Ospreys vs Ulster

Ulster name extended squad;

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/10723.php

Rory Best and Chris Henry are still unavailable because of the IRFU’s player management scheme but are expected to make a return in the coming weeks. Roger Wilson (hamstring) and Paddy Wallace (shoulder) come back into the action in October, but Adam D’Arcy and Ali Birch should be available in the next week or two. Nevin Spence has returned to full training after injury but will not be considered for this weekend.

ULSTER SQUAD FORWARDS (16)
Rob Herring, Niall Annett, Nigel Brady, Adam Macklin, Declan Fitzpatrick, Callum Black, Tom Court, John Afoa, Lewis Stevenson, Neil McComb, Johann Muller, Mike McComish, Stephen Ferris, Robbie Diack, Sean Doyle, Nick Williams

ULSTER SQUAD BACKS (12)
Paul Marshall, Michael Heaney, Niall O’Connor, Paddy Jackson, Luke Marshall, Chris Farrell, Darren Cave, Michael Allen, Craig Gilroy, Andrew Trimble, Peter Nelson, Jared Payne

Good to see Trimby and Ferris back- this will be a tough game but if we nail ALL our kicks (ahem, Niall) and stay organised Treviso have shown they can be beaten. A lot depends on how productive they are this week, how much rust they shake off. We have some early season ring-rustiness of our own to shake judging by the Glasgow performance.

Paddy Jackson in the squad is good news.
I would be surprised to see either of Ferris or Trimble start but would like to have them on the bench.
I suppose if there are any doubts over Williams' fitness, then Ferris might be needed to start.

I'll be happier with Noc when there is someone else in the team that can kick at goal.

This is a big game to see where we are this year. Saw Williams limping a bit before he was subbed, hopefully its just a bit of brusing and he'll be back for this game, looked at his stats for last season, and his try count for minutes on pitch were amazing, esp for a team like Aironi 6 tires in 9 +2 as sub games, but minutes were low.

He'll be deadly with the scrum we have, 5 meters from the line, penelties kick to conor catch and drive, he could have a big year.

Rory Best would not have made it anyway due to a groin injury

Great that Nick Williams injury is not as bad as it looked afterwards.

I wonder if he will try and play Ferris, Williams and Diack in the same back row

Ian Evans hearing is on Thursday, he'll most likely miss this weekends game.

These were the players who weren't considered for Treviso:
Ryan Jones - Knee
Eli Walker - Shoulder
Will Price - ACL
George Stowers - Back
James Goode - Groin
Justin Tipuric - Hip

Not sure who, if any will be fit for this game.

geoff998rugby wrote:Rory Best would not have made it anyway due to a groin injury

Great that Nick Williams injury is not as bad as it looked afterwards.

I wonder if he will try and play Ferris, Williams and Diack in the same back row

Jeez that's a beastly back row... Although without Rory Best in the team not much of a groundhog game from the rest of the pack... Still

Johann speaks;

"Yeah, look..."

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/10726.php

My ticket arrived today. No Tommy and I have a brilliant seat as well. *sigh* Hopefully the O's will give me something to smile about at least.

Looks like Ulster will bring a good squad over to Wales.

We need to hope Tupuric and Ryan Jones are fit and if Biggar can't kick that they chuck Morgan on instead.

After last week, is there no chance Luke Marshall might be asked to kick? I know it wouldnt do much for NOCs confidence, but that kicking was unacceptable. Imagine a big game on down the season with Jackson out and kicking like that. If he can't get his act together with the boot, we will need to look at other options. Simple as that.

Likely that Court will start? Was unimpressed with Black last week especially given how brilliant he's supposed to have been in preseason.

Scrum should be a real weapon either way.

Black did get us a turnover at one point single handedly, So he wasnt all bad!

Artful_Dodger wrote:Likely that Court will start? Was unimpressed with Black last week especially given how brilliant he's supposed to have been in preseason.

Scrum should be a real weapon either way.

Black did well up until Low came on. Then he struggled a bit. Clive is right, his turnover was a gem.

Black has been brilliant in pre season and for most of the match did well against Glasgow.

We are getting close to the team lads.

KingoftheHill who is clearly very close to the setup is saying

One change in forwards two in the backs

So that is either Court for Black or Ferris for Williams/Doyle
In the backs it is will be two of Cave for Farrell, Marshall for Heaney and Trimble for Allen.

I think Cave is obvious and it does suggest that Paddy Jackson will start

gowales wrote:Ian Evans hearing is on Thursday, he'll most likely miss this weekends game.

These were the players who weren't considered for Treviso:
Ryan Jones - Knee
Eli Walker - Shoulder
Will Price - ACL
George Stowers - Back
James Goode - Groin
Justin Tipuric - Hip

Not sure who, if any will be fit for this game.

Guess your most likely looking at

Fussel, Dirkson, Beck, Bishop, Grabham, Morgan, Webb;
Bevington, Hibbard, A Jones, AW Jones, J Thomas, King, Lewis, Bearman

Let's hope that Ross Jones starts to get some games at Fullback because Fussell is not a 15, he's a winger.

I would imagine that Beck will be kept at inside centre, Bishop outside him, Dirksen and Isaacs or Grabham on the wings.

Biggar will play ten with hopefully Webb at nine.

I think Tupuric was just a short term injury so let's hope he's back. I guess, Bearman, Thomas will make up the other numbers.

Not sure re front five. I guess Bevington and Baldwin with Jarvis. Second row might see AWJ return???

Maes - I was wondering if Ross Jones would be starting at fullback, and Fussel taking Isaacs slot on the wing (well the slot I put Grabham in). I guess this will be the real test for Tandy, as last season he had proven players to fall back on to sure up the side.

I think it is not proven players it is those who have proven not capable are his issue.

Tandy really needs to be concerned about his first choices for full back and scrum half.

Fussell and Khan were both weak Links all last year.

Ross Jones was superb at the JWC, Rhys Webb has been a fantastic scrum half.

geoff998rugby wrote:We are getting close to the team lads.

KingoftheHill who is clearly very close to the setup is saying

One change in forwards two in the backs

So that is either Court for Black or Ferris for Williams/Doyle
In the backs it is will be two of Cave for Farrell, Marshall for Heaney and Trimble for Allen.

I think Cave is obvious and it does suggest that Paddy Jackson will start

Do you think this is all KOTH knows? Or is he just being cryptic for the craic? Or maybe he's worried about spilling too much and getting in trouble. Its Neil Doak's wife isnt it?

I doubt Ferris will start. Just a feeling. I think Williams will remain. Think Court will be the forwards change.

Also agree with Cave starting. I also have a feeling Heaney will remain. Anscombe will not know enough of Marshall to let him get his shirt back that easy. Besides Heaney did pretty well in pre season despite not having the best of games v Glasgow.

Players in the same category as Marshall are exactly the players Anscombe will want to make sweat over their positions.

My predicted team is:

(15 - 9) J Payne; C Gilroy, D Cave, L Marshall, A Trimble; P Jackson, M Heaney
(1 - 8) T Court, R Herring, J Afoa, J Muller (c), L Stevenson, R Diack, S Doyle, N Williams

With Marshall and Ferris amongst the bench options.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19496388

By the way I see Pienaar is starting for SA in the Test against Australia this Saturday.

Rava wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19496388

I wouldn't be surprised if they got it too. I'm nervous about this one to be honest...

Cari wrote:

Rava wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19496388

I wouldn't be surprised if they got it too. I'm nervous about this one to be honest...

Was going to post the same article.

I notice how Muller focases on not winning in Wales last season as motivation, and says "We have been poor in the past in Wales and we need to raise our game"

He and the press leave out that they won all (maybe drew with Ospreys) their games in Wales the season before, so its not really a monkey on our back.

A win over Ospreys in Wales will be tough but do-able, 2 loses would not look good for Ospreys start to the season.

Looking forward to what should be a good game.

(Would Munster still be a bigger draw to get fans in [in wales] than Ulster?)

Clive I think your team is spot on but there are rumours the forward change might be Fitzpatrick for Afoa - we will know soon.

I think KOTH knows exactly what the team is cant reveal.

I have been told, in the past, of certain changes in advance but the impression I get is that to tells others is a no no and would result in the link being broken so I think he is wise to say no more.

Kingshu wrote:
A win over Ospreys in Wales will be tough but do-able, 2 loses would not look good for Ospreys start to the season.

Looking forward to what should be a good game.

(Would Munster still be a bigger draw to get fans in [in wales] than Ulster?)

The O's have had wobbly starts to the season previously and have gone on to win the league. However, they'll be looking to redeem themselves for last week and this being the first game at home as well makes it more important. I think now Ulster have been recent Heineken Cup finalists, and have got Tommy back, that'll help draw the crowds in as much as Munster if not more at O's HQ.

I just noticed this is a Saturday game. Teams most likely won't be announced until tomorrow then.

Yep it is Rava...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSA_RLCriHs

Oh really? Man that sucks. Saturday games are so uncommon for us, I almost dont even think to check any more. Better finding out now that tomorrow night at 7pm!

Clive - kick off's at 6:30pm. It's a bum mer for travelling fans. I won't get home until gone eleven unless the bus is quick enough to get me on the 8:55 train home.

Fitzpatrick, Cave and O'Connor to start, apparently,

oh, ok. Thats less than brilliant.

I'm sure we can still give them a good game. Really not convinced about getting a result though.

Had a feeling Fitzpatrcik was going to start, as I alluded to above.

I suspect PJ not 100% - so Trimble, Ferris and Court on the bench
on the bench then.
Wonder if PJ will be on the bench

I've no problem with Fitzpatrick starting. He needs quality game time and rotating him and Afoa will keep both men sharp.

Don't think we can win out there without Jackson but if the scores are close on 50/60 minutes we're going to see John Afoa, Stephen Ferris, Tom Court and Andrew Trimble come on. That could give us a very good second wind.

Ospreys will certainly want to be well ahead by then otherwise the last 20 minutes are going to be seriously sticky for them.

Rava wrote:By the way I see Pienaar is starting for SA in the Test against Australia this Saturday.

About time to - he is a much better 9 than Hougaard.

He deserves it. Best 9 they produced since Fourie Du Preez.

If he was a Blue Bull and not a Shark he might have 100 caps and Ulster would never have got near a signature on the dotted line...

Notch wrote:He deserves it. Best 9 they produced since Fourie Du Preez.

If he was a Blue Bull and not a Shark he might have 100 caps and Ulster would never have got near a signature on the dotted line...

Should be a good game.

I agree with the sentiments above about Peinaar. The young lad Marshall is coming on strong, I don't think you lose massively without your number one.

It'll be a good test for the O's after last weeks error ridden performance. A bumper (for the O's anyway crowd will be expected for the first home game to boot.

Looks like Marshall will be starting on the bench again. They are phasing the tourists from NZ back in very slowly.

Fair play to Anscombe. He is sticking to what he said. No one is guaranteed a starting place. It has to be earned.

Ianto is available to play...

https://www.606v2.com/t34597-ian-evans-free-to-play-unfortunately

I saw Ianto was available. Quite a lucky bloke in all fairness. Let's hope he learnt his lesson and plays a good honest game. He's a hell of a talent when he concentrates on his rugby and ignores the draw of his sometimes errant behaviour.

maestegmafia wrote:I saw Ianto was available. Quite a lucky bloke in all fairness. Let's hope he learnt his lesson and plays a good honest game. He's a hell of a talent when he concentrates on his rugby and ignores the draw of his sometimes errant behaviour.

Problem is, and not defending him, the high tackle was borderline, and there was no warning before the card of playing the ball on the ground. It was not as if he was putting in cheap shots left right and centre, or handling in the ruck every time. I was not a fan of his, especially for what he did to Harry Ellis, however he seems to have put that sort of thing behind him, and i honestly believe those cards were just bad luck last weekend.

Heinken dont do subs benches but if they did.......

Court, Brady, Afoa, McComb, Ferris, Marshall, Trimble, ????

comes pretty close

YOWZA!

Full Team
(15 - 9) Payne, Gilroy, Cave, Marshall, Allen, O'Connor, Heaney

(1-8) Black, Herring, Fitzpatrick, Muller (C), Stevenson, Diack, Doyle, Williams

Replacements
Brady, Court, Afoa, McComb, Ferris, Marshall, Jackson, Trimble

Spot on for the bench Notch. Last 20 minutes we are going to be very strong!

Ospreys Team:

(15-9) Richard Fussell, Hanno Dirksen, Andrew Bishop, Ashley Beck, Tom Isaacs, Matthew Morgan, Rhys Webb

(1-8) Ryan Bevington, Richard Hibbard, Aaron Jarvis, Ian Gough, Alun Wyn Jones (Capt), James King, Justin Tipuric, Jonathan Thomas

Replacements
Scott Baldwin, Duncan Jones, Joe Rees, George Stowers, Joe Bearman, Kahn Fotuali'i, Dan Biggar, Tom Grabham