Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 16 May

by **George Carlin** Mon 11 May 2015, 9:30 am

First topic message reminder :

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby
Saturday 16 May 2015
KO: 15:00
Chateau Soapdodger, Glasgow

Live on Sky Sports

Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 31st competition game)
Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson, Sam Grove-White (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: Paul Minto (SRU)
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)

A. Head to Head

25 Played 25
11 Wins 13
13 Losses 11
1 Draws 1
40 Tries 46
28 Conversions 31
62 Penalties 65
6 Drop Goals 0
460 Points 487
26 Avg. Age 27

B. Form

Sat 11 Oct 2014 - Ulster Rugby 29 - 9 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 18 Apr 2014 - Glasgow Warriors 27 - 9 Ulster Rugby

Fri 13 Sep 2013 - Ulster Rugby 12 - 13 Glasgow Warriors

C. Teams

Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 16 May - Page 2 Amy_ma10

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 16 May - Page 2 Amy_ma10

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Richie Vernon
12. Peter Horne
11. Sean Lamont
10. Finn Russell
9. Niko Matawalu

1. Ryan Grant
2. Dougie Hall
3. Rossouw de Klerk
4. Jonny Gray
5. Al Kellock (Captain)
6. Josh Strauss
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Adam Ashe

16. Pat MacArthur
17. Gordon Reid
18. Mike Cusack
19. Leone Nakarawa
20. Ryan Wilson
21. Henry Pyrgos
22. Duncan Weir
23. Peter Murchie

Ulster Rugby
Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 16 May - Page 2 Kiera_10

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 16 May - Page 2 Kiera_10

(15-9): L Ludik; R Scholes, S Arnold, S McCloskey, M Allen, I Humphreys, P Marshall;

(1-8): A Warwick, R Herring, R Lutton, L Stevenson, F van der Merwe, C Ross, C Henry (C), R Diack

Replacements (16-23): R Best, K McCall, B Ross, I Henderson, R Wilson, R Pienaar, P Jackson, T Bowe.

by marty2086 Wed 13 May 2015, 2:19 pm

Munchkin wrote:Henderson will not face ban after red card
"The Ulster player was sent off against Munster at the weekend

Ireland and Ulster star Iain Henderson will not face further sanction after last weeks red card against Munster.

He appeared today before an independent Pro12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee after being sent off.

The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Roger Morris, along with Rhian Williams and Ray Wilton decided that the act did not warrant a red card.

Having viewed the incident in close-up, the Disciplinary Committee concluded that the player's initial contact with his opponent had not in fact been with his head but with his arm.

The Disciplinary Committee imposed no sanction on the player, who is free to resume playing immediately.

Henderson will now be eligible to play in Ulster's final league game of the season along with their play off campaign."

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 16 May - Page 2 3933776953

Great news that theres no ban, maybe lucky too though given some of the bans being handed out like Luke Marshall. Even making contact with the head could have meant trouble

by **Notch** Wed 13 May 2015, 2:23 pm

Happy days!

After much thought, I'd pick the following team (assuming everyone named is fit)

1. Callum Black
2. Rory Best (c)
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Franco van der Merwe
5. Dan Tuohy
6. Iain Henderson
7. Chris Henry
8. Robbie Diack
9. Paul Marshall
10. Paddy Jackson
11. Craig Gilroy/Peter Nelson (not sure about CGs hamstring)
12. Stuart McCloskey
13. Jared Payne
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Louis Ludik

16. Herring 17. Warwick 18. Ross 19. Stevenson 20. Wilson 21. Pienaar 22. Cave 23. Allen/Scholes/Nelson

by **rodders** Wed 13 May 2015, 2:33 pm

What happened Cave last week? He was going well until he came off.

Wouldn't mind seeing sonny bill mccloskey tried on the wing to see how he goes.

by clivemcl Wed 13 May 2015, 2:39 pm

rodders wrote:What happened Cave last week? He was going well until he came off.

Wouldn't mind seeing sonny bill mccloskey tried on the wing to see how he goes.

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 16 May - Page 2 1347041234

by **Notch** Wed 13 May 2015, 3:07 pm

rodders wrote:What happened Cave last week? He was going well until he came off.

Wouldn't mind seeing sonny bill mccloskey tried on the wing to see how he goes.

It's not so much that Cave is playing badly, quite the opposite, more that it would be good to see McCloskey from the start. I've not seen McCloskey's kicking game and his ability under the high ball to judge whether he could play there, but I'd like him as close to the thick of it as possible!

by Pete330v2 Wed 13 May 2015, 3:09 pm

Sanity and a citing panel have been introduced. Let's hope it's the start of a very long lasting relationship.

by **George Carlin** Wed 13 May 2015, 4:04 pm

Pete330v2 wrote:Sanity and a citing panel have been introduced. Let's hope it's the start of a very long lasting relationship.

Quite sad that a sensible decision like this stands out like a banana in a bunch of grapes in the current citing tribunal environment.

I going to risk ridicule by thrashing around wildly in the dark to suggest that my colleague Notch may be mildly pleased with this verdict. 'May'. I mean I'm just guessing.

by **RDW** Wed 13 May 2015, 4:05 pm

They are obviously trying to stamp down on these things just now

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32722195

I'm assuming Bai's was much worse!

by **George Carlin** Wed 13 May 2015, 4:26 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:They are obviously trying to stamp down on these things just now

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32722195

I'm assuming Bai's was much worse!

Jaysus. I didn't realise that Bai is 36.

The poor bugger probably just wants a seat, an Alan Titchmarsh repeat and a nice cup of tea.

by Pete330v2 Wed 13 May 2015, 4:28 pm

"like a banana in a bunch of grapes"

I like that George, it made me chuckle, I will be utilising it at every given opportunity Smile

by **George Carlin** Wed 13 May 2015, 5:07 pm

Pete330v2 wrote:"like a banana in a bunch of grapes"

I like that George, it made me chuckle, I will be utilising it at every given opportunity

Amazing how some lines just stick in your head.

I am quite positive that I will use the Blackadder line "I'd rather french kiss a skunk" until I die.

by **RDW** Thu 14 May 2015, 8:25 am

Townsend says they are ready for a 3 way

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/latest/gregor-townsend-glasgow-ready-for-three-way-fight-1-3772353

by **George Carlin** Thu 14 May 2015, 9:17 am

Thank goodness Tiny Dancer seems set to return (according to the Hootsmon):

SCOTLAND stand-off Duncan Weir is expecting to make way for club and international rival Finn Russell in the starting line-up for Glasgow’s crunch clash with Ulster on Saturday.

However, he believes he could still have a crucial role to play off the bench as the Warriors chase the bonus-point win that would guarantee them a home Guinness Pro12 semi-final.

Weir turned 24 on Sunday and is relishing his return from a bicep injury he sustained in the home leg of the 1872 Cup clash with Edinburgh on 27 December and which ruled him out of the Six Nations.

Following a couple of appearances as a replacement he was handed a starting role in Swansea last Friday and played the whole 80 minutes of the 21-10 defeat to Ospreys, which saw the Welsh side replace Glasgow at the top of the standings.

Weir expects to make way for Russell, who was rested last week, for the Scotstoun sell-out against the Ulstermen but is hoping he will play a part.

“It is about grasping any opportunity that comes my way now,” he said. “It is going to be a squad effort every game up until we reach the final hopefully. The last 15 to 20 minutes are huge periods during the game if you are coming on. It is about leadership then and controlling the game as best you can.”

With Ospreys, Glasgow and Munster all tied on 70 points and Ulster just a point back, the Warriors know that even a win might not be enough to secure that home semi-final.

“We could be going for a bonus point then, if I get the chance to come on,” speculated Weir. “I have come off the bench and changed the game before and I am quite happy to do that. I bring a bit of energy and tempo off the bench and I am quite happy.”

There will be no hard feelings from Weir if, as expected,  Russell is back in the starting XV that is named by coach Gregor Townsend tomorrow.

“Finn has played four months of rugby. I can’t really get too uptight or worry about not starting,” said Weir.

“Yes, I want that No 10 jersey back but it will be hard after four months of no rugby while Finn has been in and playing for Scotland too, looking comfortable in the international scene. It is going to be a longer process  for me.

“But there is no point me getting frustrated and chomping at the bit too early as I need to understand where I am compared to the season that Finn has had. I am happy where I am at the minute. I got 80 minutes under my belt [at Ospreys] and physically my fitness levels feel  fine and my GPS scores backed that up.

“I want to show my worth in these last three games and as an individual I want to play. There is no point throwing your toys out of the pram like a 15-year-old. It is about being mature  and knowing your role within the squad.”

The Ospreys game did not go to plan, but Weir prefers to point to his 30-minute comeback run-out against Cardiff at the beginning of April as proof that he has made a full  recovery from his injury.

“That Cardiff game was great for me,” explained Weir. “I made ten tackles in the space of 30 minutes. After that game I did not have to worry about my arm and was getting about fine.”

Weir is under no illusions about how tough a match they face at the weekend against a side who inflicted Glasgow’s heaviest defeat of the season – 29-9 in Belfast.

The 18-times capped stand-off said: “Ulster have been up near the top of the league consistently for a number of years. They bring physicality and have great line speed. We have the players who can close them down but it is going to take a bit of patience. You can’t try to break them down too early We need to execute perfectly to get behind their defence.”

Weir says that Glasgow are looking to build a similar consistency to Saturday’s opponents and are growing into their reputation as a team expected to be up challenging at the top.

“Last year when we were sitting top for a number of weeks it was the first time we had been top for a while and looking back it was maybe daunting for the players having that responsibility,” reflected Weir. “We have grown into it and we now  expect to be up there and have everybody else chasing us. As a player group we believe we are good enough to sit top.”

Meanwhile, the shortlist for the Glasgow Warriors’ McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season award has been revealed ahead of the club’s Awards Dinner in Glasgow on Wednesday 20 May.

Jonny Gray, Peter Horne, Niko Matawalu, Tommy Seymour, Josh Strauss and DTH van der Merwe are all in the running for the award, after being nominated by the Warriors coaching team.

The 'crucial role he can play' is staying on the bloody bench and not throwing any more intercept passes.

by **Notch** Thu 14 May 2015, 9:23 am

George Carlin wrote:I going to risk ridicule by thrashing around wildly in the dark to suggest that my colleague Notch may be mildly pleased with this verdict. 'May'. I mean I'm just guessing.

So one of our very best players isn't going to miss the rest of the season? I suppose thats... okay. Mildly pleasing. Good, even.

The thing is, after the Luke Marshall and Roger Wilson incidents which were much more innocuous, it seems that the whole system may as well be based on coin tosses. Well, we were due a decision in our favour I suppose.

by Pete330v2 Thu 14 May 2015, 9:37 am

Due a decision is understating it Notch, we were a statistical anomoly with the amount of ludicrous decisions that went against us. Luke Marshall's ban has to be the most ridiculous one in a while but if Hendo had been banned I think it may even have pipped Marshall's to top spot.

by jimbopip Thu 14 May 2015, 10:50 am

Just watched this week's Warriors' News thingy; there's a clip of the players in the weights room and lo and behold DTH is there without his arm in a sling, cast or any other support. Wouldn't it be nice to see him against Ulster?
On a similar note, we'll see Lord Lucan before we see Maitland in a Glasgow shirt again. I feel that from the second he signed for the Not Nots he has been conveniently unfit to play and I don't see that changing over the next three games.

by Nematode Thu 14 May 2015, 11:15 am

~~DTH had his hand pretty heavily strapped I thought?~~

Just a watch, my bad. Doh

by funnyExiledScot Thu 14 May 2015, 12:05 pm

I have to say Sean Maitland really has failed to live up to his billing. His highlights reel from Super Rugby is phenominal, and yet we've seen so little of his capabilities in a Glasgow and, more so, a Scotland jersey. I really do hope that there's more to come from him, and that the introduction of Russell and Bennett to the Scotland team will see our wingers (Seymour and Maitland in my book) given more space to operate. He's a huge talent, and we haven't made the most of it.

by **George Carlin** Thu 14 May 2015, 12:30 pm

According to my mate at the Spire, Maitland had a pretty major shoulder operation which he has not expecting to need, so I don't think we can accuse of malingering unless something has specific reason to think so.

DTH's hand operation apparently went well but all he says in interviews is that he 'hopes to be back for the end of the season'. No idea if that means he might be fit for a final, were we to make it or whether he is targeting the game this weekend.

Bennett also has his stookie off, so things are progressing well for his bid to be fit for the WC warm up games.

by **RDW** Thu 14 May 2015, 12:34 pm

George Carlin wrote:According to my mate at the Spire, Maitland had a pretty major shoulder operation which he has not expecting to need, so I don't think we can accuse of malingering unless something has specific reason to think so.

Good to see Doctor-patient confidentiality is alive and well!

by SecretFly Thu 14 May 2015, 12:38 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:
George Carlin wrote:According to my mate at the Spire, Maitland had a pretty major shoulder operation which he has not expecting to need, so I don't think we can accuse of malingering unless something has specific reason to think so.

Good to see Doctor-patient confidentiality is alive and well!

by **George Carlin** Thu 14 May 2015, 12:38 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:
George Carlin wrote:According to my mate at the Spire, Maitland had a pretty major shoulder operation which he has not expecting to need, so I don't think we can accuse of malingering unless something has specific reason to think so.

Good to see Doctor-patient confidentiality is alive and well!

Absolutely. Incidentally - your test results came in - apparently there is a good explanation for all of that crotch itching.

by **Notch** Thu 14 May 2015, 12:39 pm

Do any of the Weegie contingent want to venture a guess at who might be playing for you? Appreciate you don't have access to Townsend's wheel of fortune/I ching/dartboard but, you know, just a rough guess.

by **RDW** Thu 14 May 2015, 12:40 pm

George Carlin wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:
George Carlin wrote:According to my mate at the Spire, Maitland had a pretty major shoulder operation which he has not expecting to need, so I don't think we can accuse of malingering unless something has specific reason to think so.

Good to see Doctor-patient confidentiality is alive and well!
Absolutely. Incidentally - your test results came in - apparently there is a good explanation for all of that crotch itching.

by SecretFly Thu 14 May 2015, 12:44 pm

Yes, tongues might have had something to do with it. Not the complete story but getting there....

by cakeordeath Thu 14 May 2015, 12:49 pm

I have a sense of ambivalence about this game.I know you Ulster boys will say you have injury concerns as well, but Glasgow are down to bare bones. The only result I can see is an Ulster win.

Glasgow will lose an away semi-final and then next year, because of lack of quality signings to replace leavers, we will face mid-table mediocrity.

So to sum up, we are fooked

by **RDW** Thu 14 May 2015, 12:49 pm

Was trying to see if anyone had the same 'mind in the gutter' attitude as me!

by SecretFly Thu 14 May 2015, 12:53 pm

cakeordeath wrote:I have a sense of ambivalence about this game.I know you Ulster boys will say you have injury concerns as well, but Glasgow are down to bare bones. The only result I can see is an Ulster win.

Glasgow will lose an away semi-final and then next year, because of lack of quality signings to replace leavers, we will face mid-table mediocrity.

So to sum up, we are fooked

Valiant attempt at coming in under the radar, cake...... 6 out of 10.

by **George Carlin** Thu 14 May 2015, 1:00 pm

cakeordeath wrote:I have a sense of ambivalence about this game.I know you Ulster boys will say you have injury concerns as well, but Glasgow are down to bare bones. The only result I can see is an Ulster win.

Glasgow will lose an away semi-final and then next year, because of lack of quality signings to replace leavers, we will face mid-table mediocrity.

So to sum up, we are fooked

Sadly, it is difficult to disagree with that.

The only thing that can save us is Toonie having held back the news that we have also secretly signed Sam Cane, Heinrich Brüssow, Brodie Retallick, Nick Phipps and Conrad Smith.

by cakeordeath Thu 14 May 2015, 1:08 pm

SecretFly wrote:
cakeordeath wrote:I have a sense of ambivalence about this game.I know you Ulster boys will say you have injury concerns as well, but Glasgow are down to bare bones. The only result I can see is an Ulster win.

Glasgow will lose an away semi-final and then next year, because of lack of quality signings to replace leavers, we will face mid-table mediocrity.

So to sum up, we are fooked

Valiant attempt at coming in under the radar, cake...... 6 out of 10.

Ah SF if only that was the case.

by cakeordeath Thu 14 May 2015, 1:09 pm

George Carlin wrote:
cakeordeath wrote:I have a sense of ambivalence about this game.I know you Ulster boys will say you have injury concerns as well, but Glasgow are down to bare bones. The only result I can see is an Ulster win.

Glasgow will lose an away semi-final and then next year, because of lack of quality signings to replace leavers, we will face mid-table mediocrity.

So to sum up, we are fooked
Sadly, it is difficult to disagree with that.

The only thing that can save us is Toonie having held back the news that we have also secretly signed Sam Cane, Heinrich Brüssow, Brodie Retallick, Nick Phipps and Conrad Smith.

Still on the brightside it could be worse. We could be Edinburgh supporters

by **Notch** Thu 14 May 2015, 2:09 pm

We don't have that many injury concerns, the big ones are Wilson, Gilroy and maybe if Pienaar isn't fully fit. Pienaar played 80 last week so maybe he can be managed.

by **George Carlin** Thu 14 May 2015, 2:38 pm

Notch wrote:We don't have that many injury concerns, the big ones are Wilson, Gilroy and maybe if Pienaar isn't fully fit. Pienaar played 80 last week so maybe he can be managed.

Exactly - we have an entire squadron of broken bodies - including Alex Allan (shoulder), Adam Ashe (neck), Mark Bennett (shoulder), Mike Cusack (foot), Alex Dunbar (knee), Tyrone Holmes (knee), Sean Maitland (shoulder) and DTH van der Merwe (hand).

Those 5 highlighted are first XV starters, in my view. Not good.

by **Notch** Thu 14 May 2015, 2:54 pm

Yeah, we're very happy not to have to face 3 guys who would be the spine of any credible Scotland back line and a Canadian try machine.

I mean, we do have some long-term concerns in Olding and Trimble who would be obvious starters and continue to be big losses as well as the absence of Nick Williams, but we're able to name a very strong team at the moment.

Want to take a bash at guessing the Glasgow XV GC?

by **Notch** Thu 14 May 2015, 2:56 pm

Anyone want to predict the final 4 as well

I'm going for;

Munster 75
Ospreys 74
Ulster 73
Glasgow 71

(sticks neck out and braces for impact)

Whistle

by Pete330v2 Thu 14 May 2015, 3:12 pm

I think you're right there Notch. For us it's likely that we'll face a trip to Corkland where the Langers live. We are definately in the midst of our finest run of form all season and there's no better time to have such a run. Can it last another few games though? Not to mention our uncharacteristicly small injury list which also needs to maintain the status quo.

by **Notch** Thu 14 May 2015, 3:13 pm

I think Swansea is the more likely trip, Munster away for the loser of this game.

by **rodders** Thu 14 May 2015, 3:19 pm

I think you are right except I think we'll lose to Glasgow and finish 4th and face a trip to langerland, which we'll win and then beat the hairsprays 76 - 0 in the final.

by **George Carlin** Thu 14 May 2015, 3:33 pm

Notch wrote:Yeah, we're very happy not to have to face 3 guys who would be the spine of any credible Scotland back line and a Canadian try machine.

I mean, we do have some long-term concerns in Olding and Trimble who would be obvious starters and continue to be big losses as well as the absence of Nick Williams, but we're able to name a very strong team at the moment.

Want to take a bash at guessing the Glasgow XV GC?

Oof. Er, there's whom I would choose and whom Gregor 'Mr Contrary' Townsend will go for.

The team really let themselves down against the Os, who didn't really have to clear third gear to beat us.
You cannot ignore that, so personally I would have:

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Richie Vernon
12 Peter Horne
11 Niko Matawalu
10 Finn Russell
09 Henry Pyrgos

01 Jerry Yanuyanutawa
02 Fraser Brown
03 Euan Murray
04 Leone Nakarawa
05 Jonny Gray
06 Rob Harley
07 Chris Fusaro
08 Josh Strauss (c)

16 Kevin Bryce
17 Ryan Grant
18 Jon Welsh
19 Tim Swinson
20 Ryan Wilson
21 Duncan Weir
22 Peter Murchie
23 Lee Jones

Really horrible to have to chop and change positions so much if you make one backline substitute - you cannot tell me it doesn't feck the fluency of the whole back division because the Spreys match proved that it does.

Getting Finn back will make a world of difference and make our attack twice as sharp. In addition, what we really need is:
- for our Fijians to engage the brain and stop forcing offloads;
- for our loose forwards to up the intensity and try to shake off the fatigue;
- for our bench props to come on and make the huge difference that we know they can make;
- for Ryan 'Batman' Wilson to get back to match fitness PDQ;
- for Henners Piecrust to calm everyone down and regulate our passing game.

All of these are achievable. Will it be enough to beat your lot? I would like to believe it will and it will be a frantic crowd of 10,000 screaming them on.

However, I'll just also add that I'll be making money at the bookies if Gilroy scores.

by Nematode Thu 14 May 2015, 4:38 pm

George Carlin wrote:

01 Jerry Yanuyanutawa
02 Fraser Brown
03 Euan Murray

Is Ulster fielding 3x 7yr olds in the front row? Anything better and Glasgow would get absolutely moshed with that front row... Sad

by Pete330v2 Thu 14 May 2015, 4:43 pm

I get the feeling we won't be putting out our first choice front row as Herbst at the very least is in need of a week off. It may well be a full first choice panel going all out for the win but we'll see tomorrow eh Smile

by funnyExiledScot Thu 14 May 2015, 4:44 pm

That's harsh Mr Tode - I'd argue that's a pretty decent front row, certainly in scrummaging terms.

Great that Russell is back. Different class to Weir.

by Guest Thu 14 May 2015, 4:44 pm

Think we will be without both our props - Herbst and Black. If so it will be Ross and Warwick.

by **George Carlin** Thu 14 May 2015, 4:47 pm

Oor Nema is correct in the sense that front row is potentially weaker than its bench equivalent but that's entirely the point, in my view.

by Nematode Thu 14 May 2015, 4:57 pm

What happened to Alex Allan, Mike Cusack, Gordon Reid, de Klerk, Fagerson etc...

Against Connacht, (Yanuyanutawa & Murray) the scrum was going backwards faster than a Japanese bullet train. Plus Murray gave away that Doh

penalty of the season (THAT hands in the ruck penalty)! There's bound to be a good few knock-ons the way Glasgow play; you just cannot afford to have a weak scrum + iffy ref. It's like starting on -9 points.

As VC said, Murray at his best was world class. He's been great for Scotland, but this season IMO was a season too far. He's just not good enough in the scrum or the loose.

by **George Carlin** Thu 14 May 2015, 5:06 pm

Nematode wrote:What happened to Alex Allan, Mike Cusack, Gordon Reid, de Klerk, Fagerson etc...

The first three guys on that list are all injured.

Don't actually know where de Klerk is.

Don't get me wrong - I'm only describing the front row that we could realistically put out, not the best one on paper.

by **BigGee** Thu 14 May 2015, 6:02 pm

Swinson is not going to be fit for this one looking at the way he limped off last week which almost certainly means Kellock will play. The only question is whether he will start or not?

I am not generally in favour of picking someone on the basis of being a good captain, but you do have to say we were a bit rudderless last week and Kellock can hardly be described as an impact player. I think he will start and Naka will bench.

Lee Jones is off to play sevens this weekend, does that mean one of our other wingers is fit? I would rather see DTH line up and Niko cover 9 from the bench, now him and Naka are impact players!

by **Notch** Thu 14 May 2015, 6:58 pm

George Carlin wrote:
However, I'll just also add that I'll be making money at the bookies if Gilroy scores.

A good bet if he's fit but he very well may be out.

by **Notch** Thu 14 May 2015, 7:06 pm

Pete330v2 wrote:I get the feeling we won't be putting out our first choice front row as Herbst at the very least is in need of a week off. It may well be a full first choice panel going all out for the win but we'll see tomorrow eh

Herbst would have Jerry Yanawanawatana (copies and pastes) Yanuyanutawa on toast, but Murray is good. I hope the front row is fit to start and ready to go for it.

Put it like this; imagine Ulster rest players, and it's a close game which we lose narrowly and Connacht pull off an upset over Ospreys... how gutted would we feel that we didn't go for it?

by Guest Thu 14 May 2015, 7:28 pm

Rumour is that Herbst and Black are both out. Herbst apparently has an injured toe.

We will soon find out if the above is true. Herbst does need a rest though. We could go all guns blazing against the Weegie and lose. Then we will have a knackered side facing our opponents in the semi. We could win and then have a knackered side facing our opponents in the semi.

The chances of a home semi are rather remote, but I agree that if Ospreys were to lose, and I think there's a real chance they might, and we missed out on a real chance to beat the Weegies, it would be gutting. Bigger picture though?

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