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

First topic message reminder :

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

Don Alfonso wrote:Just checked out the Fly's Twitter feed.

Looks like it's the Big House or the Errigle...

Whats wrong with the fly Don, I was thinking it was a decent rugby pub now, didn't know it changed owners.

It hasn't changed owners lads. Just got rebranded back to it's previous incarnation. Rugby is still a big part of the bar down there and we have a bit more stuff up, signed shirts etc.

The rugby club is still expanding now and we now have links with SS Moores and guys like that. As for the game we will always show the rugby, I think we are even able to get the games against zebre and treviso away on the italian sky but don't hold me to that.

£2.50 heineken during tonight's game as well and our bus trip will be landing back after the game. The rugby club is now called The Fly Half on Facebook if you need to keep updated too.

Now Standulstermen whats the chance the ROI game would be shown on a small screen as well?

Also I hate the new Sparky, with a passion.

The old Sparky was embarrassing, but at least he was so bad he was good, and I'd grown fond of him.

New Sparky is just bad, really wish they and gone with a Raven like Baltimore Ravens Mascot, a decent costume, Even Connacht can afford a decent mascot.

New Sparky looks more effeminate than old Sparky, maybe he went on Holiday to Bangkok?

It is indeed being shown kings. The sound will be on for the rugby though but the will be two screens with the republic game.

I don't mind the old sparky or the new one. We all laughed at how bad the old one looked but it kind of endeared him to the fans. Have we any clue as to what he is though?

Stand!

Are you guys showing the Heino games tomorrow?

Stand, Rodders and myself came to visit your bar. We asked for you but didnt get to meet up unfort.

neilthom7 wrote:

Notch wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:

Cari wrote:No, Sparky's done more drugs than Lance Armstrong by the looks...he'll never be his old self again.

Just hearing folks Sparky has been forced to give back all the titles he won over Leo The Lion etc

Well that certainly won't take long.

Hey you better watch Notch New Sparky is going to come over that rail in the promenade like a hurdler tomorrow better try and hide

Yeah, she does look like she's on meth or something. Unpredictable, violent little squirrel.

Anyone have a photo of new sparky.

We changed our mascot this year from Murty (the dopiest mascot in the world) to a lovely red stag

Before

Spoiler:

After

Spoiler:

Rodders of course we are. Connacht and munster on at the same time I believe.

Stag. Sorry bud would have been delighted to meet you although if it was after the munster game the feeling may well not have been reciprocated (too many ).

Been meaning to start posting for a while but work has been hectic and shift patterns mean working longer but less shifts so more days off technically. Add to that moving house and the wee one up walking now and I don't get that much free time.

The bar is looking good. I like the rebrand, doing well. There's definitely a good rugby theme running through it.

Those photos aren't working Stag! Hopefully these will.

Before, weird disheveled dog-bear;

Spoiler:

Now, creepy roidhead meth squirrel... bear

Spoiler:

More to come in stag. It's been a difficult process but it's hopefully nearing completion. Everything will be in place by December for the northampton double header. Hoping to have 200 odd in for that one. The company actually have a journalist over from northampton today I'm led to believe.

Its the same Sparky, he's just had a nose job

Kingshu wrote:Its the same Sparky, he's just had a nose job

In that he doesn't appear to have one?

Ulster Ravens XV & replacements to face Bridgend Ravens, British & Irish Cup, Saturday 13th October, Deramore Park, Belfast (2.30pm):

(15-9): Peter Nelson; Adam D'Arcy, Ricky Andrew, Stuart Olding, Chris Cochrane; Niall O'Connor, Blane McIlroy;

(1-8): Richard Lutton, Niall Annett, Conor Carey, Alan O’Connor, Neil McComb (capt), Conor Joyce, Ali Birch, Roger Wilson;

Replacements (16-22): John Burns, Kyle McCall, James Simpson, Sean O’Connell, Michael Heaney, Stuart McCloskey, Rory Scholes.

Wilson and D'arcy back for the ravens tomorrow. Olding at 12 is interesting.

As is Ricky Andrew at 13, he's more often a fullback or wing.

Certainly we need more depth in the centres.

Ravens V Ravens

I'll predict that The Ravens will win this one,

Good to see D'arcy and Wilson back, predict Payne and Williams/Ferris will be rested over next period of pro 12 games and these two will see plently of game time.

Intresting D'arcy is on wing (I know he's played there for Ulster before), I think they want to change him to be a better winger than he currently is, so at top level he can cover fullback and wing. Means more options in a game like moving Payne to Center etc etc when hes on bench.

UOn the mascot chat... Anyone seen the new Clyde? He looks like he's spent too much time in the east end of Glasgow over the summer! Big nostrils, skinny... He's a bloody junkie! And to that they decided to get the cheapest costume ever (3 games in and it's falling apart) and it's a giant onesie, so I lose half my body weight every match! Although at least it doesn't smell!

I'm pretty confident about this match. I'm sure ferris won't let us down at 8 and it might free him up to be his usual human wrecking ball self! Add to that some pretty handy substitutes and I'd be considering putting money on a tbp... Over confident probably but I just think that we should be able to do it!

Okay,

So, is there some kind of retirement facility for mascots?

It would seem that Munster, Ulster and Glasgow have all retired their old mascots this year. I know the AP have rules that English clubs have to follow before they are allowed to be promoted to their lthe AP, maybe the Pro 12 have some clause where you have to have a certain standard of furry creature in your home shirt at matches to be allowed to continue to compete in the league?

It's more like Logans Run. You reach the end of your time and suddenly you're evading agents of the state in a retro-futuristic setting.

I just couldn't get over how big Sparky's thighs are now! He's defo been on something or down the gym an awful lot.

UlstermaninGlasgow - I think Clyde is cool!
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/glasgow-2014-commonwealth-games-mascot-1335432

Oh that's not even the new Clyde I meant...

That was another travesty... You think the Commonwealth Games organisers would realise there was already a pretty well known mascot in Glasgow called Clyde....

When I Googled Glasgow mascot Clyde he's the only one who comes up...and that one was designed by a kid wasn't it? Can't blame her...

This dude? He's class compared with Sparky!

clivemcl wrote:This dude? He's class compared with Sparky!

Class compared to new sparky. Old Sparky had character, a certain jouez ez sa ques

Kingshu wrote:

clivemcl wrote:This dude? He's class compared with Sparky!

Class compared to new sparky. Old Sparky had character, a certain jouez ez sa ques

That's old Clyde. He was awesome, if a little smelly to be in. New Clyde hasn't been in any promo shots because he doesn't have a jersey yet but this is him,

Hmmm looks like they've tried to make him look harder than before, but ended up making him look silly. He seemed more smiley in the old days. His horns have shrunk as well.

Cari are you saying Clyde is less horny?

Oh by the way Cari I was talking to Tommy the week before my surgery, he's grown some since I last saw him. What were you lot feeding him?

Late change to the Ulster side Stephen Ferris has failed to recover from Spasms so mike McComish come sin at 8 with Neil McComb coming onto the bench

Hmmm fez is a rather largish miss.

Yes with Williams already ruled out it's not ideal but hopefully Mike will have a stormer, still would have us for the win though SUFTUM

SUFTUM

Shame about ferris.

Good luck ulster... Hoping for a great game tonight.

Am watching Ulster - come on!!!

0 - 3 after 6 minutes.

Jackson kicks a penalty 3 - 3 after 8 minutes.

Trimby in the corner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10 - 3. Lovely conversion by Paddy.

Paynes fantastic

Wannenburg is welcomed back to Ravenhill by been shoveled into touch by Trimble

Good start Ulster. 1st I've got to see Tommy back in an Ulster jersey and Jared Payne as we usually train ourselves on Friday nights. Some good rugby being played.

13 - 3 after Jackson's penalty.

What a move by Tommy!!! If only he'd made the try, that would've been up there as a try of the season. great move.

Unreal line by Tommy! Paul Marshall has had some start!

Close from Bowe there. Ulster having 72% possesion so far

Well done Marshall for catching that!

20 - 3 with conversion.

Jebus! Ulster are rampant!! They could get a WBP at this rate.

Ulster are playing some lovely stuff

Looks like Ulster are doing well. I'm flicking between matches so can't comment on it overall. But as I said a couple weeks ago Ulster look the real deal this season!

They're starting to give away penalties now though...cool heads lads.

Great defence Ulster....keep it up or Castres will push over.

To be fair that was a great try from Andreau. Well done.

20 - 8 before conversion.

ughhh my link stopped working just before the try.

Anyone have a better link or are you all using firstrow as well?