Ulster Team Talk Thread IV... Go On My Henderson...

big-al · 21-05-2026 01:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124487197#Comment_124487197

Wilson can bring serious carrying as well. I’m expecting career best performances from several Ulster players. We’ll need it

Larbre34 · 21-05-2026 01:42PM

Delighted ye have Bobby Baloucoune back, hopefully with most of the verve he showed in the 6N

ionadnapóca · 21-05-2026 01:49PM

Montpellier Hérault Rugby starting XV:

15 Tom Banks; 14 Gabriel N'Gandebe, 13 Arthur Vincent, 12 Auguste Cadot, 11 Donovan Taofifenua; 10 Domingo Miotti, 9 Ali Price; 1 Enzo Forletta, 2 Jordan Uelese, 3 Mohamed Haouas; 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 5 Tyler DuGuid; 6 Lenni Nouchi, 7 Alex Becognee, 8 Billy Vunipola (c)

Replacements: 16 Lyam Akrab, 17 Baptiste Erdocio, 18 Wilfrid Hounkpatin, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Marco Tauleigne, 21 Leo Coly, 22 Thomas Darmon, 23 Jon Echegaray

https://www.epcrugby.com/challenge-cup/content/official-epcr-challenge-cup-final-line-ups-in-full

Montpellier without Camara in the BR and Piccardo at 12. No backup 10 (T.Vincent) on bench either.

Ulster 28-20 Montpellier

sydthebeat · 21-05-2026 03:19PM

Coly is covering 10 in the usual french '9 can play 10' fashion.

Im not convinced with Miotti any way, perfectly serviceable 10 who never impressed through his jaguares, force, glasgow days. Decent goal kicker though. Seems to have found his feet in monty.

autogrow · 21-05-2026 03:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124487771#Comment_124487771

coly hasn't played for months

ionadnapóca · 21-05-2026 04:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124487849#Comment_124487849

And he's also very much a 'break glass' back-up, to their actual back-up, Vincent. He can kick from the tee though and slotted over a difficult last min pen to beat Castres in Dec.

Montpellier game is almost exclusively built around an excellent set-piece and 'taking your points'. Miottti is a superb kicker. His kicking form the tee must be close to 90%.

Ali Price-Miotti might not be the flashiest halfback pairing but they are very effective at putting the pack in the right ares of the field and keeping them on the front foot off quick rucks.

RAKM · 21-05-2026 04:59PM

If Ulster lose do Connacht qualify for the Champions cup next season?

FtD v2 · 21-05-2026 05:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124488015#Comment_124488015

Yep; the current situation where Connacht have already qualified would be confirmed.

sydthebeat · 21-05-2026 06:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124487849#Comment_124487849

not sure of your point??

hes named on the bench for Friday night.

Darmon could possibly cover 10 as well, as thats where he started out playing, but Coly has actually stated a game at 10 more recent than Darmon (last season)

AbusesToilets · 21-05-2026 06:53PM

Seems very tough on Kok to miss out on a last appearance for y'all, would have him over Ward personally, for his defense if nothing else.

FtD v2 · 21-05-2026 07:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124488291#Comment_124488291

Nah - Kok can be a complete liability positionally in defence too IMO, even though he's a committed tackler.

He'll finish off tries, but he can't score tries like the two Ward bagged last week against Glasgow, and that's the kind of gamebreaking you need.

I'd have Kok on the bench over McIlroy probably, but I'd 100% have Ward & Baloucoune starting.

ljsulster · 21-05-2026 08:24PM

Ward is statistically one of the best back 3 in Europe. Never really rated Kok- full of energy but don’t feel he uses it overly well

bingobango12 · 21-05-2026 08:57PM

Obviously missing McCloskey and Stockdale but that’s a good strong starting 15. I feel your bench is pretty weak bar Ward but fingers crossed you can get across the line. Best of luck fellas.

big-al · 21-05-2026 10:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124488327#Comment_124488327

agree 100%

ShineyShiney · 22-05-2026 10:39AM

Best of Luck tonight lads, as a Connacht fan I'm a little conflicted but wouldn't begrudge you lots a shiney pot.

ionadnapóca · 22-05-2026 11:02AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124488538#Comment_124488538

Very excited to see Postlethwaite do his best Stu impression. I think he can make a dint in that Montpeliier 10-12 channel. Gets an offload or 2 away and Lowry/Baloucoune will light up San Mames tonight!

connachta · 22-05-2026 11:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124489375#Comment_124489375

I would. Connacht DESPERATELY need Champions Cup. C'Mon Montpellier, close yor eyes about some players past and enjoy the strenght of TOP14 2nd best!

Ben Bailey · 22-05-2026 01:40PM

As a Blue living in Green land, I can understand that Connacht supporters favour an MHR win. But I'll be cheering on the Irish Province. G'wan Ulster, bring it home.

FtD v2 · 22-05-2026 01:59PM

I'd cheer for (and always have) any Irish province in a final (except against Leinster obviously) and tonight will be no different.

Lots of Leinster fans wearing white Leinster jerseys tonight in the ground expected and cheering on Ulster.

Winning a final with this young team, against a really good and tough Montpellier side, missing 3 or 4 absolute totems of Ulster rugby for the last decade or so (McCloskey, Henderson, Herring, Stockdale) would be an enormous achievement, a huge development milestone for these young players, and unquestionably a great development for Irish rugby IMO.

It's unfortunate for Connacht, but 100% want Ulster to win tonight.

connachta · 22-05-2026 03:03PM

Winning a final with this young team, against a really good and tough
Montpellier side, missing 3 or 4 absolute totems of Ulster rugby for the
last decade or so (McCloskey, Henderson, Herring, Stockdale) would be
an enormous achievement,

So that's why it won't happen.

I'd be in Ulster support in most of the situations but not against Connacht massively important Champions Cup spot.
Ulster have and will always have enough money. Connacht with Sportground re-developpement are broke. We need those 2 games to fill the stadium and attract good signings long-term

bilston · 22-05-2026 03:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124490130#Comment_124490130

Understandable in fairness.

Although I'm not sure the Ulster beancounters would be happy with two years out of the Champions Cup. Although as a ST holder I've enjoyed this season a lot more than any in recent years so from a fan experience POV I'm not that bothered about the Champions Cup, it's lost it's shine ever since it was called that IMO.

Paul Smeenus · 22-05-2026 03:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124490130#Comment_124490130

Fully appreciate that you would rather Connacht had Champion's Cup than Ulster - of course you would. Fair play.

But lets's not try to make it a quasi-analytical, objective take about finances and what each team needs etc. Philip Quinn said that missing out on Champion's Cup would cost Munster a million - I assume the same's true of Ulster. A second season of that would/will be brutal.

OldRio · 22-05-2026 04:55PM

36C at the moment in Bilbao. A yellow level heat warning in place until this evening. Good grief.

Tommybojangles · 22-05-2026 05:08PM

More well wishes from the connacht thread. F*** scraping into the watered down Champions Cup, winning trophies is what sport is supposed to be about and here's hoping you win tonight and we win the URC

connachta · 22-05-2026 06:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124490185#Comment_124490185

No, I've said Champions Cup and the million matters more for Connacht than Ulster.

Ulster will exist at high level and qualify more often than not. Connacht are obviously and still will be more fragile for the next 10 years, till the Sportsground is paid. Even with Dexcom/Gov funds