HEC - Ulster Rugby v Leicester Tigers, Friday 11 October 2013 20:00

awec

|
J Payne | N Morris
A Trimble | M Benjamin
D Cave | V Goneva
L Marshall | D Bowden
T Bowe | A Thompstone
P Jackson | T FLOOD
P Marshall | B Youngs
T Court | L Mulipola
R Best | T Youngs
D Fitzpatrick | D Cole
J MULLER | L Deacon
D Tuohy | G Parling
R Wilson | E Slater
C Henry | J Salvi
N Williams | J Crane
Replacements | Replacements
R Herring | N Briggs
C Black | B Stankovich
R Lutton | F Balmain
I Henderson | G Kitchener
R Diack | T Waldrom
R Pienaar | D Mele
S Olding | O Williams
M Allen | T Hepetema

Heineken Cup rugby returns to Ravenhill in what is sure to be a great match up between two strong teams. Ulster will be looking to get a win under their belt after what was ultimately a disappointing end to their Heineken Cup campaign last season. A home loss against Northampton upset the applecart a bit last year so I am sure we will be looking to win every home game this year. A loss tonight would in my view be very bad for Ulster.

The Leicester front 5 may have a slight upperhand on their Ulster counterparts who still have the notable omission of John Afoa at tight head. Ulster's back row is, in my opinion better than the Leicester counterparts.

The Ulster backline is very strong and if it gets in to gear it could enjoy itself tonight.

A big night on the cards for Paul Marshall who has been handed a huge opportunity starting at scrum half. He will need to improve on early season performances which weren't bad but at the same time not excellent. No brain farts please.

Jared Payne returns to his familiar spot at 15 after a few weeks of playing at 13.

Iain Henderson can count himself unlucky to be starting on the bench, but with him due to come on against a tiring Leicester side I predict some monster collisions with him quite literally running through multiple Leicester players at once, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. He has the potential to make a huge impact on this game and given the impact he had against Saracens last season when he came on few would bet against him forcefully putting a few Leicester boys on the deck.

Moving back to the scrum half position, Ulster have Ruan Pienaar on the bench who will likely come on early in the second half. Pienaar is of course not a bad bench option to have. While Iain Henderson will hurt Leicester physically, Pienaar will inflict similar pain with his majestic boot and passing.

Nick Williams, who so far this season has been more Bruce Banner and less the Incredible Hulk that we are used to is another man to watch. Will tonight be the night he transforms back and gets that head bouncing?

Mike Allen, who has had a strong start to the season is a good wing bench option for Ulster.

Here's hoping that come 80 minutes tonight Ulster fans are singing Swing Low once again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jn9gK2OXvY

Prediction

Ben Youngs to be wound up all night. Heart says bonus point win, head says Ulster by less than 7.

NorthernRaider

Pienaar, Henderson, Olding and Allen on the bench - great talent in those four! Think Olding and Henderson are very unlucky - won't be long until they are both fixtures in this, and the Ireland, team.

SUFTUM!

awec

@McIlroyRory: Hard to believe I haven't #SUFTUM...ed for over a year! Excited to see the new Ravenhill tonight and witness another big @UlsterRugby win!


McIlroy attending first Ulster match for a year on the same week Pienaar signs a new 3 year deal. Let the rumours fly! :pac:

NorthernRaider

If Afoa stays, that would really add fuel to the fire!!

Gerry91

What's Morris like as a FB? Don't tell me Tait's injured AGAIN?

Ulster BP win, I'll be positive

Swiwi.

awec wrote: »

Here's hoping that come 80 minutes tonight Ulster fans are singing Swing Low once again.

Nice! Is this the first time ever a Mod has done a match preview?

Sinbad_NI

C'mon Ulster.

danthefan

I am rather looking forward to this one.

.ak

Love Heineken Cup weekends. This should prove to be a cracker of an opener.

19543261

CRUSH 'EM.

Artful_Badger

Last few opening weekends have been epic. Really looking forward to this.

mfceiling

Lovely preview Awec...

Feet getting prepared here for an evening perched on the coffee table.

SUFTUM...

awec

Curry? Check.
Beer? Check.
Nobody else in the house? Check.
TV on. Check.

COME ON ULSTER!

awec

"They come out of that dressing room and they are crazy men those Ulster boys, smashing in to the breakdown"

Damn right Will Greenwood. :cool:

phog

Finding this hard to call as I haven't seen much of Leicester this season and of course you have Romain Poite to contend with.

Anyeay, Best of Luck to Ulster.

efb

Will be tuning in the computer later

phog

http://www.cascadecrossmedia.co.uk/MIN_Ulster_Rugby@Register Digital match day programme

Swiwi.

efb wrote: »

Will be tuning in the computer later

Cool! Can't speak for others, but you need to change your location :eek:

P_1

M Poite with the whistle, sacre bleu :eek:

Grandpa Hassan

C'mon Leicester!!!!!

thomond2006

How awful was that kick from Benjamin?!

awec

Ah Tommy

Mahatma Geansai

Disappointing from Bowe there. Some nice play from the Northies.

ScissorPaperRock

Ahhhh that should have been a try!!!!!!

Uncharacteristic from Bowe

Mahatma Geansai

Is Williams often used in the lineout? :O

awec

Beat in that scrum.

ScissorPaperRock

F***

awec

Bollocks. That's what happens when you butcher try opportunities, up the other end and they get one. :mad:

thomond2006

ho ho game on now

That was a great break by Flood in the buildup

awec

0-7 Leicester.

Right, early blip. Extract the fingers, let's get going.

efb

Well taken con

Mahatma Geansai

Ah Trimble, you simple simple man.

jamiedav2011

Miles Benjamin is a serious weak link in that Leicester team.

Swiwi.

Ulster need to cut out the unforced errors if they want to win this one.

efb

Great Jackson Bowe try

Swiwi.

Ah, nothing like a bit of GAA skill to get things going...well done, Tommy.

Glass Prison 1214

Good try, Jackson has started well.

thomond2006

Wonderful try. Bowe had that catch all night long.

Jackson has been impressive so far.

awec

FECKING BRILLIANT! BOWE!

Big Nick got the head banging, Jackson graced it with his boot and Bowe planted her on the deck.

Much better.

ScissorPaperRock

Pure class from Jackson and Bowe

Jackson having a stormer from the boot so far

SuprSi

What a brilliant kick and try

efb

Sweet con

Mahatma Geansai

Great try and Jackson even gets the kick. Just keep it up for a few more weeks and the irish jersey is yours.

thomond2006

Nails the conversion. G'man Paddy.

Swan Curry

That Leicester maul is a serious weapon.

jamiedav2011

Great game this, both 10s looking immense so far. Flood can be top 5 in the world when he's on form.

Swiwi.

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Great try and Jackson even gets the kick. Just keep it up for a few more weeks and the irish jersey is yours.

Cough. Sexton. Cough.

Jackson has started well though, I agree.

awec

Marshall gives Wilson a hospital pass ffs.

jamiedav2011

Unfortunately, that sort of stuff is not in any way 'unlike' Trimble.

Mahatma Geansai

Ah Jaysus Trimble. That's the 3rd mess up so far today for him. He'd be brilliant if he had the top 6 inches.

molloyjh

What the hell does "keep it straight to the feet" mean!? Seriously, someone get that man English lessons.