The Rabo Pro12 Final - RDS - 25th May - Leinster V Ulster

First topic message reminder :

Well, there's been little chat on here for Ulster fans lately, so I decided to create a thread to try an encourage some build up!

My wifes birthday is on friday, and I long ago booked myself to do some work in Galway that day. Naughty naughty Clive! To make up for it, I booked a long weekend for the missus and the wee man to come.

Then I realise when the Rabo Final is. Long story short, I've rearranged hotels, Travelling from Galway to Dublin hotel for the weekend, and got two tickets through the supporters club!

I'll be in the North Stand, and we are going to attempt to bring little Ruan in the baby carrier! Is that mad???

Anyways, I'll put team info in here when it becomes available.

I have this weird fantasy that keeps coming to me, that Ferris will surprisingly be fit and named after having been kept top secret! There has been no timescale on his current injury since February when they stated he would probably miss the season.

Will Luke Marshall be allowed to play?

Any injury worries?

Will Leinster care more about this game than they did the Amlin final? (Honestly, barely a smile at final whistle!)

Winning the HC
Winning the league
Runner up in the HC
Runner up in the league
Winning the Amlin
Winning the B&I Cup

I'm sorry Kingshu, but in my Irish eyes nothing gets close to HC. And I've felt that even when Munster were winning it.

It's the deal. Sides that get to hang in there during the play-offs DO prioritise it and therefore, in a real sense, Pro12 does fall off the 'totally passionate' agenda for the duration that interest in the HC lasts. And yes, it is then used as an excuse for stumbling at the final stages of Pro12 (Every cloud must have a silver lining found for it)

Anyway, HC is the big cheese until you're not in it anymore. Then most definitely Pro12 becomes the next Holy Grail. I'd personally prefer the Pro12 final to come before, not after the HC final, as I feel the end of the season should be the competition that has included sides from the three leagues of Europe and that is most definitely the major club competition in Europe.

But about the excuses......................... ...em, we still have that one to an extent. Just go back over how many games Ulster have had to play and how many Leinster have had in the last month....

Oh I still got my "we were knackered" excuse all lined up and waiting to be used liberally

Cheers Mickado and SecretFly , I'd have it as

Winning the HC
Winning the league
Runner up in the HC
Runner up in the league
Semi final H-cup
Winning the Amlin
making Pro 12 playoffs
Runner up in Almin
Q-finals in H-cup
semi finals in Almin
Q-finals in Almin
Winning the B&I Cup

It is difficult to put in an order, as SF says if still in H-cup even though Leauge is second on list, it would be scarificed somewhat, Thats why this final is better than the Munster V Leinster one. Leinster didn't make any scarfices in league to win Almin, and even proitised the league judging by players they put out in Almin final.

However i would be intrested in what Ospreys fans think, as I don't think fans in Wales would count winning the league as better than being a Losing H-cup finalist.

Kingshu wrote:

However i would be intrested in what Ospreys fans think, as I don't think fans in Wales would count winning the league as better than being a Losing H-cup finalist.

Welsh fans think all of it (HC and Pro12) is below International. They're hard to please, those lads

What's going on here...very little by the look of things. No ROG to bash, or DK. Only boring lulster. Bound to be closer than last years HC final given Leinster are going backwards at a rate of knots (good move Joe), and ulsterrrrrr flattering to deceive yet again as evidenced by the HC. Should be an exciting yet ultimately low quality affair...

You're probably right DOD. If I were you, I wouldn't even watch. It's only a bunch of Irish Internationals at play...eejits the lot of them. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

SecretFly wrote:You're probably right DOD. If I were you, I wouldn't even watch. It's only a bunch of Irish Internationals at play...eejits the lot of them. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

internationals....hmm there are a few who you could say are of intl standard..plus pienar and nacewa...but that's about it in terms of quality

SecretFly wrote:You're probably right DOD. If I were you, I wouldn't even watch. It's only a bunch of Irish Internationals at play...eejits the lot of them. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

No doubt It will be an awful match I am just going to watch so I can be annoyed at how bad of a match it will be

Totally agree DODster, I'm not watching this gumph...what time are Munster on? .....

Well...I'm afraid 'quality' ain't the criteria, DOD. Say hello to the future, the present and one of the last hanger-ons of the past.

Oh and the other Internationals are either sitting at home watching their long overdue boxsets, or sweating blood for Gats.

But you're right, it's better to just dream of the next decade and hibernate through this one.

Not to worry lads..give us another year or two to get back to normal service and providing the bulk of the Irish squad as with the last decade..in the meantime enjoy the game

So, who will the Munster fans be cheering for come Saturday?

I get the feeling some of them would like to see us both lose,it's a bittter pill to swallow when your season ends so early.

That WOULD be one for the history books!

A Double loss on the same day in a Home/Away final for both sides!

Anyone going to this? I may have two tickets for sale if anyone is interested. PM me.

Not sure if it is sold out or not.

MrsP wrote:So, who will the Munster fans be cheering for come Saturday?

Some will be cheering Pienaar. Some Williams. Some Nacewa. Some O'Gara's new student.........

Im sure they will all be in their Munster jerseys cheering for Munster as usual. Odd bunch.

GunsGerms wrote:Im sure they will all be in their Munster jerseys cheering for Munster as usual. Odd bunch.

Well, I was at the HC Final last Sat and I bet this game will outshine it by a mile, for quality, skill, passion, commitment and endeavor. The 2 last seasons HC Finalists, both back in top form and fighting it out to the death.

This game... this one, is the Final of the Season in the NH. Make no bones about it.

Shame we are playing away. It gives Ulstuuur an edge. Don't like it. Don't like it at all.

But, seeing as how we lost the last 2 Finals, at Home... it takes that particular pressure off us.

Leinster by 20 and with no end of style and panache.

If Afoa is out I think we'll win,if he's in I hope we'll win.

number in brackets = euro table ranking

Finals this year
Top 14
Clermot(1)/Castres(12) V Toulon(3)/Toulose (9)
Jeff
Leicester Tigers (7) V Northampton Saints (10)
Pro 12
Ulster (4) V Leinster(2)

H-cup
Clermot (1) V Toulon(3)
Almin
Leinster (2) V Stade (19)


Weakest final was the Almin, to one sided and lowest ranked team.
Jeff is next weakest between 7th and 10th teams in Europe
Not much between H-cup and Pro 12 final, and depending on who qualifies Top 14 could either equal it or be worse (esp if Castres at 12th get through)

It appears the Pro 12 is the top domestic final, and only a Clermot (1) V Toulon(3) Top 14 final could equal it for quality, and it's just as good in quality terms as the H-cup final.

Surley that has to speak volumes about how far the League has come on since 2000, that now it is producing top quality finals, better or equal to the best in Europe, and better than some of the established "big" leagues.

Ulster team named

Afoa starts


(15-9): J Payne, A Trimble, D Cave, S Olding, T Bowe, P Jackson, R Pienaar;
(1-8): T Court, R Best, J Afoa, J Muller (C), D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams;
Replacements (16-23): R Herring, C Black, D Fitzpatrick, I Henderson, M McComish, P Marshall, M Allen, P Nelson.
 

That's what we wanted to see!

And impact off the bench with Herring, Hendy, Marshall and Nelson...

I'm getting more and more nervous/excited for this one!

Leinster team

15: Rob Kearney
14: Fergus McFadden
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Ian Madigan
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Isaac Boss
1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:
16: Sean Cronin
17: Jack McGrath
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Quinn Roux
20: Rhys Ruddock
21: John Cooney
22: Andrew Goodman
23: Andrew Conway

Leinster will look to target our line out and we have to target their scrum. Our tight 5 looks stronger on paper.

Backrow will be an immense battle.

Diack v McLaughlin will be massive

Seems likely Stand. Kev cut Glasgow to ribbons on more than one occasion but Robbie D has been in outstanding form of recent... Big game needed from TC against Ross. He's not had too many dominating performances since the last time we faced Leinster at home really. Got to stand up and obliterate them this week.

Also how is Rolland not doing this? Or Nige? Lacey is decent in fairness, I'm just glad it's not Clownshoes!

He is running the line mind you UIG.

What no SOB, I didn't see that coming

Aye but at least Lacey can ignore him like he did Nige in the England-Italy game...

This one is gonna be a cracker. Saturday watching is looking tasty - 3 finals in a row.

Two very strong teams and I can't call the winner,Paddy Power have Ulster +4 at even money.If I wasn't a Leinster supporter I'd be all over that.

Too tough to call this one I must say. Based on Leinster's record against Ulster this years and our record in Rabo finals Ulster probably by a whisker.

Who knows though.

#MakeTheRDSHome

comparing Player for Player

15: Rob Kearney Payne
14: Fergus McFadden Trimble
13: Brian O'Driscoll Cave
12: Ian Madigan Olding
11: Isa Nacewa Bowe
10: Jonathan Sexton Jackson
9: Isaac Boss Pienaar
1: Cian Healy TC
2: Richardt Strauss Best
3: Mike Ross Afoa
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN Muller
5: Devin Toner Tuohy
6: Kevin McLaughlin R Diack
7: Shane Jennings Henry
8: Jamie Heaslip Williams

Some close calls, and wingers I'd have Bowe over Nacewa and Nacewa over Trimble, so is it best to compare 11 v 11 or 11 and 14 V 11 and 14 and pick best 2.

Best team I'd pick

Payne (very close but Kearney is only coming back to form, Payne has been good all season, so I'd have more faith in Payne [ also i'm biased and close calls will prob go Ulsters way)
Nacewa
BOD
Madigan
Bowe
Sexton
Pienaar
Healy
Best
Afoa
Muller
Tuohy
McLaughlin
Henry
Heaslip (again close, Willaims has been outstanding this season, but the one thing against him is he hasn't proven so effective against the top teams, so I go for Heaslip)

8/7 to Ulster I make it

On form I would take Diack over McLaughlin. It's too hard to call really. Like a lot of things I genuinely think it will come down to who wants it more. I hope that is ulster

Im expecting really big things from Payne on Saturday. Will he live up to the hype?

Ulster want it badly...and will they come looking for it with a viciously offensive game?

Leinster want it... but will they again settle into a scant possession game to try and gain it? If they do, I think they'll be crushed.

The chances are that if Leinster really, really want this one, they're the ones that are going to have to turn the tide and force Ulster into defensive postiions for long stretches; because if not, I believe Ulster are coming to inflict themselves on the game and to say to Leinster "you might keep Glasgow out, but not us".

There is nothing left now to curtail an all-out Leinster game - no excuses of games to come or holding anything back to be able to fight another day (Well,Lions duty is there in the background but this is the final goodbye to Sexton, Nacewa and Schmidt... three stars on a three star jersey.) They'll have to play like Leinster of last year to win this. Leinster of this year won't be enough.

Although I think Ulster have the better backline from 11 - 15, the way Leinster attack as a team is better. Leinster also have a more powerful looking bench. Both teams are really going to be up for this so it wouldn't surprise me to see a few yellows.

I'm looking forward to see how the 12's go. Both are capable of producing something from nothing. Its an opportunity too for Cave to step up in a big game.

Haven't been readiing the 1 million posts before, short answer who is going to win?

Biltong wrote:Haven't been readiing the 1 million posts before, short answer who is going to win?

Rugby will be the winner here. Two good teams.

Bet fair have Leinster favs, but thats prob becuase they'll attract more money from people who dont care about odds.

William hill Ulster 7/4 Leinster 8/15

So they have Leinster as biggish favs, but I suspect thats down to weight of money on Leinster compared to Ulster from fans.

In my own head I'd call it 48:52 to Leinster

Well I picked the home team Ulster, my nemesis on Superbru (the only guy that can take number 1 spot away from me) has selected Leinster.

So if Ulster win, I win, If Leinster win, I come second

Biltong wrote:Well I picked the home team Ulster, my nemesis on Superbru (the only guy that can take number 1 spot away from me) has selected Leinster.

So if Ulster win, I win, If Leinster win, I come second

Well Leinster are really the home team because Ulster chose to have the game in the RDS because their stadium isnt big enough. Either team has the goods to win. It will probably be close.

GunsGerms wrote:

Biltong wrote:Well I picked the home team Ulster, my nemesis on Superbru (the only guy that can take number 1 spot away from me) has selected Leinster.

So if Ulster win, I win, If Leinster win, I come second

Well Leinster are really the home team because Ulster chose to have the game in the RDS because their stadium isnt big enough. Either team has the goods to win. It will probably be close.

Ulster will take over Leinsters uaual dressing room, and kick them over to the Vistors dressing room. Not point letting them have their usual pegs etc etc.

If it was at Ravenhill I'd have had it Ulster 54% Leinster 46%. Thinking on it Leinster may just be too tired, wish it was the Glasgow game instead of Stade last week, chaning my mind from earlier going to 50:50.

Apparently the Aviva require a non-refundable payment of £350k one month in advance to book it, so its not surprising Ulster (and Leinster) nominated the RDS!

Ulster are big underdogs for this one but have the chance of an upset.

Feelings running high.

http://t.co/sGjIy4GxXi

SUFTUM.

Head says Leinster but heart says Ulster.

I actually want Ulster to win (sorry Gib) because they've produced more solid team performaces than any other league side this year and because they improved as a collective out of sight since last year. They do the simple things really well and have shown that they can win ugly. If the Ulster backrow play to thei potential and can give Pienaar some front foot ball then they have every chance.

Really looking forward to it.

Kingshu wrote:

If it was at Ravenhill I'd have had it Ulster 54% Leinster 46%. Thinking on it Leinster may just be too tired, wish it was the Glasgow game instead of Stade last week, chaning my mind from earlier going to 50:50.

Why? certainly the Glasgow game was a lot harder on the bodies, the stade game Leinster never really got out of 2nd gear...

Also with the short turnaround everyone expected Toulon to fade away yesterday and they didn't.

Don't worry Ulster friends, there's a man on your side who has lifted that trophy twice against Leinster. Given that the trophy still technically belongs to the O's (until about 7pm) it's only fitting that it's handed over to a former honorary Ospreylian.

Seriously, if Ulster do win I think it'll be the first time in the league's history that a player has won it with both of their clubs consecutively...I may be wrong though.

I just hope it's a cracking final as the league has produced some classic matches this season.

Best of luck to the Leinster boys. Hope its a cracking final. Enjoy the game lads.

SUFTUM!