Ulster 2014/2015, Part 3

First topic message reminder :

Continue to discuss Ulsters lack of back row options and season in general

rodders wrote:I'll see your 1F and raise you 2Ms.

now lets not be hasty here lol

Henderson - seriously!

It's ridiculous that Joe expects him to go from zero fitness to where he will be going all out to impress against guys who are in peak condition. If Joe doesn't expect Hendo to be in contention then being part of the squad will not test the guys he's up against.

With a planned return to action he could always have been drafted in when he was genuimely ready.

Henderson needs games so if he gets the wolfhounds game that's grand. I'm not certain his participation in the 6N (certainly the early rounds) will go beyond that

The problem is the Wolfhounds game is next week - way too soon against Saxon Wannabees trying to put down a marker.

He might be playing against Leicester this week never mind next. Not saying he plays 80 but I don't mind him seeing gametime

From what I can establish it seems likely Henderson, Williams and Herbst will all be in the 23.

All 3 are considered fit enough to be selected

I think its good man management by Schmidt - he's bringing a big squad together, which will make guys not selected for the 6N feel like they are still on the radar for the RWC.

Teams up

(15-9): J Payne; T Bowe, D Cave, L Marshall, C Gilroy, I Humphreys, R Pienaar; (1-8): C Black, R Best (Captain), W Herbst, A O’Connor, F Van der Merwe, I Henderson, M McComish, R Wilson; Replacements (16-23): R Herring, A Warwick, B Ross, L Stevenson, C Ross, N McComb, P Marshall, M Allen.

Both Allen and L Marshall made in then.
A 6-2 split as expected.
Diack taking a well earned rest
Whilst Williams injury free not match fit (too many pork pies )

Leicester Tigers

15. Matthew Tait; 14. Adam Thompstone, 13. Vereniki Goneva, 12. Seremaia Bai, 11. Miles Benjamin; 10. Freddie Burns, 9. Ben Youngs (c); 1. Marcos Ayerza, 2. Tom Youngs, 3. Logovii Mulipola, 4. Graham Kitchener, 5. Geoff Parling, 6. Tom Croft, 7. Julian Salvi, 8. Jordan Crane
16. Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17. Michele Rizzo, 18. Fraser Balmain, 19. Sebastian De Chaves, 20. Robert Barbieri, 21. Sam Harrison, 22. Owen Williams, 23. Niall Morris

Away on a wee break otherwise I'd be buying a ticket. Team better than expected and I fancy a shock performance like last week but better.

I think we might just be up for this - with those returnees we can win this, Leicester have a game on their hands

I will have to be there in spirit in England this weekend working but will be watching. Not abad team, we can defo give Tigers a great game.

Surprised that Robbie D isnt on the bench at least...is he injured? It would be a harsh call to drop Mike McC after his heroics in the Stade Mayol but...

That is as good a team as we could have possibly expected! We can do it...

I really had written off our chances up until seeing that match day squad. I'm sure the Tigers weren't expecting to see that strong a team available seeing as us Ulster folk didn't. Happy days, this could be a cracking game now. Payne starting at 15 is the cherry on top

A strong looking team, although it's Henderson first game back, and he might not have more than 40 minutes in him. Such a relief to see Herbst starting, and Allen covering from the bench. I think it gives us a chance.

With all the pressure on Leicester to win, and win with a minimum of 4 tries, they might be forced into throwing caution to the wind, make mistakes, cough up penalties. Hopefully

johnnymonaghan wrote:Surprised that Robbie D isnt on the bench at least...is he injured? It would be a harsh call to drop Mike McC after his heroics in the Stade Mayol but...

Diack needs a rest he has been flogged over the last few weeks

Well, we signed another unheralded flanker on a short-term contract.

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/News/LatestNews/TabId/149/ArtMID/793/ArticleID/3215/Ulster-Rugby-sign-Tim-Boys-on-a-short-term-contract-.aspx

It's good, you know, being short-handed there and all.

Bah! More jobs for the Boys

geoff999rugby wrote:

johnnymonaghan wrote:Surprised that Robbie D isnt on the bench at least...is he injured? It would be a harsh call to drop Mike McC after his heroics in the Stade Mayol but...

Diack needs a rest he has been flogged over the last few weeks

Or has McComishes form proved irresistable?

Is there seriously no talented back row players in our academy? I mean look at the likes of Leinster and Munster, who seem to produce flankers/8s every year, most of whom look at the very least test standard. Is the quality drop that bad?

Yes, very obviously so.

If they had been Leinster or Munster players Taggart and Dow would have been given time of the bench.

We only play youngsters when we have to - but for injury O'Connor would still waiting for his first appearance.
We would rather play journeymen like Fitzpatrick, McComb and inspite of Saturday McComish.

A fear of failure is the cause of this disgraceful mindset.

rodders wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:

johnnymonaghan wrote:Surprised that Robbie D isnt on the bench at least...is he injured? It would be a harsh call to drop Mike McC after his heroics in the Stade Mayol but...

Diack needs a rest he has been flogged over the last few weeks

Or has McComishes form proved irresistable?

If that was the case Diack would be on the bench not McComb
He isn't

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/65358882/stags-tim-boys-signs-with-irish-club-ulster

Alaas what we have been needing, an super emergency injury cover player to cover for our emergency injury cover player.

It really is that bad when we need to sign an emergency loan ro cover our injuried emergency loan.

If Tim gets injuried can we get emgercy cover for our emgerency cover, covers, cover?

geoff999rugby wrote:If they had been Leinster or Munster players Taggart and Dow would have been given time of the bench.

We only play youngsters when we have to - but for injury O'Connor would still waiting for his first appearance.
We would rather play journeymen like Fitzpatrick, McComb and inspite of Saturday McComish.

A fear of failure is the cause of this disgraceful mindset.

Are Taggart and Dow actually that good though? I find it strange that they would be overlooked if they had shown any signs of being talented players. It is unfortunate that Daniel Dass went to Cambridge from an Ulster perspective, I think he could have gone far and still can if he decides to return and continue his rugby career.

Dow is in the Ireland U-20 team and Taggart was as well.

The point is you don't know till you try them - some make the jump up some don't.
5 minutes here, 15 minutes there and you never know.
Same for Donnan get him on the bench not McComb.

As I say our coaching staff is, and always has been scared of giving a young kid a go, at least in the forwards.
Still not convinced Macklin could not have been useful if better coached.

We now have Lutton persona non gratis because Clarke doesn't like him.
What a great way to manage your players  

Good performance from Ulster so far. Henderson has a mighty beard on him.

2nd try is given but dont like the TMO going back to check things like that.

Pretty quiet on here, most of you must be at the match. Every occassion I see Marshall take contact, he looks almost lifeless on the ground, then from somewhere, some life manages to drag him back to his feet. Don't know if it's just me being paranoid, but he looks like a dizzy boxer having taken 12 rounds of a beating. But unless he's actually out cold, he just won't stop.

Am I being paranoid?

Golden wrote:Good performance from Ulster so far.  Henderson has a mighty beard on him.

2nd try is given but dont like the TMO going back to check things like that.

Should have checked the ruck before - looked to me like Ulster came round the side and kicked the ball out

I hope we never play you for another 5 years after this game i'm sick and tired of seeing Ulster.

Something about us playing at yours that brings out the best of you.

Heaf wrote:

Golden wrote:Good performance from Ulster so far.  Henderson has a mighty beard on him.

2nd try is given but dont like the TMO going back to check things like that.

Should have checked the ruck before - looked to me like Ulster came round the side and kicked the ball out

I thought an Ulster player dropped it, but not 100% sure

Heaf wrote:

Golden wrote:Good performance from Ulster so far.  Henderson has a mighty beard on him.

2nd try is given but dont like the TMO going back to check things like that.

Should have checked the ruck before - looked to me like Ulster came round the side and kicked the ball out

Henderson went through the middle and kicked it out, I think he even trod on a few Leicester players to get there

Something about the tigers just brings out a good/bad (depends on your POV) side of Ulster.

Well done Cave

Ulster are on fire, I'm hating this!

Yellow card my arse

Hate Ulster....

nathan wrote:Yellow card my arse

Agreed

Somebody tell Rodders to cancel that order for the Giant 'Ulster In Crisis' Banner.



(Or at least just put the order on hold)

Payne and Henderson look in good knick ahead of the 6 nations.

How have Ulster not had someone in the bin yet?

tbh I don't think he's reffing them - in at the side of rucks, around the back of mauls, handling on the ground - he seems quite happy to ignore them all.  I've watched two matches officiated by French refs today and they've both been terrible.

He didn't release the player!

shocking. this ref has to punish the professional infringing.

quinsforever wrote:shocking. this ref has to punish the professional infringing.

Did you miss the two yellow cards? The ones they failed to capitalize on? Go and start a thread about how yellows aren't a harsh enough penalty sure

clivemcl wrote:

quinsforever wrote:shocking. this ref has to punish the professional infringing.

Did you miss the two yellow cards? The ones you failed to capitalize on? Go and start a thread about how yellows aren't a harsh enough penalty sure

Didn't he comment before Ulster got them?

Must be a very frustrating game for a Tigers fan.

Thought VdM was good value for the MOTM. Cave did get the hatrick though.

Maybe, not sure. Sorry if I'm wrong. Either way, you can't pretend that any professional team wouldn't infringe intentionally knowing that the discipline may be better than the outcome of allowing the team's advantage to continue.

Every team does it. Getting high and mighty about it is a silly.

Golden wrote:Must be a very frustrating game for a Tigers fan.

Thought VdM was good value for the MOTM. Cave did get the hatrick though.

Understatement of the year!

Congratulations Ulster, enjoy it.

We were completely outplayed for 60 minutes and then were denied for the last 20 by some errr how should we call it, "cheating"

But if you can get away with it, you played better