Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
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Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
Castres form is good, but so is ours ( in fact I don't think it could be better than unbeaten ). Most of our wins have been based on forward supremacy. Can we maintain same? I hope so, but there are two possible problems. First, Big Nick has been immense so far this year and without him we lose his ability to go forward and his ability to suck in opposition defenders thereby creating space for others. Second, our front row has been a total weapon so far but the Frenchies take scrummaging as a matter of national pride and as good as we are, if TC gets injured, the support cast is not at the same level.
Anyway, that's the panic out of me. Now the positives - we are as good 1 to 15 as I can remember in recent years and in most of those positions we have players that are at or close to the top level. We are at home. Even with poor teams we have been hard to beat at home. We should win. 5 points might be asking for too much but 4 are a necessity!
Anyway, that's the panic out of me. Now the positives - we are as good 1 to 15 as I can remember in recent years and in most of those positions we have players that are at or close to the top level. We are at home. Even with poor teams we have been hard to beat at home. We should win. 5 points might be asking for too much but 4 are a necessity!
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Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
Big Nick is named in the "Uncle Tom Cobley" squad.
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Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
FORWARDS (16):
Rob Herring, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Neil McComb, John Afoa, Tom Court, Adam Macklin, Callum Black, Johann Muller, Dan Tuohy, Lewis Stevenson, Stephen Ferris, Mike McComish, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.
BACKS (11):
Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Michael Heaney, Paddy Jackson, Paddy Wallace, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy, Jared Payne.
Rob Herring, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Neil McComb, John Afoa, Tom Court, Adam Macklin, Callum Black, Johann Muller, Dan Tuohy, Lewis Stevenson, Stephen Ferris, Mike McComish, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.
BACKS (11):
Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Michael Heaney, Paddy Jackson, Paddy Wallace, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy, Jared Payne.
Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
So 4 to drop out.
Heaney
One of Brady/Herring
A second row... probably McComb
If Williams is fit, a back row, Henderson or McComish.
Heaney
One of Brady/Herring
A second row... probably McComb
If Williams is fit, a back row, Henderson or McComish.
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Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
Lost 2 won 1 in the last 3 games.by promsandwich » Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:24 am
Castres form is good, but so is ours
Do you know what good form is?
Mary had a little lamb . . .
Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
Back line almost picks itself, Heaney to drop out.mikerob wrote:FORWARDS (16):
Rob Herring, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Neil McComb, John Afoa, Tom Court, Adam Macklin, Callum Black, Johann Muller, Dan Tuohy, Lewis Stevenson, Stephen Ferris, Mike McComish, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.
BACKS (11):
Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Michael Heaney, Paddy Jackson, Paddy Wallace, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy, Jared Payne.
Brady, McComb and Williams/McComish to drop out of forwards
Court
Best
Afoa
Muller
Tuohy
Ferris
Henry/McComish
Williams/Henry
Pienaar
Jackson
Trimble
Wallace
Cave
Bowe
Payne
Herring, Black, Macklin, Stevenson, Henderson, P Marshall, L Marshall, Gilroy
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Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
No NOC????????
Always ask yourself, "What would Big Rodney do"... And every time the answer is... "Eat It"
Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
Do you know what guys.... if I were the cowboy I'd start with Marshall & stick Pienaar on the bench.
I know it's crazy and people may laugh but it would send a great message to the squad that if your performing well and playing you keep the shirt, which is what cowboy has been preaching.
I'm not trying to say Small Paul has been outstanding but it's a situation where it could really rally the squad and give the players on the fringes a real lift and incentive to keep pushing the big boys.
We could then unleash Pienaar around the 50min mark to control the rest of the game and get Pienaar in the team to start versus Glasgow.
I'd also give Gilroy a start over Trimble. He's waited and made a good impact in limited minutes the last 2 games so give him a start with Trimble on the bench, but that's just me.
A bench of Herring, Black, Macklin, Stevenson, Henderson, Pienaar, L Marshall & Trimble would be a big boost when they come on to freshen everything up and run Castre into the ground.
Just my two cents
I know it's crazy and people may laugh but it would send a great message to the squad that if your performing well and playing you keep the shirt, which is what cowboy has been preaching.
I'm not trying to say Small Paul has been outstanding but it's a situation where it could really rally the squad and give the players on the fringes a real lift and incentive to keep pushing the big boys.
We could then unleash Pienaar around the 50min mark to control the rest of the game and get Pienaar in the team to start versus Glasgow.
I'd also give Gilroy a start over Trimble. He's waited and made a good impact in limited minutes the last 2 games so give him a start with Trimble on the bench, but that's just me.
A bench of Herring, Black, Macklin, Stevenson, Henderson, Pienaar, L Marshall & Trimble would be a big boost when they come on to freshen everything up and run Castre into the ground.
Just my two cents
Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
Looks like McCombe is an afterthought in that list stuck in between the hookers and props ?
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Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
Problem with keeping Marshall in situ Windy, is that its a fairly paltry gesture to beagle lasting only a week as everyone knows the pecking order. If does what you say, then he's going to have to stick by it for the rest of the season if P is playing well and we know thats absurd, like playing McFadden when BOD is fit.
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Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
That theory has worked and worked well for guys like McComish, Allen, Marshall etc and I doff my hat at MA not throwing the likes of Chad and Touhy straight back into the starting team ... but this is the Hieny we're talking about - and this is St P ... there is a difference.
Ruan has not been sitting scratching his hoop on an IRFU jolly, or extracting splinters form his ass or recovering from an injury ... he's up to match fitness.
Ruan has not been sitting scratching his hoop on an IRFU jolly, or extracting splinters form his ass or recovering from an injury ... he's up to match fitness.
Always ask yourself, "What would Big Rodney do"... And every time the answer is... "Eat It"
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Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
Castres 16 Clermont 13fuzzylogic wrote:Lost 2 won 1 in the last 3 games.by promsandwich » Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:24 am
Castres form is good, but so is ours
Do you know what good form is?
Have you heard of Clermont, they are rather good
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Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
Leinster - 6 Connacht - 34
So where Leinster ... any idea what team they had out or any other factors?
So where Leinster ... any idea what team they had out or any other factors?
Always ask yourself, "What would Big Rodney do"... And every time the answer is... "Eat It"
Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
I cant imagine Williams is fully fit after a rib injury.
I assumed the way he went off that its normally at least 3 weeks for ribs to heal.
Not sure if its worth the risk of further injury at this stage of the season.
I assumed the way he went off that its normally at least 3 weeks for ribs to heal.
Not sure if its worth the risk of further injury at this stage of the season.
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Re: Heineken Cup is back - Ulster vs Castres
When is the Castres team announced?
Do you not think it would be better for us to be reactionary to them given our lack of first choice number 8s, rather than proactive?
Do you not think it would be better for us to be reactionary to them given our lack of first choice number 8s, rather than proactive?