HEC Round 6 - Leicester Tigers v Ulster Rugby, 18/01/2014 18:00 Welford Road, SS2

awec

|
Jared Payne | Matthew Tait
Andrew Trimble | Niall Morris
Darren Cave | Matt Smith
Luke Marshall | Anthony Allen
Craig Gilroy | Vereniki Goneva
Paddy Jackson | Toby Flood
Ruan Pienaar | Ben Youngs
Callum Black | Marcos Ayerza
Rory Best | Tom Youngs
John Afoa | Dan Cole
Johann Muller | Ed Slater
Dan Tuohy | Graham Kitchener
Roger Wilson | Jamie Gibson
Chris Henry | Julian Salvi
Nick Williams | Jordan Crane
Replacements | Replacements
Rob Herring | Rob Hawkins
Tom Court | Boris Stankovich
Ricky Lutton | Fraser Balmain
Iain Henderson | Louis Deacon
Robbie Diack | Steve Mafi
Paul Marshall | David Mele
David McIlwaine | Owen Williams
Michael Allen | Scott Hamilton

Ulster travel to Welford Road in what is surely the tie of the round in this years Heineken Cup. With the winners of this game being guaranteed a home quarter final and the loser likely facing a trip to France both teams will be going all out for the win. In Ulsters case a win would guarantee them top seeding and would see them complete the group stage as the only team to win all 6 of their fixtures.

Ulster are coming off a home win against Montpellier where a performance hampered by mistakes saw them fail to pick up a try bonus point. A big improvement will be required from the team in what is their most important and most difficult fixture of the season so far and will be seen by many as an opportunity to lay down their intentions for their season.

Craig Gilroy has been declared as fit and available after breaking his nose last week, with Nick Williams and Ian Henderson both picking up valuable game time during the win over Montpellier. Williams starts again with Roger Wilson slotting in at 6, Robbie Diack moves to the bench.

Ulster are likely to have the edge over their opponents in the back line, however the under-performing Ulster pack is an area of concern. The past few fixtures have seen some high profile and notable errors from the pack, not least in their defence of mauls. No doubt an area the Tigers will look to exploit.

Tom Court drops to the bench for Ulster who are also without Declan Fitzpatrick to injury, Ricky Lutton taking his spot behind John Afoa.

Prediction

Ulster win, Leicester to get LBP.

.ak

Should be the game of the weekend. Looking forward to it! Mon Ulster.

former legend

Leicester Tigers
15. Matthew Tait; 14. Niall Morris, 13. Matt Smith, 12. Anthony Allen, 11. Vereniki Goneva; 10. Toby Flood (c), 9. Ben Youngs; 1. Marcos Ayerza, 2. Tom Youngs, 3. Dan Cole, 4. Ed Slater, 5. Graham Kitchener, 6. Jamie Gibson, 7. Julian Salvi, 8. Jordan Crane
16. Rob Hawkins, 17. Boris Stankovich, 18. Fraser Balmain, 19. Louis Deacon, 20. Steve Mafi, 21. David Mele, 22. Owen Williams, 23. Scott Hamilton

Ulster Rugby
15. Jared Payne; 14. Andrew Trimble, 13. Darren Cave, 12. Luke Marshall, 11. Craig Gilroy; 10. Paddy Jackson, 9. Ruan Pienaar; 1. Callum Black, 2. Rory Best, 3. John Afoa, 4. Johann Muller (c), 5. Dan Tuohy, 6. Roger Wilson, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Nick Williams
16. Rob Herring, 17. Tom Court, 18. Ricky Lutton, 19. Iain Henderson, 20. Robbie Diack, 21. Paul Marshall, 22. David McIlwaine, 23. Michael Allen

Gilroy passed fit, no Miles Benjamin for Leicester.

Callum Black ahead of Court? No Fitzpatrick either.

thomond2006

I cannot wait for this match!

Quint2010

Why was Diack dropped? Called up for Ireland and then dropped for Ulster!

Buer

Unless Diack is carrying a knock I cannot understand that move at all. Wilson hasn't been nearly as good this season.

awec

Diack has played loads of rugby the past while.

DGRulz

Had to come hear to check the Leicester team. The Ultimate Rugby app was listing Tom Croft at hooker!

jamiedav2011

The lineout battle will be fascinating. Some serious jumpers in that Tigers team.

Digifriendly

Why no Miles Benjamin in Leicester line up? He has been on a hot scoring streak recently.

former legend

Digifriendly wrote: »

Why no Miles Benjamin in Leicester line up? He has been on a hot scoring streak recently.

Injured. Goneva is excellent but has played more in the centre. Big boost for Ulster.

bilston

awec wrote: »

Diack has played loads of rugby the past while.

True but this is the biggest game of the season so far.

I think it must tactical, not sure what Anscombe is trying to achieve though but it can hardly be a form call as Diack has been excellent recently.

bilston

former legend wrote: »

Injured. Goneva is excellent but has played more in the centre. Big boost for Ulster.

In some respects I'd prefer Goneva to be in the centre as I think Marshall and Cave are good for him but I'd be less sure about our wingers against him, so while he may not be as comfortable he will be a threat. I expect Pienaar and Jackson to target him aerially though.

awec

bilston wrote: »

True but this is the biggest game of the season so far.

I think it must tactical, not sure what Anscombe is trying to achieve though but it can hardly be a form call as Diack has been excellent recently.

MA taking a big risk for sure. He'll be questioned if it doesn't work.

.ak

awec wrote: »

Diack has played loads of rugby the past while.

Doesn't matter if he's played ever minute of the season, you don't drop him for this game. Must've cried off.

jamiedav2011

former legend wrote: »

Injured. Goneva is excellent but has played more in the centre. Big boost for Ulster.

On the other hand, Benjamin was utterly awful in the return fixture and can be gotten at with smart kicking.

awec

.ak wrote: »

Doesn't matter if he's played ever minute of the season, you don't drop him for this game. Must've cried off.

Don't think he has cried off, but there was a lot of discussion about the back row for this game.

awec

2 and a bit hours to go. Nerves are shot.

sixy

I cannot wait for this game, gonna be physical!

Bridge93

Feel as a Leinster fan I have to be up for Leicester, as it gives us a chance of drawing them next rather than a French side.

.ak

Bridge93 wrote: »

Feel as a Leinster fan I have to be up for Leicester, as it gives us a chance of drawing them next rather than a French side.

I've pretty much accepted it as fact we'll be away to a french side... I want to see ulster win this one! Gonna be cracker.

bilston

Bridge93 wrote: »

Feel as a Leinster fan I have to be up for Leicester, as it gives us a chance of drawing them next rather than a French side.

Booooo!

bilston

May have to Sky plus and watch later as apparently Peppa Pig has to be on TV between 7 and 7:30 in our house...

.ak

bilston wrote: »

May have to Sky plus and watch later as apparently Peppa Pig has to be on TV between 7 and 7:30 in our house...

Tell your kid peppa pig is dead.

bilston

.ak wrote: »

Tell your kid peppa pig is dead.

Is she?

Buer

bilston wrote: »

Is she?

Foot and mouth. Tragic. Whole family wiped out.

Fireball07

I'd have thought Henderson would have been more likely to get the nod at 6 than Wilson, who is an 8 really.

Bridge93

bilston wrote: »

Booooo!

You know what you're right. I wouldn't be able to look at myself the same way if I supported an English team against an Irish one!
As ak said realistically we are going to France regardless.
Let's go Ulster!

awec

bilston wrote: »

May have to Sky plus and watch later as apparently Peppa Pig has to be on TV between 7 and 7:30 in our house...

:pac::pac:

Ah bilston..

Dravokivich

bilston wrote: »

May have to Sky plus and watch later as apparently Peppa Pig has to be on TV between 7 and 7:30 in our house...

I'd postpone peppa pig and ask the kid what did they think they had for breakfast!

thomond2006

Seems windy on the TV!

Sinbad_NI

Here we go... c'mon Ulster.

ScissorPaperRock

Very excited for this.

Just hope Ulster can hold their own up front.

awec

Come on Ulster!

errlloyd

Is this the second time we've had myles and Stuart today or am I going nuts.

awec

Leicester penalty from the scrum.

Afoa hits the deck.

phog

Gwan Ulster, be great to see them beat Leicester in their backyard.

awec

3-0. Flood.

Buer

Leicester looking very up for it physically. This was always going to be the way. Ulster need to match them in contact.

its_phil

Do you not have to take it clean to call a mark?

Sinbad_NI

Ulster set pieces creaking already.

awec

its_phil wrote: »

Do you not have to take it clean to call a mark?

It was a free kick I think. Not sure why.

awec

6-0

Taco Corp

its_phil wrote: »

Do you not have to take it clean to call a mark?

I thought that to so I looked it up. Law 18 says clean catch and Taits was far from clean

its_phil

awec wrote: »

It was a free kick I think. Not sure why.

Calling a mark wins you a free kick IIRC

Sinbad_NI

6-3

Kanrith

Nice kick.

awec

6-3. Pienaar.

vienne86

Leicester look dangerous. Can't give them a chance at all. Ulster will have to be disciplined.

shuffol

Rubbish from Gilroy there. Never on.

awec

shuffol wrote: »

Rubbish from Gilroy there. Never on.

Hopefully learnt his lesson there, can't be trying to run it in those situations.