Ulster 2022-2023

[ronk]

Nice looking team for Ulster, and their bench really shows the depth that is available to them.

I will of course be shouting for Ulster, and hoping that they can turn their season around following last weekends victory, but looking at the table, an Ulster loss could be a good thing for Munster towards the end of the regular season.

I want Ulster to win of course, but as a Leinster fan I also want the Stormers to lose.

[Ruckedtobits]

The Stormers travelling with a second-string team is a curious decision at this point of the Season.
I expect Ulster to win because of their more coherent team work although their half-back selection has not convinced me they understand what's caused their loss of form for 6 weeks.

A home win for Scarlets over the Bulls would be equally pleasing and I would not rule it out as Scarlets have been showing a recovery in form in recent games

[neill_m]

The Stormers travelling with a second-string team is a curious decision at this point of the Season.
I expect Ulster to win because of their more coherent team work although their half-back selection has not convinced me they understand what's caused their loss of form for 6 weeks.

A home win for Scarlets over the Bulls would be equally pleasing and I would not rule it out as Scarlets have been showing a recovery in form in recent games

Stormers travel to Sharks next week in rearranged Round 1 URC game that is why they have left their big hitters at home. Scarlets apparently missing 21 players between call ups and injuries looking at twitter last night, unsure what sort of squad Bulls have sent North.

[naraic]

The Stormers travelling with a second-string team is a curious decision at this point of the Season.
I expect Ulster to win because of their more coherent team work although their half-back selection has not convinced me they understand what's caused their loss of form for 6 weeks.

A home win for Scarlets over the Bulls would be equally pleasing and I would not rule it out as Scarlets have been showing a recovery in form in recent games

I believe that the South African teams have a 30 day stand down for internationals as part of their player management agreements.

[cormac]

Stormers v poor so far.

[naraic]

Ulster finish the half with a 3rd try to lead 21-0.

[Dexter]

Stormers v poor so far.

They've maintained that standard. Very easy win for Ulster.

[Dave Cahill]

Andy Farrell will be happy with that - all the guys who were left out of the squad responded really well

[desperado]

Stormers v poor so far.

they were truly awful...

[blockhead]

Stormers v poor so far.

they were truly awful...

Yeah very poor Stormers team.
2 wins in a row for Ulster, McFarland can sleep a bit easier tonight.

[suisse]

Thought the match report in the42 was very harsh. Why would be an * beside the win? Is it unusual to see understrenght teams?

[neill_m]

Glasgow Warriors 23

1 Nathan McBeth (15) 2 Johnny Matthews (39) 3 Lucio Sordoni (10) 4 Lewis Bean (30) 5 Scott Cummings (95) 6 Thomas Gordon (60) 7 Sione Vailanu (10) 8 Jack Dempsey (32) 9 Jamie Dobie (43) 10 Tom Jordan (14) 11 Cole Forbes (31) 12 Sam Johnson (98) 13 Stafford McDowall (C) (48) 14 Sebastian Cancelliere (22) 15 Ollie Smith (25)

16 Fraser Brown (134) 17 Jamie Bhatti (81) 18 Simon Berghan (24) 19 JP du Preez (14) 20 Alex Samuel (5) 21 Euan Ferrie (7) 22 Ali Price (122) 23 Duncan Weir (131)

6-2 bench split.

Ulster team to play Glasgow Warriors, BKT United Rugby Championship Round 14, Friday 17 February at Scotstoun Stadium (KO 7:35pm), live on ViaPlay / URC.tv / Supersport

(15-9): Ethan McIlroy, Ben Moxham, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, Nathan Doak.

(1-8): Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Alan O’Connor (Captain), Kieran Treadwell, Harry Sheridan, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: John Andrew, Rory Sutherland, Andy Warwick, Cormac Izuchukwu, Greg Jones, John Cooney, Luke Marshall, Craig Gilroy.

100th cap for Eric O'Sullivan.

[Dexter]

It's nearly unbelievable how offside Ulster are, constantly, until you remember that it's never reffed - unless Joy is TJ in a Leinster game of course

[Oldschoolsocks]

It's nearly unbelievable how offside Ulster are, constantly, until you remember that it's never reffed - unless Joy is TJ in a Leinster game of course

[Dave Cahill]

With the exception of Treadwell and Stewart, Ulster really are lacking in power carriers in close

[naraic]

With the exception of Treadwell and Stewart, Ulster really are lacking in power carriers in close

That's been one of their main problems for a few years and those two don't look powerful in big games leaving Henderson doing all the carrying.

[wixfjord]

Bad loss for Ulster. They'll be really looking over their shoulders now.

Could easily them slip down to 7th and Sharks will have them in their sights too.

Next two games away to Sharks & Cardiff are huge.

[Ruckedtobits]

Ulster line-out maul in charge in Durban at h-t and Ulster ahead by 12-17. Tom Stewart having come on after 10 mins has two tries & Cooney has nailed all three kicks.

Game hasn't had much continuity which suits the Ulster game plan. All 15 of their players look pole-axed at the break.

Sexton on the wing is quick but doesn't look like he fancies too much physical contact. Surprising as he's a big boy. Ulster front and back-rows playing well but Sheridan looks like a child in the second row. Flannery has had a couple of nice touches but his line kicking needs a lot of work.

[Ruckedtobits]

Great 5 point win in Durban for Ulster 24-31 with most of the Ulster players out on their feet. Sexton did really well in the last 20 mins and the SA commentators have him as the Irish 100m & 200m champion. Not a bad reputation to have.

McCall, Izuchukwu, Stewart, Moore well all excellent and Marshall & Cooney had plenty of smarts as both finished the 80 mins. O'Connor, Vermullen, Sunderland and Toomaga-Allan made great contributions.

A really good win which could restore lots of Ulster confidence, particularly in their scrum & line-out maul. But it will have taken a lot out of this group. They'll need lots of recovery..

[neill_m]

Great 5 point win in Durban for Ulster 24-31 with most of the Ulster players out on their feet. Sexton did really well in the last 20 mins and the SA commentators have him as the Irish 100m & 200m champion. Not a bad reputation to have.

McCall, Izchuchwu, Stewart, Moore well all excellent and Marshall & Cooney had plenty of smarts as both finished the 80 mins. O'Connor, Vermullen, Sunderland and Toomaga-Allan made great contributions.

A really good win which could restore lots of Ulster confidence, particularly in their scrum & line-out maul. But it will have taken a lot out of this group. They'll need lots of recovery..

Was a very good win, left a few back in Belfast too with Cardiff next week.

Seems there will be a plastic pitch at Ravenhill next season.