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

[stevetynant]

"Every time the poor guy gets a break he gets injured... he's been in Ireland training squads and played for Ireland A. He's always struggled with his fitness, both in terms of injury and just general match fitness. He's a sixty minute man at the moment."

Adam Jones was't even a 40 minute man when he came to the International scene - now he's one of if not the best tight heads in the World - the raw materials are there fitness can be worked on that's the important thing

[Standulstermen]

Caves tackle on Thompson with 10 minutes left was awesome. Absolutely nailed him and stopped a big overlap. I think too much is being read into that ulster performance. It was a semi final which is all about being the team smiling at the end, and we were favourites which doesn't sit well as we aren't used to it. We won't be favourites whoever we meet in the final so it is game on.

[dublin_dave]

Lads. well done on yesterday.

rode your luck at times but some awesome scramble defence and piennar was absolutely ruthless. Great performance by Fitzpatrick aswell, 2nd choice tight head surely now. Ferris should not go to New Zealand he is being held together and needs to be used wisely. absolutely world class

their must be a role for Michael Bradley in any new Irish set up. Edinburgh were terrific in the first half and were a lesson in how to play modern
attacking rugby - until they got within 5 yards of the line granted. ulsters defence was awesome in thomond but lets be honest munster were easy to defend against. Edinburgh certainly were not. the scottish front row were absolutely mullered.

[Notch]

We missed Chris Henry and John Afoa. Henry has made more tackles than anyone else in the tournament! Afoa's work rate around the fringes is huge.

Fitzpatrick was great in the scrum but not able to contribute anything else and Willie Faloon was a total passenger.

[Mickado]

Caves tackle was the highlight of the game for me. Epic.

[Notch]

The atmosphere was the highlight for me- every time Ulster were in trouble we got right behind them.

[dublin_dave]

came across great on the tele aswell notch. top support

love the reaction of non rugby supporting dubs when ulster fans are in dublin. they look bemused that there can be that many red hand flag and zero trouble.

and caves hit. smashing. you could see it coming but by god he stayed hit.

great try by edinburgh at the death give them their dues

[funnyExiledScot]

The better side won, Ulster dominates the scrum and were more savvy in taking chances. Edinburgh looked like the European novices that they are, and Ulster's experience (epitomised by Pienaar) won the day.

I'm extremely proud of the Edinburgh performance though, my concern was that they would choke on the big stage, and they put in a big performance. The signings for next season, Nel in particular, should make a difference, both in sustaining a better league challange but hopefully in giving the pack more oomph. Gilchrist was perhaps as quiet as I've seen him this season, and he'll learn from that. Had Edinburgh taken just one of their chances the outcome would likely have been different, and they should take credit for that. Ulster were just a bit too smart and powerful on the day.

Interesting piece in the Sunday Times about Bradley being the next Ireland coach. What do the Irish fans think about that?

[Rory_Gallagher]

Watching Edinburgh and the type of game they play, I would be very happy with him as the Ireland coach. Edinburgh play a fast paced game, using their big runners (Denton, Talei) to make ground with Blair getting quick ball out to the backs. Very quick at recycling ball at the breakdown too via Rennie etc. Just the type of game plan Ireland need right now.

[Thomond]

I don't know FES. People give out about Kidney for our lack of backplay, is Edinburgh's that much better? Certainly, their style of using big runners and quick service is good but the biggest criticism of Kidney is our shoite backplay.

[Rory_Gallagher]

The likes of Nick De Luca etc always seem to look very dangerous for Edinburgh. Visser is a try scoring machine for them. I think they do use their backs well, though as you say their biggest strength is their big runners and quick service. We have the players available to do that, and I think if we did play like that our back line would inevitably improve.

[Rory_Gallagher]

One small complaint I did have about the atmosphere was a number of football-esque fans behind me chanting "EASY" at the end of the game. That game was anything BUT easy. I thought it was very disrespectful personally. But I guess there will always be idiots around to disrupt things for everyone.

[Thomond]

Ah that kind of stuff isn't too bad. It's just a bit of banter.

[clivemcl]

sorry, I know this is poor taste posting this here, But I've been offered to go an a car by ferry to final. Looking for 4 tickets. Anyone got any for sale?

PM me sure.

[Glas a du]

Sure, there'll be plenty of Munster fans with spare tickets

[clivemcl]

I hope so!

[formerly known as Sam]

We missed Chris Henry and John Afoa. Henry has made more tackles than anyone else in the tournament! Afoa's work rate around the fringes is huge.

Henry was a big loss pre game for Ulster, the massive Ulster pack looked a little off their normal all out power in the breakdown, how serious is his injury? Ulster will need him for the final.

Someone needs to have a word with Ferris as he nearly cost Ulster the game, on another day he wouldn't have seen the second half as both his push on the kick chase and the slap out of the scrum half hands could have been YCs. He needs to keep his cool when under pressure as a 14 man Ulster wouldn't have been able to contain Edinburgh and definitely will not contain either Clermont or Leinster.

[MrsP]

There will be dancing in the streets of Galway tonight!

An all Irish Final!

Fantastic!!!!

[The Great Aukster]

Henry's absence was a big factor in the game. Faloon got run over a couple of times in the tackle that wouldn't have happened with Chris. Also at the ruck Henry is superb at protecting ball and would have stopped at least two turnovers.

Ferris played the referee just right! Seriously, he hardly touched Visser but thankfully Poite saw the incident for what it was. As for catching Blair's arm I've seen cards for that but in Ferris' defence he was being illegally held by the ankle (and ended up twisting it) to stop him going through the gate to make the tackle.

[Artful_Dodger]

There will be dancing in the streets of Galway tonight!

An all Irish Final!

Fantastic!!!!

Yep and as I said in another thread, we might not be here if Connacht hadn't beaten Harlequins, glad we can pay them back.

[Standulstermen]

actually we were already in as gloucester denied toulouse the LBP. Connacht got toulouse into the quarters. Still im delighted that they are in the competition next year

[Artful_Dodger]

actually we were already in as gloucester denied toulouse the LBP. Connacht got toulouse into the quarters. Still im delighted that they are in the competition next year

Ahhh but the Gloucester denying Toulouse a TBP happened after did it not, things could of panned out differently if Connacht hadn't won? Or was it that Harlequins could of qualified if they'd beaten Connacht which would of left things uncertain with Toulouse, either way I remember a Connacht player saying after the game we are glad to send Ulster through.

[ChequeredJersey]

Bah! I bet on Edinburgh! >

[Standulstermen]

actually we were already in as gloucester denied toulouse the LBP. Connacht got toulouse into the quarters. Still im delighted that they are in the competition next year

Ahhh but the Gloucester denying Toulouse a TBP happened after did it not, things could of panned out differently if Connacht hadn't won? Or was it that Harlequins could of qualified if they'd beaten Connacht which would of left things uncertain with Toulouse, either way I remember a Connacht player saying after the game we are glad to send Ulster through.

No gloucester finished 10 minutes previous. It was Muldoon and as far as he knew he did send us through so fair play to them.

No toulouse finished a point behind us i believe but because they won their pool they were obviously seeded higher. Only reason i remember is that we left the B&I cup game early to watch it.

[rodders]

SUFTUM!!!

OK match is total blur... can't offer any constructive analysis about the match other than it was too close for comfort and I'm over the moon to have won ..anyone know where I can see a replay??

Amazing day, can't believe it!

[Rory_Gallagher]

Henry is essential for our back row if we want to beat Leinster. His work at the breakdown was missed so badly. I thought Faloon was more effective there than Henry, being a "natural" 7, but I was proved wrong. I would have put Ferris at 7, Diack at 6 and Wannenburg at 8 for that game. Maybe swapping Wannenburg and Diack. Hopefully it won't come to that for the final though! We need you Henry!

Can't wait to see Ferris vs O'Brien in the final. Have these two guys ever faced each other yet? I'm not so sure they have.

[Rava]

Henry is essential for our back row if we want to beat Leinster. His work at the breakdown was missed so badly. I thought Faloon was more effective there than Henry, being a "natural" 7, but I was proved wrong. I would have put Ferris at 7, Diack at 6 and Wannenburg at 8 for that game. Maybe swapping Wannenburg and Diack. Hopefully it won't come to that for the final though! We need you Henry!

Can't wait to see Ferris vs O'Brien in the final. Have these two guys ever faced each other yet? I'm not so sure they have.

It only took a season to educate you Rory

[Rory_Gallagher]

[Shauna784]

I'm still recovering, no idea how I'm going to go to work tomorrow.
Great atmosphere yesterday at the match, emotions were running high. Had two very nice Munster men beside us for the match, great craic all round.

We missed Chris Henry big time, hope his ankle is better for the big show down!
Wish I could afford to go to the final Need to win the lotto.

[rodders]

Can't wait to see Ferris vs O'Brien in the final. Have these two guys ever faced each other yet? I'm not so sure they have.

Was thinking the same Rory! Not that I am aware off, certainly not in the last few seasons since O'Brien established himself!

They've probably been kept apart for safety reasons!

[SecretFly]

O'Brien will be playing 12 for the final (rotation and all that)

[rodders]

O'Brien will be playing 12 for the final (rotation and all that)

Paddy Wallace will sort him out then.... !

[formerly known as Sam]

Ferris played the referee just right! Seriously, he hardly touched Visser but thankfully Poite saw the incident for what it was. As for catching Blair's arm I've seen cards for that but in Ferris' defence he was being illegally held by the ankle (and ended up twisting it) to stop him going through the gate to make the tackle

Playing the ref just right includes handing the opposition an easy 3 points on the stroke of half time? He slapped the ball out of the scrummies hands for which there is no excuse, it wasn't an attempted tackle it was a one handed slap. Very lucky boy not to have gone.

Edinburgh learnt the hard truth about needing a powerful front five to win the HEC, they didn't hold up under scrum pressure and though the lineout was alright the breakdown was a tussle their tight five struggled in (lucky for them their backrow was on fire).

[R!skysports]

Ferris played the referee just right! Seriously, he hardly touched Visser but thankfully Poite saw the incident for what it was. As for catching Blair's arm I've seen cards for that but in Ferris' defence he was being illegally held by the ankle (and ended up twisting it) to stop him going through the gate to make the tackle

Playing the ref just right includes handing the opposition an easy 3 points on the stroke of half time? He slapped the ball out of the scrummies hands for which there is no excuse, it wasn't an attempted tackle it was a one handed slap. Very lucky boy not to have gone.

Edinburgh learnt the hard truth about needing a powerful front five to win the HEC, they didn't hold up under scrum pressure and though the lineout was alright the breakdown was a tussle their tight five struggled in (lucky for them their backrow was on fire).

Ferris was two of the clearest yellow cards i have seen. He ran into the line of visser and caught him. NDL got rightly yellow carded for much less in the 6 nations

The slap, while on his knees, of the ball out of the scrum half was also a clear and yellow card

Added into the fact that the try was awarded after the ball came out the scrum it was a tough day for the Edinburgh boys, with 3 key decisions going against them

However, while they were the better side, they should have scored more when they had the ball. They showed that they are one of the best sides at playing the off loading game, and ran the defense ragged at times, but need to develop the killer score to be in with a chance

Was a great game to watch though and fair play to Ulster they defended with their lives

[Standulstermen]

Edinburgh weren't in the game in the 2nd half. That's what killed them. The territory was obscenely in ulsters favour. They will come back stronger though. More of those passes will stick next season I have every confidence and they have signed a Saffer prop as well I believe.v

[clivemcl]

I think Ulster tightening up their discipline in the second half was vital. Gave away too many penalties first half, and if that pattern continued we might have lost out.

Have yet to watch the match. (I recorded it) So Can't give much informed analysis yet. But certainly not good enough from Ulster.

The tackling seemed to be very solid though. Apart from Talei's break and the Edinburgh try.

Strange way to win a game. I stood up and cheered when Edinburgh scored. Think it took most others a while to realize why the heck i was cheering!

[R!skysports]

Edinburgh weren't in the game in the 2nd half. That's what killed them. The territory was obscenely in ulsters favour. They will come back stronger though. More of those passes will stick next season I have every confidence and they have signed a Saffer prop as well I believe.v

I would disagree slightly with that - Ulster certainly bossed the first half of the second half, but then Edinburgh came back

We lost due to some handling errors (can happen when you play the fast tempo off loading game), having a pants scrum (If we had just a scrum that could hold its own, all those easy points against us would go) and a few poor decision making (by our players and the ref)

Frustrating, but that is the Scottish ways - dominate and be generally the better team on the day and still lose

[Standulstermen]

Check the territory risky. The period between 60-70 minutes we got 9 points. Other than the ford drop Edinburgh didn't have ball in the 22 until the try

[formerly known as Sam]

We lost due to some handling errors (can happen when you play the fast tempo off loading game), having a pants scrum (If we had just a scrum that could hold its own, all those easy points against us would go) and a few poor decision making (by our players and the ref)

Pretty much sums it up. The Edinburgh backs and backrow and excellent and a match for if not better than their counterparts but the tight five just couldn't hold their own and the level of physicality Ulster brought became 3 pointers for Pienaar. Harsh on the 'burgh but they knew they had weaknesses in the tight five, hence the Saffa prop on his way in.

One for the Ulster fans. Why doesn't Wallace move to 10? IHumph is out of favour for being fragile yet the young lad Jackson was annoymous in attack and run over a few times in the first half as Edinburgh got some easy line breaks down his channel. Pienaar looked after the tactical aspects and Wallace offered the creation to your backs so why not bump him up to 10 and bring in another strike runner to the midfield? Spence is half decent and a prospect and it would make your defence stronger around the 10/12 channel.

[Notch]

Because he's better at 12. Our attacking gameplan is generally one that uses a lot of width and having a 10 and 12 who can get onto the gainline and distribute the ball is important. It also offers additional tactical kicking options.

It was very puzzling that we so often looked for the inside ball into midfield on Saturday, maybe the plan was to go up the middle then try and get quick ball to fling wide but we didn't get the first part of that right.

I thought Jackson did ok- a pretty solid game and he's only going to get better from here. I would like to see him start again in our last Pro12 game with a view to starting the final.

Spence is just a little too predictable to bring into midfield. He's pretty one dimensional in the 12 position and Tigers fans will remember well how predictable we were with him there at Welford Road. With Chris Henry hopefully back, I don't see defence in that channel being a massive issue.

[geoff999rugby]

Not bad without one fully fit, first choice, backrower on the pitch.

The next three weeks is all about getting Henry, Wannenberg, Ferris and Pienaer fit. We need all four to have any chance

[SecretFly]

Ulster vs Leinster, Build Up Thread..............................

[rodders]

Frustrating, but that is the Scottish ways - dominate and be generally the better team on the day and still lose

Hmm not sure I'd agree with that. I thought Edinburgh were the better side in the first half but Ulster the better in the second.

The late try flattered Edinburgh a tad with the scoreline and Ulster should have closed it out more comfortably.

That said there was very little in it and until Pienaar kicked that last penalty it could have gone either way.

Ultimately it was Edinburghs lack of a set piece that killed them, they were dominated at the scrum and how Ross Ford got away with some of those crooked throws is beyond me...he should be in the NFL!

Well done to Edinburgh, they've had a fantastic tournament and would have been worthy finalists but I think we fully deserved the win on the day even if it wasn't our best performance.

[clivemcl]

I want to see Luke Marshall, Henderson and Birch get the game v Munster. They need a game, they are most likely going to be used a fair few times next season.

[rodders]

I want to see Luke Marshall, Henderson and Birch get the game v Munster. They need a game, they are most likely going to be used a fair few times next season.

Anyone know what is going on with Marshall? I was surprised to see him staying at the same hotel as us, and not with the Ulster camp... presumably he was with Ballymena RFC.

It seems strange that such a talented player, in a key position is seemingly out in the cold with Ulster at such a key point in the season?

[R!skysports]

Although as a side note - the funnest thing I saw was the ball being stripped for the second row under the posts by the tinest man ever to play rugby

I expect the second row (not sure who it was) will not be getting any stick for that then

[clivemcl]

It was Pedrie Wannenberg No.8.

[rodders]

I thought it was Tuohy?

[clivemcl]

oh, maybe I was wrong...

[rodders]

or maybe I am?....

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