Match Thread - Ulster v Harlequins, Ravenhill, 7:45 BT Sport 2

That's 50

sydthebeat

Great win, crazy game.

Final score. 52 - 24

BPs all round!

Sephiral

Ulster really do not do boring games anymore.

pickarooney

Did Cooney sneak back on to convert that last try?

DDC1990

pickarooney wrote:

Did Cooney sneak back on to convert that last try?

On for Gilroy's HIA I think.

pickarooney

pickarooney wrote: »

Did Cooney sneak back on to convert that last try?

Every point counts!

awec

Good win but our defence is really worrying, it is really awful. Too many missed tackles, too many big spaces left, too many stupid mistakes.

OldRio

awec wrote: »

Sinckler is such a fool.

He responded to the crowd early on in the first half. Then mistakes crept into his game. Very immature performance.

As for Ulster I shudder to think what Last Rochelle will do with defending like that.

launish116

Great game, still be found wanting against big pack teams!

Anyone seen Jono Gibbes tonight?

mfceiling

awec wrote: »

Good win but our defence is really worrying, it is really awful. Too many missed tackles, too many big spaces left, too many stupid mistakes.

We'd need someone like a Les Kiss figure who is a specialist defence coach. Oh wait....

sydthebeat

Frosty there between Les and Ferris

MJohnston

mfceiling wrote: »

We'd need someone like a Les Kiss figure who is a specialist defence coach. Oh wait....

A question nobody has really been able to answer - does Les Kiss actually involve himself with training as DoR?

awec

I am genuinely baffled how our defending can be so bad. There is a systematic problem, this isn't just player errors. The same things keep happening over and over again.

bilston

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

swiwi_ wrote: »

The Quins 10 looks like he'd be asked for ID if he heads for a beer after the match.

Marcus Smith, he's not 19 until February

He's a serious talent. Very raw, but with a bit of experience he could be a class operator.

bilston

Hoping Piutau and Stockdale are ok. Unlikely that Stockdale would play against Connacht anyway and will most likely be kept for Munster. Gilroy was excellent tonight.

Wouldn't it be great to have Best, Deysel and Payne back for Rounds 5 & 6.

awec

bilston wrote: »

Hoping Piutau and Stockdale are ok. Unlikely that Stockdale would play against Connacht anyway and will most likely be kept for Munster. Gilroy was excellent tonight.

Wouldn't it be great to have Best, Deysel and Payne back for Rounds 5 & 6.

I'd say it'll be a glorified A team sent to Galway.

bilston

awec wrote: »

bilston wrote: »

Hoping Piutau and Stockdale are ok. Unlikely that Stockdale would play against Connacht anyway and will most likely be kept for Munster. Gilroy was excellent tonight.

Wouldn't it be great to have Best, Deysel and Payne back for Rounds 5 & 6.

I'd say it'll be a glorified A team sent to Galway.

Yep definitely.

stephen_n

awec wrote: »

I am genuinely baffled how our defending can be so bad. There is a systematic problem, this isn't just player errors. The same things keep happening over and over again.

Why does that have to be systemic? No matter what system is in place, the players have to implement it.

connemara man

awec wrote: »

I'd say it'll be a glorified A team sent to Galway.

So Cave might get a game

Burkie1203

awec wrote: »

I am genuinely baffled how our defending can be so bad. There is a systematic problem, this isn't just player errors. The same things keep happening over and over again.

Lot of the problems came from missed tackles.

Timoney is a very tidy player. Thats 3 or 4 really solid outings he has had now. Ulster/IRFU have to nail down Henderson ASAP.

I thought Ulsters game management was excellent. Took the points when they were on offer and built a lead so they never had to chase the game. Once they were out of sight they could chase tries. A wasps win tmrw gives Ulster a real chance of topping the group

pickarooney

They're going to need everyone firing and on the same page defensively to beat La Rochelle, but it's doable.

Former Former

stephen_n wrote: »

Why does that have to be systemic? No matter what system is in place, the players have to implement it.

Yeah. I'd always say that if there are big gaping holes in the line, it's the system, but when there's a man there to make the tackle and he doesn't, then it's the player.

Seemed to be more of the latter last night.

bilston

sydthebeat wrote: »

Frosty there between Les and Ferris

Wasn't it!

Craig Doyle was stoking the fires a wee bit though and BOD just looked a bit uncomfortable stuck between the two of them

To be fair Kiss has earned himself some wriggle room in the last 2 weeks. I always said this 6 match period would decide his future and I stand by it. It's now a 4 match period.

Connacht (a)
Munster (h)
La Rochelle (h)
Wasps (a)

Utah_Saint

bilston wrote: »

sydthebeat wrote: »

Frosty there between Les and Ferris

Wasn't it!

Craig Doyle was stoking the fires a wee bit though and BOD just looked a bit uncomfortable stuck between the two of them

To be fair Kiss has earned himself some wriggle room in the last 2 weeks. I always said this 6 match period would decide his future and I stand by it. It's now a 4 match period.

Connacht (a)
Munster (h)
La Rochelle (h)
Wasps (a)

Yes, a little wiggle room but Quins made yards for fun when they actually felt like it.  thankfully they had nothing to play for and didn't have their strongest team available otherwise it could have been a different story. 
The Defence is shocking.  La Rochelle are gonna massacre us.  I suspect Connacht also feel we are there for the taking, especially is Stockdale is missing.

bilston

Utah_Saint wrote: »

Yes, a little wiggle room but Quins made yards for fun when they actually felt like it.  thankfully they had nothing to play for and didn't have their strongest team available otherwise it could have been a different story. 
The Defence is shocking.  La Rochelle are gonna massacre us.  I suspect Connacht also feel we are there for the taking, especially is Stockdale is missing.

Listen I understand but we scored 50+ points at home in Europe and have picked up 9 points in 2 games...enjoy it!

La Rochelle won't massacre us, the game will be too big for us to let that happen. They might beat us, but at home in a big game we will turn up. 5 points over the last two games gets us to 18 and probably into the Quarter Finals, if we manage that in a year where we had no Coetzee, Jackson or Payne and where Best has barely played and in a year where we've also had to replace Pienaar then maybe the squad will deserve a bit of slack.

The Connacht game is irrelevant, although it undoubtedly be used as a stick to beat Kiss with should we lose, we will send a shadow team down there. The Christmas/New Year game to judge Kiss on will probably be Munster.

I'm being a glass half full man this morning

awec

Connacht is fairly important. We’ve used up our quota of points thrown away already. Can’t afford to keep dropping points.

That said I’d take a LBP if it was offered.

thomond2006

Best
Henderson
Stockdale

Unless I'm forgetting someone obvious these are the only regular international players I'd expect to be rested. Ulster should expect to win at Connacht.

awec

thomond2006 wrote: »

Best
Henderson
Stockdale

Unless I'm forgetting someone obvious these are the only regular international players I'd expect to be rested. Ulster should expect to win at Connacht.

With Munster the week after and then Leinster after that I'd expect Cooney and Lealiifaano to be left at home.

Treadwell and Henry probably due a rest too, probably Timoney too.