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?

[rodders]

Afoa will fold Healy like deck chair.

Willie Faloon to score the winning drop goal.

Advantage Ulster .

[Notch]

Maybe Pete. Maybe they've analysed our tactical kicking and seen we put it more often down one side than another, maybe various other things. Leinster are the best prepared side in Europe. Their attention to detail is breathtaking.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

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

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

I'd agree with you there Notch and all 3 of our back 3 players are better kickers than yours.

I can just see Joe wanting Nacewa on Trimble for his strength and McFadden on Gilroy for his pace

[clivemcl]

I'm sure Trimble will be keen to tear down that false idol...

[1F'sgonnagetya!]

Almost cried at this one!

https://youtu.be/hs-_Xfy4Dcg

Beautiful stuff!

[Notch]

Ulsters tactics will be the most interesting part of this final. We'll have to play a very different game than our last two in this competition.

[rodders]

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?

Nice try Pete, you know as well as I do that they've been switched because McFadden can only pass in one direction and can't tackle of his left shoulder .....

[BoyneRFC]

His low center of gravity makes him a force of nature though...

[rodders]

It certainly does Boyne.....

Ulster have certainly gone for broke on the bench: Faloon, Humphreys, Marshall and D'arcy aren't the kind of chaps you bring on to close out a game.

Looks like we're banking on still needing to score a few points late on.

[Notch]

If we're ahead I can't see us making too many changes anyway rodders, given how fresh the players are. Why not have the emergency option on the bench.

[Glas a du]

His low center of gravity makes him a force of nature though...

We have a mate we call Fergus McFadden. Ask Mickado why.

[rodders]

If we're ahead I can't see us making too many changes anyway rodders, given how fresh the players are. Why not have the emergency option on the bench.

Oh I don't think its an emergency option Notch... it looks like the plan is really to put Leinster to the sword late on....batter them physically then bring on D'arcy, Marshall, Faloon and Humph and run their aging backline ragged.

Not very sporting but business is business

[clivemcl]

I'm hoping for Darcy to slice through McFadden at 13 (after BOD goes off injured) just like he did versus Clermont.

[Mickado]

From Twitter:

And on the first day BOD created space...

[Mickado]

His low center of gravity makes him a force of nature though...

We have a mate we call Fergus McFadden. Ask Mickado why.

No comment.

[Glas a du]

His low center of gravity makes him a force of nature though...

We have a mate we call Fergus McFadden. Ask Mickado why.

No comment.

[D24tress]

If i had 15 million spare i would get the RDS renamed the The House of BOD

[BoyneRFC]

I LOVE YOU BRIAN !!!!!

[Mickado]

[D24tress]

You see its not just ulster that are religon mad.
We love religon in leinster to


Last year it was the house of the latter day saints.
And Jonnys sermon on the mount at half time.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

If we're ahead I can't see us making too many changes anyway rodders, given how fresh the players are. Why not have the emergency option on the bench.

Oh I don't think its an emergency option Notch... it looks like the plan is really to put Leinster to the sword late on....batter them physically then bring on D'arcy, Marshall, Faloon and Humph and run their aging backline ragged.

Not very sporting but business is business

Not being funny but that I can not see happening. Your bench is really quite weak. They are wild cards though in terms of they will open the game up but not the same way that Leinster's will.

The ethos of Leinster runs right through the team. That is why our "rabo team" and our "HCup team" play the same brand and with the leaders we have (Cullen, Jenno, BOD, Sexton, Heaslip, Kearney) the direction of the team is never really in doubt.

That is why we can compete on two fronts.
That is why our bench is so effective.

[rodders]

I LOVE YOU BRIAN !!!!!

Me too!!.....cough .... I mean punch him Trimble!.....

[rodders]

Not being funny but that I can not see happening.

Pete..... I'm winding you up pal.... .......well sort of ......

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

His low center of gravity makes him a force of nature though...

We have a mate we call Fergus McFadden. Ask Mickado why.

Suppose it's cause he can hit a ruck like a forward, run like the wind and has a very reliable boot?

[rodders]

Nah if that was the case they'd have called him Paddy Wallace...

[Feckless Rogue]

Sometimes the lowness of McFadden's centre of gravity takes my breath away.

[clivemcl]

Sometimes the lowness of McFadden's centre of gravity takes my breath away.

[rodders]

Sometimes the lowness of McFadden's centre of gravity takes my breath away.

Mine too.... He can be my wing man any time.......

[Mickado]

Sometimes the lowness of McFadden's centre of gravity takes my breath away.

It's scientifically reffered to as the "lowity" of Fergs CoG.

McFaddens nickname in school was Flymo because his center of gravity was so low he'd often inadventently cut the grass on one of his runs...

[clivemcl]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7yG6BaQST0&feature=youtu.be

Love some of the clips in this. Especially Paddy mac and his mates in the crowd!

[Standulstermen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7yG6BaQST0&feature=youtu.be

Love some of the clips in this. Especially Paddy mac and his mates in the crowd!

It amazes me watching those clips that some idiots still maintain that the HEC doesn't matter to French or English clubs. Look at the Clermont fans in that. Madmen! This is the best club competition in the world

[Notch]

Not being funny but that I can not see happening.

You are being funny but you don't know why

[1F'sgonnagetya!]

Stand, I find it doesn't matter as much to people when they're not involved in it!

If an English or French team was in the final, you can gaurentee they would care about it a lot!

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Touché Notch!

SO people think there are about 25k from each team supporter-wise heading over then yes?

Anyone else beginning to feel really restless?
I can't concentrate on anything today cos of nerves

[Notch]

Anyone else beginning to feel really restless?
I can't concentrate on anything today cos of nerves

Me neither. People say Ulster have nothing to lose because we're underdogs- we've a Heineken Cup final to lose. We've been waiting for this, dreaming of this, for 13 years. Leinster are spoilt rotten with success, as a province we've taken a rockier path.

Of course, Ulster are now on the right track as a province and will slowly build into a very good side over the next few years. But you don't want to be leaving Twickenham wondering if it'll be another 13 years.

On the other hand, if Ulster win it would be amongst the happiest days of my life.

[Standulstermen]

Would beat the grand slam for me by some distance

[Notch]

Would beat the grand slam for me by some distance

There's a Six Nations every year. This is something very unique, very special.

[rodders]

Anyone else beginning to feel really restless?

YES!!

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

Would beat the grand slam for me by some distance

There's a Six Nations every year. This is something very unique, very special.

2 Grand slams in the last 64 years. Tournament going back over 120 years We are only at the 17th HC.

Hardly comparable.

[rodders]

I'll tell you at 7pm tomorrow which is best......

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

I'll tell you at 7pm tomorrow which is best......

You feel that sting Rodders? That's pride fockin with yah. You know what I say? Fock pride!

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

Decent preview over here.

Let's know what you think.

http://www.leinsterfans.com/news/heinekencup/a,5,452.html

[BoyneRFC]

Decent preview over here.

Let's know what you think.

http://www.leinsterfans.com/news/heinekencup/a,5,452.html

"Of course this is the first ever All Ireland final, and at the home of English rugby. The dominance of Irish clubs in Europe, whatever happens it will be a fifth win in seven years for the Irish provinces, a prospect that would have been seen as laughable halfway through the last decade. The whinging from England and France has reached a crescendo, but funnily enough they didn't give a damn about how the Celts qualified when their clubs were dominating for the first twelve years of the tournament."

Sums it up nicely !!!

[BoyneRFC]

Right I am out of here.

To all posters, enjoy the game, for it's the game we all enjoy and love, regardless of the result et que le meilleur gagne.

[rodders]

Boyne have a good one!

[Notch]

Would beat the grand slam for me by some distance

There's a Six Nations every year. This is something very unique, very special.

2 Grand slams in the last 64 years. Tournament going back over 120 years We are only at the 17th HC.

Hardly comparable.

It's not based on rational thought, the way sports fans think. This has been something I dreamed of for 13 years.

[GunsGerms]

Lots wouldn't agree with me but I'd gladly sacrifice both Leinsters hcups for another slam.

[Notch]

A win against another side wouldn't be worth trading for a Slam, but let me tell you 13 years of condescension takes it toll after a while! Even if it's been deservedly earned. Leinster are, and will remain after this, the best team in Europe.

But if we won, I wouldn't be able to keep it together man.

[dublin_dave]

next person who mentions international rugby and grand slams on this thread will be shot.

im beyond excited for tomorrow. good few late niggles in the Leinster camp. Lets hope all make it through.

going to be some game and close. have a good day leinster and ulster folks and drink responsibly

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