Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

bilston · 20-07-2013 10:04am

awec wrote: »

Fixtures are out. Total and complete farce. :mad:

Leinster and Munster at Christmas AGAIN.

Leinster and Munster at the end of the season in a row.

Last 4 fixtures are 3 interpros and away to Glasgow.

Time for them to start rotating these fixtures about. What a load of fcukin bollocks.

So Leinster will be getting the Academy treatment on Boxing Day this year. It's a real shame as you'd have to say that as things stand Leinster and Ulster will probably be the two strongest sides in the league again this year and you'd be wanting these two sides to have a real crack at each other. This is where the complaints from the English and French have real merit.

I wonder whether things will change the season after when Sky get control of things. Somehow I can't see them standing for Leinster v Ulster to be so de-valued.

Of course I may be completely wrong and Ulster might send their strongest team down this year but I imagine they will target Munster at home instead.

also it does have to be said that the last time we played a weak team at the RDS we gave debuts (or at most maybe second caps) to Stuart Olding, Chris Farrell, Peter Nelson, Michael Allen and Conor Joyce and none of them disgraced themselves, indeed Farrell was very much the equal of D'Arcy and McFadden IIRC.

molloyjh · 22-07-2013 10:44am

bilston wrote: »

...you'd have to say that as things stand Leinster and Ulster will probably be the two strongest sides in the league again this year

Don't forget about Glasgow. The team to watch in the new season IMO if they can pick up where they left off. Which makes your final few games even more ridiculous if you ask me. If I were a betting man I'd be half tempted to put a few quid on the Scots this year.

the_doctor199 · 22-07-2013 12:03pm

Heineken Cup Fixtures – 2013/2014

Friday 11th October 20:00
Ulster Rugby v Leicester Tigers

Saturday 19th October 16:40
Montpellier Herault Rugby v Ulster Rugby

Saturday 7th December 18:00
Ulster Rugby v Benetton Treviso

Saturday 14th December 14:35
Benetton Treviso v Ulster Rugby

10/11/12 January 2014
Ulster Rugby v Montpellier Herault Rugby

17/18/19 January 2014
Leicester Tigers v Ulster Rugby

thomond2006 · 22-07-2013 12:09pm

the_doctor199 wrote: »

Heineken Cup Fixtures – 2013/2014

Friday 11th October 20:00
Ulster Rugby v Leicester Tigers

Saturday 19th October 16:40
Montpellier Herault Rugby v Ulster Rugby

Saturday 7th December 18:00
Ulster Rugby v Benetton Treviso

Saturday 14th December 14:35
Benetton Treviso v Ulster Rugby

10/11/12 January 2014
Ulster Rugby v Montpellier Herault Rugby

17/18/19 January 2014
Leicester Tigers v Ulster Rugby

That's a big ask for Ulster. The double header against Treviso is by no means a ten pointer.

molloyjh · 22-07-2013 1:14pm

the_doctor199 wrote: »

Heineken Cup Fixtures – 2013/2014

Friday 11th October 20:00
Ulster Rugby v Leicester Tigers

Saturday 19th October 16:40
Montpellier Herault Rugby v Ulster Rugby

Saturday 7th December 18:00
Ulster Rugby v Benetton Treviso

Saturday 14th December 14:35
Benetton Treviso v Ulster Rugby

10/11/12 January 2014
Ulster Rugby v Montpellier Herault Rugby

17/18/19 January 2014
Leicester Tigers v Ulster Rugby

That's bloody tough. The last thing any team would want is to need points from that last fixture!

former legend · 22-07-2013 1:46pm

the_doctor199 wrote: »

Heineken Cup Fixtures – 2013/2014

Friday 11th October 20:00
Ulster Rugby v Leicester Tigers

Saturday 19th October 16:40
Montpellier Herault Rugby v Ulster Rugby

Saturday 7th December 18:00
Ulster Rugby v Benetton Treviso

Saturday 14th December 14:35
Benetton Treviso v Ulster Rugby

Three of the opening four games are going to be 'red button' affairs; rounds two and three clash directly with Leinster v Castres and Saints v Leinster and I assume Toulon v Exeter will get the nod ahead of Treviso v Ulster in round 4...
A kick in the nads for those of us on UPC who are without red buttons.

bilston · 22-07-2013 2:04pm

Not content with screwing us over with injuries last season the Rugby Gods have seen fit to give us a pretty tough time of it in terms of our fixtures in both Europe and the Rabo this coming season.

Not easy, we'll probably need to win in Montpellier in Rd 2 given our last match is at Welford Road and Treviso home and away is no longer a gimmee. Qualifying will be an achievement.

Hagz · 22-07-2013 2:08pm

In fairness...what would've been a good fixture list in that pool?

.ak · 22-07-2013 2:27pm

Why isn't the Leicester games a double header?

awec · 22-07-2013 2:29pm

Does anyone know when our new shirt is announced?

molloyjh · 22-07-2013 2:41pm

.ak wrote: »

Why isn't the Leicester games a double header?

A few of the games you'd assume would be the double headers aren't, like Toulon & Sarries in Pool 3, Clermont & Quins in Pool 4 and Ulster & Leicester in Pool 5. Not sure why tbh.

the_doctor199 · 22-07-2013 2:44pm

awec wrote: »

Does anyone know when our new shirt is announced?

Was around the end of July last year I think so soon enough..

Hagz · 22-07-2013 3:22pm

awec wrote: »

Does anyone know when our new shirt is announced?

Didn't you just get a new jersey? Usually they are changed after two seasons.

awec · 22-07-2013 3:26pm

Hagz wrote: »

Didn't you just get a new jersey? Usually they are changed after two seasons.

Last years one was reduced at the end of the season by 40% and sold out online. It was clearly a clearance sale of the gear, so I suspect we're getting a new one.

tac4271 · 22-07-2013 4:17pm

awec wrote: »

Last years one was reduced at the end of the season by 40% and sold out online. It was clearly a clearance sale of the gear, so I suspect we're getting a new one.

I think there might have just been a change in the sponsor on the back of the shirt from last season.

Paul Smeenus · 22-07-2013 5:55pm

Anyone heard anything more on the Ravenhill naming rights?

Is it still happening? Surely whoever was stumping up would have wanted the brand name in all the Rabo Pro12 and HEC timetables?

Roll on the Regal King Size Ultra Flavour Sportatorium!

.ak · 22-07-2013 5:58pm

Harp Hall.

bilston · 22-07-2013 8:14pm

Tayto (Nordie variety) Temple

ulster_Beef · 22-07-2013 10:15pm

.ak wrote: »

Harp Hall.

mmmmm Harp

ulster_Beef · 22-07-2013 10:16pm

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Anyone heard anything more on the Ravenhill naming rights?

Is it still happening? Surely whoever was stumping up would have wanted the brand name in all the Rabo Pro12 and HEC timetables?

Roll on the Regal King Size Ultra Flavour Sportatorium!

I hope not. It better be a silly rumour

thomond2006 · 22-07-2013 10:45pm

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Anyone heard anything more on the Ravenhill naming rights?

Is it still happening? Surely whoever was stumping up would have wanted the brand name in all the Rabo Pro12 and HEC timetables?

Roll on the Regal King Size Ultra Flavour Sportatorium!

The Jacothelad Loves NOC Stadium

bilston · 23-07-2013 6:55am

ulster_Beef wrote: »

I hope not. It better be a silly rumour

Really?

My view is that it's easy money and the fans can just call it Ravenhill anyway. To even remotely compete with the French, and now with BT in town, the English as well, this sort of iniatitive is necessary.

RobbieRuns · 23-07-2013 12:47pm

bilston wrote: »

Really?

My view is that it's easy money and the fans can just call it Ravenhill anyway. To even remotely compete with the French, and now with BT in town, the English as well, this sort of iniatitive is necessary.

I would like to think that you are right, but I am not so sure?

Do you think our new national stadium is still referred to as Lansdowne Rd or more commonly "The Aviva" after sponsor bought naming rights?

I would say the latter myself.

Podge_irl · 23-07-2013 12:56pm

I alternate between calling it Lansdowne and the Aviva. But for €40m they could have called it the 1 Direction Fan Club Stadium for all I care.

Its money for essentially nothing.

bilston · 23-07-2013 2:31pm

RobbieRuns wrote: »

I would like to think that you are right, but I am not so sure?

Do you think our new national stadium is still referred to as Lansdowne Rd or more commonly "The Aviva" after sponsor bought naming rights?

I would say the latter myself.

Fair enough I would probably call it the Aviva more than Lansdowne now, I suppose that would happen over time, but then it is a entirely new stadium than the Old Lansdowne so maybe it's harder to make the connection with Lansdowne Road.

molloyjh · 23-07-2013 3:32pm

bilston wrote: »

Fair enough I would probably call it the Aviva more than Lansdowne now, I suppose that would happen over time, but then it is a entirely new stadium than the Old Lansdowne so maybe it's harder to make the connection with Lansdowne Road.

Either way I don't make a conscious connection between the stadium and the insurance company. It's just a name. What matters is the quality of the ground and the sport played within it.

.ak · 23-07-2013 3:42pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Either way I don't make a conscious connection between the stadium and the insurance company. It's just a name. What matters is the quality of the ground and the sport played within it.

That ad had no effect on me whatsoever!

... That's it! I'm going to Clown College!!

the_doctor199 · 24-07-2013 2:19pm

The work ongoing today..

jamiedav2011 · 30-07-2013 2:42pm

Seems the Ulster lads are on a novel pre-season training jaunt today! Great stuff!

http://www.thescore.ie/ulster-fleefly-bundoran-1015053-Jul2013/

awec · 30-07-2013 3:18pm

Subtle from Ferris. Tommy Bowe is with us, i.e. "give us a lift ladies!"

Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

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