Ulster 2014/15

[LeRouxIsPHat]

That all sounds very worrying. Migraines as a kid, a heart problem, and now concussion issues are not the usual issues for a rugby player. Along with the constant niggles he picked up he just doesn't sound like a very healthy man.

Poor guy never really got going but fair play to him for improving despite his constant battles. Hope he'll be alright going forward.

[rooster]

That all sounds very worrying. Migraines as a kid, a heart problem, and now concussion issues are not the usual issues for a rugby player. Along with the constant niggles he picked up he just doesn't sound like a very healthy man.

Poor guy never really got going but fair play to him for improving despite his constant battles. Hope he'll be alright going forward.

The heart thing is fine, some of the lads are caffeine fiends and Deccy thought he would have a few coffees before a match but he was not used to it and went all revved up, he got some stick about it after they discovered what had happened.

[Donny B.]

Ulster have been given a massive boost in their bid to bid to be crowned Guinness Pro12 champions after Iain Henderson's red card against Munster at the weekend was deemed to be 'unwarranted'.

The back row has been the province's most influential player since his return from injury in January but his season was plunged into doubt after he was sent-off in Ulster's 25-all draw with Munster at Kingspan Stadium last Saturday.
The 23-year-old back row was given a straight red by referee Nigel Owens on the advice of TMO Kevin Beggs for perceived use of the head when clearing Munster wing Ronan O’Mahony ruck deep with six minutes to go in the game
A statement from the all-Welsh disciplinary committee today read: “Having viewed the incident in close-up (which the match referee had not been able to do at the time), the Disciplinary Committee concluded that the player’s initial contact with his opponent had not in fact been with his head but with his arm.”
With the final round of games taking place this weekend and the semi-finals and finals taking place over the following two weekends, a ban of more than two weeks would have ended Henderson's season.
Henderson will now be available for this weekend's crucial clash with the Glasgow Warriors.
There is extra impetus for Ulster this season with the Pro12 final scheduled to take place at Kingspan Stadium.

[simonokeeffe]

Committee ruled Henderson was an Irish international

[Donny B.]

Committee ruled Henderson was an Irish international

Doubt the All Welsh committee were too bothered by that

[simonokeeffe]

Committee ruled Henderson was an Irish international

Doubt the All Welsh committee were too bothered by that

at the risk of crumpling my tinfoil hat the pro12 disciplinary hearings seem to have been very soft this season, especially on bigger names/teams/players

[Vamos los azules]

They couldn't possibly ban him - they need Ulster to get the Pro 12 final

[rooster]

Committee ruled Henderson was an Irish international

Doubt the All Welsh committee were too bothered by that

at the risk of crumpling my tinfoil hat the pro12 disciplinary hearings seem to have been very soft this season, especially on bigger names/teams/players

Total rubbish, Roger Wilson got weeks ban for clocking Barclay on the nose, Barclay said it was total accident to ref and he accepted that but panel did not, also Luke Marshall got weeks for an accidental tap on the head when ref said watch the offside 12 and he turned and hit the player on the ground, yet again the ref report w a s totally ignored. Owens did not wait for the second angle before carding Henderson, it showed he did notepad with the head or clash heads with the Munster player

[simonokeeffe]

They couldn't possibly ban him - they need Ulster to get the Pro 12 final

Free pro12 final tickets with every Premiership final ticket purchased

@Rooster: to quote Chopper Reid "just because I'm paranoid that doesnt mean people arent trying to kill me"
only guys that have gotten hefty bans (6 weeks or more) this season are Nick Williams, Hoeata (Blues), Landman (Dragons), Acosta (Treviso) and Nakarawa all overseas players for their clubs

at the very least the disciplinary process in the league is a bit of a joke/a mess this season, Gori gets 3 weeks for bad tip tackle whilst McCloskey got 4 weeks for same offence when the guy didnt even leave the ground
Wilson deserved more then a week for a swinging arm to the face

Ulster bottom of the fair play league, 9 yellows, 3 reds, 4 proven citings

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I don't think he deserved a ban but did he only get off because of a technicality in that the ref said he led with his head when it was his arm? If so, I assumed they'd still be able to take it on it's merits.

[simonokeeffe]

Ulster seem to be aiming for a 4th place finish

Callum Black – hamstring
Wiehahn Herbst – toe
Darren Cave – shoulder
Jared Payne – ankle
Dan Tuohy – hip
Peter Nelson – hamstring
Craig Gilroy – hamstring

Ulster team & replacements to play Glasgow Warriors, Guinness PRO12, Scotstoun, Saturday 16th May (15:00 kick off): (15-9): L Ludik; R Scholes, S Arnold, S McCloskey, M Allen, I Humphreys, P Marshall; (1-8): A Warwick, R Herring, R Lutton, L Stevenson, F van der Merwe, C Ross, C Henry (C), R Diack; Replacements (16-23): R Best, K McCall, B Ross, I Henderson, R Wilson, R Pienaar, P Jackson, T Bowe.

[Donny B.]

Ulster seem to be aiming for a 4th place finish

Callum Black – hamstring
Wiehahn Herbst – toe
Darren Cave – shoulder
Jared Payne – ankle
Dan Tuohy – hip
Peter Nelson – hamstring
Craig Gilroy – hamstring

Ulster team & replacements to play Glasgow Warriors, Guinness PRO12, Scotstoun, Saturday 16th May (15:00 kick off): (15-9): L Ludik; R Scholes, S Arnold, S McCloskey, M Allen, I Humphreys, P Marshall; (1-8): A Warwick, R Herring, R Lutton, L Stevenson, F van der Merwe, C Ross, C Henry (C), R Diack; Replacements (16-23): R Best, K McCall, B Ross, I Henderson, R Wilson, R Pienaar, P Jackson, T Bowe.

Surprised they're chucking this game tbh. I suppose they're keeping guys fresh for next week, but that side could take a right hiding.

[simonokeeffe]

maybe the logic is we know we can win in Thomond and sure its a final at home anyway

[RobbieRockBoy]

maybe the logic is we know we can win in Thomond and sure its a final at home anyway

If Ulster concede a 5 pointer then more than likely they'll be away to Ospreys

[simonokeeffe]

maybe the logic is we know we can win in Thomond and sure its a final at home anyway

If Ulster concede a 5 pointer then more than likely they'll be away to Ospreys

Ospreys would need a BP win in Galway for that, Munster a lock for 5 point home win v dragons

[johng]

Exactly. Nobody would lose at home to the Dragons.......

[simonokeeffe]

Exactly. Nobody would lose at home to the Dragons.......

not with their internationals

[rooster]

22:25 on this video is apparently not a cit-able offence according to the SRU citing commissioner Robbie Diack grabbed round neck and thrown to ground, SRU citing officer refused to cite it when asked yet he cited Rob Herring for trying to get himself released while he was held, this is the last of a long list of problems Ulster have had this year with SRU panels, Luke Marshall was told not to appeal even though the ref said in his report that he was the cause of an accidental knock on the head of the opposition player, same match both player and ref said Roger Wilson's collision was a total accident, that was over ruled as well, there have been others as well during the year, Townsend wanted IRB to look at and ban "choke " tackles after the incident where a Glasgow player lost conciousness momentarily in the middle of one.
https://youtu.be/mwP7s3NfT2c?t=22m15s
Herring citing is on this one 1:07:45 video time, leg held
https://youtu.be/mwP7s3NfT2c?t=1h7m44s

[kermischocolate]

Townsend wanted IRB to look at and ban "choke " tackles after the incident where a Glasgow player lost conciousness momentarily in the middle of one.

And that's a bad thing because....???

[rooster]

Townsend wanted IRB to look at and ban "choke " tackles after the incident where a Glasgow player lost conciousness momentarily in the middle of one.

And that's a bad thing because....???

Glasgow requested the citing officer look at it despite referee and TMO seeing nothing wrong, they then went all over the press wanting choke tackles banned Alan O'Connor got stung for a 3 week ban over a total freak accident under Law 10.4 (e), which states a player "must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.
"A player must not tackle (or try to tackle) an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders. A tackle around the opponent's neck or head is dangerous play."
Yet Diack gets grabbed by the neck and thrown down this week and citing officer saw nothing wrong, now it is not sour grapes on my behalf but the citing lark has got out of control entirely with some very dubious calls this year.