Pro12 Playoff 1; Ulster (1st) vs Scarlets (4th) at Ravenhill

First topic message reminder :

Got my ticket booked for this one- expecting a good game if the weather holds up! Scarlets will probably raise their game from their abject home display against Treviso. Having watched them this season, I have noticed that when things don't go well for them and they start making mistakes they tend to get frustrated and make more and more. It seems they once again succumbed to this malaise against an excellent Treviso side who are slowly and surely growing into a team that can contend for a Top Six placing. But at Ravenhill, there is little pressure on them and they have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Totally different scenario.

Ulster were pretty poor for the first 40 minutes against Cardiff, no denying it, and will need an improved 80 minute display to see of the challenge of Scarlets and hopefully, in the event of a win, get primed to peak in the final two weeks later. Paddy Jackson has to return to the team at 10- a better defensive organiser and tackler, a more creative outhalf and it sees Pienaar return to his best position. Diack has to play too. Diack adds a great deal of balance to our backrow and I think dropping him to accommodate both Henderson and Williams would be a big mistake. Too unbalanced. Tuohy and Muller is a better balanced second row too, especially at lineout time, and Henderson hasn't been as impressive at lock as he has at 6. It seems like Henderson and Gilroy might both miss out- Gilroy maybe even not making the bench if Fridays selection is anything to go by, although I'd like to see him in there. Peter Nelson would be unfortunate to lose his place on the bench. In terms of impact subs, I actually think Tom Court can be a good impact sub coming on at loosehead. With Court, Henderson and Gilroy leading the charge from the bench in the second half hopefully we have enough to make it to our first ever Pro12 final.

Preferred Team;

1) Callum Black
2) Rory Best
3) John Afoa
4) Johann Muller (c)
5) Dan Tuohy
6) Robbie Diack
7) Chris Henry
8) Nick Williams
9) Ruan Pienaar
10) Paddy Jackson
11) Tommy Bowe
12) Stuart Olding
13) Darren Cave
14) Andrew Trimble
15) Jared Payne

16) Rob Herring 17) Tom Court 18) Declan Fitzpatrick 19) Iain Henderson 20) Sean Doyle 21) Paul Marshall 22) Michael Allen 23) Craig Gilroy

LeinsterFan4life wrote:The Aussie wingers will have a field day againat North.

Iaone never.....
On current form I don't think he'll start anyway. Bowe should though.

Williams for first minister!

Robbie Diack!

try time and good man Diack he has been everywhere today so far. SUFTUM

How dare Rolland award that try!

Good try from Ulster,nice to see players using their heads when going forward.

Nick Williams is immense!

Ever since Rolland missed that trip the momentum has massively swung in our favour. I wouldn't be one but happy about it if I were a Scarlets fans

Great to see payne staying he is so comfortable all the time just looks to have loads of time

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Williams was on the wrong side illegally and Trimble reacted poorly and deserved his yellow. Williams reacted by throwing several swinging punches- unacceptable thuggery. Should have been red and he will certainly be cited for that offence

Strinking someone once can be a red card! How can the number of punches make it a different offence?

Rolland has never been neutral.

I think momentum swung our way when the guys went to the bin we seemed fired up after that hookism

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Ever since Rolland missed that trip the momentum has massively swung in our favour. I wouldn't be one but happy about it if I were a Scarlets fans

I'm no Scarlet but look I pointed that out earlier and was told to wind my neck in because Welsh refs are rubbish..... Maybe you missed that, too busy claiming Williams is a thug because he defended himself.
No excuses for the second try though so I don't suppose they'll be hung up about the trip anymore.

"We're on the wrong end of the referee"
"I think he's missed a couple things if I'm honest."

Danny Wilson, AKA rugby genius.

Court off Black on Blood bin

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Ever since Rolland missed that trip the momentum has massively swung in our favour. I wouldn't be one but happy about it if I were a Scarlets fans

Away and bollix Hookie, Diack was obstructed in the lead up to the trip and Rolland has missed two clear knock-ons, plus his ridiculous binning of Trimble for getting punched in the chops.

Rolland is practically in a red shirt!

What referee would people have been happy with?

George Clancy?
A Scottish ref?
An Italian ref?

Basically it seems people arent happy unless Nigel is the ref. He cant referee everyone.

neilthom7 wrote:I think momentum swung our way when the guys went to the bin we seemed fired up after that hookism

Exactly.

Enough of the ref complaints already. Ulster are just a better team.

Another prime example of Roland been corrupt.

red_stag wrote:What referee would people have been happy with?

George Clancy?
A Scottish ref?
An Italian ref?

Basically it seems people arent happy unless Nigel is the ref. He cant referee everyone.

Probably.

Nick Williams is an animal and I don't mean a furry koala.......... superb player

That's the stuff!

red_stag wrote:What referee would people have been happy with?

George Clancy?
A Scottish ref?
An Italian ref?

Basically it seems people arent happy unless Nigel is the ref. He cant referee everyone.

Or people are just peed they are losing and don't want to blame their team or say that Ulster deserved it?

How the hell can it be a maul with just player from the team in possession.

2ndtimeround wrote:Another prime example of Roland been corrupt.

How exactly? learn the rules Ulster are playing better they are leading grow up

Rob McCusker seems to like Robbie Diack!

neilthom7 wrote:

Or people are just peed they are losing and don't want to blame their team or say that Ulster deserved it?

Wind your neck in.

rodders wrote:

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Ever since Rolland missed that trip the momentum has massively swung in our favour. I wouldn't be one but happy about it if I were a Scarlets fans

Away and bollix Hookie, Diack was obstructed in the lead up to the trip and Rolland has missed two clear knock-ons, plus his ridiculous binning of Trimble for getting punched in the chops.

Rolland is practically in a red shirt!

So you didn't see Trimbles punch either then or are you listening on the radio?

MrsP wrote:Rob McCusker seems to like Robbie Diack!

Diack seemed to like the toushy squeeze...

18-3 at half time to Ulster good first half, plenty of fieryness no one can say the league don't mean anything tonight lol

2ndtimeround wrote:How the hell can it be a maul with just player from the team in possession.

It's not what you know, its who you know ....

neilthom7 wrote:

red_stag wrote:What referee would people have been happy with?

George Clancy?
A Scottish ref?
An Italian ref?

Basically it seems people arent happy unless Nigel is the ref. He cant referee everyone.

Or people are just peed they are losing and don't want to blame their team or say that Ulster deserved it?

Now your jus talkig out the wong end, how can anyone say that Roland is calling this game from a neutral standpoint with the decisions he is making.
Some teams play a ref better but paddy the frog makes his own mind up who is going to win long before a game begins.

neilthom7 wrote:

red_stag wrote:What referee would people have been happy with?

George Clancy?
A Scottish ref?
An Italian ref?

Basically it seems people arent happy unless Nigel is the ref. He cant referee everyone.

Or people are just peed they are losing and don't want to blame their team or say that Ulster deserved it?

In fairness Nick Williams has been offside three times without a pen been given, two was bloody clear............ and how was the first try awarded.

No doubt tho the front five of Ulster have taken control

Oh Rodders I have missed you recently. Shame you put the 'Rodders jinx' (patent pending) on Darren Cave to tonight. If you did the same to Keith Earls he may as well retire.

Rolland has missed decisions for both teams but the trip was a bit of a whopper. Ulster are a much better team tonight at any rate

sheephead wrote:

rodders wrote:

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Ever since Rolland missed that trip the momentum has massively swung in our favour. I wouldn't be one but happy about it if I were a Scarlets fans

Away and bollix Hookie, Diack was obstructed in the lead up to the trip and Rolland has missed two clear knock-ons, plus his ridiculous binning of Trimble for getting punched in the chops.

Rolland is practically in a red shirt!

So you didn't see Trimbles punch either then or are you listening on the radio?

Rodders is only messing. Only Hookisms is that biased.

The Saint wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:

Or people are just peed they are losing and don't want to blame their team or say that Ulster deserved it?

Wind your neck in.

LMAO fair play lol

If I wanted to be biased I would add that Scarlets had a player sexually assault Diack. Then again you get your action where you can

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Oh Rodders I have missed you recently. Shame you put the 'Rodders jinx' (patent pending) on Darren Cave to tonight. If you did the same to Keith Earls he may as well retire.

I thought Earls had retired ...

Never mind Rolland how did the touch judge miss that trip?

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:If I wanted to be biased I would add that Scarlets had a player sexually assault Diack. Then again you get your action where you can

Surely he could save it for the Rockettes Hookism

[quote="Hookisms and Hyperbole"]If I wanted to be biased I would add that Scarlets had a player sexually assault Diack. Then again you get your action where you can[/quote

Get a life.

On a another viewing Trimble might find himself cited as well. Silly boy, silly reaction when they had the penalty.

Golden wrote:Never mind Rolland how did the touch judge miss that trip?

The touch judge works for Lavery's ...

rodders wrote:

Golden wrote:Never mind Rolland how did the touch judge miss that trip?

The touch judge works for Lavery's ...

I heard it was fonacab Rodders

Shane Logan talking a lot of sense there

FFS Rolland Ulster are doing alright on their own merit they do not need your help.

Crooked as they come!!

The Scarlets have got to play in the right areas, they should have stopped that driving lineout and the made more in-roads at the breakdown...... or they have to play it wide.

Liam Williams is not coming out

That trip was a huge fupp up - how could none of the refeering team not have seen it ? You can't justify it by saying 'well, he was obstructed' Should have been a Turk pen and a possible yellow card instead it lead to an Ulster try.

And yeah, Ulster the better team at home but it doesn't do them any favours when they are getting the rub of the coin and their fans are acting like stuck up football fans. The better Ulster do the less I like them and their fans - not gracious winners, I suspect its the hangers on rather than the real fans

This game is a huge mis-match. Tomorrow is the real Final.