Rabo PRO12 (Round 7): Ulster (away) v Dragons at Rodney Parade Friday 26th October

First topic message reminder :

Roger Wilson and Declan Fitzpatrick have been named in the extended Ulster squad for Friday's RaboDirect PRO12 game against Dragons at Rodney Parade (kick off 7.05pm).

It is the first time Wilson has been named in a preliminary squad since his return to Ulster, having suffered a hamstring tear playing for Northampton Saints at the end of last season. The number 8 has enjoyed impressive outings for the Ravens in recent weeks and scored two tries in Sunday’s loss to Bristol.
Fitzpatrick had suffered a reoccurrence of a medial ligament injury prior to the Connacht match earlier this month but has undertaken full training over the past week and will be hopeful of getting much needed game time.

Stephen Ferris has been included after missing the last two games with a back injury, while flyhalf Niall O’Connor has also been added to the panel.

Johann Muller has been ruled out for eight weeks after sustaining a thumb injury in Friday’s Heineken Cup win over Glasgow. Ireland international back row Chris Henry will captain the side in Muller’s absence.

Ulster continue to set the pace at the top of the PRO12 table, and still possess a 100% winning record in all competitions this season. The Ulstermen have won five of their last six fixtures with Welsh regions and have been victorious on their two visits to Wales so far this campaign.

Dragons’ only win in their last seven matches in all competitions was 32-12 at home to Edinburgh in round five of the league. The Welsh outfit have an even worse record against Irish provinces, winning just one of their last 14 encounters. That success did come over Ulster though, just over 12 months ago when they registered a 22-9 win at Rodney Parade. The Ulstermen have managed only one victory at Rodney Parade since 2006.

ULSTER SQUAD TO FACE DRAGONS, RABODIRECT PRO12, FRI 26TH OCTOBER, RODNEY PARADE (7.05PM):

FORWARDS (15):

Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Tom Court, Callum Black, Declan Fitzpatrick, Adam Macklin, John Afoa, Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy, Iain Henderson, Stephen Ferris, Mike McComish, Chris Henry (capt), Nick Williams, Roger Wilson.

BACKS (11):

Paul Marshall, Ruan Pienaar, Niall O’Connor, Paddy Jackson, Paddy Wallace, Luke Marshall, Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy, Jared Payne.

Dragons team to face Ulster:

Tom Prydie, Will Harries, Adam Hughes, Andy Tuilagi, Tonderai Chavhanga, Lewis Robling, Jonathan Evans, Owen Evans, Steve Jones (c), Nathan Buck, Adam Jones, Rob Sidoli, Tom Brown, Jevon Groves, Toby Faletau.

Replacements;
Sam Parry, Nathan Williams, Dan Way, Ian Nimmo, Nic Cudd, Liam Davies, Steffan Jones, Pat Leach.

Very good game so far.

#RABO

He is a poor enough Fly half Hook. Jackson will need to come on soon if this keeps up.

Best was about obstructed as Pienaars pass was legal

Hook - where is Paddy J?

Come on Ulster, give us a game here and counter attack...

rodders wrote:Obstruction there on Best but terrible attempt by Pienaar. Try was coming. Awful stuff from Ulster so far.

That was pretty crafty from Hughes. Though I still think Andy would have been in for a try.

As I say that big Nick Williams gets over.

Williams!

Nick williams scores through schoolboy defence!!

I hate welsh rugby sometimes! All from a kick dead taken back in.

Nick Williams gets the try right by the post.

13 - 14 after 32 minutes.

Morgannwg wrote:

rodders wrote:Obstruction there on Best but terrible attempt by Pienaar. Try was coming. Awful stuff from Ulster so far.

That was pretty crafty from Hughes. Though I still think Andy would have been in for a try.

He would, that's why I'm not bothered about it (well that and Pienaar's forward pass for our first ). Just thought I'd point it out

Another Prydie penalty takes the Dragons slightly ahead again.

16 - 14 after 36 minutes.

Prydie shows his qualities...

Superb chargedown by Pienaar! Try, but misses the conversion again.

Ulster have a whiff of the BP try anyway...

Pieenar!!!!!!

Christ this is like a sevens match!

Nice try from Williams,have to say I really like the 2nd row Stevenson.He's a real honest grafter who puts himself about and makes an impact in most games.

Nice score Pienaar,you make your own luck sometimes.

Yup Stevenson is having a cracking game....and season generally asore.

Stevenson gets a row off the ref, and gives the Dragons a penalty. Dragons opt for the corner.

I think this is highlighting some of the Dragons problems perfectly, while highlighting Ulster's class too: Dragons take about 20 phases to get to a try scoring opportunity, Ulster on the other hand can get there in a hand full (against us).

Fun game though so far.

A collapsed maul ends the first half.

16 - 19 at HT.

Very poor first half by Ulster. Shocking.

Dragons looking like what they are, a scratch team trying to compete with real quality.

I don't think they're too bad. Doing what they usually do in attack, just not being allowed to offload by the Dragons. And Peinaar's kicking is poor, but it's definitely the Ulster I've been seeing all season, a very good team.

I think Dragons look dangerous when they have the ball.

Our basics have been very poor and individual brilliance has really kept us in the game.

The Dragons try says a lot though rodders, if you want basic errors having your 10 kick dead from inside, having your FB panic and get charged down for a try etc...

Compare that to how hard Dragons had to work for their score, a fe mishaps at the breakdown and loose kicks are put into perspective don't you think?

Yeah maybe Bluesman. Its been a funny game, both sides have really been poor and conceded a lot of silly penalties. We'll see a lot of points if this carries on and its anybody's game.

Nah it's only going 1 way, it was called a 9 point wind wasn't it??

Even so the Dragons never kicked offensively with the wind behind them for some reason, I envisage Ulster being far smarter, pinning Dragons deep for long periods and putting anothe 15 points on the board quite comfortably...

5 - 0 victory on welsh soil is becoming very common.

Well there you go, first ruck and dragons hand 3 points away... ugh

We'll see Bluesman...... enjoy the second half lads. SUFTUM!

Piernaar puts his boots on the right way around now and gets the first penalty after 50 seconds or so.

16 - 22.

Bummmer Tommy passes to Trimby and he loses it. That could've been Ulster's BP try. Ah well.

Ah Trimbs why didn't you pass!

Lovely stuff from Trimble and Bowe.... are you watching Deccie??

If the second half is anything like the first both teams could get the try bonus point.

Henderson! Go on lad!

See the first kick out of hand from Pienaar, it was offensive, pinned Dragons back and was on his own terms, why did the Dragons not mix it up in the first half????

I sometimes wonder if I could actually do a better job than some so called prof coaches!!!

Steve Jones double man sausage = delayed throw, ARGH!!! Childish mistakes!!!!

Jeebus bad mistake by the Dragons hooker. Great chance now for Ulster.

Penalty here would be grand.....

Double man sauage??

As in man sausage your gun, a dog cocks his leg to pee etc...

Shoite! Good stuff lads....keep her lit!

Trimble is in super form. Looks to have found his mojo again.

TBP is coming, now the gap is open to 9 points... Time to see if theres anything on Sky movies!

Lovely break by Marshall and Trimble,was it a bad pass or poor hands from Henderson?Pienaar doing a nice job of encouraging Henderson after the knock on.

Phil Steele interviewing Dan Lydiate with the plebs behind him making stupid fecking faces. Why do people do that on TV? Yeah you're on telly. So what? Behave!

Pienaar on the ball now.

16 - 25 after 48 minutes.

Cari

I nearly wet myself laughing at them

Think Henderson was the dummy runner asore, just a botch up...no harm done.

Cari wrote:Phil Steele interviewing Dan Lydiate with the plebs behind him making stupid fecking faces. Why do people do that on TV? Yeah you're on telly. So what? Behave!

Pienaar on the ball now.

16 - 25 after 48 minutes.

Like this guy????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExBFTO_qkYY

Ah fer flip sake. This one is going down to the wire.

Another Prydie special 19 - 25 after 52 minutes.

Ulcer needs a try now to secure their win and a BP.

Hells bells!