Ulster v Leinster Saturday 5.15

[Dexter]

Strong team but no Lions outside of the front row

Indeed. Interesting that Porter is on the bench as replacement TH

[macboomba]

Porter gets his first senior chance at tight head. Probably not the worst game for it to happen in.

[wixfjord]

#18 is our most interesting selection. Porter is obviously doing the right stuff in training.
Smart selection to ease him in too, and to combine him with a fairly serious front row bench to come in with.

The one area I'd worry is the lightness of our backs. Carbery, Reid and Ringrose up against McCloskey, Marshall, Trimble, Piutau might be a weak area.

Exciting side though.

Ulster:

C Gilroy, A Trimble (Capt), L Marshall, S McCloskey, C Piutau, P Jackson, R Pienaar;
(1-8): A Warwick, R Herring, R Ah You, K Treadwell, A O'Connor, R Diack, S Reidy, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, K McCall, W Herbst, C Henry, N Timoney, P Marshall, P Nelson, J Stockdale.

[simonokeeffe]

Strong team but no Lions outside of the front row

Indeed. Interesting that Porter is on the bench as replacement TH

definitely, but yeah let him at it
Cronin, Sexton, Henshaw only players rested?

Ah You is starting at TH for them, McGrath should give him his wings

[Dexter]

Strong team but no Lions outside of the front row

Indeed. Interesting that Porter is on the bench as replacement TH

definitely, but yeah let him at it
Cronin, Sexton, Henshaw only players rested?

Ah You is starting at TH for them, McGrath should give him his wings

Yeah Cronin was training separately, think he had a slight niggle. Henshaw seemed to be full on training, but there was a mention of a niggle for him too. JS being wrapped up in cotton wool I guess.

[cormac]

Strong team but no Lions outside of the front row

Indeed. Interesting that Porter is on the bench as replacement TH

definitely, but yeah let him at it
Cronin, Sexton, Henshaw only players rested?

Ah You is starting at TH for them, McGrath should give him his wings

Sean O'Brien too. We should be looking to pummel that pack. And when we've done that we should reverse back over them and pummel them some more.

[johng]

Resting 3 Lions apiece.

[wixfjord]

We definitely don't need to be starting Sexton in this. Slightly surprised to see such a strong side, but I'd say the two week gap to the semi played a part.

Slightly worried that SOB isn't involved.

[johng]

Nordies have no 2nd row cover on the bench.

But 2 backrows. Henry and Timoney,

Van der Leavy will have his work cut out for him.

[johng]

If only we were playing them on paper and not on grass we would lash them out of it.

Send off for Wilson and Pienaar. They may raise their game at home

[curates_egg]

For the hard of hearing...

Dayshunt auld side. Some fellas starting the semi will have piles though.

[offshorerules]

Pleased its a strong side, get some momentum going after the sf loss.

[cormac]

Nordies have no 2nd row cover on the bench.

But 2 backrows. Henry and Timoney,

Van der Leavy will have his work cut out for him.

I'm guessing this man is covering second row.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Famous last words but really we should be looking to hammer them. Their pack is very poor and I suspect they have a few guys carrying injuries. If our pack bring intensity and our halfbacks put pace on the game then we should destroy them.

We need to look for Ah You after a few phases and run at his channel, could see a couple of inside balls exposing him as he hides behind a ruck or crawls back into the line.

Like I said during the week, if we have one eye of the final and/or Ulster really raise their game for Pienaar and Wilson then it'll be tricky but I'm hopeful that wont be the case.

[simonokeeffe]

The word up north is Wilson is knackered/his legs are gone so if there was anything riding on this he wouldnt be playing
Would have suspicions about Pienaar too
Diack is lock cover but generally done ok for them there
Interesting quote from Treadwell that he has deliberately shed 6 or 7 kg since arriving

High tempo all round should stretch that pack

[mildlyinterested]

The word up north is Wilson is knackered/his legs are gone so if there was anything riding on this he wouldnt be playing
Would have suspicions about Pienaar too
Diack is lock cover but generally done ok for them there
Interesting quote from Treadwell that he has deliberately shed 6 or 7 kg since arriving

High tempo all round should stretch that pack

Well Treadwell was carrying was too much weight when he arrived.

[wixfjord]

High tempo all round should stretch that pack

Aye that's a good point I reckon. Pace will win this for us, that Ulster 8 doesn't have a lick of speed bar Reidy. I'd say the likes of Leavy, Conan, Furlong and Tracy are licking their lips looking at that.

Will be interested to see how we attack, a reprise of the Clermont strategy of keeping the ball, not kicking and attacking from everywhere would be welcomed, particularly given the skills in that backline. The signings of Fardy and Lowe are making more and more sense if this is to be our strategy from now on.

Also, I predict Adam Byrne will grab a try in this one.

[simonokeeffe]

High tempo all round should stretch that pack

Aye that's a good point I reckon. Pace will win this for us, that Ulster 8 doesn't have a lick of speed bar Reidy. I'd say the likes of Leavy, Conan, Furlong and Tracy are licking their lips looking at that..

The props and Wilson can be seriously exposed ( ) and Diack might be tired by the time he moves into lock if he does
Not like they can rest in the scrums or mauls either

[Dave Cahill]

Famous last words but really we should be looking to hammer them. Their pack is very poor and I suspect they have a few guys carrying injuries. If our pack bring intensity and our halfbacks put pace on the game then we should destroy them.

We need to look for Ah You after a few phases and run at his channel, could see a couple of inside balls exposing him as he hides behind a ruck or crawls back into the line.

Like I said during the week, if we have one eye of the final and/or Ulster really raise their game for Pienaar and Wilson then it'll be tricky but I'm hopeful that wont be the case.

Its been a tough year for Rodney, he's had a tiring season what with him having to show all the lads up there what a winners medal looks like

[TrapperChamonix]

Famous last words but really we should be looking to hammer them. Their pack is very poor and I suspect they have a few guys carrying injuries. If our pack bring intensity and our halfbacks put pace on the game then we should destroy them.

We need to look for Ah You after a few phases and run at his channel, could see a couple of inside balls exposing him as he hides behind a ruck or crawls back into the line.

Like I said during the week, if we have one eye of the final and/or Ulster really raise their game for Pienaar and Wilson then it'll be tricky but I'm hopeful that wont be the case.

Its been a tough year for Rodney, he's had a tiring season what with him having to show all the lads up there what a winners medal looks like

Jack McG will definitely enjoy his scrums