ERC Heineken Cup Final thread - Ulster v Leinster

[Glas a du]

First topic message reminder :

All roads lead to Twickenham for the clash of the Titans of Irish Rugby on 19/5/12.

Ulster Flag

Ulster for a long time dominated inter provincial rugby in Ireland. Some see this as the start of something big.

Leinster Flag

Leinster are blessed with an amazing cohort of talent, based around BOD. Is the third final in four years one too far for him? If Leinster do it they will create history with the first back to back wins (since Leicester apparently. Couldn't remember that, must have been devalued for some reason )

"@HarpinOnRugby: Sexton needs 15pts in the Heineken Cup final to become the first player to win back-to-back scoring titles in the competition. #2amrugbyfact"

Ulster have failed to make the Rabo playoffs. Will an extra game against Glasgow this weekend help or hinder Leinster? Will a lack of a competitive game hinder Ulster?

Meanwhile, we conducted a vox pops:

"Leinster all day, all night and all the next week. It's in the bag. BELIEVE"
Mr Gibson

"We are gonna Party like its 1999! SUFTUM!"
Mr Ravavivian

"Ulster are in CRISIS!"
Mr Ravavivian

"If Ulster get to the final then it's a devalued tournament"
Mr Livinguptostereotype

"well at least Nigel is reffing, I'll have my pink cowboy hat on cheering for him!"
Mrs Livinguptostereotype

"where my f***ing whisky, I don't support the Burgh, but they were robbed. It will be Exeter challenging Clermont in next years final mark my words!"
Mr Ofussurvive


NEWSFLASH

ULSTER FANS - IMPORTANT NEWS FROM STANDULSTERMAN

Sorry to get off topic lads. Just heard that Paddy Wallace will be down in the bar on Monday helping give away the heineken cup final prize from 8pm if anyone is interested.



"@WhiffofCordite: Not great news about Kearney and BOD is it? Hopefully just minor niggles. Why must pre-final weeks always be so fraught?"

"Mine's a double..." Mickado

"Can we change the title of this thread please to Three time European Champions v The poor man's munster" Hoog.

Come on Ulster, where's your banter?


"Kiwi, this one will do: -

" Rava

From Twitter:
"@rpetty80: If Ulster win the Hcup then Ireland would have 3 teams that have won it multiple times. England has 2 and France its just 1 #rugby"

There have been 35 tries scored in 16 Heineken Cup Finals. Will this game be above or below average in terms of tries?

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Yeah I wouldn't be too afraid of the Leinster lineout to be honest.
It is fairly solid and inventive but not necessarily the biggest threat on opposition ball. Cullen is a good defensive jumper but not compared to McLaughlin.

Cullen, Heaslip, SOB, Thorn and McL are our primary jumpers and Thorn and SOB aren't great in this area to be honest. Grand but not great.

I can't see us challenging too many of yours to anyt great success until later in the game when Toner will take up a front-middle position and make Best throw over him. That is when Heaslip and McLaughlin will have more time to get in position and compete for the ball in the air.

Anyone see the delicous lineout move we did against Glasgow? Toner was jumper 2 at the front and feigned a jump then ran around the tail. Toner jumpers then lifted Heaslip in the middle the ball went over Heaslip and Toner got the ball in the mid field and was able to run at the Glasgow 10.

I absolutely love inventive set play rugby like that.

[Rava]

Ah Pete, was just an overthrow surely ...

[Glas a du]

Any Leinster fans want a smiley in the OP? A harp or a cockle or whatever your emblem is.

[geoff998rugby]

That should have said experienced rather than old

[Rava]

Kiwi, this one will do: -

[Glas a du]

Come on Leinster, you've got a better one than that surely?

[BoyneRFC]

Any Leinster fans want a smiley in the OP? A harp or a cockle or whatever your emblem is.

Can we not just borrow your sheep, apt and all it is?

[Notch]

I like the front page of the IRFU website this morning;

http://www.irishrugby.ie/index.php

[Mickado]

That's Leinstertainment...

[rodders]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0515/1224316128161.html

Ferris, Pienaar, Kearney and Sexton are on the shortlist for ERC player of the season. Jonny Wilkinson on there too.

[geoff998rugby]

Just found out why Henderson is in the frame - Diack is out.

Must have got a knock in Portugal.

So its Henderson or Faloon - be brave Brian be brave - if they are good enough they are old enough

[clivemcl]

Is that why he was asking for tickets on twitter? If you arent in the matchday squad do Ulster make you get your own ticket???

[Mickado]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0515/1224316128161.html

Ferris, Pienaar, Kearney and Sexton are on the shortlist for ERC player of the season. Jonny Wilkinson on there too.

If we win it's Kearney, if you win it's Ruan.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Just found out why Henderson is in the frame - Diack is out.

Must have got a knock in Portugal.

So its Henderson or Faloon - be brave Brian be brave - if they are good enough they are old enough

The thing is Geoff, would you not say we need a 7 as cover? If Henry is injured, we will be murdered at the breakdown.

[geoff998rugby]

To win we need to gamble - take the gamble.

Henderson would offer more - great lineout option and someone they know next to nothing about.

[Rory_Gallagher]

I don't know Geoff.. I think we are going to struggle at the breakdown in general, but at the same time Faloon probably won't help there.

[clivemcl]

No one answered my question. Do the Ulster players who don't make the match day squad have to get their own tickets? Or was this Diacks joking way of saying he was going to miss the final? Poor guy!

[rodders]

I think unless we can sign Dusitoir or Warburton before the weekend we will struggle at the breakdown......

I'd like to see Henderson get the chance although a 7 on the bench does give more options.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Would be amazing if he got the chance, but I do think the backrow is going to be absolutely key in this game for both teams.

[geoff998rugby]

The players only get 2 tickets each - they are not best pleased.

Diack probably just looking for more.

[clivemcl]

ah right cheers Geoff!

[Mickado]

I think unless we can sign Dusitoir or Warburton before the weekend we will struggle at the breakdown......

I'd like to see Henderson get the chance although a 7 on the bench does give more options.

But Ferris, Henry and Wannenburg are still compos mentis no?

[geoff998rugby]

That is indeed our starting backrow Mickado.

The only decisions in the Ulster camp are on the bench:

Is McAllister fit if so he is on the bench otherwise Black
Is it Fitzpatrick or Macklin - 99% certain it will be Fitzpatrick
Is it Faloon or Henderson - probably Faloon
Is it Humphreys or Spence - probably Humphries

Brady, Stevenson, Marshall and D'Arcy are certainties for the bench

[rodders]

I think even with a full deck Leinster will have the edge Mick, Henry is key though provided he stays on the field.

BOD has already singled him out in the media as not always playing within the laws so the officials may have their eye on him.

[clivemcl]

I'm hoping BOD and Trimby get whatever its is out of their system and have a wee rough and tumble on the deck where the refs cant see. They've had a few confrontations in the past year or two.

[rodders]

Aye they're always at it clive!

I remember BOD putting the shoulder into Trimble when he came on the scene!

[Suspicious lurker]

Roll on Saturday. I'm so excited I could shoite

[geoff998rugby]

One for the Ulster dressing room wall

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/05/15/how-to-alienate-ulster-rugby-fans/#comments

[Rory_Gallagher]

Geoff - I was just thinking there, if we are going to take a risk for the bench and pick a different backrow option than Faloon, why not take Birch? Since he is a 7 who is rated at least as highly as Faloon, and from what I have seen has the physicality?

[Mickado]

One for the Ulster dressing room wall

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/05/15/how-to-alienate-ulster-rugby-fans/#comments

I was hoping that was a fake. But it's not. Head is wrecked. That's a disgrace and I hope it's torn down immdiately. In fact, i'm leaving work in 30 mins and i pass by this building. Leave it to me.

[rodders]

Ah leave it Mick sure it'll coming down on Saturday evening anyways.... ....

[Notch]

One for the Ulster dressing room wall

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/05/15/how-to-alienate-ulster-rugby-fans/#comments

I was hoping that was a fake. But it's not. Head is wrecked. That's a disgrace and I hope it's torn down immdiately. In fact, i'm leaving work in 30 mins and i pass by this building. Leave it to me.

I'll have to tweet that.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0515/1224316128161.html

Ferris, Pienaar, Kearney and Sexton are on the shortlist for ERC player of the season. Jonny Wilkinson on there too.

If we win it's Kearney, if you win it's Ruan.

Completely agree with that Mick, even then I think Kearney may get it as he has scored what 6 tries or something and Pienaar only started kicking goal in perhaps the 3rd game or something.

Thought I read that somewhere

[Suspicious lurker]

That's just asking for trouble, please tell me that's not real

[Feckless Rogue]

Oh no. Who put that there. You can't taunt the sport gods like that and get away with it! Somebody take it down.

[clivemcl]

Does anyone know what hotel the Ulster team are staying in? I'd like to go and send them off if I'm there early enough. Or is this info not meant to be in the public domain?

[geoff998rugby]

I'll ask on Thursday - not sure if it will be divulged or not.

Hope so as the players seemed chuffed at the send off from their Dublin hotel

[geoff998rugby]

Rory Birch is a good call. To be clear I just heard Henderson was being considered and I assumed it would be him or Faloon, after hearing Diack was out, but who knows

[rodders]

Aye good shout Clive, we're in the Travelodge so I'll let you know if they are staying there...

[geoff998rugby]

One for the Ulster dressing room wall

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/05/15/how-to-alienate-ulster-rugby-fans/#comments

I was hoping that was a fake. But it's not. Head is wrecked. That's a disgrace and I hope it's torn down immdiately. In fact, i'm leaving work in 30 mins and i pass by this building. Leave it to me.

You have to let us know how you got on

[Mickado]

Apparently the owner of the pub was told to put it up.

I'm guessing this is a marketing ploy by Heineken, they're "trending" now. It's fuggin bullsh1t though, it reflects poorly on Leinster Rugby / Leinster fans and clearly we don't want it at all. I've used the word hubris twice today, and I don't think there's a more apt example of it than this. I'll burn that place to the ground if we lose. (metaphorically)

[Glas a du]

Leinster may as well not turn up. There are at least three injuries going to be suffered in training as a result of that. Goodnight sweet Prince.

[geoff998rugby]

The Ulster players have got wind of the banner

[Glas a du]

The Ulster players have got wind of the banner

They are that worried?

[MrsP]

Anyone remember those T-Shirts the English 6 nations team had printed a couple of years ago?

(I think it was them?)

[geoff998rugby]

The Ulster players have got wind of the banner

They are that worried?

Actually the response seems to be to burst out laughing - its help released some tension.

Thanks for assisting the Ulster cause whoever put it up

[Glas a du]

No, wind, oh never mind...

[Rory_Gallagher]

Anyone remember those T-Shirts the English 6 nations team had printed a couple of years ago?

(I think it was them?)

Yep, "England Grand Slam Chamions 2011". They had promotional videos etc for it too. Then Ireland ran riot against them.

[rodders]

The Ulster players have got wind of the banner

They are that worried?

Actually the response seems to be to burst out laughing - its help released some tension.

Thanks for assisting the Ulster cause whoever put it up

It was Mickado I think, he must be wearing his "Ulster for the day......" T shirt again!.... Nice on Mick

[GunsGerms]

One for the Ulster dressing room wall

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/05/15/how-to-alienate-ulster-rugby-fans/#comments

I was hoping that was a fake. But it's not. Head is wrecked. That's a disgrace and I hope it's torn down immdiately. In fact, i'm leaving work in 30 mins and i pass by this building. Leave it to me.

I'll have to tweet that.

Bad form from the tournament sponsors. Surely they should be impartial.

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