Edinburgh vs Ulster Fri 12th April

First topic message reminder :


Another big game as the league comes to a close, two teams playing for a top 3/4 spot.  Ahead of this game, Ulster sit 2nd on 54 points, Edinburgh in 4th on 51.  A win here would guarantee Ulster a top 3 place.

Last time these two teams met in the league there was only 1pt in it, I wouldn't be surprised if the game on fri is equally tight.  Ulster will be wanting to bounce back from the defeat to Glasgow with a win, Edinburgh will be looking to build on the 2nd half performance against Scarlets.

Edinburgh team is generally easy to pick as we only rotate for injuries.  With that in mind here is my predicted team:


Shoe
Rambo
Nel (although Berghan can could himself unlucky not to start)
Toolis
Gilco
Barclay (assuming his injury against Scarlets wasn’t serious)
Watson
Mata
Pyrgos
Jaco
Duhan
Scott
Bennett
Hoyland
Darcy

It doesn't make it safer though, two guys running for a ball towards each other can be dangerous especially if they are focused on the same thing

The only way to truly make it safe is to outlaw kicking....or rugby as a whole

Rugby without risk is like Formula 1 without cars

tigertattie wrote:Some of the laws certainly need tweaked.

I still think you should not be allowed to jump in the air to catch the ball. You're not allowed to jump over tackles!

That's how it used to be when I played and as a FB you had to take a ball standing still against a guy who had a thirty metre run up at you and if they timed it right would murder you. Plenty FBs got carried off in those days as well. I can remember Finlay Calder laying out an Irish one in the WC just like that, though today it would probably be consider a touch on the high side.

I think most back three players these days are happy jumping for the ball as it does give them some protection and players coming in to them to contest are aware of the consequences of getting it wrong, so are not as gung ho as they were a few years ago. There are probably a lot less ariel collisions than there used to be that result in adjudication.

Still, as someone else said, you can't take the risk out of rugby and it will go wrong sometime.

tigertattie wrote:Some of the laws certainly need tweaked.

I still think you should not be allowed to jump in the air to catch the ball. You're not allowed to jump over tackles!

First person 've found online or in person who agrees with me on this!
To me, it's a no brainer. If the player safetly really (like REALLY) is paramount, then they cannot stamp out the risk with cards, they need to remove the risk.

Yea, if a player challenges late or does not leave the ground, teh jumping player ca be badly injured. But a jumping player can ALSO be badly injured as a result of colliding with another airborne player.

If we don't want players landing on their necks or heads, we have to limit jumping to situations where competing players are not coming into that zone at pace - for example the lineout.

Does that mean the attacking player can't jump either? He is still at risk of jumping for the ball with the defender not jumping...

Players are far more at risk if serious spinal/neck/head injuries when they jump. Want to remove this higher risk? Ban jumping in open play. What they have done with current rules is point blame at a player who doesn’t ‘compete’ or go airborne and causes the airborne player to fall.

Somebody gets badly (I mean badly) injured, all the difference is now that we will have a system to point the finger of blame at a guilty party.

Imagine how the guy will feel who, yes by the law ‘does wrong’, then gets a red card, identifying him as the guilty party to later find out the injured party is paralysed too and it’s all your fault.

Australian Rules players compete in the air all the time and there is rarely any issues. I am actually pretty happy with the current law and think world rugby have figured it out so there’s no more Lee Byrnesque studs to the face incidents anymore. What needs to be stamped out is diving in these incidents or feigning injury.

So I'm sure there's a game on tonight...!

I'll be on a flight during the second half - here's hoping I land to good news!

bsando wrote:Australian Rules players compete in the air all the time and there is rarely any issues. I am actually pretty happy with the current law and think world rugby have figured it out so there’s no more Lee Byrnesque studs to the face incidents anymore. What needs to be stamped out is diving in these incidents or feigning injury.

When has there been a case of anyone diving or feigning injury?

Ulster starting well

3-0

Ulster lose their TH to an ankle injury, does not look like a good one

He might be correct but that’s a shocking rule. I’ll not complain mind you

Ulster score a try from a ripped ball close to the Edinburgh line

Edinburgh making another very sluggish start

10-0 Ulster

Hooray Henry moving in slow motion.

Edinburgh have decided to chuck it about tonight. They look a better side for it

Penalty Edinburgh

Which they miss

Billy Frak Burns! Why kick it. He’s 5 yards away

Crazy kick from Matt Scott, straight into an Ulster players hands

Edinburgh get a turnover on their own line when really under the cosh

VDW misses a second penalty to touch, what is going on with Edinburgh, they seem parlysed

VDW goes off, replaced by Hickey

VDW not playing well so may be no lose

BigGee wrote:VDW misses a second penalty to touch, what is going on with Edinburgh, they seem parlysed

Because despite Tigertattie’s insistence to the contrary, Edinburgh are still a middling side that only front up vs us?

I’m not even watching this game, I’ve switched over to Munster vs Treviso.

Balacoumbe scores a great try in the corner

15-0 Ulster at HT

You can't argue with that, best side on the pitch by a mile

Sounds like a grim first half.

TBH we probably don't deserve a playoff place given our league form across the season. If this carries on we'll be lucky to get the champions cup playoff!

Probably have been the better side but it’s down to Edinburgh’s kicking game. We have defended well but Edinburgh have also bust some tackles and made some great breaks. Next score is crucial

Too loose from Edinburgh when it matters, the backs are throwing away the hard work done by the pack. Nel's turnover was fantastic only for Van Der Walt to miss touch, Hickey to kick out on the full, bit of a shame Edinburgh couldn't score really they made some good yardage in the second quarter.

RDW wrote:Sounds like a grim first half.

TBH we probably don't deserve a playoff place given our league form across the season. If this carries on we'll be lucky to get the champions cup playoff!

Turn off you're phone while you're on the plane you oik!

Expect Edinburgh to come out with a fire lit under them by Cockers, just hope the wasted opportunities don't bite Ulster in the backside

Think this is as one sided half Ulster have had in Edinburgh in a long time

RDW wrote:Sounds like a grim first half.

TBH we probably don't deserve a playoff place given our league form across the season. If this carries on we'll be lucky to get the champions cup playoff!

I think there is hope, when Edinburgh had the ball they were looking dangerous at times. Unfortunately just a lack of composure.

Yep we should have had two other scores. Balacoune really has redeemed himself at the end there

Eejit wrote:

RDW wrote:Sounds like a grim first half.

TBH we probably don't deserve a playoff place given our league form across the season. If this carries on we'll be lucky to get the champions cup playoff!

Turn off you're phone while you're on the plane you oik!

Not boarded yet!

The game is closer than it seems. When Edinburgh keep possession they are making easy ground in attack. Just haven’t capitalised.

clivemcl wrote:The game is closer than it seems. When Edinburgh keep possession they are making easy ground in attack. Just haven’t capitalised.

15 points is quite a difference!

22 is better though

Henry P kicks another one straight out

Story of Edinburgh night

That is that surely

Edinburgh have been stuffed tonight

I should say I typed that before the try. Wasn’t trying to be smug.

Agreed BigGee

Edinburgh’s kicking has haunted them

I like how this works. Let me try...

29 is better though

Great feet from Lyttle there.

Got to give it to the 2 Robs, they know how to finish

Fair play Ulster, I thought it was gonna be closer but they're being very clinical out wide tonight. Edinburgh need to get back into this game somehow to salvage some pride.

Barclay with a lovely score. Need more points ulster

Well at least Edinburgh won't be getting nilled!

Barclay scores Edinburgh first try

22-7 Ulster

Lukey not trusting the youngsters outside him there. Showing some rustiness perhaps.

That's better! Still 20 to go!

Treviso with no match points in Italy. Good news for both teams

Bennett fortunate there

Standulstermen wrote:Treviso with no match points in Italy. Good news for both teams

They've got a relatively easy game to Zebre next - possibly a BP win too - so can't see Edinburgh overtaking unless we can at least salvage a point here somehow.

Wasn’t sure what the situation was. Are Edinburgh behind treviso? Is it a point or two behind?

Standulstermen wrote:Bennett fortunate there

Scottish TMO says no foul play, strange that

Standulstermen wrote:Wasn’t sure what the situation was. Are Edinburgh behind treviso? Is it a point or two behind?

1 behind - their score at the death last week against Leinster made them leapfrog us.

It's good news they got 0 points, but we're failing to capitalise!