Champions Cup Matchday 2 Ulster Rugby v Exeter Chiefs

Ulster Rugby v Exeter Chiefs

Europena Champions Cup Matchday 2 Pool 5
Saturday 22nd October 2016, 19:45 Kick Off
Kingspan Stadium, Belfast
Live on BT Sport 2

Referee- Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Touch Judge- Thomas Charabas (France), Cedric Clave (France)
TMO- Eric Briquet-Campin (France)
Citing Commissioner- Jean-Claude Legendre (France)

So after opening round losses to French sides both teams will want to bounce back in this one and get a win.  A loss could be devastating to the chances of making the quarter finals.  

Ulster Rugby
(15-9): J Payne, A Trimble (captain), L Marshall, S Olding, C Piutau, P Jackson, R Pienaar;
(1-8): K McCall, R Best, R Ah You, P Browne, F van der Merwe, I Henderson, S Reidy, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): R Herring, A Warwick, R Kane, A O'Connor, C Ross, P Marshall, C Gilroy, T Bowe

Exeter Chiefs
(15-9): Lachie Turner, Olly Woodburn, Ian Whitten, Henry Slade, James Short, Gareth Steenson (capt),Dave Lewis
(1-8): Moray Low, Jack Yeandle, Harry Williams, Mitch Lees, Geoff Parling, Kai Horstman, Julian Salvi, Thomas Waldrom
Replacements (16-23): Elvis Taione, Carl Rimmer, Tomas Francis, Jonny Hill, Dave Dennis, Jack Maunder, Sam Hill, Ollie Devoto

Neither side can much afford to lose...

No it would be difficult to qualify after losing both openers

Chiefs seem to be struggling to find their best form. A few players are out, particularly in the backrow, and Chiefs seem to have been knocked out of their stride. Nowell and Dollman have been huge looses at the back where Turner looks to be really struggling, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ulster testing him early doors. In the backrow no Armand and no Ewers has meant a distinct lack of physicality at the breakdown, two ball carrying 8's in the backrow has upset the balance there. 

The midfield doesn't seem to be clicking for Chiefs with the three playmakers being rotated around and not quite connecting. The best player in that midfield last week was Hill the guy who takes the ball hard and straight. 

Distinct lack of physicality at the breakdown is good news for us. We've been bullied there in the last few weeks. But we can tackle for days.

Notch wrote:Distinct lack of physicality at the breakdown is good news for us. We've been bullied there in the last few weeks. But we can tackle for days.

It's just unfortunate luck with injuries. Armand is an aggressive 6.5 style flanker who carries well and hassles at the breakdown whilst Ewers just hits things hard for 80 minutes in attack or defence. It's a lot of work rate to lose and replace with Horstman who is a decent carrying 8 when Waldrom is already in the backrow and is well known for not being the biggest fan of defensive work. Means Salvi is left with a lot to cover.

Clermont won the game at the breakdown despite Exeter having more possession it was a massacre.

Ulster team and replacements to play Exeter Chiefs, Saturday 22nd October, Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm):
(15-9): J Payne, A Trimble (captain), L Marshall, S Olding, C Piutau, P Jackson, R Pienaar;
(1-8): K McCall, R Best, R Ah You, P Browne, F van der Merwe, I Henderson, S Reidy, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): R Herring, A Warwick, R Kane, A O'Connor, C Ross, P Marshall, C Gilroy, T Bowe.



CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE ULSTER RUGBY
15 Lachie Turner
14 Olly Woodburn
13 Ian Whitten
12 Henry Slade
11 James Short
10 Gareth Steenson (capt)
9 Dave Lewis
1 Moray Low
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Harry Williams
4 Mitch Lees
5 Geoff Parling
6 Kai Horstmann
7 Julian Salvi
8 Thomas Waldrom


16 Elvis Taione
17 Carl Rimmer
18 Tomas Francis
19 Jonny Hill
20 Dave Dennis
21 Jack Maunder
22 Sam Hill
23 Ollie Devoto

Welcome home Ian Whitten

Really Roger Wilson is starting? Come on Ulster surely it's time to just usher him away quietly

I see Herbst is starting for the A's. A welcome return.

Pete330v2 wrote:I see Herbst is starting for the A's. A welcome return.

That's great news although Rodney Ah You has done a good job so far

neilthom7 wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:I see Herbst is starting for the A's. A welcome return.

That's great news although Rodney Ah You has done a good job so far

40 mins each... They don't go much further than that. I prefer Ah You when he puts a shift in

neilthom7 wrote:Really Roger Wilson is starting? Come on Ulster surely it's time to just usher him away quietly

Really surprised at that especially given Clive Ross' form compared to Wilsons, Dow must really be stinking up the place in training if he can't get a spot on the bench

neilthom7 wrote:Really Roger Wilson is starting? Come on Ulster surely it's time to just usher him away quietly

Its a strange one. He looks completely past his best. Maybe they want some experienced players in there?

Match I am most looking forward to this weekend, as a real do or die for both teams. Ulster look better besides their backrow - Ulster to win with Exeter getting a losing bonus point.

wolfball wrote:Match I am most looking forward to this weekend, as a real do or die for both teams. Ulster look better besides their backrow - Ulster to win with Exeter getting a losing bonus point.

Good man Wolfie, hope it's as good a match as Toulouse last weekend.
Is Matt Healy injured btw?

We really need to start giving guys like Rea, Mulholland or Dow occasional game time in the Pro12.

I still believe Wilson is capable of rolling back the years occasionally but he is getting to the point where he struggles to keep up with the play now. Can you picture him being the first guy into the ruck if we made a 40-metre break? Securing quick ball from those rucks is often the difference between 7 points and our opponents clearing the line. If we're trying to play a fast game with a mobile pack we can't carry him, and I hope he plays a blinder tomorrow, but its clear he can no longer do it every week.

I hate talking like this about a guy who has over 200 caps for Ulster and was such a good player for so many years, but I do believe if it wasn't for our lack of options in the back row he would have already retired.

We really need a huge game from Henderson and Best, Best needs to be the open side we don't have. We could really use some pace and power in our back row for next season. I swear we could use 2 or 3 of our NIQ slots on the back row and it wouldn't be wasted at this stage. We'd be able to move Henderson to lock for a start.

Henderson has been indifferent this season. We really, really need him back to his best.

I thought from his limited game time last year Mulholland looked like a decent prospect, but not been given anything so far this season. Which is a little disappointing

toml wrote:

wolfball wrote:Match I am most looking forward to this weekend, as a real do or die for both teams. Ulster look better besides their backrow - Ulster to win with Exeter getting a losing bonus point.

Good man Wolfie, hope it's as good a match as Toulouse last weekend.
Is Matt Healy injured btw?

Yeah, though with less stress for ye I hope

Healy broke his hand. Had surgery and will miss all the Nov internationals. Its a real shame for him to not get another shot at an irish place, though Connacht are pretty covered in the back 3 so we should be OK unless there are more injuries.

Excited to see Piatau stretch his legs tomorrow!

Yeah O'Halloran looked superb against Toulouse, really running at space and soft shoulders. He's definitely in with a shout for an Ireland jersey.

Hopefully Piatau has a good game, Ulster need a bit more spark and unpredictability.

Looking forward to the Munster game now, should be a good day of rugby

If anyone has a link for a decent stream for the Ulster game, please PM me, I have one but its pretty grainy

Clermont get the BP at home to Bordeaux

Ulster backs to click tonight and is to run in a BP.

Class from the Ulster supporters..singing The Fields ..

Come on Ulster

Plod plod.

6-3 to Exeter.

Early signs of life and brio have died in this game.

Permanently?

Piutau moment of brilliance. Hitch kick and away up field before he's tackled. Reid follows up, picks up and scores.

Out of nowhere. Crowd cheers up.

10-6 to Ulster. 32 mins gone.

Half-time. Piutau excellent in spurts. Reidy, Henderson and McCall bright sparks. And Pienaar controlling things well. Ulster scrum coming off second best in the set-piece though - Exeter will look to gain points through that in the second half, their back line hasn't been doing much so far.

Excrutiating second half so far. One penalty apiece.

13-9. 56 mins gone.

Henderson off with shoulder injury.

You get the sense that Exeter are going to have one flurry here, score and take the lead and possibly the match despite Ulster having had 70% possession.

Penalty chance for Jackson.

Missed - right of posts.

63 mins gone.

And an Exeter flurry downfield wins them a penalty in front of the posts. Ulster lucky to escape a yellow card.

Steenson gets the kick to make it a one point game. 13-12.

Ulster's European cup chances on the line. 13 mins to go.

Ulster win a penalty after a series of phases.

Jackson has the kick just right of the posts 30m out.

It's over.

16-12. 9 mins to go.

Exeter have enough burst. And win a penalty in Ulster 22.

Steenson kicks and it's back to one point margin.

16-15. 6.5 mins to go.

Bout of kick tennis gives Exeter a line out just inside Ulster half.

Exeter work it up,field. They set , pass back to Steenson in the pocket and he drops it.

Exeter in the lead. 18-16.

Three minutes to go.

Very harsh penalty against Herring there.

Ulster don't look like a team though. Their pack should be in a huddle working out how to grind out this game. They were all standing there with their hands on their hips.

And Ulster return the favour. They work their way coolly upfield. Jackson in the pocket and nails the drop goal.

19-18. Two minutes to go.

Ooh it's getting exciting.

Hopeless restarts from Ulster and Sterno misses the drop goal

Exeter work it up again. Back to Steenson.....

Missed. Ravenhill sighs in relief.

Shocking game management from Ulster all game and soft forwards.

Ready and Best at the level required, the rest sub Par

We need to sign an inspirational leader.

Exeter drop the ball forward. Pienaar grabs the ball and kicks it out on the FT mark.

Ulster scrape the win. Exeter get a LBP. Good result.

Pot Hale wrote:Missed. Ravenhill sighs in relief.  

Well done Ulster, great to get the win, but ye have so many issues up front...

wolfball wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Missed. Ravenhill sighs in relief.  

Well done Ulster, great to get the win, but ye have so many issues up front...

And then some.

Pot Hale wrote:

wolfball wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Missed. Ravenhill sighs in relief.  

Well done Ulster, great to get the win, but ye have so many issues up front...

And then some.

Sadly too true lads.
Hey....a win's a win and I'll take one happily. We do need to turn it up a level or 3 but I reckon we can

Good tight match - very enjoyable! Well done Ulster and hard luck to Exeter - so close to creating an upset.

Sensational game of rugby says Craig Doyle. Quote of the day!


Ulster keep shooting themselves in the foot.

Phew, I can't believe we scrapped that, Jacko and Steenson both have balls of steel though

The problem is, everything Ulster are missing at the minute they have but so many seem way below the standards required right now.

Pienaar wasn't at his best today I thought, a few of his passes were off target going a bit too high which slowed us down