Heineken Cup Round 1 (Pool 4): Ulster v Castres - Friday 12th 8pm

Initial squad announced from Ulster, and Ruan is back! I would have thought he required resting, will he really play a part? Williams hasn't yet been ruled out so there is hope yet.

FORWARDS (16):
Rob Herring, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Neil McComb, John Afoa, Tom Court, Adam Macklin, Callum Black, Johann Muller, Dan Tuohy, Lewis Stevenson, Stephen Ferris, Mike McComish, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.

BACKS (11):
Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Michael Heaney, Paddy Jackson, Paddy Wallace, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy, Jared Payne.

Has Trimble really done enough to warrant a place at the expense of Gilroy?


Castres are sitting at 6th in Top14, only winning half their games so far.

Pedrie might not play on Ravenhill again. I'm not sure of his status, but he did not feature in their squad last week. injured?

By the way, Castres just beat Clermont! Were Clermont resting players?

We SHOULD win this based on form.

SUFTUM

Bonus point win please guys .

SUFTUM.

Clive to offer an opinion on a couple of things.

Pienaar is match fit and there is no reason not to give him a bench place.

Trimble or Gilroy I have no preference. Give them a half each.

Clermont had some players injured/rested at the weekend.

As I said yesterday I think we can cope adequately if Williams doesn't make it. I'd rather he was fit for the away game in Glasgow in any case.

I agree we should win and I believe we are good enough to score enough tries to get a BP. Castres aren't renowned as a HC giants although they certainly won't be pushovers.

You wouldn't have necessarily picked this out as one of the most mouth-watering fixtures when the draw was made, but there's going to be plenty of interest in this game. Ulster are the only side in the Heineken Cup not to have lost yet this season as they look to defend an 11-game winning streak in the Heineken Cup at Ravenhill. Meanwhile, Castres are sitting sixth in the Top 14 and have just beaten local rivals Clermont in a morale-boosting derby.

The clash of the forward packs should be colossal. Ulster welcomed back Rory Best last week to take them up to their full quota of test forwards but are still without the injured Declan Fitzpatrick, Sean Doyle, Robbie Diack and Roger Wilson. Influential man-mountain Nick Williams picked up a rib injury against Connacht and Ulster will be hoping their player of the season so far is fit; a decision on his availability is to be made later in the week. In the backs, Ulster will welcome the return of Springbok scrum-half Ruan Pienaar to the matchday squad after the Rugby Championship finished last week.

Provisional Ulster Rugby squad to face Castres Olympique, Fri 12th October, Ravenhill (8.00pm):

FORWARDS (16):
Rob Herring, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Neil McComb, John Afoa, Tom Court, Adam Macklin, Callum Black, Johann Muller, Dan Tuohy, Lewis Stevenson, Stephen Ferris, Mike McComish, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.

BACKS (11):
Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Michael Heaney, Paddy Jackson, Paddy Wallace, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy, Jared Payne.

News on the Castres squad as it becomes available.

Will be intresting if Ruan Pienaar starts or on the bench, I think bench as msot returning players start there, and 4/5 days, is it really enough to learn the new plays and methods of Ashcombe?

For the slagging he got when we signed him, it is intresting that we are sweating over the fitness of big Nick. Think that if he does start he won't last the game, 7 and 8 will be the intresting selections, and Trimble or Gilroy?

When will Wilson and D'arcy be fit? can see in next round of Pro 12 games Payne getting a rest and D'arcy playing a few games at full back.

Wilson is meant to be potentially making a return for the Ulster Ravens this week. D'Arcy, I'm not sure...

1. T .Court
2. R Best
3. J Afoa
4. J Muller
5. D Touhy
6. S Ferris
7. C Henry
8. N Williams

9. R Pienaar
10. P Jackson
11. C Gilroy
12. P Wallace
13. D Cave
14.T Bowe
15. J Payne

The question here isn't really who the first team should be, rather who are our replacements going to be 1) herring or Brady, I would go herring as I feel he is will benefit more from the experience and I feel he has earned his place 2) Stevenson or McComb, this one is harder as Stevenson is a sublime player who is growing with every performance he has for us but then again so is McComb, Neil also offered us another decent back row cover if Williams isn't able to last the 80 min, and I really don't have confidence in mike McComish to fill that gap. 3) this one is a no brainer for me Henderson or Mcomish. Henderson is a class act and will relish this type of forward orientated game, also we saw how McComish handled the pressure in dying minutes of the Munster game, when he lost his head and escalated the Trimble hurly incident, I don't he will be able to keep his cool in this one.

The backs are more straight forward for me, Paul marshal, Luke marshal, Trimble

Also I am saddened to hear the news that Pedrie isn't seeing the same sort of form at castres as he had with us, he was a player that I, like many others, was truly saddened to to see move on. His passion for us was remarkable. I hope he travels across with the team and we get to see him at ravenhill.

Here's the Castres squad;

Talonneurs : Mathieu BONELLO, Brice MACH, Marc-Antoine RALLIER
Piliers : Mike COETZEE, Mihaita LAZAR, Yannick FORESTIER, Grégory MARMOITON
Seconde ligne : Rodrigo CAPO ORTEGA, Christophe SAMSON, Matthias ROLLAND, Joe TEKORI
Troisième ligne : Janie BORNMAN, Yannick CABALLERO, Antonie CLAASSEN, Piula FAASELELE, Pedrie WANNENBURG
Demis de mêlée : Rory KOCKOTT, Thierry LACRAMPE
Demis d'ouverture : Seremaia BAI, Pierre BERNARD
Centres : Paul BONNEFOND, Romain CABANNES, Daniel KIRKPATRICK, Thomas SANCHOU
Ailiers : Marc ANDREU, Marcel GARVEY, Pierre-Gilles LAKAFIA
Arrière : Romain TEULET

I hear Wannenburg isn't doing well for them so far but I've no doubt he'll play his heart out against us if selected.

Notch wrote:Here's the Castres squad;

Talonneurs : Mathieu BONELLO, Brice MACH, Marc-Antoine RALLIER
Piliers : Mike COETZEE, Mihaita LAZAR, Yannick FORESTIER, Grégory MARMOITON
Seconde ligne : Rodrigo CAPO ORTEGA, Christophe SAMSON, Matthias ROLLAND, Joe TEKORI
Troisième ligne : Janie BORNMAN, Yannick CABALLERO, Antonie CLAASSEN, Piula FAASELELE, Pedrie WANNENBURG
Demis de mêlée : Rory KOCKOTT, Thierry LACRAMPE
Demis d'ouverture : Seremaia BAI, Pierre BERNARD
Centres : Paul BONNEFOND, Romain CABANNES, Daniel KIRKPATRICK, Thomas SANCHOU
Ailiers : Marc ANDREU, Marcel GARVEY, Pierre-Gilles LAKAFIA
Arrière : Romain TEULET

I hear Wannenburg isn't doing well for them so far but I've no doubt he'll play his heart out against us if selected.

They have some decent players but it would be very disappointing if we don't have a relatively comfortable bonus point win.

I'm not sure we'll get the bonus point, would have said the same last weekend and Castres are much sterner opponents.

Only one try bonus point this season and we can't reasonably expect Castres to be as bad as the Blues. I expect it will be hard to break them down. A bonus point is possible but we'll have to beat them first!

Notch wrote:I'm not sure we'll get the bonus point, would have said the same last weekend and Castres are much sterner opponents.

Only one try bonus point this season and we can't reasonably expect Castres to be as bad as the Blues. I expect it will be hard to break them down. A bonus point is possible but we'll have to beat them first!

From the few games of them that I've seen this year, we should be able to get the bp, obviously there is the French stereotype of travelling poorly, but I think the main factor is that we are just a good bit better than them.

Typical - You try to get mates to go and by the time you wait for people to confirm, tickets are sold out for Terrace and Prom.

Whats the deal with the ends? How do you get to the Aquinas without walking down the Prom or Terrace anyway? And whats to stop you just stopping somewhere?

You walk around the back of the stand I think.

Better get a move on clive- memorial end is 50% sold. Whole ground could be sold out by the end of today.

I've seen Paul Marshall get a lot of plaudits for his recent form. Was I the only one who thought he had a questionable game last week? Seems to have started taking a lot out of the ball (3 steps then pass) and some of his decision making was a bit questionable (running when it isn't on). He didn't have a bad game but if Ruan ain't jetlagged he's the better option.

Pienaar might well still start on the bench though. He's had three days training after a grueling test schedule and a long flight. Might be a few days too soon. But if he's ready, he's in.

Can't wait for this! My first visit of the season to Ravers!

I noticed that too Notch. There were some occasions when the pass would have been better instead of running. Not sure if that is because he's been told to run more often and has decided to do it at every chance, even when the pass is better?

I would start Ruan, he's game ready and we need a bonus point from this game. Bringing Marshall off the bench raises the speed of the game later on when, hopefully, Castres are tiring.

I've read that Big Nick is 60/40 in favour of playing! Fingers crossed!

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/10870.php

Iain Henderson has signed onto a full professional contract. I'm very excited to see more of him in Ulster colours. Could feature against Castres...

Interesting that he mentions the competition in the back row. Is that the position he's settled on, then?

Pienaar against Kockott is going to be an absolutely stellar match up - he's been their best player by far this season.

I would expect Ulster to take this with some room to spare.

No Max Evans for Castre, which is disappointing as a one-eyed jock.

Don Alfonso wrote:Interesting that he mentions the competition in the back row. Is that the position he's settled on, then?

I think thats where he is going to play this year. Still not sure whether he'll end up a 5 or a 6. He has all the attributes of a top 5 but easily has the athleticism and physicality to make a very good 6.

I've not been this excited about a young Irish forward in a long time. He has everything he needs to develop into a top player. Let's hope he gets the gametime he needs; he'll learn a huge amount from some of the players we have at Ulster. It seems Stephen Ferris has taken him under his rather large wing. I hope he can soak as much as possible from Johann Muller in his time here too.

clivemcl wrote:FORWARDS (16):
Rob Herring, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Neil McComb, John Afoa, Tom Court, Adam Macklin, Callum Black, Johann Muller, Dan Tuohy, Lewis Stevenson, Stephen Ferris, Mike McComish, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.

BACKS (11):
Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Michael Heaney, Paddy Jackson, Paddy Wallace, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy, Jared Payne.

Brady, Stevenson, McComish and Heaney to miss out.
Bench to be Herring, Black, Macklin, McComb, Henderson, Marshall, Marshall, Gilroy.

Ulster need an impact bench if they're serious about getting a TBP, hence Herring, McComb and Henderson get the nod for their dynamism. Pienaar is match fit and should start, question over place kickimg though? Trimble is more solid in defence than Gilroy and has been covering the 10 channel off defensive set pieces, plus considering this is Payne's first HEC game his experience would help.

Let Jackson keep on with the kicking duties. He's done well. Even if Pienaar starts, he's hardly off the plane. He'll have enough to think about slotting back into a team he hasn't played in for six months.

This was the Castres team v Clermont, who haven't won at SPA for 36 years.


Castres: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Romain Martial, 13 Romain Cabannes, 12 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 11 Marc Andreu, 10 Remi Tales, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Iosefa Tekori, 7 Yannick Caballero, 6 Jan de bruin Bornman, 5 Rodrigo Capo ortega, 4 Christophe Samson, 3 Michael Coetzee, 2 Brice Mach, 1 Yannick Forestier.

Replacements: 16 Mathieu Bonello, 17 Mihaita Lazar, 18 Matthias Rolland, 19 Antonie
Claassen, 20 Romain Teulet, 21 Seremaia Bai, 22 Max Evans, 23 Anton Peikrishvili.

Looks like Castres are going for a mix and match between 1st team and reserves. Ulster should win, and a tbp is there to be had.

Castres really only give a toss about performing in front of their own fans in the HC.

Oh, and Kockott missed 4 penos in that game. Teulet is usually their main kicker.

I'm sure they'll bring in Wannenburg for this one, who isn't doing too well by all accounts, because if he's got a big game in him it's this one. He was really devastated to leave. And I hope he starts, because he deserves the ovation he'll get when he takes the pitch for his service.

We're just gonna have to wait and see the teamsheet but I really want us to impose ourselves on this game in a big way. The forwards are coming together nicely and this will be a good test for them.

I watched Ulster vs Clermont Auvergne on youtube earlier, really getting into the mood now. Very special buzz before a Heineken Cup game at Ravenhill, especially against French opposition when it's a sell out crowd. In that game we kicked, chased and tackled until we got one chance and took it.

This week I'm excited about us keeping the ball and really imposing ourselves on the opponents. Cannot wait for this game.

Paddy Jackson coming across as a very assured and confident star of the future (near?).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzwfhGYpDT0&list=UU4EvohuiwgkUV1v03DDD4eQ&index=2&feature=plcp

In case anyone is trying to get tickets for tomorrow night from Ulster Rugby, they are having "issues" with their phones and can not receive any incoming calls so you should use the Online booking facility for any remainig tickets!

15 Payne
14 Bowe
13 Cave
12 Wallace
11 Trimble
10 Jackson
9 Marshall
------------
1 Court
2 Best
3 Afoa
4 Muller
5 Tuohy
6 Henderson
7 Henry
8 Ferris
-----------
SUBS
16 Herring
17 Black
18 Macklin
19 Stevenson
20 McComish
21 Pienaar
22 L Marshall
23 Gilroy

Henderon starts, Ferris at 8, Williams didn't make it, Pienaar gets no special treatment and is allowed to prove himself off the bench.

Great opportunity for Iain Henderson!

I'm liking that backrow, just question marks over Ferris' control at the base of the scrum. Feel like our tight five has been great at scrum time but we haven't got it away quickly enough from the base!

Henry has more experience at 8, whilst Ferris has more power, so I see no reason why those two shouldn't swap roles at scrum time.

This will be my first game since the Munster match so I can't wait for this one. I look at that side (with injuries and jet lag) and think back to maybe three or four seasons ago- the difference is truly staggering. Myself and alot of fans had our say about the McLaughlin situation last season, but no one can deny the outstanding work Shane Logan and Humphreys have done in reshaping us from top to bottom.

Is it wrong that I'm rather disappointed Luke Marshall isn't starting? I would love to see Henderson get a run out in the second row this season, but I am nitpicking cause that's just the kinda guy I am. Bitches gonna bitch.

Getting excited about the weekend! Finally start to get my moneys worth for my annual sky sports subscription! Other teams I'm cheering for this year include Connacht and Exeter Chiefs!

I still believe that we have seen a few flashes of creativity in the midfield since Paddy came back. Luke has been VERY solid, but i just felt I didnt see enough from him in terms of putting Cave or a blindside winger away in the way wallace seems to do at times.

I'm happy to concede, I maybe just havnt been paying close enough attention!

I think Wallace has been better to be honest, quite a bit better. He's really not declining at all. Marshall has been very solid and impressed me a lot, but Wallace is really playing very well. His feet are still causing defences all kinds of problems and his awareness of what's on, when and his option taking are still top class.

It's a healthy situation. Luke is going to have to improve to oust him, especially his game awareness and decision making. I don't think any of our 10s would have seen and executed that cross-field kick for Marshalls try last week for instance. Jackson and Marshall will learn from him. They are better players than PW was at the same age and I believe they'll make better players. But right now, Paddy Wallace is still indispensible.

I wasn't suggesting Wallace is inferior or anything like that. At least when he plays for Ulster we play to his strengths and, you know, not use his as a crash ball merchant. He was the best 12 in Irish rugby last season. it's just a shame that fans of the other provinces only see him in green when Kidney hasn't got a clue how to use him properly.

It's a bit of a conundrum. His provincial form, imo, makes him an automatic pick. His international form would make you inclined to pick someone else.

I'm with Notch on Paddy Wallace. Luke Marshall missed out on most of last season through injury and just doesn't have enough experience at HC level. It's great that he has been named a a replacement so hopefully through this campaign he will see enough action and get that experience.

Henderson is an awesome talent and it's no surprise that he has been thrust on to the team. Ferris at 8 is an interesting call but he did play in that position when he was younger. I don't think there will be any swapping of positions at scrum time.

Has anyone any news on Diack? I was expecting him to be in contention but have just realised he wasn't in the squad at all. Is his injury worse than expected or has he gone on the huff again?

On Diack, apparently the problem is a haematoma that has developed following the dead leg. Not sure when he will be back.

Looking forward to seeing that backrow in action, especially how Henderson deals with this level. Hopefully Ferris can get the ball away from the base of the scrum quicker. Big Nick seems to keep it there a wee bit too long and it can be annoying when we're in an attacking position.

Notch wrote:I've seen Paul Marshall get a lot of plaudits for his recent form. Was I the only one who thought he had a questionable game last week? Seems to have started taking a lot out of the ball (3 steps then pass) and some of his decision making was a bit questionable (running when it isn't on). He didn't have a bad game but if Ruan ain't jetlagged he's the better option.

Pienaar might well still start on the bench though. He's had three days training after a grueling test schedule and a long flight. Might be a few days too soon. But if he's ready, he's in.

Marshall isn't good enough to be starting for us, or a team challenging for the title, but he is a superb option to have on the bench, especially for the last 15mins or so of a game. A handy back up to have, but not more than that.

valjester wrote:

Notch wrote:I've seen Paul Marshall get a lot of plaudits for his recent form. Was I the only one who thought he had a questionable game last week? Seems to have started taking a lot out of the ball (3 steps then pass) and some of his decision making was a bit questionable (running when it isn't on). He didn't have a bad game but if Ruan ain't jetlagged he's the better option.

Pienaar might well still start on the bench though. He's had three days training after a grueling test schedule and a long flight. Might be a few days too soon. But if he's ready, he's in.

Marshall isn't good enough to be starting for us, or a team challenging for the title, but he is a superb option to have on the bench, especially for the last 15mins or so of a game. A handy back up to have, but not more than that.

So are you saying we are unbeaten this season in spite of him?

Wow wow Ferris at 8, there's a curveball!

1 day to go! SUFTUM!

Rava wrote:

So are you saying we are unbeaten this season in spite of him?

No, read the rest of the sentence, if we want to compete with the best and win the Hec, we need Pienaar fit and firing at 9, Marshall won't be good enough in the tight games.

oh man, I just realised that this game is on at the same time Ireland play Germany in a European qualifation match.

Now I've got the trouble of finding a pub in Belfast that with show both games! Or I'll have to pick one over the other, and I don't want to face that sort of decision.

Ooooooooh woe is me.

Kingshu wrote:oh man, I just realised that this game is on at the same time Ireland play Germany in a European qualifation match.

Now I've got the trouble of finding a pub in Belfast that with show both games! Or I'll have to pick one over the other, and I don't want to face that sort of decision.

Ooooooooh woe is me.

Watch it at home, one on the tv, one on the computer?

Big oppertunity for Henderson to prove his worth. Can't wait. Weather forecast isn't good so we'll have to adjust our gameplan. Looks as though we'll be in for a standard Friday night singing suftum in the pi$$ing rain.

valjester wrote:

Rava wrote:

So are you saying we are unbeaten this season in spite of him?

No, read the rest of the sentence, if we want to compete with the best and win the Hec, we need Pienaar fit and firing at 9, Marshall won't be good enough in the tight games.

No I read and understood exactly what you said. I disagree with you.

Willy the forecast for tomorrow is for a dry day temperature around 9 with a 7-8 mph wind not bad for Belshaft

Rava wrote:

valjester wrote:

Rava wrote:

So are you saying we are unbeaten this season in spite of him?

No, read the rest of the sentence, if we want to compete with the best and win the Hec, we need Pienaar fit and firing at 9, Marshall won't be good enough in the tight games.

No I read and understood exactly what you said. I disagree with you.

Marshall doesn't bring any control to proceedings is the problem, like I said I'm happy with him coming on for 10mins in a broken game, but when the pack needs direction to grind out a win, he is not the guy I want giving orders.

Paul Marshall is a perfectly adequate player at this level, the amount he's improved has been remarkable. There are certainly worse 9s in this competition.

That said, he's not in the same class as Pienaar or Yachvilli. But few are! I think Pienaar and Williams will start away to Glasgow but it's encouraging that there's no-one in that team who you'd be worried about at this level. I share your views on his ability as a pocket field marshall Val but he's still good enough to acquit himself well at this level. He proved that last year in our first two games- he was particularly good at Welford Road.

theshanker wrote:Willy the forecast for tomorrow is for a dry day temperature around 9 with a 7-8 mph wind not bad for Belshaft

Good! Because it's pishing it down right now...

Notch wrote:Paul Marshall is a perfectly adequate player at this level, the amount he's improved has been remarkable. There are certainly worse 9s in this competition.

That said, he's not in the same class as Pienaar or Yachvilli. But few are! I think Pienaar and Williams will start away to Glasgow but it's encouraging that there's no-one in that team who you'd be worried about at this level. I share your views on his ability as a pocket field marshall Val but he's still good enough to acquit himself well at this level. He proved that last year in our first two games- he was particularly good at Welford Road.

I don't particularly rate Yachvilli tbh, but I think that might be due to a bit of indoctrination by the locals when I worked in Toulouse, they also don't rate Parra. Marshall is capable at this level.

I think marshall is fine, ok if he was first choice scrumhalf, I'd maybe be a bit concerned, but many teams don't have a scrum half as good as him, and he is our second choice.

he's good, not great but good, and his nippy runs are dangerous. If you follow these boards after the Tigers game and Blues game last week, people keep asking who are scrumhalf is as they have been impressed with him, but never heard of him. Suppose thats what happens when you behind Pienaar.