Semi-final - Leinster v Ulster

[King_D'Arcy]

Ugh!! If Strauss is injured that'd be a nightmare. We need him for the Northampton match more than we need O'Driscoll

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

18-3 against a decent Ulster team despite a spate of injuries disrupting proceedings and never being at their best. I'll take that. Joe Schmidt was fairly confident that O'Driscoll, Strauss, Horgan, Ross, Boss and O'Brien will all be fine ahead of next weekend. I thought Madigan was very good when he came on with Wright, McFadden, O'Brien and Heaslip among the other good performers on the night.

A word on Ulster. They've unquestionably improved this season but failure to win the big games must be a slight concern. They weren't at the races in two games against Munster, three games against Leinster and in the Heineken Cup quarter final against Northampton they were blown away in the second half. Bath away was their only "big" result but Bath aren't a strong team. Ulster are on the up but they remind me of Leinster from 6 or 7 years ago- they're brittle when the pressure comes on.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Shite game, got really drunk, don't remember much of it. If Strauss is out we're properly screwed. Anyone else we can replace but I'd cry if Jay Harris Wright started in the Heineken Cup final.



Still, the double is on!

 

[Peat]

A word on Ulster. They've unquestionably improved this season but failure to win the big games must be a slight concern. They weren't at the races in two games against Munster, three games against Leinster and in the Heineken Cup quarter final against Northampton they were blown away in the second half. Bath away was their only "big" result but Bath aren't a strong team. Ulster are on the up but they remind me of Leinster from 6 or 7 years ago- they're brittle when the pressure comes on.

Snoopy, you're barking up the wrong tree here.

Are Biarritz with your HC QF place on the line not a big test these days? Bigger than Bath certainly. I'd argue the Cardiff/Scarlets results, considering what was resting on it, were fairly big as well. Biarritz and Scarlets were both won by keeping our cool under pressure at the death as well, as have been numerous other results this season. The pressure's not an issue.

Look at out injury list in the games mentioned. No Ferris, Botha, Trimble, Wallace, Faloon or Tuohy for the semi-final. No Ferris and both Both and Court not properly match-fit for Northampton. The home game against Munster was just before an international window, the home game to Leinster just after and in both cases we fielded weakened teams. Luke Marshall featured in both games, and started the away game to Munster - much as I rate him, the prominence of a 20 year old who started the season in AIL says a lot about out options in those games.

The problem isn't our nerve particularly, although there's a couple of questions to be asked. Its our quality and depth. Diack and Wannenberg vs. Heaslip and O'Brien? Thats only ever ending one way and thats got nothing to do with mental strength.

 

[coonor]

Snoopy, you're barking up the wrong tree here.

Are Biarritz with your HC QF place on the line not a big test these days? Bigger than Bath certainly. I'd argue the Cardiff/Scarlets results, considering what was resting on it, were fairly big as well. Biarritz and Scarlets were both won by keeping our cool under pressure at the death as well, as have been numerous other results this season. The pressure's not an issue.

Look at out injury list in the games mentioned. No Ferris, Botha, Trimble, Wallace, Faloon or Tuohy for the semi-final. No Ferris and both Both and Court not properly match-fit for Northampton. The home game against Munster was just before an international window, the home game to Leinster just after and in both cases we fielded weakened teams. Luke Marshall featured in both games, and started the away game to Munster - much as I rate him, the prominence of a 20 year old who started the season in AIL says a lot about out options in those games.

The problem isn't our nerve particularly, although there's a couple of questions to be asked. Its our quality and depth. Diack and Wannenberg vs. Heaslip and O'Brien? Thats only ever ending one way and thats got nothing to do with mental strength.

I agree. Ulster need to take it one step at a time. They will be disappointed but they have achieved all their targets. They have been much more ruthless this season. They have been able to edge out games that could have gone either way and that has been a big difference from last season. Their young players have really stood up this season and they have a great future. Spence and Gilroy have been very impressive. Gilroy is already a top try scorer and Spence is already arguably Heineken cup quality. Both players have matured so much and could be future Ireland stars.

Ulster are a team moving forward and thats what really matters.

 

[lucky number 7]

Right...so tell me is this Nevin Spence all that ?

 

[Peat]

Right...so tell me is this Nevin Spence all that ?

Yes and no.

He's the best out and out physical athlete Ireland has in the backs short of Andrew Trimble. And he's also their only back who could make Trimble look like a distributing 12 in comparision. Better hands though.

I think that says it all. Its up to Ulster to develop him now. Even if he develops no further, he's a useful HC/Ireland A level player.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Good points Peat but I disagree.

You should be expecting to beat Biarritz at home, they're no great shakes. As it was Ulster made really hard work of beating them.

I don't buy the argument of having to play Luke Marshall either. Leinster picked Dominic Ryan and Rhys Ruddock, two 20 year olds, on the flank when they won in Ravenhill. Both started in the Heineken Cup and Ryan started against Munster in the Aviva Stadium.

I suppose I view Ulster as a contender for silverware next season and as such, they should be held up to the highest scrutiny. They must improve in the big games. It's the next step they have to take but I agree, they've come a long way this season.

 

[Peat]

Good points Peat but I disagree.

You should be expecting to beat Biarritz at home, they're no great shakes. As it was Ulster made really hard work of beating them.

I don't buy the argument of having to play Luke Marshall either. Leinster picked Dominic Ryan and Rhys Ruddock, two 20 year olds, on the flank when they won in Ravenhill. Both started in the Heineken Cup and Ryan started against Munster in the Aviva Stadium.

I suppose I view Ulster as a contender for silverware next season and as such, they should be held up to the highest scrutiny. They must improve in the big games. It's the next step they have to take but I agree, they've come a long way this season.

If Bath count, so do Biarritz. That was a foul, horrific night at Ravenhill against a large and steamed up French pack and we met it head on before winning it with a penalty from near the halfway line with about 3 minutes left to go. Whatever else that night may have shown, it did not show a lack of nerve.

Also, Luke Marshall's shorthand for "F**k me were short on options". I can't be arsed to go through all the teamlists, but we sent TJ Anderson and Tommy Seymour down to Munster for crying out loud! We fielded Spence and Whitten in the centres at home to Munster. I think we might have played Jamie Smith in one of the Leinster matches. The list goes on and the point stands, Ulster simply have not fielded full-strength teams in their big matches this season. And while neither have some of the others, we don't have the depth of Leinster or Munster.

Which is why we're not a genuine contender for silverware next season. We'll be there or there abouts, I think we'll make knock-out stages in at least one competition... but I'm not expecting silverware, not unless we go into the Amlin. There are too many areas of Ulster which held to the highest scrutiny fall short. But we've improved on them this season, we should improve on them next. Thats enough for me.

 

[Logorrhea]

Given where Ulster were last year this has been a huge step forward. Signings announced will only add to that, and the likes of Gilroy, Marshall and Spence coming through should have everyone associated with Ulster that little bit more optimistic about the future.

It was a non-event of a game but fair play to the Ulster fans that travelled down in numbers. Through they were a credit to their team and made for a good atmosphere.

 

[dangandan]

Don't have much time to go in depth atm but i have to say Spence is very one dimensional whilst Gilroy doesn't have much of a step on him.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

BOD pushed and then reacts with a couple of punches
If his arms were a few cm longer would he be getting the same treatment as Manu Tuilagi by everyone?
I mean, the intent is obviously there, it's just that Manu landed his punches, whereas BODs just missed

 

[lucky number 7]

I dont think there are too many people giving out about Manu's actions ...are there? I for one think its far better than a gouge or a stamp

 

[Feicarsinn]

BOD pushed and then reacts with a couple of punches
If his arms were a few cm longer would he be getting the same treatment as Manu Tuilagi by everyone?
I mean, the intent is obviously there, it's just that Manu landed his punches, whereas BODs just missed

Nah, Brian is a saint. Everyone loves Brian.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nah, Brian is a saint. Everyone loves Brian.

Incorrect,
Look at this haircut:

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Incorrect,
Look at this haircut:

Vintage Bri!

 

[Feicarsinn]

I think I love him more for his flaws.

 

[Teh Mite]

I think I love him more for his flaws.

Can we sort a double date. Fesc and Bod with cyRil and Henson?

The players could even bring their books about the 2005 Lions along.