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?

[GunsGerms]

...and don't forget the sandwiches.

[MrsP]

So....


What about the National side going for another slam next season then?

[rodders]

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

No I agree with you. I'd sacrifice both Ulsters hcups for another slam too.........

First things first....SUFTUM!

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Grand Slam is bigger to me because my country (even if I hate the national team at the moment) to me is more important. I love Leinster but Ireland is bigger, Ireland owns my heart.

I prefer watching Leinster, without doubt I feel more positivity but if Ireland were as successful as Leinster are I know Ireland would beyond Leinster; out of sight.

[Glas a du]

We're all greedy though aren't we. We want both, and we couldn't swap even if we wanted to.

Hey Boyne, you were mentioned on the World at One today, Radio 4 no less:

"the Irish are notoriously contrarian when it comes to what they consider outside interference..."

[Feckless Rogue]

"the Irish are notoriously contrarian when it comes to what they consider outside interference..."

Yeah, we're a bit touchy about that. We didn't like the English telling us what to do. We eventually figured out that replacing the English with the Catholic church as our overlords wasn't any good either. Now it's the Germans that rule us with their thrifty fists. Just leave us alone world. I think we've proven that we're more than capable of running our country into the ground all by ourselves thank you very much.

[Glas a du]

[rodders]

"the Irish are notoriously contrarian when it comes to what they consider outside interference..."

Yeah, we're a bit touchy about that. We didn't like the English telling us what to do. We eventually figured out that replacing the English with the Catholic church as our overlords wasn't any good either. Now it's the Germans that rule us with their thrifty fists. Just leave us alone world. I think we've proven that we're more than capable of running our country into the ground all by ourselves thank you very much.

cracker!

[GunsGerms]

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

No I agree with you. I'd sacrifice both Ulsters hcups for another slam too.........

First things first....SUFTUM!

Yeah ideally I'd sacrifice munsters and ulster first.

[rodders]

Ah gees the craic is good in here tonight!

Can't wait until tomorrow, hope its a great game....best of luck to Leinster, genuinely, they're a great side and if they win tomorrow then they are the greatest side in HEC History in my opinion.

Obviously I hope you don't win ..... but I hope everyone has a great day tomorrow

[Glas a du]

Well done Rodders. Ulster fans have the ADVANTAGE. You'll have a whale of a time whatever happens. For the Leinster fans a loss would be made all the worse by losing to their 'lesser' neighbours. (they will NEVER admit that)

[Notch]

Well done Rodders. Ulster fans have the ADVANTAGE. You'll have a whale of a time whatever happens.

No, I assure you I will be devastated if we don't win! You don't get this far and shrug off a loss. The players and fans would be gutted. Of course, rationally, we can be proud of our progress and hopefully look forward to more days like this. But losing in this, the Final of Finals against our oldest historical rivals, would not feel pleasant.

[rodders]

I will have a whale of a time tomorrow no matter what the result.... I wasn't there in 1999 so this is a dream for me to watch Ulster in the HEC final....

That said I believe we can win, I want to win and will be massively disappointed if we don't bring our A game tomorrow and show the world that we are up there with the big guns.

If we lose then we'll have lost to maybe the best team in HEC history and it will be another Irish title... thats not bad consolation but I'm going to London tomorrow to watch my team lift the trophy.

No matter who wins tomorrow it will be a great day for me...but it will be the greatest day if Ulster win.

SUFTUM!

[Glas a du]

Come now Notch, I know you would feel gutted if you lost, but the underdog cant lose. Win and you've overachieved heroically, lose and its the natural order. You should be proud you made it to HQ win or lose.

[Notch]

Of course I am. But this has been my dream for years and years.

[rodders]

And the dream is still alive Notch!

Gees there will be some awesome players on view tomorrow...O'Driscoll, Thorn, Afoa, Nacewa, Kearney, Ferris, Muller, Pienaar, Sexton, O'Brien...

How anyone doesn't think this competition is the pinacle of European club rugby I'll never understand .

SUFTUM!

[rodders]

Shaggy is on the Late show. Legend .

[aucklandlaurie]

Think I'll set the alarm for this one. Down here we are getting a 3 hour live feed from twickenham,and on another channel we've got the Cheetahs v sharks from Bloemfontein at the same time.

Sometimes its brilliant being a neutral.

[Glas a du]

O'Brien is a poor man's Ferris. Hugely over rated.

[rodders]

I think O'Brien is a fantastic player... his battle with Ferris is worth the entry fee alone. Totally different players but I'm glad Ferris is on my team..

[rodders]

Right signing off until Monday...enjoy the game everyone...I know I will!

SUFTUM!

[Rory_Gallagher]

O'Brien is a poor man's Ferris. Hugely over rated.

Nah that is rubbish. I think on top form, O'Brien is just as talented as Ferris. He wasn't european player of the year for nothing!

[JayMaster3000]

Just arrived in London! This just got real!!

Let's do this!!!

[Glas a du]

He wasn't european player of the year for nothing!

That just shows the extent to which he is over rated. A couple of runs over a year ago? What does he do?

[GunsGerms]

Shaggy is on the Late show. Legend .

His sister is tasty enough. Didn't realise she was a comedian working on British tv.

[WillyGilly]

Well fit indeed.

See you Monday Rodders! Everyone else, let's overload the servers and crash 606 (jk Adam). I am soooo pumped right now and there's like 8 hours till kick off. I might head to the gym to get rid of this adrenaline.

[Shauna784]

I have been awake since 8am with excitement (nerves).
Cannot believe the day is finally here. Wish I was going to the match but what can you do. Looking forward to KO big time just don't know what I'm going to do with myself until then....

[MrsP]

I am going to spend the whole day in a state of nervous excitement!

Between the son's athletics, injury and then the rugby it could be some day!!!



SUFTUM!!!And P2!

[caoimhincentre]

i'm like a giddy school girl.

[MrsP]

i'm like a giddy school girl.

Generally or just today?

[caoimhincentre]

i'm like a giddy school girl.

Generally or just today?

more so today

[SecretFly]

O'Brien is a poor man's Ferris. Hugely over rated.

Glad to know somebody realises Leinster ain't all cheque books and dosh

[Rory_Gallagher]

He wasn't european player of the year for nothing!

That just shows the extent to which he is over rated. A couple of runs over a year ago? What does he do?

A couple of runs is firstly a huge understatement. He has been out of position this year, and hasn't made as many carries, but he was one of the best ball carriers I have ever seen. Hope to see him do it more (he has shown glimpses recently). As for what else he does, he made the same amount of tackles (with less game-time) as captain tackles and player of the tournament Lydiate. Plus carried more, beat more defenders, and was instrumental in Ireland having the highest turnover count. This is him not at his best too.

[LeinsterFan4life]

Rory, glas has obviously made up his mind about SOB there is no point in wasting time replying to him...

[Rory_Gallagher]

Just thought I'd point out the facts.

[Glas a du]

Hmmm, 'instrumental' in the turn overs. Probably accurate if underselling Ferris. Anyhow, he has his opportunity today. If he gets the best of Ferris, I'll be proven wrong and he will have lived up to his hype.

[LeinsterFan4life]

But already has lived up to his hype by being the ERC player of the year ...he has nothing to prove as he has already proven himself...

[Rory_Gallagher]

Hmmm, 'instrumental' in the turn overs. Probably accurate if underselling Ferris. Anyhow, he has his opportunity today. If he gets the best of Ferris, I'll be proven wrong and he will have lived up to his hype.

Ferris also played a key part in our turn overs, but they are both our flankers so that is how it is supposed to be.

I hope he doesn't prove it today to be honest haha but he is playing 7, not 6. Would have rather seen them against each other at 6.

[profitius]

O'Brien is a poor man's Ferris. Hugely over rated.

European player of the year, was outstanding during the world cup and has helped his team get to another final. He can play anywhere in the backrow too.

[Mickado]

Leinster wouldn't be in the final without O'Brien. His actions in the closing stages of the Clermont game were heroic.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Leinster wouldn't be in the final without O'Brien. His actions in the closing stages of the Clermont game were heroic.

Very true. He was the unsung hero in that game.

[Glas a du]

Is that unsung as in John Hayes unsung?

[Mickado]

John Hayes never won a MOTM in his career.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Is that unsung as in John Hayes unsung?

I would use Lydiate as a reference, as he is often rated as doing the "unseen" work.

[Glas a du]

[nathan]

COME ON ULSTER!!!

(purely on the basis would still hold the back to back record!)

hopefully it's a good game!

[Thomond]

if youse want a link, speak now or forever hold your peace, because I will be posting on the phone and won't be able to give you one!

[Biltong]

I feel I must support Ulster due to my SA compatriots, but good luck to both teams. May the best team win and hope it is a spectacle.

[nathan]

I've no reasoning for this, but i can see Ferris getting a yellow card in this match. Just a hunch!

[nathan]

should of been a penalty to ulster there.

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