Ulster V Leinster 20/4/12

First topic message reminder :

And perhaps for the 1st time of 3 in 4 weeks.

ULSTER

15-9): S Terblanche; A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar;
(1-8): T Court, N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller (capt), L Stevenson, C Henry, W Faloon, P Wannenburg;
Replacements (16-23): A Kyricaou, P McAllister, A Macklin, N McComb, R Diack, I Porter, I Humphreys, A D'Arcy

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: David Kearney
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Fergus McFadden
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Brad Thorn
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Sean O'Brien

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Nathan White
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: Fionn Carr

Its official. I love you Rodders (in a manly way). A realistic post from an Ulster rugby fanatic. I thought Leinster cruised through that game. But, thought best not to say it last night.

Just do the biz next weekend and we'll have pints at Twickers mo chara. Now that , would be a completely different game. I pray it happens for us both.

Believe.

ha ha Nice one Gibbo man!

rodders wrote: I was the same Shauna.... totally awestruck...just about managed to take a photo with him and the GF. He called me a slow coach or something for taking so long to take the photo. Best day of my life ....

Yeah I actually really like it down there in the Promenade too. Left it too late for the tickets though.

Deck sake I had to push you in front of the guy!!

Nice meeting you there Rodders. GF is a lovely girl.
Hope we meet up next weekend mate

Rava I was awestruck enough at meeting your kindself sir.....and then BOD swans out! Good job you were there man...... I'd have been hiding behind the Kukri tent......

Give me a buzz next week sure, hope we can get a before the game.

The Rugby beat goes on. I love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umrp1tIBY8Q

Good auld Gibbo!! A song for every occasion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL4L4Uv5rf0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGspIA4EcwE&feature=g-all-u&context=G29ade17FAAAAAAAAAAA

'Sniff

Ulster wanted to keep him. He wanted to stay. In my heart situations like this and the same thing happening to Nathan Hines make me want to curse the IRFU, even if I understand their rationale. Just not the rigidity with which it's applied.

Brilliant Notch man. I get a lump in my throat watching that.

Pedrie Wannenburg isn't the best backrower in the world by any stretch but he is a very very good player.

What makes him such a loss for me is he embraced Ulster rugby and gave his heart and soul for our club.

If every indiginious player was as committed for our team as Pedrie then we'd be in a great place. I said earlier in the season that I'd rather keep Pedrie than sign Kaino and I meant it.

I'll NEVER forget what Pedrie brought to our club. Its been an honour to have him wear an Ulster shirt.

I am really going to miss Wannenburg at Ulster. Both his character and his abilities. He really offered Ulster a lot, and his big carries were a joy to watch. We are going to miss that next season. I wouldn't have signed anyone over Wannenburg either.

Ulsters Nathan Hines...

Rava wrote:Good auld Gibbo!! A song for every occasion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL4L4Uv5rf0

Yeah thats a fair comparison Mick. He loved Ulster and Ulster loved him. It just worked. Players like that are worth their weight in gold. Hines had a good run with Leinster but I feel Pedries best was yet to come.

rodders wrote:Brilliant Notch man. I get a lump in my throat watching that.

Pedrie Wannenburg isn't the best backrower in the world by any stretch but he is a very very good player.

What makes him such a loss for me is he embraced Ulster rugby and gave his heart and soul for our club.

If every indiginious player was as committed for our team as Pedrie then we'd be in a great place. I said earlier in the season that I'd rather keep Pedrie than sign Kaino and I meant it.

I'll NEVER forget what Pedrie brought to our club. Its been an honour to have him wear an Ulster shirt.

Well said. Some players come and enhance the creed. Some dont. But Pedrie did it with class.

It's just so strange that now Ulster must go out and sign another NIQ backrow player to replace him. At the end of the day, Pedrie has been forced out of Ulster against the Ulster managements will and yet next year we will still have an NIQ backrow in the same position, except probably not as good and possibly less committed to the Ulster cause.

Notch wrote:It's just so strange that now Ulster must go out and sign another NIQ backrow player to replace him. At the end of the day, Pedrie has been forced out of Ulster against the Ulster managements will and yet next year we will still have an NIQ backrow in the same position, except probably not as good and possibly less committed to the Ulster cause.

+1
Couldn't agree more

Pedrie is a big loss. His commitment was never in question as demonstrated by hardly missing a game even though he was probably carrying injuries.
Roger Wilson is a direct replacement though so I'm not as worried as everyone else that Ulster really need another backrow. Birch looks to be at least as good as Faloon and both Joyce and Henderson should see time behind them.
I'd really much rather have an NIQ 10 to develop Jackson, and allow Luke Marshall to get more time at 12.

I think Birch looks better than Faloon honestly, and could have a lot of potential. Came on and immediately made an impact against Connacht, and when he received a yellow he actually made a perfectly legitimate steal. Played at 8 when he came on.

I've got to admit to a bit of a groan when I saw this article;

http://www.scotsman.com/scotland-on-sunday/sport/rugby/the-good-boks-ulster-s-faith-in-south-africans-is-being-rewarded-1-2249452#.T5QToJeWC2Y.twitter

Springboks and Christians is all we're known for now- we actually have some pretty good players who don't fit into either category who have made a big difference so far this season!

No comment .

I wonder how much wee Davy Humphries paid that "visiting preacher from Manchester" to say that to Muller?

Whatever it was, he was worth every penny!

Did you enjoy your trip to Belfast Jenny?

Was the hotel okay? Would you recommend it?

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I wonder how much wee Davy Humphries paid that "visiting preacher from Manchester" to say that to Muller?

Someone asked Muller that when I went to see him and Pienaar, he just laughed!

Here, did none of you notice this? Pretty massive compliment! Wonder if he will live up to it!

"Spence is one of Ireland’s most exciting young back prospects, the next Brian O’Driscoll"

MrsP wrote:Whatever it was, he was worth every penny!

Did you enjoy your trip to Belfast Jenny?

Was the hotel okay? Would you recommend it?

Trip was great. Went to the Taphouse and met Stand the Ulsterman, who runs a tight ship there. I always have a good time at Ravenhill.

Good crack.

Hotel was grand, breakfast was good. Ibises are fairly basic so I wouldn't get too excited, but good clean and friendly. Had a few mates in Madisons. I will ask how that was.

Good to know in case someone else asks for advice.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I wonder how much wee Davy Humphries paid that "visiting preacher from Manchester" to say that to Muller?

Paid? It was David Humphreys in one of these bad boys;

Glad you had a good time Jen. I feel weird saying that as it's actually my sisters name!

Were you one of the visiting Leinster crowd on the Promenade? There were two groups of fans with flags either side of me. Unfortunately most of the Ulster fans in that section were blow-ins who were giving the ref grief all game

Notch wrote:Glad you had a good time Jen. I feel weird saying that as it's actually my sisters name!

Were you one of the visiting Leinster crowd on the Promenade? There were two groups of fans with flags either side of me. Unfortunately most of the Ulster fans in that section were blow-ins who were giving the ref grief all game

Was close to halfway on the prom. Few nice older gentlemen in front of me for the first half. I moved up beside the entrance where our lads were coming in and out for the 2nd half to talk to a few people I knew.

Jen is not actually my real name But I don't mind. Tell your sister I was asking for her.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

MrsP wrote:Whatever it was, he was worth every penny!

Did you enjoy your trip to Belfast Jenny?

Was the hotel okay? Would you recommend it?

Trip was great. Went to the Taphouse and met Stand the Ulsterman, who runs a tight ship there. I always have a good time at Ravenhill.

Good crack.

Hotel was grand, breakfast was good. Ibises are fairly basic so I wouldn't get too excited, but good clean and friendly. Had a few mates in Madisons. I will ask how that was.

Hey Jen glad you had a good one. Meant to take a spin round to the Taphouse after the game before heading home but got caught up chatting to Rava and Brian O'Driscoll so didn't make to down ..... will hopefully catch you for a next season .

Thats a big deal for him Jen, he's always dreamed of meeting Rava.

Its true Notch, meeting the Rav man was a dream of mine for sure. I was well p$ssed off actually when BOD and Jonny Sexton interupted ......

You should have asked BOD to take a photo of the two of you together

I would have Notch but poor BOD was too starstruck at meeting Rava....

"Spence is one of Ireland’s most exciting young back prospects, the next Brian O’Driscoll"
that made me laugh... funny joke

LeinsterFan4life wrote:"Spence is one of Ireland’s most exciting young back prospects, the next Brian O’Driscoll"
that made me laugh... funny joke

Although calling him the next O'Driscoll is a bit ridiculous, Spence is still a very talented prospect. Possibly the best option at 13 in the future.

He's good, but thats hyperbole and lazy journalism. Just like the rest of the piece.

Was good to meet you Jen.

Have to apologise for sloping off early but if you had seen the state of me on Saturday morning you would have understood. Was great to have some Leinster guys back in the pub after.

i doubt that very much tbh rory...

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I wonder how much wee Davy Humphries paid that "visiting preacher from Manchester" to say that to Muller?

I think your missing the point here. This instance clearly shows that God supports Ulster. So world domination is gona be a breeze!

Four observations from Friday:

Fitzpatrick did a great job on Healy and we had the better front row - Fitzpatrick will start against Edinburgh

Diack had a good game and has out performed Faloon two games in a row - he might get the bench spot for Saturday

Paddy Jackson took SOB down twice - I can safely say you will never be able to say that about Humphreys

As the Leinster team was closer to their starting 15 than ours IF (and it remains a big IF) we play them in the final that has done our confidence a hell of a lot of good. We were not outclassed and know we have a lot more to offer

geoff998rugby wrote:
As the Leinster team was closer to their starting 15 than ours IF (and it remains a big IF) we play them in the final that has done our confidence a hell of a lot of good. We were not outclassed and know we have a lot more to offer

Very true. But we never bothered with much past 2nd gear in fairness.

If we both do make it. We would have a hard game v Glasgow (most likely) the week before. That could help you.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:
As the Leinster team was closer to their starting 15 than ours IF (and it remains a big IF) we play them in the final that has done our confidence a hell of a lot of good. We were not outclassed and know we have a lot more to offer

Very true. But we never bothered with much past 2nd gear in fairness.

If we both do make it. We would have a hard game v Glasgow (most likely) the week before. That could help you.

Agree with both points. Leinster were clearly (to me anyways) playing within themselves and were the team in control for most of the game. They clearly had another gear or three.

However we weren't outclassed as we have been in recent seasons and were able to match Leinster and put them under pressure for sustained periods throughout the game. As pointed out we were missing a few key players and can get better ourselves.

I think both sides can take plenty from the game but obviously Leinster would be massive favourites if we were to play them again.

A HEC final can be big leveller though......

That said Rodders, Ulster also took the foot off the pedal a bit following Paddy W and Henry's injuries. Still it could have been a bigger defeat so for that I am thankful and as Geoff says, there will be a confidence in the side if we do go on to play Leinster in the final.
I was impressed with Fitzpatrick at tighthead and with Macklin as well when he came on. I believe we can survive this one and then have a fully refreshed Afoa ready for Twickers

Rava wrote:That said Rodders, Ulster also took the foot off the pedal a bit following Paddy W and Henry's injuries.

Absolutely Rava and I'm taking that into account. We can be better than we were on Friday. We also left points out there with the missed place kicks and spurned kicks at goal.

I can only call it as I see it though. Leinster were almost always in control of that game. They dominated the breakdown and for the most part their defence was equal to everything we threw at them.

Ferris could have made a huge difference because of his ability to get over the gainline and suck in defenders but on Friday we were certainly second best.

We could have won though, which is a big step forward from last season.

Ulster finished the match with only 1 forward on the pitch who will start on Saturday - so we pretty much took our foot of ther pedal as well.