Connacht v Ulster

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Connacht Rugby v Ulster Rugby

Friday 7th October 2016, 19:35 Kick Off
Sportsground, Galway
Live on TG4 and BBC NI

Team News
Connacht
(15-9): Tiernan O’Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Cian Kelleher, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade
(1-8): Finlay Bealham, Dave Heffernan, Conor Carey, Ultan Dillane, Andrew Browne, Eoin McKeon, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (captain)
Replacements:

(16-23): Shane Delahunt, Ronan Loughney, JP Cooney, Lewis Stevenson, James Connolly, Stephen Kerins, Stacey Ili

Ulster
(15-9): J Payne (C); T Bowe, L Ludik, D Cave, C Gilroy; P Jackson, P Marshall;
(1-8): C Black, R Best, R Ah You, R Diack, P Browne, I Henderson, C Ross, R Wilson;

Replacements (16-23): R Herring, A Warwick, R Kane, K Treadwell, S Reidy, D Shanahan, B Herron, R Lyttle

So it's a big Irish derby this weekend with plenty of significance for both teams even if it's early in the season.  Both teams will want to launch in their respective European campaigns with a win here.  Ulster arrive unbeaten league leaders and coming off the back of a hard fought win v Ospreys and will look to remain top going into the European matches. Connacht on the other hand endured a torrid start to the season with 3 losses in a row punctuated only by a postponed match, however they finally got some traction with a win over Edinburgh in round 5 and will look to build on that with this home interpro.

Notch wrote:

Munchkin wrote:I'm going to slap Marshall.

I'm going to help.

Munchkin wrote:

Notch wrote:

Munchkin wrote:I'm going to slap Marshall.

I'm going to help.

Dont hit him too hard.....hes your first choice next year remember

Munchkin wrote:

Notch wrote:

Munchkin wrote:I'm going to slap Marshall.

I'm going to help.

I'm just going to write a very firmly worded letter to show my displeasure

Christ alive, this is shocking...

Golden wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

Notch wrote:

Munchkin wrote:I'm going to slap Marshall.

I'm going to help.

Dont hit him too hard.....hes your first choice next year remember

That's a reason to hit him harder.

It like watching a drunk uncle at a wedding chasing after 20 seven year-olds

Notch wrote:It like watching a drunk uncle at a wedding chasing after 20 seven year-olds

Didn't see that score line in advance

We were 23 points behind in Oyonnax last year and won. But Connacht are no Oyonnax and there's no Nick Williams and Ruan Pienaar on the bench waiting to come on.

Dire from Ulster. Play like that in the second half and we will be soundly stuffed.

Stephen Ferris struggling forwards in trying not to acknowledge that Connacht might have had a hand in the scoreline

Pot Hale wrote:Stephen Ferris struggling forwards in trying not to acknowledge that Connacht might have had a hand in the scoreline

He hasn't found his post-rugby niche yet has he.

Mind you Andy Ward summed it up- players are daydreaming. Several occasions we've had forwards dawdling near rucks waiting for something to happen both when we're attacking and defending. It's really bizarre to watch.

Notch wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Stephen Ferris struggling forwards in trying not to acknowledge that Connacht might have had a hand in the scoreline

He hasn't found his post-rugby niche yet has he.

Must be hard as it wasn't his choice to retire so prob still subconsciously feeling like a player.

carpet baboon wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:What the hell's going on...

Well the lads in green have remembered they won the league last year. The lads in white...... I'm not sure what's happened there

It would be great if Connacht are back, but it has to be an off day for Ulster - you'd say this season that would be extremely uncharacteristic of them.

That was a better half from us. Wish my stream wasn't so dodgy otherwise it would have been a lovely 40mins.

carpet baboon wrote:

Notch wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Stephen Ferris struggling forwards in trying not to acknowledge that Connacht might have had a hand in the scoreline

He hasn't found his post-rugby niche yet has he.

Must be hard as it wasn't his choice to retire so prob still subconsciously feeling like a player.

No doubt, but it's amusing and/or irritating to see someone who is undisputedly 100% biased on TV. Even on 606v2 you don't often see this level of bias. He's not wrong in what he says, but its almost like popcorn viewing

Munchkin wrote:

Golden wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

Notch wrote:

Munchkin wrote:I'm going to slap Marshall.

I'm going to help.

Dont hit him too hard.....hes your first choice next year remember

That's a reason to hit him harder.

Well we better not wear replica shirts because no-one in white looks like hitting anything hard tonight.

Notch wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:

Notch wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Stephen Ferris struggling forwards in trying not to acknowledge that Connacht might have had a hand in the scoreline

He hasn't found his post-rugby niche yet has he.

Must be hard as it wasn't his choice to retire so prob still subconsciously feeling like a player.

No doubt, but it's amusing and/or irritating to see someone who is undisputedly 100% biased on TV. Even on 606v2 you don't often see this level of bias. He's not wrong in what he says, but its almost like popcorn viewing

Yeah but it is obviously not part of the remit to be unbiased.

The title of the programme is 'Ulster Rugby Live'

I know, its just amusing.

Cave was our best back in the first half so thats an interesting one for me

Has to be a niggle.

More like it!

Seriously, there is nobody in Ireland as good at cutting lines as Tommy Bowe.

Wow. Game on. And welcome back to Mr. Tommy Bowe... can't call what will happen next.

Strong scrum from Ulster. A wake up call at half time maybe.

Oh Paddy...

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Seriously, there is nobody in Ireland as good at cutting lines as Tommy Bowe.

Dunno there's some lads I know who'd give him a run for his money.

might be NSFW:

Well, we could have seen a scrum to Connacht exactly there anyway. Connacht fans may indeed call karma on that one.

Excellent team try by Connacht after several phases.

Yep, the original penalty should have been Connachts.

We're just not slowing them down or knocking them back or anything.

You knows it bad when you're thinking 'Oh Thank God- Sean Reidy is on!'

Ulster defence has been equivelent to a wet paper bag tonight

neilthom7 wrote:Ulster defence has been equivelent to a wet paper bag tonight

So many missed tackles and Connacht are teaching us a lesson in breakdown play. We are being absolutely schooled here.

Really? They're giving that as a high tackle?

This officiating is atrocious.

12 white isn't on the pitch

Ref is adjudicating high tackle very strictly but at least its consistent. Lets get another try and get out of here with at least a point.

High tackles my hole... Powderpuff referee

Aw jeez... thats horrible

Ulster just not allowed to compete at the breakdown it seems

marty2086 wrote:Ulster just not allowed to compete at the breakdown it seems

Ulster players very consistently not supporting their own weight to be completely fair.

How did the ref not see that maul get pulled down

Ulster still technically in with a chance of getting four tries in a game where we have been totally outplayed

neilthom7 wrote:How did the ref not see that maul get pulled down

Hes missed nearly everyone being pulled down its open season

And that was not crossing the defender choose the wrong option

I feel like if Ulster win this game we should just get a bus to Galway and apologise for what our team has done!

Ulster down to 14, really only question is whether we can hang on to a LBP

I feel like if they don't win this the Ulster coaches should apologise for our play to anyone who watched this

Ref's a joke. Gives the penalty against Ulster when Connacht have been getting away with it all night.

Munchkin wrote:Ref's a joke. Gives the penalty against Ulster when Connacht have been getting away with it all night.

We have been sh!te but that's a home town ref if ever I saw one

neilthom7 wrote:I feel like if they don't win this the Ulster coaches should apologise for our play to anyone who watched this

I'd actually feel guilty if we somehow magically won this. There's winning ugly and then there is daylight robbery.

I don't expect to have anything to feel guilty about.