Ulster vs Zebre

First topic message reminder :

Good news! Pienaar is fit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21415571

We really need him over this international period. Having him in the team allows us to keep Olding at 10. Afoa is now back in the UK, so hopefully he will also be available for selection. With those two in harness, the biggest selection problem we have is in the backrow. Iain Henderson should be released from Ireland duty, which will solve a great deal of the problems we had with no ball carrier in the backrow and one of Fridays most ignoble performers Mike McComish will be dropped. Paddy Wallace is likely to be ruled out injured, meaning a Marshall/Cave midfield is likely

Other than Henderson, I wouldn't make too many unforced changes. We have to think of this game- a must-win game- as feeding into our big away game against playoff rivals Glasgow at Scotstoun. Filling the spine of our team with returning internationals will see us to a good home win most likely, but that won't help us next week when they are once again unavailable. There may also be availability issues during the week with Ireland players kept in camp and we can expect Gilroy and Best to be rested. Obviously we want to see Court back at loosehead and Afoa in the front row, but Callum Black should get considerable time at loosehead too.

Extended Ulster squad v Zebre, RaboDirect PRO12, Friday 15th February, Ravenhill, 7.05pm;

Forwards (14)

Rob Herring, Niall Annett, Tom Court, Callum Black, John Afoa, Declan Fitzpatrick, Johann Muller, Neil McComb, Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy, Chris Henry, Iain Henderson, Mike McComish, Robbie Diack.

Backs (11)

Ruan Pienaar, Michael Heaney, Stuart Olding, Paddy Jackson, Paddy Wallace, Luke Marshall, Darren Cave, Michael Allen, Andrew Trimble, Chris Cochrane, Ricky Andrew.

The plan is , apparantly, to push Fitz hard for 50 mins and then bring John on.

As another aside just heard some glowing reports on the 2 young Locks - they are impressing the older hands. Good news for the future

Being reported on the supporters site that Tuohy out with back pain

geoff998rugby wrote:The thing about that 46 number is we only started the season with 41 players, including the Academy, so 5 player outside that circle.

Not sure that has ever happened before at least to that extent

You started with 1 more than us so. We played even more last year. The Academy is the main source. 3 of our academy were in the 38 man HC squad at one time. We play them a fair bit in the Rabo. Hence 10 of them playing for the 1st team already this season.

Murphy
Moore
Reid
O'Shea
Coghlan
Marshall
Tracy
O'Connell
Hudson

These guys all got their game this season, the top 2 were in the HC squad as was Luke McGrath (for a while)

Sorry for going off topic........Again

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:The point of releasing players from Ireland is to get them game time. That means that Fitz, Henry, Henderson, and Jackson will probably all start.

And while I'm in gloat mode.

Oh I knew it. Guess I was just stuck in a perfect world fallacy. Still, as the game has gotten closer I've gotten more and more excited to the point when (like all fans, I guess) I just want to see the best team no matter that! Logic goes out the window then.

So I guess if both Tuohy and Lewis are out/called up next week, we'll see one of the young guys playing beside Johann? Which one is more likely to step up? O'Connor has played this season already hasn't he? (Vs Leinster?)

McComb will surely play if they are called up

Does the BBC rugby correspondent actually watch rugby?

Apparently,

"Ruan Pienaar is deemed fit enough to start, despite hobbling off with a knee injury in the defeat to the Ospreys last week. "

Now, when I studied anatomy we thought that knees were in the lower limb.

How things change eh?

MrsP wrote:Does the BBC rugby correspondent actually watch rugby?

Apparently,

"Ruan Pienaar is deemed fit enough to start, despite hobbling off with a knee injury in the defeat to the Ospreys last week. "

Now, when I studied anatomy we thought that knees were in the lower limb.

How things change eh?

Silly Doctor. You must be mistaken- BBC Sport rigorously check their facts!

neilthom7 wrote:McComb will surely play if they are called up

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21459930?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Declan Kidney seems to indicate here Devin Toner has been called up. Means we are likely to have Stevenson against Glasgow, where he will be essential. Never an issue with Stevenson for Zebre; the guys who have been called up to the squad are playing, it's the first XV from last week who are being given rests + Dave Kilcoyne. Does O'Garas playing with Munster and Jacksons playing with Ulster represent a shootout for the 10 jersey do you think? Or has Kidney already made the decision. I remember us all thinking there was no way he was going to drop O'Gara for the visit of South Africa in 2009 after Sexton made his debut the week before. And that was 2009 O'Gara, many times the player 2013 O'Gara is. However Jackson isn't in the same form Sexton was back then, has been carrying an ankle injury for a while and is younger and less proven than Sexton was when he made his Ireland debut.

But I would be inclined to speculate Kidney still has an open mind on it, even though he's an incredibly hard coach to second guess.

Meanwhile; listen to Anscombes interview in the immediate aftermath of last weeks game; http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21389908

I would be inclined to think there were some words said to the forwards from last week about that performance and watching that interview makes me really excited about Friday. Anscombe and Kidney are from different ends of the personality spectrum... I admire Kidneys obvious intelligence and calculating mind, but I never got why he's seen as a great motivator. But then, I've always been a guy who was motivated best by threats and dressing downs.

We don't know what he is like in the dressing room really, I have to say the one thing I have always liked about Kidney is he pre match interviews he is just so nice and happy like you could never be mad at him lol

If both McCarthy and Ryan are missing we wont have Stevenson.

As I mentioned elsewhere Toner has been training with the Irish squad anyway.

Simpson and O'Connor would contest the bench with McComb starting

Tuohy did his back in during the Captains run.

They hope it is just a spasm but dont know for sure yet

This game just became massive for Ireland.

Gordon D'Arcy is out for 4 to 6 weeks. With O'Gara in poor form, all eyes will be on the 10-12 combination of Jackson and Marshall.

Can one or both make their case?

Depending on the selection and how they perform it could be a real changing of the guard situation for Ireland.

And BOD isn't certain to play either

Notch wrote:Depending on the selection and how they perform it could be a real changing of the guard situation for Ireland.

No Kidney is writing down:-

10. O'Gara

12. O'Driscoll

13. Earls

as we speak - I know he is

Notch wrote:This game just became massive for Ireland.

It's a pity we're going to get tonked then.

I see us loosing our remaining games now, the chickens are coming home to roost for political selections, player power, naval gazing and a lack of succession planning over the past decade by the IRFU.

...come back triple crown, all is forgiven.....

No rodders- I meant the game against Zebre!

We need new blood arguably at 10 and 12 for Ireland and this is the last chance for Luke or Paddy to put their hand up for it.

If Luke puts in a performance tonight I think he should play against Scotland

Deccie has the perfect opportunity if he wants to play it conservatively by flanking him with ROG and BOD

I'd rather not see Luke outside ROG. It would be the equivalent of him paying outside NOC at ulster

Ferg training on the wing today in Carton House. Bod and Earls in the centre.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Ferg training on the wing today in Carton House. Bod and Earls in the centre.

Whacha gonna do? Kidney always goes back to what he knows in a crisis.

RoG Bod Earls at 10 12 13. Ferg and Gilroy on the wings. Jackson 22 Luke at 23. Unless.........

What he knows doesn't work though

Standulstermen wrote:What he knows doesn't work though

Not much you and me are gonna do about it though.

Amen to that

Is this available on the website or just on the telly?

Was his foot in touch there?

I thought so!

WoooHoooo!

Trimble just emptied Bortolami!

Ulster converted the try they scored about half an hour ago and the beeb stillhave the score as 5 v 0

Zebre pen.

7 v 3

Ah Luke Marshall injured!

Try Diack.

Not converted.

12 v 3

HT

You are talking to yourself again MrsP, e talked about this and yess Diack with our 3rd try

Another try for Diack!

19 v 3

Come on lads 1 more try

Have you been watching Neil?

I dont know how Mike McCombish gets picked in this team, calling him average would be a great complement.

I like Heany alot but does anyone know why small Paul wasn't in the side this week

Great 4th try, yeah MrsP have been watching, just had issues with my internet.
I think Paul is maybe on honey moon or something Vet because he got married but I don't know of any other reason why he would not be here

I thought that Deccie Fitz played really well while he was on, I would love to see his tackle count as he seemed to be at every break down, and he didn't injure himself which is always a bonus!

Henderson is the real deal isn't he, pure class for such a young man. I am glad he is on our side

Henderson was impressive as always, Cave has played very well, Afoa has shown his class and after his mare last week I think Rob Herring has done well to play a lot better

Yeah herring has played like a decent poaching 7 tonight, his hands have been in most of the rucks, his throwing has been much improved, I still feel we should be giving Annett more game grime as I can see him being best long term replacement.

The thing that amazes me about Henderson is how strong he is and he's not 21 till next week!

I'm convinced Henderson is actually a relative of Chuck Norris

It's not just his strength but technique, he a daemon at ripping ball in contact, he doesn't it once or twice a game.

Yet he looks like he is lost a lot of the time.

Doesn't play that way though.

I tell you. He'll be a big lad when he grows up!

neilthom7 wrote:I'm convinced Henderson is actually a relative of Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris just traded his Bruce Lee pyjamas for Henderson ones.....What a performance from him! Afoa was a monster when he came on too....

Decent team performance. Job done. SUFTUM.

MrsP wrote:I tell you. He'll be a big lad when he grows up!

I was just chatting with a guy when I was at the game about just this- the lad is still growing!

I don't think he is any taller than he was from his schooldays. He was and still is 6 foot 6. He is much bulkier though, and looks like he still has room to add considerable size.