Ulster v Leicester, 8pm, 13/1/2012; live on Sky

totallegend

Paddy Wallace back in the team, Terblanche to make HC debut...

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/10062.php

ULSTER (15-9) S Terblanche; A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, R Pienaar (1-8) T Court, R Best, J Afoa, J Muller (Captain), D Tuohy, S Ferris, C Henry, P Wannenburg
Replacements (16-23): N Brady, C Black, A Macklin, L Stevenson, W Faloon, P Marshall, I Whitten, A D'Arcy

Edit: I have to say I'm disappointed at Terblanche's inclusion. All this talk of Ulster and the number of young backs coming through is somewhat negated by the inclusion of a 36-year old Springbok. I know D'Arcy is not exactly 100% reliable in defence but he can provide a spark in attack. Still, it's a must-win game and Ulster have to play it safe I suppose.

I'll be interested to see the side named by the Tigers but with Flood, Tuilagi and Deacon injured and Ulster almost at full-strength, Ulster have to be targeting a good result here. As mentioned previously, Ulster have to prevent Tigers from getting the LBP, otherwise it's curtains for them. I think that is well within their grasp.

Can't wait for this.

Pedantic Edit 2: Terblanche did, of course, play for the Ospreys so it's not technically his HC debut.

durkadurka

GReat looking team, they'll need to be at full pelt to beat Leicester.

padraig.od

Really looking forward to this! Come on Ulster. Would 3 Irish teams in the QF be a record?

totallegend

padraig.od wrote: »

Would 3 Irish teams in the QF be a record?

Yes.

porterbelly

I'd imagine most Ulster supporters were hoping Humphreys wouldn't be fit so Marshall could start at 9 and Pienaar at 10

thomond2006

Leicester Tigers:
15. Geordan Murphy, 14. Horacio Agulla, 13. Matt Smith, 12. Anthony Allen, 11. Alesana Tuilagi, 10. Billy Twelvetrees, 9. Ben Youngs, 1. Marcos Ayerza, 2. Rob Hawkins, 3. Martin Castrogiovanni, 4. Steve Mafi, 5. Geoff Parling, 6. Tom Croft, 7. Jules Salvi, 8. Thomas Waldrom,

Replacements: 16. George Chuter, 17. Boris Stankovich, 18. Dan Cole, 19. Ed Slater, 20. Ben Woods, 21. Sam Harrison, 22. Jeremy Staunton, 23. Scott Hamilton,

irishbucsfan

This is going to be an incredible match. Nerves are building up already. Gwan Ulster!

Brewster

Match up of the weekend to be fair. That is probably Ulster's strongest team with the obvious exception of Jared Payne. Certainly the best 15 they could put out. Marshall is a super impact player to bring on with 20 to go. Think it is correct call to play Humphreys. Just.

almighty1

thomond2006 wrote: »

Leicester Tigers:
15. Geordan Murphy, 14. Horacio Agulla, 13. Matt Smith, 12. Anthony Allen, 11. Alesana Tuilagi, 10. Billy Twelvetrees, 9. Ben Youngs, 1. Marcos Ayerza, 2. Rob Hawkins, 3. Martin Castrogiovanni, 4. Steve Mafi, 5. Geoff Parling, 6. Tom Croft, 7. Jules Salvi, 8. Thomas Waldrom,

Replacements: 16. George Chuter, 17. Boris Stankovich, 18. Dan Cole, 19. Ed Slater, 20. Ben Woods, 21. Sam Harrison, 22. Jeremy Staunton, 23. Scott Hamilton,

Thats a seriously strong team. Leicester have an embarrassment of riches at tighthead and will certainly target the scrum. Id love to see Ulster turn them over.

Tox56

almighty1 wrote: »

Thats a seriously strong team. Leicester have an embarrassment of riches at tighthead and will certainly target the scrum. Id love to see Ulster turn them over.

Backline is nothing special, injuries not helping obviously.

I think Ulster might sneak it, but whether Leicester gets the LBP is up in the air.

Gracelessly Tom

Ulster to win by 8+, Ravenhill on a Friday night has to be worth 5 points to Ulster. Leicester won't have much support and better teams than this leicester 22 have come a cropper in Belfast.

Flashdean

Gracelessly Tom wrote: »

Ulster to win by 8+, Ravenhill on a Friday night has to be worth 5 points to Ulster. Leicester won't have much support and better teams than this leicester 22 have come a cropper in Belfast.

U having a laugh mate??

8+??? There will be a huge support there from the tigers!
Im a tigers fan and think its gonna be a tough game but i said at the start if it comes down to needing a win a Ravenhill id take it!

Itll be won in the scrum IMO and i think we have the edge!

Ulster are very limited out wide so i think they can be got at!

Should be a good game for a nuetral! If there is such a thing in ireland!

profitius

Who is the ref?

damianmcr

R. Poite I think:(

Gracelessly Tom

Flashdean wrote: »

U having a laugh mate??

8+??? There will be a huge support there from the tigers!
Im a tigers fan and think its gonna be a tough game but i said at the start if it comes down to needing a win a Ravenhill id take it!

Itll be won in the scrum IMO and i think we have the edge!

Ulster are very limited out wide so i think they can be got at!

Should be a good game for a nuetral! If there is such a thing in ireland!

Just my opinion! I think Ulster will stop ye getting the bonus point. Ravenhill is a horrible place to go on a Friday night from a visiting team POV. Partisan crowd, real home atmosphere and there's just something about Ulster at home on a Friday night that you can't quantify.

Apologies on the lack of support comment, just presumed the Friday night KO would mean Leicester suffering in the support stakes.

Ulster have the edge in the back row and I don't think the front row of Leicester is superior.

36 at outhalf is an area to target for Ulster. Flood is a huge loss IMO.

Tox56

Flashdean wrote: »

U having a laugh mate??

8+??? There will be a huge support there from the tigers!
Im a tigers fan and think its gonna be a tough game but i said at the start if it comes down to needing a win a Ravenhill id take it!

Itll be won in the scrum IMO and i think we have the edge!

Ulster are very limited out wide so i think they can be got at!

Should be a good game for a nuetral! If there is such a thing in ireland!

Some of Ulster's best players are out wide, I don't particularly understand your logic, especially when compared to a significantly weakened Leicester backline.

Gracelessly Tom

Just had another look at the two packs, Ulster's is the stronger of the two imo.

Not convinced of Leicesters backs either, happy with my Ulster 8+ prediction, but will happily eat a big slice of humble pie if Leicester prove me wrong!:)

profitius

damianmcr wrote: »

R. Poite I think:(

That could be a disaster for Ulster.

Flashdean

Tox56 wrote: »

Some of Ulster's best players are out wide, I don't particularly understand your logic, especially when compared to a significantly weakened Leicester backline.

Like who?? Terblanche is a has been!
Wallace and trimble have never been!
Cave and gilroy never gonna been!

Gracelessly Tom

Flashdean wrote: »

Like who?? Terblanche is a has been!
Wallace and trimble have never been!
Cave and gilroy never gonna been!

This line says a lot about your knowledge of these two players!!

Cave is definitely one to watch, would have him over Smith or Allen every time.

I am pie

Flashdean wrote: »

Like who?? Terblanche is a has been!
Wallace and trimble have never been!
Cave and gilroy never gonna been!

We look forward to providing you with an unpleasant surprise on Friday night : )

Tox56

Flashdean wrote: »

Like who?? Terblanche is a has been!
Wallace and trimble have never been!
Cave and gilroy never gonna been!

Have to hope for your sake the players don't think the same.

Flashdean

Listen lads im only having a bubble!

It'll be a cracking game with very little tries (if any) and we'll see who is the better team! Lets hope were not talking about Mr.Poite tomorrow night!

Flashdean

Listen lads im only having a bubble!

It'll be a cracking game with very little tries (if any) and we'll see who is the better team! Lets hope were not talking about Mr.Poite tomorrow night!

Gracelessly Tom

Flashdean wrote: »

Listen lads im only having a bubble!

It'll be a cracking game with very little tries (if any) and we'll see who is the better team! Lets hope were not talking about Mr.Poite tomorrow night!

Why do I have a sinking feeling we will be....:(

I am pie

Wish I was going, had a ticket organised but can't get out of work in time to make it up the road. Hope it's a cracker & Poite surprises us all by fading into the background. I'm going to stick my neck out and say Ulster to sneak it by 3.

irishbucsfan

Don't see why people are worried about Court, Best and Afoa so much. They're a great front row and Ulster have the better second row. Given that the games in ravenhill I don't think we will see too much Leicester dominance

danthefan

profitius wrote: »

That could be a disaster for Ulster.

Why exactly?

DeDoc

Yep, a good solid Ulster win for me. I've taken a sneaky bite of the Ulster by 13 or more.

Of that Tigers team, I think I'd only take Murphy, Tuilagi and Salvi, with a maybe on Waldrom and Ayerza. Strong bench mind you.

danthefan

DeDoc wrote: »

Yep, a good solid Ulster win for me. I've taken a sneaky bite of the Ulster by 13 or more.

Of that Tigers team, I think I'd only take Murphy, Tuilagi and Salvi, with a maybe on Waldrom and Ayerza. Strong bench mind you.

I'd take Twelvetrees ahead of iHumph every time. iHumph is basically a joke of a player as far as I'm concerned.

This isn't how it works anyway. Ulster do arguably look stronger on paper but Leicester are Leicester.

.ak

I think the reason it'll be a cracker is because it is too tight to call. Leicester are the more rounded, experienced team and I'd fancy them to win on a neutral venue. But it's not a neutral venue... it's Ravenhill, so we shall see.

CIARAN_BOYLE

danthefan wrote: »

Why exactly?

He tends to ignore the intricacies of the scrum with a if its going forward its legal approach and castro is a scrummager who works outside the law a lot.

DeDoc

danthefan wrote: »

I'd take Twelvetrees ahead of iHumph every time. iHumph is basically a joke of a player as far as I'm concerned.

This isn't how it works anyway. Ulster do arguably look stronger on paper but Leicester are Leicester.

iHumph certainly blows hot and cold, but he is against his former club. He has Pienaar inside and Wallace outside. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't have a good game, especially at home. Concern over his injury would worry me more.

Leicester really aren't the force they were either.
Their away record is pretty poor this year also:
Lost 35-29 to Wasps
Won 27-26 at Newcastle
Lost 26-25 to Bath
Lost 31-3 to Scarlets (LV)
Won 34-13 @ Sale
Won 28-12 @ Aironi
Won 19-14 @ Gloucester
Lost 30-12 @ Clermont
Won 32-13 @ Worcester

If you look at teams they have played home and away this season, there is an average 11 point swing. They beat Ulster by 11 points at home, so you might expect the handicap to be zero. However, Ulster didn't have Wallace, Pienaar, Afoa or Terblanche for the first game, while Tigers had Flood and Deacon playing.

I'd be less worried about Poite and the scrums - more so about the breakdown and offside. Home advantage will help Ulster there though as the crowd will do some of the job.

danthefan

Ignoring the LV, they seem to have P8 W5 L3 away from home this year. One loss was to Clermont, the other two when they were missing the RWC contingent. They apparently have picked up 30 points in their last 7 AP games which is pretty excellent (haven't checked this myself). They're in some pretty good form currently.

shuffol

Ulster to win by 8+ and Ferris to be Motm.

irishbucsfan

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

danthefan wrote: »

Why exactly?

He tends to ignore the intricacies of the scrum with a if its going forward its legal approach and castro is a scrummager who works outside the law a lot.

Castro is the biggest has been on the pitch. Not nearly as effective as he was.

durkadurka

I didn't think Castro started for them anymore

CIARAN_BOYLE

durkadurka wrote: »

I didn't think Castro started for them anymore

rotation ala HVD and Healy at Leinster

irishbucsfan

durkadurka wrote: »

I didn't think Castro started for them anymore

Not sure why he was preferred to Cole really. Cole is far better imo.

Ulster are better than Leicester in all 3 front row positions imo. I'm not worried by Ayerza either.

I would rate leicester better in the half backs though. Twelvetrees looks good.

almighty1

Thats a strong Leicester backline too. Murphy is playing great stuff as usual and was dynamite against Wasps last week. Alessana is always a danger on the wing. Matt Smith has really excelled in the last few years and was really surprised he didnt make it into England's 6 Nations squad.
Allen and Twelvetrees just called up to squad and is very solid at 10 who scored all 29 points against (an albeit poor) Wasps at the weekend. Lots of experience and internationals there - more so than Ulster.

Id agree with prof, Poite has ruined many good matches by not reffing the scrum correctly. Pity because all other aspects of his reffing are very good.
Couldnt be a worse ref for Ulster considering the importance of the scrum tonight.

the_doctor199

On the off chance anyone here has a spare ticket, PM me! Wasn't able to go and now it's long sold out I'm able to!

Also, anyone remember the last time they visited in 04? You get 35/1 for that score again! (Never going to happen)

I am pie

danthefan wrote: »

I'd take Twelvetrees ahead of iHumph every time. iHumph is basically a joke of a player as far as I'm concerned.

This isn't how it works anyway. Ulster do arguably look stronger on paper but Leicester are Leicester.

How many other Irish players scored 72 in the European competitions last season ?

His tackling is not strong enough, agreed, but to label him as a joke of a player is nonsense.

Blut2

Ulster out to -2 with the bookies now. Must be a decent chunk of cash going on them to move them from scratch to -2 in the last 24 hours.

bamboozle

home advantage to Ulster, gonna be a huge game tonight...

jacothelad

I am pie wrote: »

How many other Irish players scored 72 in the European competitions last season ?

His tackling is not strong enough, agreed, but to label him as a joke of a player is nonsense.

Yes he is erratic rather than a joke player. He also has pulled off quite a few important tackles over the last few seasons. Because of his pace, he can get there when others can't. He is n.f.g at tackling bigger guys head on. Some people lazily make the claim that it is because he 'lacks bottle'. It's really because he hasn't ever developed the technique of ROG for example in simply grabbing a guys shirt and falling down in front of him. Humphreys is actually a better tackler than ROG apart from the speed bump situation but we shouldn't let supposition get in the way of a good snide remark should we. We all love that stuff.

A guy who can do the stuff he does isn't a useless player - all the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvs-rEKYVkI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBS9s0U5Ne0

jacothelad

For those too young to remember.......:D Two of the 4 tries from the game. It was really good to see Andy Ward going through Austin 'Rent a Brain Cell' Healy like a laxative. For those of you unfamiliar with the second try scorer it was Shane Stewart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGFXkonHWvU

I am pie

jacothelad wrote: »

Yes he is erratic rather than a joke player. He also has pulled off quite a few important tackles over the last few seasons. Because of his pace, he can get there when others can't. He is n.f.g at tackling bigger guys head on. Some people lazily make the claim that it is because he 'lacks bottle'. It's really because he hasn't ever developed the technique of ROG for example in simply grabbing a guys shirt and falling down in front of him. Humphreys is actually a better tackler than ROG apart from the speed bump situation but we shouldn't let supposition get in the way of a good snide remark should we. We all love that stuff.

A guy who can do the stuff he does isn't a useless player - all the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvs-rEKYVkI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBS9s0U5Ne0

Jaco, i'm agreeing with you ! His point scoring record in Europe speaks for itself ! All i'm saying is he could improve his technique when tackling.

Brewster

Humphreys has been too inconsistent throughout his career. On his day, he is as good as anyone to be honest. A super elusive runner with ball in hand and a fantastic distributer. If he is on his game tonight Ulster will win.

Brendan97

I am pie wrote: »

Jaco, i'm agreeing with you ! His point scoring record in Europe speaks for itself ! All i'm saying is he could improve his technique when tackling.

As could all players....As could all players!

chupacabra

That intro by sky was great.

TopOfTheRight

I have a bad feeling about Tom Court and this game.