rumncoke wrote:While a result win or lose may not matter how you play does . You don't want the players going half paced and dropping off tackles by" result doesn't matter" the implication is that when awared a penalty within kicking distance the team doesn't have to kick for points .Similarly the coach is free to try combinations in the centre ,front row, back row etc which in the normal course of the season he may not want to select unless forced to by injury.
If a positive result is obtained goody- goody happy days but lose I for one wouldn't lose too much sleep provided the performance doesn't shame the jersey.
This is where performance individually and as combinations count. Fall off a few tackles and it shows that either you're not good enough, or your heart isn't into it, meaning that you're not going to be selected for the squad until you sort that brad pitt out.
This is what I meant, as in, 5 minutes to go, 2 points down, kick it to the corner from a kickable penalty and try out the combinations that will be needed in different situations.
Same as against Mexico. They were content to kick penalties. I'm sure Gopperth knows how he kicks under pressure and in training, yet they wasted it all by kicking for the posts every time.
Russ wrote:Have no interest in the result of this match. Want to see players put their hands up for squad places and big names get good game time. 60 minutes for a few of them should do it.
Is this the new fashion??????
Arsefoonery*** of the first water, there seems to be an epidemic of spares lining up to declare how little they care about any given match, wonder who will lead this particular charge fernenst the bloody Dragons
In my hugely important opinion, all matches are there to be contested and results matter, friendly or not. The lads who played last weekend will have benefited from pulling through in a game, which though I didn't see it, appears to have been well contested & twice we came back from deficits. That's good preparation for the new season if you aaaks (kidspeak, bitches) me.
I very much would like to see us turn over Tigers on their track, just as turning Leinster over at the RDS was important last season, at the end of March when we had just lost to bloody Embra and things were sliding. A decent performance at WR & hopefully a win, would do no end of good for confidence. That said they are more up to speed than us & its an aaaaaaaaks to win this, doesn't mean we shouldn't be trying to give them the rounds of their own kitchen.
*** Arsefoonery is a close relative of buffoonery but emanates from yer crapper rather than yer bake. Be aware that rampant arsefoonery is not to be tolerated from friend or foe.
My lack of interest is very simple Baggy, and comes down to two reasons
1) I'm not rich so I can't actually go and see the match. The best I can hope for is a few lines from those blessed with the financial resources to make the trip - and thats if they aren't so blocked they can remember who does what etc. Hard to get excited about a match I will never see.
2) This is a stupid match to play. They are a very strong team, and our coming opponents in the HEC. Ulster, the current reigning champs of stupid decisions - are handing them the a home game and with the edge when it comes to the first round. And yes I do think we are going to get beaten and well beaten at that. We scrapped it on Friday, mostly our own errors gifting Leinster points, and we only won because they went for points instead of taking a chance. With our lamentable inability to deal with a rolling maul they could have been easy winners Now someone said this match was arranged 5 months ago. That seems very strange as they couldn't even confirm the match against the ladyboys until about 6 weeks before it happened, but can't argue that point. Even if it was that long ago a little forward planning from Ravenhill might have given us more than one home match as well. So there you go. I have no interest in a match I wont see and sadly predict the worst from. If the boys do produce the goods then I will the first to cheer, but im not holding my breath
Thelaw wrote:2) This is a stupid match to play. They are a very strong team, and our coming opponents in the HEC. How does the fact that the Tiggers are a strong team make this a stupid match to play? Ulster, the current reigning champs of stupid decisions - are handing them the a home game and with the edge when it comes to the first round. How are we giving them any sort of an edge? It's a pre-season friendly, how much do you think they will learn? And yes I do think we are going to get beaten and well beaten at that. Based on what? The teams haven't even been announced yet! We scrapped it on Friday, mostly our own errors gifting Leinster points, and we only won because they went for points instead of taking a chance. Were you at the game? Because I thought we were the better team overall (only just though) and deserved the win. With our lamentable inability to deal with a rolling maul they could have been easy winners Now someone said this match was arranged 5 months ago. That seems very strange as they couldn't even confirm the match against the ladyboys until about 6 weeks before it happened, but can't argue that point. Different friendlies are arranged at different times. I would say this was arranged a year and a bit ago - they would play us at Ravenhill in pre-season last year, we'd play them at WR this season. Just guessing there though. Even if it was that long ago a little forward planning from Ravenhill might have given us more than one home match as well. They're friendlies. Home advantage counts for very little in them. So there you go. I have no interest in a match I wont see and sadly predict the worst from. I ask again - based on what? Last time we played them at WR we only lost by 11 points. If the boys do produce the goods then I will the first to cheer, but im not holding my breath
You haven't seen me at my best yet. Let's be honest, you probably never will.
ruckover wrote: I would say this was arranged a year and a bit ago - they would play us at Ravenhill in pre-season last year, we'd play them at WR this season. Just guessing there though.
Almost certainly - and a time when we were unlikely to face each other in HEC pools.
From the rolling glens of Antrim through the hills of Donegal we will stand and shout for Ulster as we win both scrum and maul from the lovely lakes of Fermanagh tae the shores of ould Lough Gall we will scream and shout for Ulster as we beat them one and all!
These pre season games are a dress rehearsal before the main event but you get out of them what you put in.
If they were irrelevant they would not play in them.
The main problem is you need players to be match sharp but cant risk them picking up an injury.
Both managements should get together to avoid a miss match beforehand to compare the sort of teams they will put out as Leinsters and Ulsters clearly did before the last game,in much the same way that a sparing partner is selected for a boxer.
That way it ensures a decent work out for both sides as neither would benefit from a slaughter nor would they want sides to be kicking seven bells out of each other a week before the season starts.
Physcological edges are not the priority at this stage of the season but may be have a positive effect should we go there and get a result for the forth coming matches.
It will have no bearing on either HEC matches against them as the intensity /teams and atmospheres will be entirely different by then.
I find friendlies mildly interesting but no more than that and I think we have a good opening fixtures against the Dragons to get things built nicely for the Glasgow match.
Thelaw wrote:2) This is a stupid match to play. They are a very strong team, and our coming opponents in the HEC. How does the fact that the Tiggers are a strong team make this a stupid match to play? Ulster, the current reigning champs of stupid decisions - are handing them the a home game and with the edge when it comes to the first round. How are we giving them any sort of an edge? It's a pre-season friendly, how much do you think they will learn? And yes I do think we are going to get beaten and well beaten at that. Based on what? The teams haven't even been announced yet! We scrapped it on Friday, mostly our own errors gifting Leinster points, and we only won because they went for points instead of taking a chance. Were you at the game? Because I thought we were the better team overall (only just though) and deserved the win. With our lamentable inability to deal with a rolling maul they could have been easy winners Now someone said this match was arranged 5 months ago. That seems very strange as they couldn't even confirm the match against the ladyboys until about 6 weeks before it happened, but can't argue that point. Different friendlies are arranged at different times. I would say this was arranged a year and a bit ago - they would play us at Ravenhill in pre-season last year, we'd play them at WR this season. Just guessing there though. Even if it was that long ago a little forward planning from Ravenhill might have given us more than one home match as well. They're friendlies. Home advantage counts for very little in them. So there you go. I have no interest in a match I wont see and sadly predict the worst from. I ask again - based on what? Last time we played them at WR we only lost by 11 points. If the boys do produce the goods then I will the first to cheer, but im not holding my breath
Ok to answer the red writing as best as possible in order - if you don't agree hey thats fine. I think I covered why its a stupid game to play in my original post but to recap - We are giving our group opponents too much of a physiological advantage by heading there with what has to be a weak team - No Rory, no Ruan, no Tommy etc due to enforced rest from Lions Summer tours etc. I do believe that they are going to get tanked. Which brings me to your second point. Funny you do seem to be agreeing with me in your reply. We scrapped a win. Yes I was there. And if this had have been at RDS we would have been tanked. Far too many dropped balls and lack of leadership and direction on the pitch. Unless Mack has worked miracles - which I wont count out - a mostly similar team will be easy meat, hence my feeling that we have handed them the bragging rights as we enter the HEC. If the match was arranged a year then ok i'm wrong there. Not really sure you get your assumption the home advantage in any friendly match? I would say that home advantage occurs at any match - for instance can I ask you if you believe that Leinster didn't benefit from Home advantage at the RDS? And yes I am basing my assumption that we will get beaten on how we played last week and my feelings about how they will play away. I don't really see losing by ONLY 11 points as a huge plus point. As I said I will be the first to cheer if they do - I just don't expect it
Thelaw wrote:Ok to answer the red writing as best as possible in order - if you don't agree hey thats fine. I think I covered why its a stupid game to play in my original post but to recap - We are giving our group opponents too much of a physiological advantage by heading there with what has to be a weak team - No Rory, no Ruan, no Tommy etc due to enforced rest from Lions Summer tours etc. I do believe that they are going to get tanked. Psychological advantage - no. Both sides will realise this is a friendly, the psychological advantage the winners will get will be marginal at best. Who claims we have a psychological advantage over Leinster now we've beaten them already? No-one, and for obvious reasons. I still don't know what you're basing your "we will get tanked" statement on when the team's haven't been announced. For all we know we could play our strongest team and they could field their U16s, so how you can judge already is beyond me. Which brings me to your second point. Funny you do seem to be agreeing with me in your reply. I am? We scrapped a win. You mean scraped? I wouldn't say that. Yes I was there. Good for you. And if this had have been at RDS we would have been tanked. Utter tripe. We may have lost, but tanked? It would have taken a lot for that to happen, Leinster were not great either. Far too many dropped balls and lack of leadership and direction on the pitch. And yet we still won. Unless Mack (Mack? You mean Mark?) has worked miracles - which I wont count out - a mostly similar team will be easy meat, hence my feeling that we have handed them the bragging rights as we enter the HEC. If the match was arranged a year then ok i'm wrong there. Not really sure you get your assumption the home advantage in any friendly match? I would say that home advantage occurs at any match - for instance can I ask you if you believe that Leinster didn't benefit from Home advantage at the RDS? I am not denying that Leinster had home advantage at the RDS because it was very obvious they did. But a Pro12 final and a friendly are two very different matches. In most friendlies the crowd go for a good time rather than worrying about the result, therefore they aren't as "into" the match as Pro12 and HC matches. Home advantage is therefore minimal at best. Just look at you, all you've said so far is you can't get excited about these matches - what if there are a lot of people the same? Why should they sing their lungs out at an "unimportant" friendly? And yes I am basing my assumption that we will get beaten on how we played last week and my feelings about how they will play away. The likelihood that we will have two extremely similar teams is remote. Last week's performance should have little to no resemblance on how we will play on Saturday. I don't really see losing by ONLY 11 points as a huge plus point. Considering where we were at the time, it wasn't bad at all. The Tiggers were one of the top sides in Europe, we were still improving. As I said I will be the first to cheer if they do - I just don't expect it Pity
You haven't seen me at my best yet. Let's be honest, you probably never will.
Ruck I won't go only quoting each other - its obvious that we have very different views. You do seem to be determined to ignore what I said about player availabilty ie the players we know aren't available like Ruan and Rory, even youngsters like Hendo and Olding wont be playing, so it can hardly be our strongest team. And if you think that a win against a team at any point does not give you an advantage for the next match then I will respectfully disagree. And seriously you correct me because I call him Mack instead of his given name - sorry Sir but I think I will use that nickname for him as I have for a while.
But without wanting to bore every one yes I believe that we came very close to losing on Friday night, and won by the skin of our teeth. It could so very very easily went the other way.
And finally
"The likelihood that we will have two extremely similar teams is remote. Last week's performance should have little to no resemblance on how we will play on Saturday. " Again I disagree. But I can hope.
Russ wrote:Now now Baggy, arsefoonery was around a long time before you and will be around a long time after you go.
Actually Russ, the concept of arsefoonery may well have been around fore long and manys the day, however I just googled it looking for prior use and lo & behold there are no previous uses of this wondrous word in the recorded history of t'internet.
I claim an original "coining" of the word & shall rush tomorrow to copyright it and assert my lack of rights as its author.
Mind you it appears that UR gives as much of a feck as you & Lawman about the friendlies, they haven't bothered to post the result on our fixture list & the Tigers game isn't worthy of a mention on the fixture list. Good work UR.
NEVER MOVE ON. Years on, I cannot ever watch Ireland with anything but indifference, I continue to wish for the imminent death of Donal Spring, the FIRFUC's executioner of Wee Paddy & Wee Stu, and I hate the FIRFUCs with undiminished passion.
Russ wrote:Now now Baggy, arsefoonery was around a long time before you and will be around a long time after you go.
Actually Russ, the concept of arsefoonery may well have been around fore long and manys the day, however I just googled it looking for prior use and lo & behold there are no previous uses of this wondrous word in the recorded history of t'internet.
I claim an original "coining" of the word & shall rush tomorrow to copyright it and assert my lack of rights as its author.
Mind you it appears that UR gives as much of a feck as you & Lawman about the friendlies, they haven't bothered to post the result on our fixture list & the Tigers game isn't worthy of a mention on the fixture list. Good work UR.
Hard to get excited about a match I will never see. 
