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.

Williams! Good effort big man.

Welcome back Roger!

Bowe!

Awh Tommy Bum pass to Gilroy there. He really isn't doing well in The Wrong Shirt.

I think Jon Evans is still showing his good form. Probably the most consisten welsh 9 playing in Wales, yet finds himself behind players like Knoyle and Williams. Political?

Morg

Bang on mate, I can't understand that either!!!

Afoa on, Marshall in the centre.

Cari wrote:Awh Tommy Bum pass to Gilroy there. He really isn't doing well in The Wrong Shirt.

What are you on about Cari, he's been wearing an Ulster jersey under his Ospreys one for the last 3 years....as well as Ulster underpants under his shorts

Ospreys made Bowe...

Yes!!!! Good man Cave!

There you go rodders, all the posession and territory to Ulster this half. TBP under the belt job done!

No, it's not the Ulster shirt Rodders, it's the no.15 on the back. He's a 14. That's where he belongs.

And there's the bonus. Easy score for Cave.

19 - 32 with 20 minutes to go.

Definitely Europe's form team at the moment aren't they (along with Clermont).

We haven't won the game yet Bluesman!

Go on Trimbs!

Er sorry Cari..my bad....

Intercept from Trimby! Easy peasy lemon squeezy...

19 - 39

Wanna put some money on the result rodders? I bet Ulster win.

See! Another bum pass from Tommy Oi Anscombe, he's not a blydi fullback right!

Bowe is not a full back...

Jeebus shambles at the back there by Bowe and Trimbs....look away Deccie....

Just disband is now and put us out of this misery...

Fed up of watching the decline of the Dragons. We're not even competitive at home these days. RP used to be a real tough place to play. Now it's a piece of p*ss.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Bowe is not a full back...

I've been saying that all night!

Dragons not giving up for what it's worth...penalty for them coming but they're pushing for the try.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Wanna put some money on the result rodders? I bet Ulster win.

Er no.....

Its not over though...that Dragons 9 is a cracking player.

Griff

Its the case when instead of picking from a wishlist of players your picking from a list of everyone elses rejects!! There just is no quality there!!

Great hit by Trimble. MOTM for me by a distance.

Griff wrote:Just disband is now and put us out of this misery...

Fed up of watching the decline of the Dragons. We're not even competitive at home these days. RP used to be a real tough place to play. Now it's a piece of p*ss.

It has been a competitve fixture, but the opposition are top class and have showed it.

If the Dragons centres were half as brave as Harries they would still be in this game, their defence is poor. A pair of props would not go amiss either.

Morg

You have to stop using the opposition as an exceuse, I want it so the kiwis would come to Wales to play our regions and struggle!!!

Paddy Jackson is on.

19 - 39 with 13 minutes to go.

It has been competitive and still is. Dragons fans keep the faith. Don't' mean that in a patronizing way either... jeebus I've seen some shoite from Ulster over the past few years.

This isn't as bad as the scoreline looks.

A cheap shot barge on Bowe after passing the ball.

Ah Pienaar!

Jarod Payne is just different class man! Eat your heart out Nacewa

Don't get me wrong, Ulster are always my favourite non welsh team (Mum is from Armagh) and I truly believe that they are 'doing a Leinster' a the moment, I.e. Munster were the big guns in Ireland but Leinster came out of the shadows with a new brand of rugby to dominate Europe. I believe Ulster can overtake Leinster in the not to distant future, maybe even now, as the Irish big guns.

However, even against the top teams the Dragons could always challenge at home and usually win. Before last season our general stats used to read won nearly all at home and lost nearly all away. Now our home record is much worse, meaning we're losing to teams at home that we used to regularly beat. We're getting further and further away from everyone, which makes us less appealing to sponsors, less appealing to players, coaches and fans. A downward spiral that is very hard to stop, especially without relegation. At least relegation lets a team find there natural level, allows them to regroup and start again. At the moment we get worse but have to face the same (but improving in relative terms) teams year in year out! No respite for a struggling team!

thebluesmancometh wrote:Morg

You have to stop using the opposition as an exceuse, I want it so the kiwis would come to Wales to play our regions and struggle!!!

I'm certainly not. That's a thing maes would do. Just pointing out it has been a competitve game, Ulster now taking a stranglehold on the game because they're the better team.

The dragons have the most unfortunate sponsers I have ever seen. Everyone have a good look at it and tell me what it looks like. Maybe a few Welsh fans will say they play like a bunch of them too.

Hook - something from Ann Summers? Or being family friendly, I'd say a banana...

Jeebus a lot of mistakes by both sides tonight.

Yes!!!! Jarod Payne!!

Payne in with try no.6

19 - 46 with three minutes to go.

Brilliant by Stevenson.

Wow Ulster are really enjoying their trips to Wales this season.

Pienaar is MOTM

19 - 46 FT

Well done Ulster, but remember TOMMY ISN'T A FULLBACK!

Griff

In all fairness it's not a Dragons decline it's a welch regional decline... they are failing!

PS what did I say rodders???

That'll do.

Pienaar was in no way MOTM.

Trimble was superb.
Henderson, Stevenson, Henry all showed up well.

Nice cameos from Marshall, Payne and Jackson.Roger Wilson getting gametime.

Good night all round

Yep, well done Ulster. A fine example of doing provincial rugby the right way: a few good, quality foreign signings amongst a core of experience Irish players and good up and coming youngsters, all busting a gut to do well for the province. A heady mix.

Well played Ulster. Still cannot understand how holding someone up around the wind pipe to stop them going to ground can be legal. I've already made up my mind it happens to me on the pitch I will start swinging.

OK delighted with that result. Poor first half but much better second half from us, although Dragons sort of fell away.

I feel for the Dragons a bit because it was closer than the scoreline suggests. Keep the peckers up.

Trimble was my MOTM and some very good attacking play all round but far too many unforced errors and penalties.

Very happy with were Ulster are right now on and off the pitch. SUFTUM.

Cari wrote:Pienaar is MOTM

Really?!!! I thought he was our worst player!

#Justice4Trimble

No, that's who was picked by the Beeb, not me. I'm just congratulating him.

Unbelievable decision Cari. Pienaar is a legend but he made a lot of mistakes tonight. I agree with Stands list there -Trimble, Henderson, Stevenson, Henry in that order.

I actually thought Bowe looked very sharp despite a couple of poor passes.