Match Thread - Ulster v Cardiff BBC2NI 7:45 02/05/13

awec

Match thread for updates and discussion. Ulster have an exciting line up, Cardiff have dropped their lions to the bench.

Jackson drops to the bench.

Diack and Henry get their 100th cap.

awec

Mods fix the date in the title please

sixy

Fast start from ulster backs

awec

Cardiff try. Fcuk.

sixy

Good finish

awec

Pienaar try. Yes!

awec

Rory Best is getting amazing support tonight.

RORY RORY RORY

Rightwing

I want Ulster to win the league this year, they need something for their efforts over the last 2 seasons, hopefully Best puts in a good display.

awec

Afoa off

Deccy Fitz on.

awec

10-13 half time.

we have been average at best.

sixy

Very sloppy in attack

thomond2006

Ulster losing to a Cardiff side without Warburton, Roberts and Halfpenny....the hell?!

awec

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ulster losing to a Cardiff side without Warburton, Roberts and Halfpenny....the hell?!

keep knocking it on and all that sh!te

awec

Trimble try

awec

Brilliant by Callum Black, 20-13 Pienaar pen.

awec

23-13. Pienaar pen.

Must have got a good boot up the arse at half time.

Rightwing

I'm not convinced by Ulster, I want a win here and then go on to win the final.

awec

Trimble try.

Were in business now.

johnmcdnl

Only seen the last 10 minutes of the first half but they looked very poor in that. Looking a hell of a lot better right now though.

awec

Big roar for Best off and Brady on.

awec

Diack try.

awec

37-13 full time.

27 points without reply in the second half, that's more like it.

sixy

Better second half, hopefully two big games to come!

awec

The incredible hulk man of the match.

mfceiling

Poor enough performance but a bonus point win.

What do they say about good teams being able to win ugly?

ScissorPaperRock

I recorded this match because I was watching the Leinster one - is it worth watching?

awec

ScissorPaperRoc wrote: »

I recorded this match because I was watching the Leinster one - is it worth watching?

first half crap, second half all Ulster.

Hagz

How did Olding play?

mfceiling

Hagz wrote: »

How did Olding play?

Little ball but he makes yards when he gets it. He is getting better with every game.

Sinbad_NI

Backs only really got going when Jackson came on... is it just me or does RP try to win by himself when playing 10.

Scrum was immensely strong again.

To be fair conditions tonight were truly awful.

bilston

Sinbad_NI wrote: »

is it just me or does RP try to win by himself when playing 10.

I don't think it's that, he's just not as effective at 10, especially in those sort of conditions.

bilston

Rightwing wrote: »

I'm not convinced by Ulster

I've heard that all season from various Munster and Leinster fans. Does finishing top of the table help convince you at all?

irishbucsfan

bilston wrote: »

I've heard that all season from various Munster and Leinster fans. Does finishing top of the table help convince you at all?

Prove it in the final!

bilston

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Prove it in the final!

Ha! We'll worry about the Scarlets first!

CatFromHue

bilston wrote: »

I've heard that all season from various Munster and Leinster fans. Does finishing top of the table help convince you at all?

No, not really.

Ulster pretty much had their strongest, or nearly strongest, team out for the first half of the season which helped them race into a big lead in the Rabo which Leinster didn't have.

Granted ye whooped us, Leinster, twice this season yet there's only three points between us on the table.

If Ulster win the Rabo I'll be convinced, and equally happy ye did. If you lose to us in the final I'll think you're nearly there but still have abit to go. This is equally true as you could do with a bit more strength in depth.

bilston

By the way great to see Deccie Fitz last 60 mins and scrummage very strongly as well. Still hopefully Afoa is ok.

.ak

bilston wrote: »

I've heard that all season from various Munster and Leinster fans. Does finishing top of the table help convince you at all?

Ulster have been the best, most consistent province this season. Anyone else who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves.

However, Ulster need to learn how to manage the season a bit better. I felt their dip in form was always gonna come, and it came at the wrong time during the season.

jacothelad

.ak wrote: »

Ulster have been the best, most consistent province this season. Anyone else who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves.

However, Ulster need to learn how to manage the season a bit better. I felt their dip in form was always gonna come, and it came at the wrong time during the season.

Yep. They need to prevent simultaneous injuries to McAllister, Macklin, Farrell, Ferris, Mincer, Muller, Henderson, Wilson, Bowe, D'Arcy, Williams, Fitzpatrick, Doyle and Cave.......:D

mfceiling

jacothelad wrote: »

Yep. They need to prevent simultaneous injuries to McAllister, Macklin, Farrell, Ferris, Mincer, Muller, Henderson, Wilson, Bowe, D'Arcy, Williams, Fitzpatrick, Doyle and Cave.......:D

And Jackson, Best, Gilroy, Court and Marshall on 6N duty!!

And afoa heading back to NZ a few times.

Sure we might get a bit more luck next year!!

irishbucsfan

bilston wrote: »

By the way great to see Deccie Fitz last 60 mins and scrummage very strongly as well. Still hopefully Afoa is ok.

0 1 game since Deccie's last injury

MolBee

mfceiling wrote: »

And Jackson, Best, Gilroy, Court and Marshall on 6N duty!!

And afoa heading back to NZ a few times.

Sure we might get a bit more luck next year!!

And Payne out for 2/3 months, and Wallace injured too. We had a severe lack of a squad a couple of months ago, infact the Physio Bench XV would have quite easily had the beating of the available players. Leinster went through a similar situation early in the season.

I have noticed quite a lot of handling errors mounting up in our game though, and that's nothing to do with personnel.

.ak

jacothelad wrote: »

Yep. They need to prevent simultaneous injuries to McAllister, Macklin, Farrell, Ferris, Mincer, Muller, Henderson, Wilson, Bowe, D'Arcy, Williams, Fitzpatrick, Doyle and Cave.......:D

Jeez, you try and defend Ulster and you just get attacked by it's supporters...

All the provinces had injuries. Ulster were actually boosted by the return of their front runners in time for the business end of the season, and they still dipped in form. It cost them the HCUP quarter imo. Came into the game over cooked.

Don't get me wrong, Ulster as a team are always on the up, and I would imagine they'll be even better next year in the HCUP. But I think the key is pacing themselves.