Saints v Ulster Friday HEC 7th December

First topic message reminder :

So the big double header kicks off at Franklin's Gardens on Friday evening. Both teams will believe a win is possible but who will prevail?

Ulster coach Mark Anscombe says Ulster will need to improve on the current form. I would agree, though the disruption of Autumn Internationals wouldn't have helped.

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/19701.php#.ULyVo-RWySo

Interesting interview with Pat Lam (Former Saints captain) who actually thinks these sides could face each other in the Final next May.

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchdaytv?play=media&id=13581

Ulster XV & replacements to face Northampton Saints, Heineken Cup, Friday 7th December, Franklin's Gardens (8.00pm):
(15-9): J Payne; T Bowe, D Cave, P Wallace, A Trimble; P Jackson, R Pienaar;
(1-8): T Court, R Best, J Afoa, J Muller (c), D Tuohy, I Henderson, C Henry, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): N Brady, C Black, R Lutton, R Diack, N Williams, P Marshall, L Marshall, C Gilroy.

Northampton XV.

(15-9): B Foden; K Pisi, G Pisi, D Waldouck, J Elliott; R Lamb, M Roberts;

(1-8): S Tonga'uiha, D Hartley (c), B Mujati, S Manoa, C Lawes, C Clark, T Wood, G van Velze;

Replacements (16-23): M Haywood, A Waller, P Doran-Jones, M Sorenson, P Dowson, L Dickson, S Myler, T May.

We're smashing into Biarritz, great to see! (sorry for thread-jack, don't see another connacht one) still 10-6, bollix, yellow card

thebluesmancometh wrote:WOW Henderson has a turn of pace for a lock/6!!! He looks small but isn't half strong too.

Wheres Gilroy?

He's gonna be a star,I think he'll be one of Irelands very best players over the next 10 years.

Lamb is so flat footed, he takes the SH pass on his heels!!!

thebluesmancometh wrote:WOW Henderson has a turn of pace for a lock/6!!! He looks small but isn't half strong too.

Wheres Gilroy?

Biding his time on the bench... hopefully he'll leave some Saints with twisted blood when he gets on with 20 to go!

That said, Trimble has more than justified his selection so far!

ASLS

Ive seen him a few times this season and looked good but he has kicked on already, how devastating has he been and he seems to be everywhere!!

Awh man I wish I could see this. I just read Tommy scored. Was it a good try?

Now thats a scrum pen for Saints, what for? Turning 180 then dropping.

Court just barrells Hartley in the ruck and for me sorry no pen there!!!

Hehe- Paddy Wallace must be having a good game, because he's getting attention from Dylan Hartley now.

He hits hard for a small centre, no doubt about it. Good first half from us. Must be every bit as good in the second 40!

Ulster looking too strong for Saints at present. Saints starting Lamb for what was always going to be a tight game is looking even more of a mistake now, the lad just doesn't seem to have big game temperament.

Cari wrote:Awh man I wish I could see this. I just read Tommy scored. Was it a good try?

Yep, good team try. Forwards committed the defence then we went wide, simple run in for Bowe as we had a 3 on 2 and Cave and Wallace drew their men.

thebluesmancometh wrote:WOW Henderson has a turn of pace for a lock/6!!! He looks small but isn't half strong too.

Wheres Gilroy?

Small? At 6 foot 6 and 18 stone?

Fantastic defence from Paddy Wallace.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:WOW Henderson has a turn of pace for a lock/6!!! He looks small but isn't half strong too.

Wheres Gilroy?

Small? At 6 foot 6 and 18 stone?

Yeah, he's not small but I see what he means- he hasn't properly filled out yet. He's just a baby at 20. He's going to be a monster when he grows up!

Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble are proving themselves to be more than deserving of their places over the young stars. The competition is great, lets see how Gilroy and Marshall respond when they get the chance!

Connacht 10-6 Biarritz coming up to half time in Sportsground.

That can't be right. Can it?

Absolutely

Wallace and Trimby are not gonna give up those shirts without a fight! I can see both of the young tyros making a big impact off the bench though.

He's never 6'6, thats why he looks slight then, he'll get wider within the next few years.

Fair play to Ulster they are battering us. Thought it would be a close game, not sure now though. Not seen much of Ulster previously, bloody good team. Shame for us though!

10-9 to Connacht at the half time whistle,

Half Time score flatters Saints. Even so I cannot understand how Afoa is getting away with wheeling every single Saints scrum. He is virtually running backwards.

Yes on the 5m scrum Saints had he later drove forward and demolished them - but his first action was to take 3 backward steps to wheel it.

thebluesmancometh wrote:He's never 6'6, thats why he looks slight then, he'll get wider within the next few years.

I went to school with him, he is definitely 6 foot 6 at the very least. I am 6 foot 3 and he towered over me.

Paddy Jackson has looked a talent at age group level for a while, I know many Ulster fans have said its too early for him but he really looks the part.

Thanks Notch. Sounds like a corker of a match this. I hope Ulster can keep up the pressure second half. . And fairdo's to Connacht!

maestegmafia wrote:Paddy Jackson has looked a talent at age group level for a while, I know many Ulster fans have said its too early for him but he really looks the part.

He hasn't looked one bit out of place this season. That is also with Pienaar unavailable for many of the Ulster games.

maestegmafia wrote:Paddy Jackson has looked a talent at age group level for a while, I know many Ulster fans have said its too early for him but he really looks the part.

I don't think its too early for any of the Famous Four (Paddy Jackson, Iain Henderson, Luke Marshall and Craig Gilroy). They all have not only a rare talent but old heads on young shoulders.

Notch wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Paddy Jackson has looked a talent at age group level for a while, I know many Ulster fans have said its too early for him but he really looks the part.

I don't think its too early for any of the Famous Four (Paddy Jackson, Iain Henderson, Luke Marshall and Craig Gilroy). They all have not only a rare talent but old heads on young shoulders.

Aye those lads are going to see ulster and ireland do well for a long while. All good men.

Henry is doing very well too

Henry is outstanding. It would be criminal if he loses his Irish spot in the 6 nations with the return of O'Brien.

Classy....!

Jared Payne simply looks like the best player on the pitch.

Yessssss

Wow, Lovely stuff

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Henry is outstanding. It would be criminal if he loses his Irish spot in the 6 nations with the return of O'Brien.

It will depend on whether Ferris is fit or not. I'm not sure if Henry is a better 7 than SOB has become but then you wonder is SOB still effective as a 6, and he probably is so Henry should be starting at 7 as that would be the best backrow. Doubt he will be in it though, unfortunately.

Payne is just class.

Reading back that sentence, it is a bit long and rambling, basically I'm saying it should start but probably won't.

Foden really should have done better on Payne.

Ben Foden waved him through!

Jarrod Payne is in rude form this season. Beautiful angles, great pace on the ball... Ulster are playing great rugby this year.

Awful defence there at the end

Notch, I don't think there's a better fullback in Europe at the moment.

Great Scrum

MMC wrote:Notch, I don't think there's a better fullback in Europe at the moment.

I dont know if theres a better team in Europe at the moment

valjester wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Henry is outstanding. It would be criminal if he loses his Irish spot in the 6 nations with the return of O'Brien.

It will depend on whether Ferris is fit or not. I'm not sure if Henry is a better 7 than SOB has become but then you wonder is SOB still effective as a 6, and he probably is so Henry should be starting at 7 as that would be the best backrow. Doubt he will be in it though, unfortunately.

Payne is just class.

Reading back that sentence, it is a bit long and rambling, basically I'm saying it should start but probably won't.

Foden really should have done better on Payne.

Ferris will have a lot of work to do to get back into the side though, he is apparently going to miss every pool game in the HEC. Which means he will most likely not feature in the 6 nations. O'Brien is my favourite player and he will definitely start, but Henry should also start. Both can play multiple positions in the back row as well.

Muller injured?

Crap.

Saints offering nothing in attack at the moment.

Fearing a bit for England when they face this Irish side wanting revenge In the 6n. On this performance they are well ahead if we compare the sprinkling of internationals in each side.

Eng must be more like last week than this saints shambles.

We'll be packing down;

4. Tuohy
5. Henderson
6. Williams
7. Henry
8. Wilson

Looks like Ulster are gonna win this comfortably,if so that's a great result for Leinster too.If the 2nd place team in this group can't get a big points total that gives us a much better chance of qualifying.

Connacht are golden at the moment, two more penalties increasing the difference to 7 points.

Connacht have Biarritz rattled 16-9

trebellbobaggins wrote:Fearing a bit for England when they face this Irish side wanting revenge In the 6n. On this performance they are well ahead if we compare the sprinkling of internationals in each side.

Eng must be more like last week than this saints shambles.

Ireland will just have to watch what they eat before the game...!