Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Northampton v Ulster

155 Points 145
16 Tries 15
6 Matches 6
1 Drop goals 0
44 Scrums won 45
7 Scrums lost 7
44/51 (86%) % Scrums won 45/52 (87%)
86 Lineouts won 79
9 Lineouts lost 10
86/95 (90%) % Lineouts won 79/89 (88%)
416 Rucks won 442
14 Rucks lost 22
416/430 (97%) % Rucks won 442/464 (95%)
593 Tackles 510
39 Missed tackles 33
593/632 (93%) % Tackles Made 510/543 (93%)
77 Turnovers conceded 84
712 Passes 749
1965 Metres carried 1967
533 Carries 587
132 Kicks in play 126
56 Defenders beaten 52
30 Clean breaks 25
42 Offloads 53
5 Yellow cards 1
0 Red cards 0
9 Conversions 11
18 Penalty goal 16
If only stats told the whole story, it would mean a very close thing.

Additionally, in the 6 pool games,
Ulster won the most turnovers,
Made the most passes,
Missed fewer tackles than anyone
Fewest yellow cards, - 1
Made the most ball carries,
Johann Muller best lineout forward with 34...next best was Wood N'hampton with 25.
Wannenberg best offloads with 10.
Wannenberg 2nd in carries - 77 - behind SOB with 87
Adam D'Arcy 5 clean breaks - best was 7
6th best yards made,
6th best defenders beaten,
7th clean breaks,

Interesting but probably of little consequences.

He's lightning quick. Can't be bad. Ulster need a bit more speed in the backs. Apart from Trimble and Spence and maybe 'D'Arcy, the rest aren't that fast. Gilroy is still only 19. Carr should have come to Ulster when Leinster lost interest.

GerM wrote: »

Looking forward to the Northampton clash. Whilst they're a good side and have an admirable record at home I don't think they've been significantly tested. They're yet to play any of the Premiership big boys at home this season aside from Leicester who they encountered on the first day of the season and the Tigers had a very sluggish start to the season. Wasps, Sarries, even a resurgent Glos haven't visited Franklin Gardens yet. The only other side to visit there from the top half was Quins and they came away with a win. In the HEC they squeaked past Castres where John Lacey cost Castres the game denying them a couple of tries with bad decisions. They hardly inspired against Cardiff either with a 23-15 win.

I think they are beatable particularly with the likes of Botha, Ferris and Court putting it up to them up front. Lawes will only be returning from injury and may not have the impact that he has had previously this season. Northampton are somewhat one dimensional with Myler at 10. You should have nothing to fear from them. Get at their set piece and shut down Ashton and Foden and you're in business.

Here's hoping there are 3 Irish teams in Cardiff in May!

Going to be very tough, but if you asked Brian McLaughlin who he secretly wanted out of Biarritz Away, Perg away, Leinster away or Saints away, it would be Saints everytime Id imagine! (Even though he did say he fancied Leinster!:D)

Team to play the Ospreys on Sunday.
Ulster have won two of their last three games against Ospreys, and have been victorious on two of their previous six visits to Liberty Stadium.


Ospreys have lost their last two games in the Magners League, but are unbeaten at home in any competition since Dragons visited Liberty Stadium in the Magners League on 30 October and won 21-16. Ulster have won their last three matches in all competitions since their 10-35 defeat at Munster in the Magners League on New Year's Day. This reversal represents the Ulstermen's only loss on the road in their last five trips.
This Sunday's encounter sees 5th play 6th in the Magners League as Ospreys host Ulster at the Liberty Stadium. Ulster lie 2 points behind with a game in hand, leaving both teams well and truly in the mix for the play-offs.

The Ospreys come into the game on the back of three impressive wins against tough opposition. Their two previous matches saw them claim victories over Wasps and Cardiff in the LV Cup, but winning 3 from 4 games in that competition wasn’t enough to secure a semi-final spot. With the Ospreys also eliminated in the Heineken Cup group stages, their attention will be solely focussed on a top 4 position in the Magners League, starting with this week’s game against the Ulstermen.

When the two teams met earlier in the season it was Ulster who were victorious, edging a tense affair by 27 points to 26. Both teams held the lead on numerous occasions but tries from Darren Cave and Stephen Ferris, along with 17 points from Niall O’Connor were enough to see the Ulster claim the win against a star studded Ospreys team.

The return fixture promises to be just as enthralling, despite a number of players missing on both sides. The star studded Welsh outfit will have a host of players on international duty at the 6 Nations, including Shane Williams, Ryan Jones and James Hook. However, they are still able to call on the experience of Jerry Collins and Dan Biggar to provide leadership and direction. Ulster have the likes of Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble, Tom Court and Rory Best away with the Ireland squad but are bolstered by their South African contingent and can call on a number of promising youngsters.
Referee:Neil Paterson (SRU, 30th League game)
Assistant Referees: David Jones, Greg Morgan (both WRU).
TMO:Huw Lewis (WRU).
Live on S4/C


Ulster (15-9): Adam Darcy; Craig Gilroy, Nevin Spence, Ian Whitten, Simon Danielli; Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar; (1-8): Bryan Young, Nigel Brady, Declan Fitzpatrick, Johann Muller (capt), Tim Barker, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg.

Replacements: Andi Kyriacou, Jerry Cronin, Alan Whitten, Ryan Caldwell, TJ Anderson, Paul Marshall, Luke Marshall, David McIlwaine.

Botha is out with a dislocated elbow which required surgery to reattach a tendon. It'll be a while before he comes back if at all this season. Cave, Tuohy, Diack, Macklin, McCrea still out for a while.

David900 wrote: »

That will be a blow for Ulster, Rumours he wanted to head back to South Africa before Christmas, did anything come from that? Hopefully not the last time hes played for Ulster.

There was talk last year that he would be released if Ulster didn't get to the last 8 of the ERC so he could get in contention for the RWC. His contract runs to June I think when it looks like he's heading home to SA to possibly sign for the Lions.

Connacht did Ulster a favour tonight:)

Don't know if it's an upgrade but Caldwell's time at Ulster was up IMO.

jolley123 wrote: »

So where's Caldwell off to?

Bath afaik

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Stevenson is reliable, does the basics well and goes for the full game. Caldwell has more talent but is half cracked and can either be man of the match or give away 5 penalties. For what Ulster want him for i.e 3rd/4th choice lock Stevenson is the better man.

So Bath are replacing one lunatic (Grewcock) with another :pac:

Bath are bringing in Dave Attwood too from Gloucester. Attwood and Caldwell will certainly be a hotheaded second row pairing!

Ulster 6 Scarlets 6

Two penalties. Evened up by Priestland

Penalty try for Scarlets.

From an Irish point of view; Wallace and Court haven't been good so far. Trimble very quiet but running some good support lines.

16-15 now too the Scarlets. All from RP.

Ulster too win from here

Ulster blew that great chance. Terrible throw back to Pienaar.