Ulster v Leinster Saturday 5.15

[johng]

Well I hope you are right. I suppose we'll never know for sure.

It would be nice to keep the momentum going and the wins coming. Obviously if we have to lose one of our next 3 games I hope it's this one. We haven't lost a league this calendar year yet though.

[cormac]

Not sure I'd say Ulster are awful, they seem to be missing the magic formula, as Trimble put it, but they're not that far away imo. They just don't look hungry enough, they've got huge talent in that squad. I'd give the young guns another chance for the experience, and rest the Lions against them.

True. I'm expecting Jonno Gibbs to work wonders on their intensity. Him, and a more hand-on Les Kiss could turn them from nearly men to contenders.


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Les Kiss would appear to be a massive bluffer

[artaneboy]

Not sure I'd say Ulster are awful, they seem to be missing the magic formula, as Trimble put it, but they're not that far away imo. They just don't look hungry enough, they've got huge talent in that squad. I'd give the young guns another chance for the experience, and rest the Lions against them.

True. I'm expecting Jonno Gibbs to work wonders on their intensity. Him, and a more hand-on Les Kiss could turn them from nearly men to contenders.


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Errr, Kiss has been the hands on coach this past season and a half, he doesn't do anything else

Yeah- I said "MORE hands-on". You'll know better than me, but my understanding/ impression was that Doak and Clarke as the incumbent coaches retained, or were given the operational authority on skills and tactics, with Les more a DoR role initially. Maybe not, but either way, even leaving the arrival of Gibbs aside, Kiss had better up his involvement at the sharp end if he wants to maintain his reputation as a quality coach.


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[Raydollard]

We should put out our strongest team with Carbery at OH and Byrne on the wing.

[rooster]

True. I'm expecting Jonno Gibbs to work wonders on their intensity. Him, and a more hand-on Les Kiss could turn them from nearly men to contenders.


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Errr, Kiss has been the hands on coach this past season and a half, he doesn't do anything else

Yeah- I said "MORE hands-on". You'll know better than me, but my understanding/ impression was that Doak and Clarke as the incumbent coaches retained, or were given the operational authority on skills and tactics, with Les more a DoR role initially. Maybe not, but either way, even leaving the arrival of Gibbs aside, Kiss had better up his involvement at the sharp end if he wants to maintain his reputation as a quality coach.


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Kiss basically reduced Doak to a ball boy and cone lifter since he arrived, Clarke did a bit of forwards stuff, Kiss knew nothing about contracts hence Bryn Cunningham was brought in as team manager to sort that end so Kiss just coached team and is responsible for team selection etc.
Not sure he has a reputation as a quality coach as his defence and decision making are not much good and his post match interviews are a joke.
One thing for sure is his contract will not be renewed and to be honest I and many others just wish he was paid off now and let Gibbes get on with it unhindered.

[BlueWheels]

BBC2 (Northern Ireland) are listed to be showing the game live.

[simonokeeffe]

Pienaar, Piatau, and McCloskey are officially injury doubts

Olding, Payne, Bowe, Cave, and Coetzee out so Marshall could be their only fit specialist centre, with Ludik or Stockdale filling in

[neiliog93]

So Ulster team might be:

1.McCall 2.Best 3.Herbst

4.Van der Merwe 5.Treadwell

6.Henderson 8.Reidy 7.Henry

9.Pienaar (can't see him missing Ravenhill swansong) 10.Jackson 12.Marshall 13.Ludik 14.Gilroy

11.Trimble 15.Piutau/Stockdale

16.Herring 17.Warwick 18.Ah You 19.Diack 20.Ross/Wilson 21.Marshall 22.Herron(?) 23.Stockdale/Lyttle

[Blue not red blood]

Still have 4 terrace tickets if anyone needs

[simonokeeffe]

So Ulster team might be:

1.McCall 2.Best 3.Herbst

4.Van der Merwe 5.Treadwell

6.Henderson 8.Reidy 7.Henry

9.Pienaar (can't see him missing Ravenhill swansong) 10.Jackson 12.Marshall 13.Ludik 14.Gilroy

11.Trimble 15.Piutau/Stockdale

16.Herring 17.Warwick 18.Ah You 19.Diack 20.Ross/Wilson 21.Marshall 22.Herron(?) 23.Stockdale/Lyttle

A partially fit Pienaar could be good news for us

[leinsterforever]

So Ulster team might be:

1.McCall 2.Best 3.Herbst

4.Van der Merwe 5.Treadwell

6.Henderson 8.Reidy 7.Henry

9.Pienaar (can't see him missing Ravenhill swansong) 10.Jackson 12.Marshall 13.Ludik 14.Gilroy

11.Trimble 15.Piutau/Stockdale

16.Herring 17.Warwick 18.Ah You 19.Diack 20.Ross/Wilson 21.Marshall 22.Herron(?) 23.Stockdale/Lyttle

Aren't McCall and Henry injured?

I'm a big fan of Peter Nelson. I think he should play 15 whenever Payne isn't available. They should drop Piutau. He's been phoning it in for the last few weeks - pick Stockdale at 11

[simonokeeffe]

RTE said Henry is fit again/could be available

[neill_m]

The official injury list released by UR ahead of the game is Olding, Coetzee, Payne, Bowe, Cave, Lyttle, Ross, Dow, Simpson, Rea and McPhillips.

Stockdale needs to start. Ludik at 15 with Payne out for me.

[the spoofer]

I'd go full bore this week. Ulster are gone so there is no point in trying to do them a favour. Most of our lads have played bugger all rugby since the 6N ended which is nearly 2 months ago. There is no game next weekend so lads can rest up so put out our best team possible and use it as a glorified training session.

[ChrisUppy]

I'd go full bore this week. Ulster are gone so there is no point in trying to do them a favour. Most of our lads have played bugger all rugby since the 6N ended which is nearly 2 months ago. There is no game next weekend so lads can rest up so put out our best team possible and use it as a glorified training session.

+1 The strongest team could really use a sharpener before knockout rugby with plenty of time to recover before

And if some injuries are picked up then so be it - that's what our depth is for

[wixfjord]

Ulster aren't playing any of their three Lions this weekend seemingly.

[rooster]

Ulster aren't playing any of their three Lions this weekend seemingly.

Way they played last week it is no loss.
Gives Kiss a potential excuse in post match interviews

[simonokeeffe]

Ulster aren't playing any of their three Lions this weekend seemingly.

That looks to be official and is a big blow

Theyve confirmed Marshall is staying next season to compete with Cooney

At the risk of contradiction they need to move on from him but they need to re Ulsterfy the team

[LeRouxIsPHat]

This could get very ugly if we turn up with the right attitude. We've done it for the vast majority of the season and I'd expect it again but the prospect if the semi might mean we're not fully at it...could see us winning by 30 points the way things are going though.

[rooster]

Ulster aren't playing any of their three Lions this weekend seemingly.

That looks to be official and is a big blow

Theyve confirmed Marshall is staying next season to compete with Cooney

At the risk of contradiction they need to move on from him but they need to re Ulsterfy the team

What, where, they are keeping that one quiet up here about Marshall