Match Thread - Leinster v Ulster - RDS Arena - Fri 27 November 19:35 | TG4 BBC NI

27-11-2015 11:36am #1

Black Friday indeed.

As fixtures go in the pro12, a local darby between two top 5 teams is always one that comes with extra expectation and after two home European humiliations for both teams it would be fair to expect a more tense encounter today.

The pro12 is starting to shake up a bit now with seven rounds already out of the way and the internationals rotated back in for the most part. With two rounds of European rugby also accounted for it's time for the provinces to show where they are over the next 10 weeks.

Venue
Leinster for a long time were pretty much unbeatable in the RDS but sadly the D4tress has had it's moat evaporated by dragons and it's gate rammed down by wasps. Ulster shouldn't fear coming down and should bring a vocal contingent of their own.

Teams
Both sides have injury worries and whilst Leinster welcome back MikeMcCarthy they continue to be without Sean O'Brien who has been our best performing player this season and Richard O'Strauss who some would say fills the number two spot.

Officials
A rumour filtered through this morning that a number of fans, players and a moderator on a popular rugby forum made a formal complaint to the league about Lacey reffing this game. Supposedly Lacey charged into the Ulster team hotel early this morning and made quite an outburst. This has gone viral and holywood actor john tuturro has video'd an artistic interpretation of the tirade and what Lacey said to the Ulster players:

NSFW:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idBhoV01ryo

Verdict
I think Leinster should clinch this, but both teams could really do with winning this game so it's hard to know. One thing is for sure, if the Leinster Scrum falls apart like it did against Wasps then Ulster should be able to press advantage.

It will be a Black Friday for one of these teams, but I'm calling it Leinster by 5

Larbre34 · 27-11-2015 11:51am

Thanks for the preview and the Lacey thing is funny, but that video isn't really on as kids read the forum.

27-11-2015 11:57am

Larbre34 wrote: »

Thanks for the preview and the Lacey thing is funny, but that video isn't really on as kids read the forum.

I'll spoiler it as NSFW maybe?

former total · 27-11-2015 11:59am

Deleted User wrote: »

I'll spoiler it as NSFW maybe?

Yes, nothing deters kids like telling them they shouldn't look at something...

errlloyd · 27-11-2015 12:11pm

God help the world when the kids posting the rugby board find After Hours.

Emperor1989 · 27-11-2015 12:32pm

Great to see Luke McGrath get a game....he could be a real difference maker for this backline tonight.

molloyjh · 27-11-2015 1:05pm

The table is an image. Fail.

27-11-2015 1:07pm

molloyjh wrote: »

The table is an image. Fail.

Yeah I couldn't get it to look right, ended up having to copy paste and I knew you wouldn't approve so I put team colour side bars on them just to keep the Jolly Hipster happy.

irishbucsfan · 27-11-2015 1:07pm

molloyjh wrote: »

The table is an image. Fail.

And it doesn't even use the players twitter handles!

Utah_Saint · 27-11-2015 1:47pm

Leinster by 7.....

colster · 27-11-2015 2:05pm

Isa in for Rob Kearney
http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/news/14284.php#.VlhihljhCK4

Stheno · 27-11-2015 2:06pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

And it doesn't even use the players twitter handles!

That is a good thing surely, no?

thomond2006 · 27-11-2015 2:06pm

The weather has turned sour after a clear morning.

CatFromHue · 27-11-2015 2:09pm

I think it's meant to clear up this evening/tonight but Met Eireann regularly update their forecasts so that could change the next time they look out their window

27-11-2015 2:09pm

Stheno wrote: »

That is a good thing surely, no?

#sure_is

27-11-2015 2:09pm

CatFromHue wrote: »

I think it's meant to clear up this evening/tonight but Met Eireann regularly update their forecasts so that could change the next time they look out their window

Yeah and worse still, it looks like the ants are back

former total · 27-11-2015 2:17pm

Nacewa coming in for Kearney doesn't weaken us, and if RK gets another week to rest his immaculate glutes, then all the better.

Poor old Zane must be wondering if he's ever going to wear 15 again.

bilston · 27-11-2015 3:06pm

The Ulster back row need to perform tonight. Big opportunity for Reidy to show whether he is up to it or not.

Big chance for McCloskey to play his way into Schmidt's thoughts too. But he needs to cut out the errors. I'd say Jackson and Cave will have a point to prove.

Alas I think the Leinster back row will be the difference.

Leinster by 10.