Ulster v Scarlets Friday 4/1/2013 match thread

[neilthom7]

First topic message reminder :

So this Friday 4/1/2013 Ulster take on Scarlets at Ravenhill. Kick off is at 7:05pm.
Ulster are coming off their first league loss of the season away to Munster albeit with a significantly weakened team. I think here we can expect to see a very different looking Ulster team especially with on this game to go before the crucial Heineken Cup final round matches.
The Scarlets are coming off a heavy boxing day away defeat to Ospreys as well and will be looking to close the gap and build momentum into their own Heineken cup ties.
Should be a cracking match with a rivalry that has really developed in the past few seasons I can't wait.
BBC 2 NI are covering th match any other broadcasters I come across will be added as will teams as the week goes on.

Ulster XV
(15-9): A D’Arcy, A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar;
(1-8): T Court, R Herring, A Macklin, L Stevenson, D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry c, N Williams;
Replacements (16-23): N Annett, C Black, J Afoa, N McComb, R Wilson, M Heaney, P Wallace, R Andrew.

Scarlets : Dan Newton, George North, Gareth Maule, Jonathan Davies (capt), Kristian Phillips, Aled Thomas, Tavis Knoyle, Phil John, Emyr Phillips, Jacobie Adriaanse, Sione Timani, Richard Kelly, Josh Turnbull, Johnathan Edwards, Rob McCusker.

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Rhodri Jones, Deacon Manu, Tomas Vallejos, Craig Price, Gareth Davies, Scott Williams, Adam Warren.

Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)

Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Brian MacNeice (both IRFU)

Citing Commissioner: Gordon Black (IRFU)

TMO: Marshall Kilgore (IRFU

[LordDowlais]

I have not seen the Scarlets score a try for about three games now, they need to start remembering where the try line is sooner rather than later

[maestegmafia]

Ref has been very out of touch with the breakdown.

Ulster very lucky to be ahead.

[valjester]

Is the game back on yet? My feed is showing show crap on Lievermont.

[neilthom7]

He has for both sides there is so much going on. It has been about balancing itself out I would say so far.

[Notch]

John Afoa and Paddy Wallace in at half-time. For Macklin and Marshall?

[Cari]

Not yet Val - it should be back shortly...

[Cari]

OK now the players are coming out. Second half is kicking off now.

[neilthom7]

It was Court Jim not Macklin he was probably lucky a couple of times Court was destroying this side. Don't understand why Wallace would be on for Marshall unless he is giving them both a chance equal or something. A bit odd.

[valjester]

Cheers Cari, found a different feed.


Is Marshall injured?

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

John Afoa and Paddy Wallace in at half-time. For Macklin and Marshall?

[LordDowlais]

Tavis Knoyle has gone backwards at a rate of knots, how slow as he gone ? His reactions and game speed are non existant.

[Notch]

Think thats it Thom, 40 minutes each and the best of them starts next week.

[neilthom7]

Lovely try

[Cari]

TRY!

16-3 with conversion.

[valjester]

Great try. Thought Andrew should have given that on to Trimble but nice finish all the same.

[maestegmafia]

Great try ulster...

Scarlets need to stop kicking for touch. Get that idiot Thomas off. Terrible flyhalf

[Notch]

Maesteg, think Scarlets tactical kicking has been something we've struggled to deal with.

[maestegmafia]

He has for both sides there is so much going on. It has been about balancing itself out I would say so far.

Yes but yours have been kickable.

[Cari]

Minutes after Diack's try and Pienaar gets another shot at goal.

19-3 at 47 minutes.

Pienaar was told off for chopsing at the ref though.

[valjester]

Maesteg, think Scarlets tactical kicking has been something we've struggled to deal with.

It doesn't matter if they're winning the tactical kicking battle if they can't steal any lineouts. All they're doing is handing the ball back to Ulster.
It was the same thing Rog was doing away to Saracens, and it should have been abandoned when it became clear they weren't like to win the ball back.

It is a great tactic when you have POC in your team as he is always likely to steal a few, or if the opposition is a Welsh side with a hooker who goes to bits.


Trimble is having an absolute monster of a game. Ireland will have some great options in the backs for the six nations, hopefully Kidney can get them playing well.

[Notch]

Ospreys losing at home to Zebre?!

After last time I saw them at the Liberty, thats astonishing.

[Morgannwg]

Tavis Knoyle has gone backwards at a rate of knots, how slow as he gone ? His reactions and game speed are non existant.

It's been this way for years and I was always criticised for pointing out he should have zero caps to his name.

[neilthom7]

one of yours was kickable where they are is hardly a measure of how good or bad the ref is lol I think it has probably evened out and there has been time when Ulster have had good positions where Scarlets have been let off. Also one of the pens was for talking back to the ref after they ahd been told not too so can't really argue with that.

[Cari]

Woah! Good hit by Trimby. Shame Thomas couldn't go all the way with that mind.

Anyone know the Leinster score? Last I heard Edinburgh were ahead.

[Cari]

Ospreys losing at home to Zebre?!

After last time I saw them at the Liberty, thats astonishing.

Yes and it's fecking infuriating. That should be a WBP match that we really could do with!

[Cari]

PADDY WALLACE! Bit of a bum pass to be fair.

[Notch]

Oh so close! HULK SMASH.

But then he tries to offload like his cousin...

[neilthom7]

We were lucky there that was forward to Williams

[Notch]

Ah now, that wasn't Wallaces fault- the offload was ridiculously ambitious.

[Cari]

Yeah I know, the pass was very flat looking at it again too.

[Cari]

Doesn't matter now cause Williams is in.

24-3 before conversion.

[neilthom7]

Scarlets might as well just gave Hulk that they weren't gunna be able to stop him

[Cari]

A bus couldn't have stopped him!

26-3 at 57 minutes. Looks like the Scarlets are in for a drubbing...

[neilthom7]

Hulk is an animal

[Cari]

Blydi hell Williams went over someone like a steamroller then!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X77vgbEwgc

[neilthom7]

and hes off so well done Nick ok Roger match that lol

[sheephead]

Illegal hit by Trimble on Davies. Short arm tackle with no attempt to wrap. Forward pass to Williams. Scarlets have a tough enough task without those decisions

[Golden]

Was Marshall injured/playing badly that he was taken off so early? I was watching the Leinster match so i missed a lot

[Cari]

Golden - what's the score in the Leinster match?

[neilthom7]

Was Marshall injured/playing badly that he was taken off so early? I was watching the Leinster match so i missed a lot

Not that I know off injury wise and he was playing well think it was just one half to him, one to wallace whoever plays better gets the spot in the Heineken next week.

[neilthom7]

Leinster lead 17-6 at Half Time

[Golden]

Golden - what's the score in the Leinster match?

Its 17-6 now. A penalty try and a yellow card for Denton then DArcy went over shortly after.

[Cari]

More injury woes for wales - George North injured (again) and Jon Davies is limping a bit.

Glasgow 27-0 Treviso
O's 9-8 Zebra

[Golden]

Was Marshall injured/playing badly that he was taken off so early? I was watching the Leinster match so i missed a lot

Not that I know off injury wise and he was playing well think it was just one half to him, one to wallace whoever plays better gets the spot in the Heineken next week.

Ah right good stuff, love watching Ulster this season.

[maestegmafia]

Not good for North here.

Bang of heads here...?

Prepping a stretcher.

[Cari]

North and Trimby possibly clashed heads. Trimby's always getting headbutted

[neilthom7]

This doesn't look great for North hope the big fella isn't badly injured

[neilthom7]

Black, Annet and Heaney are going to come on good to see Niall getting time

[Cari]

From what the Welsh commentators are saying, he and Trimby clashed heads. Possibly a busted cheekbone, but obviously we won't know yet...

[Cari]

Awh this reminds me of when Tommy got stretchered off.

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