Connacht vs Ulster sportsground 18:00 TG4/BBCNI

connemara man

The kick off to the interpros starts in Galway
Ulster on the up
Connacht asking fans to bring the boots just in case

connachta

connemara man wrote: »

The kick off to the interpros starts in Galway
Ulster on the up
Connacht asking fans to bring the boots just in case

Some players likely to come-back for Connacht, some rested for Ulster. Just saying to minor your pessimism Connacht team should be smth like : 1) Loughney 2) Delahunt 3) White 4) Dillane 5) Muldowney 6) Muldoon 7) Connolly 8 ) Mastertson 9 ) Marmion 10) Carty 12) Ronaldson 13) Aki 11) one of Niyi/Parata 14) one of Healy/Poolman (depends on fitness) 15) TOH 16) Heffernan/JHW 17) Bealham 18) Ahyou 19) Browne 20) Heenan/McKeon (Naoupu if both not ready yet) 21) Porter 22) ? (McGinty not far from return in theory) 23) ? (depends on the other backs)

bilston

No idea what team Ulster will have out but there will likely be changes. I'd expect Marshall and Humphreys at half back for a start.

connachta

bilston wrote: »

No idea what team Ulster will have out but there will likely be changes. I'd expect Marshall and Humphreys at half back for a start.

yes pleeeeaase and rest McCloskey, Diack, and McCall too!

S12b

Regardless of teams, lets hope it dry and not blowing a gale.....really looking forward to this one!!

awec

connachta wrote: »

yes pleeeeaase and rest McCloskey, Diack, and McCall too!

I'd say McCloskey being rested is likely. But we have other options in the centre.

connemara man

awec wrote: »

I'd say McCloskey being rested is likely. But we have other options in the centre.

I think you meant too many

connachta

awec wrote: »

I'd say McCloskey being rested is likely. But we have other options in the centre.

I admit it easily, but McCloskey is a particular terror. And don't forget we have Aki

S12b

awec wrote: »

I'd say McCloskey being rested is likely. But we have other options in the centre.

What is the update on Cave? He took a bang to the shoulder against Edinburgh on Dec 4th wasn't it? As many quality centres as ye have, with Olding, Payne and Bowe all out yer down to the bare bones. If Cave isn't fit am I right in saying ye only have McCloskey and Marshall so they would have to play?? Is the young guy Sam Arnold fit at the moment?

What's the story with Chris Henry? Rested last week or injured?

Sorry for all the questions, just trying to get a sense of the team that will be coming down!

LostArt

Looking forward to this game a lot more than the cripple fight that will be Munster v Leinster, think Ulster will just about sneak it

Eponymous

Think Ulster will win it, knocking Connacht's confidence ahead of their trip East. Please?

bilston

S12b wrote: »

What is the update on Cave? He took a bang to the shoulder against Edinburgh on Dec 4th wasn't it? As many quality centres as ye have, with Olding, Payne and Bowe all out yer down to the bare bones. If Cave isn't fit am I right in saying ye only have McCloskey and Marshall so they would have to play?? Is the young guy Sam Arnold fit at the moment?

What's the story with Chris Henry? Rested last week or injured?

Sorry for all the questions, just trying to get a sense of the team that will be coming down!

I think Cave was only definitely rules out of the Toulouse games so he might be back for Connacht. I think Arnold is injured as well. We could move Ludik to 13, after that we're probably looking at Callum Patterson from the As!

connachta

Craig Gilroy to miss Ulster's trip to Galway to face Connacht with an eye socket injury

CatFromHue

connachta wrote: »

Craig Gilroy to miss Ulster's trip to Galway to face Connacht with an eye socket injury

The guy who punched him should have been cited

bilston

I suppose we could be looking at an Ulster team like this

15 Ludik
14 Trimble (if only to ensure he wins his 200th cap at Ravenhill)
13 Cave (hopefully fit?)
12 Marshall (hardly played, doesn't need a rest
11 Scholes
10 Humphreys
9 Marshall
1 Warwick
2 Herring
3 Lutton
4 Stevenson
5 Browne
6 Ross
7 Reidy
8 Wilson

b.gud

bilston wrote: »

I suppose we could be looking at an Ulster team like this

15 Ludik
14 Trimble (if only to ensure he wins his 200th cap at Ravenhill)
13 Cave (hopefully fit?)
12 Marshall (hardly played, doesn't need a rest
11 Scholes
10 Humphreys
9 Marshall
1 Warwick
2 Herring
3 Lutton
4 Stevenson
5 Browne
6 Ross
7 Reidy
8 Wilson

Ulster would be the province that I'd be least familiar with this season, but would I be right in saying that's a nice back line, average half back pairing and average pack?

Borders no.2

Pienaar missing would be a loss to any side but Paul Marshall has played a big role in directing operations for Ulster on trips to Galway in the past. He's a player who can increase the pace of the game and worries me at 9. On the flip side to that Ulster aren't as likely to be dominant up front so he mightn't have as easy a ride as in the past. You'd have to think Trimble will be left out for this one. Surely he has to be in the training camp as one of our first choice wingers for the 6 nations. No point having the training camp if starters aren't brought along.

typhoony

over on the official ulster rugby forum they are expecting a lot of their top players to be rested, i know we're struggling with injuries but i'm quietly confident of a win for connacht

jacothelad

bilston wrote: »

I suppose we could be looking at an Ulster team like this

15 Ludik
14 Trimble (if only to ensure he wins his 200th cap at Ravenhill)
13 Cave (hopefully fit?)
12 Marshall (hardly played, doesn't need a rest
11 Scholes
10 Humphreys
9 Marshall
1 Warwick
2 Herring
3 Lutton
4 Stevenson
5 Browne
6 Ross
7 Reidy
8 Wilson

Feck. That's a terrible team. The Eagles would blow that lot away never mind Connacht's firsts. 4 Stevenson, 5 Browne', 6 Ross,7 Reidy and 8 Wilson are terrifyingly awful.

4,5 and 6 have less rugby talent that a stale loaf. Reidy is a bit 'meh' and Wilson - once good - is totally ready for the glue factory.

15 Ludik
14 Trimble (if only to ensure he wins his 200th cap at Ravenhill)
13 Cave (hopefully fit?) If not then Marshall
12 Marshall (hardly played, doesn't need a rest / McCloskey.
11 Scholes
10 Humphreys...ffs
9 Marshall...Pienaar has played very little rugby this season.
1 Warwick...No reason why not but why rest McCall>? He's only played 3 games. Black is also fit.
2 Herring...getting as good as Best in the near future. One of our best ever discoveries.
3 Lutton
4 Stevenson...No talent other than pushing in the scrum and giving penalties away at the ruck and line out. O'Connor for me. Only played a few games
5 Browne...Merde...I'd rather have Diack than him
6 Ross.....showed some flashes of ability but has been pretty crappy mostly. I'd rather have Wilson here if Diack isn't available.
7 Reidy.....Henry ...is he definitely out?
8 Wilson...has little or no go forward left in him. He still goes through the motions but it's usually backwards these days. Williams

jacothelad

typhoony wrote: »

over on the official ulster rugby forum they are expecting a lot of their top players to be rested, i know we're struggling with injuries but i'm quietly confident of a win for connacht

There is no official Ulster Rugby Forum...sadly.

connachta

LostArt wrote: »

Looking forward to this game a lot more than the cripple fight that will be Munster v Leinster

Actually a moment of history. 1st time ever that a Connacht-Ulster is at least as attractive as Munster-Leinster

MarinersBlues

The bookmakers currently have Connacht at 3-4 pt favourites.
It will be interesting to see how team selections effect the prices.

connachta

MarinersBlues wrote: »

The bookmakers currently have Connacht at 3-4 pt favourites.
It will be interesting to see how team selections effect the prices.

I think the team strengths are fairly predictable. Ulster will rest some 1st team players, not all, it doesn't really matter if it's 6 or 7, and who they are. Same for the 6-7 returning Connacht players. That's why the bookies have already estimated Ulster within the scope of +3 to +8

cson

Good few of them were out on the beer in the Quays last night!

Some difference between attitudes in the GAA (fwiw I'm all for the players leading normal lives)

Former Coach

cson wrote: »

Good few of them were out on the beer in the Quays last night!

Some difference between attitudes in the GAA (fwiw I'm all for the players leading normal lives)

I very much doubt if any if the 25 players who will be togged out on Saturday were on the beer last night. Check it out when squad is named!

connachta

Wow I felt Ulster was tricking us with "rotations rumours"

Connacht v ULSTER (1-8 ): A Warwick, R Herring (c), W Herbst, A O'Connor, F van der Merwe, R Diack, S Reidy, N Williams
Connacht v ULSTER (15-9): L Ludik, A Trimble, L Marshall, S McCloskey, R Scholes, P Jackson, R Pienaar
Connacht v ULSTER (subs, 16-23): J Andrew, C Black, R Lutton, S Mulholland, R Wilson, P Marshall, I Humphreys, S Arnold

Only "good point" is Henry left at home
Will be tough guys...
Front up rise up!

connachta

CONNACHT v Ulster (15-9): T O'Halloran, N Adeolokun, B Aki, C Ronaldson, M Healy, J Carty, K Marmion
CONNACHT v Ulster (1-8 ): F Bealham, D Heffernan, N White, U Dillane, A Muldowney, J Muldoon (c), J Connolly, E Masterson
CONNACHT v Ulster (subs, 16-23): S Delahunt, R Loughney, R Ah You, A Browne, S O'Brien, I Porter, AJ MacGinty, R Parata

Best pack we could have expected! Will be a pure cracker!!!!!

awec

I guess we'll be rotating against Munster then

connachta

awec wrote: »

I guess we'll be rotating against Munster then

Such a mistake

awec

connachta wrote: »

Such a mistake

It's a fair indication of how much Connacht have improved that we are sending our full team to Galway and presumably playing the second choice players against Munster.

connachta

awec wrote: »

It's a fair indication of how much Connacht have improved that we are sending our full team to Galway and presumably playing the second choice players against Munster.

Indeed, but honnestly Connacht lineup (except Henshaw, Buckley and McCartney) is close to our best one too. It is really tight on the paper