Ulster vs Connacht Ravenhill Fri 06/10/2017 7.35 BBC2 NI

Hastentoadd

Teams
Ulster: Ulster Rugby team to play Connacht (Friday 6th October, Kingspan Stadium, 7.35pm):
(1-8): K McCall, R Herring, W Herbst, A O'Connor, K Treadwell, I Henderson, C Henry (captain), J Deysel;
(9-15): J Cooney, C Lealiifano, J Stockdale, S McCloskey, L Marshall, T Bowe, C Piutau;
Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, A Warwick, R Ah You, R Diack, S Reidy, P Marshall, P Nelson, L Ludik.

Connacht: (15-9) Tiernan O’Halloran, Cian Kelleher, Bundee Aki, Tom Farell, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion, (1-8) Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Eoin McKeon, Jarrad Butler, John Muldoon (Capt)
Replacements (16-23): Dave Heffernan, Denis Coulson, Conor Carey, James Cannon, Eoghan Masterson, Caolin Blade, Steve Crosbie, Eoin Griffin.

There are so many unknowns here. Will Connacht go back to being dreadful, or has there been a progression since KK joined the ranks? Will Ulster bring their Scarlets form or their Zebre form? There are just so many unknowns to this game. One thing is certain, one team is going to come out scarred from this game from a supporters belief point of view. So how do you think this game is going to pan out? I honestly can say I have no idea.

bilston

Ulster by 10 points.

Burkie1203

Think ulster by 8. Reaction from zebre loss will focus minds

I think this game is going to closely follow the plot of Die Hard 2 with Pienaar playing the part of John McClane in the wrong place at the wrong time collecting a few things before Christmas.

Also starring Anthony Hopkins as David Nucifora.

Burkie1203

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I think this game is going to closely follow the plot of Die Hard 2 with Pienaar playing the part of John McClane in the wrong place at the wrong time collecting a few things before Christmas.

Also starring Anthony Hopkins as David Nucifora.

More like Die hard with a vengeance if Pienaar and Nucifora are in it.

mfceiling

I worry about the figure that we had something like 45 errors against Zebre. People say "ah they'll not be as bad the next day out". Except it's ulster and it's likely there will be a heap of unforced errors, knock ons etc.

There will be handling errors galore, missed tackles and fecked up lineouts to beat the band. Good old ulster!!

Hastentoadd

Couple of things. One was Piutau at fullback last week. Lealiifano passes. Its intercepted by a back row Zebre player. He runs to the other end of the pitch and scores. But what was weird about the score was 2 things. One is Piutau couldn't catch him and he was tugged back but what really I found bizarre was he didn't even ask the referee to TMO the decision for the try. He was clearly pulled back. But he really didn't care. Ludik is a far better full back. I actually wonder if Piutau has any pace any more.

bilston

mfceiling wrote: »

I worry about the figure that we had something like 45 errors against Zebre. People say "ah they'll not be as bad the next day out". Except it's ulster and it's likely there will be a heap of unforced errors, knock ons etc.

There will be handling errors galore, missed tackles and fecked up lineouts to beat the band. Good old ulster!!

We'll still win...it's Connacht at Ravenhill...of course Ulster will win...

Seriously though I reckon there will be a reaction and we'll win with a bit to spare. It will still be scrappy no doubt.

Hastentoadd

bilston wrote: »

We'll still win...it's Connacht at Ravenhill...of course Ulster will win...

Seriously though I reckon there will be a reaction and we'll win with a bit to spare. It will still be scrappy no doubt.

I posed the question. What would happen if Ulster loses?

Scythica

Hastentoadd wrote: »

I posed the question. What would happen if Ulster loses?

Nuficora out.

bilston

Hastentoadd wrote: »

bilston wrote: »

We'll still win...it's Connacht at Ravenhill...of course Ulster will win...

Seriously though I reckon there will be a reaction and we'll win with a bit to spare. It will still be scrappy no doubt.

I posed the question. What would happen if Ulster loses?

If you mean in terms of the Ulster management, namely Kiss, then nothing will happen. Kiss isn't going anywhere, he might get pushed out the door at the end of the season, but I'd be shocked if he was gone before then unless we lose every game from now until Christmas.

I think we will beat Connacht (and that's not arrogance it's just based on previous experience of Ulster and so Connacht in Belfast) we might even beat Wasps as we are at home on a Friday night against an English team and Wasps aren't great at the moment. The La Rochelle game is the one I'm really interested in. If we can't beat Zebre on the road, surely we can't win there.

Utah_Saint

Hastentoadd wrote: »

bilston wrote: »

We'll still win...it's Connacht at Ravenhill...of course Ulster will win...

Seriously though I reckon there will be a reaction and we'll win with a bit to spare. It will still be scrappy no doubt.

I posed the question. What would happen if Ulster loses?

awec

Hastentoadd wrote: »

I posed the question. What would happen if Ulster loses?

We riot.

wp_rathead

Ulster Rugby
1-8: K McCall, R Herring, W Herbst, A O’Connor, K Treadwell, I Henderson, C Henry (captain), J Deysel;

9-15: J Cooney, C Lealiifano, J Stockdale, S McCloskey, L Marshall, T Bowe, C Piutau;

Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, A Warwick, R Ah You, R Diack, S Reidy, P Marshall, P Nelson, L Ludik.


www.pro14rugby.org/2017/10/05/ulster-tea...-pro-fixture-season/

Connacht:
15-9: Tiernan O’Halloran; Cian Kelleher, Bundee Aki, Tom Farell, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion;

1-8: Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham; Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux; Eoin McKeon, Jarrad Butler, John Muldoon (Capt).

Replacements (16-23): Dave Heffernan, Denis Coulson, Conor Carey, James Cannon, Eoghan Masterson, Caolin Blade, Steve Crosbie, Eoin Griffin.

www.connachtrugby.ie/marmion-set-for-100...pionship-appearance/

Both sides could badly do with a win

Apologies about lack of tables

bilston

So predictions for tonight?

As I said earlier I reckon Ulster by 10.

connemara man

bilston wrote: »

So predictions for tonight?

As I said earlier I reckon Ulster by 10.

Records are meant to be broken!!!
A losing bonus point would be a good outcome for connacht to be honest

evil_seed

Merge

Former Former

bilston wrote: »

So predictions for tonight?

As I said earlier I reckon Ulster by 10.

I think that's a reasonable expectation tbh. Ulster are better on paper and I'd expect a reaction after last week.

Connacht may well have as good or a better tight five than Ulster but their game plan is not set up to take advantage.

Hastentoadd

Bookies have Ulster as 4 to 1 on favourites. I think only the most hardened Ulster fans will be taking those odds. I decided to take the more generous 7/2 odds on Connacht. I'm of the opinion Ulster have looked good on paper for a long time now without delivering much punch.

gally74

#Sligo #Folklorethursday Queen Maeve is buried standing up, glaring for all eternity at those pesky Ulster enemies. pic: @gostrandhill https://t.co/dWbIeHdjgb

Hopefully maeve will smile on conn tonight

Diabhal Beag

Maeve needs to make sure Farrell is on her shoulder for the offload because he has miles in the tank.

irishbucsfan

C'mon Cunster!

Elvisjuice

does Bccni have a hd version ?

awec

Elvisjuice wrote: »

does Bccni have a hd version ?

Only BBC1 NI if I remember right, Ulster are usually on BBC2NI.

Zzippy

Who's the ref?

Elvisjuice

awec wrote: »

Only BBC1 NI if I remember right, Ulster are usually on BBC2NI.

thanks

awec

Zzippy wrote: »

Who's the ref?

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 28th competition game)
AR1: Frank Murphy (IRFU). AR2: Paul Haycock (IRFU)
TMO: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU).
Read more at https://www.pro14rugby.org/referee-appointments/#zCExEg2gC58XS2TY.99

4 IRFU officials for a derby between 2 Irish teams. Ha.

Zzippy

awec wrote: »

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 28th competition game)
AR1: Frank Murphy (IRFU). AR2: Paul Haycock (IRFU)
TMO: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU).
Read more at https://www.pro14rugby.org/referee-appointments/#zCExEg2gC58XS2TY.99

4 IRFU officials for a derby between 2 Irish teams. Ha.

No John Lacey.

*cracks open a beer*

Cheers!

Elvisjuice

jesus brace loves his cards he is a freak for them

awec

Zzippy wrote: »

No John Lacey.

*cracks open a beer*

Cheers!

No Lacey, no Clancy, can't really complain.

Hastentoadd

frank murphy on the line. Game sorted. gwan Connacht

irishbucsfan

Hastentoadd wrote: »

frank murphy on the line. Game sorted. gwan Connacht

Ex-Connacht player as assistant ref. Remember when they said they were trying for neutral officials

Diabhal Beag

Ffs Toh

Zzippy

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Ex-Connacht player as assistant ref. Remember when they said they were trying for neutral officials

Yeah but he still bears a grudge for the dressing room banter over his ridiculous moustache in 2009 so it balances out...

vienne86

That was a great tackle by Bowe.

bilston

Treadwell has feet for hands so far tonight

vienne86

Connacht seem on top in the scrum.

Zzippy

LMAO at the commentator, can't handle a penalty against Ulster

vienne86

Zzippy wrote: »

LMAO at the commentator, can't handle a penalty against Ulster

They're always like that - very annoying.

Hastentoadd

Ulster guys falling like flies. They don't make a proper man up north

Diabhal Beag

Hon Carty. Hope that settles him.

Zzippy

Panto crowd in tonight. Waiting for "he's behind you!"

vienne86

Bundee Aki is a marked man.

Diabhal Beag

Got tackle from TOH and Marmo

Zzippy

TOH off?!

vienne86

TOH off??????? Pheckit anyway.

awec

Stockdale has serious wheels.

vienne86

The boo-ing is a bit crass.

Diabhal Beag

Perfect tackle from Bundee.

Hastentoadd

how many handling errors is that from Ulster already

awec

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Perfect tackle from Bundee.

Thought he tackled him early tbh.