ormond lad wrote:

rossie wrote: Isn't it really poor of irfu to schedule a training camp at the same time as interpros! The league already lacks credibility and this totally undermines it among its strongest market. Ffs they are charging 40 euro for a terrace ticket in TP to see a glorified B+I game. It gives credence to PRL and lnr pov that pro12 is an irrelevance.

When else would you schedule the interpros other than now?
When else would you schedule the training camp for?

There is plenty of other dates available in the calendar that the interpro matches could be refixed for. Munster v Leinster will be a big draw regardless of when it is played. It has been an October or November / March or April game the last few years. Don't really see why its a Christmas match this year.

All this degrading of interpro games never did us any real good under Declan Kidney. Munster v Leinster just has to be 2 full strength teams, while I have no doubt Joe Schmidt and his team will use the time productively, a Munster v Leinster game will tell you a lot more about where lads are at as opposed to a training camp. If they were missing a game against Dragons or Treviso or someone like that it wouldn't really matter.

rossie wrote: Isn't it really poor of irfu to schedule a training camp at the same time as interpros! The league already lacks credibility and this totally undermines it among its strongest market. Ffs they are charging 40 euro for a terrace ticket in TP to see a glorified B+I game. It gives credence to PRL and lnr pov that pro12 is an irrelevance.

When else would you schedule the interpros other than now?
When else would you schedule the training camp for?

Isn't it really poor of irfu to schedule a training camp at the same time as interpros! The league already lacks credibility and this totally undermines it among its strongest market. Ffs they are charging 40 euro for a terrace ticket in TP to see a glorified B+I game. It gives credence to PRL and lnr pov that pro12 is an irrelevance.

With the National camp on this weekend which will affect Ulster more than us and the raft of injuries they have sustained this could be out best chance to beat Ulster in a long time.

My matchday 23 is the following:

15. Mils Muliania
14. Danie Poolman
13. Bundee Aki
12. Dave McSharry
11. Matt Healy
10 Jack Carty
9. John Cooney
8. George Naopou
7. Willie Faloon
6. John Muldoon.
5. Andrew Browne
4. Michael Swift
3. Finlay Belham
2. Dave Heffernan
1. Ronan Loughney

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Denis Buckley
18. Rodney Ah You
19. Quinn Roux
20. Eoghan Masterson
21. Ian Porter
22. Craig Ronaldson
23. Daragh Leader

As Marmion, Ah You, Henshaw and maybe Leader and Buckley would have being at Camp this week I have then either rested or on the bench. Bring them back next week fresh for Munster.

mary hinge wrote: give Dillane his head against Munster.

Wow, risky :woohoo:

Referee: John Lacey (IRFU, 40th competition game)

Assistant Referees: Dudley Phillips, Nigel Correll (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Gordon Black (IRFU)
TMO: Brian McNeice (IRFU)

Dillane looked very impressive in his short cameo at the end of the Leinster game - particularly in line-out work. I would actually see him as the line-out jumper alternative to Muldowney now given that Roux is the mauling/scrimmaging lock with Swift to back him up.
Given Dillane is Munster-born and would be itching to show them what they've missed, I think Pat might start Muldowney vs Ulster and give Dillane his head against Munster.

Browne is a good option, maybe not for attack and restarts, but for lineout and defence, he is...

connachta wrote:

clanman wrote: I think if Mils is poor again then Lam needs to take a serious look at the options in the backline and use the resources we have available. The McSharry\Aki combination from my viewpoint has worked better than Henshaw\Aki. but ok give them the chance again for this game. if schmidt wants henshaw at 12 then there are other games where we can afford to indulge him.

I'd give Bealham an opportunity at TH, we have to stay with Carty at out-half, also muldowney was the pillar at the lineout against Leinster and needs gametime again.

Your talk is sensible, but I disagree for Muldowney. He played 80 with Eagles, 80 the week after against Bayonne, and 72 in Dublin. If you want him in correct fitness agaisnt Munster AND Edinburgh, he should be rested

so we have decide what we want to get out of this game, i fear without good lineout option we have no chance in this game, slim as it is anyway maybe it is correct option to rest Muldowney.

clanman wrote: I think if Mils is poor again then Lam needs to take a serious look at the options in the backline and use the resources we have available. The McSharry\Aki combination from my viewpoint has worked better than Henshaw\Aki. but ok give them the chance again for this game. if schmidt wants henshaw at 12 then there are other games where we can afford to indulge him.

I'd give Bealham an opportunity at TH, we have to stay with Carty at out-half, also muldowney was the pillar at the lineout against Leinster and needs gametime again.

Your talk is sensible, but I disagree for Muldowney. He played 80 with Eagles, 80 the week after against Bayonne, and 72 in Dublin. If you want him in correct fitness agaisnt Munster AND Edinburgh, he should be rested

I think if Mils is poor again then Lam needs to take a serious look at the options in the backline and use the resources we have available. The McSharry\Aki combination from my viewpoint has worked better than Henshaw\Aki. but ok give them the chance again for this game. if schmidt wants henshaw at 12 then there are other games where we can afford to indulge him.

I'd give Bealham an opportunity at TH, we have to stay with Carty at out-half, also muldowney was the pillar at the lineout against Leinster and needs gametime again.

I'd prefer just few changes, to be able to do the exploit without hindering the chances for Munster (assuming McKeon uncertain)

15. Mils Muliaina (a 2nd chance for him)
14. Danie Poolman
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. Craig Ronaldson
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Ronan Loughney
2. Tom McCartney
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Quinn Roux
5. Andrew Browne 2nd chance for him too
6. Eoghan Masterson
7. Willie Faloon
8. George Naoupu

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Denis Buckley
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Michael Swift/Dilane
20. John Muldoon
21. Ian Porter (will be motivated gainst his former team)
22. Jack Carty
23. Darragh Leader/Dave McSharry

Ulster v Connacht - Kingspan Stadium (Ravenhill) Guinness Pro 12 Round 11
Friday 26th December 2014 Kick Off: 18:45
On TV: BBC NI

After exiting Europe and slipping down to 5th place in the league table in recent weeks Ulster will be keen to get their season back on track at home to Connacht.

Other Match Stats

• Ulster have won just one of their last four contests in all tournaments: 24-9 over Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium in the European Champions Cup on 6th December.
• The Ulstermen have won all five previous Guinness PRO12 encounters played in Belfast this season.
• All three of Ulster’s defats to a fellow Irish Province at Kingspan Stadium since October 2010 have been inflicted by Leinster.
• Connacht’s four game winning run in all competitions ended with their 11-21 defeat to Leinster in Dublin on Friday. Connacht’s only win over an Irish Province in their last 13 such encounters was 10-9 against Leinster in Galway in September.
• Ulster’s only defeat to Connacht in their last 16 meetings since 2005 was 21-26 at the Sportsground in April 2012, whilst Connacht have not been victorious in Belfast since November 1960.
• Ulster have scored an average of 24 points and conceded an average of 15 points in their league games to date

Ulster Stats
Founded: 1879
Ground: Ravenhill, Belfast
Capacity: 18,196
Captain: Rory Best
Coach: Neil Doak

Guinness Pro 12 League Position 2014/15: Position 5th P:10 Points: 31
Rabo Direct Pro12 League Position 2013/14: Position: 4th P: 22 Points: 70 (Lost 13-9 to Leinster in S/F)

European Rugby Champions Cup 2014/15: 4th in Pool 3 P:4 Points:6
Heineken Cup 2013/14: Quarter Finalists: 1st in Pool 5 Points 26 (Lost Q/F to Saracens 17-15)

Previous Results
Ospreys 31-20 Ulster (Pro 12 Round 10)
Scarlets 22-13 Ulster (Champions Cup Round 4)
Ulster 24-9 Scarlets (Champions Cup Round 3)
Munster 21-20 Ulster (Pro 12 Round 9)
Ulster 25-16 Ospreys (Pro 12 Round

Next League Fixture:
Saturday 3rd January 2015 14.40 Leinster v Ulster @ RDS (Guinness Pro 12 Round 12

European Champions Cup (Pool 3)
Toulon 13
Scarlets 8
Leicester 8
Ulster 6

Ulster Ins and Outs 2014/15
Players In
Ian Humphreys from London Irish
Ruaidhrí Murphy from Brumbies
Wiehahn Herbst from Sharks
Dave Ryan from Zebre
Franco van der Merwe from Lions
Louis Ludik from Agen
Charlie Butterworth from Lansdowne
Sean Reidy from Counties Manukau
Devin Montgomery from Wits

Players Out
Tom Court to London Irish
John Afoa to Gloucester
Johann Muller retiring
Niall Annett to Worcester Warriors
Chris Farrell to Grenoble
Adam Macklin to Rotherham Titans
James McKinney to Rotherham Titans
Paddy McAllister to Aurillac
Ian Porter to Connacht
Paddy Wallace retiring
Chris Cochrane retiring
David McIlwaine to Yorkshire Carnegie
Sean Doyle to Brumbies
Stephen Ferris retiring

Previous Meetings

Friday 11th April 2014 Rabo Direct Pro 12 Ulster 58-12 Connacht
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/14716.php

Saturday 21st September 2013 Rabo Direct Pro 12 Connacht 7-18 Ulster
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/12893.php

Most importantly Lam sees something in him, in Lam we trust

I like carty he always gives his best and has a nice array of passes but he's so predictable it's painful.

I think a lot of guys here are down on Carty after the Leinster game and while I agree he didn't have a great game he's the outhalf with the most potential at the club. He has imo a bigger ceiling than Ronaldson and yes while he will have bad days (just like Paddy Jackson did when he was starting off) I think he's worth sticking with.

Since the team for La Rochelle was announced I felt that Munster was the game lam will target, so this ulster game may be an afterthought. Ulster are all over the place right now but I still couldn't see more than a lbp without some serious changes to connachts approach and a few gifts from ulster. I like carty he always gives his best and has a nice array of passes but he's so predictable it's painful.