Leinster v Ulster, St. Stephen's Day, 1730.

danthefan

Leinster team:

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Shaun Berne
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: John Fogarty
3: Stan Wright
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Malcolm O'Kelly
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Bernard Jackman
17: Mike Ross
18: Nathan Hines / Devin Toner
19: Stephen Keogh
20: Paul O'Donohoe
21: Fergus McFadden
22: Girvan Dempsey

thomond2006

ULSTER TEAM

(15-9)Jamie Smith, Timoci Nagusa, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Simon Danelli, Niall O'Connor, Isaac Boss

(1-8) Bryan Young, Nigel Brady, BJ Botha, Ed O'Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, David Pollock, TJ Anderson, Chris Henry (Capt)

Replacements

(16-22) Andy Kyriacou, Declan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Caldwell, Willie Faloon, Cillian Willis, Ian Humphreys, Jonny Shiells

Sangre

Full strength team from Leisnter. They clearly wanted this derby badly. Ulster will be doing very well to overturn Leinster.

danthefan

Sangre wrote: »

Full strength team from Leisnter. They clearly wanted this derby badly. Ulster will be doing very well to overturn Leinster.

Looking at the Ulster team I really can't see how they can possibly win.

Sangre

Sangre wrote: »

Full strength team from Leisnter. They clearly wanted this derby badly. Ulster will be doing very well to overturn Leinster.

Wouldn't be so sure of that Sangre. Ulster are playing fine team rugby at the moment. They may not have the star power of Leinster, but they are a tight group of players, and there's a whole lot of things going right for them at the moment!

I still fancy Leinster, but it wont be easy!

Edit: Just actually saw the Ulster teamsheet there. Why no iHumph starting? Bit crazy, he's been incredible recently. Perhaps this will be a Leinster stroll!

2040

Niall O'Connor. :eek:

Sangre

Deleted User wrote: »

Wouldn't be so sure of that Sangre. Ulster are playing fine team rugby at the moment. They may not have the star power of Leinster, but they are a tight group of players, and there's a whole lot of things going right for them at the moment!

I still fancy Leinster, but it wont be easy!

Edit: Just actually saw the Ulster teamsheet there. Why no iHumph starting? Bit crazy, he's been incredible recently. Perhaps this will be a Leinster stroll!

I don't mean to sound dismissive of Ulster. I know Ulster are playing well (haven't been watching much non-Leinster ML this year) but so are Leinster. Throw in a full strength team and a full house in RDS and any team would be doing well to overturn Leinster.

Paddypower have Leinster as 1/9 favourites.

chris d

bugger off leinster.

is the ulster team out yet?

irishbucsfan

Sangre wrote: »

I don't mean to sound dismissive of Ulster. I know Ulster are playing well (haven't been watching much non-Leinster ML this year) but so are Leinster. Throw in a full strength team and a full house in RDS and any team would be doing well to overturn Leinster.

Paddypower have Leinster as 1/9 favourites.

A full strength Ulster team would push Leinster a lot closer than the Munster team did earlier this season.

Ulster have been very good this season, they've really shown promise. They're not as good as Leinster but they're good. No reason they couldn't beat Leinster on their day.

That said, 1/9 is a fair reflection of this weakened Ulster team's chances on Saturday.

danthefan

People seem to just forget the bad games Ulster have had this season, like losing to Embra in the HEC, hammered at home by Glasgow, hammered in Thomond, hammered by Stade away. There's some progress but they're not as far along as some people think imo.

sock puppet

danthefan wrote: »

People seem to just forget the bad games Ulster have had this season, like losing to Embra in the HEC, hammered at home by Glasgow, hammered in Thomond, hammered by Stade away. There's some progress but they're not as far along as some people think imo.

I agree. I'd hoped they could push for a top 4 ML spot this year but it looks unlikely at this stage. The best they can hope for is a good run in the Challenge Cup.

Leinster for a comfortable win.

chupacabra

Keep an eye on Jamie Smith, this guy can really move. Reminds me of Fitzgerald in his counter attack play.

spank_inferno

Anyone else feel the prices were a bit steep for this game?

I was looking at ticketmaster for 2 adults north/south stand came to €66 for the two of us?

Does this not seem a bit steep?
I was considering it as some st stephens day fun but not at that price.



......... anyway, leinster to win!

Digifriendly

sock puppet wrote: »

I agree. I'd hoped they could push for a top 4 ML spot this year but it looks unlikely at this stage. The best they can hope for is a good run in the Challenge Cup.

Leinster for a comfortable win.

Agree. Some progress from last season -they didn't win one game against Welsh opposition then, already have 2 under their belts as well as first win over Leinster in quite some time. However there's still a long way to go to reach the consistency of Leinster and Munster. IMO big weakness is 2nd row at present meaning line out is poor. Still have doubts about Out Half and not sure that the coach has worked out his best centre pairing yet. Pluses are form of back row and solid front row as well as real pace on the wings.

LightningBolt

spank_inferno wrote: »

Anyone else feel the prices were a bit steep for this game?

I was looking at ticketmaster for 2 adults north/south stand came to €66 for the two of us?

Does this not seem a bit steep?
I was considering it as some st stephens day fun but not at that price.



......... anyway, leinster to win!

I tried to pick up a couple of tickets there but they're not available according to the Ticketmaster site.

anonymous_joe

Half five? Bollocks.

copacetic

spank_inferno wrote: »

Anyone else feel the prices were a bit steep for this game?

I was looking at ticketmaster for 2 adults north/south stand came to €66 for the two of us?

Does this not seem a bit steep?
I was considering it as some st stephens day fun but not at that price.



......... anyway, leinster to win!

30 is standard enough when they know it will be a sellout.

Of course it may not have been as popular if people had known how the teams would end up. I expected them both to rest a few, not one team to rest no-one and the other to rest almost everyone.

Coriolanus

Is it only Setanta that are showing this? The bro is sick with pneumonia so we have to stay in for Xmas rather than watching it in the pub, don't have sports on the box right now so need to know what to order, thanks!

Digifriendly

Nevore wrote: »

Is it only Setanta that are showing this? The bro is sick with pneumonia so we have to stay in for Xmas rather than watching it in the pub, don't have sports on the box right now so need to know what to order, thanks!

Setanta only i'm afraid although it is FTA and therefore available for all those with Sky Digital whether they subscribe or not.

copacetic

Nevore wrote: »

Is it only Setanta that are showing this? The bro is sick with pneumonia so we have to stay in for Xmas rather than watching it in the pub, don't have sports on the box right now so need to know what to order, thanks!

believe so, but also believe they are free all day 25th and 26th.

Coriolanus

O.o Sweet as. That's great!

anonymous_joe

I may well be bumping into more boardsies in Kielys if this one really is €30 a ticket, as is traditional at Xmas.

PeakOutput

woohoo dad got me tickets to this

first time to a match for both of us (yes band wagon jumpers but whatever)

started getting into it when i moved down to limerick for college(its hard not to down there) and my dads mates always have been so he wants to get in on it aswell i think

looking forward to it hope its a good game

Gelio

Should be interesting to see how SB does off the tee

Podge_irl

PeakOutput wrote: »

first time to a match for both of us (yes band wagon jumpers but whatever)

Everyone's gotta start somewhere.

durkadurka

Podge_irl wrote: »

Everyone's gotta start somewhere.

Enjoy, you might find yourself coming back more often. This is my first yr as a season ticket holder after being a 3 games a year merchant for years. Well worth the money in my book. Totally different to watching on tv.

Also doesn't hurt when you have the best backline in the history of the world!!!!! I suspect a bp win over weakened ulster today.

phog

PeakOutput wrote: »

woohoo dad got me tickets to this

first time to a match for both of us (yes band wagon jumpers but whatever)

No such thing, it's your choice on who, when and how you support a team, just be considerate to others. I hope you enjoy the game and get to as many as you possibly can, they're usually great to attend regardless of the results.

Sangre

Ulster haven't beaten Leinster at home since a 26-15 victory at Donnybrook in the Interprovincial Championship on 13 August 1999.

Blisterman

Have tickets sold out? Was thinking of heading to this today as my other plans fell through.

[Jackass]

PeakOutput wrote: »

woohoo dad got me tickets to this

first time to a match for both of us (yes band wagon jumpers but whatever)

started getting into it when i moved down to limerick for college(its hard not to down there) and my dads mates always have been so he wants to get in on it aswell i think

looking forward to it hope its a good game

Not at all, it's always great to see new fans coming out!!

Hope you enjoy the game and get hooked like the rest of us!!

Spore

Nice start for Leinster. Winning the peno inside their 22 from the kick off

Spore

Heaslip penalised for use of the knee in the ruck

Spore

passes aren't sticking for either team. Nagusa looking lively

Spore

Obstruction on Reddan. Leinster penalty, kickable but Berne going for the line

castie

if your going to drop a knee in a ruck youve got to at least go to the bin

Spore

Leinster penalty for offside. Berne right under the posts has a debate about kicking! Take the damn kick man!

Spore

3-0 to Leinster. Didn't see the knee in the ruck

Spore

Kearney unlucky not to catch his monster Garryown, Ulster penalty

Spore

Ref speaking to both captains. Lots of niggly stuff happening at the ruck

Spore

Ulster miss the penalty. Still 3-0

Spore

Kearney mixing the sublime with the silly. Great kick and chase, gets the ball on a blinding run then gives a crazy pass into Ulster hands. They chip ahead and nearly score. Ends with a Leinster penalty

Spore

Nice grubber from Nacewa. Lineout in Ulster 22

Spore

Free for all on the ground. Ref struggling to bring it under control. Needs to be a few cards...

chupacabra

Shocking decision by Clancy.

Spore

Yep Clancy has no control over the game

Spore

Nice break from Stan Wright! Nearlly a try but a poor offload yet again.

Spore

Lots of Christmas turkey on show from both sides. Leinster the more cutting in attack but still no try

Spore

Great from Danielli, scything run but a foot in touch at the last second before he passes to a greatful Cian Healy. Again the finishing is lacking from both teams

Spore

Cave off for Ulster.

Spore

Leinster backrow are all over the park making breaks, tackles and turnovers. The only difference between the teams IMO. Ulster really standing up to the Leinster backs

Spore

Stan Wrights' early gallop has taken its toll. He's off