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

[Guest]

that could be a hugely costly kick. 13 - 6.

Edinburgh should be much closer, have only themselves to blame at the moment though.

[bsando]

ahhh frustrating. Edinburgh should have scored, silly errors. Good intensity though! putting loads of pressure on Ulster

[KickAndChase]

Was that offside relevant? He stopped and didn't interfere

[Guest]

that could be another yellow.

[KickAndChase]

**** sakes Poite.

[Guest]

Hmmm, isn't. Not sure I agree with that.

Embra need to get this penalty now.....

[KickAndChase]

I've never seen such a blatant yellow.

[bsando]

Wow! Ulster very lucky not to get a yellow there

[Guest]

phew, 13 - 9. Not so bad.

Edinburgh will be kicking themselves though, and Ulster are lucky to still be back up to 15.

What's amazing me is how easily the Edinburgh players are making ground.

[eirebilly]

Ferris very lucky there i feel.

[Gibson]

Edinburgh are good enough to do this. 1F is limping. If he leaves, its major advantage Ewmbra.

[KickAndChase]

13-13 would have been a fair reflection, but that aside, a very good first half. Not sure Edinburgh can keep this up but I said that 3 weeks ago too!

[Guest]

Wow, probably the most obvious yellow card I've seen recently. Cynical play from Ferris during a period of quick ball by Edinburgh; he's very lucky not to be shown the yellow there. Two great opportunities blown by Edinburgh there, but showing good enterprise. Now to put that final pass away in the second half.

[Guest]

Ferris very lucky there i feel.

No doubt about it. Poite has copped out there. If it's a penalty offence, it's a yellow offence. Simple.

[Morgannwg]

I think Poite was reluctant to issue one after already dishing one out. Most refs are.

[Gibson]

13-13 would have been a fair reflection, but that aside, a very good first half. Not sure Edinburgh can keep this up but I said that 3 weeks ago too!

+1

I believe they can keep it up. This is all-or-nothing. What they have been concentrating on all season. Its McLoughlin v Bradley at HT now. Ulster lucky to be ahead.

[wales606]

Edinburgh are playing very entertaining rugby and Ulster are playing their part with a good scramble defence.

Good game so far for a neutral, although I am supporting the underdogs of course - but I like Ulster too.

Can't wait for the second half, Ulster need to steal some more possession to keep the scoreboard ticking over, and Edinburgh need to finish off 2 or 3 of their chances. If Edinburgh take the lead early in the 2nd half, Ulster will have a lot of work to do.

[eirebilly]

Yes but the first yellow was from advise of the TJ was it not? It was not Poite's ruling, was it?

Not having a dig at Poite but that was a very clear yellow and Ulster can count themselves very luck to only have lost 3 points.

As Rev said, bad enough for a penalty. Bad enough for a yellow.

[eirebilly]

Watching the try again, that ball was out of the scrum. Rennie could have played that.

[Gibson]

Stunning offloading from Edinburgh in that half. Its like Scarlets and Leinster.

[KickAndChase]

Watching the try again, that ball was out of the scrum. Rennie should have played that.

Corrected

Unless Poite's hand out (advantage) was to do with Rennie unbinding??

[Guest]

+1 Gibbo, blydi lovely to watch, if only their last pass could go to hand!!

[Gibson]

Love Will Greenwood. Love his passion for the game.

[Glas a du]

Can't believe it's still 3-0

[Morgannwg]

Yes it was the TJ intervention, Poite can't help not having eyes on the back of his head I suppose. I'm not saying I disagree that it was a yellow offence, just pointing out a reason why he may be reluctant to issue it.

[Morgannwg]

Can't believe it's still 3-0

To who?

[KickAndChase]

Gotta love Blair and his mentality. He took a quick penalty near his own 22, only made 15 yards *BUT* that mentality sparked Edinburgh's roll up to Ulster's 22. Okay no points ever came out of that until the very end, but it is Edinburgh's strength he then plays to. Good work.

[eirebilly]

Yes it was the TJ intervention, Poite can't help not having eyes on the back of his head I suppose. I'm not saying I disagree that it was a yellow offence, just pointing out a reason why he may be reluctant to issue it.

As i said, not having a dig at Poite, i was just saying that Terblanch's yellow was from advice from the TJ not from Poite. Nothing more

[Artful_Dodger]

SUFTUM

[eirebilly]

Watching the try again, that ball was out of the scrum. Rennie should have played that.

Corrected

Unless Poite's hand out (advantage) was to do with Rennie unbinding??

I didnt see his hand out but Rennie would have been better playing the ball and not looking at Poite, he may have been penalised and given away 3 points but that would have been better than the 7

[KickAndChase]

Watching the try again, that ball was out of the scrum. Rennie should have played that.

Corrected

Unless Poite's hand out (advantage) was to do with Rennie unbinding??

I didnt see his hand out but Rennie would have been better playing the ball and not looking at Poite, he may have been penalised and given away 3 points but that would have been better than the 7

True. Players doing that too much these days.

[bsando]

Gotta love Blair and his mentality. He took a quick penalty near his own 22, only made 15 yards *BUT* that mentality sparked Edinburgh's roll up to Ulster's 22. Okay no points ever came out of that until the very end, but it is Edinburgh's strength he then plays to. Good work.

Yeah its ballsy stuff! Its got us this far, hopefully it'll get us to the final!

[Guest]

Glas - update sent

[Gibson]

Ulsters Saffers nous will kick-in, if this is close near the end. Edinburgh need to be 2 x scores ahead in the last 10 mins.

[Gibson]

Ulster look nervous. Really nervous.

[Guest]

Edinburgh got to be careful with those offloads, they could end up giving away an intercept.

[Thomond]

Thomond is the king

Spoiler:

That's for you billdozer.


Missed the first half but it seems like a good game. Didn't see the Ulster try but I hear it was controversial?

[Guest]

Aye, ball bobbled out of the scru, Embra 7 goes for it, Poite says no, then Wannenburg goes over. (not the best description that I don't think, sorry!)

[KickAndChase]

Both teams trying to outscore the other. That makes a good semi final.

[eirebilly]

Ulster look nervous. Really nervous.

+1, starting to look very uncomfortable out there and Ed are growing in confidence.

[Guest]

13-12 now, ooooooh so close.

[eirebilly]

Thomond is the king

Spoiler:

That's for you billdozer.


Missed the first half but it seems like a good game. Didn't see the Ulster try but I hear it was controversial?

[KickAndChase]

Ulster look nervous. Really nervous.

+1, starting to look very uncomfortable out there and Ed are growing in confidence.

If anyone saw Edin v Toulouse , it's a similar kind of feeling but Ulster not so toothless in attack.

[Thomond]

The first semi is always the toughest. Look at Leinster v Munster in 06, Munster in 2000 and today (not first time Ulster in a semi but entirely different team)

[eirebilly]

Pienaar

[KickAndChase]

Jeez... Pienaar take a bow.

What a semi!!!

[Gibson]

Hmmmmm. HUGE decision at this level.

[eirebilly]

Surely points was the better option?

[Guest]

ah what? Tuohy was turned there I thought. Big call that was to go for touch and not posts.

[Gibson]

1F doesnt look right.

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