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.