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?

Gibson wrote:

nathan wrote:

Gibson wrote:Thats a far as that limited team go. ASM will ate them.

Well that limited team just beat Ulster...

14-man Ulster and were lucky to do so.

14 man, minus Best, Pienaar and Trimble in the second......

Saracens didn't play very well, but it was enough. Farrell didn't have his kicking boots on.

I'm sure they'll improve for the semis. They'll need to.

Definitely a red. I'm just a bit confused about why they took so long to decide and looked at the replays so many times. Payne may not have meant it but it was stupid and reckless. That was his only contribution along with kicking direct to tough. Not his best day.

Ulster were plucky though. Fair play.

I would fear Tigers a lot more that Sarries in a HC knockout game. Tigers have been unlicky with injuries throughout the season and that is why they have struggled in the AP.

Nachos Jones wrote:

Gibson wrote:Thats as far as that limited team go. ASM will ate them.

Not so sure Gibson, Tigers gave them a good run today and had they not have been at home, probably would have lost.

I think Sarries can beat ASM.

Sarries thrashed Leicester, Leicester got oh so close to Clermont.


Of course all that is irrelevant - but interesting to see a match up between the two biggest chokers of recent seasons.

rodders wrote:Munster v Clermont final.

Munster to win.

Good luck to Leinster tomorrow.

munster to beat Toulon in the semis?   

Sarries will be at home in the semi. And Leicester were very close away.

Can see a Munster sarries final.

Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

Well done Ulster, What a performance!

2 of the Sarries tries were because of the lack of numbers in the back.

Munster for the Cup

Gibson wrote:

Cyril wrote:Tense game.

Isn't Ashton level with the Heineken Cup record tries in a tournament now? Nice to see The Splash again :)He's really enjoying his rugby.

Its a cahnt.

You can't argue with tries though. Born entertainer. The home crowd seemed to enjoy it

In a bizarre way I think the fact that Ulster had a man sent off so early ratcheted up the pressure on Saracens, who were already facing a hostile atmosphere. They had the Ulster fans howling for a sin binning for practically every offence and had to be careful how to play a ref who may have been looking to even up the game. Plus, nobody wants to lose to a team who has been down to 14 for 75 minutes. It seemed to me they spent a lot of the match forcing things when they should have been going through their plays as per and punishing Ulster territoriality. I've not seen that many up-and-unders for a long time.

it's funny. reading many of the comments you'd actually think Ulster won.

I can't believe there were English fans on here pretending they wouldn't miss the HC.

Where else do you get this drama!

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

Do you seriously believe Saracens would have beaten a 15 men Ulster side?

Hard lines Ulster really gutsy performance, Saracens seamed to think having an extra man would automatically win them the game rather going out and winning it. Given how labored they were in attack i don't thing they would of scored a try against 15 men. Still best of Luck in the Next round i think you might need it

LeinsterFan4life wrote:I can't believe there were English fans on here pretending they wouldn't miss the HC.

Where else do you get this drama!

Drama can happen in whatever replaces the HC. At the end of the day its about the teams - so long as the same teams are in it.

VinceWLB wrote:

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

Do you seriously believe Saracens would have beaten a 15 men Ulster side?

happy for you. i concede the moral victory. the actual victory i think you will find went to sarries though. the red card was self inflicted so not sure how that weighs on the moral scales...

quinsforever wrote:

rodders wrote:Munster v Clermont final.

Munster to win.

Good luck to Leinster tomorrow.

munster to beat Toulon in the semis?   

Munster will beat whoever they play for the remainder of the tournament I believe (and have done since the group stages).

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

What Ulster fans are acting like sore losers? Arse hole.

VinceWLB wrote:

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

Do you seriously believe Saracens would have beaten a 15 men Ulster side?

What does that have to do with anything? Ulster still lost, Sarecens still won.

Nathan, there were English fans on here saying they wouldn't care if there was no European competition next year!

Congrats to Sarries fans. Relieved to see Goode back on his feet after his injury.

I'm a mixture of emotions. Absolutely gutted at the loss, and immensely proud of every Ulster player who took to the field this evening. Fought like the warriors they are, they gave everything, and could have pulled off a win playing a man down for 75 minutes. It would have been no less than they deserved after an incredibly harsh red card.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Nathan, there were English fans on here saying they wouldn't care if there was no European competition next year!

ah right, didn't know that! I've always wanted these teams playing against each other.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

What Ulster fans are acting like sore losers?  Arse hole.

Your a prime example of the aggressiveness. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Me. because i, like LOTS of rugby people, didnt want to continue to participate in such a badly, uncommercially and inequitably run and organised one. And you have to threaten to withdraw and be willing to withdraw if you want the status quo biased benficiaries to negotiate.

knockout matches have nothing to do with the format or sponsors (and HC are going to sponsor the new one) and everything to do with the teams.

Really looking forwards to the MUCH improved competition that we have forced through though.

rodders wrote:

quinsforever wrote:

rodders wrote:Munster v Clermont final.

Munster to win.

Good luck to Leinster tomorrow.

munster to beat Toulon in the semis?   

Munster will beat whoever they play for the remainder of the tournament I believe (and have done since the group stages).  

Know what Rods? I think you may have a point there sir. They malafustered Toulouse today. 

Transition me arse. Its the HC. They are Munster. And yes they have well enough to win it. 

Just dont tell de boggers that, ja mate?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

What Ulster fans are acting like sore losers?  Arse hole.

And instead of reporting me, why not answer? Typical keyboard warrior.

Most Ulster fans are gutted by the loss, none on here have claimed to be robbed, or have been ungracious to the Saracens. Most disagree with the red card which is fine. Yet you label us as sore losers for nothing? Pathetic.

quinsforever wrote:Me. because i, like LOTS of rugby people, didnt want to continue to participate in such a badly, uncommercially and inequitably run and organised one.

knockout matches have nothing to do with the format or sponsors (and HC are going to sponsor the new one) and everything to do with the teams.

Really looking forwards to the MUCH improved competition that we have forced through though.

i think thats a topic for another thread!

nathan wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Nathan, there were English fans on here saying they wouldn't care if there was no European competition next year!

ah right, didn't know that! I've always wanted these teams playing against each other.

More likely to be same shirts but filled with more mercenaries in the future

VinceWLB wrote:

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

Do you seriously believe Saracens would have beaten a 15 men Ulster side?

Yes.

nathan wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

Do you seriously believe Saracens would have beaten a 15 men Ulster side?

What does that have to do with anything? Ulster still lost, Sarecens still won.

I agree. Saracens did what they had to do and scored more points - c'est la vie. There's no point speculating what would happen if Payne hadn't have been sent off because he did.

On the plus side Ulster played infinitely better with 14 men this year than 15 last. It's not back to the drawing board for Ulster- we pick ourselves up and go again next year.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

What Ulster fans are acting like sore losers?  Arse hole.

And instead of reporting me, why not answer?  Typical keyboard warrior.

Most Ulster fans are gutted by the loss, none on here have claimed to be robbed, or have been ungracious to the Saracens.  Most disagree with the red card which is fine.  Yet you label us as sore losers for nothing?  Pathetic.

He is just being the milk monitor today. pedantic

And one or two sore winners too.

Well played Sarries for the win but very hard luck to Ulster for making it a very close game in the end.

I truly thought that when Ashton went over the that last try that their is no way that Sarries could lose this. But those penalties in the last 2/3 minutes of the game gave Ulster a slim chance of winning. And they very nearly did.

W2ell played too both teams for a cracking game.

nathan wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

What Ulster fans are acting like sore losers?  Arse hole.

Your a prime example of the aggressiveness. You should be ashamed of yourself.

And you're a prime example of someone acting like a prat. Our team have lost a massive game, we are gutted with the result, but we haven't said anything to deserve being called sore losers. And you tell me I should be ashamed of myself? You are deliberately trying to wind people up over the result.

I would love to see the response had I did the same thing after the Tigers game.

Well done Sarries. Ulster shot themselves in the foot. I think they'd have won with 15. But Saracens go to a home semi. Big opportunity for them.

ulster defended for there life's , as all teams do when they go down a man, Sarries were seriously sloppy in defence and conceded way to many pens. They needed to think abit more rather than getting all nervous about the fact they should tear apart a team with a man down

but the end result was a win and 3 tries to nil.

Ashton cant stop scoring. he will be back in the England fold you would think

3 great games today. Best sporting competition in the world!

Well done sarries. Think they are more than capable of taking ASM in England.

Ulster so unlucky for Best and Pienaar to go off, but their replacements did themselves proud.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

What Ulster fans are acting like sore losers?  Arse hole.

Your a prime example of the aggressiveness. You should be ashamed of yourself.

And you're a prime example of someone acting like a prat.  Our team have lost a massive game, we are gutted with the result, but we haven't said anything to deserve being called sore losers.  And you tell me I should be ashamed of myself?  You are deliberately trying to wind people up over the result.

I would love to see the response had I did the same thing after the Tigers game.

Tigers are no longer capable of competing with the best in Europe hes just trying to bask in reflected glory

think you'll find tigers just did.

The irony is Pienaar stayed on for his kicking i guess but Jackson kicked better than him..

yeah they did very well away at clemont- they were literally half a meter away at the end.,

Golden wrote:3 great games today. Best sporting competition in the world!

Well done sarries. Think they are more than capable of taking ASM in England.

Ulster so unlucky for Best and Pienaar to go off, but their replacements did themselves proud.

bores me when people infer that the competition is going to be worse for the changes that are coming.

it's going to be better.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

What Ulster fans are acting like sore losers?  Arse hole.

And instead of reporting me, why not answer?  Typical keyboard warrior.

Most Ulster fans are gutted by the loss, none on here have claimed to be robbed, or have been ungracious to the Saracens.  Most disagree with the red card which is fine.  Yet you label us as sore losers for nothing?  Pathetic.

I would, but you don't deserve one if your going to insult..

Ooooh, can I be milf-monitor please? Do I get a free uniform? 

Some of the amoebic comments on here really show... well, they just do. #justsayin

Nite yall.


Peace and Love. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3cu8sDa90Y

GLove39 wrote:The backlash that Ulster are going to dish out on the Rabo could be brutal. Would hate to be the next team heading to Ravenhill.

Can't see it. Billy V looks to have ended the seasons of both Pienaar and Best, Muller is shot - Ulster's only hope in the P12 is that Leinster and Munster become too focused on the HEC.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

What Ulster fans are acting like sore losers?  Arse hole.

The people I would accuse of making posts that make them look like sore losers are not Ulster fans as far as I can tell. No need for you to resort to name calling however.

quinsforever wrote:

Golden wrote:3 great games today. Best sporting competition in the world!

Well done sarries. Think they are more than capable of taking ASM in England.

Ulster so unlucky for Best and Pienaar to go off, but their replacements did themselves proud.

bores me when people infer that the competition is going to be worse for the changes that are coming.

it's going to be better.

I never said it couldnt get better!

Its equally as boring when people insist that the competition WILL be better.

Its a wait and see process

nathan wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:Some real sore losers on here that can't even find it in themselves to congratulate Sarries. Really credit to your team....

What Ulster fans are acting like sore losers?  Arse hole.

And instead of reporting me, why not answer?  Typical keyboard warrior.

Most Ulster fans are gutted by the loss, none on here have claimed to be robbed, or have been ungracious to the Saracens.  Most disagree with the red card which is fine.  Yet you label us as sore losers for nothing?  Pathetic.

I would, but you don't deserve one if your going to insult..

You're a professional victim mate, so calling us sore losers for nothing doesn't count as an insult?

If you can't take it, don't dish it out.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k2YEc6dozA

quinsforever wrote:think you'll find tigers just did.

just did what ? They lost didnt they? Haven't  won it in a decade 5 years since they made the final. They are no longer top dogs in England never mind Europe. 7 years since their was an English winner and counting. Incidentally im just trolling Nathan back