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?

[The Great Aukster]

I'd be worried about Kearney being out Rodders, Ulster will have been preparing for him to start, if he doesn't then Nacewa goes to fullback, and that's no harm at all. If Kearney and BOD are out then McFadden goes to center and D.Kearney and Carr or Conway start. In other words, we're pretty thin.

Everyone knew about Kearney's groin tear and the risk he might not play, but Ulster will have prepared for every eventuality - even Denis Hickie returning!

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

Boss hurt himself in training on Tuesday is the latest rumour.

Let's just wait and see in an hour and 40 eh. Don't panic yet.

[rodders]

Jeebus what are Leinster doing in training? Mud wrestling with Brad Thorn??!

Dennis Hickie might have to lace the boots yet!

This all sounds like a betting scam by Paddy Power to me to lengthen the odds on Leinster.....

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

For the competition I really hope Kearney and BOD both play and are both fit to play

[rodders]

Any news on how many will be heading over from both sides?

I've heard 25k for Leinster mentioned? How many Ulster fans are expected?

[geoff999rugby]

Similar figures being quoted although I understand that for both side a good % are living in England already

[BoyneRFC]

Similar figures being quoted although I understand that for both side a good % are living in England already

Advantage Scarlets

[BoyneRFC]

...sorry the tourettes get the better of me the day before The Big One...

[Notch]

...sorry the tourettes get the better of me the day before The Big One...

Advantage Ulster!

[BoyneRFC]

PR have Ulster to win by 3....

[BoyneRFC]

'Orrible punt has Ulster to win by 3 and the normal journo has them o win by 1.

Oh dear God. I am nervous.

[rodders]

Are Ulster still 10/3 and Leinster 10/3 on?

Don't really gamble but its probably worth sticking a quid or 50 on Ulster with those odds.....

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

Stefan Terblanche; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar (1-8) Tom Court, Rory Best, John Afoa, Johann Muller (Captain), Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg

Replacements: Nigel Brady, Paddy McAllister, Declan Fitzpatrick, Lewis Stevenson, Willie Faloon, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Adam D'Arcy

[BoyneRFC]

No surprises there then.

[Standulstermen]

Not really. I would have preferred Henderson to Faloon I think but that's a small deal really. Spence misses out because they want the humph option on the bench.

[GunsGerms]

If Leinster win Aparently there will not be a homecoming party. Probably because the Rabo final is next weekend. Though Id like to see them have one though not at the RDS. A open top bus up Leinster road would be nice.

[Mickado]

If Leinster win Aparently there will not be a homecoming party. Probably because the Rabo final is next weekend. Though Id like to see them have one though not at the RDS. A open top bus up Leinster road would be nice.

What, in Rathmines?

[Mickado]

15: Rob Kearney
14: Fergus McFadden
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Brad Thorn
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Nathan White
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: David Kearney

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

I think they plan on waiting til after the Pro12 final and I think that is a good idea tbh. Let the lads rest and train and prepare. Give themselves every chance for the double if tomorrow goes the way we want it to.

That's the team I was hoping for too Mick.

Would have maybe preffered Van Der Merwe but can understand why Healy is there and have no quams what so ever.

Alright boys.
Make it happen.

As Gibbo would say:

BELIEVE

[Standulstermen]

If chris Henry can rule the breakdown without jennings there we may be able to slow up ball just long enough

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Moot point but........

why have Isa and Ferg swapped wings. Most of the time when they are on the field McFadden plays left and Nacewa right?

Is that so Nacewa can deal with Trimbles physicallity and McFadden deal with Gilroys pace and feet?

I think Thorn is going to be watching Henry very, very closely.

[Notch]

Glad to see their thinking in the pack. Was fearing Jennings, Van Der Merwe and Toner to try and negate the three main areas we are going to attack them.

[BoyneRFC]

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Nathan White
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: David Kearney

I need to go change my shorts...



Oh and Leinster road is an awful hole- I used to live there!!!

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

Glad to see their thinking in the pack. Was fearing Jennings, Van Der Merwe and Toner to try and negate the three main areas we are going to attack them.

Just worry about negating us there. Rather than visa versa

[Mickado]

I’m glad we didn’t pick players to negate Ulster. We’re going to play our game and let them try to deal with us.

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM! is a very good word for it actually.

[Notch]

Even so, I believe we can get the upper hand in each. It's from 10 out Leinster are clearly superior.

[clivemcl]

ULSTER: Stefan Terblanche; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar (1-8) Tom Court, Rory Best, John Afoa, Johann Muller (Captain), Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg

Replacements: Nigel Brady, Paddy McAllister, Declan Fitzpatrick, Lewis Stevenson, Willie Faloon, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Adam D'Arcy

[clivemcl]

[red_stag]

Right so no surprises at all.

[clivemcl]

Strange that both marshall and humph on bench. Must mean that under no circumstances with Ruan play 10. and Marshall will not come on unless injury.

I suspect very few subs will be used.

[BoyneRFC]

Strange that both marshall and humph on bench. Must mean that under no circumstances with Ruan play 10. and Marshall will not come on unless injury.

I suspect very few subs will be used.

I'd expect nearly all of ours to be used.

That's why, all joking aside, we will win the game.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

I think McL is key to your point Notch as he has the power to deal with ulster's crash up and aggression game that Jennings doesn't have and he is the best player we have at competing on opposition lineouts.

I agree re: VDM though I would have liked him to start and then brought on Healy in the last 20 that would have given us a surer scrum in the first 50 and then serious aggression and running threat in the last 30.

I trust Schmidt and Feek though.

I think we are going to play our game and attack hard but structurally and deal with your power attack then in the final 30 we have guys like Jenno, Cronin and Toner who can loosen up the game. Madigan may go in at 12 again to put width and creativity in to the game and stretch you guys.

We also have fresh guys coming in of the same (or similar) standard to are starting players.

Afoa will have to deal with a fresh VDM
Court will have to deal with a fresh White

Your bench just can't compete with that impact other than at 9.

[Notch]

That's why, all joking aside, we will win the game.

Ooh, there's some mocker gods being invoked...

[MrsP]

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Nathan White
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: David Kearney

I need to go change my shorts...



Oh and Leinster road is an awful hole- I used to live there!!!

Boyne!

Are you saying you are on that list and so you need to get your kit ready?

[1F'sgonnagetya!]

Clive, I can see Ruan moving to 10 if the game is close near the end. There's more a chance of Marshall getting on than iHumph.

[clivemcl]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTwL_UmNUEM&feature=related

[BoyneRFC]

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Nathan White
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: David Kearney

I need to go change my shorts...



Oh and Leinster road is an awful hole- I used to live there!!!

Boyne!

Are you saying you are on that list and so you need to get your kit ready?

Eh, yes. Yes I am...

[clivemcl]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol0cijjzPK8&feature=related

[clivemcl]

Clive, I can see Ruan moving to 10 if the game is close near the end. There's more a chance of Marshall getting on than iHumph.

Well then Humph wouldnt be there. If Ruan and Jackson got injured, Paddy Wallace would cover 10. I think its just to to give him a medal which is a shocking reason for a selection.

[Mickado]

I think i'm going to be sick with nerves...

I can't even go home and go to bed tonight, have to bloody well go out. Head is melted...

[clivemcl]

Mick, at my desk here in work everything seems calm, but inside I'm going buck mad! I need to at least do SOME work today!!!

[BoyneRFC]

I think i'm going to be sick with nerves...

I can't even go home and go to bed tonight, have to bloody well go out. Head is melted...

I ave to do my usual of a few pints otherwise I would be up the walls with the nerves.

Better off out than in.

[Notch]

Clive, I can see Ruan moving to 10 if the game is close near the end. There's more a chance of Marshall getting on than iHumph.

Well then Humph wouldnt be there. If Ruan and Jackson got injured, Paddy Wallace would cover 10. I think its just to to give him a medal which is a shocking reason for a selection.

Don't be stupid. Humphreys is a player with many faults but he can create something from nothing for either side. If we're down by more than a penalty/DG and need something special from somewhere you'd want him coming off the bench.

[geoff999rugby]

Humpreys is there is we are in trouble.

He is a game changer in a way Spence isn't
Jackson covers 12

[geoff999rugby]

I think i'm going to be sick with nerves...

I can't even go home and go to bed tonight, have to bloody well go out. Head is melted...

I'm going out too - down the pub to make the time go faster

[1F'sgonnagetya!]

Agreed Geoff.

I think if Ruan AND Jackson get injured we'll see iHumph but if the game needs changing I think we'll see Marshall before iHumph.

[clivemcl]

Almost cried at this one!

https://youtu.be/hs-_Xfy4Dcg

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Does anyone think that the Leinster wingers may have switched wings to combat their Ulster rivals

Trimble and Nacewa would be stronger than Gilroy and McFadden
Gilroy and McFadden would be faster than Trimble and Nacewa

Is that a tactical move by Leinster to shut down the Ulster wingers?

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

I am the LORD thy Bod
Thou shalt not worship other Bods before Me.

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