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?

[Feckless Rogue]

And they also know that their big Heineken banner will probably be trending on twitter and seen around Europe.

[Notch]

Well, on a more positive note, here's some stuff from Ulsters press conference today;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18076462?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

[Standulstermen]

Load of nonsense. Won't impact on the Leinster team at all but I suppose it could help the ulster guys not that they will need extra motivation

[MrsP]

I love that.

Darren Cave says he is an Ulster fan who is lucky enough to play for them!

That's what it's all about!

[Feckless Rogue]

I love that.

Darren Cave says he is an Ulster fan who is lucky enough to play for them!

That's what it's all about!

Yep, any academy players now would have grown up supporting their province as kids. The current pro's are proud to represent their own people. And ex-pro's like Shane Byrne of Leinster are often spotted by camera's in the stands with the fans supporting the team. That's what it's all about. And I think it's more responsible for Irish players wanting to stay at home than any tax reason.

[MrsP]

Feckless,

It certainly is more important for the Ulster lads as the tax thing doesn't apply here!

[Don Alfonso]

Fine, fine sentiments from Mr. Cave.

On a personal note, I am a man capable of heroic levels of immaturity. And should Ulster win on Saturday night, that pub may be getting phone calls from about ten pm, from a drunken Ulsteman who has clearly been drinking for at least five hours, guldering "HERE! HANG YOUR BANNER BACK UP! GO ON!!!"

Shameful, what these drunken hallions get up to...

[Mickado]

The banner has been taken down. Just passed by the pub.

[Glas a du]

Perhaps they hadn't read it before unfurling?

Horse

- Bolts

Stable door

-shut.

[clivemcl]

Really? They probably made one for Ulster and Leinster for pubs to put up on sunday. I reckon this pub owner just decided to be an arse and put it up earlier than Heineken intended!

[Glas a du]

That's alright then.

[Mickado]

I just posted this on another thread:

Just to let you all know, that banner has been taken down in Dublin city center, Leinster rugby and the supporters club are not best pleased with it and apparently Heineken are saying they had no knowledge that it was being put up. Looks like a publicity stunt from someone but certainly not from Leinster..

[Glas a du]

[dubh_linn]

anyone know when teams are announced? Thursday 1ish ?

[Mickado]

Yeah I would expect them to be out tomorrow.

[Notch]

Ulsters team announcement is on Friday morning.

Good read here; http://www.espnscrum.com/ireland/rugby/story/164061.html

[geoff998rugby]

Ulster always announce their team around lunchtime the day before

[Suspicious lurker]

I've had a feeling going into most games this season that's had me assured of a Leinster victory.

I don't have that feeling this week.





I didn't have it for the semi either and look how that turned out

[Rava]

Ulsters team announcement is on Friday morning.

Good read here; http://www.espnscrum.com/ireland/rugby/story/164061.html

Enjoying a marginal edge in the scrums, striking successfully 31 times to Ulster's 27

58 scrums in a game. If that happened now there wouldn't be any open play at all

[Mickado]

I've had a feeling going into most games this season that's had me assured of a Leinster victory.

I don't have that feeling this week.





I didn't have it for the semi either and look how that turned out

I have a bad feeling about this game, really bad. Genuinely.

[rodders]

Thats interesting because I have a good feeling about it........ the closer we get the better I feel.

I believe we are going to win.....

There you go I said it......

[Glas a du]

Right, I've gone and found one, if it's wrong tough titty

[GunsGerms]

I find this game hard to call. Leinster have a great record v ulster lately. We have even hammered them once or twice however I'm not sure we have ever played the team that beat Munster in the quarters. They have improved so much in the last couple of years. Plus they have a game plan that is suited to knockout rugby. With Piennar on form if the game is tight it could be like their 99 win when mason kept chipping away. They certainly have the pack to bulldoze their way into penalty/drop kick range.

[Mickado]

Right, I've gone and found one, if it's wrong tough titty

Sorry Glas, were you looking for the provincial flags? I missed that. You got them both right anyway

[dubh_linn]

good article notch

[MrsP]

I've had a feeling going into most games this season that's had me assured of a Leinster victory.

I don't have that feeling this week.





I didn't have it for the semi either and look how that turned out

I have a bad feeling about this game, really bad. Genuinely.

Bikkies,

To be fair. You are a Dubs fan so you always have a bad feeling before games, no?

[Mickado]

That’s true MrsP, the Dub in me is used to being built up only to be torn down. But usually with Leinster I can be a bit more pragmatic, we play to our potential more often so it’s easier to gauge how a game is going to go. but this time, with Afoa and Henry back, and the entire team having last week off, and our performance against Glasgow and our injury list being filled up like no other point in the season, I’ve got a baaaaad feeling about this game. despite all the banter from earlier in the week about Advantage Ulster or Advantage Leinster, I’m actually quite worried.

[MrsP]

But you never seem confident before a match Bikkies.

No criticism intended now but you just always seem to be preparing yourself for the worst!

[Rava]

I've had a feeling going into most games this season that's had me assured of a Leinster victory.

I don't have that feeling this week.





I didn't have it for the semi either and look how that turned out

I have a bad feeling about this game, really bad. Genuinely.

Mick, this is exactly how I felt in the lead up to the Edinburgh game. I think its the combination of expectation and trepidation. At the minute I have all the expectancy with none of the trepidation. An altogether better feeling. I do expect that to change come Saturday though.

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

I've had a feeling going into most games this season that's had me assured of a Leinster victory.

I don't have that feeling this week.





I didn't have it for the semi either and look how that turned out

I have a bad feeling about this game, really bad. Genuinely.

ah you were just the fecken same before the semi.

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

Thats interesting because I have a good feeling about it........ the closer we get the better I feel.

I believe we are going to win.....

There you go I said it......

ah you fecken said that before our last visit to ravenhill.

[Rava]

Morning Jen. You getting nervous

[rodders]

...true but lightening never strikes twice in the same place .....

[Mickado]

Ha maybe ye’re right.

I’m still sh1ttin it though.

[BoyneRFC]

I've had a feeling going into most games this season that's had me assured of a Leinster victory.

I don't have that feeling this week.





I didn't have it for the semi either and look how that turned out

I have a bad feeling about this game, really bad. Genuinely.

Miriam, is that you??

[hugo124]

The front row will be pretty equal, second row equal, back row is in favour of Leinster,half backs massively in favour of Leinster,centres Leinster,back three, do I really have to say?
So from that point of view we should cruise past this game.(should probably be one of the heaviest defeats in a final), if Leinster play to their potential , as usual.

[Mickado]

The front row will be pretty equal, second row equal, back row is in favour of Leinster,half backs massively in favour of Leinster,centres Leinster,back three, do I really have to say?
So from that point of view we should cruise past this game.(should probably be one of the heaviest defeats in a final), if Leinster play to their potential , as usual.

Outhalf maybe. But Pienaar is a far better player than Reddan or Boss. We won't be as dominant in the backrow as you seem to think and their front row would edge ours. The second row will be equal as long as we don't play the same way we did against Clermont.

[geoff998rugby]

Hugo Ulster have better front row and a better 9.

The Ulster plan will be on gaining dominance from 1 to 9 - they could do that. They have to do that to have a chance.

Sexton, Kearney and Nacewa are the players Ulster can't match

[GunsGerms]

Not sure leinster back row is better. Wannenburg, Ferris and Henry is quite a formidable combination.

[MrsP]

Hugo,

You don't happen to own a pub on Westmoreland Street do you?

[geoff998rugby]

Sounds like it MrsP

[Pete330v2]

Front row I would say Ulster have the edge, locks would be fairly equal but overall Ulster should surely edge it in the tight 5. Ulster's back row has been performing admirably and is every bit the match for Leinster's. At half backs we have a huge advantage at 9 which just about edges the half back pairing for Ulster. In the centres we have a pair who have been playing the best rugby of their careers, Leinster however.........? Our back three will perform on the big stage but Leinster definately have the edge there.

In short, if both are on top form and play their best rugby then Leinster should edge it. However it's a final so anything can happen

[The Great Aukster]

Leinster are so superior in every department they really should be giving their best players a rest before the Rabo final.

[rodders]

Ulster = slightly better scrum and line out, better blindside and better scrum half.

Leinster = Better backrow unit, better fly half, better backline.

Conclusion: Ulster by 12.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Ulster = slightly better scrum and line out, better blindside and better scrum half.

Leinster = Better backrow unit, better fly half, better backline.

Conclusion: Ulster by 12.

Depends if McLaughlin starts at 6 or O'Brien. We haven't see O'Brien up against Ferris yet, but that is going to be some battle.

[BoyneRFC]

Ulster = slightly better scrum and line out, better blindside and better scrum half.

Leinster = Better backrow unit, better fly half, better backline.

Conclusion: Ulster by 12.

[The Great Aukster]

Will any Leinster supporters bother to travel over or will they just catch the Sunday Cup parade?

Stuart Barnes knows it as does Dewi and Will and all Sky in fact broadcasting to all Europe. If Leinster didn't win it would be a massive let down. They have already prepared wonderful analyses of Leinster's cutting back play to show how they are the best team that Europe has ever seen.

Steven Jones, Paul Ackford, Farrelly, Toland and all the southern journos know it's in the bag. Leinster have the better players the better coach and the better fans so they're bound to win. Surely Leinster wouldn't let them down?

BOD and Cullen will want to make history, they might not get another chance. Brad Thorn needs more silverware, Joe Schmidt needs a last hurrah to maybe keep him in Ireland. No team in the Rabo has done the double. No team has won 3 in 4. No team has won it unbeaten. Leinster aren't just trying to win the Cup they are trying to make records that won't be beaten - ever. Leinster can't lose - can they?

When Leinster take the field on Saturday, they will know that it's not just Dublin or the province or indeed the vast majority of Ireland that expects them to win easily, but rugby followers from both hemispheres and probably Irish people from across the globe.

No pressure then.

[rodders]

Depends if McLaughlin starts at 6 or O'Brien. We haven't see O'Brien up against Ferris yet, but that is going to be some battle.

Ah gees Rory that one is worth the entry fee alone!! I can't wait for the first collision between the two!

[Big Mac Michael]

The only problem Ulster have is they have too many players from Ireland and not enough South Africans.

[GunsGerms]

Will any Leinster supporters bother to travel over or will they just catch the Sunday Cup parade?

Stuart Barnes knows it as does Dewi and Will and all Sky in fact broadcasting to all Europe. If Leinster didn't win it would be a massive let down. They have already prepared wonderful analyses of Leinster's cutting back play to show how they are the best team that Europe has ever seen.

Steven Jones, Paul Ackford, Farrelly, Toland and all the southern journos know it's in the bag. Leinster have the better players the better coach and the better fans so they're bound to win. Surely Leinster wouldn't let them down?

BOD and Cullen will want to make history, they might not get another chance. Brad Thorn needs more silverware, Joe Schmidt needs a last hurrah to maybe keep him in Ireland. No team in the Rabo has done the double. No team has won 3 in 4. No team has won it unbeaten. Leinster aren't just trying to win the Cup they are trying to make records that won't be beaten - ever. Leinster can't lose - can they?

When Leinster take the field onI Saturday, they will know that it's not just Dublin or the province or indeed the vast majority of Ireland that expects them to win easily, but rugby followers from both hemispheres and probably Irish people from across the globe.

No pressure then.

Gonna go to the Rabo final this year instead. I'll wait till next year to see Leinster in the final at the Aviva.

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