Ulster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby, 4 December

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Ulster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby 
Friday 4 December 2015
KO: 19:35
Kingspan Stadium, Belfast

Live on BBC Heedrumhodrum & BBC NI

Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 38th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Kieran Barry, Frank Murphy (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: John Cole (IRFU)
TMO: Alan Rogan (IRFU)

A. Head to Head

26 Played 26
17 Wins 9
9 Losses 17
0 Draws 0
631 Points 428

B. Form

Fri 3 October 2014
Ulster Rugby 30 - 0 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 20 February 2015
Edinburgh Rugby 17 - 20 Ulster Rugby

C. Teams

Ulster Rugby

1. Kyle McCall
2. Rob Herring (c)
3. Ricky Lutton
4. Dan Tuohy
5. Franco van der Merwe
6. Iain Henderson
7. Chris Henry
8. Roger Wilson
9. Ruan Pienaar
10. Paddy Jackson
11. Rory Scholes
12. Luke Marshall
13. Darren Cave
14. Andrew Trimble
15. Peter Nelson

16. John Andrew 17. Andy Warwick 18. Wiehahn Herbst 19. Alan O'Connor 20. Nick Williams 21. Paul Marshall 22. Stuart McCloskey 23. Louis Ludik

Edinburgh Rugby

15 Jack Cuthbert

14 Dougie Fife

13 Chris Dean

12 Matt Scott

11 Will Helu

10 Phil Burleigh

9 Sean Kennedy



1 Alasdair Dickinson

2 Ross Ford

3 WP Nel

4 Anton Bresler

5 Alex Toolis

6 Mike Coman (capt)

7 John Hardie

8 Cornell Du Preez



Substitutes

16 Neil Cochrane

17 Rory Sutherland

18 John Andress

19 Jamie Ritchie

20 Hamish Watson

21 Nathan Fowles

22 Michael Allen

23 Blair Kinghorn

Ah Frak frickin hell

That does not look good for Hendo, could be an ACL

Good refereeing - no need for a double punishment (thankfully!)

Came from our scrum being messed up though

Feck sake. That is absolutely gutting and I sincerely hope that isn't as bad as it looks.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Good refereeing - no need for a double punishment (thankfully!)

Came from our scrum being messed up though

It wasn't good at all, it was an extremely cynical offence that deserves a yellow card. How was that not a professional foul?

Conman lucky not to get a yellow as well there

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Good refereeing - no need for a double punishment (thankfully!)

Came from our scrum being messed up though

It wasn't good at all, it was an extremely cynical offence that deserves a yellow card. H was that not a professional foul?

I meant good call from an Edinburgh PoV

Kennedy woeful so far

Stupid decision to go for a long range penalty with a gale in front of you - this game will be all about territory and we've just given up a hell of a lot of it

Two subs already, Ulstermen going down all over the place

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Good refereeing - no need for a double punishment (thankfully!)

Came from our scrum being messed up though

It wasn't good at all, it was an extremely cynical offence that deserves a yellow card. H was that not a professional foul?

I meant good call from an Edinburgh PoV

RDW_Scotland wrote:Stupid decision to go for a long range penalty with a gale in front of you - this game will be all about territory and we've just given up a hell of a lot of it

Andy Nicol agrees with me!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Stupid decision to go for a long range penalty with a gale in front of you - this game will be all about territory and we've just given up a hell of a lot of it

Thats Coman for you.

This could be a rout by half time - we're just not playing smart rugby

RDW_Scotland wrote:

This could be a rout by half time - we're just not playing smart rugby

And the scrum is being topped.

Burleigh kicking too high - needs to go for long and low.

Edinburgh need to somehow hang on until half time. I hope the wind will be like this in the 2nd half!

This is more like it - need to keep the ball and yet not to give it away. Stupid mistake there.

We need to hold on!

Ulster have had several no arm tackles so far!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ulster have had several no arm tackles so far!

Nick Williams can do whatever he wants at Kingspan

Poor backline defence - Dean and fife went for the same man.

VinceWLB wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ulster have had several no arm tackles so far!

Nick Williams can do whatever he wants at Kingspan

But yes, he needs to be more careful with his tackling technique.

Louis Ludik is playing very well at 13.

This could be a 20 point advantage this wind, got to avoid a score here.

Watson coming on won't do Edinburgh any harm!

Great scrummaging from Ulster 3

We're defending incredibly well generally. So difficult with this wind.

Just such a shame we let them get a 14 point early lead.

Edinburgh needs to get Dickinson off early, hasn't been effective.

Injuries mounting up for Ulster. This game is going to cost them even if they win

Good phase of play for Edinburgh - much more like it!

If Edinburgh can keep it to 14 then it really is game on!

How was that not stealing the ball on the ground?

Poor decision Kennedy!

Edinburgh's last 20 showed why we shouldn't kick - why did he kick that?:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Edinburgh's last 20 showed why we shouldn't kick - why did he kick that?:

Tiring supporting players.

Don't kick the ball into the wind!

This has been a Herculean defensive effort from Edinburgh so far!

All things considered that is a very good half from Edinburgh - game on!

RDW_Scotland wrote:All things considered that is a very good half from Edinburgh - game on!

Agreed, considering the scrum has been matched for once.

Good call, get it out!

14 points is doable in this wind

Cuthbert to me has been poor at full back. One good break but cost an overlap on 2 occasions on what were reasonable passes.

Ulster played intelligently. With the wind Edinburgh need to start earning territory. They are spreading the ball more effectively than Ulster when they don't knock on, just missing that last pass at the moment.

The ref has been average and is not policing the ruck well. Think Ulster got away with slowing the ball down illegally with niggly play at times, but I am biased so will assume Edinburgh have been doing something similar. Need to see more from Hardie at the ruck. Needs help.

Good luck to the 3 Ulsterman who went off injured. They all looked in bad shape. Hopefully they are just being Jessie's and it is some minor bruising.

Speaking of help, Watson will do a bit more than Coman!

Solomons needs to bring subs on early - we're going to need lots of energy this half

We just need to be patient and not force things - keep them in their half

Hazel Sapling wrote:Speaking of help, Watson will do a bit more than Coman!

He has done more already!

Now do Edinburgh have the attacking ability to make up 2 tries?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Now do Edinburgh have the attacking ability to make up 2 tries or the kicker for 5 penalties?

Felt that is more likely....

Game on!

Great try Edinburgh, really good vision

Now that was some kick the way the wind is blowing!

Small margins could cost us - Watson's high tackle gave them a real let off

Mclosky has caused us a lot of problems