Ulster v Ospreys; Friday, September 3rd

[Draggs]

Ulster 27-26 Ospreys FT; Friday, September 3rd

Ulster 27-26 Ospreys
Ravenhill, Belfast.
Kick off: 1905 BST
Live on: BBC Ni, BBC Two Wales, BBC Online

Ulster 27:
Tries- Ferris, Cave
Conversions- O'Connor
Penalties- O'Connor (5)

Ospreys 26:
Tries- Fussell, Biggar
Conversions- Biggar(2)
Penalties- Biggar (4)

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Ulster look threadbare in the back three with Nagusa having moved on and Cunningham, Smith, Trimble and Danielli all injured. It's no wonder they've picked up Adam D'arcy on trial and, although he's not in this squad, Paul Emerick on a short term contract. If the Ospreys spin the ball wide, I don't think Ulster have the nous to cope. The Ospreylians could pinch this one.

 

[Conal]

ulster for the win!!!
but really out wide ulster are to the bones if d'arcy gets injured or isnt playing well there just isnt another fullback
howver if court is afully fit the pack could give the sprays some trouble either a tight ulster win (grinded out in forwards ) or a sprays hammering ( domminated out wide) i wouldnt trust emerick to do well at all aswell

 

[ORothlain]

“Should he get some game time on Thursday it will be a huge opportunity for him to show us what he can potentially do for Ulster.†​

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...ance-at-ravenhill-14922493.html#ixzz0yKMMIH4j​

I'm really curious about what Adam D'Arcy can do. I'm really hoping he's an answer to prayers for us right now.
David Humphrey's seems really optimistic about Ulster this year: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...ulster-are-the-best-in-a-decade-14922495.html

 

[Jayatron]

Hard to call. Was expecting a bit more from the Ospreys, but Ulster are down to the bones in the back 3. I think Ospreys to win but Ulster to pick up a losing point.

 

[Peat]

Will be very interesting to see who gets the nod in the back 3. I'd personally expect Spence/McCrea/D'Arcy but have heard McIlwaine will be in the mix there somewhere. Spence and McCrea I'd think could cope on their wings but we'll see. Suspect the likes of Whitten and Cave will be flying up to try and cut it out.

Anyway I'm more concerned about the forwards, hopefully Muller and Wattabeast will step up... its a good Ospreys pack, but if Ulster are to really mix it this season, they need to be taking such packs at Ravenhill. We've only got Tuohy and Botha missing from our first choice pack (possibly Henry/Pollock depending on taste)...

Either way, I can't wait. I reckon Ospreys by 7, but hope this is the start of a glorious new era...

 

[Shaggy]

Wouldn't mind watching this one but probably won't be near a TV that gets this game ... kinda curious to see Marty Holah in action again (it's been a few years since i've seen him play)

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

ULSTER: (15-9) A D'Arcy; T Seymour, D Cave, I Whitten, D McIlwaine; N O'Connor, P Marshall; (1-8) B Young, R Best (Capt), D Fitzpatrick, J Muller, T Barker, S Ferris, W Faloon, P Wannenburg
Replacements (16-23): N Brady, T Court, P McAllister, R Caldwell, R Diack, I Porter, P Wallace, J Shiels


A strong pack allied to a **** poor backline. O'Connor at 10 and Whitten at 12 = the ball never making it to the wing. Ulster better hope D'arcy offers something from fullback because there's no other source of creativity behind the scrum.

 

[Draggs]

Ulster team have been announced and added.

EDIT: Snoopy posted it just as I edited it.

 

[coonor]

I think Ulster have a very good pack but I think their backs are lacking in experience and leadership. I think ulster could cause an upset if they slow up the Ospreys ball but I expect an Ospreys win.

 

[tinchy17]

Yey!!!!! Ospreys have fielded a decent team. I can smell victory already.

 

[Draggs]

I can't comment on the Ulster side, but the Ospreys team isn't bad.
Their halfbacks and front row seem a bit week, but everything else is pretty solid.
JT had a better game at 8 against the All Blacks this summer, so we will see how he can handle it for 80 minutes.

I haven't seen Gareth Owen play yet; Wales need another fullback, so I hope he has a good game.

 

[ORothlain]

Does anyone know when Tommy Bowe is going to renounce his campaign to win Charlotte Church's hand and move back to Ulster?


I'd say a lot is riding on young Adama D'Arcy.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Tommy's out until the end of the month. Bah.

A decent team, that is. Would have liked to see Shane start, but Walker and Fussell both deserve chances, and I'd assume whichever plays best will partners Shane next week. I'm a big fan of Fussell in particular, so it'd be nice if he could go and score a try or something.

I know almost none of the Ulster team which, from an Ospreys viewpoint, is always a good thing.

 

[durbutter]

From what i can see, they have a much, much better tight 5, a better backrow than the Hairspreys, but the look bad enough in the backs, particularly the back 3.

If it was a winters night in Belfast i'd see Ulster winning comfortably. But seeing as it looks like good conditions the Ospreys should take it.

 

[Draggs]

From what i can see, they have a much, much better tight 5, a better backrow than the Hairspreys, but the look bad enough in the backs, particularly the back 3.

Apart from Jonathan Thomas, the Ospreys back row is strong.
The O's front row seems quite weak, I would have started at least Paul James.

Anyone know if Hibbard is back from injury yet?

 

[durbutter]

Wannenburg apparently is unbelievable, a pure beast. Ferris is Ferris. Faloon is above average. It'll be some battle. Will prob watch this instead of the Leinster match.

 

[Peat]

Faloon hasn't had a lot of notice for some reason, but deserves it. His only real downside is his build - 6' and 14 st 2 lb aka average centre, but he makes up for it in the traditional openside traits in spades. Apparently last season the only harder tackler in the Ulster squad was Ferris himself.

All in all I have no qualms about that Ulster pack.

The back line... uhm... Paul Marshall showed up well at the end of last season, and although he's tiny he never stops scrapping. Ian Whitten isn't the most imaginative centre, but he's a good tackler, takes stopping and his hands are fair too. Cave's good enough, just needs to step up a level.

That leaves NOC and the back three.

All of the back three are making their competitive debuts at this level. McIlwaine is out of position. I'm slightly bewildered by the choice here, we do have more experienced wings available... but there we go. How they will go is a mystery.

NOC apparently played well against Leeds. I've always felt there was the makings of a good rugby player there somewhere, just buried deep beneath a really **** one. If he turns up, well and good, if not... hand Ospreys their bonus point now.

I'm looking forwards to this one but feel it could be slightly dull to the neutral. Two sides with their strength in the packs and a pair of fairly straight forwards big centres... honestly, I don't care if we win this one by one try to nil though...

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Faloon hasn't had a lot of notice for some reason, but deserves it. His only real downside is his build - 6' and 14 st 2 lb aka average centre, but he makes up for it in the traditional openside traits in spades. Apparently last season the only harder tackler in the Ulster squad was Ferris himself.

I agree completely. He was excellent last season and out played David Pollock by a considerable margin. Robbie Diack, Pedrie Wannenburg and Stephen Ferris are big physical specimens- Faloon's relative lack of size is well compensated for when he plays alongside two of those players in the backrow.

 

[cyRil]

Ospreys are fielding a gyppo side. Gareth Owen is as much a fullback as I am a Nambian Second Rower.