Scarlets v Ulster, Friday February 18

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Scarlets: 15 Daniel Evans, 14 Gareth Maule, 13 Regan King, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Josh Turnbull, 6 Rob McCusker, 5 Lou Reed, 4 Vernon Cooper, 3 Rhys Thomas, 2 Emyr Phillips, 1 Iestyn Thomas (c).
Replacements: 16 Rhys Lawrence, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Jonny Fa'amatuainu, 20 Johnathan Edwards, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Dan Newton, 23 Joe Ajuwa.

Ulster: 15 Adam D'Arcy, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Nevin Spence, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Patrick Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Chris Henry, 6 TJ Anderson, 5 Tim Barker, 4 Johann Muller, 3 Declan Fitzpatrick, 2 Andi Kyriacou, 1 Tom Court.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Jerry Cronin, 18 Bryan Young, 19 Ryan Caldwell, 20 Robbie Diack, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Luke Marshall, 23 Simon Danielli.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

The ginger messiah gets his first start for Ulster at flyhalf. It's good that he's surrounded by the experienced Wallace and Pienaar to guide him through the game. If Luke Marshall comes on for Wallace, we'll be looking at the long term Ulster backline.

The Scarlets should have an advantage up front and will win this.

 

[Peat]

Don't discount the Caveman...

But yeah, that backline is sexual, and if you replace Mincer with young Skywalker and Ruan's drink with drugs, it could be around for a long time to come.

Unfortunately, I can't really argue with your analysis as we have about our worst back row starting. Its still a pretty good one. Saving Anderson. Mindyou, last time I slagged him off, he was almost ok... so maybe... just maybe...

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

In my opinion Kyriacou and Anderson are plodders. Fitzpatrick and Barker are decent third string options but not much more. Henry isn't a 7 but is a solid player. It'll be up to Muller to lead the pack, Court to hold the scrum and Wannenburg to generate go forward ball. If any of those three falter, Ulster will struggle big time up front.

I'm definitely not discounting Cave. I think he's a more rounded player than Spence but may lack the younger player's explosiveness. Having Cave and Spence as outside centre options for the next 7 or 8 years is an enviable position for Ulster to be in.

 

[Peat]

You're a hard judge snoopy, and don't think you give some of those players enough credit... and if anything, give Wannenburg too much. Every now and again he has a gigantic game but to be honest I've been slightly disappointed by him, and he's a penalty magnet. What I'm worrying about up front is the breakdown, I like the look of that Scarlets backrow and would swap it for ours in a heartbeat. The rest of it... we'll see, no arrogance but no pessimism, although I wish Fitzpatrick and Kyriacou had more game practice recently.

I have very little worries about this pack's go-forwards ball in hand, its the set pieces that give me little worrying thoughts. Just give that back-line some space and ball and well...

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

You're a hard judge snoopy

I tend to hold Leinster and Munster up to a high standard- they should be competing year in, year out for major honours. Ulster are getting there now and should be looking to qualify for the knockout stages of whatever tournament they're in. As such, they should be held up to a high standard. The pack Ulster have picked for tonight would be among the weakest in the Magners League in my opinion. Player for player (giving an honest appraisal):

Tom Court
Rate him highly as a scrummager and is getting better around the park. A very useful loosehead who's not too far behind Cian Healy for Ireland.

Andi Kyriacou
Awful lineout thrower. No more than adequate scrummager. Decent around the park. Not a bad option behind Best and Brady but does he really offer more than Niall Annett? Wouldn't be missed if he left Ulster IMO.

Declan Fitzpatrick
Far from a strong scrummager but rarely gets his head shoved through his arse even if he's struggling. Can't recall a single carry or tackle he's made in his career. Decent ML level backup for BJ Botha but I'd fear for him if he was thrown in to play against Saints. Ulster could do with a better backup than him. Is John Andress the man

Johann Muller
Ulster's Leo Cullen. Doesn't do anything flash but when he plays, those around him raise their game. Excellent signing.

Tim Barker
Signed as a squad player, he's surpassed expectations. Good replacement for Ed O'Donoghue but he'll never be close to international quality. He'll be a decent 4th choice lock next season.

TJ Anderson
Ulster fans probably go overboard in their criticism of him but he's a very average player. Similar in quality to Billy Holland at Munster.

Chris Henry
I've a lot of time for him. Always gives 100%. Good Heineken Cup player without showing he has the quality to be an international. Very useful 8 and decent 6 but he's a bit undersized for those positions. Doesn't have the link game and isn't enough of a ******* at the breakdown to be a 7.

Pedrie Wannenburg
One trick pony but give him a bit of space to get up a head of steam and he'll put in some barnstorming runs. A better version of Andy Powell but lacks Henry's workrate and Diack's footballing skills from the back of the scrum. Ulster's pack lacks ball carriers when Ferris is out so Wannenburg has been a very good addition.

 

[Peat]

Thats a fair assessment in depth tbh, save I reckon you underrate Fitzpatrick and overrate Wannenberg. And Barker's better than O'Donoghue, a lot better. And while you're on spot with Kyri, when his throwing is on I prefer him to Brady. That said, would love to see Annett given a go soon. I'm quibbling over details, I know.

It's far from the strongest pack, but should do the job and given where the players stand in the hierarchy, its acceptable.

(I hope).

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Dan Evans is having a good game at FB

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Terrible game so far. Scarlets are far superior but their desperate lineout is keeping Ulster in it. Ulster's ball handling and scrum have been woeful.

16-9

 

[Peat]

Dear Snoopy,

if you could not in future tempt me into invoking the Mockers over Declan Fitzpatrick, it would be most appreciated.

 

[Draggs]

Dan Evans is having a good game at FB

His form has been down recently, glad to see he is improving again.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Shocking reffing there!
He just felt sorry for Ulster so called it back, aaaaaaaaaages after the quick throw

 

[SelimNiai]

Mon deiu this is a poor game. Contant breaks in play, has either sude made an attack with more than 5 phases all game

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Priestland charging down Pienaar then has probably won Scarlets the game


Edit: Spoke too soon! Good kick by Pienaar on the death to win it!

 

[SelimNiai]

Why did the touch judges wait that long, it clearly went over. What a kick to make in awful conditions to wib a game

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Still think that Morgan should've got the try from the quickthrow that was pulled back!
Play went on far too long before the ref decided that a non-existant line had been formed

 

[Peat]

Still think that Morgan should've got the try from the quickthrow that was pulled back!
Play went on far too long before the ref decided that a non-existant line had been formed

Might have a point there, but I'll take that nonetheless.

Iain, the line judges were thinking "Will we get out alive if we get this... you've got a fast car you say... ok, do it and scarper!"

Very hard lines on the Scarlets, but that's what happens when your line out is ****.

 

[Peat]

Anyway, the most important thing is that the Ginger Messiah looked at home!

 

[frontrowsupremacy]

A win is a win I suppose, I doubted Pienaar's range just before he went for that last kick but he proved me wrong! Good to see wee Jacko having a good game, he has a lot of growing to do but I'm sure iHumph and NOC are taking notice.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Good win for Ulster. They're now firmly in the mix for a top 4 spot with their next three games at home.

I could have sworn it was Paddy Wallace making his debut and not Paddy Jackson. Wallace had a chance to put it up to Gordon D'arcy but was totally off the pace. In a far from perfect performance, Jackson showed flashes of what he can do. Kudos to Brian McLaughlin for taking the pressure off him by getting Ruan Pienaar to run the game and kick for goal.