Positive and Negatives: Ulster vs Munster

[AndyB]

Cave's tackle on Mafi 5 mins before half time was brilliant - he emptied him.
iHumph looked as if he was in charge, like a 10 should. He must start the next game if fit.
Back row were excellent.
Trimble and Nagusa were used well coming in off their wings.
Paddy had a great game, took some big hits and got up for more.

I didn't think the goal kicking was that bad. NOC's miss early on was a bad one (although it was into a stiff breeze) but apart from that I don't think we missed any gimmees.

Caldwell as said many times before really needs to wise up. Refs are looking for him to do something now. I noticed Matt giving him a real talking to just before he went back on.

[for dog and ulcer]

A lot of what has been said I agree with and I have very few negatives other than Caldwell's insane card and some of the officials' decisions. One stands out- Paddy's try- I have watched this repeatedly and I can see no reason not to award it- nor was one given that I could hear. If anything it was a penalty try for a high tackle- these were continual from Munster and no yellow cards were dished out by Rolland- admittedly not one of my favourite referees. I stand to be corrected. The breakdown continues to be a lottery and having watched the two SH finals yesterday it will be even more so in the upcoming internationals. The NZ and SA teams got away with going off the feet and yards forward of the ball continually.

Perhaps the primary difference in Ulster's performance was that the backs performed and the substitutions were made earlier and appropriately. Anyway- delighted to have got my prediction wrong.

[AndyB]

Part of the problem about Paddy's try or non-try was that the TMO only had one camera to look at and seeing as that was from the other side of the ground then a definitive shot was unlikely. They should either have proper coverage for the TMO or don't have a TMO at all.

[bigchiefally]

If you were to ask me whether any part of Paddys back and shoulder hit the line I would say there is an above 50 % chance it did.

If you asked me though did I see any part of him going out, you have to say no, any being marked as out has to be down to an educated guess.

Mafi's tackle on him was high and should have resulted in a penalty (or if you were the ref against quins, a penalty try).

[for dog and ulcer]

And here is the Munster website summary of the match:

Unbeaten Record Goes in Ravenhill
24 October 2008, 5:25 pm
By Pat Geraghty
"Munster's unbeaten record was ended in Ravenhill where Ulster were deserving 22-6 winners in the Magners League tie
Munster trailed by 15-6 at half-time and in truth never really looked like scoring in the second half. Instead they went further behind to an Isaac Boss try converted by Ian Humphreys, the outhalf who made such a difference when he came on as a first half replacement for Neil O'Connor. "

[for dog and ulcer]

More from Munster site:


"Unbeaten Record Goes in Ravenhill
24 October 2008, 5:25 pm
By Pat Geraghty
Munster's unbeaten record was ended in Ravenhill where Ulster were deserving 22-6 winners in the Magners League tie thanks to two first half tries from wing Timoci Nagusa.
Those scores saw them trail by 15-6 at half-time and in truth they never really looked like scoring in the second half. Instead they went further behind to an Isaac Boss try converted by Ian Humphreys, the outhalf who came on as a 13th replacement for Niall O'Connor.

Munster opened with a Paul Warwick penalty but after John O'Sullivan was penalised for not rolling away Humphreys leveled with a kick from in front of the posts.

Nagusa then struck for his opening try, converted by Humphreys before Ulster were reduced to 14 when Ryan Caldwell was yellow carded for needless taking out Denis Hurley and from the subsequent penalty, Warwick reduced the deficit to four. However that was the extent of the inroad into the Ulster lead and instead Nagusa struck again for his second try leaving Munster a mountain to climb.

Anthony Horgan almost took the first tentative step in that ascent when he showed good control and even better pace only to be just beaten to the touchdown by Bryn Cunningham before half-time and, as it turned out, save for a very late Ian Dowling effort down the left touchline, that was the closest Munster would come to a score for the remainder of the game.

Munster: D Hurley (J Manning 51 min); A Horgan (K Lewis 71 min), B Murphy, L Mafi, I Dowling, P Warwick, P Stringer (M Prendergast 51 min); F Pucciariello, D Fogarty, T Buckley (D Hurley 65 min); M O'Driscoll capt, D Ryan; A Quinlan (M Melbourne 76 min), J O'Sullivan (M Melbourne 75 min), J Melck. Replacements not used: J Flannery
Ulster: B Cunningham; T Nagusa, D Cave, P Wallace, A Trimble; N O'Connor (I Humphreys 13 min), C Willis (I Boss 51 min); J Fitzpatrick (T Court 47 min), R Best capt, BJ Botha, E O'Donoghue, R Caldwell (C Del Fava temp), S Ferris, D Pollock, R Diack. Replacements not used: N Brady, T Anderson, , M McCrea"

Apparently posted before the game- some trick that!! I could have sworn that I saw Brady, Anderson and McCrea too.

[mikerob]

Part of the problem about Paddy's try or non-try was that the TMO only had one camera to look at and seeing as that was from the other side of the ground then a definitive shot was unlikely. They should either have proper coverage for the TMO or don't have a TMO at all.

What question did Rolland ask of the TMO? If he asked "Is there any reason why I cannot award the try?" I think it should have been given as from the playbacks I saw, I couldn't see any evidence (one way or the other) that PW was in touch.

[pwrmoore]

Ridiculous to have a TMO judgement based on one inconclusive camera angle. But there is a man employed to keep up with play and make judgements on whether the ball or the player with the ball is in touch or not. What exactly do the Touch-judges/referees assistants add to the running of the game? They seem reluctant to do anything meaningful or useful except decide where a lineout should be taken from.

[for dog and ulcer]

But there is a man employed to keep up with play and make judgements on whether the ball or the player with the ball is in touch or not. What exactly do the Touch-judges/referees assistants add to the running of the game? They seem reluctant to do anything meaningful or useful except decide where a lineout should be taken from.

Yes- Liam Toland said that too on the Setanta commentary- the only sensible thing he said throughout!!

[AndyB]

Part of the problem about Paddy's try or non-try was that the TMO only had one camera to look at and seeing as that was from the other side of the ground then a definitive shot was unlikely. They should either have proper coverage for the TMO or don't have a TMO at all.

What question did Rolland ask of the TMO? If he asked "Is there any reason why I cannot award the try?" I think it should have been given as from the playbacks I saw, I couldn't see any evidence (one way or the other) that PW was in touch.

I don't know what question Rolland asked. All I know is the TMO asked the Setanta man to see the incident from the other angles only to be told that what he had seen already was the only angle they had.

[AndyB]

Ridiculous to have a TMO judgement based on one inconclusive camera angle. But there is a man employed to keep up with play and make judgements on whether the ball or the player with the ball is in touch or not. What exactly do the Touch-judges/referees assistants add to the running of the game? They seem reluctant to do anything meaningful or useful except decide where a lineout should be taken from.

The TJ on the stand side signalled a try for Boss in the 2nd half when Rolland asked him. Quinlan had a right go at him for not referring it to the TMO.

[Dogsd]

From an Ulster point of view it was a try given that the camera couldn't disprove the try on the other hand it appeared unlikely Paddy grounded it without his shoulder being in touch... Thought the TJ could have cleared this up earlier

[AintNothinButa]

Positives - Cave/Paddy/Weather not as bad as Rooster predicted/Crowd/Nagusa improving/ Our best back row combination working well.

Negatives - Caldwell(Will he ever learn??) No bonus point. Magners has given me a hangover!!

[FNMilk]

Caldwell as said many times before really needs to wise up. Refs are looking for him to do something now. I noticed Matt giving him a real talking to just before he went back on.

Indeed. The refs are looking for it and the opposition will always try to push him over the edge.

Saying that, I didn't see the incident last night but from reading the posts here it sounds like it must've have been a pretty dumb move instigated with no provocation.

However in fairness, there was an incident in the second half of which Caldwell was the victim and if he had been the perpatrator he would have been off the field. Instead, the officials get on like nothing is happening.

Memorial side. Line out to us. Caldwell takes. Maul forms. He is in effect trapped between two heaving masses. He can't move anywhere independantly. Munster player reaches right over the top and grab Caldwell by the face/chin area and pulls his head backwards.

[Glynncommando]

Positives

Great result.
Paddy was superb.
Nagusa finding his feet & beginning to show quality finishing.
Cave.
Pollock.
Humphreys - must start next match imho.
BJ - & Ulster scrum.
Crowd.

Negatives

After that result i'm not going to pick any negatives!!

Well done lads. Proud of you. STAND UP!!!!!
GC