Pro12: Connacht v Ulster, Sportsground, Live on TG4 Sat 14th April, KO 5.15pm

freyners

I hope people dont mind the lengthy intro but I always wanted to give these a try.

V

Ulster, after a fantastic win v munster last week, have to come down from there high for the bread and butter games again, and no better way to focus the mind than an inter-pro

Ulster have 12 changes from last week, with only terblanche, court and ian humphreys remaining in the team

Nigel Brady gets the captaincy, with phoenix player Iain Henderson set to make his senior debut from the bench. Ulster can move up to second with a win so this game means a lot.

Connacht have had a wild season so far with Memorable games v toulouse and their first heineken cup victory v Harlequins coupled with the lows of a 10 Game plus losing streak. However in the interpros this season Connacht have been so near and yet so far with close defeats to Leinster home and away and Munster in their last home game and will surely be looking to set the record straight.

This fixture finished in an 15-15 draw with Ulster winning the last two meetings since. Connacht supporters will be able to get up close view of new signing Willie Falloon starting at 7 for Ulster. An interesting clash will be that of ronan loughney v tom court, the two out and out choices for the dual prop role in Ireland. both are starting at TH.

Connacht will be eager to win what will be their second last home game of the season in front of what is expected to draw a large crowd and are playing with the arguably stronger side. However Ulster need this victory if they are to realise their hopes of reaching the play-offs. With a largely second-string side playing in one of the most inhospitable places to travel to its an uphill challenge but, in my opinion, this is very close.

Verdict: Connacht

15 Gavin Duffy (C), 14 Tiernan O’Halloran, 13 Kyle Tonetti, 12 Henry Fa’afili, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Miah Nikora, 09 Frank Murphy, 01 Brett Wilkinson, 02 Ethienne Reynecke, 03 Ronan Loughney, 04 Michael Swift ,05 Mike McCarthy, 06 John Muldoon, 07 Ray Ofisa, 08 George Naoupu

Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Mick Kearney,20 Johnny O’Connor, 21 Paul O’Donohoe, 22 Matthew Jarvis, 23 Eoin Griffin

Ulster
15. S Terblanche; 14. I Whitten, 13. N Spence, 12. P Jackson, 11. A D'Arcy; 10. I Humphreys, 9. P Marshall, 1. P McAllister, 2. N Brady (capt), 3. T Court, 4. L Stevenson, 5. N McComb, 6. M McComish, 7. W Faloon, 8. R Diack;

Replacements (16-23): A Kyriacou, C Black, A Macklin, I Henderson, A Birch, R Pienaar, C Gilroy, M Allen

Referee: Dudley Phillips

Logos taken from irishrugby.ie, teams are from the respective provinces websites.

its_phil

I'm can't wait for the competition at scrum time. Honestly want Wilko and Loughney to step up to the plate and put their hand up for Ireland, especially with Court in at TH. Loughney especially.

Hope Connacht target Jackson at 12 and Tonetti finally starts making runs on to Henry's attempted offloads.

Interesting game, can't call it if I'm going to be honest. If the Connacht pack gets on top I see a Connacht win, if Ulster manage to contain it then it's an Ulster win for me.

thomond2006

Kyriacou still in the dog house after Treviso Taxigate.

irishbucsfan

Dudley Phillips..... Ah no

Zzippy

Great write-up freyners! Just one correction, its not our last home game of the season - Aironi the following week is last game in the Sportsground.

Looking forward to this one, that Ulster team is well beatable if we get on top in the forwards, but they're like Leinster, a lot of young lads chomping at the bit to make a HEC semifinal squad/team - the likes of Whitten, Jackson and Marshall are dangerous if they get a good supply of ball. On paper Connacht have the stronger pack, and the scrum should be a good battle, although I'd be worried about our front row replacements against theirs - hopefully it won't be an issue by the time they come on!

Connacht by 5, fingers crossed!

bilston

its_phil wrote: »

Hope Connacht target Jackson at 12 and Tonetti finally starts making runs on to Henry's attempted offloads.

Unlike previous and current Ulster out halfs Jackson can actually tackle! Still it will be worth Connacht running a few big lads down the Ulster 10-12 channel.

Hagz

What's wrong with McSharry? Is he just not making the team?

CIARAN_BOYLE

Hagz wrote: »

What's wrong with McSharry? Is he just not making the team?

Form has dropped off, he isn't making the team.

Hagz

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Form has dropped off, he isn't making the team.

If you guys don't want him we'll take him back.

its_phil

bilston wrote: »

Unlike previous and current Ulster out halfs Jackson can actually tackle! Still it will be worth Connacht running a few big lads down the Ulster 10-12 channel.

I don't doubt it but like you said he should still be a target considering he's a natural 10 defending the 12 channel.

Hagz wrote: »

If you guys don't want him we'll take him back.

He's dropped not unwanted

Typical Leinster poaching

its_phil

Good to see Iain Henderson on the bench too, looks a good prospect.

CatFromHue

A win for Connacht could help them top their mini league of Dragons, Treviso, Edinburgh, and Aironi. Especially as they have Aironi at home next week.

fatguy2k1

Clan Terrace and Enclosed Area SOLD OUT. Just to clarify - sold out means no more tickets left, not 'what about a kids one?' so stop asking.

about 80 main stand left, then we're going behind the goal lines.

cgpg5

Looking at that Ulster team Connacht have to be fancied, I've no idea why they've left so many out tbh

thomond2006

cgpg5 wrote: »

Looking at that Ulster team Connacht have to be fancied, I've no idea why they've left so many out tbh

Because they are still in the HEC. Plus Ulster have won in Connacht for the past 2/3 years, they would still fancy a win with their shadow side.

its_phil

thomond2006 wrote: »

Because they are still in the HEC. Plus Ulster have won in Connacht for the past 2/3 years, they would still fancy a win with their shadow side.

Draw last year, but essentially HC is the big fish for Ulster now and who could blame them. I still don't see that as a bad team, more than capable of putting it up to most teams especially Connacht.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Nikora try, Connacht 8-0 up with a conversion to come

Wilkinson off injured Buckley on for him big chance for him, Nikora misses the conversion

Burgo

Wilkinson off injured 10 mins in. Buckley on.

Funk It

Any links at all folks? In the UK, have no BBC NI

Burgo

Ofisa taken a bad knock.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Ofisa off JOC on, I hope JOC who is just back from injury is able to play for the whole game

Funk It wrote: »

Any links at all folks? In the UK, have no BBC NI

bbc online

Burgo

Ofisa walked off, JOC on. IHumph misses peno number 2.

Funk It

Funk It wrote: »

Any links at all folks? In the UK, have no BBC NI

Its alright, have it now.

Link here for anyone else looking: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17566258

Burgo

Looghney with a,yellow,for a late shoulder charge. Jackson taking the peno.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Loughney in the bin for a charge on Humphries

Jackson takes the penalty Connach 8 Ulster 3

BarackPyjama

Nice round of 'cheerio' there from the Ulster fans. Wonder is the HEC success going to their heads? Careful now lads, you might have to play us in the final.

Diabhal Beag

Boo louder Connacht fans. You might overturn the decision.

thomond2006

No effort to use arms there!

overshoot

BarackPyjama wrote: »

Nice round of 'cheerio' there from the Ulster fans. Wonder is the HEC success going to their heads? Careful now lads, you might have to play us in the final.

haha you will have some job to get past clermont first, even if its not in michelin they are on of the last teams you want to be away to!

good to see jackson taking over kicking from humpreys so quickly.
and a decent job he is doing too 8-6

eyeball kid

We're giving too many penalties away. Jackson is kicking well.

Diabhal Beag

Lovely try from Duffy

CIARAN_BOYLE

Duffy try

Connacht lead 13-6. How strong is the wind in the sportsground. The commentators talk about Connacht needing a cushion since Connacht will be against the wind in the second half

Burgo

Nice try for Duffy. Dunno wtf terblanche was doing.

thomond2006

Great play from Duffy to hold that pass and good finish.

eyeball kid

How many has Nikora missed at this stage? They could really come back to bite us at the end of this match.

Burgo

eyeball kid wrote: »

How many has Nikora missed at this stage? They could really come back to bite us at the end of this match.

2 conversions.

thomond2006

IMO from a scrum advantage, the advantage should be over once the ball is kicked long.

CIARAN_BOYLE

eyeball kid wrote: »

How many has Nikora missed at this stage? They could really come back to bite us at the end of this match.

Hes 1 from 3

Judgement Day

Connacht are really going well and look dangerous every time they keep possession. Hope they win - and not for betting reasons.

thomond2006

ROG like from Terblanche with that kick.

Judgement Day

Haven't lost my Jonah touch I see.

thomond2006

Acres of space there for Marshall. Silly from Swift to move from the pillar position.

GerM

Taking the reliance on the TMO to ridiculous levels. A clearer grounding won't be seen.

ongarite

Nice conversion. All square now.

Diabhal Beag

Spence is quick out the gates

CIARAN_BOYLE

Marshall off, hurt his arm Pienaar on

Burgo

Marshall off Pienaar on.

thomond2006

Marshall off through injury, Pienaar on! :eek:

Bad news for Connacht methinks.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Jackson still kicking even with Pienaar on

eyeball kid

What happened Marshall?
Another penalty to Ulster with Jackson getting it.
13-16 to Ulster now.

Burgo

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Jackson still kicking even with Pienaar on

Yeah kicking really well.