Ulster v Ospreys 4th September 2015 19:35 Kingspan Stadium

Ulster's three most recent encounters in the Guinness PRO12 ended in a draw with Munster and a pair of defeats to Glasgow, in Round 22 and in the Play-Offs.
Read more at http://www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/17690.php#wOAHSXtGFMh8P1Ph.99


The Ulstermen have not been defeated at Kingspan Stadium in the Guinness PRO12 since Leinster were the visitors in May 2014.

Ospreys have go off to a winning start in the Guinness PRO12 in five of the last seven seasons and finished off their regular season campaign in 2014/15 with six straight wins before going down to Munster in the Play-Offs. Ospreys are the only Welsh side to have triumphed in Belfast since April 2010, having done so on two occasions, in April 2010 and again in February 2013.

Ospreys only win in their last four encounters with Ulster was 31-20 at Liberty Stadium on 20th December 2014.



Ulster

15 Louis Ludik
14 Andrew Trimble
13 Luke Marshall
12 Stuart McCloskey
11 Craig Gilroy
10 Peter Nelson
9 Paul Marshall

1 Andy Warwick
2 Rob Herring (Captain)
3 Wiehahn Herbst
4 Dan Tuohy
5 Franco Van der Merwe
6 Roger Wilson
7 Willie Faloon
8 Nick Williams

16 John Andrew, 17 Ricky Lutton 18 Bronson Ross 19 Peter Browne 20 Clive Ross 21 Sean Reidy 22 David Shanahan 23 Sam Arnold.

Ospreys

15 Dan Evans
14 Kristian Phillips
13 Jonathan Spratt
12 Ben John
11 Tom Grabham
10 Sam Davies
9 Tom Habberfield

1 Marc Thomas
2 Sam Parry
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 Lloyd Ashley (Capt)
5 De Kock Steenkamp
6 Joe Bearman
7 Lloyd Evans
8 Gareth Delve

16 Scott Otten 17 Nicky Smith 18 Cai Griffiths 19 Rory Thornton 20 Dan Baker 21 Sam Underhill 22 Brendon Leonard 23 Ashley Beck

At Kingspan Stadium, 7:35pm.
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 32nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Brian MacNeice (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (IRFU)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (IRFU)

Live on BBC NI and BBC Wales
Read more at http://www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/17690.php#wOAHSXtGFMh8P1Ph.99

So after listening to George's instructions on the sticky, I decided to do this.

Likely teams any one ?

Thanks for doing the thread, LD.

Haven't Ulster had, how can I put this, a completely pants pre-season?

Yes I believe they have lost to Leinster and Edinburgh, I do not know who else they have played, they must be suffering a lot from players called up for the WC.

Ospreys on the other hand have just had a tidy result by beating Saracens away.

Put a seasons thread up, been on it awhile, I expect our team to be
Evans, Grabham, Spratt, John, Walker, Davies, Habberfield/Leonard, Smith Parry Arhip, Steenkamp, Ashley, (Peers) Evans Delve Baker. Beck would come into the centre if he has recovered from injury, also Arhip was injured against Saracens don't know if he has recovered. Subs are a lotteryM. Thomas, Otten, new bloke or god help us Cai Griffiths, Thornton, Underhill/Cracknell/Bearman, Habberfield/Leonard, Phillips/Fussell, Howells. If Davies gets injured Evans will go to O/H and either Fussell will go to F/B, or John to F/B and Grabham to centre and Phillips to wing

wayne wrote:Put a seasons thread up, been on it awhile, I expect our team to be
Evans, Grabham, Spratt, John, Walker, Davies, Habberfield/Leonard, Smith Parry Arhip, Steenkamp, Ashley, (Peers) Evans Delve Baker. Beck would come into the centre if he has recovered from injury, also Arhip was injured against Saracens don't know if he has recovered. Subs are a lottery  

Thats not a bad side wayne when you consider the WC call ups, I would expect at least a LBP with that side.

If we're going to lose any home games in the league this season, they will likely be in this coming period.

Taking a look at our back line from 11 to 15 you might wonder how that could be. The level of talent we have in our centres and our back three even during the international window is the envy of all other teams in this league. Unfortunately, the depth we have there is the exception not the rule. Our back row when shorn of players like Chris Henry and Iain Henderson is the laughing stock of the league, as we continue to pretend players like Clive Ross and Sean Reidy are capable of playing at this level. We will be badly affected by World Cup call-ups not only in the back row but also in the halfbacks. Thats the core of the team; no point in having a superb three-quarter line if you're bullied at the breakdown and don't have guys who can control the game. The new 10 Sam Windsor has a very poor kicking game, Ian Humphreys remains class in attack and a complete liability in defence, Paul Marshall is both class and a liability often in the same attack. The roulette wheel of scrum-half play. Never know what you're going to get.

To make matters worse, Roger Wilson at 8 and Ian Humphreys at 10 have been injury doubts in pre-season. We desperately need both players to be fit or that crucial back row/halfbacks axis will just be too weak to perform adequately.

No issues with the abilities of our tight five at scrum, maul and lineout although their ineffectiveness at the breakdown only highlights our back row problems. No issues with the outside backs, who will be oozing quality. But 6-10 is a major issue. Lets hope it doesn't derail our season before it starts and the home advantage gets us over the line.

Possible Ulster team

1. Andy Warwick/Ruadhri Murphy
2. Rob Herring (c)
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Franco van der Merwe
5. Peter Browne/Dan Tuohy
6. Clive Ross/Robbie Diack
7. Sean Reidy
8. Robbie Diack/Roger Wilson
9. Paul Marshall
10. Ian Humphreys/Sam Windsor
11. Craig Gilroy
12. Stuart McCloskey
13. Luke Marshall
14. Andrew Trimble
15. Louis Ludik

Assuming everyone is fit, I would go with the following. Realistically, Ross and Reidy are AIL players at best. Diack is mobile enough to play 7, we'd have two solid ball-carriers in Tuohy and Wilson and an extra line-out option. Is Falloon injured?

5. Peter Browne/O'Connor
6. Dan Tuohy
7. Robbie Diack
8. Roger Wilson

Monkeyan wrote:Assuming everyone is fit, I would go with the following. Realistically, Ross and Reidy are AIL players at best. Diack is mobile enough to play 7, we'd have two solid ball-carriers in Tuohy and Wilson and an extra line-out option.  Is Falloon injured?

5. Peter Browne/O'Connor
6. Dan Tuohy
7. Robbie Diack
8. Roger Wilson

Did Wilson not get injured in pre season?

Brownes played 6 before so surely would be a better option there than Tuohy

I'm pretty sure Tuohy has played 6 before as well.

Is Wilson definitely out? If so, we're going to struggle.

Monkeyan wrote:I'm pretty sure Tuohy has played 6 before as well.

Is Wilson definitely out? If so, we're going to struggle.

I think he was shifted there during a few games as last man standing but wouldn't want be moving him over someone who's probably more comfortable there and given that hes on standby for the RWC I don't think he or Joe will want him playing at 6

Ian Humphreys pretty much definitely out, Roger Wilson pretty much definitely out, Callum Black definitely out, Sam Windsor maybe out.

We may see Luke Marshall playing 10 for Ulster. If Windsor doesn't make it, we have no out half available. We have no frontline place kicker left in the squad.

Anyone else got a bad feeling about this? I hope Windsor is fit to play and I hope he can actually bloody kick worth a damn otherwise we are up sh!t creek.

But hey, Nick Williams is back.

Nick Williams is back again oh well then all will be well and we will destroy them at the breakdown oh wait no I read that wrong I thought you said McCaw lol
Seriously though our backrow will be weak but the fact Luke may have to play 10 with no real kicking option is a big problem

So just the usual Ulster in crisis really, better watch my head on Friday if Lukes kicking then I mean Ill be in the promenade but thats no guarantee

wayne wrote:Put a seasons thread up, been on it awhile, I expect our team to be
Evans, Grabham, Spratt, John, Walker, Davies, Habberfield/Leonard, Smith Parry Arhip, Steenkamp, Ashley, (Peers) Evans Delve Baker. Beck would come into the centre if he has recovered from injury, also Arhip was injured against Saracens don't know if he has recovered. Subs are a lotteryM. Thomas, Otten, new bloke or god help us Cai Griffiths, Thornton, Underhill/Cracknell/Bearman, Habberfield/Leonard, Phillips/Fussell, Howells. If Davies gets injured Evans will go to O/H and either Fussell will go to F/B, or John to F/B  and Grabham to centre and Phillips to wing

It appears Eli Walker is not playing in this fixture so probably Kristian Phillips or Dafydd Howells will be on the wing, it will just lessen our bench options.

Apparently PJ and Bowe are back with the squad, making our 10-15 comically good, and our back-row comically bad.

Warwick
Herring
Herbst
Tuohy
Van Der Merwe
Diack
Faloon
Williams
Marshall
PJBowe
McCloskey
Marshall
Trimble
Gilroy

If Jackson and Bowe are back it should be an Ulster win. Even with that backrow. Not sure what Faloon will bring, and hope that Williams plays one of his good games. Losing Wilson and Black is a blow. Can only hope they recover quickly.

Munchkin wrote:If Jackson and Bowe are back it should be an Ulster win. Even with that backrow. Not sure what Faloon will bring, and hope that Williams plays one of his good games. Losing Wilson and Black is a blow. Can only hope they recover quickly.

Munchkin, Gatland earlier this week said he would be playing players outside of his WC 31 in this weeks game against Italy, and now Schmidt if what you say is true is allowing 2 of his selected 31 to play in a League game, I find both of those scenario's odd, what I would say if I had to bet on a winner for our game, my money would be on you whether Bowe and Jackson were playing or not.

That would be massive for us if they are available.

Wayne, Bowe has only played about 100 minutes and Jackson has only played about the same so it wouldn't be a bad idea for them to get some more minutes on the pitch ahead of the World Cup if they are surplus to requirements this weekend. Everyone is still trying to get up to match sharpness and we can't rotate the whole team like we did previously from this point on. I would say they would be on the bench for us though unless we have a real emergency at 10 in which case they might give us permission to start with Jackson. Because the game is in an international window the IRFU can dictate to us whether they start or nor and for how long they play, because they are basically 'on loan' from the national side.

As for Gatland, why you would want to play players outside your 31 absolutely baffles me. It's not likely to be a really hard test for you at home to Italy and you don't have great squad depth in some positions so I understand why you might want to wrap a few key players in cotton wool. But why not give game time to the guys who might have to start in the RWC if you pick up a few injuries.

Notch wrote:That would be massive for us if they are available.

Wayne, Bowe has only played about 100 minutes and Jackson has only played about the same so it wouldn't be a bad idea for them to get some more minutes on the pitch ahead of the World Cup if they are surplus to requirements this weekend. Everyone is still trying to get up to match sharpness and we can't rotate the whole team like we did previously from this point on. I would say they would be on the bench for us though unless we have a real emergency at 10 in which case they might give us permission to start with Jackson. Because the game is in an international window the IRFU can dictate to us whether they start or nor and for how long they play, because they are basically 'on loan' from the national side.

As for Gatland, why you would want to play players outside your 31 absolutely baffles me. It's not likely to be a really hard test for you at home to Italy and you don't have great squad depth in some positions so I understand why you might want to wrap a few key players in cotton wool. But why not give game time to the guys who might have to start in the RWC if you pick up a few injuries.

Notch, I entirely agree with you about Gatland for the same reasons you give, but if Joe wants them 2 to play either start them or put them on the bench against England, surely that would be of more benefit for him, and he would have more control of them, Cory Allen, and Dominic Day have not had any game time, there might be some others as well, they will not be sent back to their clubs, if he wants them to have game time he will select them himself.

Problem is the squad is 31 players and only 23 can play in any one game! So it would make sense to put a few of the guys who aren't going to be picked in a Pro12 game and see how they do.

Our worst fears are realised; Ulster name a team with no recognised out half and no recognised place kicker! Going to be pretty difficult to win without a place kicker- guess we just have to score some tries!



Ulster team & replacements to play Ospreys, Guinness PRO12, Kingspan Stadium, Friday 4th September (19:35 kick off):

(15-9): L Ludik; A Trimble, L Marshall, S McCloskey, C Gilroy, P Nelson, P Marshall; (1-8): A Warwick, R Herring (Captain), W Herbst, D Tuohy, F Van der Merwe, R Wilson, W Faloon, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, R Lutton, B Ross, P Browne, C Ross, S Reidy, D Shanahan, S Arnold.

Notch wrote:Our worst fears are realised; Ulster name a team with no recognised out half and no recognised place kicker! Going to be pretty difficult to win without a place kicker- guess we just have to score some tries!



Ulster team & replacements to play Ospreys, Guinness PRO12, Kingspan Stadium, Friday 4th September (19:35 kick off):

(15-9): L Ludik; A Trimble, L Marshall, S McCloskey, C Gilroy, P Nelson, P Marshall; (1-8): A Warwick, R Herring (Captain), W Herbst, D Tuohy, F Van der Merwe, R Wilson, W Faloon, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, R Lutton, B Ross, P Browne, C Ross, S Reidy, D Shanahan, S Arnold.

To be fair with that backline we can get the tries, the back row isn't as bad as first feared has Nelson ever played at 10 before?

According to the press release on the Ulster website, he has had some experience there;

The game will also see Peter Nelson start his first game for Ulster at outhalf. The versatile 22 year old, who has played 10 for Dungannon RFC and Ulster A, returns to the position following injuries to Ian Humphreys (hamstring strain) and Sam Windsor (Achilles).

I'm more than happy with that lineup, it's a backline that can score the tries alright and a backrow that could deliver the necessary ball to do so. It's unfortunate that we don't have access to Jackson for this one with both cover players injured. Nil Desperandum folks....

15 Dan Evans

14 Kristian Phillips

13 Jonathan Spratt

12 Ben John

11 Tom Grabham

10 Sam Davies

9 Tom Habberfield



1 Marc Thomas

2 Sam Parry

3 Dmitri Arhip

4 Lloyd Ashley (Capt)

5 De Kock Steenkamp

6 Joe Bearman

7 Lloyd Evans

8 Gareth Delve



REPLACEMENTS



16 Scott Otten

17 Nicky Smith

18 Cai Griffiths

19 Rory Thornton

20 Dan Baker

21 Sam Underhill

22 Brendon Leonard

23 Ashley Beck





Tom Habberfield makes his 50th Ospreys appearance



De Kock Steenkamp and Gareth Delve make their Ospreys debuts



Lloyd Evans makes his PRO12 debut



Kristian Phillips makes his first Ospreys appearance since October 2011 after re-signing for the region this summer



Sam Underhill and Brendon Leonard will make their Ospreys debuts if they come off the bench



Ospreys Head Coach, Steve Tandy, said:



“We’ve had a pretty good pre-season, there’s been a good mood in the camp and everyone has worked very hard ahead of this weekend’s game. Everything we’ve done since the end of June has been geared up towards building the foundations for the new campaign, part of a bigger picture to be ready for Ulster on Friday night.



“It’s no secret that we’ve got a young group, but we’ve been able to add some experience over the summer, and we want to keep growing as a team, building on the promise we showed at times last season. There’s a real sense of excitement around the environment and we’re all looking forward to getting the season underway.



“As a coaching group, we have had some difficult decisions to make this week, and that is exactly how it should be. There are individuals who have really put their hands up in pre-season and are disappointed to miss out for the opening weekend but, without exception, they have shown real Ospreys spirit this week, recognising that it’s about the wider group and have worked hard to help the team prepare. It’s been good to see.



“Ulster is always a tough place to go. They have a strong squad and a big, passionate and loud crowd who get behind whoever is wearing the Ulster shirt, whatever the circumstances. It can be a real test of character out there so we need to be sure that we are 100 per cent switched on and everybody is completely focused on the job in hand. It’s about the small things, attention to detail, that can make a big difference on the night.



“We’ve spoken in training about controlling the things that we can control, focusing on performance and getting that right. If we look after that then, hopefully, we’ll get the desired outcome. We want to put on a positive performance so that we can come back to the Liberty next weekend for the Round 2 game against Munster, in front of a big Ospreys crowd buying into what we are working to achieve at this region.”



The following players were unavailable for selection due to Rugby World Cup selection:



Scott Baldwin, Dan Biggar, Paul James, Aaron Jarvis, Alun Wyn Jones, James King, Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb (Wales)



Tyler Ardron and Jeff Hassler (Canada)



Josh Matavesi (Fiji)



The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury:



Adam Beard – Shoulder

Rynier Bernardo - Knee

Ryan Bevington – Groin

Andrew Bishop - Back

Olly Cracknell – Concussion

Daniel Suter - Neck

Nelson? Say whaaaaaaaaa'?

Anyway...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34131691

Pete330v2 wrote:I'm more than happy with that lineup, it's a backline that can score the tries alright and a backrow that could deliver the necessary ball to do so. It's unfortunate that we don't have access to Jackson for this one with both cover players injured. Nil Desperandum folks....

Jackson didn't make the Ireland squad for Saturday, maybe if we get Les Kiss to ask Joe really nicely he'll let us use him for 30/40mins

Just realised - no Diack? He's bin a different league to Ross and Reidy. What's that about?

[quote="wayne"]Put a seasons thread up, been on it awhile, I expect our team to be
Evans, Grabham, Spratt, John, Walker, Davies, Habberfield/Leonard, Smith Parry Arhip, Steenkamp, Ashley, (Peers) Evans Delve Baker. Beck would come into the centre if he has recovered from injury, also Arhip was injured against Saracens don't know if he has recovered. Subs are a lotteryM. Thomas, Otten, new bloke or god help us Cai Griffiths, Thornton, Underhill/Cracknell/Bearman, Habberfield/Leonard, Phillips/Fussell, Howells. If Davies gets injured Evans will go to O/H and either Fussell will go to F/B, or John to F/B  and Grabham to centre and Phillips to wing[/quote
Well apart from Beck recovering from injury I got the 23 about right, why have they split up Nicky and Dimitri? it doesn't make sense, one good and one poor prop starting and on the bench. The bench is quite strong, better than the selected players in most positions IMO, I'll be happy with a LBP after seeing that Ulster team.

Ok so we will be going to the corner a lot with that news then, we can't rely on kicking tomorrow going to have to score tried

Maybe Nelson will surprise us. I think we should still win. Ospreys are without 13? players, and that's a strong Ulster 1stxv, at home. A team that just got stronger than expected with Wilson being added to the team.

Still, it's the Ospreys. I may have to eat my words.

Thank goodness the season has started! Really looking forward to this game.

SUFTUM!

It is definately exciting no matter how we've looked in the pre-season warmups and no matter what grumblings come from t'other forum about their lack of excitement for the coming season. It's been a wonderful rugby overload at the moment with the pre-RWC games and start of the Pro12 not to mention the RWC just around the corner. Happy happy days.

Good luck tonight young Nelson, prove the doubters wrong and ask that pack to give you a bit of an armchair ride

I don't say this often but Godspeed you Ospreys.

Brilliant. Another whole season of you being a bitter eejit every time we play a game. If Ulster Rugby were a person, you'd have a restraining order for being a creepy stalker.

Notch wrote:Brilliant. Another whole season of you being a bitter eejit every time we play a game. If Ulster Rugby were a person, you'd have a restraining order for being a creepy stalker.

+1
Chunkles pops up everywhere he/she/it reads the word Ulster. We should raise topics regarding Ulster all over 606 just to keep the stalker content.
Mind you if it's going to use words such as Godspeed the threads could at least be entertainingly pityful

He referred to us as "Ulster Irish filth" the other day, before his post was removed by the mods for racism. Ironically the player making the tackle in his little clip wasn't even an Ulster player. Lacking in basic morality and intellect it would seem.

Artful_Dodger wrote:He referred to us as "Ulster Irish filth" the other day, before his post was removed by the mods for racism.  Ironically the player making the tackle in his little clip wasn't even an Ulster player.  Lacking in basic morality and intellect it would seem.

Not very nice. I expect better from a rugby fan, but there's always the odd one who makes an ejit of themselves.

Anyway, only three and a half hours to go

Guinness in the fridge. Served by a zero hours young man, a born and bred Ulsterman don't you know. Not happy that he's unable to watch the game this evening.

Haha, I had a pound on Rob Herring to score the first try, was thinking more rolling maul, but I'll take it

£20 win.

Booooo.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32145406

Who knew McCloskey could kick?

Cardiff Dave wrote:Booooo.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32145406

How is this relevant?

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:Booooo.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32145406

How is this relevant?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32107856

Cardiff Dave wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:Booooo.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32145406

How is this relevant?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32107856

Again, how is this relevant?

Cardiff Dave wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:Booooo.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32145406

How is this relevant?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32107856

Well that makes 3 Welsh twits on here, it looks as if Cardiff Dove wants to join LadyDowlais and Chunkles in the half-witted children list.
Really ?
Wise up you blouse.

Anyway, back to watching the O's take a beating.

Never! Never! Never! Gonna give you up......

For the first game of the season not a bad game, the line judges have not been great, there was no yellow card and they have not picked up the off side from kicks and rucks.The last ruck the Ulster defender was on the floor to interfer with the pick up. but a deserved win for Ulster but their scrums have been poor but no yellow!

Refereeing has been pretty awful in this game

Cardiff Dave wrote:Never! Never! Never! Gonna give you up......

You appear to have all the intellect of a plankton, added to ignore list.