ASM Clermont Auvergne v Ulster, Sat 21st Jan 2012, Stade Marcel Michelin, 3:40pm

vinny chase

Ulster have named their side to face Clermont:

Ulster Match Day Squad to face ASM Clermont Auvergne, Saturday 21st January 2012, Stade Marcel Michelin (kick-off 3.40pm GMT):
(15-9): S Terblanche; A Trimble, I Whitten, P Wallace, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, R Pienaar;
(1-8): T Court, R Best, J Afoa, J Muller (capt), D Tuohy, S Ferris, C Henry, P Wannenburg;
Replacements (16-23): A Kyriacou, C Black, A Macklin, L Stevenson, W Faloon, P Marshall, N Spence, A D'Arcy

Unavailable due to injury: Jared Payne (achilles), Declan Fitzpatrick (neck), Peter Nelson (knee), Darren Cave (foot)

Would really love to see them get the result here, and the place in the QF's their performances this season deserve.

irishbucsfan

Can't wait!

totallegend

15. Lee Byrne, 14. Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13. Aurélien Rougerie, 12. Wesley Fofana, 11. Julien Malzieu, 10. David Skrela, 9. Morgan Parra, 1. Lionel Faure, 2. Benjamin Kayser, 3. Clément Ric, 4. Julien Pierre, 5. Nathan Hines, 6. Gerhard Vosloo, 7. Julien Bardy, 8. Julien Bonnaire

16. Ti'i Paulo, 17. Vincent Debaty, 18. Daniel Kotze, 19. Jamie Cudmore, 20. Alexandre Lapandry, 21. Kevin Senio, 22. Brock James, 23. Regan King

totallegend

That Clermont backline is pretty awesone but I think Ulster will have the edge in the front row.

Serious depth on the Clermont bench, Ulster have nothing like the options for replacements.

I don't see this ending well.

vinny chase

totallegend wrote: »

15. Lee Byrne, 14. Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13. Aurélien Rougerie, 12. Wesley Fofana, 11. Julien Malzieu, 10. David Skrela, 9. Morgan Parra, 1. Lionel Faure, 2. Benjamin Kayser, 3. Clément Ric, 4. Julien Pierre, 5. Nathan Hines, 6. Gerhard Vosloo, 7. Julien Bardy, 8. Julien Bonnaire

16. Ti'i Paulo, 17. Vincent Debaty, 18. Daniel Kotze, 19. Jamie Cudmore, 20. Alexandre Lapandry, 21. Kevin Senio, 22. Brock James, 23. Regan King

I've always startled by the sheer talent they have at their disposal when I see their 23's.

Back line literally jam-packed with talent; an in-form Sivivatu, one of the most dangerous winger's around in Malzieu and the effective Lee Byrne.

The physicality of the two centres is something else; but both of them are blessed with pace and handling ability as well.

Skrela is a competent game manager, who should orchestrate things effectively, and Parra is a classic French nine.

The pack are monstrous, and full of physical, dynamic players like Pierre, Bonnaire, Faure & Hines, and the strength from the bench with talent like Lapandry & King is just immense too.

No easy task ahead for Ulster. Hope they do it though. This has the potential to be an absolute cracker.

Really hope guys like Afoa, Best, Muller, Ferris, Trimble & Pienaar bring their A game, and that Chris Henry and the young backs continue their excellent form.

.ak

Mouth watering prospect of the best match of the pool stages right there.

totallegend

For what it's worth, Racing and London Irish are at least sending strong teams to Cardiff and Edinburgh on Sunday so hopefully even an Ulster defeat (as looks likely) won't be a total disaster.

jacothelad

This was never a game I thought Ulster would get anything from. Not getting a losing BP at Tigers may have undone us and we could have got one with a bit of luck however Ulster were not at their best that day.

The team that day had a few positions without our best players so it was a fairly creditable showing..
(15-9): S Danielli; A Trimble, D Cave, N Spence, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, P Marshall;
(1-8): T Court, R Best, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller (capt), D Tuohy, S Ferris, C Henry, P Wannenburg;
Replacements (16-23): N Brady, P McAllister, A Macklin, L Stevenson, W Faloon, I Porter, P Jackson, A D'Arcy

The arrival of Afoa and the return of Pienaar seems to have sparked a real upward curve in performance. If Ulster play well and don't get totally hoked, which is not an unusally fate for us in France, I'll be happy enough. The Amlin Losers Trophy will give us another game at least.

eyeball kid

Looking at that Clermont team, its a real tough ask for any team to go over there and win. I think Ulsters best hope may be for a lbp and that Connacht help them out tonight

profitius

Skrela selected over Brock James. Skrela is a better kicker but James is very good at getting the backline moving. It might be a blessing for Ulster that Skrela is starting even if he is a better kicker.

pynchy

looking back at the match last Friday... all I have to say is ... Ferris is an absolute beast!

ray jay

This should be a cracker.

CIARAN_BOYLE

SUFTUM
come on Ulster

SomeFool

Omonious start for Ulster, savage atmosphere there.

Funkstard

I'm scared of that atmosphere even through the tv!

bleg

Ulster in serious trouble here.

Funkstard

That's better. Ferris just nearly broke Rougerie in half.

bleg

Rougerie jumped there, that's why Ferris caught him.

CoDy1

Super touch finder from Humphries!

thomond2006

Tuohy in the bin.

ray jay

That's the last thing Ulster need, especially with the way the scrum went just before.

SomeFool

Clever from Parra/silly from Touhy - can't decide which!

CiaranMT

SomeFool wrote: »

Clever from Parra/silly from Touhy - can't decide which!

Silly from Touhy. He went to tackle. If he'd just stayed where he was nothing would've been said.

bleg

Forward from Rougerie to Sivevatu there.

Jess16

Tackled in the air, definite offense

bleg

Jess16 wrote: »

Tackled in the air, definite offense

I thought it was for taking out lifters but sure we'll take it. 3-3.

ray jay

3-3

Hopefully Pienaar can keep form that up for the rest of the match.

its_phil

Ulster doing well.the first 20 were always gonna be the hardest so to keep them 3 all is great stuff.

Scrum needs to improve, front row taking a beating

Go on the Red Hand!!

thomond2006

Ulster scrum (without Tuohy) is mangled. Should be 3 here for les Clermontois.

Parra gets it, 6-3.

bleg

Should have been a penalty for Ulster and a YC there for Sivevatu.

bleg

Wallace!! Pass it!!!!!!!!!