Scarlets v Ulster next Sunday

First topic message reminder :

How poxed lucky are Ulster? They get to play the 2nd place team in the league....away.....on the weekend that Wales play Australia.

On the other hand it is on a Sunday and their HC game v Northampton is on the following Friday.

So, a few swings mixed in with the roundabouts there. Especially considering Northampton have their game on the Friday.

I'm sure Ulster will cope. Better off having the 2 away matches in a row IMHO

Ulster Team:

P Nelson; A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, C Gilroy; P Jackson, P Marshall;
(1-8): C Black, R Herring, J Afoa, J Muller (c), N McComb, I Henderson, R Diack, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): R Best, T Court, R Lutton, D Tuohy, M McComish, M Heaney, N O’Connor, T Bowe.

Scarlet's Team:

15. Dan Newton 14. Kristian Phillips 13. Gareth Maule 12. Gareth Owen 11. Andy Fenby 10. Aled Thomas 9. Gareth Davies 1. Phil John 2. Emyr Phillips 3. Jacobie Adriaanse 4. Johan Snyman 5. Richard Kelly 6. George Earle 7. Johnathan Edwards (capt) 8. Kieran Murphy
Replacements
16. Kirby Myhill 17. Shaun Hopkins 18. Deacon Manu 19. Tomas Vallejos 20. Craig Price 21. Aled Davies 22. Adam Warren 23. Nick Reynolds

So does that mean we'll be without Stodds and Kirby for a hugely important game just so they could hold tackle bags for the Wales team?

Smirnoffpriest wrote:So does that mean we'll be without Stodds and Kirby for a hugely important game just so they could hold tackle bags for the Wales team?

I don't think so, Kirby was definately with Wales last week but released back (Not too sure about Stodds). But it does mean that the Scarlets team training etc will be affected by this.

Don't you love that that warm cuddly feeling you get when the WRU shower the regions with affection?

Ulster Team:

P Nelson; A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, C Gilroy; P Jackson, P Marshall;
(1-8): C Black, R Herring, J Afoa, J Muller (c), N McComb, I Henderson, R Diack, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): R Best, T Court, R Lutton, D Tuohy, M McComish, M Heaney, N O’Connor, T Bowe.

Well lads, it looks like Tommy Bowes days are finished.

Pack yer bags Tommy...there's a new sheriff in town

Good to see Payne get a lie in to himself on Sunday. Williams too.... just hope he stays out of build-a-burger.....

Henry, Williams, Pienaar, Wallace and Payne all rested: Rory Best, Tommy Bowe, Dan Tuohy and Tom Court on the bench. You've got your wish ScarletsSpiderman- thats 9 players who started our last Heineken Cup match as first choice not in the team. No excuses over missing players for the Scarlets now; add in Stephen Ferris and it's 10 first team players missing from us too

Ricky Lutton on the bench- I hope Declan Fitzpatrick isn't injured again

I'm happy with our strength in depth now, it has to be said.

Scarlet's Team:

15. Dan Newton 14. Kristian Phillips 13. Gareth Maule 12. Gareth Owen 11. Andy Fenby 10. Aled Thomas 9. Gareth Davies 1. Phil John 2. Emyr Phillips 3. Jacobie Adriaanse 4. Johan Snyman 5. Richard Kelly 6. George Earle 7. Johnathan Edwards (capt) 8. Kieran Murphy
Replacements
16. Kirby Myhill 17. Shaun Hopkins 18. Deacon Manu 19. Tomas Vallejos 20. Craig Price 21. Aled Davies 22. Adam Warren 23. Nick Reynolds

While we're missing Liam W, North, JD2, S Williams, Priestland, Knoyle, McCusker, Turnbull, Shingler, Ball, R Jones, R Evans, K Owens, M Rees, S Lee - 15 players plus Stoddart, Phillips, Murphy, Edwards and Myhill haven't been able to train with us - but like you say I suppose at least we had the chance to rest them

Not sure about Diack at 7, has he played there before? Is McCombish injured?

Surpised they've chosen Earle/Kelly over Vallejos/Timani but good to see Murphy back

But cant' believe the WRU have denied us Stodds just so he could hold some tackle bags for the Wales team!

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Surpised they've chosen Earle/Kelly over Vallejos/Timani but good to see Murphy back

But cant' believe the WRU have denied us Stodds just so he could hold some tackle bags for the Wales team!

Personally I really think Vallejos is not looking like he will be worth his money come the end of his contract, far bellow par IMO.

Yeah the WRU are not exactly the best in treating the regions fairly, but I guess when out second string side beat Ulsters 1.5 string side then we will be able to stick the Vs up to the WRU.

Sorry, ignore me, just spotted McComish is on the bench!

Poor Diack. Spent his career as a specialist 8, was expected to have to adapt to playing 6 this season but instead has been playing 4 and 7 since he got back from injury.

That's still a fairly solid Ulster team. Shows the depth we have. Thank goodness Ruan has the weekend off.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Surpised they've chosen Earle/Kelly over Vallejos/Timani but good to see Murphy back

But cant' believe the WRU have denied us Stodds just so he could hold some tackle bags for the Wales team!

Personally I really think Vallejos is not looking like he will be worth his money come the end of his contract, far bellow par IMO.

Yeah the WRU are not exactly the best in treating the regions fairly, but I guess when out second string side beat Ulsters 1.5 string side then we will be able to stick the Vs up to the WRU.

I really hope the last part comes true!

I ain't seen enough of Vallejos to be honest, and while he hasn't wowed me, I'm hoping it's because he's barely been with the squad, and he'll improve over Christmas

I don't know about poor Diack Notch, at least he's getting some game time.

The only unfortunate thing about his situation is that he was playing so well at the beginning of the season and got injured and in the mean time we've found better back up for the positions he prefers. He's solid back up player but I don't think he'll ever get a regular starting position.

I've got to say, it's great to see Ulster put out a fully Irish qualified backline from 9 to 15 and all so talented as well. All the non-internationals there have the potential to win a senior Ireland cap in my opinion.

If Diack is feeling hard done by with his lot in life I'm happy to switch places with him!

rodders wrote:If Diack is feeling hard done by with his lot in life I'm happy to switch places with him!

I'd pay good money to watch that. Especially if it was in the 2nd row.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

rodders wrote:If Diack is feeling hard done by with his lot in life I'm happy to switch places with him!

I'd pay good money to watch that. Especially if it was in the 2nd row.

Feic your second row situation must be grim! ..... I think I'd make a cracking foil for Toner......

Rodders you would look well packing down with the rest of those forwards

rodders wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

rodders wrote:If Diack is feeling hard done by with his lot in life I'm happy to switch places with him!

I'd pay good money to watch that. Especially if it was in the 2nd row.

Feic your second row situation must be grim! ..... I think I'd make a cracking foil for Toner......

Diack ain't playing for us Rodders. You'd have to play for Ulster. The scrum would look a little strange with you beside Big Dev. I presume you are a tight head scrumager?

True Rava but I'm not sure our lineout would improve from last weekend..... plus Paul Marshall got the last XL boys jersey.....

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

rodders wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

rodders wrote:If Diack is feeling hard done by with his lot in life I'm happy to switch places with him!

I'd pay good money to watch that. Especially if it was in the 2nd row.

Feic your second row situation must be grim! ..... I think I'd make a cracking foil for Toner......

Diack ain't playing for us Rodders. You'd have to play for Ulster. The scrum would look a little strange with you beside Big Dev. I presume you are a tight head scrumager?

I'm equally effective on either side of the scrum Jen

Interesting selection from MA. Declan must still be injured (again), but where is Macklin? (- Lutton was LH cover brought in for Paddymac, so maybe Black will move over?)
Best must be struggling to make it.
Tuohy will undoubtedly come on for Muller so both will not play full games. I can't see McComish being involved on Friday so I'd have played him the full 80, but obviously MA wants Diack to prove he is a bench option for that game - he'll probably switch positions when McComish comes on.

Thought Bowe would have been rested totally but Payne has played more rugby than him of late so that's a good call. This is exactly the sort of game Nelson needs to get used to if he wants to become a regular contender.
Straight shootout between Trimble and Gilroy for the Saints wing spot should bring the very best out of them!

The Great Aukster wrote:Straight shootout between Trimble and Gilroy for the Saints wing spot should bring the very best out of them!

The fact that Gilroy is starting on the left might suggest he starts with the advantage there..... it will be very interesting to see where Bowe takes the field should he come on....

Thats my big concern, asking for Afoa to go 80 minutes this week and then play again in five days.

Should he get injured we're in for a long afternoon in the scrums next Friday. I'm concerned because there has been a hell of a lot of disruption to the team of late. Things really have to click for us to come together in time for Europe.

Cant wait for this game, and the Saints game the following week is just killing me. Anyone know how to fast forward time???? 2 huge games for our season coming up. On paper Ulster are stronger, but this isn't a game played on paper the last few meetings between us have been tight here's hoping its another cracking game lads and lassies....

clivemcl wrote:Ulster Team:

P Nelson; A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, C Gilroy; P Jackson, P Marshall;
(1-8): C Black, R Herring, J Afoa, J Muller (c), N McComb, I Henderson, R Diack, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): R Best, T Court, R Lutton, D Tuohy, M McComish, M Heaney, N O’Connor, T Bowe.

This team really shows how much Ulster have improved their squad depth this year.That's a decent side.

Is Nelson the ginger full back who was on the U20 world cup team last year?

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

clivemcl wrote:Ulster Team:

P Nelson; A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, C Gilroy; P Jackson, P Marshall;
(1-8): C Black, R Herring, J Afoa, J Muller (c), N McComb, I Henderson, R Diack, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): R Best, T Court, R Lutton, D Tuohy, M McComish, M Heaney, N O’Connor, T Bowe.

This team really shows how much Ulster have improved their squad depth this year.That's a decent side.

Is Nelson the ginger full back who was on the U20 world cup team last year?

Yep, thats him.

Rumor has it, he is the lovechild of a time travelling Notch.

Nah!

Notch isn't that ginger.

Mind you. Not many people are that ginger.

Pretty hard to mistake him for someone else though, except if you are a commentator on RTE against the head who said it was Michael Allen scoring the try last week????

Between that and the 4 Marshall brothers who played for Ireland against Fiji a few weeks ago?

And the ex First Minister playing on the wing for Ulster.

Mind you, I'd love to have Gusher get the chance to get Luke and Nevin mixed up again.



Gone, but not forgotten.

MrsP wrote:
Mind you, I'd love to have Gusher get the chance to get Luke and Nevin mixed up again.



Gone, but not forgotten.

+ 1

MrsP wrote:Between that and the 4 Marshall brothers who played for Ireland against Fiji a few weeks ago?

And the ex First Minister playing on the wing for Ulster.

Mind you, I'd love to have Gusher get the chance to get Luke and Nevin mixed up again.



Gone, but not forgotten.

Wouldn't we all Mrs P.

It's a nice thought.

When I was down in Dublin for the South Africa game, I saw there was one of those Q&A type interviews with Chris Henry in the programme. It was touching to see he answered the question "Who is your greatest sporting hero?" with "Nevin Spence". He is missed by many people.

Did you know Ulster have a new outhalf guys according to BBC we have this fella Paddu Jackson. Anybody know anything about him I wonder is he as good as David Trimble or any one of our 4 Marshalls that played for Ireland a few weeks ago

He probably is one of the 4 Marshalls!

Nice touch from Henry.

Great touch from Henry he said what we all think.
Yeah he probably is.

Strong and mobile pack from Scarlets with plenty of sharp little runners in the backs. They'll need to improve on defence from last week and cut out the errors if they want to stand a chance today. The West Wales Region is a bit short on luck if I'm honest, getting grouped with Leinster/Clermont then coming up against the Europes third form team when still affected be international call-ups.

BTW just in case anyone doesn't know the match is being shown on BBC 2 NI program begins at 3.50pm.

Also it's on S4C if anyone has access to it.

I really hope the pack can compete - such a shame to lose Ball who looked really good and not to have an out and out 6 (why wasn't McGog released as he was never going to get in the Wales 22).
Am still annoyed that Stodds was called up as training fodder, but am beginning to get really excited now - gutted I'm not at the game though.

I wonder if we'll sing SUFTUM in memory of Nevin again?

Not sure i would have Vallejos ahead of Timani, from what i have seen he is too light for 2nd row and didn't show anything when in the backrow.

I think he will improve though.

The Parc looks empty.

Mr Taff wrote:The Parc looks empty.

Who cares? The game's going ahead and it could be one man and his dog in the stands for all I care. Mon Ulster!!!

7 minutes gone and it's still nil all. Paddy's just missed a penalty.

well there you go Paddy, 2nd time round you got it 3-0

Ah that's better Paddy. 0-3 after 9 minutes or so.

Wilson should have had that away clear call by the ref. So Cari with no Bowe starting today who you got your eye on lol