league'. As a fan who has been to many games this year to support the team in winning the league, this sticks in my craw. A playoff place is not meaningless, it is what the team sets out to achieve during every league game.

So how on earth can you say the coaches made right call!? We lost! They made the absolute WRONG call. Forget the past, win today and we were in good shape for the playoffs, so to quit the league in this manner and throw all our eggs in one basket when the league was still up for grabs is an exceptionally poor show.

Like I said, some players may have needed to be protected after last week. But not all of them.

I think some Ulster fans are getting a bit ahead of themselves here. Did you really expect Ulster to field the same XV from the Munster match? Connacht were always going to be an extremely tough team to play. I totally agree with what rodders says, we left it far too late to really compete in the Rabo. Otherwise, it is quite clear we are focusing on the HEC.

5th place in the Rabo + a HEC SF (or Final... or more ) vs 4th place in the Rabo + a HEC QF.

I know which I would prefer.....

We still have a lot to learn and areas to improve but there's no doubt in my mind we have progressed significantly from last season. We're miles better.

I won't throw in the towel in the Rabo just yet but this result needs to be kept in perspective.

It is a set back, but in the grander scheme of things a fairly small one.

SUFTUM !

Rory, no-one has suggested the 1st XV. Read comments properly and you'llbe able to respond more appropraiatly and rationally.

clivemcl wrote:Rory, no-one has suggested the 1st XV. Read comments properly and you'llbe able to respond more appropraiatly and rationally.

Clive, you have made comments on Ulster no longer caring about the Rabo anymore based on the team selection, before the match even started. I don't think you can tell me to make rational comments on things. So what team should Ulster have played?

Sorry lads but your 4th in the table at the moment. Glasgow are level on points but aren't looking like theyre going to get a point in the match tonight. Blues are losing, so why all the negativity about making the playoffs? Your surely still in with a shot of making it.

Darn right Golden! Man up ya bunch of jessies!

We're 4th in the league and in the HEC SF FFS!

SUFTUM!

Fine rory ill repeat myself since you cant be bothered reading my post. I believe we could have had more 1st teamers on the bench to play last 15mins. Or is 15mins to strenuous for professionall well paid athletes?

logie28 wrote:Im afraid I disagree Notch, and to call my opinion nonsense is a bit much.

This is the business end of the season, when profession teams step up to the mark and go out to win things. I can fully understand rotation during the season, but, I repeat, this was a must win game and we selected a team that said 'screw the league'. As a fan who has been to many games this year to support the team in winning the league, this sticks in my craw. A playoff place is not meaningless, it is what the team sets out to achieve during every league game.

So how on earth can you say the coaches made right call!? We lost! They made the absolute WRONG call. Forget the past, win today and we were in good shape for the playoffs, so to quit the league in this manner and throw all our eggs in one basket when the league was still up for grabs is an exceptionally poor show.

Like I said, some players may have needed to be protected after last week. But not all of them.

It's not like coaches WANT to pick weak teams you know. They would pick their best team every week if they could. Simple truth is, the players cannot play 5 massive games in 5 weeks and perform at 100% in all of them. That's the reality of the game.

clivemcl wrote:Fine rory ill repeat myself since you cant be bothered reading my post. I believe we could have had more 1st teamers on the bench to play last 15mins. Or is 15mins to strenuous for professionall well paid athletes?

It's not about being too strenuous, it's about the difference between being able to give 100% the next time they take the field and only being able to give 70 or 80%. Do you think that will be enough in our next three games?

Seriously guys. I'm disappointed with the result, but we've put ourselves in a difficult position in the league by not putting in the performances in the opening months. As it stands, Ulster could finish the evening in the playoff places! If the Glasgow game finished now, we'd move ahead of them because of the LBP. If they get a win or a BP from this we won't but the sky is not falling in.

A quick look at the Ulster Squad profiles shows I've played more games of rugby this season than most of those 'rested' today. Im 38 and inbetween games I've had long, often very physical, weeks of hard (honest boss) work rather than been to the gym, physio, etc.

Im sorry, but this is exactly the time of the season when all that fitness, training, conditioning, rest and rotation periods and hours in the gym and treatment room pay off. Professional players MUST have the ability to play 5 weeks in row or they aren't fit for purpose, and my bet is the players would have loved to play. They weren't allowed, and we've paid the price.

And I repeat, like Clive, I know not everyone could play, but we could and should have put out a stronger team than that rather than insult the league and fans by quitting on the league when we've won nothing else as yet.

Does the front row selection today mean that court is been primed for the no. 3 jersey? Is Maklin the only other thighthead available?

Yes I'd guess thats what it means Golden. Macklin or Fitzpatrick are the other options but it looks like it will be Court.

Don't know if anyone saw the Leinster Edinburgh game, but Edinburgh had decided to play about 2/3 of their first team. Good theory except none of them put their body on the line and the result shows exactly why playing their second string would have been at least as effective.
As others have mentioned, this selection wasn't he problem, it was not making the selection calls earlier in the season that would have made this viable.

Thats the way it goes I'm afraid. Injuries and internationals. Six days was not enough time to recover from an unbelievable effort. We'll now see the first XV from this point on. Unfortunately it's the time of the season when coaches need to rotate to get the best out of their squad because of a long campaign.

We're coming in fresh to the last few games. We have our biggest game in 13 years in two weeks. Some people are never happy.

logie,

Were many of your games as tough as last Sunday?

And, you wouldn't happen to be a TH would you?

logie28 wrote:A quick look at the Ulster Squad profiles shows I've played more games of rugby this season than most of those 'rested' today. Im 38 and inbetween games I've had long, often very physical, weeks of hard (honest boss) work rather than been to the gym, physio, etc.

Im sorry, but this is exactly the time of the season when all that fitness, training, conditioning, rest and rotation periods and hours in the gym and treatment room pay off. Professional players MUST have the ability to play 5 weeks in row or they aren't fit for purpose, and my bet is the players would have loved to play. They weren't allowed, and we've paid the price.

And I repeat, like Clive, I know not everyone could play, but we could and should have put out a stronger team than that rather than insult the league and fans by quitting on the league when we've won nothing else as yet.

Do you play professional rugby? Because surely you aren't even remotely suggesting that your level of rugby is near the standard of top flight rugby? That the fitness levels can honestly be compared? No offence intended, but that is pretty laughable.

Or an OH?