Ulster vs Connacht

d-gal

Well since this forum has been overthrown with a load of sh1te about everything except an actual rugby match i thought I would bring a bit of normality back to the forum. The idiots of the other threads please stay there.

Probably the most important magners league game for Irish rugby has arrived with Ulster vs Connacht.

The teams are as followed:

Connacht .... Ulster
1. Wilkinson .... 1 Justin Fitzpatrick
2. Cronin .... 2 Rory Best (Capt)
3. Morris .... 3 Brendan Botha
4. McCarthy .... 4 Ed O’Donoghue
5. Farley .... 5 Ryan Caldwell
6. Ofisa .... 6 Stephen Ferris
7. O'Connor .... 7 David Pollock
8. Rigney .... 8 Robbie Diack
9. Murphy .... 9 Cillian Willis
10. Keatley .... 10 Ian Humphreys
11. Nathan .... 11 Mark McCrea
12. Matthews .... 12 Paddy Wallace
13. Deane .... 13 Darren Cave
14. Carr .... 14 Timoci Nagusa
15. Duffy (Capt) .... 15 Bryn Cunningham
16 Flavin .... 16 Brady
17. Loughney .... 17 Court
18. Browne .... 18 McCullough
19. Swift .... 19 Dawson
20. Campbell .... 20 Boss
21. Donnelly .... 21 Steinmetz
22. Hearty .... 22 Danielli

Crash

Battle of the 10's should be interesting. Irritating that this is on at the same time as the Munster game (or during it rather) - would have liked the opportunity to see both.

anonymous_joe

That Ulster side is not half bad. Really makes you wonder why they're doing so badly at the moment.

Connacht have some youthful talent, but probably not enough against that Ulster side.

cmcsoft

I think Connacht will give them a fright but it's hard to see Ulster not winning with the experience in their side and what they have to come off the bench

Podge_irl

It's somewhat amusing that Humphreys and Murphy came from playing together at Leicester and Willis and Keatley came from Leinster (Leinster A mostly) and they're now all facing their former half-back partners for two different teams.

Zzippy

Would love nothing better than to get one over on Ulster, but I'm afraid I don't see that happening, especially with Muldoon missing and Nathan playing on the wing, don't rate him at all. Muldoon is supposedly out until the Munster game at least, although they should win the 2 Rovigo games easily.
To have any chance we will need Keatley to have a big game and not miss any kicks. Last season we had several penalty chances in the first half and missed most of them - another reason I don't like Nathan!

Robbo

Zzippy wrote: »

Would love nothing better than to get one over on Ulster, but I'm afraid I don't see that happening, especially with Muldoon missing and Nathan playing on the wing, don't rate him at all. Muldoon is supposedly out until the Munster game at least, although they should win the 2 Rovigo games easily.

I'm coming around to the idea that Muldoon as captain is a liability. He's been prone to getting too worked up and giving away needless penalties; he must have been carded 4 times already this season.

To have any chance we will need Keatley to have a big game and not miss any kicks. Last season we had several penalty chances in the first half and missed most of them - another reason I don't like Nathan!

Wasn't it Dunne who missed 4 kicks?

Rigel

Would also love to see Connacht do it to keep tension in the league. This has the makings of a great derby game and hopefully Connacht can repeat the passion and pride they showed against Leinster. Surprised that this is Duffy's first time as captain, solid as a rock and well deserved.

Zzippy

Robbo wrote: »

I'm coming around to the idea that Muldoon as captain is a liability. He's been prone to getting too worked up and giving away needless penalties; he must have been carded 4 times already this season.

Agreed, but he is a class backrow. Maybe leave Duffy captain and let Muldoon get on with playing.

Wasn't it Dunne who missed 4 kicks?

Couldn't remember who missed the first few, but Nathan/Dunne came on for the second half and missed a few more IIRC, game was gone by then anyway

Dave Joyce

Connacht .... Ulster
1. Wilkinson .... 1 Justin Fitzpatrick
2. Cronin .... 2 Rory Best (Capt)
3. Morris .... 3 Brendan Botha
4. McCarthy .... 4 Ed O’Donoghue
5. Farley .... 5 Ryan Caldwell
6. Ofisa .... 6 Stephen Ferris
7. O'Connor .... 7 David Pollock
8. Rigney .... 8 Robbie Diack
9. Murphy .... 9 Cillian Willis
10. Keatley .... 10 Ian Humphreys
11. Nathan .... 11 Mark McCrea
12. Matthews .... 12 Paddy Wallace
13. Deane .... 13 Darren Cave
14. Carr .... 14 Timoci Nagusa
15. Duffy (Capt) .... 15 Bryn Cunningham
16 Flavin .... 16 Brady
17. Loughney .... 17 Court
18. Browne .... 18 McCullough
19. Swift .... 19 Dawson
20. Campbell .... 20 Boss
21. Donnelly .... 21 Steinmetz
22. Hearty .... 22 Danielli

Wow, there are some MAJOR positional changes for Connacht which I hope come off. Didn't think Nathan played on the wing and I don't like the idea of Fionn Carr on the wing and Gavin Duffy at full back, I thought he was effective at centre.

Rigel

Didn't Duffy play full back, and pretty effectively too, against Munster on that horrible rainy night at the sportsgrounds back in March.

Zzippy

Dave Joyce wrote: »

Wow, there are some MAJOR positional changes for Connacht which I hope come off. Didn't think Nathan played on the wing and I don't like the idea of Fionn Carr on the wing and Gavin Duffy at full back, I thought he was effective at centre.

Duffy has played a good number of times at FB, did ok, but I think he is more effective at centre. Unfortunately Bibo, Roberts and the new signing Ta'auso are all injured, so needs must. Just hope Nathan isn't a disaster on the wing...

[Jackass]

Regretably can't see anything other than an Ulster win here. They just have too much fire power over the pitch. Probably the most underperforming team of the Magners League over the past couple of seasons, but have 3 or 4 more gears to find if they need it.

Most interesting to see will be Keatley and how he approaches this game. If Connacht front 5 give Ulster a good game, Keatley could win this game for Connacht single handedly. The biggest test for the young man to date.

Dave Joyce

but I think he is more effective at centre

Yea, Zzippy, I agree with ya, and I definately think that Carr was also more effective at full back. He had regular runs at opposition which lifted everyone's confidence and had the other team under pressure.

the new signing Ta'auso are all injured,

WTF???!!! Don't think he has even played yet and he's injured already?? Did he come over with an injury or did it happen in training??

Robbo

Dave Joyce wrote: »

WTF???!!! Don't think he has even played yet and he's injured already?? Did he come over with an injury or did it happen in training??

He broke his arm when he was still in NZ. Looks like he will be fit for the Munster game but it would be nice if he could even get some game time in either of the Rovigo games.

Anyone else going to get gee-eyed in O'Connell's or Garvey's watching this tonight?

Zzippy

Robbo wrote: »

He broke his arm when he was still in NZ. Looks like he will be fit for the Munster game but it would be nice if he could even get some game time in either of the Rovigo games.

Anyone else going to get gee-eyed in O'Connell's or Garvey's watching this tonight?

He broke his arm on 25th September, something like that, and according to the Advertiser is targeting the Munster game for his first appearance. Rovigo probably too soon, the last thing we want is for him to break it again and miss the season!
O'Connell's sounds good... will have to see whose arm can be twisted!

Zzippy

Talk about a rude awakening. Outclassed, outcompeted, and outrun. Some farcical stuff from Connacht tonight. WTF was Duffy doing going backwards in his 22 with Danieli running at him with ball in hand?
Two bad mistakes from Keatley for the 1st 2 tries, although I thought he should have had a penalty for a dangerous tackle in the lead up to the 2nd. If you lift a guy up in the air you're not supposed to drive him down into the ground too. Kicked well though. Some boorish behaviour from Ulster fans jeering his kicking routine.
Thought the ref was poor in 1st half, didn't seem to know there is a rule about forward passes. Penalised Ulster 4 times in the scrum but no talking to, let alone yellow cards.
Minor irritations really, Ulster were just too good. Ian Humphreys was outstanding, both with placed ball and out of hand. 100% kicking record, some from out by the touchline in windy conditions. Their pack fronted up big time and won the battle in the loose, gave the backs a great platform. Ulster up to 4th I think in the ML, some turnaround in their season.

dreamer_ire

Zzippy wrote: »

Ulster were just too good. Ian Humphreys was outstanding, both with placed ball and out of hand. 100% kicking record, some from out by the touchline in windy conditions.

Felt sorry for Connaught tonight, they gave a very poor account of themselves. That said I'm pleased Humphries got the start and put in a good performance. Some of his conversions were superb kicking. If he can continue this form and build on it it could be very good news for Irish rugby

Crash

Ulsters defensive coach needs a smack around the place. that line looked like a j2 defense.

Serenity Now!

Going Forward wrote: »

Ulsters defensive coach needs a smack around the place. that line looked like a j2 defense.

He has only been there a couple of weeks.

Crash

d'ya know, this is when i realise i've been drinking. I was utterly convinced that when I posted that it read "connachts defensive coach". Apologies.

dreamer_ire

Going Forward wrote: »

d'ya know, this is when i realise i've been drinking. I was utterly convinced that when I posted that it read "connachts defensive coach". Apologies.

I was trying to figure out what I'd missed tonight lol

Serenity Now!

Zzippy wrote: »

Talk about a rude awakening. Outclassed, outcompeted, and outrun. Some farcical stuff from Connacht tonight. WTF was Duffy doing going backwards in his 22 with Danieli running at him with ball in hand?
Two bad mistakes from Keatley for the 1st 2 tries, although I thought he should have had a penalty for a dangerous tackle in the lead up to the 2nd. If you lift a guy up in the air you're not supposed to drive him down into the ground too. Kicked well though. Some boorish behaviour from Ulster fans jeering his kicking routine

Keatley was ordinary at best. The tackle you mention: he wasn't driven to ground.

Zzippy wrote: »

Thought the ref was poor in 1st half, didn't seem to know there is a rule about forward passes. Penalised Ulster 4 times in the scrum but no talking to, let alone yellow cards

I thought Fitz was excellent. Missed one crossing but at that stage, Connacht were so far behind, what was the point? They're a very poor side away from home. One or two injuries and it all crumbles for them.
Ulster looking better now since they actually began being coached some defensive patterns and skills.

I did laugh though when commentator on Setanta said that the last time Connacht won here (Ravenhill) was the day that Clark Gable died!!!!