H Cup Quarter Final : Saracens vs Ulster

[Leonormous Boozer]

[/B]Really think Kearney and Best have really damaged their chances for Lions tour this weekend and Best especially. He lost too many lineouts in dangerous positions that could've brought momentum to Ulster. But if we are honest Ulsters form (excluding Leinster game) has been poor in 2013. I still would question have they really improved since replacing McLaughlin.

Leinster improved after Mclaughlin.

Best will tour but I think he'll go as third choice I'd his form doesn't improve.

 

[munstermuffin]

Leinster improved after Mclaughlin.

Best will tour but I think he'll go as third choice I'd his form doesn't improve.

But really are Ulster better now than 12 months ago. Brian McLaughlin did a fine job in Ulster and in my opinion was pushed because he wasn't a big name or something but I think Ulster were a better all round team last year and I know you could argue things like Ferris missing etc but just think there was a bigger bite in them last year

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Well played Sarries. It was a much deserved win. They're a hugely efficient team but it's fairly drab stuff. Reminds me an awful lot of Munster in their 06-08 pomp. Kelly Brown looks like a Lion in waiting.

Ulster's biggest problems were the lineout and Ruan Pienaar. I hate to harp on about it but Paddy Jackson doesn't inspire confidence at 10. He relies too much upon his half back partner and when Pienaar has an off night, Ulster lack any direction.

I hope Ulster give Luke Marshall plenty of time off. Stuart Olding appears more than capable of replacing him and is a bolter for Ireland's summer tour.

 

[Big Ewis]

Yoe....I studiously ignored the idiot as he really did little else all game!!

yeah ?? I dunno, didn't watch the thing...but it's a tragedy, and each time it happens...they say an actual angel up in the Heavens has his beautiful velvet wings drop off, and falls from Grace into a profound melancholy and solitude for a bleak eternity...

 

[Peat]

Balls.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

But really are Ulster better now than 12 months ago. Brian McLaughlin did a fine job in Ulster and in my opinion was pushed because he wasn't a big name or something but I think Ulster were a better all round team last year and I know you could argue things like Ferris missing etc but just think there was a bigger bite in them last year

Their style of rugby has changed considerably since last year and it will take a while for the players to get used to that. I never thought Ulster had gotten any better this season and that can be expected with losing Ferris and with Pienaar being a bit hot and cold but I think if Anscombe will bring Ulster to a point where they can challenge for Heineken's but they're not there yet and if they lose one of Afoa or Pienaar they will need to find a replacement quick.

I think Ulster will end up with an empty trophy cabinet again this season and it'll be hard to take but the players are on the verge of unlocking something good, improvement at 10 is much needed and Nick Williams needs to be taught to keep it cool and not make stupid mistakes in the big games.

 

[Peat]

Ulster looked fine with the new style of rugby last year, and arguably more dangerous. 2013 so far has been dominated by an absolutely cataclysmic injury list, the likes of which I don't think any team can contend with, and which is still having aftershocks that probably had a large part to do with how poo that was. So far - although I reserve the right to change my mind once the season's done and dusted - we have improved in my mind. We are more consistent, more dangerous and meaner in defence as a default. Last year McLaughlin lost any chance of being involved in the Pro 12 play offs very early through being unable to cope with unavailability. Anscombe has played a so-so hand throughout the late autumn and winter far better than McLaughlin would have.

 

[munstermuffin]

I thought Williams had great game today. Himself and Henderson were they're best players with Gilroy in my opinion. But it is fair to say though Anscombe still has to prove move was right and Peat yea injury list is long but some issues are on players. Jackson gives Piennar too much responsibility. And like the Afoa issue of going back and forth to New Zealand can't continue. As in he's on his way back now and would've been back for semi final but it's crazy travellin

 

[Maverick1987]

yeah ?? I dunno, didn't watch the thing...but it's a tragedy, and each time it happens...they say an actual angel up in the Heavens has his beautiful velvet wings drop off, and falls from Grace into a profound melancholy and solitude for a bleak eternity...

I hate to point out the blindingly obvious but yoe you seem to bash England/English players all the time . Get a new record buddy , no one likes France either as a matter of fact the only thing that bettered England losing the slam to everyone else was France getting the spoon

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Sarries can **** off.
But Yoe...Tallshorts so right..you have such an axe to grind against English players its unreal. Your palpable delight when England were smashed by Wales....your excuses at New Zealand losing to England...your persistent claim that England are nothing but a machine playing classic 'England rugby' (we're limited, yes, but there's more to us than that...) Everything that happens to english rugby you try and interpret withn your prior view, and you're not interested in learning anything new about it. Sorry if this is harsh, but you're a sophisticated wum at best.

 

[munstermuffin]

Just to be awkward lads and fact I can't sleep here in London buzzing for big QF but France technically didn't get wooden spoon as you only receive that accolade IF you loose all your matches. Man I am picky
But back on game people slam Sarries style and well point is as I said in another thread flashy teams don't always win and if Sarries play awful to watch brand of rugby but are winning then why should they care?
At end of day it's trophies that count

 

[Peat]

I thought Williams had great game today. Himself and Henderson were they're best players with Gilroy in my opinion. But it is fair to say though Anscombe still has to prove move was right and Peat yea injury list is long but some issues are on players. Jackson gives Piennar too much responsibility. And like the Afoa issue of going back and forth to New Zealand can't continue. As in he's on his way back now and would've been back for semi final but it's crazy travellin

Afoa's travelling back and forth because his wife was homesick, and then got pregnant, and wanted to give birth surrounded by her family network - and obviously, Afoa wanted to be with her as much as possible. There is very little Ulster Rugby as a whole can do in this situation except support him and give him as much time as possible. Leaving aside the moral rightness of it, we legally wouldn't have had a leg to stand on if he'd made a fuss.

As it happens, the gossip is that we will release Afoa if we can find a replacement, and if not he will serve out the last year of his contract before returning to NZ. Hopefully his wife won't get pregnant again. So the issue probably won't arise next season. As it goes, it's just been another bullet hole in the wreckage of our season, which we now have to get back on the road and steer back to winningsville pronto.

And I am happy that Anscombe is a good man to do that. He couldn't really have done a great deal more this season.

 

[Joseph14]

Sarries boring as eff but its getting results, at the moment. They will need something more to win it.

It must have hurt Yoe to see Ashton score with a good finish. Especially roasting the rusty Bowe in the process. Shocked me to be honest. I suspect he hurt some more if he caught Wade leaving Kearney in his wake the night before too!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I know people like to go on about Sarries being boring, but yesterday they weren't - came out to play rugby and score tries and they did.
I enjoyed the match, as a neutral/someone who dislikes Saracens.

 

[Peat]

Yeah, sarries in the spring play decent enough rugby. Makes the turgid crap they serve up the rest of the year even more annoying.

 

[Patchey]

I know people like to go on about Sarries being boring, but yesterday they weren't - came out to play rugby and score tries and they did.
I enjoyed the match, as a neutral/someone who dislikes Saracens.

The default position with Sarries seems to be 'assume they were boring' even if you watched the game. Generally speaking they played good rugby in the Heiniken Cup this year and, as Peat says, seem to be playing better generally now than earlier in the year.

This may have already been said but do Sarries have a home semi-final?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Sarries won because they played Poite a whole lot better, Sarries were always slowing the ball down and whether it was legal or not they got away with it every time. Ulster then did nothing in response, they allowed Sarries have quick ball and having let them do it all game they were finally exposed, a team who were doing there job at the breakdown and not allowing the team have so much time wouldn't have struggled with Sarries backline.

 

[munstermuffin]

Peat as I said I don't blame Ulster like for Afoa issue just it does effect situations. Also it's not Ulsters fault Jackson doesn't seem to want responsibility or Luke Marshall is injury prone but there is some small issues besides injury that effected Ulster.

 

[Big Ewis]

well I dunno what a 'wum' is, but yes I do think England play a style of rugby that is as colorless as the jersey they wear. But that's got nothing to do with pre-existing bias against the English, it's just what I see on the field.
* Yes, the AB's played the most bizarre match of that era, possibly ever (dunno enough history so can't tell). Reminded me of France conceding 46 pts at home to Australia in like 30min of play, it's just these weird things you see during the last game of the year.
* Ashton is annoying as fk, his dive thing is the most annoying thing in rugby atm, he could've been Srilankese it's still the Ashton dive.
* I don't believe in England's current (and for a majority) style of play, and given their performances in the tournament I thought it would be the most spineless thing that they'd win the Slam. If France played like England, won all those games but in that fashion, and then ended up getting the Slam I wouldn't be proud. It's nice to have another Slam added in the books, and it would've been good for England of course, but my vision of sports and rugby in particular and what England achieved despite 4 straight wins are strictly antithetic. So that's why I was really happy to see Wales win. The fact that they took away the Slam and even trophy from a consistent force but that just doesn't play the game fully. A style that is pragmatic, ultra-realistic and analytical before anything else. Not quite the reasons I watch rugby, or sports, or am excited for just generally in life.
I've read once "England have an unhealthy relation to the sport"...so I guess my discourse is mild in comparison to others'.

I don't particularly love kiwis as a people (I mean they're rather obscure to me, dunno em), but I love their style in rugby. You can't hate me - you may dislike me, it's natural - but you can't hate me for not liking the England style. I judge what I see on the field, as for the Ashton thing I'm just havin a laugh. It's a bit ridiculous that thing......
You can call Picamoles a brainless bulldozer, Bastareaud the same, Fofana a guy with just speed, and PSA a complete noob at coaching and France wtvr you want, as long as it's sensible and based on what happens on the field. What can I tell you ? That you're biased just coz you're English ?
I'm not even picking on the obvious ones like Tom Youngs (which I like btw) who looks like Quasimodo or Farrell who looks like Anthony Perkins from 1960's Psycho every time he kicks the ball into the posts.

The Irish I'm biased, though. I do love their team and style (esp. this year) but my personal life has a connection with them so I do admit there's more than just brain there's also heart for the Irish.

I'm sorry this is just about me, I'm sorry it's completely off-topic, but the issues were addressed on here and needed to be cleared out.
Yeah guys, uhm...I don't like what I see when I switch the tv on and England's playing. They looked pretty cool against the AB's in November, for sure. As far as they're concerned, whoever they'd have played that day. Even if they'd lost that game for e.g....they looked GOOD.

P.S.: Henry, you did say "sophisticated" mmm ?? So you DID enjoy that magnificent piece of poetry I wrote of unparalleled quality...and that's all that matters to me. :angel:

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Blah blah blah blah.