Connacht vs Ulster sportsground 18:00 TG4/BBCNI

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.

awec

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?

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

Crimsonforce

**** Christmas, roll on Stephens day!

connachta

Crimsonforce wrote: »

**** Christmas, roll on Stephens day!

Aki v McCloskey
Masterson v Williams
Muldowney v O'Connor
Healy v Trimble
Marmion v Piennar

Munster v Leinster is officially a minor game compared to this!:pac:

connachta

now bookers say Connacht -2!

bilston

awec wrote: »

I guess we'll be rotating against Munster then

I was actually going to say that we probably should be going stronger against Connacht away than Munster at home, although I wonder whether there will be as much rotation as we are used to seeing at Christmas this year.

freyners

I like the look of those teams. Should be a cracker

yoursaviour1989

Is this sold out? No tickets left on Connacht's website. Anyone know if theres still a few knocking around?

connachta

Can't wait for one more day, so I've made statistics!

Front-row
Connacht 352 kg
Ulster 328 kg

2nd row
Connacht 237 kg
Ulster 234 kg

Back-row
Connacht 326 kg
Ulster 335 kg

Total
Connacht 915 kg
Ulster 897 kg

Merry Christmas to all of you btw

Utah_Saint

connachta wrote: »

Can't wait for one more day, so I've made statistics!

Front-row
Connacht 352 kg
Ulster 328 kg

2nd row
Connacht 237 kg
Ulster 234 kg

Back-row
Connacht 326 kg
Ulster 335 kg

Total
Connacht 915 kg
Ulster 897 kg

Merry Christmas to all of you btw

Size doesn't matter...its how you use it...well thats what the missus tells me.. ;-)

connachta

Utah_Saint wrote: »

Size doesn't matter...its how you use it...well thats what the missus tells me.. ;-)

So I assume she reproaches you either for the size or either for the way you use it..:D

Pack weight is just one element among body positioning, conditioning etc. But it still matters, if not Blade and AhYou would swap their spots:p

awec

In the spirit of Christmas I hope Ulster don't stuff Connacht too badly tomorrow. A standard stuffing will do, just nothing too embarrassing for the westies.

connachta

Haha good joke, tomorrow your lads won't even know where Belfast is, after the good-old Santa spanking they'll have!

wp_rathead

St Stephens Day (Saint of Hang & Turkey Sangwiches) vs Boxing Day

I may be tipsy

Bridge93

What's weather like out west?

S12b

Bridge93 wrote: »

What's weather like out west?

Just stuck the head out there and it's absolutely perfect for rugby.....dry, no wind and a clear sky. Hopefully it stays like that for the evening!

freyners

You are obviously the far side of the county to me. Bloody miserable here

S12b

freyners wrote: »

You are obviously the far side of the county to me. Bloody miserable here

In the city

flouncer

david kelly from the irish independent gives the verdict to connacht. I strangely enough agree with him :-)

freyners

It


Is

Baltic

Cosmo Kramer

Scarlets beaten by a point so top spot in the Pro 12 for New Year is available to Connacht here.

freyners

Jake heenan togged. Number 24 it seems