HEC: Ulster vs Northampton Saints, Fri 7 Dec 8pm; Live on Sky Sports 2

thomond2006

Northampton Saints:
15 Ben Foden, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Dom Waldouck, 11 Jamie Elliott, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Martin Roberts,
8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Samu Manoa, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.

Replacements: 16 Mikey Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Doran-Jones, 19 Mark Sorenson, 20 Phil Dowson, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Steve Myler, 23 Tom May.

Ulster:
15 Jared Payne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar,
8 Roger Wilson , 7 Chris Henry, 6 Iain Henderson, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Johann Muller (c), 3 John Afoa, 2 Rory Best, 1 Tom Court.

Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Callum Black, 18 Ricky Lutton, 19 Robbie Diack, 20 Nick Wiliams, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Luke Marshall, 23 Craig Gilroy.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_8313454,00.html

Watershed game for Ulster, a win here and they will be in pole position going into next weekend. I think a strong impact off the bench will be crucial, there's plenty of gamebreakers in Williams, the Marshalls and Gilroy.

jacothelad

This is the first real test this season against a full on side. It will put Ulster's winning run in perspective. A win will affirm their new status as genuine top line contenders. Even a close loss won't be terrible. A bit of a tonking might loosen the wheel nuts even more than the last three games.

thomond2006

Do you know anything about Ricky Lutton jaco? I'm guessing he's fourth choice tighthead? Is he any good?

jacothelad

thomond2006 wrote: »

Do you know anything about Ricky Lutton jaco? I'm guessing he's fourth choice tighthead? Is he any good?

He's a young guy - 25 or 26 who left here and played for a while at Canterbury. He is on a development contract as far as I know and plays prop and hooker and has played a total of 6 MINUTES for Ulster. I really think he is band aid. Macklin and Fitzpatrick are injured otherwise one of them would be there.

CIARAN_BOYLE

thomond2006 wrote: »

Do you know anything about Ricky Lutton jaco? I'm guessing he's fourth choice tighthead? Is he any good?

4th choice made his debut off the bench last week against Edinburgh

Was the Ulster club player of the year last year on the back of good performances for Belfast Harlequins

Had some time in New Zealand playing in the level below the NPC

PhatPiggins

jacothelad wrote: »

This is the first real test this season against a full on side. It will put Ulster's winning run in perspective. A win will affirm their new status as genuine top line contenders. Even a close loss won't be terrible. A bit of a tonking might loosen the wheel nuts even more than the last three games.

Agree completely, don't think Ulster have been really teasted this season. They've beaten a lot of weak/second string teams in the Rabo. That said I think they'll win tonight and push on to the final. Anscome is proving a swred move, Ulster are playing better rugbyan have a more balanced squad this season. I hate to say it but the tradegy with Nevin Spence seems to have steeled them even more.

thomond2006

Sky Sports' promo videos are pretty awesome!

ScissorPaperRock

Looking forward to this. Classy team and a classy bench for Ulster. Exciting stuff!

CoDy1

Trimble to have a stormer!!

errlloyd

They showing this in 3d. I love rugby in 3d

awec

thomond2006 wrote: »

Sky Sports' promo videos are pretty awesome!

You can really tell the difference between their Sports coverage and the likes of RTE, BBC, ITV etc. They invest a lot in to it and really do put on a great show.



Anyway, COME ON ULSTER!!!!

irishbucsfan

CoDy1 wrote: »

Trimble to have a stormer!!

Wouldn't be surprised to see Pienaar and Jackson pick on Ken Pisi with Trimble chasing him down and smashing him.

Zuffer

Ulster to win. I think they have real quality throughout the team.

ongarite

Come on Ulster. Looks like a cracking atmosphere in Ravenhill.

CoDy1

Jesus, some noise from the crowd!

A-Train

Let off for Ulster, bad kick by Lamb!

CoDy1

ongarite wrote: »

Come on Ulster. Looks like a cracking atmosphere in Ravenhill.

Franklin's Gardens

thomond2006

Lamb with a bad start, uh oh....

Patsy fyre

Serious battle up front
Saints under pressure!

thomond2006

aah if Ruan had controlled that tap there was a try on...

well at least Ulster have a good lineout position now. Saints making a lot of errors so far.

errlloyd

Wow, if that worked

A-Train

Try Ulster, good play!

corny

Thats lovely from Paddy Jackson

awec

Try! Trimble.

duckysauce

fcking class

ongarite

Looks like a cracking try. Great soft chip from Jackson and Trimble touches it down.

thomond2006

noice completely deserved

Saints look very panicky.

thomond2006

Doesn't Pienaar normally take the kicks?

awec

Jackson has taken them for a while I'm pretty sure. But you've put doubt in my head.

duckysauce

Lamb is rattled oh yippee

awec

Wow. What a miss.

ongarite

Another bad miss from Lamb.

Patsy fyre

Lambs having a mare

thomond2006

I've said it before, Saints will never win any silverware with Lamb/Myler. They need to get rid of both and buy someone on the level of Sexton.

CIARAN_BOYLE

thomond2006 wrote: »

Doesn't Pienaar normally take the kicks?

Jackson is ahead of him this season I think though Pienaar does take the odd long one

bad day for goalkicking 0/3 from both teams so far

errlloyd

Dead quiet for kickers. Respect.

awec

I'd have given that kick to Ruan tbh.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Hartley is still standing up in the scrum

corny

Sean Fitzpatrick has to be the most bland analyst there is. Never says anything of consequence.

thomond2006

Lamb on the board.

Swan Curry

thomond2006 wrote: »

I've said it before, Saints will never win any silverware with Lamb/Myler. They need to get rid of both and buy someone on the level of Sexton.

You just had to say it...

awec

3-8 Jackson pen.

thomond2006

Swan Curry wrote: »

You just had to say it...

ha jinxed it alright.

Aboy Paddy, 3-8

awec

Bam!

duckysauce

good boy lamb

thomond2006

PW lucky there, no arms in the tackle.

WinnyThePoo

another lamb miss

thomond2006

Lamb again, oh dear...

They've no other recognised kicker on the field, they might have to take him off if this continues.

A-Train

What a scrum from Ulster! Poor miss touch but after it!

CIARAN_BOYLE

Poor miss for touch after a brilliant scrum

thomond2006

Big scrum penalty won by Ulster! Massive!