Pro12 Semi 1 - Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, 22 May

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Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby
Friday 22 May 2015
KO: 19:45
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow

Live on Sky Sports / BBC ALBA / BBC NI / TG4

Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 73rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: John Lacey, Dudley Phillips (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Gwyn Bowden (WRU)
TMO: Seamus Flannery (IRFU)

A. Head to Head - Aggregate

26 Played 26
12 Wins 13
13 Losses 12
1 Draws 1
44 Tries 47
31 Conversions 32
64 Penalties 66
6 Drop Goals 0
492 Points 497
25 Avg. Age 27

B. Head to Head - Recently

Sat 16 May 2015 - Glasgow 32 - 10 Ulster Rugby

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. Run-In

Glasgow Warriors

16/05/15 Glasgow 32 - 10 Ulster

08/05/15 Ospreys 21 - 10 Glasgow

25/04/15 Connacht 13 - 31 Glasgow

Ulster Rugby

16/05/15 Glasgow 32 - 10 Ulster

09/05/15 Ulster 23 - 23 Munster

24/04/15 Ulster 26 - 10 Leinster

D. Teams

Glasgow Warriors

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Richie Vernon
12. Peter Horne
11. Niko Matawalu
10. Finn Russell
09. Henry Pyrgos
 
01. Ryan Grant  
02. Fraser Brown
03. Rossouw de Klerk
04. Jonny Gray
05. Al Kellock (Captain)
06. Josh Strauss
07. Chris Fusaro
08. Adam Ashe
 
16. Pat MacArthur
17. Gordon Reid
18. Mike Cusack
19. Leone Nakarawa
20. Ryan Wilson
21. Duncan Weir
22. Sean Lamont
23. DTH van der Merwe

Ulster Rugby

15 L Ludik
14 T Bowe
13 J Payne
12 D Cave
11 C Gilroy
10 P Jackson
09 R Pienaar

01 C Black
02 R Best (C)
03 R Lutton
04 L Stevenson
05 D Tuohy
06 I Henderson
07 C Henry
08 R Wilson

16 R Herring
17 A Warwick
18 B Ross
19 R Diack
20 S Reidy
21P Marshall
22 S McCloskey
23 M Allen

Hate to say it and I know it's not all of the Irish fans, but your getting a bit of rep for whinging

I'm not sure what the issue is about after winning. Was it all the photos last week? Or the wild celebrations last night.

Ulster will still be kicking themselves. I thought they were the better team but credit to Glasgow. They were not playing their best but still managed to win.

Ulster should have brought on some subs earlier. Half of Glasgows team was changed while Ulster made no changes despite having the likes of Diack and McCluskey on the bench.. 2 physical players. You could see Ulster tiring at about the 65th minute.

Whatever about Matawalu, Lutton was silly in giving away that penalty after the whistle. There was no need and it was a definite penalty. Every team does a bit of messing like that but you have to be smart.

Another area where Ulster lost it was their kicking in the second half. They were pinned in their own half for a long period due to bad kicks.

Glasgow also dominated the contest in the air in the second half.

That must've been tough to take for Ulster. Lord knows we've been on the other end of games like that.

You won't hear fiercer critics to Niko milking it than the guys and girls that populate boards like these that have been going to Scotstoun and previously Firhill for years. He's always been a nippy wee so-and-so and a lot of us feel it's time for Glasgow to move on from him rather than the other way about.

That being said, some of the guff (largely from other forums) about football dives, Glasgow cheating to win, anyone but Glasgow is nonsense. Every team in the league knows what Glasgow are capable of on their day if given the space to do so, and that's exactly what happened.

If Glasgow had lost that game my fellow Weegies would be furious at the way they seemed uninterested for vast periods of that game. How they allowed themselves to be bullied by Ulster for most of the first half. Those feelings have largely been replaced by relief. Relief at making another final. Relief at not being the first side to suffer the embarrassment of losing a home semi. Mostly however relief at not being a sideshow anymore. Plucky underdogs no longer - Glasgow fans, old and new expect to win every home game, and as good as Ulster are they are no exception. Fortress Scotstoun one headline read this morning.

Glasgow go into the final as the 'home' team. If it had been last year we'd be packing into Rugby Park or Ibrox but not this year. I hope Glasgow's performances over the last four years have not been lost on the Pro12 top brass and indeed those that watched their team lose last night.

nathan wrote:Hate to say it and I know it's not all of the Irish fans, but your getting a bit of rep for whinging

Seems you're the one that's whinging, Nathan. Maybe the Ulster fans have a right to whinge this time, eh? We're not the only ones annoyed by Matawalu either. Take a look at what Martyn Williams has to say:


Martyn Williams @martynewilliams
Penalty should be against Matawalu..joke..#GLAvULS
9:22 PM - 22 May 2015
21 21 Retweets 24 24 favorites

nathan wrote:Hate to say it and I know it's not all of the Irish fans, but your getting a bit of rep for whinging

I don't see the problem with people complaining about Matawalu's actions? Everyone seems to be in agreement, actually.

Munchkin wrote:

nathan wrote:Hate to say it and I know it's not all of the Irish fans, but your getting a bit of rep for whinging

Seems you're the one that's whinging, Nathan. Maybe the Ulster fans have a right to whinge this time, eh? We're not the only ones annoyed by Matawalu either. Take a look at what Martyn Williams has to say:


Martyn Williams @martynewilliams
Penalty should be against Matawalu..joke..#GLAvULS
9:22 PM - 22 May 2015
  21 21 Retweets  24 24 favorites

So I presume you think it's ok to continue to whinge if you think Ulster fans have a right too?

It's pretty simple, it was a penalty even if he didn't dive. The dive didn't bring a yellow card or anything extra, just the penalty which it should of been.

You seem to have forgotten that Glasgow got a fair few dodgy decisions go against them.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:Hate to say it and I know it's not all of the Irish fans, but your getting a bit of rep for whinging

I don't see the problem with people complaining about Matawalu's actions? Everyone seems to be in agreement, actually.

Folks have been saying it shouldn't of been a penalty, it should of been. I'm with everyone regarding the actual dive, hate to see it and agree he came across as a bit of a boobie

Eejit wrote:
Glasgow go into the final as the 'home' team. If it had been last year we'd be packing into Rugby Park or Ibrox but not this year. I hope Glasgow's performances over the last four years have not been lost on the Pro12 top brass and indeed those that watched their team lose last night.

Depends on whether or not they could fill a big stadium. The last thing the Pro 12 need is a half empty stadium for a final.

nathan wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:Hate to say it and I know it's not all of the Irish fans, but your getting a bit of rep for whinging

I don't see the problem with people complaining about Matawalu's actions? Everyone seems to be in agreement, actually.

Folks have been saying it shouldn't of been a penalty, it should of been. I'm with everyone regarding the actual dive, hate to see it and agree he came across as a bit of a boobie

It was stupid from Lutton and I would not have argued with the penalty as he took the guy by the neck, but I honestly do believe had Matawalu not went down like he did, the incident wouldn't have even been looked at.

There were niggly little things throughout the game (including high tackles) and a notable one in the first half when a Glasgow player tried to push Henderson over the advertisement boards. Henderson raised his hands towards the officials, nothing was said and so he played on. If he was Matawalu he probably would have flipped himself right over.

nathan wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

nathan wrote:Hate to say it and I know it's not all of the Irish fans, but your getting a bit of rep for whinging

Seems you're the one that's whinging, Nathan. Maybe the Ulster fans have a right to whinge this time, eh? We're not the only ones annoyed by Matawalu either. Take a look at what Martyn Williams has to say:


Martyn Williams @martynewilliams
Penalty should be against Matawalu..joke..#GLAvULS
9:22 PM - 22 May 2015
  21 21 Retweets  24 24 favorites

So I presume you think it's ok to continue to whinge if you think Ulster fans have a right too?

It's pretty simple, it was a penalty even if he didn't dive. The dive didn't bring a yellow card or anything extra, just the penalty which it should of been.

You seem to have forgotten that Glasgow got a fair few dodgy decisions go against them.

First off, I don't think we are whinging. We are complaining about the act of diving in order to milk a penalty from the ref. Whether or not Lutton's action was a penalty. Maybe your comprehension level is lacking, but if you bother to read the many comments by Ulster fans you will find that we are not excusing Lutton, although personally I doubt Luttons actions would have been noticed without the high drama of Matawalu.

I haven't forgotten anything. If Glasgow got a fair few dodgy decisions against them I must have missed them. You on the other hand must have a 'fair few' examples to back up your claim. Go ahead, Nathan. Post these examples with relevant video evidence in support, along with your own analysis.

Many thanks...

Watching saints/serries so not going to now.

No need to resort to insults...

My point is that you don't give someone the chance to make a meal of it. If Lutton had done nothing we wouldn't be having this conversation

"No need to resort to insults"

Sure Nathan, what else to you expect from a whinger?

Pot Kettle Black...

Away and enjoy your rugby.

Munchkin wrote:"No need to resort to insults"

Sure Nathan, what else to you expect from a whinger?

Pot Kettle Black...

Away and enjoy your rugby.

I'll leave you in the sore loser state then

I think everyone is in agreement that Lutton's tackle was stupid and worth a penalty but also that Matawalu's were embarrassing and disgraceful. Let's move on from the debate. Ulster dominated the game and were desperately unlucky, Glasgow were clinical when it counted and I'm Struggling to remember when Scotland last had a fly-half who could perform a pass like Russell's when it counted.

Eejit wrote:Glasgow go into the final as the 'home' team. If it had been last year we'd be packing into Rugby Park or Ibrox but not this year. I hope Glasgow's performances over the last four years have not been lost on the Pro12 top brass and indeed those that watched their team lose last night.

Assuming Munster win today, you're going to get two teams who finished on the exact same number of points playing off in a neutral venue. You can't say fairer than that.

Why you feel the need to throw in a dig at the end is beyond me. You yourself said you could and possibly should have lost the game against an under performing Ulster side after not turning up for long stretches of the game. What does that prove? Glasgows progress is not lost on me, but they need to make further progress on that performance to win the title.

Munchkin wrote:It was probably something done in the heat of the moment. No less true for all that.

I would think Diack's comment as a reflection on the team is small change compared to Matawalu's cheating dive.

Trying to take the moral high ground with professional sportsmen is a somewhat dangerous game as they pretty much all will try and get away with what ever they can. Are you honestly saying that none of the Ulster players would have made a show of something like that high tackle had they been in the same situation or milked the ref in plenty of other ways!

Professional rugby has moved on a long way from the Corinthian amateur values of old and Scottish teams in all honesty have been slower than most in getting to grips with that fact. It does not make the game any less compelling to watch though, in many ways it is more so!

Notch wrote:

Eejit wrote:Glasgow go into the final as the 'home' team. If it had been last year we'd be packing into Rugby Park or Ibrox but not this year. I hope Glasgow's performances over the last four years have not been lost on the Pro12 top brass and indeed those that watched their team lose last night.

Assuming Munster win today, you're going to get two teams who finished on the exact same number of points playing off in a neutral venue. You can't say fairer than that.

Why you feel the need to throw in a dig at the end is beyond me. You yourself said you could and possibly should have lost the game against an under performing Ulster side after not turning up for long stretches of the game. What does that prove? Glasgows progress is not lost on me, but they need to make further progress on that performance to win the title.

Genuinely no dig intended mate. Just meant to say that pro12 is all small margins particularly with the top 5 or 6 being so close. Anything can happen in those big games.

BigGee wrote:

Munchkin wrote:It was probably something done in the heat of the moment. No less true for all that.

I would think Diack's comment as a reflection on the team is small change compared to Matawalu's cheating dive.

Trying to take the moral high ground with professional sportsmen is a somewhat dangerous game as they pretty much all will try and get away with what ever they can. Are you honestly saying that none of the Ulster players would have made a show of something like that high tackle had they been in the same situation or milked the ref in plenty of other ways!

Professional rugby has moved on a long way from the Corinthian amateur values of old and Scottish teams in all honesty have been slower than most in getting to grips with that fact. It does not make the game any less compelling to watch though, in many ways it is more so!

And even in the old days, you still got moments like this. Far worse than last night https://youtu.be/6r4iOOjOWL4?t=4m45s

GLove39 wrote:

BigGee wrote:

Munchkin wrote:It was probably something done in the heat of the moment. No less true for all that.

I would think Diack's comment as a reflection on the team is small change compared to Matawalu's cheating dive.

Trying to take the moral high ground with professional sportsmen is a somewhat dangerous game as they pretty much all will try and get away with what ever they can. Are you honestly saying that none of the Ulster players would have made a show of something like that high tackle had they been in the same situation or milked the ref in plenty of other ways!

Professional rugby has moved on a long way from the Corinthian amateur values of old and Scottish teams in all honesty have been slower than most in getting to grips with that fact. It does not make the game any less compelling to watch though, in many ways it is more so!

And even in the old days, you still got moments like this. Far worse than last night https://youtu.be/6r4iOOjOWL4?t=4m45s

Yes I am old enough to remember that!

I think it is fair to say that the All Blacks mastered 'professionalism' a long time before the rest of us!

BigGee wrote:

Munchkin wrote:It was probably something done in the heat of the moment. No less true for all that.

I would think Diack's comment as a reflection on the team is small change compared to Matawalu's cheating dive.

Trying to take the moral high ground with professional sportsmen is a somewhat dangerous game as they pretty much all will try and get away with what ever they can. Are you honestly saying that none of the Ulster players would have made a show of something like that high tackle had they been in the same situation or milked the ref in plenty of other ways!

Professional rugby has moved on a long way from the Corinthian amateur values of old and Scottish teams in all honesty have been slower than most in getting to grips with that fact. It does not make the game any less compelling to watch though, in many ways it is more so!

I can honestly say that I don't think an Ulster player wouldn't have cheated by diving, but if an Ulster player had dived I know I would have been equally disgusted by his behaviour. In fact, more so.

Trying to take the moral high ground? Are you honestly trying to tell me that a Tweet by Diack, and a Tweet that he removed, is as bad as cheating in a game by diving? Is that really what you believe? I hope not BG.......

Munchkin wrote:

BigGee wrote:

Munchkin wrote:It was probably something done in the heat of the moment. No less true for all that.

I would think Diack's comment as a reflection on the team is small change compared to Matawalu's cheating dive.

Trying to take the moral high ground with professional sportsmen is a somewhat dangerous game as they pretty much all will try and get away with what ever they can. Are you honestly saying that none of the Ulster players would have made a show of something like that high tackle had they been in the same situation or milked the ref in plenty of other ways!

Professional rugby has moved on a long way from the Corinthian amateur values of old and Scottish teams in all honesty have been slower than most in getting to grips with that fact. It does not make the game any less compelling to watch though, in many ways it is more so!

I can honestly say that I don't think an Ulster player wouldn't have cheated by diving, but if an Ulster player had dived I know I would have been equally disgusted by his behaviour. In fact, more so.

Trying to take the moral high ground? Are you honestly trying to tell me that a Tweet by Diack, and a Tweet that he removed, is as bad as cheating in a game by diving? Is that really what you believe? I hope not BG.......

I think it depends how you classify diving and cheating, professional players are coached how to cheat, so moralising really does not work here, you are just being selective about which bit of cheating you don't like!. At the end of the day he was tackled late and high, yes he made a meal of it to bring it to the refs attention but actually I do believe Ulster players and players from every other team do the same thing.

I am sure with a bit of reflection and probably a call from the Ulster PR department, he quickly realised that it sounded like sour grapes and that's why it quickly came down. Ulster had their chances to win the game but did not take them, they need to look at themselves and not try to put the blame on others.

Matawalu cheated however you look at it. Defend his actions away, BG. I'm sure you're proud. I done with discussing this with you.

Laters.

BigGee wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

BigGee wrote:

Munchkin wrote:It was probably something done in the heat of the moment. No less true for all that.

I would think Diack's comment as a reflection on the team is small change compared to Matawalu's cheating dive.

Trying to take the moral high ground with professional sportsmen is a somewhat dangerous game as they pretty much all will try and get away with what ever they can. Are you honestly saying that none of the Ulster players would have made a show of something like that high tackle had they been in the same situation or milked the ref in plenty of other ways!

Professional rugby has moved on a long way from the Corinthian amateur values of old and Scottish teams in all honesty have been slower than most in getting to grips with that fact. It does not make the game any less compelling to watch though, in many ways it is more so!

I can honestly say that I don't think an Ulster player wouldn't have cheated by diving, but if an Ulster player had dived I know I would have been equally disgusted by his behaviour. In fact, more so.

Trying to take the moral high ground? Are you honestly trying to tell me that a Tweet by Diack, and a Tweet that he removed, is as bad as cheating in a game by diving? Is that really what you believe? I hope not BG.......

I think it depends how you classify diving and cheating, professional players are coached how to cheat, so moralising really does not work here, you are just being selective about which bit of cheating you don't like!. At the end of the day he was tackled late and high, yes he made a meal of it to bring it to the refs attention but actually I do believe Ulster players and players from every other team do the same thing.

I am sure with a bit of reflection and probably a call from the Ulster PR department, he quickly realised that it sounded like sour grapes and that's why it quickly came down. Ulster had their chances to win the game but did not take them, they need to look at themselves and not try to put the blame on others.

Nobody's blaming anyone for Ulster's loss other than the side themselves and moreover the coaching team who for reasons only known to themselves decided not to utilise a bench with game changing players on it. However, any rugby fan will always be disgusted at someone taking a soccer style dive with full theatrics involved.

So here's my take on this

Lutton gives away the pen after the linesman notices what he done to Matawalu, it is a completely deserved penalty and it was stupid by Lutton regardless of what happened after.

Matawalu throws himself to the floor like he has been decapitated in a football style dive. This is also wrong, in rugby you don't talk back to refs and you don't dive. We need to stamp this out here and now like with the talking back and reversing penalties or marching teams back 10.

I think any player caught diving should be an automatic yellow if caught during the game and if not caught during the game should be a fine because most of our player don't make the kind of money footballers do and so a large fine will sting a bit more. It would cut it straight off at the bud.

Again I would like to envisise it was a penalty to Glasgow either way and as I said last night well done to Glasgow and good luck in the final

Munchkin wrote:Matawalu cheated however you look at it. Defend his actions away, BG. I'm sure you're proud. I done with discussing this with you.

Laters.

Im not entirely sure what your issue is with Niko, he perhaps shouldn't have dived, but your prop shouldn't have tackled him off the ball in the first place. Nico could have hacked on and scored, your prop deliberately tried to stop him off the ball and could easily have gotten a yellow. If Nico had not gone down, then this would have been ignored, how the linesman never flagged is beyond me! coaches constantly tell players to highlight penalties to refs in body action, ok this was OTT, but it did result in the right call, so where is the injustice?

As for Ulster dominating the game some fold are saying, must have been a different game I watched, Ulster we hardly in our half in second 40, they had a great defence but so did we in first half. How any chances did they create, 2 or 3 and one taken. In second half, like last week they were poor and had run out of steam, we on the other hand have won many games this year in last 10 minutes, the team and the fans expect to get that last try to win. That is a sign of a good team IMO.

boss_cat2 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Matawalu cheated however you look at it. Defend his actions away, BG. I'm sure you're proud. I done with discussing this with you.

Laters.

Im not entirely sure what your issue is with Niko, he perhaps shouldn't have dived, but your prop shouldn't have tackled him off the ball in the first place.  Nico could have hacked on and scored, your prop deliberately tried to stop him off the ball and could easily have gotten a yellow.  If Nico had not gone down, then this would have been ignored, how the linesman never flagged is beyond me!  coaches constantly tell players to highlight penalties to refs in body action, ok this was OTT, but it did result in the right call, so where is the injustice?  

As for Ulster dominating the game some fold are saying, must have been a different game I watched, Ulster we hardly in our half in second 40, they had a great defence but so did we in first half. How any chances did they create, 2 or 3 and one taken.  In second half, like last week they were poor and had run out of steam, we on the other hand have won many games this year in last 10 minutes, the team and the fans expect to get that last try to win. That is a sign of a good team IMO.

Do any of you actually bother to check through the discussion before you post? Have a look through, and you won't find any comment of mine, or any other Ulster supporter, defending Lutton. There were a few high tackles on the evening though, including those from Glasgow players. Lutton was caught out because Matawalu cheated by diving. You don't like that being said, but that's the truth.

Indeed, you must have been watching a different game, which doesn't surprise me considering your defence of Matawalu.

boss_cat2 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Matawalu cheated however you look at it. Defend his actions away, BG. I'm sure you're proud. I done with discussing this with you.

Laters.

Im not entirely sure what your issue is with Niko, he perhaps shouldn't have dived, but your prop shouldn't have tackled him off the ball in the first place.  Nico could have hacked on and scored, your prop deliberately tried to stop him off the ball and could easily have gotten a yellow.  If Nico had not gone down, then this would have been ignored, how the linesman never flagged is beyond me!  coaches constantly tell players to highlight penalties to refs in body action, ok this was OTT, but it did result in the right call, so where is the injustice?  

As for Ulster dominating the game some fold are saying, must have been a different game I watched, Ulster we hardly in our half in second 40, they had a great defence but so did we in first half. How any chances did they create, 2 or 3 and one taken.  In second half, like last week they were poor and had run out of steam, we on the other hand have won many games this year in last 10 minutes, the team and the fans expect to get that last try to win. That is a sign of a good team IMO.

Exactly, tackling late and high is not cheating?

And yes, I am very proud of my team, they weathered enormous pressure in the first half and had a pretty iffy decision given against them which allowed Pinear to kick his monster goal and yet they still believed they could win the game. There was only one team in it during the last 10 minutes as Glasgow came forward in wave after wave. It is something that long suffering Scottish fans like me have not experienced very often, our side had the skill and composure to fashion a winning try to go with all of our effort, endeavour and belief. Have you any idea how many times we have been in that position before and lost.

I think Glasgow won that game because they wanted it more, none of the refs decisions (which I have already been on record as saying were very even handed) had anything to do with it.

BigGee wrote:

boss_cat2 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Matawalu cheated however you look at it. Defend his actions away, BG. I'm sure you're proud. I done with discussing this with you.

Laters.

Im not entirely sure what your issue is with Niko, he perhaps shouldn't have dived, but your prop shouldn't have tackled him off the ball in the first place.  Nico could have hacked on and scored, your prop deliberately tried to stop him off the ball and could easily have gotten a yellow.  If Nico had not gone down, then this would have been ignored, how the linesman never flagged is beyond me!  coaches constantly tell players to highlight penalties to refs in body action, ok this was OTT, but it did result in the right call, so where is the injustice?  

As for Ulster dominating the game some fold are saying, must have been a different game I watched, Ulster we hardly in our half in second 40, they had a great defence but so did we in first half. How any chances did they create, 2 or 3 and one taken.  In second half, like last week they were poor and had run out of steam, we on the other hand have won many games this year in last 10 minutes, the team and the fans expect to get that last try to win. That is a sign of a good team IMO.

Exactly, tackling late and high is not cheating?

Who said it wasn't? Not that high tackles are always cheating. Not like diving. Have you a problem reading?

boss_cat2 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Matawalu cheated however you look at it. Defend his actions away, BG. I'm sure you're proud. I done with discussing this with you.

Laters.

Im not entirely sure what your issue is with Niko, he perhaps shouldn't have dived, but your prop shouldn't have tackled him off the ball in the first place.  Nico could have hacked on and scored, your prop deliberately tried to stop him off the ball and could easily have gotten a yellow.  If Nico had not gone down, then this would have been ignored, how the linesman never flagged is beyond me!  coaches constantly tell players to highlight penalties to refs in body action, ok this was OTT, but it did result in the right call, so where is the injustice?  

The right result was reached but it's not a question of injustice, its a question of sportsmanship. After Gregor Townsend doing everything he could to get one of our players cited earlier in the season and Niko Matawalu doing everything he could to get a player sin-binned in our last game, don't expect much neutral support in the Final. Sport is not some morality play where the most sporting team wins, but as sports fans people like to see the less sportsmanlike teams punished in the end. My sincere hope that that will happen has nothing to do with the fans of Glasgow and a number of their players who I truly respect, but whether we were the winners or the losers the way Glasgow have gone out to try and influence the disciplinary process on and off the pitch in our encounters with them leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. I do not want to be a sore loser and have already offered my congratulations to the winning team, but I also do not want to see several obnoxious characters rewarded with silverware.

I'm on #TeamDiack in other words

The problem with the Lutton/Matawalu incident is that the dive highlighted the penalty. Previous incidences of similar high/late tackles were ignored because the victims (for both Glasgow and Ulster) shrugged them off as being part and parcel of the game and simply played on. So when the officials ignore these previous incidents they are sending the message: dive and you get a penalty.
Personally I don't blame Niko for highlighting the foul, however what I found disgraceful was how he stayed down to try and get Lutton a yellow card. It was obvious when his medic came on that he told her not to 'treat' him but let him continue grovelling in pain. He had already got the penalty and was going for the card, but when that didn't come he jumped up without even a nod to his medical angel!

Good Luck to Glasgow next week, but before then please someone have a quiet word in Niko's ear.

Notch wrote:

boss_cat2 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Matawalu cheated however you look at it. Defend his actions away, BG. I'm sure you're proud. I done with discussing this with you.

Laters.

Im not entirely sure what your issue is with Niko, he perhaps shouldn't have dived, but your prop shouldn't have tackled him off the ball in the first place.  Nico could have hacked on and scored, your prop deliberately tried to stop him off the ball and could easily have gotten a yellow.  If Nico had not gone down, then this would have been ignored, how the linesman never flagged is beyond me!  coaches constantly tell players to highlight penalties to refs in body action, ok this was OTT, but it did result in the right call, so where is the injustice?  

The right result was reached but it's not a question of injustice, its a question of sportsmanship. After Gregor Townsend doing everything he could to get one of our players cited earlier in the season and Niko Matawalu doing everything he could to get a player sin-binned in our last game, don't expect much neutral support in the Final. Sport is not some morality play where the most sporting team wins, but as sports fans people like to see the less sportsmanlike teams punished in the end. My sincere hope that that will happen has nothing to do with the fans of Glasgow and a number of their players who I truly respect, but whether we were the winners or the losers the way Glasgow have gone out to try and influence the disciplinary process on and off the pitch in our encounters with them leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. I do not want to be a sore loser and have already offered my congratulations to the winning team, but I also do not want to see several obnoxious characters rewarded with silverware.

I'm on #TeamDiack in other words

You don't get more unsporting than pure dirty reckless and dangerous play, one that could have permamently damaged a player. Ulster player O'Connor cited for serious foul play 6 months ago vs Glasgow when he literally strangled Bennet such he went unconscious! So don't start on unsporting!
That's the height of unsporting behaviour. And he was guilty
banned for 3 matches.
U should have also focus on the fact that Ulster player fouled matawalu. What matawalu did was stupid but does not change the foul play 1 jot. It was a cheap shot.

Quite a few examples of off the ball 'digs' by the 'holier than thow' Ulster players. Vernon taken out by an elbow around 72 min amongst a few missed by the officials. Our discipline was good and we did not react. It seems there are a few Ulster supporters on here very very bitter not helped by Rory Best's post match interview. While I can understand their disappointment, the Ulster fans I spoke to in the Clubhouse post match on Friday did not mention the Lutton penalty apart from how stupid he was, but congratulated Glasgow, applauded DTH and Gordy Reid when they came in for interview, offered to get us tickets and stated they were supporting Glasgow in the final regardless of who they play (the Bangor chapter I believe). What Matawalu did, does not cancel out the penalty.

My concern re the officiating is George Clancy. I do not think he is biased one way or another. He is thoroughly incompetent though. One of many examples was advantage given to Ulster after a Warriors knock forward in the Ulster 22. The ball was shipped right to Tommy Bowe or Paddy Jackson who hoofed it up field to Stuart Hogg. That should then be advantage over in my understanding of the laws. Not George . No advantage, back to the 22 for and Ulster scrum. Clancy is a woefully bad referee amongst a rather atrocious bunch in the Pro 12 - Nige is the notable exception. Just hope we get him (Nige) at Ravenhill on Saturday. Getting 5 Irish officials on Friday night was a bizarre decision. Clancy is inexplicably rated by the IRB. The shocking decision to have him run the line (and effectively ladopt seniority/experience) when the only Grade 1 referee worse than Clancy - Glen Jackson of NZ - was in the middle at Murrayfield, and we know what happened there !

Not really interested in the argument but so happy that dth skied the winning try on his last home game. Fitting for such a great player

DTH is the best winger in Scotland by some way and has been for a number of seasons now. A hard act to follow tbh !

DTH looked pretty gutted to be leaving - I wonder if he's regretting his decision!

alive555 wrote:

alive555 wrote:

You don't get more unsporting than pure dirty reckless and dangerous play, one that could have permamently damaged a player.  Ulster player O'Connor cited for serious foul play 6 months ago vs Glasgow when he literally strangled Bennet such he went unconscious! So don't start on unsporting!
That's the height of unsporting behaviour. And he was guilty
banned for 3 matches.
U should have also focus on the fact that Ulster player fouled matawalu. What matawalu did was stupid but does not change the foul play 1 jot.  It was a cheap shot.

What a load of garbage. Apart from digging up the past to defend that cheat Matawalu, you're accusing O'Connor of intending to choke Bennett unconscious. What nonsense. Sure he was banned but I don't think he was found guilty of intent. Not that I would trust a citing panel anyway.

Matawalu is a cheat. A play acting diver who apparently on three occasions, at least twice, tried to milk penalties with his play acting.

The Ulster fans on here have made it clear that we are not defending Lutton. We have made it clear that we are not blaming Matawalu for our loss.
You ignore this though, and you ignore it because you want revenge for us daring to state that Matawalu is a play acting cheat. He is.

Should be an interesting final....

You ok, chief?

Not sure if that is directed at me, IanBru. If it is then yes, I'm in fine form. Why do you ask?

[quote="Munchkin"]

alive555 wrote:

alive555 wrote:

You don't get more unsporting than pure dirty reckless and dangerous play, one that could have permamently damaged a player.  Ulster player O'Connor cited for serious foul play 6 months ago vs Glasgow when he literally strangled Bennet such he went unconscious! So don't start on unsporting!
That's the height of unsporting behaviour. And he was guilty
banned for 3 matches.
U should have also focus on the fact that Ulster player fouled matawalu. What matawalu did was stupid but does not change the foul play 1 jot.  It was a cheap shot.

first quote the whole post and not take only the last bit out of context. Your another whinging loser.

The whole point of the original poster was to infer glasgow are a cheating team and i pointed out the worst form of cheating this season between the 2 teams was committed by an Ulster player, not Glasgow. so get off your high horse.

 please!

alive555 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

alive555 wrote:

alive555 wrote:

You don't get more unsporting than pure dirty reckless and dangerous play, one that could have permamently damaged a player.  Ulster player O'Connor cited for serious foul play 6 months ago vs Glasgow when he literally strangled Bennet such he went unconscious! So don't start on unsporting!
That's the height of unsporting behaviour. And he was guilty
banned for 3 matches.
U should have also focus on the fact that Ulster player fouled matawalu. What matawalu did was stupid but does not change the foul play 1 jot.  It was a cheap shot.

first quote the whole post and not take only the last bit out of context. Your another whinging loser.

The whole point of the original poster was to infer glasgow are a cheating team and i pointed out the worst form of cheating this season between the 2 teams was committed by an Ulster player, not Glasgow. so get off your high horse.

Why would I need to quote the entire post? All I needed to do was include your entire quote. The one I was responding too. There is no need to include the entire post, and to do so takes up much unnecessary space. In any case, if someone really wants to see the entire post it's just a few posts above!
Indeed you responded to Notch's comment, although Notch isn't saying that entire Glasgow team are a team of cheats. Just that it's a team with a cheat. It does reflect on the whole I suppose.
A "whinging loser" "high horse". Sure, if that's what you really think You seem to be doing a lot of whinging yourself though. Maybe you're a bad winner, eh?

Anyway, I'm sure you must love all those dives in football. It's a joy to watch and adds real quality to the game. Just like Matawula.

I'd better leave it there with you. Don't want you having a cyber meltdown  

Laters  

Boys, boys... I go away for a weekend and come back to this?
OK, given that I watched it in a crowded bar and was constantly interrupted by people putting drinks in my hand and then downing them...
Ulster: really should have won. Those players will replay that game over and over and still not believe the dénouement. But, sometimes sport bites you. We've all been there but that wont make it any easier for Ulster fans.
Glasgow: what character, what desire and belief. They just refused to lose. There is no sensible explanation of the result other than they just wouldn't stop fighting for their lives.

The bickering about Lutton/Matawalu is pointless and serves no real purpose. Mata is a loose canon and on the whole Glasgow will probably be better off without him. However, if I was an Ulster fan I would be angry at the very obvious and stupid late /high tackle which was totally unnecessary and , frankly, half-witted.

I haven't seen the match again but tell me did I really see Big Al in tears at the end ?

Munchkin wrote:

alive555 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

alive555 wrote:

alive555 wrote:

You don't get more unsporting than pure dirty reckless and dangerous play, one that could have permamently damaged a player.  Ulster player O'Connor cited for serious foul play 6 months ago vs Glasgow when he literally strangled Bennet such he went unconscious! So don't start on unsporting!
That's the height of unsporting behaviour. And he was guilty
banned for 3 matches.
U should have also focus on the fact that Ulster player fouled matawalu. What matawalu did was stupid but does not change the foul play 1 jot.  It was a cheap shot.

first quote the whole post and not take only the last bit out of context. Your another whinging loser.

The whole point of the original poster was to infer glasgow are a cheating team and i pointed out the worst form of cheating this season between the 2 teams was committed by an Ulster player, not Glasgow. so get off your high horse.

Why would I need to quote the entire post? All I needed to do was include your entire quote. The one I was responding too. There is no need to include the entire post, and to do so takes up much unnecessary space. In any case, if someone really wants to see the entire post it's just a few posts above!
Indeed you responded to Notch's comment, although Notch isn't saying that entire Glasgow team are a team of cheats. Just that it's a team with a cheat. It does reflect on the whole I suppose.
A "whinging loser" "high horse". Sure, if that's what you really think You seem to be doing a lot of whinging yourself though. Maybe you're a bad winner, eh?

Anyway, I'm sure you must love all those dives in football. It's a joy to watch and adds real quality to the game. Just like Matawula.

I'd better leave it there with you. Don't want you having a cyber meltdown  

Laters  

Munchkin wrote:

alive555 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

alive555 wrote:

alive555 wrote:

You don't get more unsporting than pure dirty reckless and dangerous play, one that could have permamently damaged a player.  Ulster player O'Connor cited for serious foul play 6 months ago vs Glasgow when he literally strangled Bennet such he went unconscious! So don't start on unsporting!
That's the height of unsporting behaviour. And he was guilty
banned for 3 matches.
U should have also focus on the fact that Ulster player fouled matawalu. What matawalu did was stupid but does not change the foul play 1 jot.  It was a cheap shot.

first quote the whole post and not take only the last bit out of context. Your another whinging loser.

The whole point of the original poster was to infer glasgow are a cheating team and i pointed out the worst form of cheating this season between the 2 teams was committed by an Ulster player, not Glasgow. so get off your high horse.

Why would I need to quote the entire post? All I needed to do was include your entire quote. The one I was responding too. There is no need to include the entire post, and to do so takes up much unnecessary space. In any case, if someone really wants to see the entire post it's just a few posts above!
Indeed you responded to Notch's comment, although Notch isn't saying that entire Glasgow team are a team of cheats. Just that it's a team with a cheat. It does reflect on the whole I suppose.
A "whinging loser" "high horse". Sure, if that's what you really think You seem to be doing a lot of whinging yourself though. Maybe you're a bad winner, eh?

Anyway, I'm sure you must love all those dives in football. It's a joy to watch and adds real quality to the game. Just like Matawula.

I'd better leave it there with you. Don't want you having a cyber meltdown  

Laters  

u need to post the post i responded to otherwise u are in danger of doing exactly what u did - take my post out of context.

the original poster said

"the way Glasgow have gone out to try and influence the disciplinary process on and off the pitch in our encounters with them leaves a bitter taste in the mouth" , and then inferred Townsend was the man responsible.

Gregor Townsend was referring to a piece of unsporting thuggery earlier in the season which put a player unconscious - totally overshadowed matawalus hollywood performance by a mile.

Matawalu was unsporting behaviour, Luttons was a cheap shot foul, and O'Connors pure thuggery.

Someone take away the green tinted spec from the whinger please.

You're a hoot, Alive. Completely wrong, but funny for all that. I said I would leave it there, and so I will.

Look forward to you next instalment after the final. Should be great comedy

Munchkin wrote:You're a hoot, Alive. Completely wrong, but funny for all that. I said I would leave it there, and so I will.

Look forward to you next instalment after the final. Should be great comedy

thats what happens when u get caught telling porkies. read before engaging brain and the keyboard

I'm just going to leave this here.



Frankie says relax.

alive555 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:You're a hoot, Alive. Completely wrong, but funny for all that. I said I would leave it there, and so I will.

Look forward to you next instalment after the final. Should be great comedy

thats what happens when u get caught telling porkies. read before engaging brain and the keyboard

You're obviously intellectually challenged if that's what you really think, although your previous posts have already provided evidence enough in support of that.

Anyway, enjoy your day. You can tape the Matawalu dive and droll over it all day long

Laters.