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:

Afraid not Nacho, a great man he was indeed! Maybe he's still lurking out there somewhere so make sure you say nice things about him!   

Wayne Barnes is a muppet....

Williams given away two penalties and knocked on in the Montpellier 22  

roddersarm, never would you read a bad word from me about you lovely people in the north

Montpellier are really rushing in defence, a nice looped pass might just catch them out...

I hope your hungry for some hat action Rodders.

No sign of Payne under that one....good man Trimbs....

That one didn't count.

Mon Ulster!

What a TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Tommy would be well proud of that

Where did that come from. Brilliant in a borefest.

Lovely vision from Jackson

Diack is player of the season so far.

YEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

Gibson wrote:Mon Ulster!

Jackson better that Sexton right now


Ruan!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ulster love this Cup. And they have earned the right to hold it. The hard way. Its the only way. Need to believe that and demolish this side. I expect a 5 pointer. The players are there to do it.

Believe.

Update: Like that!

We're smoking diesel now sir!

Golden wrote:Lovely vision from Jackson

The boy is just behind pole-position for his country. And he's earned it. His game-control, at a young age,  is way ahead of most young 10's Ive seen in 20 years. And that includes Sexton.

Hells bells.

Woah!

Abysmal defence! Focus lads FFS.

rodders wrote:That one didn't count.

Oh Rodders you scallywag. What time is it? Hat time. It'll be as tasty for me as it is for you.

Montpellier not done yet...

They need to sort that rolling maul defence out. Its embarrassing

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:

rodders wrote:That one didn't count.

Oh Rodders you scallywag.  What time is it?  Hat time. It'll be as tasty for me as it is for you.

Ah here come on... none of those were genuine up and unders. I refuse to eat hat.

Nous Ulster. Nous.  Long time to use it yet. So feicin use it.

Wayne Barnes is on the Leicester payroll!

rodders wrote:Wayne Barnes is on the Leicester payroll!

Away wichya roddersarm, yer on for a TBP

 Rodders I dare you to suggest that on the Tigers offy. Barnes is a cursed name there whether it be Stuart or Wayne.

When you get the rub of the green from the Rabo ref who officiates to the law interpretation norms of your league as Barnes is doing tonight I'll ask you a similar question. This is how rugby is reffed in the AP, though Barnes does like to "partake" in a game.

Here now there's no rub of the green at Ravenhill..... those rabo refs are genuinely afraid for their safety.

Rodders. Man. Love the jib of yer cut.   

Come ON Ulster ta phook!

Pienaar needs to alter things here.

Lots of knock-ons?

Aaafooaaa!

Its going to be a 5-pointer.

bloody tense match

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.

Our pack was absolutely dreadful. For a supposed "breakdown specialist" it is a mystery why Anscombe hasn't taught our forwards how to secure possession properly at the ruck. It has been a problem all season.

2 of our tries were very lucky indeed.

Good results for the RABO teams tonight, well done.

Tigers v Saffacens Final a strong possibility?
This, lads, is something that must be avoided at all costs.

Let every Celt do his duty.

We'll take either one of em out. Its only de Geoff.

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.

We may have beaten a decent side, but we were absolutely shocking. Two of our tries were so jammy.

Rory has his finger on it missus.

Ulster are far away from readiness for the Big One.

Its not going to be easy after that. Or maybe, it will be because of it. Its all down to the way that they use it.

Its a big leap.

Hells bells and seven score....what a bollix not to get the bonus point.

We'll just have to stuff the tigers at Welford but Pienaar needs to buck up his ideas... SUFTUM.

Heads up Gibbo Joe Schmidt on the late late show.

Yo! Have an IP address for that sorta ting. Thanks bro.   

Heads up mark 2 - Rory Gallagher on Sky arts 2.....   

Gibson wrote:Tigers v Saffacens Final a strong possibility?
This, lads, is something that must be avoided at all costs.

Let every Celt do his duty.

We'll take either one of em out. Its only de Geoff.

Mon Pellier.

See you next week Gibbo? PM me.

rodders wrote:Heads up mark 2 - Rory Gallagher on Sky arts 2.....   

Good find, cheers sir.   

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.

As a new moderator I had to moderate myself there- awful was not my first choice adjective by a long shot!  

Thats us into the quarter-finals, by the way... pretty anti-climatic!! We have to nail that home draw before anyone is celebrating.

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.   

Bit of a mess alright but a win is a win is a win and one thing worse than a win is a loss and another is a draw.... the fact that a bonus point win is better than all of the above doesn't make a half full glass half empty, but a good swig can empty it if you don't show restraint.