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'll wait and see how the loss of Muller affects us. I would LOVE a fourth try.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Connacht have Biarritz rattled 16-9

Great result for them. I hope they can keep their lead.

I'm always amazed when coaches bring on 9's to increase the pace of the game, Roberts had a poor game but Dickson has flown on at 100mph to struggle to pick the ball out of rucks, and it's still as slow as when Roberts was on!!!

I'm sorry but Ulster are just being allowed to do what ever they like at the ruck in this game, the ref needs to get on top of things as they're just off their feet and killing everything. That last Ulster pen the Ulster player was on his knees playing the ball and then after getting rucked gets back on to his feet and some how gets a pen.

Ulster have been great for their tries but Saints have been clueless in attack and totally bent over at the ruck.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Connacht have Biarritz rattled 16-9

Great result for them. I hope they can keep their lead.

Aye it would be fantastic for them to pull off a few more wins in the HEC

Yup, nothing more needed to win, they can't lose.

Hang on, are we back to claiming teams were poisoned when they get stuffed by a better side on the day now?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

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.

Ferris is beginning to become a bit like Flannery in his final few years, or POC, but the only difference is that we actually have some quality, though not as good replacements for him. I think, unfortunately we are unlikely to see him to many more times.

Cave! What a hit!

Lovely tackle Cave.

maestegmafia wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Connacht have Biarritz rattled 16-9

Great result for them. I hope they can keep their lead.

Aye it would be fantastic for them to pull off a few more wins in the HEC

Although Biarritz have had an awful season and are missing some players, it would still be a huge win for Connacht with all their injuries, they're missing about six players from the pack.

yappysnap wrote:I'm sorry but Ulster are just being allowed to do what ever they like at the ruck in this game, the ref needs to get on top of things as they're just off their feet and killing everything. That last Ulster pen the Ulster player was on his knees playing the ball and then after getting rucked gets back on to his feet and some how gets a pen.

Ulster have been great for their tries but Saints have been clueless in attack and totally bent over at the ruck.

The refereeing is poor in general. Saints are losing because they are out of ideas to break down a very good ulster defence, they miss passes, keep dropping the ball in the tackle and are being matched and occasionally bettered in the set piece.

The refs impact is having little to do with the result, the Ulster tries have all been scored without the interference of the ref.

maestegmafia wrote:

yappysnap wrote:I'm sorry but Ulster are just being allowed to do what ever they like at the ruck in this game, the ref needs to get on top of things as they're just off their feet and killing everything. That last Ulster pen the Ulster player was on his knees playing the ball and then after getting rucked gets back on to his feet and some how gets a pen.

Ulster have been great for their tries but Saints have been clueless in attack and totally bent over at the ruck.

The refereeing is poor in general. Saints are losing because they are out of ideas to break down a very good ulster defence, they miss passes, keep dropping the ball in the tackle and are being matched and occasionally bettered in the set piece.

The refs impact is having little to do with the result, the Ulster tries have all been scored without the interference of the ref.

I agree with that about Saints attack, but at the same time the 9 is having to wrestle every ball from Irish hands and nothing is even close to being clean as there are bodies everywhere, yes Saints could ruck them out the way but the tackler is meant to release and roll away.

Still Ulster are man shaming them in the scrum and taking their chances well too which is impressive to watch.

I'll be honest, I'll be disappointed if we can't get the fourth try in this game now. Not a last minute show like against Castres!

Need to push on and get the bonus point, but its vital we don't switch off and let them get back into it.

yappysnap wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

yappysnap wrote:I'm sorry but Ulster are just being allowed to do what ever they like at the ruck in this game, the ref needs to get on top of things as they're just off their feet and killing everything. That last Ulster pen the Ulster player was on his knees playing the ball and then after getting rucked gets back on to his feet and some how gets a pen.

Ulster have been great for their tries but Saints have been clueless in attack and totally bent over at the ruck.

The refereeing is poor in general. Saints are losing because they are out of ideas to break down a very good ulster defence, they miss passes, keep dropping the ball in the tackle and are being matched and occasionally bettered in the set piece.

The refs impact is having little to do with the result, the Ulster tries have all been scored without the interference of the ref.

I agree with that about Saints attack, but at the same time the 9 is having to wrestle every ball from Irish hands and nothing is even close to being clean as there are bodies everywhere, yes Saints could ruck them out the way but the tackler is meant to release and roll away.

Still Ulster are man shaming them in the scrum and taking their chances well too which is impressive to watch.

Yappy I am going to have to watch Toulouse do it to the Ospreys tomorrow, though I don't think we will be as competitive as Saints are. We have far too many injuries and a playing budget a fifth of Toulouse.

Bad mistake by Williams at the base, this is exactly why Wilson is the better option in these big games. Consistency is key.

Amazing defence by Ulster though. Led yet again by Chris Henry.

I don't think Ulster are getting the results, but they are certainly managing to slow the ball down, hold onto it on the ground a lot, another ref wouldve pinged them early on, but that said Saints have no reason not to be doing it also.

Thats Hartley banned for five weeks.

Hartley does a Hartley.....

SecretFly wrote:Hartley does a Hartley.....

maestegmafia wrote:Thats Hartley banned for five weeks.

What happened? Had to do some work for a few mins and I missed it.

What did Hartley do? i missed it.

Here comes Gilroy and Marshall

Connacht winning 19-9

Hartley pinning best to the floor and throwing elbows to the head guys.

The bonus point is slipping away here...

Thats Hartley banned for five weeks.

Nah, just a reaction to Best's knee drop. Front row handbags. Not sure Best needed to wave his arms around like a Wendy baller.

Ulster have been superior throughout, It's an impressive display and a serious show of intent.

Credit to Best no retaliation whatsoever just took it.

winning is the deal...if you keep winning you don't need the bonus

Thoroughly deserved win for Ulster, they've looked more focused, sharper and played better as a unit.

You have to question who Saints started in key positions versus who was on the bench. Wrong selection for the first up and home fixture when they really needed to try and stamp some rhythm and control on the game.

Very Martyn Williams esque MM don't you think, arms out look at this ref style and allowing Hartley to throw the elbows.

Notch wrote:

The bonus point is slipping away here...

Absolutely vital we don't let Saints get a LBP.

maestegmafia wrote:Credit to Best no retaliation whatsoever just took it.

I think Hartley could learn a lot from Best. He's one of the toughest players around and he doesn't need all this posing and illegal play and handbags to prove it. Just gets on with it. Hartley tends to lose his head.

Some massive hits from Cave and Wallace tonight

And then Jackson

To the corner = confidence and character!!!

Attack! Attack!

This is our moment.

God damn it, our lineout has gone to pot without Muller- hope to God he's fit next week.

Another line out. Come on!!!!

Oh Best, your lineout throws have been awfull tonight!!!

Great scrum ulster

Saints desperately need a new coaching team, their pack has been on the decline for the last two seasons and tonight has been highlighted and exposed massively.

The backs area able to compete with the fairly average attacking displays we see in the Prem but at European level look like a bunch of school kids playing the senior side.

Ulster look fitter, smarter and far better drilled then Saints, pro's v amateurs.

New head coach required, probably a new forwards coach and I don't even know if they have a backs coach at the moment.

TBP with 14 men...

THERE IT IS!

5 pointer, the bag is full

Jared Payne wow. I hate having to type that all the time!!

Wooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Wow. We did it again! Nuts!

GO ON!!!!!!!!!!! TUOHY

Well done Ulster.. What a team performance

Tuohy took that like Shane Williams, came from half way onto a crash ball from Payne and an almost Ash the splash style finish!

Brilliant result Ulster.

But......

Connacht 22-9 against Biarritz. This is looking like the result of the weekend.