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

Standulstermen wrote:Best team won. Plenty to work on. End of story. Life goes on.

Obla dee... Obla Daa... Woahoh... La...

Anyone?

No?

Carry on.

Standulstermen wrote:Best team won. Plenty to work on. End of story. Life goes on.

Various nationals have commented on this evenings Rolland show so I don't think it is just the Welsh. I can't argue with your statement because it is true. My only gripe is the Irish constantly claiming the Welsh blame the ref when they have done more than their fair share of ref blaming.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Very happy with the win!

Williams, Diack and Best were just playing like men possessed. Superb game from the 3 of them.

Commiserations to the Scarlets, but lo and behold the Scarlets lose yet again and the referee is at fault. But hey, what else is new.

Check the teams the ref complainers support! Not too many of them are Scarlets fans, the Scarlets fans have all said the right team won, please don't add to your injury (lots of them tonight on the pitch) with insult by calling us sour losers over comments of other non scarlet fans.

Apologies Scarlets. Enjoy your night.

Was in Parc Y Scarlets twice in the last year or so with Leinster. Had a ball with me Scarlets and O's mates off here. They even bought a round. Or 2. Let's cut with this shoite already.

Rolland is a tool.

Yeah the ref had a pretty average game by his standards, but lets just try and keep some perspective. It's not worth getting upset over. There are bigger things at play than rugby sometimes. Remember this man?

http://thefrontrowunion.com/2013/05/ulster-spence-named-ulster-rugby-personality-of-the-year/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

Lets all get along

The Saint wrote:I did say hours ago, that Easterby has been getting his selections wrong all year! For all the praise Earle/Snyman get for their work rate they don't seem very good at going forward or pushing in the scrum. Ball and Timani add a lot of power, I certainly think Ball should be a starter from now on. I can't stress how great a scrum-half Gareth Davies is; but the Scarlets management and fans do not agree. And finally seeing as neither centre can pass maybe Maule or Owen should partner JD. Maule is a strong centre who can go forward, stay on his feet and offload; while Owen is very skilful and an excellent distributor. The abundance of riches in the backline should be put to better use because some players seem to be picked on reputation.

Really? Gareth Davies, to me, has been the best Welsh 9 in Wales this season. He's really come on, his passing has improved, his conditioning looks good, and he can run the game from 9. I'm slightly bemused at Knoyle's release and the favour Aled Davies finds himself in. Easterby appears to have bought into the Warren Gatland gameplan of stats and no mistakes, and certain players fit the mould. Sadly, and in part, but not solely, due to our budget, the backline has suffered immensely, and you don't need a data analyst to show you that. Davies for me could easily be a quality international if given the chance, though this looks increasingly unlikely. We have a good set of 9s with little experience, Knoyle, Lloyd Williams, perhaps Rhys Webb is the most talented, if a little flakey. They just need game time for Wales. Look ahead to the World Cup, and look at how England are building. The last two 6N titles will count for little if, come the World Cup, we get knocked out of the group because Adam Jones, Phillips etc. are the wrong side of the hill.

I think case in point will be when they release the Scarlets tries of the season reel. Compared it to previous years it will be very weak indeed. Scott Williams is slightly infuriating. Has a tendency to 'do a Tom James' in that he has little idea of the players around him/running lines, except with Scott it's when the ball is in his hands.

scarlets are really lacking someone creative in midfield. hopefully shingler will bring some of that but without the priest we are seriously predictable. jd2 want joking about being a poor passer... terrible hands

DOD wrote:

Gibson wrote:

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Gibbo it's all the non fruit washing we do up here. The pesticides have gone to our brain. We just chant Ulster to remind ourselves where we are from. Its more a question that statement. The chant is more like "Ulster? Ulster? Ulster?" The last thing we'd want is to end up worshipping Keith Earls and eating turnips.

Stick to wearing bowler hats and marching up and down roads...that should do it

Oh Jeezuz, I really have to stop smoking this Moroccan Cream.

Love it Decco.

Easterby's interview. Fair to say he agrees with the ineptitude of Rolland's performance:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22490881

Notch wrote:Yeah the ref had a pretty average game by his standards, but lets just try and keep some perspective. It's not worth getting upset over. There are bigger things at play than rugby sometimes. Remember this man?

http://thefrontrowunion.com/2013/05/ulster-spence-named-ulster-rugby-personality-of-the-year/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

Lets all get along

Love you Notch. Nailed it. :DressedOrange:

I'm guessing Rolland has taken a lot of stick on here tonight, rightly so IMHO, missing a few forward passes, a trip, a lot of Ulster infringements at the rucks, and the mess with the try, but if I'm being honest Ulster had the measure of the Scarlets, even though the Scarlets gave a hefty start and end to the game.

Ulster for me have been the best team in the Rabo this season by a mile, followed by an ever improving Glasgow, I want to see them two in the final.

Congrats Ulster fans, thoroughly deserved

thebluesmancometh wrote:I'm guessing Rolland has taken a lot of stick on here tonight, rightly so IMHO, missing a few forward passes, a trip, a lot of Ulster infringements at the rucks, and the mess with the try, but if I'm being honest Ulster had the measure of the Scarlets, even though the Scarlets gave a hefty start and end to the game.

Ulster for me have been the best team in the Rabo this season by a mile, followed by an ever improving Glasgow, I want to see them two in the final.

Congrats Ulster fans, thoroughly deserved

Honestly, bluesman? So he didn't miss any Scarlets infringements at all? Perhaps there were none? Disappointed.

Notch wrote:Yeah the ref had a pretty average game by his standards, but lets just try and keep some perspective. It's not worth getting upset over. There are bigger things at play than rugby sometimes. Remember this man?

http://thefrontrowunion.com/2013/05/ulster-spence-named-ulster-rugby-personality-of-the-year/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

Lets all get along

Puts it all in perspective, well said Notch

Grotesquely biased performance by Roland, I cannot remember a more biased performance by a so called top referee. I lost count of the number of clearly wrong decisions he gave against the Welsh. He clearly has a major issue following the criticism he got at the World Cup.

It was a great shame that a totally biased refereeing performance is the main talking point after the best side in this year's Rabo league gets into the final. Hopefully the game organisers will now see that this man should not be let near any pro Rugby in the future.

Congratulations to Ulster, you won the league now go and win the play offs, you are a good enough team to win without a biased ref. Good luck for the final.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:I'm guessing Rolland has taken a lot of stick on here tonight, rightly so IMHO, missing a few forward passes, a trip, a lot of Ulster infringements at the rucks, and the mess with the try, but if I'm being honest Ulster had the measure of the Scarlets, even though the Scarlets gave a hefty start and end to the game.

Ulster for me have been the best team in the Rabo this season by a mile, followed by an ever improving Glasgow, I want to see them two in the final.

Congrats Ulster fans, thoroughly deserved

Honestly, bluesman? So he didn't miss any Scarlets infringements at all? Perhaps there were none? Disappointed.

I never said he missed nothing from Scarlets at all, I just said he missed the obvious / important (2 tries) ones, and made a few bum calls. I must meant that Scarlets certainly got the rough end of the stick, and 2 tries came directly from his mistakes, and a number of key moments broken down.

Why is it I criticise a refs performance amongst congratulating Ulster (who I stated as the best Rabo team this year) and all you want to do is argue about the ref?

Seagultaf wrote:Grotesquely biased performance by Roland, I cannot remember a more biased performance by a so called top referee. I lost count of the number of clearly wrong decisions he gave against the Welsh The Scarlets. He clearly has a major issue following the criticism he got at the World Cup.

It was a great shame that a totally biased refereeing performance is the main talking point after the best side in this year's Rabo league gets into the final. Hopefully the game organisers will now see that this man should not be let near any pro Rugby in the future.

Congratulations to Ulster, you won the league now go and win the play offs, you are a good enough team to win without a biased ref. Good luck for the final.

If your going to whinge about him at least do the rest of us the curtesy of not being lumped in with you!!!

Interesting fact a Welsh team has a 11% chance of winning a HC games if an Irish ref is in charge.

Told you beer swilling,secret hand shaking,self serving lot.

Infact just want to comment that there was a worse performance than Rollands...

What is going on with North, as clueless and lacklustr as I have ever seen him!! Is he just got one foot in Northampton, and doesn't want to miss a lions tour? Is there some bad blood within the team (I did notice a try scoring pass out right late on to him and Owens decided to step infeild toward traffic)? Or is he injured/fatigued?

This is 2 games now where I'm amazed he's still on the pitch after 40 minutes!!

viewtothegym wrote:Interesting fact a Welsh team has a 11% chance of winning a HC games if an Irish ref is in charge.

Told you beer swilling,secret hand shaking,self serving lot.

Fixed another one

Have to say I remember Ulster fans being scathing in their criticism of Clancy in a recent Leinster v Ulster game. No different to the Scarlets fans today.

red_stag wrote:Have to say I remember Ulster fans being scathing in their criticism of Clancy in a recent Leinster v Ulster game. No different to the Scarlets fans today.

Harsh Stag, but true. In all fairness. They are both Brit provinces => same people, soo.

Coincidence?

North wants the Lions trip injury free.

Notch wrote:Yeah the ref had a pretty average game by his standards, but lets just try and keep some perspective. It's not worth getting upset over. There are bigger things at play than rugby sometimes. Remember this man?

http://thefrontrowunion.com/2013/05/ulster-spence-named-ulster-rugby-personality-of-the-year/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

Lets all get along

Notch, you are a decent guy (I know this from 606 days and 606v2). Can I suggest that you post the tribute to Nevin Spence as a stand alone topic, because if I'm honest (and sorry no offence) but it does appear that the post here is almost an attempt to diffuse a valid discussion (and objections) about a refs performance and potential influence on the outcome of a result.

I think the tribute has its own place, and that place is not here on this thread.. again sorry, no offence.

thebluesmancometh wrote:

Seagultaf wrote:Grotesquely biased performance by Roland, I cannot remember a more biased performance by a so called top referee. I lost count of the number of clearly wrong decisions he gave against the Welsh The Scarlets. He clearly has a major issue following the criticism he got at the World Cup.

It was a great shame that a totally biased refereeing performance is the main talking point after the best side in this year's Rabo league gets into the final. Hopefully the game organisers will now see that this man should not be let near any pro Rugby in the future.

Congratulations to Ulster, you won the league now go and win the play offs, you are a good enough team to win without a biased ref. Good luck for the final.

If your going to whinge about him at least do the rest of us the curtesy of not being lumped in with you!!!

Short memory bluesman' can't you remember as far back as the World Cup?

Seagultaf wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:

Seagultaf wrote:Grotesquely biased performance by Roland, I cannot remember a more biased performance by a so called top referee. I lost count of the number of clearly wrong decisions he gave against the Welsh The Scarlets. He clearly has a major issue following the criticism he got at the World Cup.

It was a great shame that a totally biased refereeing performance is the main talking point after the best side in this year's Rabo league gets into the final. Hopefully the game organisers will now see that this man should not be let near any pro Rugby in the future.

Congratulations to Ulster, you won the league now go and win the play offs, you are a good enough team to win without a biased ref. Good luck for the final.

If your going to whinge about him at least do the rest of us the curtesy of not being lumped in with you!!!

Short memory bluesman' can't you remember as far back as the World Cup?

If you are refering to Warbs Red then sorry but get over it. What Rolland did was to the book and directives from IRB. Not his fault other refs were'nt toeing the right line.

Gibson wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:Best team won. Plenty to work on. End of story. Life goes on.

Obla dee... Obla Daa... Woahoh... La...

Anyone?

No?

Carry on.

Is there no culture here!

La la la la la la life goes on

I think its a shame that people can't just say a ref had a sh1t game and leave it at that without calling peoples integrity into question.

Said it before and Ill say it again. Rugby needs to get off its high horse. Zero respect for the ref.

Whether its English with Walsh, Munster fans with Poite, Welsh with Roland or Kiwis and Wayne Barnes why does having a crap game mean they are a cheat. Sometimes they just have a sh1t game.

red_stag wrote:I think its a shame that people can't just say a ref had a sh1t game and leave it at that without calling peoples integrity into question.

Said it before and Ill say it again. Rugby needs to get off its high horse. Zero respect for the ref.

Whether its English with Walsh, Munster fans with Poite, Welsh with Roland or Kiwis and Wayne Barnes why does having a crap game mean they are a cheat. Sometimes they just have a sh1t game.

Just like players...

red_stag wrote:Have to say I remember Ulster fans being scathing in their criticism of Clancy in a recent Leinster v Ulster game. No different to the Scarlets fans today.

To be fair, Clancy wasn't great that evening, and usually it's the losing fans that complain about refs. We won that night, and so the complaints cant be put down to sour grapes. Another call to the TMO after a try is given

Maybe one day we can be as mature as Leinster, and Munster fans who never whinge about the ref

red_stag wrote:I think its a shame that people can't just say a ref had a sh1t game and leave it at that without calling peoples integrity into question.

Said it before and Ill say it again. Rugby needs to get off its high horse. Zero respect for the ref.

Whether its English with Walsh, Munster fans with Poite, Welsh with Roland or Kiwis and Wayne Barnes why does having a crap game mean they are a cheat. Sometimes they just have a sh1t game.

The man does talk sense

Criticism of a ref is fine in my book, if they have a bad day or make bad calls then fine.

It's the calls of cheat as the reasoning for it that bothers me.

viewtothegym wrote:

rodders wrote:

The Saint wrote:

viewtothegym wrote:Well what a surprise the hand picked ref won Ulster the game.

Shocking! even as far telling a Scarlets scrum five meters out from the Ulster line going for a push over try to "use it" WTF?

Every Scarlet ruck formed he called "use it" immediately,
the trip,
the close line on Davies with the try line in sigh,
the ball slapped down on the Ulster line,
Tom Court didn't even get over the line,
Andrew Trimble assaulting someone with their arms pined down thn backing off when he fought back.
Sealing off
In the side.

SHOCKER!

Here's a man telling you how it is Rodders, Gibson, Neil, etc.

Nah, view's probably just a bit stressed because he's ran out of creatine or something. A wee drip down to holland and barrett and he'll be back on top form ...

Actually got some creatine on Wednesday no Holland and Barret crap goes in this temple/body, only pure grade.

Anyway back to the game, Rolland is a tool.

Ah well, maybe you can join him in the garden shed with the rest of the tools.

red_stag wrote:I think its a shame that people can't just say a ref had a sh1t game and leave it at that without calling peoples integrity into question.

Said it before and Ill say it again. Rugby needs to get off its high horse. Zero respect for the ref.

Whether its English with Walsh, Munster fans with Poite, Welsh with Roland or Kiwis and Wayne Barnes why does having a crap game mean they are a cheat. Sometimes they just have a sh1t game.

Oh my. From a man who knows.

A ref is just another player in the game. A huge player mind, but still a player and a human. If he's good or bad, he's still just like the players at any given moment. Open to human-error an ting? Capiche?

Its all in the game lads. Take it in or move on.

Rugby, for me anyway, is a hard sport based on mutual respect. Followed by some of the best people I know.

If we are to hold on to this ethos, ripping refs apart when your team is not up to it, is not a good start.

I think it's okay to point out the mistakes refs make in the same way I think it's fair enough to point out the mistakes players make.

Like going to the TMO after the final whistle was always going to attract a certain amount of criticism no matter what game it was in.

Calling a ref biased is just poor sportsmanship.

And, I could have told you that Rolland was going to get pulled apart by certain fans tonight long before kick-off. It would not have mattered which guy had the whistle for some folks. If their team lost they will blame the ref. Everytime ref!!!!

Not all fans though!

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

It was, MrsP; but considering how important a match it was, and the fact the Rolland will be refereeing the Heineken Cup final, I'd be seriously concerned that he awarded the try himself initially. You don't award a try because one team's dominant, they get close to the line and the crowd cheers: you award it because you can see it being scored. Rolland couldn't have done - if he had, he wouldn't have gone upstairs - and yet he gave the try. That can't be acceptable, surely?

MrsP wrote:And, I could have told you that Rolland was going to get pulled apart by certain fans tonight long before kick-off. It would not have mattered which guy had the whistle for some folks. If their team lost they will blame the ref. Everytime ref!!!!

I don't know who else uses that Everytime ref, but I know the Dragons do but only in a humorous way. Even if there's been a penalty given in the first minute, they'll use it.

I don't see the harm in that myself.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

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

It was, MrsP; but considering how important a match it was, and the fact the Rolland will be refereeing the Heineken Cup final, I'd be seriously concerned that he awarded the try himself initially. You don't award a try because one team's dominant, they get close to the line and the crowd cheers: you award it because you can see it being scored. Rolland couldn't have done - if he had, he wouldn't have gone upstairs - and yet he gave the try. That can't be acceptable, surely?

His mistake was that he Did go upstairs instead of holding to his view that a try had been scored. The problem is that when you're seen to change your mind, it plants the seed of doubt. He felt he saw enough to call it - the Scarlet players wanted confirmation. He gave in and the camera angles couldn't pick up the put down. Doesn't mean he didn't see it though. He's not one of the four or five camera angles... he's there beside the action.

Other thing is John Barclay must have watched that wondering why on earth he has signed for Scarlets - they stuck with it until the end when beaten so power to them for that - but if George North's dad had refereed that game they would not have won !

The Saint wrote:

tecphobe wrote:

Jhamer25 wrote:

Welsh sides never get beat its always the ref the weather wrong time of the month.

Did you watch that game. I hate people criticising the referee for the score all the time but that performance by the ref was unprofessional. Even the touch judges were poor. Both officials were closer than Ken Owens when the trip occurred yet Ken Owens saw it (why he reacted the way he did and then told the ref, who then apologised) and Allan and the linesman didn't. Love sacks

It's a general point the welsh constantly moan about refs. Rolland may not of had the greatest of games but he was poor for both teams the scarlets gota away with a lot of ruck offences slowing the ball down not scruming straight. The best team won

Just like the Irish and Leinster fans moan about the ref when Ireland lose to Wales and Leinster to Ospreys. The Irish constantly moan about refs despite always getting the rub of the 'green'

If the ref was called Declan Kidney...yep, we didn't like him. He always conspired to make Ireland lose games they should'a won.

Refs other than Kidney? Never heard of them.

Risca Rev wrote:

MrsP wrote:And, I could have told you that Rolland was going to get pulled apart by certain fans tonight long before kick-off. It would not have mattered which guy had the whistle for some folks. If their team lost they will blame the ref. Everytime ref!!!!

I don't know who else uses that Everytime ref, but I know the Dragons do but only in a humorous way. Even if there's been a penalty given in the first minute, they'll use it.

I don't see the harm in that myself.

Totally agree Rev! That was the same way I was using it last night, just trying to bring a little levity to the situation!

Refs have bad games just as players do, the poor decisions usually balance out and don't greatly affect any one side. The problem with Roland last night was that the vast majority his poor decisions affected the Scarlet's.

There can only be two reasons for this, Roland allowed himself to be overly influenced by Ulster's fantastic support, or he was biased against the Welsh team.

If it was the former then he should not be refereeing top matches until he learns to deal with the pressure. If it is the latter then he should not be refereeing!

Looking at the score most pundits would say that was a fair result, but we will never know what a fair result would have been, because of the referee prevented a fair contest.

Shocking refereeing performance ruined what should have been a great game. Despite what was a hollow victory, congratulations again to Ulster, by far the best team in the Rabo and good luck for the final.

Seagultaf wrote:Refs have bad games just as players do, the poor decisions usually balance out and don't greatly affect any one side. The problem with Roland last night was that the vast majority his poor decisions affected the Scarlet's.

There can only be two reasons for this, Roland allowed himself to be overly influenced by Ulster's fantastic support, or he was biased against the Welsh team.

If it was the former then he should not be refereeing top matches until he learns to deal with the pressure. If it is the latter then he should not be refereeing!

So you give him only two IFs - and both of them are negative. The only problem with that "biased" reading is you don't bring bias to its full conclusion.

Rolland may be part French but the Irish part of him is all Leinster. (Born in Dublin, played for Leinster). Now, given that Ulster (along with Glasgow) appears to be the heavy hitting, try scoring form-side of the year, and given that they've already beaten Leinster twice this season, don't you think his bias would be extending beyond the Irish bit and straight on to the possible Leinster v Ulster bit? If he has bias at all, surely it would have favoured Scarlets? Bias doesn't stop at Nation afterall.

Seagultaf wrote:Refs have bad games just as players do, the poor decisions usually balance out and don't greatly affect any one side. The problem with Roland last night was that the vast majority his poor decisions affected the Scarlet's.

Actually often poor decisions do not balance out. Anyway I disagree that the vast majority of poor decisions affected the Scarlets

There can only be two reasons for this, Roland allowed himself to be overly influenced by Ulster's fantastic support, or he was biased against the Welsh team.

Or a third reason - you as a partisan viewer tend to see the bad things against your team more.

Looking at the score most pundits would say that was a fair result, but we will never know what a fair result would have been, because of the referee prevented a fair contest.

Looking at the match I reckon it was a fair result. Scarlets left it until the last 15 minutes before they actually tried to play. They ran out of time and can blame only themselves

Shocking refereeing performance ruined what should have been a great game. Despite what was a hollow victory, congratulations again to Ulster, by far the best team in the Rabo and good luck for the final.

Really, a hollow victory?

viewtothegym wrote:

rodders wrote:

The Saint wrote:

viewtothegym wrote:Well what a surprise the hand picked ref won Ulster the game.

Shocking! even as far telling a Scarlets scrum five meters out from the Ulster line going for a push over try to "use it" WTF?

Every Scarlet ruck formed he called "use it" immediately,
the trip,
the close line on Davies with the try line in sigh,
the ball slapped down on the Ulster line,
Tom Court didn't even get over the line,
Andrew Trimble assaulting someone with their arms pined down thn backing off when he fought back.
Sealing off
In the side.

SHOCKER!

Here's a man telling you how it is Rodders, Gibson, Neil, etc.

Nah, view's probably just a bit stressed because he's ran out of creatine or something. A wee drip down to holland and barrett and he'll be back on top form ...

Actually got some creatine on Wednesday no Holland and Barret crap goes in this temple/body, only pure grade.

You're a classy guy view!

rodders wrote:

viewtothegym wrote:

rodders wrote:

The Saint wrote:

viewtothegym wrote:Well what a surprise the hand picked ref won Ulster the game.

Shocking! even as far telling a Scarlets scrum five meters out from the Ulster line going for a push over try to "use it" WTF?

Every Scarlet ruck formed he called "use it" immediately,
the trip,
the close line on Davies with the try line in sigh,
the ball slapped down on the Ulster line,
Tom Court didn't even get over the line,
Andrew Trimble assaulting someone with their arms pined down thn backing off when he fought back.
Sealing off
In the side.

SHOCKER!

Here's a man telling you how it is Rodders, Gibson, Neil, etc.

Nah, view's probably just a bit stressed because he's ran out of creatine or something. A wee drip down to holland and barrett and he'll be back on top form ...

Actually got some creatine on Wednesday no Holland and Barret crap goes in this temple/body, only pure grade.

You're a classy guy view!

Pure grade Creatine Is it any better on the liver? Does it dehydrate you less? I suppose I'm looking from a performance POV though, hopping up on it and watching yourself flex in gym mirrors should be harmless enough...

After last 2 games, Scarlets are probably delighted to have offloaded North for cash, offers nothing in attack and can't tackle, hope Northampton fan's haven't seen his last 2 games, i have also noticed in the last 5 minutes Owen clearly ignored North for a certain try.

Fenby will be a loss though.

VinceWLB wrote:After last 2 games, Scarlets are probably delighted to have offloaded North for cash, offers nothing in attack and can't tackle, hope Northampton fan's haven't seen his last 2 games, i have also noticed in the last 5 minutes Owen clearly ignored North for a certain try.

Fenby will be a loss though.

Agree on North. A good player, when he decides to play, but not great. The previous time the two sides met Trimble played him off the park. His attempt at defense for Bowes try was weak, which was in contrast to the passion, the aggression, of most of the Scarlets team on the night.

I think some of the criticism of the officiating is justified but it wasn't just Rollaind. The touch judge should have seen the trip and the fourth official should not have awarded the try. I think any fan would be upset at those two decisions which in the end were the difference between the two sides. naturally because it's a Welsh team we're not allowed to mention any refereeing decisions that went against us though.


It was 12 points that ulster would not have otherwise had and the score difference was 11 points. Not too hard to work out why scarlets fans feel aggrieved.

red_stag wrote:Have to say I remember Ulster fans being scathing in their criticism of Clancy in a recent Leinster v Ulster game. No different to the Scarlets fans today.

Except that we won. So, in fact, massively different. Just a point of fact. And, in fact, there were chants of "are you Clancy in disguise?" when Rolland awarded Court's try and then went upstairs. How does that work, Stag?

Hope there's no serious issues with Owens..

Ulster's subs weakened their momentum, and they lost the scrum as a weapon. The Scarlets' subs should have started. North might as well have been playing on his DS. Trimble needs to tone it down.

Glad I didn't come onto the forum last night.

SUFTUM, commiserations Scarlets, roll on tonight!

Why do I always see STUFUM when "SUFTUM" appears on these threads?

Ok, maybe I'm dslyeixc ...but maybe I just see a better looking arcnoym oot?

I was watching with sound off. What question did Rolland ask the TMO re Court's try?

And yes he was so emphatic in awarding it a looked up from my laptop and spoke to my girls, so was rather shocked to look back down and see repeated replays.