Ulster V Edinburgh. Fri 14th, Ravenhill. KO 20:00. SS1.

toomevara

Ulster

J Smith; A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, S Danielli; I Humphreys, I Boss; T Court, N Brady, BJ Botha; D Tuohy, E O'Donoghue; S Ferris, D Pollock, C Henry (capt).
Replacements: A Kyriacou, B Young, D Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, TJ Anderson, C Willis, N O'Connor, T Nagusa.

Edinburgh

C Paterson (capt), J Thompson, B Cairns, J Houston, T Visser, P Godman, G Laidlaw, A Jacobsen, R Ford, D Young, S MacLeod, J Hamilton, S Newlands, A MacDonald, R Grant
Replacements: A Kelly, K Traynor, G Cross, C Hamilton, D Callam, R Samson, N De Luca, M Robertson.

Interesting clash in prospect here. Pollock starts for Falloon who's carrying a shoulder injury. Cave in for Whitten at centre. Going to be tight tough game.

Trojan

Sweeet! Live rugby..... I've been getting withdrawal symptoms and even had to turn to NFL to help stave it off.

thomond2006

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Heineken_Cup_pool_stage

Remaining fixtures:

Ulster vs Edinburgh
Stade F vs Bath

Edinburgh v Stade F
Bath vs Ulster

Ulster have still got a chance of winning the group in my opinion. They will at least 9 points from the remaining two games. Stade still have to travel to Edinburgh in the last round. Even if the Scots are out, they'll still be up for that match.

Bath are terrible, Stade should get a BP win in that game. Ulster will have to hope that Edinburgh beat Stade and deny them a losing BP.

If Ulster don't qualify from this group, they will look back in dismay at that game in Murrayfield where they had the game won but blew it in the end, conceding 11 points in the last fifteen minutes. That was their big chance.

I hope Ulster come through. If they end up in the Amlin Cup, they are in with a real shout of winning it.

Looking forward to seeing how Pollock plays.

smog

Should be a great game ... love the HC weekends

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Heineken_Cup_pool_stage

Remaining fixtures:

Ulster vs Edinburgh
Stade F vs Bath

Edinburgh v Stade F
Bath vs Ulster

Ulster have still got a chance of winning the group in my opinion. They will at least 9 points from the remaining two games. Stade still have to travel to Edinburgh in the last round. Even if the Scots are out, they'll still be up for that match.

Bath are terrible, Stade should get a BP win in that game. Ulster will have to hope that Edinburgh beat Stade and deny them a losing BP.

If Ulster don't qualify from this group, they will look back in dismay at that game in Murrayfield where they had the game won but blew it in the end, conceding 11 points in the last fifteen minutes. That was their big chance.

I hope Ulster come through. If they end up in the Amlin Cup, they are in with a real shout of winning it.
Looking forward to seeing how Pollock plays.

How do they end up in the Amlin Cup?

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

How do they end up in the Amlin Cup?

The best two runners up qualify for the Heineken Cup knockout stages.

The 3rd, 4th and 5th best runners up qualify for the Amlin Challenge Cup knockout stages.

If Ulster win their remaining two games, they are certain to reach at least the Amlin. They'll need other results to go their way and BPs to stay in the Heineken Cup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_European_Challenge_Cup

Beginning with this season's competition, only the pool winners will advance to the knockout stage. They will be joined by three clubs from the 2009–10 Heineken Cup, specifically the third- through fifth-highest ranking teams that finished second in their pool (the top two second-place teams enter the Heineken Cup knockout stage).

Is this on "real" sky sports 1 or the stupid red button?

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

The best two runners up qualify for the Heineken Cup knockout stages.

The 3rd, 4th and 5th best runners up qualify for the Amlin Challenge Cup knockout stages.

If Ulster win their remaining two games, they are certain to reach at least the Amlin. They'll need other results to go their way and BPs to stay in the Heineken Cup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_European_Challenge_Cup

I didn't realise that but wouldn't be in favour of it, the winner of the Challenge Cup got a chance in the H/C the following year, that place could now go to someone who was already in the H/C. Tough on the likes of Connacht.

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

I didn't realise that but wouldn't be in favour of it, the winner of the Challenge Cup got a chance in the H/C the following year, that place could now go to someone who was already in the H/C. Tough on the likes of Connacht.

It is.

The ERC want to keep the Heineken Cup as competitive as possible because that's where all the money is. It gives more teams (e.g. Ulster) something to play for if HEC progression is impossible/is a long shot.

I don't think they give two f*cks about the Challenge Cup.

danthefan

Would Ulster give two ****s about the Challenge Cup? One of Leicester/Clermont/Ospreys is going to end up in the Challenge Cup, would be hard for them to take it seriously you'd have to think.

thomond2006

danthefan wrote: »

Would Ulster give two ****s about the Challenge Cup? One of Leicester/Clermont/Ospreys is going to end up in the Challenge Cup, would be hard for them to take it seriously you'd have to think.

You don't go anywhere if you finish 3rd place in the pool, if that's what you're suggesting dan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Heineken_Cup_pool_stage

After the two second-place teams advancing to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals are determined, the next three second-place finishers will parachute into the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup. These teams will be the 6th through 8th seeds in the Challenge Cup knockout phase, and will play their quarter-finals away.

I think Ulster will give the ECC a good go should they end up there. It's a competition they would have a real chance of winning. They would only be 3 victories away from a first trophy in a few seasons. It would be something other than end of season ML games for players to look forward too.

In a way, this system actually benefits the ECC as better quality teams are involved in the business end of the tournament.

anonymous_joe

danthefan wrote: »

Would Ulster give two ****s about the Challenge Cup? One of Leicester/Clermont/Ospreys is going to end up in the Challenge Cup, would be hard for them to take it seriously you'd have to think.

Depends on how their ML tilt is going.

If they've no chance of the ML finals, then it's a winnable trophy.

danthefan

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Depends on how their ML tilt is going.

If they've no chance of the ML finals, then it's a winnable trophy.

Say Leinster don't win the HEC group and end up in the Challenge Cup, I would have to say I won't give a damn how we do in it.

anonymous_joe

danthefan wrote: »

Say Leinster don't win the HEC group and end up in the Challenge Cup, I would have to say I won't give a damn how we do in it.

Me too. But we've been spoiled the last two seasons.

thomond2006

Looking at the tables and the remaining fixtures, imo these are the likely "second place" qualifiers:

HEC
Leinster / London Irish
One of Leicester, Clermont, Ospreys

Amlin
Northampton Saints
Sale Sharks / Cardiff
Ulster / Edinburgh

Trojan

Silverware is still silverware. It gets you better sponsorship deals (amongst other things), so it'd be crazy not to try win it if you end up in that position.

Bukman13

danthefan wrote: »

Would Ulster give two ****s about the Challenge Cup? One of Leicester/Clermont/Ospreys is going to end up in the Challenge Cup, would be hard for them to take it seriously you'd have to think.

danthefan wrote: »

Say Leinster don't win the HEC group and end up in the Challenge Cup, I would have to say I won't give a damn how we do in it.

There is plenty of incentive for Ulster try and win it.

Say... Ulster get knocked out and parachute into the Amlin, it could give them a great oppourtunity to increase their seeding for next year.

They currently have 7pts Ranking points spread over 4 years, of which 2 of those pts will be wiped off at the end of the season.

If they manange to win the Amlin cup they will recieve 3pts (2nd place in their Heineken Cup pool) + 1pt (quarter final) + 1pt (semi final) + 1pt (Final) + 2pts (champions). Thus increasing their total ranking points to 13pts.

Possibly making them 2nd seeds for next years Heineken cup, therefore in theory an easier group.

crisco10

I see iHUmph found the razor!

Ulster playing into very strong wind in first half.

GiftofGab

Whats up with Bowe? Is he injuried? How long is he out for?

gavkm27

Try Cave,he is playing a blinder!

crisco10

GiftofGab wrote: »

Whats up with Bowe? Is he injuried? How long is he out for?

He plays for the Ospreys!!!

TRY ULSTER!!

Another length of the pitch try...Cave finishes off after Boss twice comes up with big plays to set it up!

gcgirl

GiftofGab wrote: »

Whats up with Bowe? Is he injuried? How long is he out for?

hello is there anybody in there!!lol
Tommy left Ulster ages ago!!

crisco10

Some stat just there.


At half time

Edinburgh have made 100 tackles. Ulster 21.

6-5 to Edinburgh at the halftime.

Some ridiculously shaped kicks going on in that wind!

PhatPiggins

Tom Court having a really good game,has improved out of sight this year

Would like to see him start a 6N's game

Stev_o

Boss showing why he should be starting at 9 for the 6N.

Goodluck2me

GiftofGab wrote: »

Whats up with Bowe? Is he injuried? How long is he out for?

LOL!

Great to see Cave get a try to mark off a great first half. Imagine Edinburgh with the wind made 49 tackles in 15 mins, v Ulsters 7! Great ball retention.

Dan Tuohy and O'Donoghue would be great additions to Ireland panel too for 6 nations. Nice to add a bit more competition to that area in particular.

Boss, distribution aside, having a cracker too. (in his defence conditions not idyllic)

PhatPiggins

Goodluck2me wrote: »

LOL!

Great to see Cave get a try to mark off a great first half. Imagine Edinburgh with the wind made 49 tackles in 15 mins, v Ulsters 7! Great ball retention.

Dan Tuohy and O'Donoghue would be great additions to Ireland panel too for 6 nations. Nice to add a bit more competition to that area in particular.

Boss, distribution aside, having a cracker too. (in his defence conditions not idyllic)

Distribution has always been his weakness though.

Juwwi

Wind looks like its picked up more for the 2nd half :D

Aidric

STFU Mark Robson, you absolute plum.

crisco10

Aidric wrote: »

STFU Mark Robson, you absolute plum.

I dont care about Robinson Crusoe!

And if he talks about the training session on tuesday once more...i will go spare!

crisco10

Try Ulster!

Crazy good show and go from Boss there!

15-6 to Ulster

Stev_o

Stev_o wrote: »

Boss showing why he should be starting at 9 for the 6N.

Bump

crisco10

Stev_o wrote: »

Bump

Fairly shocking pass off front font ball there though...

laugh

What was Ferris sent off for?

crisco10

laugh wrote: »

What was Ferris sent off for?

Seemed to be for not realeasing the man after the tackle...

Try Edinburgh. Game on.

Goodluck2me

laugh wrote: »

What was Ferris sent off for?

Sin binned for not releasing the tackler i.e. slowing it down, as far as I could see anyway.

Boss is very similar to O'Leary unfortuntely so won't bench for him, but might replace him, however unlikely that may seem.

thomond2006

score/time update?

crisco10

thomond2006 wrote: »

score/time update?

15-13 after 65....

sickpuppy

18- 13 now

cgf

About to be 21-13

cgf

and FT

irishbucsfan

Ulster were excellent in the first half. Really brilliant performance from the pack and Boss

Goodluck2me

Great to see a strong Ulster side, to widen the scope of rugby. If each province hits a purple patch every few years it should really expand the game in this country.
If only Connacht could give the amlin a serious bash that's a serious sleeping giant, dying for a bit of success to kick things on.

You just have to look at Donnybrook 4-5 years ago and the crowds they have no, its unfathomable what a bit of creative marketing and on-field heroics can do.

Juwwi

Thank god they took the penaly at the end for -7 backers.:D

Good performance by ulster very proffesional all round.

Bukman13

What chances would you guys give Ulster of topping the pool?

I think it's unlikely, however they have the tiebreaker over Stade so if they finish level on points Ulster will get the nod.

To have any chance i think they will need 5pts at the Rec, I think that asking a bit much but you just never know.

Brewster

Outstanding performance by Ulster against a strong Edinburgh team. The whole pack 1-8 were outstanding, Chris Henry, Ferris, Court. Thought Dan Tuohy was outstanding, very mobile out in the loose, really looked a player and could definitely do a job for Ireland.

Thought Boss was outstanding, marshalled his pack very well and broke when he had to. Great little dummy for his try. Its hard to see him being in 6 Nations team, but he definitely deserves his shot in squad ahead of Stringer. His pass is better than it used to be.

Brian McLaughlin is really building something special there. He is not going to do a Matt Williams and jump ship. He is there for the long hall and is an ideal coach to bring on Henry, Court et al

I don't think Ulster can qualify, but Stade will certainly get a game in Edinburgh provided they dont get a 5 point win tomorrow then Ulster have a faint change.

Brewster

Bukman13 wrote: »

What chances would you guys give Ulster of topping the pool?

I think it's unlikely, however they have the tiebreaker over Stade so if they finish level on points Ulster will get the nod.

To have any chance i think they will need 5pts at the Rec, I think that asking a bit much but you just never know.

Sky lads reckoned if Stade get 5 points tomorrow they are qualified? But if Ulster get 5 at REC and Stade get nothing in Edinburgh it would be 18 points each? Who qaulifies?

Bukman13

Brewster wrote: »

Sky lads reckoned if Stade get 5 points tomorrow they are qualified? But if Ulster get 5 at REC and Stade get nothing in Edinburgh it would be 18 points each? Who qaulifies?

If both teams finish level on points (i.e 18)... Ulster will go through.

Head-to-head

Match points - both team picked up 4 points against each other.

Tries Scored - Ulster 3 to Stade 2.

They do not use point difference between both teams untill after tries are counted.

Edit: Dam Wikipedia. it said Stade only scored 1 try at home when in facct they scored 2. So in that case stade will go through on Points difference.

Brewster

Bukman13 wrote: »

If both teams finish level on points (i.e 18)... Ulster will go through.

Head-to-head

Match points - both team picked up 4 points against each other.

Tries Scored - Ulster 3 to Stade 2.

They do not use point difference between both teams untill after tries are counted.

Is it not 3 tries each? Stade got two at home and one in Belfast I think? Then its points difference so Stade win by 3 points?

Yeah score was 23-13 in Belfast so 13 points has to include a try...

Bukman13

Brewster wrote: »

Is it not 3 tries each? Stade got two at home and one in Belfast I think? Then its points difference so Stade win by 3 points?

Yeah score was 23-13 in Belfast so 13 points has to include a try...

Yea, your right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Heineken_Cup_pool_stage#Pool_4

Shows only 1 try for Stade.

Brewster

Bukman13 wrote: »

Yea, your right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Heineken_Cup_pool_stage#Pool_4

Shows only 1 try for Stade.

A one point win for Stade tomorrow and a loss by less than 7 next week and they are home and dry.

Ulster can look to next season with confidence. As someone said earlier in thread, they must try and qualify for Amlin and get up seedings ladder