Where is the fecken match thread? Ulster v Leinster match thread

If Leinster lose, Ulster will have been more up for it, home advantage and probably the ref.

If Ulster lose, well sure we'll have the Ulster team thread next week for those thoughts.

Suspect on account of getting the excuses in early that Ulster will come out on top, have looked very impressive so far this season and a good bit ahead of Leinster in terms of match fitness, cohesion and application of game plan.

sydthebeat

Leinster by a gazillion.

Old sexy to run down and snare young sexy in the dying moments.

Ulster fans to blame ref.

dregin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119682877#Comment_119682877

And IRFU.

lawrencesummers

And liz truss

Serbian

Definitely think Ulster have looked better in the backs than Leinster this season so far. Weather is due to be quite wet from what I hear, which, in theory, would scupper some of the back line moves that Ulster could be planning to run. I think the packs are closer than most seem to think, with the only very obvious advantages on paper being Leinster's back row vs Ulster's and I think Leinster's bench is a lot stronger. I'd expect this will be pretty close, but I think Ulster will win by less than a score.

Paul Smeenus

It's miserable up here, which definitely suits Leinster more.

I think we'll lose this one, give how heavy Leinster have gone. We often have to do without Hendo, and Marshall is playing very well in Hume's absence. But the bench is the issue for Ulster. No Doak, no Izzy, no Stewart, no McIlroy, no S. Moore.

Dave_The_Sheep

Is it my imagination or have there been a good few cards in the last few interpros (not just Ulster-Leinster). Odds on a red or a very contentious yellow during this game?

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119684403#Comment_119684403

Similar or possibly worse weather in last years fixture didn’t seem to hamper Ulster too much. It was more Leinster who failed to deal with the conditions.

Deramore

Brightened up now and supposed to be dry for the match. Ball will be slippy though

Clegg

Kelleher has pulled out of the squad and is replaced by John McKee. Pretty sizeable blow for Leinster. The latter is a decent prospect, but Kelleher is a test quality hooker. Leinster and Irelands best when fully fit.

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1575893553070235650?t=zPajypdQkLF9y_kT8c5Upg&s=09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119686238#Comment_119686238

Interesting debate for me between Kelleher and Sheehan if both are at their best.

Big night now for McKee, especially being from Belfast.

Clegg

Winning a scrum against the head.

Love seeing it.

Clegg

Lovely offload from Ringrose to create that try.

Great power and pace from Baird to score.

Exclamation Marc

Beautiful hands there across the line

Ross Byrnes passing has been much much better so far this season.

bingobango12

Great hands from Ringrose for that try

Clegg

How on earth has Conan obstructed anyone there?

Strumms

Blatant offsides being ignored and then that penalty…ffs

Crash

Have they no transition graphics for replays? Bizarre.

Clegg

That's an excellent, excellent maul.

Leinster look very powerful in the right exchanges.

OldRio

The director and camera work of the coverage is very poor.

Clegg

Error from Byrne there, but it's off the back off an awful pass from McGrath. He's thrown a few high, loopy ones already tonight.

lawrencesummers

The RTE commentators are some pain in the hole.

Clegg

The wide angle camera really doesn't capture how bad the rain is. The close ups show how awful conditions are.

Exclamation Marc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119686574#Comment_119686574

It's on BBC2 as well but they just lost their comms!

Clegg

Has the commentary for this game gone out? Only hearing the crowd on RTE and Premier Sport coverage.

Exclamation Marc

Gone across the board if seems.

lawrencesummers

No harm

degsie

Shyte conditions

Turnover Ulster 6 looked good to me, maybe not on the ball long enough but losing balance was from the clear out.

Clegg

Leinsters set piece has been dominant this evening. It's always great to have, but when conditions are as bad as they are, it's worth even more.

Clegg

McGrath is having a other poor game. Slow, loopy passes and now a run into no man's land followed by a hospital pass.

salmocab

Worst part of the first half was the commentary coming back.

Balacoune would have scored 80 tries by now. Its a disgrace Joe.

stephen_n

Some very poor decisions and passing from McGrath there.

degsie

This is what dominance looks like 😆

Clegg

Baird and Henshaw are having quality games. Leinsters pack has performed very well at the set piece and has been the big difference between the sides.

flazio

Bit early for Movember isn't it?

Akrasia

Henshaw very lucky not to see red for his shoulder to the head against Stockdale

sydthebeat

Power and composure is winning this game. It's incredibly difficult to play your way back into the game from 14 points down, in this weather, when you've that wall of blue constantly hitting you back

stephen_n

The bitterness of some does make it more enjoyable. That’s for sure.

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119686686#Comment_119686686

Was that aimed at me?

Clegg

Kearney off according to RTE. Ngatai replaces him and moves to 15. JOB goes out to the wing.

CMcsporty

Genius from Cooney. SH should stick the foot out on their opposite number at scrum time more often

Clegg

Don't think RTE have actually mentioned that Stockdale hasn't returned for the second half.

It's awful for him. Non-contact injuries are always so worrying.

That was an unbelievable clearance from I think McGrath. Invaluable in those conditions.

Exclamation Marc

Sheehan must be Leinsters starting hooked at this stage. He nearly has as many games for Leinster as Kelleher and is nearly undroppable on his current form.

salmocab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119686716#Comment_119686716

In fairness that would rarely actually work that was just a weird scrum from Leinster. Sharp of Cooney to do it.

Clegg

Excellent defence and then counterattack from Leinster.

degsie

Yellow for Ulster not too far away for repeated infringements

Clegg

Jaysus.

Lineout maul and scrum is utterly dominant

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119686642#Comment_119686642

Calling the wrong player now who conceded the penalty. Don’t know what’s more annoying, the commentator or this ref. Poor.