Ulster V Stade Francais. Ravenhill, Dec 12. 13.35. SS2.

toomevara

Ulster:

Clinton Schifcofske, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Simon Danelli, Ian Humphreys, Isaac Boss, Tom Court, Nigel Brady, Declan Fitzpatrick, Ed O'Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, David Pollock, Chris Henry (capt).

Replacements: Andy Kyriacou, Bryan Young, Justin Fitzpatrick, Ryan Caldwell, Willie Faloon, Paul Marshall, Niall O'Connor, Jamie Smith

Stade Francais:

15 H Southwell, 14 O Phillips, 13 M Bastareaud, 12 G Messina, 11 M Gasnier, 10 L Beauxis, 9 J Dupuy; 1 R Roncero (capt), 2 B Kayser, 3 S Marconnet, 4 A Marchois, 5 T Palmer, 6 J Haskell, 7 A Burban, 8 P Pape.

Replacements: 16 D Szarzewski, 17 D Attoub, 18 R Slimani, 19 P Rabadan, 20 M Bergamasco, 21 N Oelschig, 22 G Bousses, 23 J Arias.

Fascinating game in prospect here. Just look at that Stade team...what a squad. Question is will the aristos of French rugby fancy a mucky afternoon being battered about in Ravenhill? On paper a straight up milk-run for Stade, but I've got a feeling deep in me cockles that the Ulstermen might just pull off an upset.

thomond2006

Ulster will need to show the form they showed against Munster in the ML last year to beat Stade.

It's going to be tough, Stade are really motivated to make the final this year.

Ulster will need a minor miracle to win this in my opinion.

Stade by 10+.

Digifriendly

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ulster will need to show the form they showed against Munster in the ML last year to beat Stade.

It's going to be tough, Stade are really motivated to make the final this year.

Ulster will need a minor miracle to win this in my opinion.

Stade by 10+.

Think you're a bit pessimistic on this one. Gloucester's hammering at Glasgow shows maybe Ulster's showing last week wasn't quite as bad as we thought and with Ferris back they might just front up better to Stade. Will miss BJ Botha though. Depends on which Stade team turns up. I take Ulster by a whisker with a full house behind them.

TitoPuente

I'd agree with Digifriendly... I don't think it's too clear cut. A hard one to call. Really depends on which Ulster team show up. If they play as well we know they can, they could put Stade away.

thomond2006

Digifriendly wrote: »

Think you're a bit pessimistic on this one. Gloucester's hammering at Glasgow shows maybe Ulster's showing last week wasn't quite as bad as we thought and with Ferris back they might just front up better to Stade. Will miss BJ Botha though. Depends on which Stade team turns up. I take Ulster by a whisker with a full house behind them.

I'm not saying that Ulster are bad, my real point is Stade are excellent.

Gloucester have been awful this season so you can't compare those two to be honest.

I just can't see Ulster pulling it off, I hope I'm wrong though.

toomevara

Stade have been stuttering in the French League this year. I genuinely think they're vulnerable today, a bit 'Osprey-ish' I think, oodles of individual talent but definitely less than the sum of their parts.

dreamer_ire

Getting ready to head to this match and I have a good feeling that the Ulster men may get a result today.

Weather is good for the game so here's hoping there for the second Irish win this weekend (and I wouldn't mind if it was only by a point!).

[Jackass]

Heart sais Ulster, head says Stade might hammer them..

Stade are blowing hot and cold in the top14. It really depends on what team turns up. They are the embodiment of French rugby; at times they could tear you apart and the next time look like headless chickens. It doesnt help that they fired their coach mid-season as well. I'll concede that they are starting to find some form and consistency.

Ian_K

Ulster by 2-5 points

PhatPiggins

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm not saying that Ulster are bad, my real point is Stade are excellent.

Gloucester have been awful this season so you can't compare those two to be honest.

I just can't see Ulster pulling it off, I hope I'm wrong though.

Stade are'nt excellent by any stretch of the imagination. I dont know what you re basing that on.

Ulster without Wallace are an average ML team, hard one to call.

chupacabra

Anyone watching the build up on sky? Did you see the cat! Climbing the stairs of Cardiff stadium behind Scott Quinell. Must be a pretty die hard fan if he is already taking his seat a full 2 hours before kick off. :pac:

crisco10

Great try there. iHumph involved twice....

10-3 Ulster...

cruiserweight

Ulster just scored a good try, bad clearance from Stade straight down the throat of Humphries and Ulster break down the wing to score. 10-3 to Ulster with 21 minutes gone

Stev_o

I really would like to see Humphreys and Hencry get capped sooner rather then later.

toomevara

Humphries having a lovely game. So far so good from the Ulster boys, beautifully worked try and they're really needling Stade. Roncero's on the verge of loosing the plot. If they get get into the sheds ahead at HT, well who knows....Superb support from the Ravenhill crowd too.

crisco10

If you see the try again, it was all made by an ulster man taking out a tackler at the start of the play. Watch it again, when ian humphries has just caught the kick, someone just blocks the Stade man allowing humphries to draw in the outside man and release Danielli. smart rugby.

13-6 ulster after exchange of pens..

Stev_o

Great to see Kidney up at Ravenhill watching the game.

toomevara

crisco10 wrote: »

i. smart rugby.

Spot on, sums up this Ulster performance thus far..apart from the penalty count.

cruiserweight

Nice run from Humphries from behind his own line, demonstrates the confidence that he and the Ulster team seem to have at the moment

sock puppet

I love watching Ulster when on form. Great game from them so far.

crisco10

Beautiful end to the half from an ulster point of view. Shocking crooked throw in a lovely attacking position from a Stade point of view. And Stade have 15 minutes to think about it!

chupacabra

Great first half from Ulster. If they can score first in the second half then Stade will find it very hard to claw back.

ironingbored

What was the afters about there when the whistle blew?

Stade have a habit of getting nervy.

Let's hope they start to lose it!

toomevara

ironingbored wrote: »

What was the afters about there when the whistle blew?

Effectively Stade threw their toys out of the pram because they buggered up a line-out. Perfect end to the half from an Ulster perspective.

crisco10

Dupuy's turn to throw the toys. yellow card for his trouble...

toomevara

Yellow card DuPuy..oh dear...bad to worse for Stade....

crisco10

toomevara wrote: »

Yellow card DuPuy..oh dear...bad to worse for Stade....

And humprhies adds a good 3 pointer.

toomevara

Fabulous try Ulster!

crisco10

lovely try!!!

length of the field from ulster. Ferris what pace!

sneem-man

Great Try:)

ironingbored

TRY!!!!! ULSTER Brilliant!

cruiserweight

chupacabra wrote: »

Great first half from Ulster. If they can score first in the second half then Stade will find it very hard to claw back.

There you go, nice try from their own 22, nice hand off from Ferris

Stev_o

Lovely stuff, Ulster be rewarded for their positive play.

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ulster will need to show the form they showed against Munster in the ML last year to beat Stade.

It's going to be tough, Stade are really motivated to make the final this year.

Ulster will need a minor miracle to win this in my opinion.

Stade by 10+.

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm not saying that Ulster are bad, my real point is Stade are excellent.

Gloucester have been awful this season so you can't compare those two to be honest.

I just can't see Ulster pulling it off, I hope I'm wrong though.

fail

toomevara

Lovely heads up rugby from Ulster. Nice to see a team prepared to play what's in front of them rather than like pre-programmed automatons. Two lovely,lovely tries.

TitoPuente

This is a master class from Ulster. Stade really getting thumped here.

anonymous_joe

Some day for the boys oop North.

Stev_o

Dupuy to get a year off.

crisco10

For consistency across the competition, Dupuy could get 12 weeks for "making contact with the eye area"

Good try by Stade there.

toomevara

DuPuy! went for Ferris' eyes twice..Bizarre, how'd he get away with that?..don't think he'll be having anything to do with the return leg (at the very least) after that.

Aidric

Stev_o wrote: »

Dupuy to get a year off.

That looked pretty scummy, not once but twice it seemed. Lengthy ban to follow surely.
Good performance by Ulster btw.

sock puppet

Ulster really need to work on closing out games. They rarely if ever seem to score in the last quarter or even the second half for that matter.

Aidric

Jaysus, Justin Fitzpatrick. I thought he was dead!

bleg

Dupuy. Went for the eyes twice. Lined up for a punch and went for the gouge. Coward.

gcgirl

whats the score ?

This Ulster team are really connecting at the moment. Its very much a team and not a group of individuals.

Very impressive result. Hopefully keep ploughing through them!

So important to prevent Stade getting Bonus point too

toomevara

gcgirl wrote: »

whats the score ?

23-13 Ulster FT

Brilliant result for Ulster, Stade leave empty handed and DuPuys in a world of hurt....Return leg's going to be mighty interesting.

23-13 Final Score

Clareman

Fair play to the Ulstermen, great result for them

gcgirl

nice one Ulster