Ulster vs Saracens - HC quarter final - Saturday, 5th April 6:30pm

First topic message reminder :

Ulster vs Saracens.

Saturday 5th April at 6:30pm

First game at a newly renovated Ravenhill I believe with a new capacity of 18,000.

Ulster are currently 3rd in the Pro12 and won all their pool stages in the HC, including impressive away wins vs Leicester and Montpellier.

They have a few Irish players who were involved in the title winning 6 nations like Best and Trimble. Trimble in particular had a very good tournament.

Close to full strength in terms of their squad.

According to Ulster fans their current form hasn't been great but I take that firmly with a pinch of salt. Their latest result - a loss to Cardiff could shake any sense of complacency.


Saracens are currently the league leaders in the AP with a healthy 7 point gap off 2nd placed Saints. Just 2 losses in the AP in 18 matches which contrasts with their two losses in the pool stages of the HC. Saracens are currently the top try scorers in the AP and were top try scorers in the HC pool stages. Form wise Saracens have been comfortable without really putting in a notable performance.

Notable clashes

Best vs Brits - the Irish hooker vs the flamboyant South African who plays more like a centre - will be key in getting their teams into good positions.

Muller vs Borthwick - skipper vs skipper - both will be key in inspiring their sides.

Jackson vs Farrell - the 2nd choice Irish 10 vs the current England 10 - both will be expected to boss the game and take any opportunities and points on offer



Ulster team

15. J Payne
14. A Trimble
13. D Cave
12. L Marshall
11.T Bowe
10. P Jackson
9. R Pienaar

1. T Court
2.R Best
3. J Afoa
4.J Muller (C)
5.D Tuohy
6.R Wilson
7.N Williams
8.C Henry

16. R Herring
17.A Warwick
18.R Lutton
19.I Henderson
20.S Ferris
21.R Diack
22.P Marshall
23.C Gilroy






Saracens team



15. Alex Goode
14. Chris Ashton
13. Duncan Taylor
12. Brad Barritt
11. David Strettle
10. Owen Farrell
9. Richard Wigglesworth

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Schalk Brits
3. James Johnston
4. Steve Borthwick ©
5. Mouritz Botha
6. Billy Vunipola
7. Jacques Burger
8. Ernst Joubert

16. Jamie George
17. Richard Barrington
18. Matt Stevens
19. Eoin Sheriff
20. Kelly Brown
21. Neil de Kock
22. Charlie Hodgson
23. Chris Wyles


Thoughts?

Like that. Pienaar must stay on the field or all is lost. He is key. 1F will be too. 

Mon Ulster, make history!

neilthom7 wrote:

quinsforever wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:I hope Goode is OK there he didn't look good when he fell

It is not a red card though, very clumsy, should be more aware but he is looking at ball the whole time he didnt even get his hands up had he been trying to do it the hands would have been up so he didn't get a knee to the head.

rubbish. he didnt compete for it therefore it was potentially dangerous. and when goode landed on his head, red is fair enough. payne needed either to jump, or check his run. rugby players know exactly whats going on around them so i dont buy the "he had his eyes on his ball" nonsense as an excuse.

maet wise up if your eyes are up in the air how can you possibly know what is going on around you, the fact that good landed on his head while is a bad injury to goode is nothing to do with the decision had he landed on his backside and got up and wlasked away should that have changed the decision? No it should not, it is  ayellow, not a red

100% disagree, he showed no signs of competing for the ball - having your eyes on the ball is not competing the for the ball. He should of jumped for it or not run into Goode.

GunsGerms wrote:I have never been Paynes biggest fan. Ask any ulster man. That wasnt a red though. Not intentional anyway. Any clown could tell that.

so therefore you are not a clown. but you'd be wrong. selective myopia as usual

Ulster are by no means out of this game.

Ulster are doing well considering whats happened. Wonder will they be regretting have a 6+2 split on the bench with Payne going off.

Hey ye streamers, download ACESTREAM and watch the 1st link with it on WIZIWIG. Its HD man. 

MON Ulster!

Believe ta phoook!

i just wonder if Ulster can keep up this intensity till the end of the match.

Golden wrote:What did best go off with?

Some sort of ankle injury I think mate

Ferris coming on is worth two players anyway. 1F

Need all Ulstermen on the park to make up for the loss of one of their best players. Huge ask, but these boys have it in them.  

Must play smert. Expend minimal energy with maximum effect.

Gibson wrote:Hey ye streamers, download ACESTREAM and watch the 1st link with it on WIZIWIG. Its HD man. 

MON Ulster!

Believe ta phoook!

Been watching that one all day. Its class

i so hate hearing people whine about refs. understandable (perhaps) when its something the refs missed like an offside or marginal obstruction. but when it gets referred and they get 5 minutes to debate and think about it, who, apart from those that do not understand the laws, can dispute the decision?

and get abusive towards anyone that does?

wait i can think of a few candidates...

Ashton shouldn't of been allowed to run all the way there.

Plank

Missed again - nice try though...

Farrell left his kicking boots at home, may allow Ulster to stay in the game.

shame. i was really looking forwards to the game. going to be a demolition job now. rubbish.

nathan wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:

quinsforever wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:I hope Goode is OK there he didn't look good when he fell

It is not a red card though, very clumsy, should be more aware but he is looking at ball the whole time he didnt even get his hands up had he been trying to do it the hands would have been up so he didn't get a knee to the head.

rubbish. he didnt compete for it therefore it was potentially dangerous. and when goode landed on his head, red is fair enough. payne needed either to jump, or check his run. rugby players know exactly whats going on around them so i dont buy the "he had his eyes on his ball" nonsense as an excuse.

maet wise up if your eyes are up in the air how can you possibly know what is going on around you, the fact that good landed on his head while is a bad injury to goode is nothing to do with the decision had he landed on his backside and got up and wlasked away should that have changed the decision? No it should not, it is  ayellow, not a red

100% disagree, he showed no signs of competing for the ball - having your eyes on the ball is not competing the for the ball. He should of jumped for it or not run into Goode.

Nathan my point is that he couldn't see Goode coming he had his hands out for a catch, my point is that he was looking into the air and could not possibly have seen Goode coming, it was a yellow for wreckless but if you are saying he deliberately tried to do that to take out Goode then I have to disagree with you

GunsGerms wrote:

quinsforever wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Wrong decision. Clearly an accident. Game ruined. Hope Goode is ok. Injury definitely influenced the decision.

theres a big difference between something being an accident, and someone making it look accidental even when they knew what they were doing was dangerous. payne did the latter and paid the price.

You really are dumb if you think he intentionally tackled Goode in the air. No hope for you.

The injury wasn't intentional, but the point that the game officials made and Quins helpfully repeated for our benefit was that by taking the decision to run the line he did and not jump for the ball he was behaving in a way that was likely to cause an injury. Their judgement was that he chose to play in a dangerous way.

Your responses have been offensive, personal and completely over the top. You might want to consider toning it down before the mods get involved.

Such a simple move. If there was a fullback on that wasnt a try.

That was an excellent try - pity about 'celebration'. Needless and stupid. Concentrate on getting the ball down as close to the posts as possible. It's about the team, the club, the supporters - not you, Mr A.

I really hate that splash by Ashton it is so disrespectful

Ah just noticed Hodgons on. Game Ulster.

neilthom7 wrote:

nathan wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:

quinsforever wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:I hope Goode is OK there he didn't look good when he fell

It is not a red card though, very clumsy, should be more aware but he is looking at ball the whole time he didnt even get his hands up had he been trying to do it the hands would have been up so he didn't get a knee to the head.

rubbish. he didnt compete for it therefore it was potentially dangerous. and when goode landed on his head, red is fair enough. payne needed either to jump, or check his run. rugby players know exactly whats going on around them so i dont buy the "he had his eyes on his ball" nonsense as an excuse.

maet wise up if your eyes are up in the air how can you possibly know what is going on around you, the fact that good landed on his head while is a bad injury to goode is nothing to do with the decision had he landed on his backside and got up and wlasked away should that have changed the decision? No it should not, it is  ayellow, not a red

100% disagree, he showed no signs of competing for the ball - having your eyes on the ball is not competing the for the ball. He should of jumped for it or not run into Goode.

Nathan my point is that he couldn't see Goode coming he had his hands out for a catch, my point is that he was looking into the air and could not possibly have seen Goode coming, it was a yellow for wreckless but if you are saying he deliberately tried to do that to take out Goode then I have to disagree with you

I haven't once said it once done intentionally, it was certainly dangerous.

Good to see Goode up and about.

Poorfour wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

quinsforever wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Wrong decision. Clearly an accident. Game ruined. Hope Goode is ok. Injury definitely influenced the decision.

theres a big difference between something being an accident, and someone making it look accidental even when they knew what they were doing was dangerous. payne did the latter and paid the price.

You really are dumb if you think he intentionally tackled Goode in the air. No hope for you.

The injury wasn't intentional, but the point that the game officials made and Quins helpfully repeated for our benefit was that by taking the decision to run the line he did and not jump for the ball he was behaving in a way that was likely to cause an injury. Their judgement was that he chose to play in a dangerous way.

Your responses have been offensive, personal and completely over the top. You might want to consider toning it down before the mods get involved.

Are you a mod? Sounds like you think you are anyway. Quins is a wum. Surely there is some Amlin on he can watch.

neilthom7 wrote:I really hate that splash by Ashton it is so disrespectful

Its a dicckhid.

On the good news front, Goode is out on touchline and fine which is great because that really looked like a bad injury

Gibson wrote:Ah just noticed Hodgons on. Game Ulster.

Wasn't it Hodgson that just put Ashton through?

nathan wrote:

Gibson wrote:Ah just noticed Hodgons on. Game Ulster.

Wasn't it Hodgson that just put Ashton through?

Give him time bro. Give him time.

quinsforever wrote:i so hate hearing people whine about refs. understandable (perhaps) when its something the refs missed like an offside or marginal obstruction. but when it gets referred and they get 5 minutes to debate and think about it, who, apart from those that do not understand the laws, can dispute the decision?

Personally I felt it was a tad harsh, just a clumsy thing to do. Perfectly understood the referee's actions though. He could have used some discretion but then he would be abused by the Sarries fans. Not an easy position for him and his assistants to be in but he made technically the correct decision.

Yo! Go Ruan.

Foolishly romantic, but why do I think Ulster might still do this? Great to see Goode up and undamaged.

Would have been great if Ashton had of replicated that Japanese fella mid week and lost the ball.

wish the fans would stop booing.

Neilthom7, the officials' view was that it didn't matter that he didn't know exactly where Goode was. They felt he would have known that there would be a player jumping for the ball and that his line would take him into contact while that player was still in the air. Therefore it was deliberate dangerous play.

Those Ulster fans are putting pressure on every Sarries move and urging their men on like mad. They are the 15th man. Love it!

neilthom7 wrote:On the good news front, Goode is out on touchline and fine which is great because that really looked like a bad injury

Great News   

Golden wrote:Would have been great if Ashton had of replicated that Japanese fella mid week and lost the ball.

Ahhh, that would have been wonderful. One day it'll happen.

GunsGerms wrote:

Poorfour wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

quinsforever wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Wrong decision. Clearly an accident. Game ruined. Hope Goode is ok. Injury definitely influenced the decision.

theres a big difference between something being an accident, and someone making it look accidental even when they knew what they were doing was dangerous. payne did the latter and paid the price.

You really are dumb if you think he intentionally tackled Goode in the air. No hope for you.

The injury wasn't intentional, but the point that the game officials made and Quins helpfully repeated for our benefit was that by taking the decision to run the line he did and not jump for the ball he was behaving in a way that was likely to cause an injury. Their judgement was that he chose to play in a dangerous way.

Your responses have been offensive, personal and completely over the top. You might want to consider toning it down before the mods get involved.

Are you a mod? Sounds like you think you are anyway. Quins is a wum. Surely there is some Amlin on he can watch.

stop behaving like a child. i think that's the general message. if you want notch to tell you to stfu i'm sure that can be arranged. would be a shame as he's probably trying to just enjoy the game like everyone else.

If Ulster get to half-time ahead or even stay close, its on. Its really on.

Ulster need to calm down, there a little to over eager at the moment.

Pienaars surely off soon?

Wheres the red card for Burger there? Also a dangerous act and much more deliberate

Burger is a cahnt.

GLove39 wrote:

Golden wrote:Would have been great if Ashton had of replicated that Japanese fella mid week and lost the ball.

Ahhh, that would have been wonderful. One day it'll happen.

AP final against Leicester. He will drop what would have been the match winning score.

neilthom7 wrote:Wheres the red card for Burger there? Also a dangerous act and much more deliberate

Stop being pathetic.

quinsforever wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Poorfour wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

quinsforever wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Wrong decision. Clearly an accident. Game ruined. Hope Goode is ok. Injury definitely influenced the decision.

theres a big difference between something being an accident, and someone making it look accidental even when they knew what they were doing was dangerous. payne did the latter and paid the price.

You really are dumb if you think he intentionally tackled Goode in the air. No hope for you.

The injury wasn't intentional, but the point that the game officials made and Quins helpfully repeated for our benefit was that by taking the decision to run the line he did and not jump for the ball he was behaving in a way that was likely to cause an injury. Their judgement was that he chose to play in a dangerous way.

Your responses have been offensive, personal and completely over the top. You might want to consider toning it down before the mods get involved.

Are you a mod? Sounds like you think you are anyway. Quins is a wum. Surely there is some Amlin on he can watch.

stop behaving like a child. i think that's the general message. if you want notch to tell you to stfu i'm sure that can be arranged. would be a shame as he's probably trying to just enjoy the game like everyone else.

doubt Notch will be doing that at the minute as he is almost certainly at the game and Ravenhill is a complete blackspot for mobile signal at least it is with mine maybe it would help if i updated it lol

Go Andy Trimble you focking beauty!

Ashton nailed. I tink I just did a small tick wee...

just about got him arms wrapped

are the fans really chanting to get a player sent off?