Leinster v Ulster Pro14 Final Sept 12th 7.35pm Build Up

awec wrote: »

If Clancy is refereeing this I will be very unhappy.

I hope we all get to witness salty ladyboy tears next weekend. It would be amazing. Crying into their prosecco, angrily munching on that smoked salmon, awkwardly playing with the collar of their pink dress shirts.

That is all sooooo 2012.

Oh, also.... we're going to beat you like a ginger stepchild.

Haha I forgot that article, Farrelly didn't last long after that. It was gibberish stuff

Former Former wrote: »

In fairness, it's less than 18 months ago that Munster were playing their third Champions Cup semi final in a row. It's less than 18 months ago that Ulster were conceding 50 points in a Pro14 semi final. Ulster were absolutely shocking for long periods last night and were even worse in the previous two games.

I'd say it's pretty close between them tbh. I don't think you can say Ulster are definitely better and have been for a while.

The difference in media coverage is probably down to the fact that most Ulster fans live in a different country.

Oh yeah. Like most Ulster supporters, I'm long past feeling properly aggrieved about the media coverage. I actually think it's a millstone round the Munster coaches' necks.

The "have been better for a while" has been over-egged, true. And Ulster have been up and down - very down before McFarland's arrival. But leaving that, and eighteen months, aside, we're in the Pro14 final and have a Euro QF coming up. Munster are finished for the season. Why wouldn't we say we are currently better? If being in knock-out games at the business end of two competitions against excellent opposition isn't an indicator of where we are as a team, what the hell are the criteria?

We were indeed poor for periods last night, but we all saw the previous semi-final on Friday, so let's not throw stones about rubbish recent performances. We scored three tries last night. Munster scored three points. And Leinster weren't very good eithet.

I feel for frustrated Munster fans. But even if you thought we were currently neck and neck, that alone is much more credit than we get in the media. We know the narratives. Munster are always capable of pulling it out of the bag, with a backs-to-the-wall performance of passion and grit, an attitude forged in the fires of Thomond by POC, ROG etc. Ulster should always be doing better, and when we've won a couple of decent games, it's "nOw it's TiMe foR Them tO DeLiveR".

It's reflective of media audiences, not how well the teams are actually playing, that's all. It's not really important. I reserve the right to give off about it occasionally, is all. And when people parrot those same sketchy cliches on a message board, they can expect to be asked about it.

I'm also aware I'm debating this with Leinster fans, not Munster fans.

Leinster will definitely be keeping an eye on the Saracens game, but I don't think that'll play into how they treat the final. It's a huge game, not only for being a final, but because there's there chance of a 100% record for the league season.

I think we'll see some changes from last weekends game, but not wholesale ones. Maybe Ruddock and VDF back into the starting 15 and Ryan and Furlong into the 23. We'll need to have a strong bench to counteract Ulster's subs as that's what won them game against Edinburgh. I don't expect the same sort of side that lined out against Ulster a few weeks ago. It'll have to be much stronger.

Buer wrote: »

Larmour will be a loss not only because we're down another back three player but it also would have been good if he could build on his solid aerial showing last weekend before we face the Saracens bombardment.

Ryan will hopefully get 30 minutes from the bench. Hopefully Baird retains a spot in the 23. Toner has played the most of any of them so might be due a break to facilitate Ryan's return. I'd be happy to start Baird and let him absolutely empty the tank for this one. Good exposure for him.

Then go with Fardy, Ryan and Toner for the Saracens game. Second row is one area where they've really lost some quality. Skelton has departed. Kruis is going to Japan (I thought he was seeing out this season but no sign of him and hasn't played any rugby since the 6N). Isiekwe is on loan at Northampton. It's an area where we should really be looking to turn the screw.

With our lack of in depth options in the back line, I wouldn't be against a 6/2 split again. We have a clear advantage at lock and flanker. Having Ruddock, Doris, VDF, Conan and Connors/Leavy in the 23 would be very hard for Saracens to cope with.

6/2 is such a risk if you ship an injury in the backline tho. It inevitably ends up with your scrum half filling in out of position. Earls try in the 1st game back came from JGP defending as a winger and struggling a tad.

Not every scrum half will give you a Marmion against Australia wingers performance.

Larmour will be in the absence of any further symptoms - I'd be pretty confidant of seeing him line out

Shame to be missing Furlong and Leavy still

It will be interesting to see what changes Ulster make. They were a far better side in the second half than they were for the first 40 minutes and that was in no small part owing to the changes they made. I imagine Moore and McGrath will come straight back in but the changes thereafter will be more interesting.

Will they throw caution to the wind and drop Cooney as form demands? AB looked a bit sluggish compared to the past but was still a clear upgrade.

Jordi Murphy made 13 tackles, missing none in the opening half but still looked underpowered. He carried 5 times for no ground made which isn't surprising at all. Reidy is a more effective and robust carrier. Murphy has more big game experience than most of the Ulster team combined though so I can see it being hard for them to pass him over for this.

Sam Carter is bringing nothing to the table. I don't see the point in persisting with him. The difference to the Ulster maul when Treadwell, Moore and McGrath were on was huge.

I don't think there's much Ulster can do outside of 9 aside from potentially moving Stockdale to the wing and he looked very comfortable at 15 against Leinster a fortnight ago so might remain there.