Ulster vs Leinster; Official Opening of the New Ravenhill Stadium

Ulster play Leinster on Friday night on the very special official opening of Ulster Rugbys newly redeveloped home. More team news to follow later in the week but until then enjoy these photos from the construction of the original Ravenhill grandstand and the first ever game held at Ravenhill- the same fixture, Ulster vs Leinster, in January 1924. Ulster won, here's hoping for a bit of the spirit of 1924!

The stadium has a rich history having hosted Irelands decisive win against Wales which secured our first ever Grand Slam in 1948, a famous win for Ulster over Australia in 1984 and wins over Toulouse and Stade Francais by a semi-professional Ulster side en route to winning the European Cup in 1999.

This is the beginning of a new era for the stadium and for the team, and it's time for a new generation of players to write their own history- starting on Friday. There will be an opening ceremony at 7pm and the game kicks off at 7.30pm.

Photos from the Opening of Ravenhill, 1924:

Opening Ceremony Details:

The teams are up;

LEINSTER

15: Rob Kearney 14: Zane Kirchner 13: Brian O'Driscoll 12: Gordon D'Arcy 11: Dave Kearney 10: Ian Madigan 9: Isaac Boss
1: Cian Healy 2: Sean Cronin 3: Martin Moore 4: Devin Toner 5: Mike McCarthy 6: Rhys Ruddock 7: Shane Jennings 8: Jamie Heaslip (captain)

REPLACEMENTS: 16: Richardt Strauss 17: Jack McGrath 18: Mike Ross 19: Leo Cullen 20: Jordi Murphy 21: Luke McGrath 22: Jimmy Gopperth 23: Luke Fitzgerald

ULSTER

15: Ricky Andrew 14: Andrew Trimble 13: Jared Payne 12: Luke Marshall 11: Tommy Bowe 10: Paddy Jackson 9: Paul Marshall
1: Tom Court 2: Rob Herring 3: Andrew Warwick 4: Johann Muller (captain) 5: Iain Henderson 6: Roger Wilson 7: Chris Henry 8: Nick Williams;

REPLACEMENTS: 16: Niall Annett 17: Callum Black 18: Adam Macklin 19: Dan Tuohy 20: Sean Doyle 21: Michael Heaney 22: James McKinney 23: Darren Cave

At Ravenhill, 7.30pm. Live on RTE/ BBC NI

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU, 1st competition game)
Assistant Referees: John Lacey, David Connolly (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (IRFU)
TMO: Dermot Molony (IRFU)

This is like Saracens v Toulon....who to support...  

ME-109 wrote:This is like Saracens v Toulon....who to support...  

Which Saffer mercenary will be on the winning side I wonder?  Kirchener vs Muller  

If Ulster win and we win then we have an outside chance of catching Leinster (very remote with Ulster as the last game).

However if Ulster lose and we win you cant catch us......

  

Is Payne back for this game? I'd like to see a mid-air collision between Kirchener and Payne. Both sent players off on stretchers in the last month going to regain garryowens.

Jared Payne is back.

Is this the match thread then Notch? I think it is now. Lovely pics.

This is definitely the game of the weekend.

Ravenhill looks great and the fans deserve it. What frame of mind will Ulster be in? Still thinking about the semi? Or has MA now got them focused on a trophy they may still win this season. Court is back, which is huge. Any update on Lutton and Big John?

No idea what would suit Glasgow more. A 3-3 draw, probably.  

Interesting to look at previous meetings:

28/12/13 - Leinster Rugby 19 - 6 Ulster Rugby

25/5/13 - Ulster Rugby 18 - 24 Leinster Rugby

30/3/13 - Leinster Rugby 18 - 22 Ulster Rugby

Defences have been tight in all games, not a lot of tries. However, both sides need a BP win for certainty, so maybe everyone will try to cut loose a little.

Is it sold out? Would quite like to go to this one.

Ulster

(15-9): R Andrew, A Trimble, J Payne, L Marshall, T Bowe, P Jackson, P Marshall; (1-8); T Court, R Herring, A Warwick, J Muller (captain), I Henderson, R Wilson, C Henry, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): N Annett, C Black, A Macklin, D Tuohy, S Doyle, M Heaney, J McKinney, D Cave.

LEINSTER:
15: Rob Kearney
14: Zane Kirchner
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Dave Kearney
10: Ian Madigan
9: Isaac Boss
1: Cian Healy
2: Sean Cronin
3: Martin Moore
4: Devin Toner
5: Mike McCarthy
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:
16: Richardt Strauss
17: Jack McGrath
18: Mike Ross
19: Leo Cullen
20: Jordi Murphy
21: Luke McGrath
22: Jimmy Gopperth
23: Luke Fitzgerald

Boom!! Strong Leinster team. Cian Healy v Warwick might be tasty.

GunsGerms wrote:Is it sold out? Would quite like to go to this one.

Sold out but there are people flogging tickets on both Leinsterfans and UAFC.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Boom!! Strong Leinster team. Cian Healy v Warwick might be tasty.

Not sure Ulster fans are looking forward to the 1st scrum!

Payne playing 13 should be interesting, maybe Leinster want a look at him there before he signs

VinceWLB wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Boom!! Strong Leinster team. Cian Healy v Warwick might be tasty.

Not sure Ulster fans are looking forward to the 1st scrum!

Yeah, it could be tasty for Healy as I think he very well may eat Warwick. It's a trial by fire for the young prop up against one of the world's best loose heads.

I do like our backrow as Wilson always performs really well from 6 and the occasion will hopefully see big Nick regain even more mojo. Our backline looks tasty though and Payne v BOD could be very interesting, the old vs the new

Ulster's bench is well overshadowed by Leinster's so it looks like we'll have to have this one won early on   

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Is it sold out? Would quite like to go to this one.

Sold out but there are people flogging tickets on both Leinsterfans and UAFC.

thanks.

Score predictions, please.

George Carlin wrote:Score predictions, please.

Guns to have to many pints of heino and will make a play for Jen with a couple of babychams who will ultimately give him the silver bullet at the end of the night....

ME-109 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Score predictions, please.

Guns to have to many pints of heino and will make a play for Jen with a couple of babychams who will ultimately give him the silver bullet at the end of the night....

Thats a very interesting imagination Dod. I guess you have to play out your fantasies through other people these days? Just kidding, Im not going now. Playing golf instead.

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Score predictions, please.

Guns to have to many pints of heino and will make a play for Jen with a couple of babychams who will ultimately give him the silver bullet at the end of the night....

Thats a very interesting imagination Dod. I guess you have to play out your fantasies through other people these days? Just kidding, Im not going now. Playing golf instead.

Well the question was Score Predictions....   

Golf over Rugby.............. 

Ill still watch the game just cant do both in the same day.

I predict Ulster are going down

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Score predictions, please.

Guns to have to many pints of heino and will make a play for Jen with a couple of babychams who will ultimately give him the silver bullet at the end of the night....

Thats a very interesting imagination Dod. I guess you have to play out your fantasies through other people these days? Just kidding, Im not going now. Playing golf instead.

Well the question was Score Predictions....   

Golf over Rugby.............. 

Golf pah!

Not sure he would be able for me anyway dekko. Both yer missus AND yer ma said there was a shockin in taste of whiskey off me flute.

Mickado wrote:I predict Ulster are going down

faster than a Mexican hooer.

Eh Gringo?

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Mickado wrote:I predict Ulster are going down

faster than a Mexican hooer.

Eh Gringo?

I predict a similar scenario where Ulster wili stay afloat momentarily but eventually will indeed 'GO DOWN'

I predict a massively gutsy performance from the nordies. Like the Sarries one. With them only "going dahn" after we bring on our bench.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I predict a massively gutsy performance from the nordies. Like the Sarries one. With them only "going dahn" after we bring on our bench.

I think you'll find those benches belong to Ulster Rugby so if you're bringing benches on please bring your own.

I think we would need our bench emptied in the final quarter without removing anyone from the field to win this one.
Mind you if I'd been told that Payne would be (wrongly) red-carded after 5 mins against Sarries and not so long after we'd lose Besty and Pienaar and then asked for a score prediction I'd have looked towards a cricket score. If we can fight with similar determination and frustrate the hell out of you lads in blue there may just be a chance.

I just have a bad, bad feeling in my gut about this one.

I hope we can all hear what I have to say in the right light. I HATE Leinster with every ounce of my being. No, not the fans, not the players, not the staff, just the club as an entity.
You have really fecked us over so many times, and I don't think Leinster understand how tender our ulster hearts are about all the run ins and dashed hopes.

So... with that in mind, when the time comes, be it it tomorrow night, be in the playoff final, be it next year or ten years time - when we dominate Leinster I will gloat until I have no energy left but to collapse and die with rigor mortis freezing my smug grin for eternity.

That is all...

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Boom!! Strong Leinster team. Cian Healy v Warwick might be tasty.

One of the best loose heads in the world versus an Academy loose head playing out of position... pretty worrying.

clivemcl wrote:I hope we can all hear what I have to say in the right light. I HATE Leinster with every ounce of my being. No, not the fans, not the players, not the staff, just the club as an entity.
You have really fecked us over so many times, and I don't think Leinster understand how tender our ulster hearts are about all the run ins and dashed hopes.

So... with that in mind, when the time comes, be it it tomorrow night, be in the playoff final, be it next year or ten years time - when we dominate Leinster I will gloat until I have no energy left but to collapse and die with rigor mortis freezing my smug grin for eternity.

That is all...

Enjoy it when it comes,I honestly thought you'd have overtaken us this year and but for a crazy ref and horrible luck with injuries (again) I think you'd be in a HC final with a good chance of winning it.

Ulster just seem to have a squad with no centre,you have a top quality first 23 and some really promising youngsters coming along but that middle tier of seasoned pros who'll never be world beaters but can do a job when injuries or internationals take away your big guns just seems to be missing.

George Carlin wrote:Score predictions, please.

Ulster 21-20 Leinster

Couldn't be in a worse position regarding injuries going into this game but I predict we'll guts it out and sneak home. It means too much to see anything other than an Ulster win.

Notch wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Boom!! Strong Leinster team. Cian Healy v Warwick might be tasty.

One of the best loose heads in the world versus an Academy loose head playing out of position... pretty worrying.

I feel there may be more than a few scrum penalties.

We need an imaginary someone on the grassy knoll to take out our front rowers with imaginary shots to the knees and enforce uncontested scrums. I know, it's low, it's a cheap shot but hell I'd take it right now.

They were saying the same thing before we beat them in the RDS last year. I would rather lose with contested scrums than win with uncontested scrums- besides, in case you didn't notice us playing with 14 men in the last 30 mins against Glasgow, you can only bring on a front row for a front row and if you don't have any front rows left you go a man down.

The thing is they have a big advantage in the front row, scrum half and fullback. No doubt about it. But our back line as a whole is better, we have a better 10 and we have a better back 5 in the pack so it should still be quite close.

This is quite a game for newbie referee. I am guessing Nigel Owens was busy.

A newbie ref to the Pro12 bit an experienced referee in the Aviva Prem.

Notch wrote:They were saying the same thing before we beat them in the RDS last year. I would rather lose with contested scrums than win with uncontested scrums- besides, in case you didn't notice us playing with 14 men in the last 30 mins against Glasgow, you can only bring on a front row for a front row and if you don't have any front rows left you go a man down.

The thing is they have a big advantage in the front row, scrum half and fullback. No doubt about it. But our back line as a whole is better, we have a better 10 and we have a better back 5 in the pack so it should still be quite close.

I'd disagree with that,Muller and Henry would improve us but Henderson is still a bit behind Toner as a lock while imo Ruddock and Heaslip are well ahead of the Wilson and Williams.

Would it not have made sense to have Court play tight head and the academy loose head play loose head?

Scrums will be interesting anyway.

Golden wrote:Would it not have made sense to have Court play tight head and the academy loose head play loose head?

Scrums will be interesting anyway.

Hell no. You ever seen Court play tight head?

Yup, surely he can do a better job than an academy loosie?

Golden wrote:Yup, surely he can do a better job than an academy loosie?

More like an Academy loosie can't do a worse job than him, I'd say. Warwick would have more recent experience at tight head.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

Notch wrote:They were saying the same thing before we beat them in the RDS last year. I would rather lose with contested scrums than win with uncontested scrums- besides, in case you didn't notice us playing with 14 men in the last 30 mins against Glasgow, you can only bring on a front row for a front row and if you don't have any front rows left you go a man down.

The thing is they have a big advantage in the front row, scrum half and fullback. No doubt about it. But our back line as a whole is better, we have a better 10 and we have a better back 5 in the pack so it should still be quite close.

I'd disagree with that,Muller and Henry would improve us but Henderson is still a bit behind Toner as a lock while imo Ruddock and Heaslip are well ahead of the Wilson and Williams.

Our back 5 is definately on a par with the Leinster 4-8 if not a tad better. Henderson may be seen as being behind Toner by some but the lad is force of nature as is big Nick and I prefer Wilson playing at 6 than 8. His physicality is brought more to the for IMO. Henry's part in the side speaks for itself, he's a class act.

The Warwick lad may do OK for us if he can at the very least not go backwards at a rate of knots. He has played TH in the AIL and age group, I know not the same level but he does have experience there. I am clutching at straws here but we'll know from scrum number one what way that's all going to go.

I would rather have seen Cave at 13 and Payne at 15 mind you as Cavey marshalls the defence brilliantly and Payne is better from 15. Perhaps the management didn't want Jared taking too many high balls until he has learned to jump

Who'll be presiding over the Grand Opening?

I reckon that the Hibernophile neutral Stuart Barnes would be the man for the job.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:Who'll be presiding over the Grand Opening?

I reckon that the Hibernophile neutral Stuart Barnes would be the man for the job.

Details here

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/News/LatestNews/TabId/149/ArtMID/793/ArticleID/1477/Details-of-the-Ravenhill-Stadium-Opening-Ceremony.aspx

Zebre 30 - 27 Ospreys

Bit of pressure off Ulster now, then...

A losing bonus point tomorrow would qualify Ulster. But a win is necessary for confidence and to demonstrate that we are still contenders for the Championship.

Not much has changed from an Ulster PoV, the emotion of the occasion and the fact that this is Muller and Courts last home game (unless the 3 teams ahead of us do an Ospreys in the last two games) means we're still absolutely desperate to win this.

Notch wrote:

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:Who'll be presiding over the Grand Opening?

I reckon that the Hibernophile neutral Stuart Barnes would be the man for the job.

Details here

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/News/LatestNews/TabId/149/ArtMID/793/ArticleID/1477/Details-of-the-Ravenhill-Stadium-Opening-Ceremony.aspx

I'll make a point of watching for who's not there on Auntie2 (NI).

I love Zebre   

We're not in the play off's just yet though. Still need a point from the last two games.

Why is Cave on the bench? Would have thought Anscombe would start his strongest 15 for this game?

Ricky Andrew is the weak link in the back line which makes it a big call to not include Cave or Gilroy.

Cave had a knock, so that might be it.

I predicted Zebre could be a handful for Ospreys. They've had a pretty decent past two months. Hope they can improve even further on that next season.

I just surfed up on this wave: http://www.brianodriscoll.ie/

Who else in rugby has his own website (regardless of how thin and shabby it is)?

[ed] http://www.jonnywilkinson.com (a tiny tad better)

http://thisisshanewilliams.com nothing to do with the lickle Welsh wizard.