Ulster v Ospreys, Ravenhill Tuesday 7.30pm

durkadurka

From Irish times


Refreshed Ulster looking for Ospreys win


Rugby - Team News: Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has made several changes to his starting line-up ahead of tomorrow night’s Magners League game against the Ospreys at Ravenhil (7.30pm).
In the pack Bryan Young starts at loose head in place of Declan Fitzpatrick, while Dan Tuohy pulls on the number five Jersey with Ryan Caldwell reverting to the bench. Captain Chris Henry starts as open side flanker, with Robbie Diack at number eight.
In the backs, Paddy Wallace starts at fullback, in place of Jamie Smith, with Ian Whitten partnering Darren Cave in the centre.
Ulster assistant coach Neil Doak is confident Ulster’s extended break since their defeat to Cardiff will provide better cover as players return from injury.
"With our last game against Cardiff providing a ten day window to recover and prepare for the Ospreys, it has given us the opportunity to get a few bodies back on board,” said Doak.
“We have to see how things work out with regards to fitness, but the aim is to push to win all the remaining games. We have two games at home and two away, so we have got to make sure we are ready to put in a performance in what is sure to be a very physical challenge tomorrow night.
"The Ospreys are on a mini-tour, they are out of the Heineken Cup, having narrowly lost to Biarritz on Saturday, so now they will be focused on getting a top four finish in the Magners League.
“We are expecting a high quality side to take the field tomorrow and we have to be ready to make our home advantage count. If we can get a few early points on the board, then we can settle into the game and play a bit of rugby," added Doak.
Ulster (v Ospreys): Bryan Young, Rory Best, BJ Botha, Ed O'Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry (Capt), Robbie Diack, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Simon Danielli, Niall O'Connor, Isaac Boss Replacements: Andi Kyriacou, Tom Court, Ryan Caldwell, David Pollock, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Nevin Spence
Ospreys: Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe, Sonny Parker, James Hook, Shane Williams, Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips, Ryan Bevington, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Ian Gough, Jonathan Thomas, Jerry Collins, Marty Holah, Ryan Jones (Capt). Replacements: Ed Shervington, Paul James, Alun Wyn Jones, Filo Tiatia, Jamie Nutbrown, Andrew Bishop, Nikki Walker


Incredibly strong ospreys team, 3 days after massive away trip to biarritz.
and Leinster away on Friday!

B0X

The Ospreys want their silverware so it'll be all about the Magners League now.

durkadurka

B0X wrote: »

The Ospreys want their silverware so it'll be all about the Magners League now.

Could be counter productive though. They could lose and then send a battered team down to leinster, who will play a load of fresh second stringers like mcfadden, big mal, toner, keogh, berne etc.

Risteard

That's a very strong Ospreys team. Even with all the conditioning that pro-players have, playing two games in 4 days is asking a bit much IMO, especially after a disappointing loss.

Zzippy

Strong Ospreys team, but its asking a lot of them to play 3 days after a HEC quarter final in France. Scheduling is ridiculous, they knew when they refixed this game that it would be right after the Biarritz game, and 3 days before playing away to Leinster. Ulster having 10 days to prepare is very unfair. If the reasoning behind it is to get the ML finished in time then why no date yet for the Connacht-Leinster game?

durkadurka

Ospreys fault, that's why they have a hearing next monday.

Should have played it in march but they wanted to give everyone a week off or something.

I do question the wisdom of playing the big guns again. If they lose tomorrow it will be a disastrous decision.

thomond2006

A 4 day turnaround for (I count) 12 players who started against Biarritz? They'll find it hard to get up for this one IMO.

They must be really desperate to win the ML or they might the first team against Leinster.

NOC ahead of Humphreys for Ulster is disappointing.

Shame this isn't on TV.

IMO the Ospreys need to win two games in Ireland in order to make a challenge.

durkadurka

thomond2006 wrote: »

A 4 day turnaround for (I count) 12 players who started against Biarritz? They'll find it hard to get up for this one IMO.

They must be really desperate to win the ML or they might the first team against Leinster.

NOC ahead of Humphreys for Ulster is disappointing.

Shame this isn't on TV.

IMO the Ospreys need to win two games in Ireland in order to make a challenge.

Add in the mental devastation they are feeling and the travelling etc. It sounds crazy to me. Plus, Leinster have just named a very strong squad for the game on Friday.
All the big guns except the injured BOD, Kearney and Sexton.
The word on Humphreys seems to be his tackling, or lack of...

PhatPiggins

thomond2006 wrote: »

A 4 day turnaround for (I count) 12 players who started against Biarritz? They'll find it hard to get up for this one IMO.

They must be really desperate to win the ML or they might the first team against Leinster.

NOC ahead of Humphreys for Ulster is disappointing.

Shame this isn't on TV.

IMO the Ospreys need to win two games in Ireland in order to make a challenge.

Good news friend, its on S4C and Sultana Ireland

thomond2006

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Good news friend, its on S4C and Sultana Ireland

Aye, I was looking at the ML Broadcast Schedule. Cheers for that.
Coverage starts at 7pm.

OP seemed a bit cluttered so:

Ulster Team:
(1-8) Bryan Young, Rory Best, BJ Botha, Ed O'Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry (Capt), Robbie Diack

(15-9) Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Simon Danielli, Niall O'Connor, Isaac Boss

Ulster Replacements:
(16-22) Andi Kyriacou, Tom Court, Ryan Caldwell, David Pollock, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Nevin Spence

I presume Wallace at fullback is an enforced selection. Is Jamie Smith injured?

dreamer_ire

thomond2006 wrote: »

I presume Wallace at fullback is an enforced selection. Is Jamie Smith injured?

Smith pulled up in the warm up before last week's game leading to a somewhat impromptu appearance of Danelli at FB. Looking forward to going to this game tomorrow, very curious to see how Ospreys play after the weekend. Ospreys not sure of a play off yet so I'm expecting a big performance from them.

On the other hand Ulster have a hard run into the end of the season, away to both Scottish sides after this one and Connacht for the last match. Ulster desperately need to ensure they have HC rugby next year and at the moment you'd have to say it's only a 50/50 chance given Connacht's recent form and the momentum they have generated. Connacht are away to Scarlets and home to Munster. Can see them beating Munster in that match which could mean the last Irish HC place comes down to the Ulster Connacht match.

Judgement Day

Don't what way to call this, very strong but battered Osprey's team and what must their state of mind be after Biarritz game? Ospreys have been going quite well in the league up till now but have they anything left in the tank and with Leinster to face on friday. Paddy Power have Ospreys as slight favourites but could home advantage for Ulster be the deciding factor? Ospreys by more than 11 @ 5/2 and by more than 20 @ 10/1 look seriously tempting.

castie

Judgement Day wrote: »

Don't what way to call this, very strong but battered Osprey's team and what must their state of mind be after Biarritz game? Ospreys have been going quite well in the league up till now but have they anything left in the tank and with Leinster to face on friday. Paddy Power have Ospreys as slight favourites but could home advantage for Ulster be the deciding factor? Cardiff by more than 11 @ 5/2 and by more than 20 @ 10/1 look seriously tempting.

Cardiff?? Ill take that bet :cool:

Judgement Day

Sorry - Ospreys - it's been a long day!!

Zzippy

thomond2006 wrote: »

A 4 day turnaround for (I count) 12 players who started against Biarritz? They'll find it hard to get up for this one IMO.

They must be really desperate to win the ML or they might the first team against Leinster.

NOC ahead of Humphreys for Ulster is disappointing.

I think O'Connor started the last match too, iHumph came on in the second half. Either they're giving up hope on him by now, or O'Connor has rediscovered his form - he gave a masterclass in kicking in one game I saw last year.

dreamer_ire wrote: »

On the other hand Ulster have a hard run into the end of the season, away to both Scottish sides after this one and Connacht for the last match. Ulster desperately need to ensure they have HC rugby next year and at the moment you'd have to say it's only a 50/50 chance given Connacht's recent form and the momentum they have generated. Connacht are away to Scarlets and home to Munster. Can see them beating Munster in that match which could mean the last Irish HC place comes down to the Ulster Connacht match.

IRFU would never let that happen. If it looks like it could come down to the Ulster-Connacht match for the HEC spot I would not be one bit surprised if they fixed the rescheduled Conn-Leinster game for 3 days beforehand. TBH I don't think it will come to that anyway, Connacht have blown their chances with the draw to Glasgow and the defeat in Dublin, both games they should have won.

Podge_irl

Zzippy wrote: »

IRFU would never let that happen. If it looks like it could come down to the Ulster-Connacht match for the HEC spot I would not be one bit surprised if they fixed the rescheduled Conn-Leinster game for 3 days beforehand. TBH I don't think it will come to that anyway, Connacht have blown their chances with the draw to Glasgow and the defeat in Dublin, both games they should have won.

The IRFU don't set the dates for the games, Celtic Rugby do.

PhatPiggins

Judgement Day wrote: »

Don't what way to call this, very strong but battered Osprey's team and what must their state of mind be after Biarritz game? Ospreys have been going quite well in the league up till now but have they anything left in the tank and with Leinster to face on friday. Paddy Power have Ospreys as slight favourites but could home advantage for Ulster be the deciding factor? Ospreys by more than 11 @ 5/2 and by more than 20 @ 10/1 look seriously tempting.

Senior moment there JD

Ulster have been less then useless the past 7 games. If the O's aren't too knackered your bet has a good chance

chupacabra

Spence on the bench Dunno how this lad hasnt been given a start at ML level yet.

thomond2006

ULSTER: Ospreys (h), Glasgow (a), Edinburgh (a), Connacht (h)

CONNACHT: Munster (h), Scarlets (a), Ulster (a), Leinster (h)- Date TBC

Ulster 25
Connacht 21

With Connacht breathing down their necks, this could be a must win game for Ulster tonight. I can't see them winning in Scotland.

With their recent home form, Connacht will fancy beating Munster, a win at Scarlets is achievable and the Leinster game will likely be in midweek so Leinster will rest players.

Ulster vs Connacht on the last weekend could be more than a dead rubber IMO.

Zzippy

Podge_irl wrote: »

The IRFU don't set the dates for the games, Celtic Rugby do.

AFAIK the reason it has taken so long to reschedule the game was down to Leinster not agreeing to any of the dates proposed by Connacht. That suggests that the teams themselves have some influence over the date. Do you not think that if the IRFU really wanted it played on a certain date that Leinster wouldn't play ball??

2040

Any radio station that i can listen to this online?

Judgement Day

3-5 to Ospreys after 14 minutes. Try by Williams.

Judgement Day

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Senior moment there JD

Ulster have been less then useless the past 7 games. If the O's aren't too knackered your bet has a good chance

Went with Ulster in the end - God help me!

Judgement Day

Ulster 6-Ospreys 5 after 18 mins. Can't get S4C clic so relying on feed from scrum.com

Judgement Day

11-12 after 30 minutes.

Judgement Day

Trimble in for a great try and converted 18-12 to Ulster at halftime.

Judgement Day

2040 wrote: »

Any radio station that i can listen to this online?

BBC Radio Ulster MW

and S4C clic is now working http://www.s4c.co.uk/clic/e_index.shtml

sock puppet

Apparently Matt Williams' idea of a counter-attack is kicking the ball straight into the opposition 22 as soon as you turn the ball over.

thomond2006

lol at "TMO" crowd chant.

Judgement Day

Stupid penalty to Ospreys should have been a red card. 18-15

thomond2006

Judgement Day wrote: »

Stupid penalty to Ospreys should have been a red card. 18-15

Red card? Are you mad?

Touhy didn't see Williams coming and Williams ran into his arm. A penalty and no more than that.

2040

Judgement Day wrote: »

BBC Radio Ulster MW

is that online anywhere? the welsh on s4c is making my ears bleed.

Judgement Day

18-18

Judgement Day

2040 wrote: »

is that online anywhere? the welsh on s4c is making my ears bleed.

No but I find the Welsh quite pleasant - better than Fred Cogley!

thomond2006

NOC does a Cipriani, piss-poor from him there.

Judgement Day

Hook just in for a charge down try. 18-25. I think my Ulster bet has gone west!:D

Judgement Day

Ulster are dire and if Ospreys were in good form........21-25 after a penalty.

2040

Paddy Wallace fairly poor at fullback.

2040

"neath"

gcgirl

press the red button lads for the english comm

Judgement Day

24-25.

Judgement Day

27-25.

durkadurka

Time left?

cruiserweight

27-31, 7 minutes to go and the Ospreys have a man in the bin, Ulster with a lineout 5 metres out

Judgement Day

Bowe hammers home the nail in the coffin - a nice irony.

2040

Ulster need some new halfbacks.

Judgement Day

And the rest.

Judgement Day

thomond2006 wrote: »

Red card? Are you mad?

Touhy didn't see Williams coming and Williams ran into his arm. A penalty and no more than that.

That wasn't how I saw it. I think he knew damn well where Williams was and it was quite a deliberate attempted decapitation.

PhatPiggins

Seriously how awful was the ref? I never thought I'd say that but he makes Malcom Changleng look like a top professional.

I dont know whats happened to Ulster in the past 3 months but they've gone from almost qualifying for the HC knock outs to the being dumbest team in the ML.

thomond2006

Matt Williams says Ulster are in the market for Ruan Pienaar, not sure he's the answer.

NOC is not good enough, they should stick with Humphreys who could get better.

2040

thomond2006 wrote: »

Matt Williams says Ulster are in the market for Ruan Pienaar, not sure he's the answer.

I was thinking about who Ulster could pluck from the super 14 during the match and pienaar came to mind. Can play 9 and 10. The thing is, he's playing well at the moment and most importantly his kicking from the tee is good, which was always his weakness. He could take the 10 slot from Steyn, even though he's mostly playing at 9 atm.

Muller (is this definitely happening?) and Rush are good signings. What Ulster need is experience and leadership.