Ulster v Munster

No one making a new thread so it falls to a Ladyboy to keep yis honest

the IT on Tuesday wrote:Penney said Conor Murray and Simon Zebo would return to the fray towards the end of next week and were not yet ruled out of the upcoming Heineken Cup tie with Gloucester.

Flanker Sean Dougall and centre James Downey (groin) will also miss this week’s game but should be fine for the Gloucester trip.

Donnacha Ryan will not make that clash and is unlikely to be fit for the final Heineken Cup clash with Edinburgh, but Penney said the lock would be available for the Six Nations.

profitius wrote:Munster team vs Ulster named. Its weaker than I thought it would be. No JJ, Cronin, Downey, Earls or Donn Ryan.  


Munster: Felix Jones; Andrew Conway, Casey Laulala, Ivan Dineen, Ronan O'Mahony; Ian Keatley, Cathal Sheridan; Dave Kilcoyne, Damien Varley, Stephen Archer; Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell; Peter O'Mahony Capt., Tommy O'Donnell, James Coughlan.

Replacements: Duncan Casey, John Ryan, BJ Botha, Dave Foley, CJ Stander, Duncan Williams, Johnny Holland, Johne Murphy.


Murray is back in training and Zebo must be nearing a return also.

the IT today wrote:There is some optimism in Ulster as the province is expected to announce a three-month contract for Stephen Ferris, which would give the popular Ravenhill figure a realistic chance to prove his fitness.

The highly-regarded international has been unavailable due to injury since November 2012 but has been making progress on his ankle injury since an operation in the summer. Ulster also expect that their captain, Johann Muller, Irish international backrow Chris Henry, John Afoa and Nick Williams will be all set to face Munster in a sold-out Ravenhill on Friday. It is also expected that forward Iain Henderson will return.

Notch wrote:Ulster XV and replacements to face Munster, RaboDirect PRO12, Ravenhill, Friday 2nd January (kick off 19:05);

(15-9): J Payne, A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, C Gilroy, P Jackson, R Pienaar; (1-8): T Court, R Herring, J Afoa, I Henderson, D Tuohy, R Diack (Captain), C Henry, R Wilson; (16-23): N Annett, C Black, D Fitzpatrick, L Stevenson, N Williams, S Doyle, P Marshall, M Allen.

First reaction- TERRIBLE news Muller suffered an injury in training this week. Big blow- hope he is there for Montpellier. Extra back row forward on the bench to cover for the fact Henry and Henderson are on their first games back.

Hanrahan isn't involved at all for Munster, not gutted about that.

At Ravenhill...and looking at the two team sheets, Ulster should really be winning this.  Munster have a very poor recent record against Ulster and for me that Ulster team sheet is much stronger, particularly the back line and front row.  Munster have much more experience and quality in the second row and a pretty good looking backrow, but I'd give Ulster the edge everywhere else.

Ulster by 10.

Its not the strongest team Munster could field but it's not a weak team. Should be a very close match but with Ulster at home I would say they may just edge it.

This is being shown live on BBC2 NI for those in GB.

Hopefully Ulster can shave off a bit of Munster's lead in the league before they run away with it.

Big pack from Munster although Court v Archer could be interesting. I wasn't happy at all with how Rolland reffed this fixture last season so I'm a bit apprehensive about that but I'm expecting a reaction from the ulster lads. If Henry and Henderson can come in and be up to a decent pace I'm hopeful of a good result. No excuses, it's at Ravenhill and we need some momentum for the Heineken!

Not the strongest Munster team but it's a good pack and one that should be stronger than ulster especially the back row! Ulster definitely way stronger in the backs.  Great opportunity for tommy o donnell to stake a claim for the irish 6N squad. This will also be a real litmus test to see where Munster are really at. Bring it on

Anyone any info on Johnny Holland? Young out half i presume?

Golden wrote:Anyone any info on Johnny Holland? Young out half i presume?

Biog from Munster Site


Johnny Holland

Munster Academy Year: Two

Position: Outhalf

School: Colaiste Chriost Ri

Club: Cork Constitution

League Debut: v Cardiff Blues, November 2013, The Arms Park

Johnny Holland moved up from the sub academy to the academy at the start of the 2012/13 season.

A former Colaiste Chriost Ri student Holland is a product of the Munster Youths system and plays his club rugby with Cork Con.

He made his British and Irish Cup debut coming on as a replacement in Munster's away win to Neath in November 2011 and made his senior debut against La Rochelle in the opening pre-season game in August 2012.

Holland was awarded the 2012/13 Ulster Bank Young Player of the Year Award for Division 1A.

Johnny featured in both SEAT Series games in the 2013/14 pre-season.

Took part in the SEAT Series against Gloucester and London Irish in August 2013.

Was named in the replacements for Munster's round 8 Rabo game v Cardiff Blues in November and made his debut in the 74th minute when replacing JJ Hanrahan.

We've talked about how its a massive opportunity for Henry to copper fasten his Ireland place against O'Donnell, but what about Henderson- if he has a good game against those two he'll be knocking on the door as well.

I guess we just have to be realistic about what they're going to offer- they've both been out for long stretches, hope this opportunity hasn't come too soon for them. Joe is watching.

All very quiet on this thread for such a big game! I think neither set of supporters are particularly confident about this one. For me there is more pressure on ulster with some poor performances in recent weeks plus a defeat tonight would have them struggling for qualification for the play offs. Munster are so far ahead that they can afford to lose this albeit they will not want to end their unbeaten run coming into hc. These games more often than not go with the home team who will raise their game after last weeks rubbish performance!

Sold out at Ravenhill.

Should be a decent match but come on Munster

Diack using O'Mahoney's temper against him there.

POM is a worry with his temper...

Yellow here for dineen. Or maybe not.....


Both teams really up for this.

Nothing in that...

I don't like the way refs go back a few phases to look for a knock on. I think they should just use their own judgement

Great kick through from Jackson there

God I hate Rolland.

That looked more like Gilroy diving as opposed to anything else. Its led to a try as well.

Very open game so far, quite enjoying this.

He was interfered with not clear enough try opportunity to warrant pen try or yellow but a penalty yes as agreed by TMO in this case a good decision

neilthom7 wrote:He was interfered with not clear enough try opportunity to warrant pen try or yellow but a penalty yes as agreed by TMO in this case a good decision

Really disagree with that. Gilroy cut across in front of him, he did not hold him back but was simply going for the ball whilst Gilroy throws his arms in the air and falls over appealing football style.

I thought Jackson had been kicking ahead of pienaar this season?


Munster need some points quick

you would think having just conceded a pen for pulling someone back Munster would not do it again 2 mins later lol great open game so far though

Nachos Jones wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:He was interfered with not clear enough try opportunity to warrant pen try or yellow but a penalty yes as agreed by TMO in this case a good decision

Really disagree with that. Gilroy cut across in front of him, he did not hold him back but was simply going for the ball whilst Gilroy throws his arms in the air and falls over appealing football style.

He does put his arms over Gilroy and pulls him back going for the ball does not require his arms to be over the player it is a pen

Poor auld Keatley. Having an absolute mare.

neilthom7 wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:He was interfered with not clear enough try opportunity to warrant pen try or yellow but a penalty yes as agreed by TMO in this case a good decision

Really disagree with that. Gilroy cut across in front of him, he did not hold him back but was simply going for the ball whilst Gilroy throws his arms in the air and falls over appealing football style.

    He does put his arms over Gilroy and pulls him back going for the ball does not require his arms to be over the player it is a pen

I saw no pulling back, just attempting to go for the ball while Gilroy blocked him. Gilroy was not going for the ball as he was too busy trying to win a penalty. Even the commentators saw it that way. Home ground penalty for me. If it was a Munster player doing that, I would of course see it your way

Luke Marshall having a great game in defense and attack.

Nachos Jones wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:He was interfered with not clear enough try opportunity to warrant pen try or yellow but a penalty yes as agreed by TMO in this case a good decision

Really disagree with that. Gilroy cut across in front of him, he did not hold him back but was simply going for the ball whilst Gilroy throws his arms in the air and falls over appealing football style.

    He does put his arms over Gilroy and pulls him back going for the ball does not require his arms to be over the player it is a pen

I saw no pulling back, just attempting to go for the ball while Gilroy blocked him. Gilroy was not going for the ball as he was too busy trying to win a penalty. Even the commentators saw it that way. Home ground penalty for me. If it was a Munster player doing that, I would of course see it your way

The Ulster commentators didn't see it that way, funnily enough. Nor did the referee. Nor did the TMO who viewed it several times before making his decision. It was a clear penalty. Clear as day.

The lads on rte were calling for a yellow card which would have been harsh but a penalty seemed right

Rolland is going to be sharp on scrumhalves getting the ball in tonight apparently

Surely after tonight and last weeks game hanarahan will be first choice

Golden wrote:Surely after tonight and last weeks game hanarahan will be first choice

Really hope so, Keatley has gone way off the form he showed earlier in the season.

This is a completely different performance from Ulster this week Anscombe has definately lit a fire under them

Payne is just ridiculously good.


How did they not score there?

Quality rugby from Ulster

Chris Henry makes a world of difference to Ulster's pack. TOD has been disappointing. POM more interested in pretending to be hardman than being a leader on the field- hardly a surprise. Ulster should be out of sight in this match. We need to put a few more points on the board.

Good call by the touch judge there but why did pienaar go to afoa on that side when he was right on the touch line covered by about 4 should have went openside and it would have been a try. Although seeing Rolland standing up to O'Connell is quite the spectacle lol

Keatley is rather poor tonight, 6 points missed and 2 penalties that haven't found touch. Half time substitution coming up?

what a try lovely play

What a try from Ulster   

Lovely try. Payne doesn't even look like he's going that fast

Payne is opening Munster up, what a quality player.

We need a Payne Clock for when he becomes Irish qualified. The best back in Ireland and would walk in the Irish team at 13 or 15 at present.

Sorry, I take it back. He'd glide into the team.

Keatley did well there to be fair.

Great try there for Munster. Excellent game so far.

Ah Pienaar you shot up to quick there my sin and got caught out fella thats dissapointing on half time

That was poor from Pienaar.

Howw do you have crossing if the two players bounce off each other. Trimble didnt run across Paynes path... because he ran into him.