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

flyhalffactory wrote: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

No, thats McCusker.

Great start to the second half boy come on keep it up

Diack is in cracking form.... hope he gets an Ireland cap this summer.

Why is Williams not coming back on? He's one of the best backs.

Great line from Cave there

yeah Tom Court, well played Cave too almost made it, Rolland going up stairs

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

Gibbo ye auld chancer! You thought Scarlet's would win!

Short I think

Court looks to be a mile short of the line.

WHAT? HOW?

Try? seriously!!

Was it a try?

Didn't cross the line!

Well i know one thing if it hadn't of been a try then there were 2 offside who stoped him but its given so I won't go mental at Rolland

Officials and Scarlets are feckin woeful - Rolland is a complete embarrassment !

That's ridiculous, absolutely shocking one eyed refeering

sheephead wrote:Didn't cross the line!

Don't be so pedantic man.

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Officials and Scarlets are feckin woeful - Rolland is a complete embarrassment !

How was that Rollands fault? The TMO told him it was a try!

munkian wrote:The better Ulster do the less I like them

From my experience I find that is true of nearly all teams.

Oh dear- I think that will add fuel to Scarlets discontent against Rolland. Didn't look like a try to me. Rolland has given a few decisions Scarlets way but two major ones that have gone our way have resulted in 14 points. Their heads have gone down and it could end up a rout

rodders wrote:

sheephead wrote:Didn't cross the line!

Don't be so pedantic man.

Absolute f##King joke!

great kick Ruan right in the corner

The replay then after the conversion seemed to show it fall short, with Ken Owen's leg between the ball and the line. The close ups were not able to show this though.

Great kick by Rolland ... I mean Pienaar!

To be fair to Rolland, that was the TMO who gave the try.

rodders wrote:Great kick by Rolland ... I mean Pienaar!

now now play nice Rodders

Also the only reason it was short was because 2 Scarlets players who were offside a metre short of their line stoped him would you rather it was a penalty try and 2 yellows come on

Definitely, Rolland did the right thing. He gave it first, then went to the TMO. Rolland not to blame. To be honest I'm still not entirely sure, but the one angle seems to suggest it was short. The close ups showed nothing either way.

Where are the Scarlets leaders?, they have to get the youngers boys heads back on the job.......... McCusker, Jon Davies have to cool things down

This game has been turned into a non-contest by some awful officiating. Shame was looking like a good match for a while.

Well I hope Ken Owens is alright here that looks pretty nasty, best of luck to the big fella

Jon Davies is playing??? havent noticed him

That TMO call was even worse than the time the TMO didn't award Kearney's try against munster

Priestland, Scott Williams, Shinglerl, Ken Owens all injured....... going down like flies

neilthom7 wrote:Also the only reason it was short was because 2 Scarlets players who were offside a metre short of their line stoped him would you rather it was a penalty try and 2 yellows come on

you must be taking the pi$$. On that logic Ulster would've been a man down for the trip. Trimble red for an unprovoked assault....

I'm pretty sure it was short Griff, and a fair bit too. Hard to know. Didn't Rolland ask the TMO if there was any reason he couldn't award the try? In that case the TNO don't really have much choice. To say we've had he rub of the green would be an understatement.

MarcusHalberstram wrote:This game has been turned into a non-contest by some awful officiating. Shame was looking like a good match for a while.

In fairness the Scarlet's inability to score points combined with a tendency to leak them hasn't helped either.....

sheephead wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:Also the only reason it was short was because 2 Scarlets players who were offside a metre short of their line stoped him would you rather it was a penalty try and 2 yellows come on

you must be taking the pi$$. On that logic Ulster would've been a man down for the trip. Trimble red for an unprovoked assault....

Yes and Trimble would not have been sent off for that and Williams would because he punched him 4 times grow up pal

Sad sight to see Owens carried off liek that hope he is ok

5 injuries for the Scarlets! Will they have enough on the bench?!

Ulster deserve some silverware after having such a great season. After Leinster beat Glasgow you have to wonder if Ulster are actually capable of beating them in the final at the RDS under the supervision of an unbiased ref? I doubt it .

Bowe was way offside there surely

George Earle is down now

rodders wrote:

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

Gibbo ye auld chancer! You thought Scarlet's would win!

Nah Rods, its just a wee game Notch and I play. He does it better too.

I think (insert opposition) may just sneak this one...

Scarlets are a level below Ulster. Ulster are a level below Leinster. Its all good.

The Saint wrote:Ulster deserve some silverware after having such a great season. After Leinster beat Glasgow you have to wonder if Ulster are actually capable of beating them in the final at the RDS under the supervision of an unbiased ref? I doubt it .

Already have this season

Another one down.

Slowly turning into one of the worst games for Scarets in their history.

The Saint wrote:Slowly turning into one of the worst games for Scarets in their history.

Thought that was last week?

Think Deccie fitz seen the line and got to excited there lol hope this isn't another serious injury it looked a huge hit by Tuohy