Connacht vs Ulster, Fri 19 April 7:45pm (TG4/BBC2NI)

thomond2006

CONNACHT:
15. Robbie Henshaw
14. Danie Poolman
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Brian Murphy
11. Gavin Duffy (captain)
10. Dan Parks
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Adrian Flavin
3. Ronan Loughney
4. Michael Swift
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Mick Kearney
7. John Muldoon
8. George Naoupu

Replacements: Ethienne Reynecke, Rodney Ah You, JP Cooney, Andrew Browne, Mata Fifita, Paul O’Donohoe, Miah Nikora, Fetu’u Vainikolo

Ulster XV and replacements to face Connacht, RaboDirect PRO12, The Sportsground, Friday 19th April 2013 (kick off 19.45);
J Payne, A Trimble, D Cave, S Olding, T Bowe, P Jackson, R Pienaar;
T Court, R Best (c), R Lutton, L Stevenson, D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams;

Replacements (16-23): R Herring, C Black, J Afoa, J Muller, I Henderson, P Marshall, M Allen, P Nelson.

Ulster looking for a win that should secure a home semi-final, while Connacht are targeting their best league finish for a number of years.

I'd expect an Ulster win by 7-10 points. Connacht's lineup is strong but Ulster have too much quality. The Ulster bench is mighty with names like Afoa, Muller, Henderson and Paul Marshall to come on late in the game.

its_phil

Ulster win (with BP)

It's the fear for when Afoa comes on. We'll need to be about 10 points ahead if want any chance of winning. Hopefully playing with a strong wind in the second half could help keep Ulster back in their own half.

its_phil

Ulster win (with BP)

Such a shame Faloon is out. I'd say he would be so up for it and has been one of our best players this year

Gambas

Ulster win (with BP)

Ulster's front row options look all the better with Nathan White, JHW and Buckley all missing.

Robbo

Ulster win (with BP)

I haven't feared for a Connacht scrum so much since the days of John Lynne. Bringing on Rodney just isn't an option, especially since he's apparently only semi-fit (insert joke here about when was he ever fit) at present. Serious quality in that Ulster team.

Won't be able to make this one so I get to scream at the telly.

freyners

honestly I would rather we give Bealham a shot before Rodney but 21 years old is no time to have to face Afoa.

I can see us sneaking a win if we can start well. Loss of Faloon and McKeon really really hurt us though

bilston

Ulster win (with BP)

I'm nervy enough about this one. Losing there last year was disappointing, although it has to be said this is a far stronger team that we have out this year and this is our sole focus now. In saying that Connacht are stronger too.

The one thing we have is a strong bench so we have the ability to change things round if needs be, however in an ideal world Muller and Henderson won't be used. I'm surprised Gilroy has been rested completely. We've no game next week so surely that's time enough for a break. Nelson is a good young player who impressed last week against the Dragons but Gilroy would offer more from the bench in an important game like this.

Anyway, if the conditions are fare and we manage to not get bogged down up front I think we'll be too strong but it will be close enough.

Hype710

Gilroy is out with a groin injury.

bilston

Ulster win (with BP)

Hype710 wrote: »

Gilroy is out with a groin injury.

Hadn't picked that up. Cheers.

errlloyd

Is marmion the only player in the provinces to have started every game this season. Certainly an impressive record.

I haven't seen much of him since the start of the season, how do people think it's gone, is he getting better with experience or has he plateaued slightly

irishbucsfan

errlloyd wrote: »

Is marmion the only player in the provinces to have started every game this season. Certainly an impressive record.

I haven't seen much of him since the start of the season, how do people think it's gone, is he getting better with experience or has he plateaued slightly

It's really impressive.

He has gone from "that dodgy English fella on the 20s" to a very important part of Connacht rugby in less than a year. A great time for him. Hopefully he gets rewarded this summer.

opinionatedfan

yeah Marmion's career really has taken off, hope he keeps it up.

bilston

Ulster win (with BP)

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It's really impressive.

He has gone from "that dodgy English fella on the 20s" to a very important part of Connacht rugby in less than a year. A great time for him. Hopefully he gets rewarded this summer.

Do you not mean "that dodgy English fella who is keeping the good honest Irish wunderkid out of the team on the 20s"?;)

I haven't watched much of Connacht but most of what I've heard has been positive, it's just good to see some good scrum halves beginning to emerge.

irishbucsfan

bilston wrote: »

Do you not mean "that dodgy English fella who is keeping the good honest Irish wunderkid out of the team on the 20s"?;)

I haven't watched much of Connacht but most of what I've heard has been positive, it's just good to see some good scrum halves beginning to emerge.

My memory isn't the best but I think I'm referring to the season before McGrath was around, wasn't Marmion involved that year as well?

bilston

Ulster win (with BP)

irishbucsfan wrote: »

My memory isn't the best but I think I'm referring to the season before McGrath was around, wasn't Marmion involved that year as well?

Yep, he was indeed.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Ulster win (with BP)

irishbucsfan wrote: »

My memory isn't the best but I think I'm referring to the season before McGrath was around, wasn't Marmion involved that year as well?

rotated with cooney iirc

Podge_irl

Is Marmion English? What's his irish connection so?

irishbucsfan

Podge_irl wrote: »

Is Marmion English? What's his irish connection so?

I don't know if he's actually English, he's definintely an exile. All exiles=English in my mind.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Ulster win (with BP)

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I don't know if he's actually English, he's definintely an exile. All exiles=English in my mind.

I think he was playing for University of Cardiff (and Ireland U20) before being picked up by Connacht

EDIT:Welsh Born to two Irish parents
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kieran_Marmion

Zzippy

Robbo wrote: »

I haven't feared for a Connacht scrum so much since the days of John Lynne. Bringing on Rodney just isn't an option, especially since he's apparently only semi-fit (insert joke here about when was he ever fit) at present. Serious quality in that Ulster team.

Won't be able to make this one so I get to scream at the telly.

Lutton is an unknown quantity, and with Swifty and Macca in the row there's a bit of heft behind the starting front row. If Rodney has to come on though - up against Afoa! :eek:

Two teams about as strong as they can pick from their squads at the minute, think Ulster's bench quality will be the difference. Also hope Brian Murphy doesn't get opened up like he did against Munster or we could be in for a torrid evening...

thomond2006

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

I think he was playing for University of Cardiff (and Ireland U20) before being picked up by Connacht

EDIT:Welsh Born to two Irish parents
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kieran_Marmion

Well done Irish Exiles programme!

Gambas

Ulster win (with BP)

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It's really impressive.

He has gone from "that dodgy English fella on the 20s" to a very important part of Connacht rugby in less than a year. A great time for him. Hopefully he gets rewarded this summer.

I dunno. He's been consistently decent, but scrum half is an odd position in that the two number 9's rarely actually engage each other despite being central to the game. And more times than I'd like this season the opposition no 9 has been better. We've seen the likes of Care, Fotuali'i and even old man Stringer give masterclasses at the Sportsground this year. He offers little threat with box kicks. On the plus side he's feisty, good at sniping, decent in defence, consistent in his passing and level of performance. But far from the finished article.

Hype710

Fotuail'i is one of the best in the world, Care is one of the best in Europe and Stringer is a 98 cap veteran. Marmion is a 21 year old playing in his first professional season. Bit of perspective needed.

Zzippy

Gambas wrote: »

I dunno. He's been consistently decent, but scrum half is an odd position in that the two number 9's rarely actually engage each other despite being central to the game. And more times than I'd like this season the opposition no 9 has been better. We've seen the likes of Care, Fotuali'i and even old man Stringer give masterclasses at the Sportsground this year. He offers little threat with box kicks. On the plus side he's feisty, good at sniping, decent in defence, consistent in his passing and level of performance. But far from the finished article.

He's just turned 21, and in his first season of senior rugby. Give the lad a break. For his age and experience he has been excellent this season. The rest will come with coaching and experience.

Tox56

Ulster win (with BP)

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It's really impressive.

He has gone from "that dodgy English fella on the 20s" to a very important part of Connacht rugby in less than a year. A great time for him. Hopefully he gets rewarded this summer.

It is actually remarakble because even as recently as the 2012 U20 Six Nations many people (including myself) were less than impressed with him, and he was actually dropped after the first few games for a 2 years underage McGrath, who was far from the finished article himself.

He did make the jersey his own at the JWC, but it just shows how good players in this country can be when given a chance, I don't think he would have got much of a look in with the other provinces and who knows what could have become of him. Makes you wonder how many hidden gems there are around the place

Gambas

Ulster win (with BP)

Hype710 wrote: »

Fotuail'i is one of the best in the world, Care is one of the best in Europe and Stringer is a 98 cap veteran. Marmion is a 21 year old playing in his first professional season. Bit of perspective needed.

Yeah, that's a fair enough comment. I didn't intend the post to be critical of him (but can see how it could be read that way) just to point out that he has a long way to go. He's had a very good first full season for sure.

wp_rathead

Ulster win (with BP)

thomond2006 wrote: »

CONNACHT:


Replacements: Ethienne Reynecke, Rodney Ah You, JP Cooney, Andrew Browne, Mata Fifita, Paul O’Donohoe, Miah Nikora, Fetu’u Vainikolo

Ulster

Replacements: R Herring, C Black, J Afoa, J Muller, I Henderson, P Marshall, M Allen, P Nelson.

This is where game will be lost by Connacht imo
Poor bench at the worst times, never mind up against a bench consisting of Afoa, Henderson and Marshall..
I only have confidence in Browne and Vainikolo to make a positive impact for us..

awec

Ulster win (with BP)

Hope it's a cracker and a nice win for Ulster.

Some bench we have.

Sinbad_NI

Ulster win (with BP)

Zzippy wrote: »

Lutton is an unknown quantity, and with Swifty and Macca in the row there's a bit of heft behind the starting front row. If Rodney has to come on though - up against Afoa! :eek:

Two teams about as strong as they can pick from their squads at the minute, think Ulster's bench quality will be the difference. Also hope Brian Murphy doesn't get opened up like he did against Munster or we could be in for a torrid evening...

Lutton had been pretty strong this last while, especially considering the quality opposition.
No real concern with that call. Especially considering the air miles Afoa's picked up recently.

Roll on another IP.

.ak

awec wrote: »

Hope it's a cracker and a nice win for Ulster.

Some bench we have.

Connacht to replicate their early season success against last year's league leaders by demolishing this year's league leaders? COYBIG...

awec

Ulster win (with BP)

.ak wrote: »

Connacht to replicate their early season success against last year's league leaders by demolishing this year's league leaders? COYBIG...

.ak

... He doesn't even play for Ulster, he's not South African even....

Podge_irl

With the RDS thing I no longer really mind who wins this. Second or first makes no real difference to us.

Have a feeling Ulster's bench will see them through anyway.

Tox56

Ulster win (with BP)

Podge_irl wrote: »

With the RDS thing I no longer really mind who wins this. Second or first makes no real difference to us.

Have a feeling Ulster's bench will see them through anyway.

Might not be so important anymore with the playoffs but topping the league 3 of the last 4 years would be a great achievement for Leinster imo

.ak

Podge_irl wrote: »

With the RDS thing I no longer really mind who wins this. Second or first makes no real difference to us.

Have a feeling Ulster's bench will see them through anyway.

True. But I'll have confused thoughts attending an away game in the RDS....

.ak

Actually I can see the #makeRDShome tweets already...

Podge_irl

.ak wrote: »

True. But I'll have confused thoughts attending an away game in the RDS....

Wouldn't actually make any difference to us though would it. Its a clean stadium anyway.

The players might be confused about being in the away dressing room though!

Edit: whoops, totally hijacking this. Go Connacht!

awec

Ulster win (with BP)

I have my D4Tress, Williams on Fire and In Fez We Trust banners ready.

its_phil

Ulster win (with BP)

.ak wrote: »

True. But I'll have confused thoughts attending an away game in the RDS....

The awkward moment when the Scarlets knock Leinster out is a thing I see forthcoming...

mayolad93

Ulster win (with BP)

I cant see Connacht winning unfortunately, even with a fairly strong lineup and home advantage. Ulster's starting lineup and bench just both look too strong. I can see us getting a LBP out of the game, but nothing more. We should give them a better test than Dragons did for sure though.

Dave_The_Sheep

Tox56 wrote: »

Might not be so important anymore with the playoffs but topping the league 3 of the last 4 years would be a great achievement for Leinster imo

I'd trade it for three 4th place spots and a Final win to be honest. Sick of being at losing finals. But that's OT.

Funk It

Henshaw out, Duffy moves to fullback:

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2013041983287/late-change-to-connacht-team

Hype710

Is TOH out of favour?

sixy

Don't know if this is allowed or not but does anyone have a stream if you are outside the uk or Ireland ?

jacothelad

Paul O'Connell

.ak wrote: »

... He doesn't even play for Ulster, he's not South African even....

Yes. We need to get our Saffer numbers down to Leinster's level.......Oh! That's right. We have.......:D:D:D

awec

Ulster win (with BP)

The tv angle in Galway is too low.

Anyway, first scrum, pen to the greens.

AngeGal

PM stream please?

decisions

Great try from George.

awec

Ulster win (with BP)

Try connacht. Pienaar, what the hell?

errlloyd

Marmion did well

awec

Ulster win (with BP)

Pienaar should have just sunk his boot in to it.