Glasgow Warriors v Ulster, Scotstoun, Friday 22 February 2013, 1935 hrs

First topic message reminder :

Huge game for The Warriors and a real test for the so called 'dirt trackers' against the top of the table. Who starts at FH with Wee Dunky presumably back with Scotland for the Sunday 6Ns? Does The Messiah start or Peter Horne (if available)? Who goes at hooker with Pat MacA back with Scotland and Dougie Hall and Fin Gillies injured ? Where do we play Mata - SH please Toonster ? The previous games this season at Ravenhill and Scotstoun have been too easy for Ulster so we need to big up, front up and play the game we are capable of starting with the forward battle.

Looks like it will be a sell out boys and girls so get your tickets soon. My one and two teams in the Rabo going head to head at two and one in the league - cannot wait to see who will be !

Just read that Walsh is a Dublin born wing who we got off Melbourne Rugby Club - interesting.

GC, I feel quietly confident of our chances of upsetting the apple cart over in Glasgow. Quite prepared to win ugly I suspect.

Walsh comes from a similar standard to Adam D'Arcy.

Has genuine pace but at 27 not one for the future

Notch wrote:GC, I feel quietly confident of our chances of upsetting the apple cart over in Glasgow. Quite prepared to win ugly I suspect.

Noted young feller me lad. We will be desperate to keep the ball out of the scrums as it's really our only weak spot.

It will be huge ask for your boys to get something out of this - it's our regular second row with our regular hooker throwing in, we have quality specialists in each loose forward position, plus our centres are in form and in DTH and Seymour have genuine strike runners. A LBP would be a good result, a win exceptional.

Haven't heard of a single member of the Glasgow front row bench cover!!

Let's hope the starters stay fit. Afoa is going to enjoy this!

Very interested to see how Horne gets on at 10 - good call Dot!

Delighted to see Mark Bennett retained, and to see Tommy Seymour back

Ohhhh!

Maybe 3 or 4 of the Ulster squad would be starters in a first choice Ulster team? And one or 2 of them is playing out of position.

If we get anything from this game I will be a very happy Ulster supporter.

Same MrsP, I'm not as confident as some on here. Glasgow are on fire at the minute. With two first choice teams out I would be backing Ulster comfortably but on paper this is our toughest game of the season (first place away to second place) If we get anything I will be more than happy.

This is going to be a cracker of a game. If we were judging the teams from No's 4-15, then I would say Glasgow for the win. As it is, I can see John Afoa causing all sorts of bother in the Scrum, and Piennar controlling things from there.

If Ofa has to come of, Afoa will be up against Luke Pettie - an amateur player for Gala, with not a single minute (I don't think) of Pro rugby experience.

A genuinely exciting back division for Glasgow! Front row looks to be our weakest area- so avoid these nasty scrum type things if at all possible! If we keep the game fast and loose I don't think Ulster can live with us, but if it becomes attritional and Ofa and Kalman need replacing then we could be in trouble.
Now her's an interesting sign o' the times: how many of this XV can seriously consider themselves first team choices when the internationals return? I reckon twelve of them. I am excluding;
Kalman- a full Scottish international
Seymour- on the fringes of the Scottish squad
Bennett- on the fringes of Messiahdom
If we can't beat a depleted Ulster team at home then questions should be asked. If we beat them then Son of Gonzo could be coaching us into the play offs.

EST wrote:This is going to be a cracker of a game. If we were judging the teams from No's 4-15, then I would say Glasgow for the win. As it is, I can see John Afoa causing all sorts of bother in the Scrum, and Piennar controlling things from there.

If Ofa has to come of, Afoa will be up against Luke Pettie - an amateur player for Gala, with not a single minute (I don't think) of Pro rugby experience.

Are you honestly suggesting that a 16 stone product of the mighty Gala Wanderers might encounter difficulties against a 19 stone, 36 cap All Black? Very cynical.

George Carlin wrote:

Notch wrote:GC, I feel quietly confident of our chances of upsetting the apple cart over in Glasgow. Quite prepared to win ugly I suspect.

Noted young feller me lad. We will be desperate to keep the ball out of the scrums as it's really our only weak spot.

It will be huge ask for your boys to get something out of this - it's our regular second row with our regular hooker throwing in, we have quality specialists in each loose forward position, plus our centres are in form and in DTH and Seymour have genuine strike runners. A LBP would be a good result, a win exceptional.

Glasgow a lot closer to full strength as you say, but if we can get stuck into their scrum anything can happen. I think this is an incredibly tough match for us but this isn't an Ulster squad I would write off against anyone. If we didn't have Afoa, fair enough. But we still have quality 1-5 and 9-13. I expect it will be quite close and not pretty. If it is pretty we'll probably lose.

George Carlin wrote:

EST wrote:This is going to be a cracker of a game. If we were judging the teams from No's 4-15, then I would say Glasgow for the win. As it is, I can see John Afoa causing all sorts of bother in the Scrum, and Piennar controlling things from there.

If Ofa has to come of, Afoa will be up against Luke Pettie - an amateur player for Gala, with not a single minute (I don't think) of Pro rugby experience.

Are you honestly suggesting that a 16 stone product of the mighty Gala Wanderers might encounter difficulties against a 19 stone, 36 cap All Black? Very cynical.

Sorry George, I was merely attempting to warn our good friend Mr. Afoa of the force of nature lingering on the Glasgow bench.

EST wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

EST wrote:This is going to be a cracker of a game. If we were judging the teams from No's 4-15, then I would say Glasgow for the win. As it is, I can see John Afoa causing all sorts of bother in the Scrum, and Piennar controlling things from there.

If Ofa has to come of, Afoa will be up against Luke Pettie - an amateur player for Gala, with not a single minute (I don't think) of Pro rugby experience.

Are you honestly suggesting that a 16 stone product of the mighty Gala Wanderers might encounter difficulties against a 19 stone, 36 cap All Black? Very cynical.

Sorry George, I was merely attempting to warn our good friend Mr. Afoa of the force of nature lingering on the Glasgow bench.

Artful_Dodger wrote:Same MrsP, I'm not as confident as some on here. Glasgow are on fire at the minute. With two first choice teams out I would be backing Ulster comfortably but on paper this is our toughest game of the season (first place away to second place) If we get anything I will be more than happy.

Dodge, I confess that I'm a little surprised at the levels of confidence on here from Ulster fans (one or two aside) - should I be surprised at that?

Weather looking good for a running game - cold but dry. Just back from a wee donner up Ben Lomond (fnaar,fnaar) and the views stunning were as good as I've seen - could nearly see Ulster (well you could see Arran!) Also the pitch should be ok after a wee rest. Peter Horne at FH - is that not a bit of a risk. SW is at least tried and tested there - I know his kicking can be wayward but he is a good line breaker when going forward - so is Horne right enough - ask Northampton

Interesting that there is snow forecast for Embra on Saturday night

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:Same MrsP, I'm not as confident as some on here. Glasgow are on fire at the minute. With two first choice teams out I would be backing Ulster comfortably but on paper this is our toughest game of the season (first place away to second place) If we get anything I will be more than happy.

Dodge, I confess that I'm a little surprised at the levels of confidence on here from Ulster fans (one or two aside) - should I be surprised at that?

Well we've only lost twice in the Rabo this season and on one of those occasions we played our reserves, on the other we had many players missing. So we have good reason to be confident of winning, but as I said above I think this is going to be a massive test with both the injuries and call ups we have at the minute (not that Glasgow aren't dealing with a similar number of call ups) and the fact that its away to our strongest competition in the league. I think if its a tight attritional game Ulster will edge it through the likes of Afoa and Pienaar, but if its in anyway open I would be backing Glasgow, particularly at Scotstoun.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:Same MrsP, I'm not as confident as some on here. Glasgow are on fire at the minute. With two first choice teams out I would be backing Ulster comfortably but on paper this is our toughest game of the season (first place away to second place) If we get anything I will be more than happy.

Dodge, I confess that I'm a little surprised at the levels of confidence on here from Ulster fans (one or two aside) - should I be surprised at that?

Are you surprised at the ones that are confident or the ones that aren't?

I think this is one of the toughest tests of the season so far, but I know we have the right stuff deep down to go over and cause an upset. Might not happen. Glasgow are an excellent side and they are in flying form. But would be very surprised if it's a one-sided match.

Hmmmm!

The difference between being confident that your team can win a particular game and being confident that they will win a particular game.

MrsP wrote:Hmmmm!

The difference between being confident that your team can win a particular game and being confident that they will win a particular game.

Yes, thats it.

Notch wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:Same MrsP, I'm not as confident as some on here. Glasgow are on fire at the minute. With two first choice teams out I would be backing Ulster comfortably but on paper this is our toughest game of the season (first place away to second place) If we get anything I will be more than happy.

Dodge, I confess that I'm a little surprised at the levels of confidence on here from Ulster fans (one or two aside) - should I be surprised at that?

Are you surprised at the ones that are confident or the ones that aren't?

I think this is one of the toughest tests of the season so far, but I know we have the right stuff deep down to go over and cause an upset. Might not happen. Glasgow are an excellent side and they are in flying form. But would be very surprised if it's a one-sided match.

I guess I'm surprised at the number who by deduction are dismissive of Glasgow's chances in this game. Ulster's league (and all else) is indeed excellent this season, but equally Glasgow have lost only once at home in the Rabo this season, a 0-6 defeat to Leinster at the height of the Warriors injury issues. It's a game of two sides, as trite and obvious as that sounds - I don't believe it'll be enough for Ulster to turn up and play well, Glasgow would have to dip relative to recent form (5 wins on the trot in all comps) for the result to go the way of Ravenshill imo

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
I guess I'm surprised at the number who by deduction are dismissive of Glasgow's chances in this game.

Thats a big leap of logic if you're referring to me. If you're not, then fair enough. Certainly it's a game we CAN win. I'm not saying that we're favourites. You beat a side three times in a season you're not intimidated even when you're the underdogs. And we are this time, but we never accept that tag mentally. Thats how come we have such a quiet confidence.

I would never be so disrespectful to come out and say we WILL win against anyone. Anything can happen in a game of rugby and we have the steel to bend the odds in our favour- whether that will be enough this time, I don't know.

I dodnt think anyone is dismissing Glasgow,

They have the better backrow and have the better back three but Ulster are strong in the front five (provided Tuohy is fit) and have some serious talent at 9,10, 12 and 13. In particular we could cause them serious damage in the scrum

They remain favourites but we most definitely CAN win.

At the start of the week I had us down as almost certain losers - so that is progress of sorts

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21535697

BOOM

Sucks big time

Yeah, I saw that. I'm not too worried about it of Henderson stays fit and we get our two number 8s back. Just hope he has a Lions tour in him.

No point taking risks with him.

OK getting fed up with this, Glasgow to get BP win.
If Glasgow get their noses in front look to see Wight to come on and kick to corners and G-Dog at 12 to strangle any attempts by Ulster to run the ball back, also to take one out ball in attack thus bringing in our huge advantage in the back row and set up space for our wide players to attack. If Ulster try to kick from defence we have a very good back three to run back at them.
What is exciting, from a Glasgow point of view, is you can see Linneen's pragmatic game plan there but also you see where the Son of Gonzo is hoping to take us. I can't see this Ulster side outscoring us....so long as our front row remains on their feet.

Glasgow will be looking to play open game and Ulster will probably want to stick to their strong points, that will be an interesting match. Only word of caution for Glasgow is do they think they can play the game with 0 handling errors because up front in scrums they are going to be in trouble. Can't wait for it. SUFTUM

jimbopip wrote:OK getting fed up with this, Glasgow to get BP win.
If Glasgow get their noses in front look to see Wight to come on and kick to corners and G-Dog at 12 to strangle any attempts by Ulster to run the ball back, also to take one out ball in attack thus bringing in our huge advantage in the back row and set up space for our wide players to attack. If Ulster try to kick from defence we have a very good back three to run back at them.
What is exciting, from a Glasgow point of view, is you can see Linneen's pragmatic game plan there but also you see where the Son of Gonzo is hoping to take us. I can't see this Ulster side outscoring us....so long as our front row remains on their feet.

Jimbo,

you surely mean St Sean of Lineen ?

I can't wait for tomorrow night. Sharp contrast to what I'm doing tonight.

No, tonight I've been dragged to Mecca bingo with the women I work with. I'm the youngest person here by at least three decades. I swear, some of the people here voted for Stanley Baldwin.

I would give anything, literally ANYTHING, to be at Scotstoun right now.

Roll on tomorrow! 'Mon the Warriors! SUFTUM! (But not too much...)

Bummer mate ! Do they still leave their 'wallies' at the door on the way in ?

Ian, you're not the Rollover prize by any chance are you?
Schiz, pardon my lapse into dyslexia it is, of course, Linoon.

Aye, Schitz, along with my self-respect.

Jimbo, there are some real honeys here, in need of some hot, hot IanBru lovin'.
"I ain't sayin' he's a gold digger..."

Scrum will be no contest here, Glasgow are down to their 4th choice props, yes 4th.

Ian, there are so many Elvis references; "Let's play HOUSE" will do to begin with. However, if a matronly lady asks you if you're in the mood for "eyes down" just run.

Olding's first game was against the Ospreys a fortnight ago.

Ulster
(15 - 9) P Nelson; C Cochrane, M Allen, C Farrell, C Gaston, J McKinney, P Marshall
(1 - 8) C Black, N Brady (c), A Macklin; T Barker, L Stevenson; N McComb, A Birch, R Diack
Replacements (16 - 23) N Annett, J Cronin, T Court, J Simpson, C Joyce, I Porter, S Olding, R Andrew

Debutants on Boxing day 2011 v Leinster

It's interesting how many of that second string team are involved in the game on Friday, and Nelson and Macklin would have been if they weren't injured.

IanBru wrote:Aye, Schitz, along with my self-respect.

Jimbo, there are some real honeys here, in need of some hot, hot IanBru lovin'.
"I ain't sayin' he's a gold digger..."

At least they say thanks Ian - can't believe I have just typed that ??!!!

Ulster have nothing to lose in this game. They are missing about two dozen players, an no-one expects them to win.
OTOH Glasgow are clear favourites and need to keep their momentum.

If the Ulster defence frustrates Glasgow, this game could end up very close.

Regarding fez, I would be a bit worried regarding his contract situation. The IRFU aren't going to give him the same contract you would imagine and can ulster match those wages?

Maybe the IRFU might give him a one year deal if he gets his fitness sorted. I genuinely don't know. Maybe Geoff has more of an inkling.

I see our coaches son was kicking for the Chiefs this morning

WARRIORS

I wouldn't be surprised if we missed out on the LBP and a bit more.

But I have to say, while expecting a loss, I am pretty excited and curious to see this Ulster team in action.

Plenty of the Ulster faithful in Byres Road !

Plenty of souls have made it over for the weekend, as it coincides nicely with the Ireland game... That and Glasgow Uni is full of Methody, Inst and the like so the Mums and Dads come over to see the kids as well...

Good luck to the soap dodgers tonight. I really hope you give the Ulstermen a bloody nose and set up a Scottish beating the Irish double this weekend.

Scots going down.

Downtown.

Bigtime.

Thanks Radge man - you could do us a wee favour in Swansea too

IanBru , can you look yourself in the mirror today? Remember, what happens in Mecca stays in Mecca.
Don Alfonso I think you'll find it's a long wearisome journey across theSea of sorrows after we've tonked your boys tonight.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Good luck to the soap dodgers tonight. I really hope you give the Ulstermen a bloody nose and set up a Scottish beating the Irish double this weekend.

The other thing Radge - we have a Fifer at 10 no less !

Being part-Scots msyelf, I thought I was familiar with most Scottish slang, even the way they mangle the langauge up in Forres and Elgin.

But this “tonked” - I take it to mean “folded in on ourselves like Irn Bru-soaked origami and surrendered a 5-pointer to the younger, more ginger team?”

Don Alfonso wrote:Being part-Scots msyelf, I thought I was familiar with most Scottish slang, even the way they mangle the langauge up in Forres and Elgin.

But this “tonked” - I take it to mean “folded in on ourselves like Irn Bru-soaked origami and surrendered a 5-pointer to the younger, more ginger team?”

Ok Godfather how does gubbed sound ?