Leinster v Ulster Build up thread

V

After the loss at the weekend to Munster by the Leinster A + others, the province will be out for revenge as Ulster fresh from their victory over the Pro12 champions roll into town.

Leinster will see a number of first choice players back in harness this week and omens are good for a home team win against Nucifora's Kisses men.

Ulster have been competitive in this fixture of late so despite sending a weakened team due to player welfare restrictions I still expect a tough game for Leinster.

Prediction: Ulster and Munster to field heavily weakened teams and Tony Ward not to write about it.

Crustacean

[Deleted User] wrote: »

V

After the loss at the weekend to Munster by the Leinster A + others, the province will be out for revenge as Ulster fresh from their victory over the Pro12 champions roll into town.

Leinster will see a number of first choice players back in harness this week and omens are good for a home team win against Nucifora's Kisses men.

Ulster have been competitive in this fixture of late so despite sending a weakened team due to player welfare restrictions I still expect a tough game for Leinster.

Prediction: Ulster and Munster to field heavily weakened teams and Tony Ward not to write about it.

Word on the street from Santry is that Sexto is in. Player welfare restrictions arent the only thing holding back a full strength squad travelling to Dublin. Ulster are muffled with slight injury concerns, SOB and Sexto wil be huge players for Leinster, if for any reason cullen hasnt got both at his disposal. I predict an ulster win.
SUFTUM

sydthebeat

Leinster should be targeting a five pointer in this game. Tracey to keep his place with strauss benching, even though James had a mare of a first forty last week. Toner / triggs in the row. Hopefully sob, vdf, jh at the back, though leavy in for sob might happen.

Luke / Jonny in the pivot.

Reid and ringrose in the centre.

Back 3 of rol, isa and either Rob or kirch.

Peregrine

I think we'll see:

McGrath
Cronin
Bent
Toner
Triggs
SOB (Conan if SOB isn't available)
VdF
Heaslip
McGrath
Sexton (Byrne if Sexton isn't available)
Nacewa
Reid
Ringrose
Byrne
Kirchner (Kearney if he's available)

Tracey
Dooley
Loughman
Anyone's guess — Ruddock/McCarthy/Molony/Nagle
Conan (Leavy if Conan starts)
JGP
Byrne? If he's starting then it might be two outside backs in ROL and a Daly.
ROL

Chances of a curveball with Sexton on the bench: 23%

mfceiling

Bit unfair with pics Venjur.

Our pack isn't as strong as the one you have posted.

Utah_Saint

for ulster i expect:
Charles Piutau
Tommy Bowe
Luke Marshall
Stuart McCloskey
Jacob Stockdale
Paddy Jackson
Ruan Pienaar
Andrew Warick
Rory Best
Wiehaan Herbst
Kieran Treadwell
Iain Henderson
Clive Ross
Chris Henry
Roger Wilson

Replacements
Rob Herring, Callum Black, Dave, Franco Van Der Merwe, Sean Reidy, Paul Marshall, Darren Cave,Loius Ludik

Peregrine

Utah_Saint wrote: »

for ulster i expect:
Charles Piutau
Tommy Bowe
Luke Marshall
Stuart McCloskey
Jacob Stockdale
Paddy Jackson
Ruan Pienaar
Andrew Warick
Rory Best
Wiehaan Herbst
Kieran Treadwell
Iain Henderson
Clive Ross
Chris Henry
Roger Wilson

Replacements
Rob Herring, Callum Black, Dave, Franco Van Der Merwe, Sean Reidy, Paul Marshall, Darren Cave,Loius Ludik

Did Best, Henderson and Jackson not play against Connacht?

I can't imagine McCloskey, Mashall, Bowe and Cave being managed by the IRFU at present but no way are the likes of Best playing this week.

Edit: Maybe Marshall will be managed.

Edit again: Luke that is :pac:

bilston

Depends on who Ulster are allowed to play buy I'd say we'll be without Best, Henderson and, crucially, Jackson...

I predict

15 Piutau
14 Trimble/Ludik
13 Marshall
12 McCloskey
11 Stockdale/Gilroy
10 Herron
9 Pienaar
1 Warwick
2 Herring
3 Herbst
4 Treadwell
5 Van Der Merwe
6 Ross
7 Henry
8 Reidy

Bench
Andrew, Black, Ah You, Diack, Maybe a young gun, Marshall, Cave, one of the wingers to miss out

Edit - Personally I'd go with Marshall at 9 and Pienaar at 10.

awec

Peregrine wrote: »

Did Best, Henderson and Jackson not play against Connacht?

I can't imagine McCloskey, Mashall, Bowe and Cave being managed by the IRFU at present but no way are the likes of Best playing this week.

Don't think Best will play but expect Jackson and Henderson to play.

Without Jackson we may as well not bother. It would be a guaranteed 5-0 for Leinster.

awec

bilston wrote: »

Depends on who Ulster are allowed to play buy I'd say we'll be without Best, Henderson and, crucially, Jackson...

I predict

15 Piutau
14 Trimble/Ludik
13 Marshall
12 McCloskey
11 Stockdale/Gilroy
10 Herron
9 Pienaar
1 Warwick
2 Herring
3 Herbst
4 Treadwell
5 Van Der Merwe
6 Ross
7 Henry
8 Reidy

Bench
Andrew, Black, Ah You, Diack, Maybe a young gun, Marshall, Cave, one of the wingers to miss out

Edit - Personally I'd go with Marshall at 9 and Pienaar at 10.

If Jackson doesn't play we may as well rest the other players too.

No Jackson, no chance. Shame but that's the reality.

molloyjh

awec wrote: »

Don't think Best will play but expect Jackson and Henderson to play.

Without Jackson we may as well not bother. It would be a guaranteed 5-0 for Leinster.

Both Jackson and Henderson played the full 80 against Connacht. I'd be very surprised if they were starting again in the RDS.

awec

They can rest against the Scarlets instead. More likely to scrape a LBP there without them.

Peregrine

awec wrote: »

Don't think Best will play but expect Jackson and Henderson to play.

Without Jackson we may as well not bother. It would be a guaranteed 5-0 for Leinster.

I just can't see Jackson being allowed to play. Between Canada, NZ and Aus, he played over 200mins this Autumn.

Henderson might be allowed to play if Ulster can convince *ahem* that he needs gametime.

Utah_Saint

Jackson and Hendo need to play if we want any chance.  In the forwards it would essentially be Henry vs Leinster pack.  Agreed that Best will be rested

molloyjh

Utah_Saint wrote: »

Jackson and Hendo need to play if we want any chance.  In the forwards it would essentially be Henry vs Leinster pack.  Agreed that Best will be rested

Peregrine is right, Jackson has played a lot of rugby in the last 2 months. He won't be playing.

awec

Honestly we have no chance without him. I know I can be negative, but genuinely this game is a 5-0 if we have to play Herron or even if we have Pienaar at 10.

bilston

awec wrote: »

bilston wrote: »

Depends on who Ulster are allowed to play buy I'd say we'll be without Best, Henderson and, crucially, Jackson...

I predict

15 Piutau
14 Trimble/Ludik
13 Marshall
12 McCloskey
11 Stockdale/Gilroy
10 Herron
9 Pienaar
1 Warwick
2 Herring
3 Herbst
4 Treadwell
5 Van Der Merwe
6 Ross
7 Henry
8 Reidy

Bench
Andrew, Black, Ah You, Diack, Maybe a young gun, Marshall, Cave, one of the wingers to miss out

Edit - Personally I'd go with Marshall at 9 and Pienaar at 10.

If Jackson doesn't play we may as well rest the other players too.

No Jackson, no chance. Shame but that's the reality.

Totally agree.

bilston

molloyjh wrote: »

Utah_Saint wrote: »

Jackson and Hendo need to play if we want any chance.  In the forwards it would essentially be Henry vs Leinster pack.  Agreed that Best will be rested

Peregrine is right, Jackson has played a lot of rugby in the last 2 months. He won't be playing.

Unfortunately I think you're probably right.

Enjoy your win...

It's a shame the edge is taken of tje Christmas games.

awec

Actually making effort to get back to Dublin for this one on Saturday, if we are sending down a rubbish team I'll be raging.

Little interest in watching us get thumped by Leinster in the rds again.

Crustacean

Henderson nor best will play IMO. Regulations regarding management will be in play.

Crustacean

awec wrote: »

Actually making effort to get back to Dublin for this one on Saturday, if we are sending down a rubbish team I'll be raging.

Little interest in watching us get thumped by Leinster in the rds again.

Player welfare rules against fielding players consistently, maybe have a read of CRISP document.

Peregrine

I think the IRFU should look towards letting internationals play 2 games out of 3 between rounds 4 and 5 in Europe or 4 out of 6 between the end of the autumn internationals and round 5 of Europe. 1 out of 2 in provincial derbies takes the edge off the fixture.

awec

Crustacean wrote: »

Player welfare rules against fielding players consistently, maybe have a read of CRISP document.

I know how it works.

Just tired of watching us get beaten in the RDS and player welfare won't make me feel much better for it.

Crustacean

awec wrote: »

I know how it works.

Just tired of watching us get beaten in the RDS and player welfare won't make me feel much better for it.

Nor any of us, but this isnt football. Its a high contact sport as im sure you know, you look.at some of hendos collisions in contact its simjlar to a metro hitting a giraffe. I am disappointed as you are that we cannot field consistently but I thinkof the ladds first.

Crustacean

Peregrine wrote: »

I think the IRFU should look towards letting internationals play 2 games out of 3 between rounds 4 and 5 in Europe or 4 out of 6 between the end of the autumn internationals and round 5 of Europe. 1 out of 2 in provincial derbies takes the edge off the fixture.

In a perfect world yes, but if we look at the IRFU history of progressive changes, they arent great.

molloyjh

bilston wrote: »

Unfortunately I think you're probably right.

Enjoy your win...

It's a shame the edge is taken of tje Christmas games.

It's not the first time, nor will it be the last.

Peregrine wrote: »

I think the IRFU should look towards letting internationals play 2 games out of 3 between rounds 4 and 5 in Europe or 4 out of 6 between the end of the autumn internationals and round 5 of Europe. 1 out of 2 in provincial derbies takes the edge off the fixture.

The decision is one that is taken in consultation with physios, docs etc. Each player will be different. For example if someone was injured for a chunk of the season it may be better to give them an extra run out as opposed to someone who has played a lot so far. From that perspective someone like Henderson might get a run in the 23 this weekend where Jackson probably won't.

.ak

awec wrote: »

Actually making effort to get back to Dublin for this one on Saturday, if we are sending down a rubbish team I'll be raging.

Little interest in watching us get thumped by Leinster in the rds again.

Sure youre practically a Leinster fan now, it's win win for you.

sydthebeat

I still think it's a hint of an unwritten agreement to get each team a home win over the holidays.

That being said connacht have no guarantee of a win though through injuries. However if keatley and Williams start they have a much better chance.

molloyjh

sydthebeat wrote: »

I still think it's a hint of an unwritten agreement to get each team a home win over the holidays.

That being said connacht have no guarantee of a win though through injuries. However if keatley and Williams start they have a much better chance.

And the fact that fans would get pissed off very quickly if their team showed up to a home game with a weakened side and got beaten. They'll get over you doing that away from home a hell of a lot quicker. You win your home games first and foremost.

bilston

In hindsight could Ulster not have beaten Connacht with Marshall at 9 and Pienaar at 10 last week?

I suppose we'll never know.

Anyway, Best, Henderson and Jackson apart, I wonder how strong the rest of the Ulster side will be. In the past we've taken the piss. That said famously in May 2014 much of Munster were outraged at our selection, to the point some were demanding their money back because of our weak selection...needless to say Ulster won that match...

bilston

Crustacean wrote: »

awec wrote: »

I know how it works.

Just tired of watching us get beaten in the RDS and player welfare won't make me feel much better for it.

Nor any of us, but this isnt football. Its a high contact sport as im sure you know, you look.at some of hendos collisions in contact its simjlar to a metro hitting a giraffe. I am disappointed as you are that we cannot field consistently but I thinkof the ladds first.

Hendy being the giraffe of course

Wheeker

Same here really- TBH going to the match with no hope or expectation.... especially if Jacko & Hendo get rested. Would be great if P. Marshall @ 9 & Pienaar @ 10 was selected, but for some reason I really don't expect it. I understand the protocols but it really does take the edge of the derbies. Sick to the back teeth of seeing Ulster losing at the RDS.....

Leinster need five points from this to keep up with Munster, who I suspect will beat Connacht considering their injury woes.

awec

Wheeker wrote: »

Same here really- TBH going to the match with no hope or expectation.... especially if Jacko & Hendo get rested. Would be great if P. Marshall @ 9 & Pienaar @ 10 was selected, but for some reason I really don't expect it. I understand the protocols but it really does take the edge of the derbies. Sick to the back teeth of seeing Ulster losing at the RDS.....

Well there are two problems with the Marshall Pienaar combo.

1. Marshall is rubbish
2. We have NOTHING on the bench

Of course, Herron is even worse so this match is a write off.

bilston

awec wrote: »

Wheeker wrote: »

Same here really- TBH going to the match with no hope or expectation.... especially if Jacko & Hendo get rested. Would be great if P. Marshall @ 9 & Pienaar @ 10 was selected, but for some reason I really don't expect it. I understand the protocols but it really does take the edge of the derbies. Sick to the back teeth of seeing Ulster losing at the RDS.....

Well there are two problems with the Marshall Pienaar combo.

1. Marshall is rubbish
2. We have NOTHING on the bench

Of course, Herron is even worse so this match is a write off.

Marshall/Pienaar is better than Pienaar/Herron

Edit - Imagine it was Marshall/Herron...

awec

bilston wrote: »

Marshall/Pienaar is better than Pienaar/Herron

True, but they'll both need to play 80.

bilston

awec wrote: »

bilston wrote: »

Marshall/Pienaar is better than Pienaar/Herron

True, but they'll both need to play 80.

Yeah, although you could throw Marshall (the good one) into 10 in an absolute emergency and move Pienaar to 9...in thinking about it feck it let's go with Pienaar and Luke Marshall at 9 and 10!

bilston

Kadence Incalculable Post wrote: »

Leinster need five points from this to keep up with Munster, who I suspect will beat Connacht considering their injury woes.

Meh...Leinster just need to finish 2nd in the table...it doesn't matter if Munster finish 1st...the final is at the Aviva. You can let this game slide

pickarooney

Is Olding not a useful 10, or is he crocked again?

bilston

pickarooney wrote: »

Is Olding not a useful 10, or is he crocked again?

Injured...but yes he would be the next best option.

awec

It's be Olding and then Awec in the pecking order for 10

Peregrine

awec wrote: »

It's be Olding and then Awec in the pecking order for 10

I hear Nucifora wants you rested.

Crustacean

Peregrine wrote: »

I hear Nucifora wants you rested.

David nucifora wouldnt speak bad of awec.

Zzippy

Peregrine wrote: »

I hear Nucifora wants you arrested.

FYP

awec

Zzippy wrote: »

FYP

He knows where to find oul Awec if he wants an oul tet-a-tet.

I shall set him straight, for the betterment of Irish rugby. You can all thank me later.

Crustacean

awec wrote: »

He knows where to find oul Awec if he wants an oul tet-a-tet.

I shall set him straight, for the betterment of Irish rugby. You can all thank me later.

A fine hooker he was.

Utah_Saint

Deleted User wrote: »

V

After the loss at the weekend to Munster by the Leinster A + others, the province will be out for revenge as Ulster fresh from their victory over the Pro12 champions roll into town.

Leinster will see a number of first choice players back in harness this week and omens are good for a home team win against Nucifora's Kisses men.

Ulster have been competitive in this fixture of late so despite sending a weakened team due to player welfare restrictions I still expect a tough game for Leinster.

Prediction: Ulster and Munster to field heavily weakened teams and Tony Ward not to write about it.

 Vs

there fixed it for you

This game is now sold out!

Zzippy

awec wrote: »

He knows where to find oul Awec if he wants an oul tet-a-tet.

I shall set him straight, for the betterment of Irish rugby. You can all thank me later.

What if he wants a tête-à-tête, though?

Zzippy

Zzippy wrote: »

What if he wants a tête-à-tête, though?

Then its that other lad áwéc he's looking for, not our very own awec...:D

awec

Zzippy wrote: »

What if he wants a tête-à-tête, though?

Mon deui mon deui me petit pois!