Ulster vs Montpellier

First topic message reminder :

We all have our sights set on taking the Tigers scalp at Welford Road and getting that home quarter-final, but this game needs winning first- if we can do that we'll have the security of going into that final group decided having already qualified as best runners up. Winning will take our total up to 22/23 points depending if we get the four tries or not. Northampton, 2nd in Pool 1, can only get a maximum of 19 points, so that groups runner-up won't catch us. The games between Harlequins and Clermont, Gloucester and Munster and Toulon and Cardiff Blues will take three runners up out of the equation and the only way the runner up from Pool 3 can finish on 22/23 points is if Toulouse and Saracens draw (2 pts, 3 with a TBP) and then both thrash their respective opponents next weekend. Get the result we need and by the end of the round we'll be qualified and probably be seventh seeds at worst- then we can focus on going to Leicester, winning, and getting into the top-half of the draw.

Montpellier have a very strong squad, so even if they choose to rotate they won't be sending over a weak team, but even so they have been one of this years competitions biggest disappointments. They've had strong opponents in Ulster and Leicester yes, but to lose twice at home in their first four games must hurt for the players and fans. Whether they'll be out for revenge and highly motivated in Round 5 or have already mentally checked out of the tournament and be focused only on the Top14 is... hard to predict. It wouldn't be a big surprise if they choose to leave a few key players at home, the attitude of those they do bring could either make this an extremely hard fought game or a bit of an anticlimax for the neutral. You never do know what the attitude will be like with French sides on the road, especially in games they view as dead rubbers.

Pool Tables At the Start of Round 5:

Round 5 Fixtures:

Rory Best, Nick Williams and Johann Muller are all in from the start- Best in particular has had a Wolverine-esque recovery. Montpellier have omitted key players such as Mas, Gorgodze, Hamilton, Pélissié, Trinh Duc and club captain Fulgence Ouedraogo.

Andrew Trimble is making his 58th appearance in ERC competitions for Ulster, a new club record.

Ulster and Montpellier Teams:

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:

Notch wrote:Well that was a bloody awful game of rugby. There'll be no complacency ahead of next week. Because we were awful. Montpellier were also awful.

Tigers are in their worst form for years, Notch. I wouldn't worry too much.
No Manu. No Parling.   

Its my hope that they will also drop a point tomorrow... but Treviso are nowhere good enough to trouble them, it'll be whether they can keep the score down.

Portnoy,  me aul segocia.

Ja mon. See you in the Swan and Rushes by de way. The birthplace of virtual debauchery on tour. May Allah bless it.  

Wear someting durty. I'll be mostly wearing Shane Jennings aftershave For Complete and Utter Basterds  meself.  

Love you loonnng time bro.

Personally I'm worried Tigers might struggle tomorrow. Missing four Lions in Tom Youngs, Parling, Croft and Manu is a lot of class to miss, especially, when you add in Kitchener, Mulipola, Slater and Bowden with Allen and Flood nowhere near fit. Flood couldn't even kick without discomfort last weekend.

Ulster didn't really hold up well in the conditions but many won't on a wet and windy evening. Tigers dropped a point last time in Treviso where the game was a mud bath and expansive play was limited.

Gibson wrote:Portnoy,  me aul segocia.

Ja mon. See you in the Swan and Rushes by de way. The birthplace of virtual debauchery on tour. May Allah bless it.  

Wear someting durty. I'll be mostly wearing Shane Jennings aftershave For Complete and Utter Basterds  meself.  

Love you loonnng time bro.

Back bar. Round the left hand side. Mucky talk. Mucky women. Mucky real ale (and that mucky black McGuinness cr@p if you are so inclined).
Afters elsewhere?

2bFair wrote:Damn - a bit of a let down, but booing at the end? Really? We have just beaten a decent side.

I am happy to see so many players returning - getting game time, and ready for the big one.

The booing was directed at the officiating.

Is that Ulster qualfied for the last 8 in the last 3 or 4 seasons?

Certain other Provinces can't claim that record.

Some actually won the whole thing 3 times in that period. Best club side Europe has ever seen. Its Ajax in the 90's style.  Just sayin Ound mo chara...      

Oh you mean Munster? Sorry mate. Wot a Muppet I am. Mea culprit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyu7cYMb2Fs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOjXUCM9K04

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:

Gibson wrote:Portnoy,  me aul segocia.

Ja mon. See you in the Swan and Rushes by de way. The birthplace of virtual debauchery on tour. May Allah bless it.  

Wear someting durty. I'll be mostly wearing Shane Jennings aftershave For Complete and Utter Basterds  meself.  

Love you loonnng time bro.

Back bar. Round the left hand side. Mucky talk. Mucky women. Mucky real ale (and that mucky black McGuinness cr@p if you are so inclined).
Afters elsewhere?

Portnoy. I'll put it this way bro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGd6dR3ypBk

Lets see what happens on the day mo chara. You know what always happens. You get lost and I end up finding you. Worse luck. I'll bell you half an hour before I dont get there.

Believe.

Ah, Gibbo fella - I'm just wielding the big spoon

The Hoog is coming to Ealing v Leinster in the B&I next Friday. Be good to have beers and catch up with him

Sorry for interrupting the thread folks.

Gibson wrote:

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:

Gibson wrote:Portnoy,  me aul segocia.

Ja mon. See you in the Swan and Rushes by de way. The birthplace of virtual debauchery on tour. May Allah bless it.  

Wear someting durty. I'll be mostly wearing Shane Jennings aftershave For Complete and Utter Basterds  meself.  

Love you loonnng time bro.

Back bar. Round the left hand side. Mucky talk. Mucky women. Mucky real ale (and that mucky black McGuinness cr@p if you are so inclined).
Afters elsewhere?

Portnoy. I'll put it this way bro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGd6dR3ypBk

Lets see what happens on the day mo chara. You know what always happens. You get lost and I end up finding you. Worse luck.  I'll bell you half an hour before I dont get there.

Believe.

Wrong pic though, Gibbo, http://www.whizzpast.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Abbey%2BRoad.jpg

Only issue I had with the officials was one of the TJs in the first half. He was right in front of us and his offside officiating was abysmal.

Don't want to take away from what was a pretty poor performance though. Scrum looks a worry and Court may now be under some pressure. Decide struggled initially but had sorted things by the end I thought. Just everyone was quite lethargic I thought and the backs weren't clicking at all. Paddy wasn't brilliant but the ball he got was a bit of a lottery and as I mentioned Montpellier live offside as far as I could see.

Big Nick had a shocker. Have to go with Wilson next week

That was pretty dire and Ulster and a big improvement needed in the QF especially if they end up away from home. Forwards again poor - against a second string top 14 team. And as for Pienaar getting man of the match -a total joke - best players last night were all Montpellier - the SH, their hooker and the big lad with the unpronounceable name who get their try. Apart from his kicks thought Pienaar was poor.

Just as well Court is off to LI, he was shocking las night and lots of Jeff tight heads must be licking their lips about scrumming against him! Williams - give him the benefit of the doubt since he's just back, but unless he stops being a penalty machine next week Toby Flood will kick Ulster off the park.

And as for booing the officials, both Tmo calls against Pienaar and Allen were absolutely fine. The fact Ulster didn't get a bp is down to themselves alone! 3 tries in the bag with 20 minutes to go and they butcher opportunities for the 4th.

Oh and bang goes my irish treble this week because Ulster couldn't beat the bookies 11 pt spread. Gerr.

brennomac wrote:That was pretty dire and Ulster and a big improvement needed in the QF especially if they end up away from home.   Forwards again poor - against a second string top 14 team.  And as for Pienaar getting man of the match -a total joke - best players last night were all Montpellier - the SH, their hooker and the big lad with the unpronounceable name who get their try.  Apart from his kicks thought Pienaar was poor.

Just as well Court is off to LI, he was shocking las night and lots of Jeff tight heads must be licking their lips about scrumming against him! Williams - give him the benefit of the doubt since he's just back, but unless he stops being a penalty machine next week Toby Flood will kick Ulster off the park.

And as for booing the officials, both Tmo calls against Pienaar and Allen were absolutely fine.  The fact Ulster didn't get a bp is down to themselves alone! 3 tries in the bag with 20 minutes to go and they butcher opportunities for the 4th.

Oh and bang goes my irish treble this week because Ulster couldn't beat the bookies 11 pt spread. Gerr.

The Montpellier SH had a shocker.  He missed sitters from the kicking tee, got charged down twice and his box kicking was for the most part very poor.

brennomac wrote:That was pretty dire and Ulster and a big improvement needed in the QF especially if they end up away from home.   Forwards again poor - against a second string top 14 team.  And as for Pienaar getting man of the match -a total joke - best players last night were all Montpellier - the SH, their hooker and the big lad with the unpronounceable name who get their try.  Apart from his kicks thought Pienaar was poor.

Just as well Court is off to LI, he was shocking las night and lots of Jeff tight heads must be licking their lips about scrumming against him! Williams - give him the benefit of the doubt since he's just back, but unless he stops being a penalty machine next week Toby Flood will kick Ulster off the park.

And as for booing the officials, both Tmo calls against Pienaar and Allen were absolutely fine.  The fact Ulster didn't get a bp is down to themselves alone! 3 tries in the bag with 20 minutes to go and they butcher opportunities for the 4th.

Oh and bang goes my irish treble this week because Ulster couldn't beat the bookies 11 pt spread. Gerr.

I think that Monpellier's forward performance is being a bit under-appreciated here. They were quite impressive I thought. I had MontP down for a surprise win on my SG prediction and it may well have turned out that win after a couple of fortuitous bounces albeit after some magnificent kicking from hand.

I enjoyed the game as a partial, interested party. But I suspect I'll not be happy next week the way the Tigers are playing.

brennomac wrote:That was pretty dire and Ulster and a big improvement needed in the QF especially if they end up away from home.   Forwards again poor - against a second string top 14 team.  And as for Pienaar getting man of the match -a total joke - best players last night were all Montpellier - the SH, their hooker and the big lad with the unpronounceable name who get their try.  Apart from his kicks thought Pienaar was poor.

Just as well Court is off to LI, he was shocking las night and lots of Jeff tight heads must be licking their lips about scrumming against him! Williams - give him the benefit of the doubt since he's just back, but unless he stops being a penalty machine next week Toby Flood will kick Ulster off the park.

And as for booing the officials, both Tmo calls against Pienaar and Allen were absolutely fine.  The fact Ulster didn't get a bp is down to themselves alone! 3 tries in the bag with 20 minutes to go and they butcher opportunities for the 4th.

Oh and bang goes my irish treble this week because Ulster couldn't beat the bookies 11 pt spread. Gerr.

True. We played poorly, and only managed 3 tries. We had solid chances for another 4, 2 crossing the line, but it wasn't to be. Williams was poor, and should maybe be benched for next week. Court was poor, and will seriously need to lift his game against Tigers. Other than Williams to the bench for next weeks game I wouldn't change that side. Apparently Gilroy has a bust nose, but should be ok to start.
Treviso will be tough for Tigers later today, but I don't doubt a win for them.

Don't agree with all of your comment, but can put some of it down to your rage at losing your treble. Not a betting man myself, so can't really empathise   

It was disappointing but I don't get the angry tone brenno. We have reintegrated 5/6 injured guys in here last two weeks. There does seem to be a lack of continuity but I agree it is slightly worrying.

The scrum especially looks iffy and I'm torn between Black and Court. That said we were bossed at scrum time, had a hard night at the breakdown (refs interpretation at times didn't suit us as well). We still managed to come within a whisker of a BP. The talent is there, just needs a little more cohesion. Big game to get up for now and possibly a Mr. Bowe to welcome back too

The booing of officials wasn't directed at no try decisions brennomac, they were clearly correct. The booing was directed at the complete ignorance of the offside line, the fact that Montpellier were allowed to push early at every scrum and the way they flew off their feet at the breakdown without being penalised, up to and including the final ruck of the game.

It's always frustrating watching Wayne Barnes. His interpretation of the breakdown is pedantic and inconsistent, and he doesn't like to ref the offside line. But it was our fault we had no structure on our game and took so many wrong options.

Montpellier were all over the place in terms of organisation and their back three were atrocious in terms of positioning. A smart kicking game and we'd have put them to the sword. Whenever we did kick to exploit the vast spaces they left- we scored three tries, all from kicks into the corner they weren't covering properly. Why we tried to outflank their blitz defence and play flat on the gainline I do not know. They would always push their open side wing into the defensive line leaving acres and acres of space behind and we'd try and move the ball- just chip and chase!

Have to agree with JmD in that those areas where the ones I was questioning. As I mentioned I don't blame Barnes but the TJ that was on the old terrace side in the first half just didn't want to make any offside call. You could see him having an altercation with the ulster medic who was clearly annoyed because he was just ignoring this aspect of the game.

There were a couple of pens again that Barnes got wrong but I don't think he was all that bad. The call against muller in the lineout was a joke but I can understand having one look at it why he gave it

It is very frustrating that our back line have had no platform to work from over the past few games. Despite having the best back line in Europe (in my opinion) we have looked extremely average due to an extraordinarily lazy forward pack.

Don't think it is laziness Rory but there is something lacking. We brought back 3 guys last week and 2 this week. There is a lack of cohesion and this is exacerbated by the fact we are just not settled. That being said there can be no excuses next week. We need that win and I think they will get themselves mentally right

A combination of Poite and Tigers is helping you out quite a bit at the minute.

Standulstermen wrote:Don't think it is laziness Rory but there is something lacking. We brought back 3 guys last week and 2 this week. There is a lack of cohesion and this is exacerbated by the fact we are just not settled. That being said there can be no excuses next week. We need that win and I think they will get themselves mentally right

I think Ulster are missing a bit of class in the backrow,that's the one area of the team where you don't have anyone who could be considered really top class.Henry is very good and Henderson could be top notch if he is allowed develop there but imo the loss of Ferris is huge.You can't easily replace a guy like him and if he can come back at even 80% of the player he was he'll still improve the team hugely.

Don't disagree there asls. Think Henry is superb though.

Treviso down to 14 now. I still expect Leicester to get the TBP

Standulstermen wrote:Don't disagree there asls. Think Henry is superb though.

Treviso down to 14 now. I still expect Leicester to get the TBP

Yeah I love Henry as a player,he's a guy that really has made the absolute most of his talents and injury permitting I fully expect him to be starting 7 for the 6N.

We need to win next week. We need a big ball carrier in the back row and Williams looks unfit. Wilson has also been underwhelming. I think we should go with Henderson at 6 and Diack at 8.

It's winnable. I think our pack needs to step it up big time but we have the ability.

It was the wrong time for Treviso to rest some of their key players, Nitoglia, Sgarbi and most importantly Zanni who would have improved their Lineout and defense against mauls, instead they had a winger in their pack...

Not a bad shout notch. I think he will go with swapping in Wilson for Williams though with Henderson benching.

Just had a quick look at the groups. We are through though aren't we (unless there is a 2-5 point split in Toulon v Cardiff)

Standulstermen wrote:Don't think it is laziness Rory but there is something lacking. We brought back 3 guys last week and 2 this week. There is a lack of cohesion and this is exacerbated by the fact we are just not settled. That being said there can be no excuses next week. We need that win and I think they will get themselves mentally right

It looked like laziness to me. It was like watching an amateur school game, there were forwards just standing beside the ruck and maul, or hanging out in the back line. In fact that is quite a flaw in our attack, forwards are always scattered about the backs and tend to slow things down. I have no idea why they are there so often.

Of course I accept that Henry, Best and Muller are just back, and they were rather quiet, but some players are not performing.

Standulstermen wrote:Not a bad shout notch. I think he will go with swapping in Wilson for Williams though with Henderson benching.

Just had a quick look at the groups. We are through though aren't we (unless there is a 2-5 point split in Toulon v Cardiff)

Pretty sure a 2-5 split or something is the only thing that can keep it a live issue. Toulon win and we're cooking on gas.

Notch wrote:We need to win next week. We need a big ball carrier in the back row and Williams looks unfit. Wilson has also been underwhelming. I think we should go with Henderson at 6 and Diack at 8.

It's winnable. I think our pack needs to step it up big time but we have the ability.

I would like to see that back row. Henry and Diack deserve to start, Diack especially has had a fantastic season.

Hendy to add much needed fire power to the back row.

Standulstermen wrote:Have to agree with JmD in that those areas where the ones I was questioning. As I mentioned I don't blame Barnes but the TJ that was on the old terrace side in the first half just didn't want to make any offside call. You could see him having an altercation with the ulster medic who was clearly annoyed because  he was just ignoring this aspect of the game.

There were a couple of pens again that Barnes got wrong but I don't think he was all that bad. The call against muller in the lineout was a joke but I can understand having one look at it why he gave it

I had actually forgotten about the lineout penalty, that was another bad call. I'm not saying the Ulster performance wasn't poor, but Wayne Barnes has to be the most overrated referee in the game today. I don't remember ever coming away from a match thinking that he had done well.

JmD wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:Have to agree with JmD in that those areas where the ones I was questioning. As I mentioned I don't blame Barnes but the TJ that was on the old terrace side in the first half just didn't want to make any offside call. You could see him having an altercation with the ulster medic who was clearly annoyed because  he was just ignoring this aspect of the game.

There were a couple of pens again that Barnes got wrong but I don't think he was all that bad. The call against muller in the lineout was a joke but I can understand having one look at it why he gave it

I had actually forgotten about the lineout penalty, that was another bad call. I'm not saying the Ulster performance wasn't poor, but Wayne Barnes has to be the most overrated referee in the game today. I don't remember ever coming away from a match thinking that he had done well.

If a ref does well you don't notice them and so they are rarely talked about doing well.

There's an awful lot of fans on these boards and Ravenhill that need a dose of reality. We are undefeated in this group, with one game away to a Leicester team playing poorly and living on reputation. Yet people are coming on here whinging like we lost last night. It was far from vintage, but guess what? We won. Rugby is a results business so I'll take scrappy victories over some of the 'brave defeats'^{Connacht rugby TM} that we have suffered in the recent past in this competition. I'd take a game like that every day of the week but certainly not twice on Sunday. As Rodders so rightly argues, a real Ulster fan does not sully the sabbath.

So as Gibbo would say, Believe. And catch yourselves on. Its embarrassing.

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:There's an awful lot of fans on these boards and Ravenhill that need a dose of reality.  We are undefeated in this group, with one game away to a Leicester team playing poorly and living on reputation.  Yet people are coming on here whinging like we lost last night.  It was far from vintage, but guess what?  We won.  Rugby is a results business so I'll take scrappy victories over some of the 'brave defeats'^{Connacht rugby TM} that we have suffered in the recent past in this competition.  I'd take a game like that every day of the week but certainly not twice on Sunday.  As Rodders so rightly argues, a real Ulster fan does not sully the sabbath.  

So as Gibbo would say, Believe.  And catch yourselves on. Its embarrassing.  

  

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:There's an awful lot of fans on these boards and Ravenhill that need a dose of reality.  We are undefeated in this group, with one game away to a Leicester team playing poorly and living on reputation.  Yet people are coming on here whinging like we lost last night.  It was far from vintage, but guess what?  We won.  Rugby is a results business so I'll take scrappy victories over some of the 'brave defeats'^{Connacht rugby TM} that we have suffered in the recent past in this competition.  I'd take a game like that every day of the week but certainly not twice on Sunday.  As Rodders so rightly argues, a real Ulster fan does not sully the sabbath.  

So as Gibbo would say, Believe.  And catch yourselves on. Its embarrassing.  

  

What I find more embarrassing is your constant need to try and come across as controversial..

Anyway, it was an awful game, and very frustrating to watch. Two of our tries were very very lucky and we could easily have lost that game. I doubt Anscombe will be happy with the performance either and rightly so. I would hate it if he simply pats them on the back for the win. He needs to be ruthless at the minute, because I certainly don't want another year of getting close yet winning nothing, especially when we are capable of going the whole way. But better teams will severely punish us for the performances we have produced recently.

The tries weren't lucky Rory- we exploited where they were weak. They had no idea what to do when the kickers turned their backs. Their back three was positionally awful.

We're in the quarter-finals but we've set the goal as a home quarter-final so the champagne is still on ice. The beautiful thing is if we get it wrong at Welford Road we'll have one more chance to put it right.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:There's an awful lot of fans on these boards and Ravenhill that need a dose of reality.  We are undefeated in this group, with one game away to a Leicester team playing poorly and living on reputation.  Yet people are coming on here whinging like we lost last night.  It was far from vintage, but guess what?  We won.  Rugby is a results business so I'll take scrappy victories over some of the 'brave defeats'^{Connacht rugby TM} that we have suffered in the recent past in this competition.  I'd take a game like that every day of the week but certainly not twice on Sunday.  As Rodders so rightly argues, a real Ulster fan does not sully the sabbath.  

So as Gibbo would say, Believe.  And catch yourselves on. Its embarrassing.  

  

What I find more embarrassing is your constant need to try and come across as controversial..

Anyway, it was an awful game, and very frustrating to watch.  Two of our tries were very very lucky and we could easily have lost that game.  I doubt Anscombe will be happy with the performance either and rightly so.  I would hate it if he simply pats them on the back for the win.  He needs to be ruthless at the minute, because I certainly don't want another year of getting close yet winning nothing, especially when we are capable of going the whole way.  But better teams will severely punish us for the performances we have produced recently.

Sorry Rory, but thats just nonsensical and I really expect better of you, I really do. Because I don't agree with you on certain issues that means I'm trying to be controversial? Thats really appalling thinking, it really is. Even though I don't agree with you on several issues I would never come on here in such a manner and attempt to demean your views. I respect what you have to say because it's different from mine and sometimes different opinions can help inform my own. For example I recently read a superb article on Demented Mole about Ireland's Autumn internationals and though it confirmed much of what I thought about O'Mahony, the analysis of the New Zealand match made me think maybe I misjudged his performance. Opinions can be changed if you value alternatives. I try and back up statements I make with the facts as I see them. Not demented, one eyed facts like certain other Irish posters because I loved Leinster, Munster and Connacht as well as my 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams. I am happy to be wrong when I'm wrong. I'm married so I'm used to it.

If you would like to point what I said in my previous post which was controversial I am happy to discuss that. I don't believe that the wailing and gnashing of team after every poor performance merits the tripe posted on here. It used to be a joke with a few posters that one defeat and we were in CRISIS- thats right, it needed caps lock. Now its a reality amongst some fans. Now it has morphed into performances where we haven't played well and won. Catch a grip of yourself. Of course there are performance issues. I have criticised Williams, Muller, Court and Afoa since the start of the season and last nights game is an extension of that. I would have packed Afoa off in the summer as an example. But we won and qualified for the QF with a game to spare. And we are undefeated like....erm, looks like we are the only ones. And we have a glorious chance to beat Leicester. A team with a fine tradition, but it must be said, playing averagely at the moment. They are immensely beatable. It won't be easy, it will be tight and nervy. No sane person would write off a Leicester team at home. But in the eternal battle of travelling away to Welford Road in hope or expectation I am erring more on expectation than previous occasions. Naturally we need to perform better. Much better than the last month.

But I'll repeat again since apparently its 'controversial' to find your pint half full if you're an Ulster fan- rugby is a results business. I think our result stack up well, even if the performances don't. I'll take four more dreadful winning performances in Europe please if it's all the same to you Rory.

Hook - I genuinely didn't mean what I said to come across as seriously as it has, but reading back it does look quite bad - apologies.

On what I said regarding our performances however, I think we are under performing. Like I said earlier I believe we have the best back line in Europe and yet they have looked very underwhelming. I don't blame them though, they don't have any platform to work from. I just struggle to understand how we can be so bad in that area of the game, and why we haven't sorted it out. We have good forwards on paper, but as a pack they have not been performing. Some big names not performing also.

I do think we are going to get a shock when we come up against better opponents. Imagine if Munster last week had a decent back line to go with their pack. There are teams in this competition like that. We definitely can beat them, but not if we play as we have been recently.

I am very nervous for the Leicester game to be honest.

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:There's an awful lot of fans on these boards and Ravenhill that need a dose of reality.  We are undefeated in this group, with one game away to a Leicester team playing poorly and living on reputation.  Yet people are coming on here whinging like we lost last night.  It was far from vintage, but guess what?  We won.  Rugby is a results business so I'll take scrappy victories over some of the 'brave defeats'^{Connacht rugby TM} that we have suffered in the recent past in this competition.  I'd take a game like that every day of the week but certainly not twice on Sunday.  As Rodders so rightly argues, a real Ulster fan does not sully the sabbath.  

So as Gibbo would say, Believe.  And catch yourselves on. Its embarrassing.  

  

What I find more embarrassing is your constant need to try and come across as controversial..

Anyway, it was an awful game, and very frustrating to watch.  Two of our tries were very very lucky and we could easily have lost that game.  I doubt Anscombe will be happy with the performance either and rightly so.  I would hate it if he simply pats them on the back for the win.  He needs to be ruthless at the minute, because I certainly don't want another year of getting close yet winning nothing, especially when we are capable of going the whole way.  But better teams will severely punish us for the performances we have produced recently.

Sorry Rory, but thats just nonsensical and I really expect better of you, I really do.  Because I don't agree with you on certain issues that means I'm trying to be controversial?  Thats really appalling thinking, it really is.  Even though I don't agree with you on several issues I would never come on here in such a manner and attempt to demean your views.  I respect what you have to say because it's different from mine and sometimes different opinions can help inform my own.  For example I recently read a superb article on Demented Mole about Ireland's Autumn internationals and though it confirmed much of what I thought about O'Mahony, the analysis of the New Zealand match made me think maybe I misjudged his performance. Opinions can be changed if you value alternatives.  I try and back up statements I make with the facts as I see them.  Not demented, one eyed facts like certain other Irish posters because I loved Leinster, Munster and Connacht as well as my 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams.  I am happy to be wrong when I'm wrong.  I'm married so I'm used to it.  

If you would like to point what I said in my previous post which was controversial I am happy to discuss that.  I don't believe that the wailing and gnashing of team after every poor performance merits the tripe posted on here.  It used to be a joke with a few posters that one defeat and we were in CRISIS- thats right, it needed caps lock.  Now its a reality amongst some fans.  Now it has morphed into performances where we haven't played well and won.  Catch a grip of yourself.  Of course there are performance issues.  I have criticised Williams, Muller, Court and Afoa since the start of the season and last nights game is an extension of that.  I would have packed Afoa off in the summer as an example.  But we won and qualified for the QF with a game to spare.  And we are undefeated like....erm, looks like we are the only ones.  And we have a glorious chance to beat Leicester.  A team with a fine tradition, but it must be said, playing averagely at the moment.  They are immensely beatable.  It won't be easy, it will be tight and nervy.  No sane person would write off a Leicester team at home.  But in the eternal battle of travelling away to Welford Road in hope or expectation I am erring more on expectation than previous occasions.  Naturally we need to perform better.  Much better than the last month.  

But I'll repeat again since apparently its 'controversial' to find your pint half full if you're an Ulster fan- rugby is a results business.  I think our result stack up well, even if the performances don't.  I'll take four more dreadful winning performances in Europe please if it's all the same to you Rory.  

I think saying Leicester were living on past reputation is the controversial thing, this last post is better but your prior one comes across as being arrogant.

Toulon, Clermont, Munster, Ulster, Leicester... I reckon Toulouse, Saracens and Leinster will complete the draw.

We do not want to be on the road. That as tough a bunch of quarter-finalists as you'll ever see and home advantage will be massive.

Ouch that's going to be a tough round of quarter finals. I agree, home advantage could be make or break.

As for the "living on reputation" garbage, Tigers are the reigning English champions and went out to Toulon in France in last years quarters in a very competitive game. Bounce of the ball and we were through. Form this season has been pretty poor but the injury list has pretty much decimated us particularly in the centres. Fortunately we'll have some important players available next week.

I don't think tigers have been impressive in the league this season but they traditionally come on late I thought. In Europe I think they have been very very good. Almost a mirror of ulster. That said I think if we get our performance right like against Montpellier away I think we will win

I think we've had 10 different combinations in the centres this season so far, i think we've done well to be in with a shout in both Europe and the Aviva. Our performances over 80 minutes have been pretty bad too.

At the moment i can't call next weeks game, just hope it's going to be good one.

We don't have a centre that hasn't missed less than three games through injury. That's Allen (compartment syndrome), Bowden (fractured eye socket, broken cheek bone), Manu (torn pectoral muscle), Smith (broken thumb), Goneva (torn hamstring) and Hempetema (fractured eye socket). Been ridiculous hasn't it Nathan, especially when we had those fitness issues in the back three as well.

We certainly haven't been impressive this season but we have still managed to stay in touch which should hopefully be enough with now we're getting some players back.

Starting team next week is probably going to be:

Ayerza, Youngs, Cole
Deacon, Slater
Gibson, Crane, Salvi
Mele, Flood
Allen, Goneva
Morris, Tait, Benjamin

Bench - Hawkins, Stankovitch, Balmain, Mafi, Waldrom, Youngs, Williams, Smith.

Mele will need to be in at 9 as Flood is struggling with a flute strain and so isn't kicking off the tee.

I hope next weeks game lives up to expectations. I think both teams have earned their quarter-final berths. Massive result for both teams to knock over Montpellier in France, they're tougher than their win/loss ratio in Europe suggests. A lot of people thought they might be dark horses to win the whole thing this year but they're more equipped for Top14 rugby than the Heineken Cup.

I think we need a very controlled game with Pienaar and Jackson kicking very well but there are several guys who need to step it up up front for us. Would like to see Henderson in the back row.

Montpellier have impressed me since that home defeat to Ulster. They didn't give up when Leicester blew them away for the first 20 minutes at Welford Road, and their 2nd team played very well at home to Leicester (with qualification a long shot), and fought valiantly away to Ulster. Certainly not the cheese eating surrender monkeys were often think French teams are going to be. If Racing Metro had half the balls Montpellier had...

You could argue strongly their second team has been better than their first Mak. Had a quick look. Is it me or are both teams guaranteed QFs at this point?

I am confident that ulster will get the tight 5 sorted. What happens regarding the back row will be key though. Bowe to come back too is another gamebreaker in the mix

Standulstermen wrote:You could argue strongly their second team has been better than their first Mak. Had a quick look. Is it me or are both teams guaranteed QFs at this point?

Both teams are officially in the quarter-finals- only one can have a home game. Hopefully Muller and the lads make sure it's us...

congrats ulster on qualifying!