Cardiff Blues v Ulster Rugby 19/09/14 Cardiff Arms Park 1935 BBC2NI

awec

|
R Patchell|L Ludik
A Cuthbert|A Trimble
A Thomas|D Cave
G Evans|S Olding
R Smith|T Bowe
G Davies|P Jackson
L Jones|P Marshall
S Hobbs|A Warwick
M Rees (c)|R Best (c)
A Jones|W Herbst
J Hoeata|D Tuohy
F Paulo|F Van der Merwe
J Turnbull|R Diack
J Navidi|C Henry
M Vosawai|N Williams
Replacements|Replacements
R Williams|R Herring
T Filise|C Black
S Andrews|B Ross
M Cook|N McComb
E Jenkins|R Wilson
L Williams|M Heaney
C Allen|I Humphreys
G Walsh|C Gilroy

Ulster travel to the Cardiff Arms Park off the back of a home victory against Zebre. Ulster won convincingly despite ever reaching top gear against the Italians, the game full of mistakes that more quality opposition would have exploited. Les Kiss' men will be looking to improve this week in what is sure to be a much tougher test.

Winger Tommy Bowe and out half Paddy Jackson return for Ulster to complete what looks to be a very tasty back line. Ruan Pienaar and arguably Jared Payne are two absentees that would prevent it from being named Ulster's preferred 9-15 line up but the province now have some genuine strength in depth here thanks to the summer arrival of Luis Ludik and the return from injury of the much hyped Stuart Olding.

Michael Heaney, Ian Humpreys and Craig Gilroy sit on the bench to complete the backs, Gilroy especially will be seen as an impact sub with Marshall and Jackson sure to be replaced by Heaney and Humphries at some point in the game.

Up front Ulster have what many would consider to be their first choice pairing in the second row, with Neil McComb on the bench. Ian Henderson is a notable omission here and will surely be in the Ulster team every week he is fit, be that the second or back row.

Ulster's strength in the forwards is clearly their weakness if it can be called a weakness, unfortunately not having the same depth as they do in the backs department.

Cardiff come into the game fresh from a tanking by Glasgow on their own patch last week. This will be two tough games in a row for the Welsh side and I am sure they'll be looking to react to last weeks disappointment.

Prediction
Ulster should have enough to see this game out. If the Ulster back line can get itself up to speed and the Ulster forwards can get a hold of the game then Cardiff are in for a miserable night.

Ulster to win, perhaps even a try bonus point.

molloyjh

I approve of this table. :cool:

I think Ulster should target the TBP. I didn't see the Glasgow game last week, but it sounds like Cardiff were pretty poor. They'll look to up it a bit tonight as a result but I really like that Ulster line-up.

former legend

It's somewhat depressing that Ulster can be going to Cardiff and a BP win is a realistic objective, it would be better for all of us if the Welsh could sort their sh*t out, but yeah, hard to see past a win here.

bilston

We can argue the toss over Black v Warwick and Wilson v Williams but with Hendy out for the forseeable future this is our strongest pack in action tonight. Therefore they have to prove they can provide quality possession for what is a really talented backline. Obvioualy Pienaar and Payne are missing but this is a strong side.

Hopefully Jackson finds his touches early on and if he does and if our scrum and lineout show well then we will win the game.

I never predict away TBP so I'm hoping for a 10 point win. Say 21-31 to Ulster in which case a TBP may or may noy take care of itself.

mfceiling

If my piece of junk UPC box decides not to bother taping this tonight, i will take my sledgehammer from the shed and smash it to smithereens...

Oh yeah the game....hope to see some good backline moves tonight - we should be aiming to have the win boxed off about 60 - 65 mins - everything after that is gravy.

WTO

Lovely preview awec. Is that an inaugural effort? Or maybe you were the original table man and molloyjh snatched the copyright in the dead of night. But which game will you watch live...

molloyjh

mfceiling wrote: »

If my piece of junk UPC box decides not to bother taping this tonight, i will take my sledgehammer from the shed and smash it to smithereens...

Oh yeah the game....hope to see some good backline moves tonight - we should be aiming to have the win boxed off about 60 - 65 mins - everything after that is gravy.

Gravy...

Also WTO I resent the suggestion I stole anything from awec on any night. :pac:

mfceiling

molloyjh wrote: »

Gravy...

Also WTO I resent the suggestion I stole anything from awec on any night. :pac:

Where did you obtain this picture of me molloy??

The resemblance is uncanny!!

awec

Oh wow, the BBC have new Ulster Rugby title music etc. We are massive.

awec

0-3.

Jackson penalty after Warwick bate Adam Jones out of the scrum.

Tox56

awec wrote: »

0-3.

Jackson penalty after Warwick bate Adam Jones out of the scrum.

Flicked over and saw that, Jones really is done at this point, that was embarrassing

mfceiling

Marshall the blind side? Really?

awec

mfceiling wrote: »

Marshall the blind side? Really?

You watching about 10 mins behind?

awec

Ouch. Robbie Diack just got nailed. :pac:

mfceiling

Middlin hands there

Swan Curry

Christ,some of Marshall's passes are desperate.

bilston

Shocking from Marshall nearly cost us with a great counter from Patchell.

awec

6-3.

Ulster been pish for about 15 minutes now.

mfceiling

Marshall can you stay at the back of every scrum from now thanks...

awec

6-6.

Jackson pen again.

awec

6 - 9 Ulster back in the lead.

Ulster need to commit more to rucks - lost the ball a few times there due to too much dicking about at ruck time.

awec

9-12 half time.

Fair to say a bonus point isn't happening.

awec

TRY Ulster!!

Dan Tuohy.


Finally! First proper line break, big gap in the Cardiff defence that the Titanic could have sailed through.

9-19

awec

Dan Tuohy off holding the arm he broke and looks in serious pain.

This would be bad. Very, very bad.

awec

TRY!!!

Humphreys interception.

mfceiling

Keep me updated awec...tele off limits now for the next while...

awec

Full time.

Cardiff 9 - 26 Ulster

Sanjuro

awec wrote: »

Full time.

Cardiff 9 - 26 Ulster

Any word on Tuohy

awec

Sanjuro wrote: »

Any word on Tuohy

Nothing yet, but he looked in pain and was holding his arm.

Wouldn't be surprised if he has fractured it again, which would leave us screwed with Henderson gone too.

bilston

Really liking our three new Saffers. Also cintinued kudos to Andrew Warwick who looks like he could be a fixture in the team for quite some time to come.

One the downside the backs didn't get going, but they will, of that I'm sure. Paul Marshall was indifferent which didn't help. Disappointing to see Dan Tuohy injured. We could be in trouble in the row. Van Der Merwe and Stevenson will do ok but after that there isn't a lot!

The thing is though it's a decent win and from our first three games this season I think we are now 6 points in credit from last year so onwards and upwards.

S***e game though...

former legend

awec wrote: »

Nothing yet, but he looked in pain and was holding his arm.

Wouldn't be surprised if he has fractured it again, which would leave us screwed with Henderson gone too.

Fracture not confirmed but looks likely
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/ulster-s-dan-tuohy-facing-lengthy-lay-off-1.1935657

bilston

So our second row options will be Van Der Merwe, Stevenson and McComb. Below that there is Alan O'Connor. Is James Simpson still about. John Donnan may get a chance too.

Alternatively we may see Diack as cover there but then we aren't exactly coming down with numbers in the back row either.

irishbucsfan

It would be nice to see Alan O'Connor get a chance.

Obviously he's from Leinster originally, so he's more naturally gifted than the majority of the Ulster squad, so this may actually end up proving to be a stroke of rather good luck for Ulster.

Sinbad_NI

Big Nick was out on his feet after 50 mins. Could barely walk back into the line. Not looking forward to when he has to play a full game.

jacothelad

Sinbad_NI wrote: »

Big Nick was out on his feet after 50 mins. Could barely walk back into the line. Not looking forward to when he has to play a full game.

Like last week.......

bilston

Sinbad_NI wrote: »

Big Nick was out on his feet after 50 mins. Could barely walk back into the line. Not looking forward to when he has to play a full game.

I think he has a dodgy knee.

I wonder if we will get a look at Lorcan Dow this season.