Ulster vs Leinster, Mon 27 Dec 4pm; RTÉ/BBCNI

thomond2006

Preview: Ulster v Leinster

Ravenhill has been sold out for Monday's festive Magners League fixture between Ulster and Leinster.

Amongst the Ulster forwards there is just one change of personnel from the side which defeated Bath at The Rec last weekend. With the Irish internationals rested, Tom Court is unavailable for selection and so Paddy McAllister is promoted to the loosehead berth from the bench.

Amongst the backs with Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace unavailable,

Craig Gilroy and Ian Whitten return to the starting line-up while Niall O'Connor is named at out-half after Ian Humphreys injured his ankle in training this week.

The match is now officially a sell-out and gates will open at 2.30pm.

Meanwhile, New Zealand utility back Isa Nacewa, who has scored 90 points so far this season for Leinster, has been named at fullback for his team's all-Ireland Magners League derby clash.

Nacewa, a key man for Leinster this season - given his points-scoring abilities and utility value, has been named in a backline containing four Irish Test players.

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll partners Fergus McFadden at centre, with veteran Shane Horgan continuing on the wing. At flyhalf, Shaun Berne links up with former Ulster scrumhalf Isaac Boss at halfback - an experienced duo in two crucial positions.

Up front, skipper Leo Cullen starts in the second row alongside Devin Toner, with Sean O'Brien forming an exciting looking back-row unit with Dominic Ryan and Rhys Ruddock, the son of former Wales boss Mike.

Clontarf's AIL International club hooker Aaron Dundon - who has featured for Leinster's British & Irish Cup team of late - is named on the bench for the first time alongside the likes of Ian Madigan, Jack McGrath and Andrew Conway.

Form: Ulster's only win in their last twelve clashes with Leinster since 2004 was 16-14 at Ravenhill on 24 October 2009. Ulster have won their last four matches in all competitions since their 6-16 reversal at home to Munster in round 7. The Ulstermen are winless in their two games against fellow Irish provinces this season. Leinster are without a win in their last two Magners League encounters. The Leinstermen have won just one away game in the competition since April: 18-6 at Connacht on 23 October.

Ulster:
15 Adam D'Arcy, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Nevin Spence, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Niall O'Connor, 9 Ruan Pienaar,
8 Robbie Diack, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Pedrie Wannenburg, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Johann Muller (captain), 3 BJ Botha, 2 Nigel Brady, 1 Paddy McAllister.

Replacements: 16 Andi Kyriacou, 17 Declan Fitzpatrick, 18 Bryan Young, 19 Tim Barker, 20 Willie Faloon, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Luke Marshall, 23 Tommy Seymour.

Leinster:
15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Shaun Berne, 9 Isaac Boss,
8 Sean O'Brien, 7 Dominic Ryan, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Aaron Dundon, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Clint Newland, 19 Ed O'Donoghue, 20 Ben Marshall, 21 Paul O'Donohoe, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Andrew Conway.

Date: Monday, December 27
Venue: Ravenhill, Ulster
Kick-off: 16.00 GMT
Referee: George Clancy

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3825_6611221,00.html

Craig Gilroy looks a serious prospect, he certainly knows his way to the tryline.

McFadden and BOD together in the centre should be exciting.

The bookies have installed Ulster as favourites, but I really fancy Leinster for this. I don't rate Niall O'Connor at all and I think Berne has shown he can run a backline really well. Ferris is a huge absentee for Ulster too.

Ulster should have picked Marshall at 9 and put Pienaar at 10 IMO, no matter how much Pienaar wants to stay at 9.

Leinster by less than 7.

thebaz

great looking Leinster team IMO -Schmidt is also looking a great coach

Conway for Kearney is all i would have done different !

profitius

Stronger looking Leinster side than was expected.

I don't know why they don't promote Stuart Maguire ahead of Clint Newland.

thomond2006

profitius wrote: »

I don't know why they don't promote Stuart Maguire ahead of Clint Newland.

Because the coach doesn't want to admit defeat and acknowledge that he was a waste of money?

TBF I'd do the same in his position.

whysomoody

Leinster IMO are favourites given those team selections, should be a decent abrasive game though, looking forward to it.

danthefan

thomond2006 wrote: »

Because the coach doesn't want to admit defeat and acknowledge that he was a waste of money?

TBF I'd do the same in his position.

I doubt that's it at all. Schmidt has shown he'll go with the young guy every time if he can, Maguire obviously isn't up to it yet. Neither is Newland but we don't need to worry about his development.

wixfjord

profitius wrote: »

Stronger looking Leinster side than was expected.

I don't know why they don't promote Stuart Maguire ahead of Clint Newland.

Hmmm, two THs, both of whom are monstors, one whos NIQ, on a full contract (albeit until March), experienced and presumeably not as bad a scrummager as we've seen, the other who's academy, barely played ML, is very young in propping terms and like Newlands not a great scrummager (from what I've seen).

Pretty easy decision in my book. If there's one province you couldn't accuse of not promoting youth it's Leinster!

thomond2006

What's the story with Prescott? Is he gone?

profitius

wixfjord wrote: »

Hmmm, two THs, both of whom are monstors, one whos NIQ, on a full contract (albeit until March), experienced and presumeably not as bad a scrummager as we've seen, the other who's academy, barely played ML, is very young in propping terms and like Newlands not a great scrummager (from what I've seen).

Pretty easy decision in my book. If there's one province you couldn't accuse of not promoting youth it's Leinster!

I saw Maguire dominate scrums playing with Ireland U20's last season. I don't know how hes going since but he can't be any worse than Newland.

I know Leinster are better than Munster for promoting youth but it doesn't mean they're beyond criticism.

wixfjord

profitius wrote: »

I saw Maguire dominate scrums playing with Ireland U20's last season. I don't know how hes going since but he can't be any worse than Newland.

I know Leinster are better than Munster for promoting youth but it doesn't mean they're beyond criticism.

Well its fairly baseless criticism! Maguire is a complete baby (20!) in propping terms. A few poor games now would harm him far more than Newland, who as dan said we dont have to worry about.
Playing a 20 year old at prop is a lot different to playing a back row like Ruddock/Ryan, or a winger like Conway.
There's no need for it atm, and there's a good chance it'd do more harm than good. No need to promote youth for the sake of it. As Dan also said, Schmidt has already shown his colours with re: promoting talent.

Mr.Applepie

Is Luke Marshall that guy who played for Lulster @ 12? Glad to see him in the squad as he looks a real prospect

thomond2006

Mr.Applepie wrote: »

Is Luke Marshall that guy who played for Lulster @ 12?

Yes.

laugh

George jaysus Hamilton.

Clareman

laugh wrote: »

George jaysus Hamilton.

I just turned over to the BBC when I heard him, guessing he was up home for Christmas so RTÉ wouldn't have to pay too much expenses to have him on the mic

thomond2006

Can't hear the goings on on the pitch with RTE, onto BBC.

Nacewa fluffs a penalty.

W.B. Yeats

Clareman wrote: »

I just turned over to the BBC when I heard him, guessing he was up home for Christmas so RTÉ wouldn't have to pay too much expenses to have him on the mic

Can't abide Jim Neilly, very bland and little insight
Pet hate of mine is his continuing difficulty pronouncing Donncha ffs

laugh

Gwan CAS, how many people were standing around watching him?

wixfjord

TULLOW TANKKKKK!

thomond2006

Great try from SOB after a comedy show from Boss and Leinster.

Under the posts, should be 7-0.

Nacewa converts.

durkadurka

Try sob , forward pass though.

wicklowdub

awful start from Ulster, missed tackles all over the place

thomond2006

jesus Leinster nearly got another one :eek:

thomond2006

Adam D'Arcy is a very hot and cold player isn't he?

Before he made a good break and then threw a pass to touch.
Now he takes a tough high ball and then kicks out on the full.

wixfjord

**** me BOD is a beast!

thomond2006

Leinster could have taken the DG option there, they were going nowhere.

O'Connor misses touch.

corny

Super Isaac.

thomond2006

Sean O'Brien!!!!!

Try!!

Hatrick on!

ongarite

Boss and SOB amazing combo.

durkadurka

You can really tell the players haven't trained all week

wixfjord

TULLOW TANKKKK AGAIN!
Boss really playing well, except his passing obv!

copacetic

sweet finish again from O'Brien, really showed his speed on both to make them look easy when most forwards wouldn't have made it.

and Isa nearly misses the conversion:eek:. At least the BBC bothered to show that one!

thomond2006

Great play by Boss and a wonderful running line from SOB.

Nacewa converts.

0-14 :eek:

RuggieBear

better keep getting tries as nacewa's kicking is looking v ropey

durkadurka

Sob really is an absolute horse. Ulster kicking absolutely shocking, Leinster adopting a give it to sob strategy to devastating effect

thomond2006

That pass didn't look forward did it? Marginal at least.

That could have been game over.

wixfjord

Toner did well there. Mcfadden in great form.
Ulster looking dangerous.

RuggieBear

bloody hell some wind...that kick just made it to the deadball area

durkadurka

I wonder are ulster focusing exclusively on the HEC now that they have a chance. Or maybe they just very rusty and don't have the strength in depth

thomond2006

3-14 now

copacetic

durkadurka wrote: »

I wonder are ulster focusing exclusively on the HEC now that they have a chance. Or maybe they just very rusty and don't have the strength in depth

they've been forced to rest a few and look to be playing into a gale. It's far from over..

wixfjord

Great turnover from VDM.

And another great turnover. Who was that?

durkadurka

Both teams are weakened

thomond2006

Better kick from Nacewa, same result.

3-17

RuggieBear

yeah the wind looks like at least a 10pointer.

2nd half will probably see the weaker kicking game from the leinster backline exposed a bit...

hopefully we will run it effectively

copacetic

durkadurka wrote: »

Both teams are weakened

true, but you implied that Ulster had done it on purpose to 'concentrate on the HEC' which I don't see any evidence of?

wixfjord

RuggieBear wrote: »

yeah the wind looks like at least a 10pointer.

2nd half will probably see the weaker kicking game from the leinster backline exposed a bit...

hopefully we will run it effectively

Good game reading Ruggie, was thinking the same myself.

wixfjord

Much vaunted Leinster scurm hasnt been going great.

thomond2006

6-17

thomond2006

Nice play from Berne, again close call.

Great lineout steal by Devin Toner.

wixfjord

Lads I really really like the look of Dave Kearney.

irishbucsfan

wixfjord wrote: »

Much vaunted Leinster scurm hasnt been going great.

The difference between the two sides is JHW for Leinster.

I'd love to see the two scrums face each other at full strength (Court/Best/Botha v. VDM/Strauss/Ross. Wow)