Ulster vs Edinburgh, Build Up Thread

[Notch]

First topic message reminder :

Ulster vs Edinburgh
5.45pm, Saturday 28th April
AVIVA Stadium Dublin
Heineken Cup Semi-Final

Nice sparkly new thread for the build-up to the Heineken Cup Semi-Final. Links to press interviews, team speculation, breaking news and discussion in the week ahead.

Let's kick off with interviews with Ulster defence coach Jonathan Bell and Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley.

Jonny Bell thinks Ulsters fans can be the difference as he reflects on his own win in the 1999 competition.

Michael Bradley talks about the Toulouse quarter-final and assesses the threat of Ulster.

Post any and all match-related chat here

[Rava]

That's more like it Rava!

You're welcome RDW

[RDW]

Chat is that the SRU stopped it at 2000 tickets sold through them.


Hopefully that won't be the total amount of Edinburgh fans there though!

[George Carlin]

Can I have a pint of Old Ulster Overconfidence and packet of pork scratchings please.

[geoff998rugby]

It s all show we are really as nervous as hell

[Notch]

I don't think anyone has been overconfident. I'm confident but I respect the challenge we face.

[rodders]

Can I have a pint of Old Ulster Overconfidence and packet of pork scratchings please.

+ 1... minus the pork scratchings

[Shauna784]

New Injury update

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/10430.php

Worrying that Henry may not be fit.

[Artful_Dodger]

Just seen that on FB Shauna, thought it was going to be all good news when I saw Paddy Wallace is ok, but I thought Henry had been given the ok as well, apparently not....

[Shauna784]

I know, me too. Hopefully he'll get the all clear before the game, fingers crossed.

[Notch]

I'd be relatively hopeful that all three will be fit. The earlier story was the X-ray revealed no damage for Chris Henry so we're talking a matter of days unless thats wrong?

It may be a late call, but I think they'll all play. There might be a bit of kidology going on here, I'm sure there was with the Ferris injury...

[Notch]

It clarifies selection anyway- we're going to have Paddy Power at 10 and 12

Bring it on!

[justified sinner]

Eh, you're going to play a bookie against us?

Should make the in game betting interesting.

[Gibson]

Let's be honest, lads. if Ulster fail to win this, then they are a team of absolute duffers - 'crisis' I would say

Psyche.

[rodders]

Let's be honest, lads. if Ulster fail to win this, then they are a team of absolute duffers - 'crisis' I would say

Psyche.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtrEN-YKLBM

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

I'd be relatively hopeful that all three will be fit. The earlier story was the X-ray revealed no damage for Chris Henry so we're talking a matter of days unless thats wrong?

It may be a late call, but I think they'll all play. There might be a bit of kidology going on here, I'm sure there was with the Ferris injury...

Sounds like Ulster are up to their usual tricks! Hopefully Bradley is simply ignoring all the false smoke trails!!

[Rava]

I'd be relatively hopeful that all three will be fit. The earlier story was the X-ray revealed no damage for Chris Henry so we're talking a matter of days unless thats wrong?

It may be a late call, but I think they'll all play. There might be a bit of kidology going on here, I'm sure there was with the Ferris injury...

Sounds like Ulster are up to their usual tricks! Hopefully Bradley is simply ignoring all the false smoke trails!!

I fully expect DAVID Humphreys to start at No. 10. Then look out Embra

[Notch]

He'd still put in more tackles than his brother

[Gibson]

He was the best Fly-half Ireland ever had in the Pro game too. Dont tell ROG.

Rattle & Pram.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Well done Gibson. You have surely woke up DOD and Sin e.

[geoff998rugby]

As I thought ESPN got it wrong.

It is Wannenberg and Wallace who are definitely fit to play not
Wannenberg and Henry.

We are still working on getting Henry and Marshall fit.

[Notch]

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/13888.php

Doak plays down the league form of Edinburgh.

[geoff998rugby]

Rightly so - Denton and Rennie haven't played against us yet

I expect Henry to start and Marshall to be on the bench.
They will drugged up as Ferris was against Munster.
Nothing to lose and, hopefully, 3 weeks rest to the next match.

[Notch]

Whiff of Cordite on the weekend ahead;

http://whiffofcordite.com/2012/04/24/twelve-by-four/

[The Great Aukster]

I suspect a 1pm Friday announcement that neither Henry nor Wallace will be available for the game.

[rodders]

Have you heard something Aukster?

[RDW]

I'm sure I read Paddy Wallace only had a migraine?

[geoff998rugby]

Also the club have said he will almost certaintly be ok.

It would be out of character for them to do that if they were not pretty certain.

[rodders]

Any more thoughts on who will play 10 Geoff?

[RDW]

TBH Edinburgh's team and tactics will be the same irrespective of what Ulster select, so they wouldn't gain much by telling porkies!

[geoff998rugby]

Any more thoughts on who will play 10 Geoff?

I'll make one statement - Jackson will only play 10 if Wallace is 12.
If Whitten or Spence start at 12 I cannot see Jackson starting at 10.

I honestly think 10 is a50/50 call and maybe even McLaughlin hasn't decided yet

[Notch]

The idea of a Humphreys/Spence 10-12 axis in this game is so thoroughly ridiculous...

If Wallace is out, Jackson MUST start at 12. We need width on our game- we need another kicking option to iHumph in the backline. We need someone who can ask questions with ball in hand and release the men around him.

If we're going to play someone out of position at 12, make it Jackson- not Nevin Spence. It's all so obvious. Deccie Fitz and Jackson to start at 3 and 10. If Wallace is out, a stay of execution for Humphreys and Jackson replaces Wallace.

I'm pretty convinced he won't pick Whitten or Spence- he's astute enough to know that width on attack is the order of the day and another kicker in the backline is an insurance policy against a Humphreys meltdown.

[geoff998rugby]

I agree with you - I am not convinced that McGlocks is though.Hopefully I am wrong.

Having said that I am 95% certain Wallace will start so the matter doesn't arise.
I honestly believed the only two position not known are 7 and 10

[Imperialbigdave]

TBH Edinburgh's team and tactics will be the same irrespective of what Ulster select, so they wouldn't gain much by telling porkies!

After the QF, im now not sure how well play. Id thought all season that we only had one style, but that got thrrown out the window against toulouse in favour of a forward battle i didnt think we had in ourselves.

[Rava]

Translink have over 40 coaches travelling to Dublin for the semi- final on Saturday and 5 full trains pulling into Connolly each carrying around 400 people.

[Notch]

I was browsing the UAFC website (page upon page of flag debates) and someone mentioned Ulster Rugby are arranging for many Ulster (rugby) flags to be handed out at the Stadium- I really hope thats true!

[Notch]

I'm so overly excited about this game!

[MrsP]

Yeah Notch,

They said last week that they have ordered 10,000 flags for Dublin.

Could have done with ordering a few thousand more.

[Notch]

Well thats just swell. I cannot wait for the atmosphere in the ground!

It's going to be so weird going to a game in that stadium with people standing up and cheering and shouting throughout the game- hopefully.

[clivemcl]

Yea Notch I hope us Ulster fans can make the Aviva into a place I have not seen at internationals. Any songs though apart from the usual?

I hope the terrace flag waving crew are working on some material that can be easily taught!

[Mickado]

Well thats just swell. I cannot wait for the atmosphere in the ground!

It's going to be so weird going to a game in that stadium with people standing up and cheering and shouting throughout the game- hopefully.

Ah stop, it'll ruin you for international rugby mate. The Toulouse game last year was the best game i've ever seen live, the atmosphere was palpable. It's going to be a blast.

[Rava]

Mick, hows the tee-shirt plans coming along?

[rodders]

Yeah Notch,

They said last week that they have ordered 10,000 flags for Dublin.

Could have done with ordering a few thousand more.

10'000??? At least they're getting on the ball with this.

How many are heading down? There must have been at least 8k in Limerick?

Any recommendations for bars to visit for pre match pints?

Saturday is going to be AWESOME

[Mickado]

Fine and dandy Rav. It’s all in order. Just need to work out the finer details on the design. Like should I call him “Doctor Ian Paisley” or should I go with the less formal “The Paislinator”…

[RDW]

Edinburgh are announcing details of "fanzones" in Dublin and Edinburgh - hopefully they'll be handing out flags in Dublin!

They had thousands of flags at the Toulouse game and it made a real visual spectacle - I didn't get one though!

[Mickado]

Yeah Notch,

They said last week that they have ordered 10,000 flags for Dublin.

Could have done with ordering a few thousand more.

10'000??? At least they're getting on the ball with this.

How many are heading down? There must have been at least 8k in Limerick?

Any recommendations for bars to visit for pre match pints?

Saturday is going to be AWESOME

Are we all meeting up before the game?

I’d be up for that. Not sure on the venue yet though. there’s a million pubs within striking distance of the stadium though.

[Rava]

Rodders there are loads of bars in the area. I'll be meeting Mickado at Bellamy's most likely.

[rodders]

SUFTUM!

[Tattie Scones RRN]

Well the missus has just given me the go ahead for the final.

Over to you now Edinburgh....don't let me down!

[rodders]

Rodders there are loads of bars in the area. I'll be meeting Mickado at Bellamy's most likely.

Good stuff Rava, cheers Hopefully will catch you guys at some stage

[RuggerRadge2611]

Well the missus has just given me the go ahead for the final.

Over to you now Edinburgh....don't let me down!

+1

Heres hoping Edinburgh can do the business in Dublin.

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