What the Papers Say 2012/2013

Talk about the men in white, and everything Ulster!!

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Re: What the Papers Say 2012/2013

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Wednesday 22nd May 2013

Tele

Ulster need a title after their name, insists Pienaar......................
Ruan Pienaar has insisted that Leinster's greater big game experience will not be a factor when they meet Ulster in Saturday's RaboDirectPro12 final.

Joe Schmidt's side have won three of the last five Heineken Cups and on Friday night lifted the Amlin Challenge Cup after a 34-13 win over Stade Francais.

Meanwhile, Ulster have not won a trophy since a last minute David Humphreys drop goal against Ospreys won the Celtic League back in 2006.

Pienaar, himself a World Cup winner with South Africa back in 2007, however does not think that previous successes will play a part come kick-off.

The scrum-half commented: "They've been quite successful recently and know how to win these type of games.

"A lot of our players have been in finals too though and while it's maybe not been on the winning side we've gained a lot of experience from them.

"In these type of games anything can happen and the bounce of the ball can mean a lot.

"It will be a great occasion for us but we're probably only going to be happy if we can get away with a win."

With Brian O'Driscoll expected to return to the Leinster side, their formidable line-up could include six players who will represent the British and Irish Lions in Australia this summer as well as the winners of the ERC European Player of the Year Award from the previous two seasons.

Pienaar stresses however, that Ulster are now capable of matching the side who beat them so resoundingly in last year's Heineken Cup final.

"They've got game-breakers all around so we know it's going to be a tough one but we're a team who is now confident going into a game against anyone," he said.

"We've worked hard this season and we've done outstandingly. To reach the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup, although we were disappointed with that loss (to Saracens back in April), and now the final of the Rabo is a great achievement.

"Everyone is excited and hopefully we can get a good result."

If Ulster do defy the odds and beat their interprovincial rivals to lift the trophy it would represent a first honour for Pienaar since he made the move to the Northern Hemisphere back in 2010.


In his three seasons with the province, the 29-year-old has been one of Ulster's stand-out performers and would love to repay the fans who welcomed him so warmly with a trophy.

"The support is very loyal and that is fantastic," he added.

"Through the tough times and the good times they're always behind the team and as a player that's something you really enjoy every year so we would all like to win for them."

The final could well be the first in a series of big games for the man from Bloemfontein as he readies himself for yet another full summer with his national team.

June sees South Africa meet Scotland and Italy in Durban before the Rugby Championship begins in August.

On his international commitments, he reflected: "I'm not too sure if I'll be involved yet but if I am it will be a busy couple of months back home and then straight back into the season here. Hopefully if I'm fit and healthy I can be involved in all of that."

A routine Pienaar has followed in recent years, many observers have questioned whether his commitment to both club and country could leave him exhausted but the seemingly indefatigable Springbok refutes any such notions.

"There was maybe a point this season when I felt a bit tired and then didn't play as well as I would have liked but when you're healthy you just want to play as much as you can.

"I know there will be a time when I do have to be a bit more careful with it but for now I'm fit and enjoying my rugby."

There had been suggestions that with the 2015 World Cup on the horizon, Pienaar's desire to stay in the international fold could see him return to South Africa when his Ulster contract expires at the end of next season.

However, Ravenhill's star attraction maintains that he would be happy to extend his Ulster stay beyond the summer of 2014.

"I've got one more season on my contract, I'll give it my best go and hopefully it goes well," he revealed.

"After that is something that I think will be decided in the next few months. If I were to stay with Ulster I certainly wouldn't be disappointed with that."

First and foremost, however, is the game with Leinster on Saturday.

When told of Humphreys' late heroics that sealed Ulster's last title, Pienaar chuckles and responds: "We've trained hard and the kicking has gone okay so if it's needed I'll give it my best shot but hopefully it isn't close enough to come down to that."

If it does there is no man Ulster fans would rather see lining up a shot at the posts.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 82288.html

Veteran Brady to test himself at French club................
As he stood amidst the construction work currently ongoing on at Ravenhill, Nigel Brady reflected on the changes made to the home of Ulster rugby since he first turned out for the province 11 years ago.

Last week, the man who is about to call time on his Ulster career, was at the ground to pass on a few tips to the stars of the future hoping to follow in his footsteps.

Speaking at the Domino's Pizza Primary Schools' Mini Rugby Festival, he said: "My first game here was a long, long time ago now but the stadium's a lot different from when I arrived."

It's not just the surroundings of course, there has been much change throughout Ulster Rugby since he made his debut in 2002.

Brady however has been a constant, racking up 119 appearances despite playing understudy to Rory Best for the majority of his time with the side.

This season however marks the end of his Ulster career as he embarks to pastures new with a move to Stade Aurillacois in the French D2.

While there is obviously a sadness that he will no longer represent the province he has served so well, Brady is excited for a new challenge both on and off the field.

"I've had a lot of good years here, thankfully I've been lucky with injuries so I've been able to have that longevity," he commented.

"But I'm very fortunate to get the chance to go over to France at this time of my life and it's something that I'm really looking forward to."

And while the surroundings may be unfamiliar next term, there will be one instantly recognisable face, that of former teammate Jeremy Davidson who is coach at the Auvergne outfit.

Unsurprisingly the Ulster connection was instrumental in the move, as noted by Brady: "I've played and worked with Jeremy for a fair number of years at Dungannon and at Ulster so I have a massive respect for him.

"Once he had initiated contact and we had a few chats on the phone I really started to think about it and in the end he was a massive influence on my decision to move away."

With the signing announced earlier this month, the Ravenhill faithful, with the help of the 33-year-old's Ulster team-mates, were given a final opportunity to give the hooker a fitting send-off as he took to the field for the final eight minutes of the RaboDirect Pro12 showdown with Cardiff Blues two weeks ago.

His substitute appearance was met with a rousing round of applause and it was an experience the 2006 Celtic League winner admits meant a lot to him.

"It was incredible and very humbling," he admitted.

"I didn't really feel I was going to feature for the rest of the year but I think a few of the boys had something to do with it. It was a nice touch and it's something that I'll take with me forever."

Before travelling to sunnier climbs, there is the matter of this weekend's Pro12 final with Leinster and, while he is not expected to be involved in proceedings, the former Dungannon man admits it would be special to conclude his Ulster career with a victory.

"It's been a long season, right from the start of August and there have been so many people involved, so if we could cap it off with winning the title outright it would an be awesome way to end, especially in the RDS against Leinster," he added.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 82285.html

Times

Andrew Trimble seeks final piece of validation for Ulster in Pro12 final .........................
Beating Leinster in decider will prove Ulster have truly arrived as a force
Irish rugby finds itself in the ideal situation; three provinces consistently operating at the business end of Europe and the Rabo Pro 12 league.

That’s not enough for Ulster. If they lose Saturday’s league final, they will feel like the third child yet again. Leinster have won a trophy, while Munster, against all odds, almost made the Heineken Cup final.

What do Ulster have to show for going to Thomond Park and winning a European quarter-final last year or being the only team to beat Leinster at the RDS this season?

Belief, maybe. Nothing tangible. Andrew Trimble knows better than most that they must do it all over again on Saturday.

“It took every single bit of what we had in us to get over the line at the RDS (in March),” said Trimble. “Leinster have performed in big games like this week in, week out for a long time. We got to get that consistency, we’ve got to back it up.”

Leinster destroyed them when it really mattered, in last year’s final at Twickenham, while Saracens did something similar at the same venue in the quarter-final last month.

Unforced errors
That was as bad as Ulster have been in about three years, unforced errors ruining any chance of living with the English club’s huge South African forwards.

“It just wasn’t a reflection of us at all,” Trimble continued. “We didn’t approach the game the way we wanted or anticipated they were going to play the way they did. Saracens are a tough side to express yourself against and play against with any kind of width. They really shut us down and wrecked any gameplan that we had.

“If we hadn’t been able to move on, being in such a great position in the Rabo, it would’ve been a really tough defeat to take. This gave us something to go after.”

That brings more pressure still, because failure now will taint Mark Anscombe’s first season as head coach.

“We had a massive run there at the start of the season, stuttered around the Six Nations then we came back and hit form again after beating Leinster down in the RDS.

‘Small goals’
“But there is no point doing what we did this season, accomplishing all those small goals unless we have something to show for it. People are talking about us being the best Ulster side in a few years and that’s great but we need to back that up.”

Anscombe has proved a good fit for Ulster, and especially for Trimble, who responded to being exiled from Ireland camp by running in a personal best of 12 tries for his province.

The reward has been a recall by Les Kiss for the North American tour next month.

Was he worried, despite being only 28 that the international ship had sailed? “No, I certainly don’t think it is over. I’ve been in this position before and I have bounced back. I will do the same again. I was delighted to find out I was picked.”

The natural wheeling pace of Simon Zebo, Craig Gilroy and even Andrew Conway will always make it tough for Trimble, more the Shane Horgan-type winger than a Denis Hickie, to break into an Ireland team that promises to play a pacy, counter-attacking style under the Kiss-Joe Schmidt ticket.

Instantly improved
That said, Trimble’s form instantly improved when faced with the prospect of not being considered an international rugby player.

“I would agree with that. I am quite competitive and I want to make the most of any opportunities I do get. They have been few and far between this year, in a green shirt that is, but fortunately I’ve been able to really commit to Ulster.

“I haven’t been too concerned about going up and down the road too much so I have put everything into it, and it’s been good for me,”

He’ll be going down that same road to Dublin as a confrontational Ulster man this weekend. Trimble, again, much like Horgan before him in Leinster, epitomises all the good traits of an Ulster player.

He looks at how Leinster evolved and uses it as motivation to drive Ulster down the same path. “I think this weekend will go a long way to showing how far we are away from the standard Leinster have set.

“You can have one off big performances but having beaten them twice this year, and if we manage to get over the line and beat them a third time in a final it would show we are kicking on. It’s such a big challenge, similar to Munster in Thomond Park two years ago.

“It’s a chance to lay claim to being the best side in Ireland.”

Everyone ready? We know Trimble is.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/a ... -1.1401991

Joe Schmidt and Mark Anscombe keep cards close to chests for Pro12 final.............................
John Afoa only major doubt for Ulster while Brian O’Driscoll looks fit to start for Leinster
This being the last week of the domestic season, mind games between the rival New Zealand coaches, desperate to capture the Rabo Direct Pro 12 title, go up a notch.

For Joe Schmidt it’s about leaving Leinster without the stain of three consecutive runner-up finishes in league finals. That would represent the only black mark in an otherwise phenomenal tenure.

For Mark Anscombe it’s about backing up Ulster’s perfect start to a campaign, which faltered during the illogical international window and was almost ruined by a chronically overcrowded infirmary.

This week his only concern is All Black tighthead prop John Afoa’s hamstring.

“Yeah, he’s progressing nicely,” said Anscombe. “It’s not a tear, just a slight strain, just been niggling and in the position he plays you got to be careful it doesn’t go.”

Leinster also refuse to rule Seán O’Brien out of contention, despite a knee injury that prompted British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland to say on Monday his club season was over.

Gatland went so far as to state O’Brien would be doing well to be fit for the Queensland Reds game on June 8th. And that he would be in Lions camp henceforth.

‘Better condition’
Those comments angered the Leinster machine. Sure enough, late Monday night we got the following “update” from the Lions after “consultation” with Leinster: “Given the proximity to the tour we are grateful to Leinster for being able to assess Seán. He is in better condition than we thought and he continues his recovery at pace.”

With nothing definitive conjecture reigns. Afoa is expected to play, O’Brien is not. Either that’s the case or Gatland was telling fibs. But why would he?

All told, it left a bad taste in the mouth.

Chris Henry is expected to recover from a knee strain/knock to start Saturdaybut Luke Marshall and Craig Gilroy have been put on ice due to a triple-concussion and a groin strain respectively.

Expect Afoa to be added to the starting XV that beat the Scarlets 28-17 on May 10th, with Declan Fitzpatrick making way.

Iain Henderson will probably be benched as Anscombe goes with Robbie Diack on the blindside and Dan Tuohy partnering Johann Muller in the secondrow.

Ulster’s impact options look inferior to Leinster’s, although Henderson and scrumhalf Paul Marshall can arrive if more urgency is demanded.

Brian O’Driscoll will return after recovering from a back spasm.

‘Good shape’
“Yeah, yeah I’m feeling miles better this week,” he told the Second Captains podcast on irishtimes.com. “At a push I could have played on Friday but with this coming up and the next six weeks I would hopeful I will be in good shape to take the pitch.”

O’Driscoll left us in no doubt about Leinster’s feeling of unfinished business. “The previous year against Munster when we won the Heineken the week before I think we just got out played but I think we threw it away last year (against the Ospreys). It really took the gloss off winning back to back Heineken Cups. I hope we are going to use that hurt.”

On the flip side, Anscombe’s men will use an even fresher open wound.

Their comprehensive Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Saracens in Twickenham on April 6th stalled any talk of Ulster progress.

They didn’t make any, but there were plenty of excuses. Muller tore his bicep in the opening minutes, Afoa had just come off a long haul flight, Marshall was knocked out for the third time in a month and Tommy Bowe wasn’t fit enough to start.

“If we had the preparation we’ve had this week I would have been a lot happier going into the Saracens game,” said Anscombe. “We’ve got no excuses, if we don’t do the job Saturday we will have been beaten by the better team.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/j ... -1.1401975

Indo

Afoa losing fitness race for Ulster's final date................... :shock:
Ulster's World Cup winning tighthead prop John Afoa may have to settle for a place on the bench in Saturday's Pro12 final against Leinster at the RDS.

Afoa did manage to train at the club's Newforge base yesterday but he limped from the fray in the aftermath and coach Mark Anscombe must decide whether it is worth the risk to thrust his fellow Kiwi in from the start.

Complicating matters is the fact that, on the other side of the scrum, Callum Black left the session with his knee heavily bandaged. Otherwise, Ulster have a clean bill of health.

Meanwhile, Rory Best has revealed that Tommy Bowe did not even celebrate his second Lions tour call-up – such was Bowe's disappointment that his Ulster team-mate Best had been passed over by Warren Gatland.

Best will, however, captain the Irish team that tours North America, which offers him some consolation, particularly if he can help Ulster win their first trophy in seven seasons on Saturday.

"Tommy said he felt so gutted for me that he didn't really want to celebrate," revealed the Banbridge man. "It meant a lot to me, that others were hurting as well. Everyone rallied around.

"The amount of support I got was phenomenal and the way we have played since then has been great and it certainly brought the enjoyment back into rugby for me.

"Around the time when I got the news it was hard to see myself playing any more rugby.

"Now the prospect of captaining Ireland again – which I love to do – is exciting, particularly with a very good bunch of boys, and a good number of them from Ulster.

"Those sort of things get you going again. I don't think anybody should underestimate what playing for Ireland means to me.

"Ulster are now very much focused on winning silverware this year. The big thing is that this team, compared to other teams I've played with, is filled with real self-belief and confidence and we need to show that this Saturday."
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/a ... 85983.html

Newsletter

Ulster giving nothing away ahead of date with PRO12 destiny.........................
The absence of a provisional squad list at Tuesday’s Ulster Rugby media session was practically the normal routine ahead of a big knockout game.

It did leave a bit of head scratching and quizzical looks as to if the main injury concerns for Ulster ahead of Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 final with Leinster, John Aofa and Chris Henry were going to be involved.

Ulster coach, Mark Anscombe, said both were expected to be involved.

Henry suffered a knock to the knee against Scarlets in the semi-final victory, but it was not expected to keep him out of the showdown between the Provinces this weekend.

And Afoa, who missed the semi-final due to a hamstring problem, was back training as normal this week, running and looking good to go.

The New Zealand tighthead’s presence in the RDS on Saturday is crucial if Ulster are to clinch their first major silverware since last winning the Celtic League in 2006.

Stade Francais gave Leinster a tough time up front and Ulster will be looking to do the same so Afoa’s inclusion will be crucial to that.

With Afoa’s expected inclusion in the starting XV again, Declan Fitzpatrick would drop to the bench.

And that would mean rising talent in the front row, Ricky Lutton, who impressed in the last visit to Leinster at the end of March would not be included in the matchday 23.

Anscombe said: “We have got nearly a full hand to deal with ahead of the final, so that is a good position to be in.

“We have had our troubled periods over the season with injuries and absentees for other reasons, so it is great to be able to go into the final weekend of the rugby year in a strong position.

“We want to finish on a high and that means winning the RaboDirect PRO12 title.

“Yes we have finished top of the league after the regular season, but we want to go on and finish the job now.

“We feel we let ourselves down in our first big test this season when we faced Saracens in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup.

“There is a real drive to make sure that we do not let ourselves down this time.

“Everyone is excited about the prospect of playing Leinster in a big final and the chance to finish a tough year with some silverware.”
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby ... -1-5112337

Examiner

Rejuvenated Best puts Lions letdown behind him.........................
Ireland hooker Rory Best felt so down after his omission from the Lions tour party he just wanted to forget about rugby.
But he admits that friends and family, and, in particular, his Ulster team-mates, brought a smile back on his face and the return of that competitive spirit. He is now looking forward to captaining Ireland on their summer tour to North America and seeing off Leinster in the Pro12 final at the RDS on Saturday.

“I was absolutely gutted I didn’t make the squad,” said Best.

“But in many ways I didn’t want it to affect me too much, particularly with so many big games left in the season. In that respect, the boys and the management were incredible in the way they got behind me.

“Boys like Tommy [Bowe] who was selected for his second tour, said he felt so gutted for me he didn’t really want to celebrate.

“It meant a lot to me, that others were hurting as well. Everyone rallied around. The amount of support I got was phenomenal and the way we have played as a group since then has been great and it certainly brought the enjoyment back into rugby for me.

“Now the prospect of captaining Ireland again which I love to do, is exciting, particularly with a very good bunch of boys, and a good number of them from Ulster. I don’t think anybody should underestimate what playing for your country means to me,” stressed Best.

“Ulster are now very much focused on winning silverware this year. True, there has been a lot of ups and downs since the season started, more than I have ever known during my time in an Ulster jersey.

“There have been times when it was the best place in the world to be, which it is, and then other times it has felt a very sad and emotional place,” said Best reflecting on the death of fellow farmer and colleague Nevin Spence.

“The one thing this particular season has done is pull us all together as a group of true friends.

“The big thing is that this team is filled with real self-belief. Whenever we really need massive performances we have pulled it out of the bag. We have gone to hard places and won, like Franklins’ Gardens, and of course, the RDS where we won earlier this season.”
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/reju ... 31961.html

Tuesday Press Conf Pics..................
All from Presseye.
:fleg: http://presseye.com/assignment/UJUnATq6 ... 0pT6Fkg..a

OamaruMail

Bronson Ross...............
Oamaru-born Bronson Ross has signed with Ireland professional rugby team Ulster.

Ulster, one of four professional provincial rugby sides from Ireland that compete in the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup, announced the signing of the Coventry tighthead prop on a one-year development contract on Monday.

Ross was born in Oamaru and attended St Kevin's College. He played for the North Otago under-16 rugby training squad in 2001 and for the North Otago under-18 team in 2003.

At St Kevin's College, he was part of the First XV, awarded the Robinson Cup in 2003 for being the best and fairest player in the first XV, and was also a cultural captain for Whyte House. He also played in Dunedin, before moving to Europe at 22.

The 2003 North Otago under-18 team manager, Ross Lory, said Ross, the vice-captain for the team, was a "good solid" player.

"He was very mobile on the field," Lory said. "He was willing to learn and turned into a leader."

Lory said he always saw potential in Ross. The 2003 team also included fullback Luke Devcich, who went on to play for North Harbour.

"That was quite a good team that year. They beat Southland for the plate," Lory said. "They walloped Southland [winning] by about 40 to 50 points."

Ross, 27, spent two years at Boroughmuir in Scotland before representing Spanish side Guernica for a year.

He joined Coventry at the start of the 2012/13 season and played 26 times for the National League 1 outfit.
http://www.oamarumail.co.nz/news/irish- ... r/1877352/

:compress: TheFlipSide >skull

Tele

O'Brien tops injury issues for Leinster............................
Leinster have injury worries ahead of Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 final against Ulster at the RDS.

Flanker Sean O'Brien (bruised knee) and utility back Fergus McFadden (neck) are concerns, with the former unlikely to want to take any risks ahead of the forthcoming Lions tour.

But although hooker Richardt Strauss picked up a shoulder injury after replacing Sean Cronin in Friday night's Amlin Challenge Cup victory over Stade Francais, Leinster's medics are hopeful the Irish-qualified South African will be available.

The Amlin Cup winners also expect Brian O'Driscoll to have recovered from his back spasm problem and wing forward Kevin McLaughlin is also likely to be in the reckoning.

There is a further plus for Leinster, too, with Dave Kearney having made an incident-free return to action following five weeks out through injury. He, too, will be in contention.

Saturday's PRO12 final will be the last outing for Jonathan Sexton and Isa Nacewa before they move on.

Sexton broke through the 1,000 point barrier on Friday night, his haul of 14 against Stade Francais taking him over that milestone.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 82289.html

Examiner

O’Brien confusion continues..........................
The official line from the Lions camp in Carton House yesterday was that Sean O’Brien continues to make progress with the knee injury that is threatening his participation in Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro12 final against Ulster.

A quick read between the lines, however, would suggest that the flanker will not play again until the Lions’ third tour appearance, against the Queensland Reds on June 8, after the mixed messages from Warren Gatland and the province on Monday.

Leinster said he was doing just dandy, Gatland said he wouldn’t be good to go until the Brisbane game and then a Lions communique later that night said, hey presto, the guy is coming along great, don’t you know.

“It’s my understanding with Sean that he is getting a lot better,” said Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree. “He has got a lot better over the last 24-48 hours and with regards to this weekend’s game you will have to watch this space.”

If that smacked of a PR spiel, then what followed was infinitely more interesting when the Englishman was asked a fairly routine question as to what he perceived to be O’Brien’s best position.

“I’m not trying to be funny here but back row,” said the former Lions Test prop. “I think he will play all three positions. He will be a good impact player and I think he is an exceptional talent.”

The term impact player’ is one dreaded by every player and only a handful of weeks have passed since O’Brien himself declared his intention to avoid the bench on the forthcoming tour Down Under.

With O’Brien absent this weekend, that still leaves 13 of Gatland’s squad expected to feature in the Pro12 and English Premiership deciders (Leicester and Northampton contesting the latter) and the suspicion is that will prove unlucky for some.

The Lions have been strangely fortunate in the lack of cry-offs thus far but, as Rowntree intimated, give it time. That said, he denies that those currently in camp are at an advantage over those absent, although Dan Lydiate thinks differently.

The Welsh flanker is expected to beat O’Brien and Tom Croft to blindside role for the first Test against Australia and the fact is that both the Englishman and Irishman have been otherwise engaged this past ten days with Leicester and Leinster.

“Yeah, it’s harder for them boys to come in because as soon as they come in we’re flying straight away,” he admitted. “They have to get up to speed straightway whereas we’ve had a couple of weeks to run the patterns and plays and stuff.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/obri ... 31962.html

Indo

Leinster refuse to give up hope of Bent revival..................
Feek believes 'loosehead could be option' to revive forgotten Ireland import :roll:
It seems like only yesterday that Michael Bent was having a shamrock stamped on his chest and a sliotar stuck in his hand in the most bizarre display of forced faux Irishness since Tom Cruise destroyed the Irish accent in 'Far and Away.'

Despite his Irish lineage – his maternal grandmother hailed from Rathmines – the 26-year-old ex-Taranaki front-rower wasn't exactly showered with a thousand welcomes.

Keith Wood led the charge with a declamatory yowl: "How in the name of Jesus are we getting to the point where a guy flies into the country and he will play for Ireland?"

Initially, Bent appeared to skew the perceptions; starting for Ireland before lining out for Leinster, he thieved a penalty from South Africa's Heinke van der Merwe; the Irish camp subtly planted lines that Mike Ross was gulping for air.

A month later, however, and the same Bent was being concertinaed by an Academy loosehead in Galway and, most damningly, by Tom Court, another Antipodean-turned-Ireland international, who he had so spectacularly usurped in the November squad.

Since then, Bent has quietly slipped off the radar.

Last Friday, as Leinster won European silverware in front of the bright lights and the huge audience, Bent was also winning a medal, albeit in the less rarefied confines of the B&I Cup.

From a position seven months ago where he was expected to challenge Ross for a starting berth in green, Bent (pictured below) won't even tour with Ireland this summer.

Instead, he will be asked to confront the latest collection of grizzly Georgian monsters in Tbilisi for 'Emerging Ireland' in June; let us just say that, as he slumps to around fifth or sixth-choice tighthead for his adopted country, this ain't the glamorous life he signed up for.

An indigenous tighthead, Jamie Hagan, has been promoted ahead of him for Leinster and, by dint of touring North America, Ireland as well, just as he is preparing to walk out on Irish rugby and pitch in with London Irish.

It will be curious to see whether Joe Schmidt will slavishly persist with the prevailing official stance that "out of sight means out of mind", especially now that his first-choice out-half is domiciled in Paris.

"Jamie wanted more game time," says Leinster and Ireland scrum coach Greg Feek. "We got him knowing he had potential to go further. Sometimes you've got to go backwards to come forwards. Jamie is a good case.

"Maybe, if he was a bit more patient he might still be here. We weren't going to hold him back. It is important for a tighthead to be playing week in, week out. We could understand that.

"You can see that he's certainly come on. It is a massive credit to him in terms of the work he has put in. He has been massive on his extras. His habits are really good.

"You never know what will happen. It is not going to be easy for him over there. It is just a shame for Leinster that we lose someone we've put a lot of work into.

"You want to make the player better. This is a position where it doesn't happen overnight. If they are prepared to put the work in and they have the right attitude, like Jamie has shown, then they work away.

"He has got physical attributes that he has worked on hard. That doesn't happen by just sitting on the couch eating popcorn."

CONFIDENT

Feek, the most prominent person in terms of recruiting Bent, remains confident that there is room for development for the former Hurricanes prop also, as he and Hagan jostle for selection behind Ross this weekend.

Given the traditional late developments of tightheads, Feek is not worried about Bent's progress; his adaptability to play loosehead, where he once won a Ranfurly Shield, may also be a bonus in time.

"If you look at Jamie's situation, he came in and you didn't really see him for the first year," explains Feek.

"Benty has been able to float in and out. He was a part of the winning B&I Cup team at the weekend against a probable Premiership team.

"I think it was better for him to play in that and experience that. He played 80 minutes and there was 20 minutes of extra-time.

"These things take time. There are different elements over here for him. He is around 117kg; Jamie is around 123kg, so there is a big way for him to go if he wants to make the next step.

"But, I think he has got a lot of other attributes already in place. Hopefully, we can grow him and the same thing might happen.

"He played a lot of loosehead before he came over. He played tighthead and loosehead. To be chucked in and just told, right you are tighthead ... loosehead could be an option."
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/l ... 85985.html

:fleg: http://balls.ie/rugby/video-ulster-have ... o12-final/
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012/2013

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Wednesday 22nd May......................Continued

Newsletter

Special trains and buses for Ulster rugby fans.......................
Details of special train and coach services for rugby fans travelling to Dublin for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 final between Ulster and Leinster at the RDS have been unveiled.

The train services, which depart Belfast Central Station at 9.27am, 11.05am and 11.57am, will also pick up passengers from Lisburn, Lurgan, Portadown and Newry. Return trains depart Dublin Connolly Station at 9.05pm, 9.20pm and 9.35pm.

Tickets for the special rugby trains are available online for prices that include return DART connection between Connolly and Sandymount.

Goldline coaches will depart from locations including Londonderry, Belfast, Omagh, Coleraine, Ballymena, Antrim, Newtownards, Bangor, Portadown, Lurgan, Lisburn, Larne, Ballyclare, Dungannon, Armagh, Banbridge and Newry. For more information, visit http://www.translink.co.uk/rugby or call 028 90 66 66 30.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/specia ... -1-5114216

Pro12

Henry eager to end Ulster's wait for silverware.........................
Ulster back row Chris Henry is determined to secure some silverware when his side face Leinster in the RaboDirect PRO12 final on Saturday, claiming they have the experience to prevail in Dublin.

Henry and co were on the receiving end of a 42-14 defeat when the two sides met in the Heineken Cup final last term but in the two sides' meetings this season, Ulster have triumphed on both occasions.
Most recently in March, Ulster claimed a 22-18 win at the RDS - the venue of this Saturday's final and Henry believes Ulster can inflict a fourth straight final defeat on Leinster, who have lost at this stage in each of the last three seasons.

"It was pretty daunting being in our first final and the nerves won't be as bad this time," said 28-year-old Henry.

"We're more experienced and have strong competition for places but it will take our best game of the year to win.

"As players we don't want to finish our careers without winning something.

"We have made progress over many seasons, it hasn't happened overnight, and we feel this is our time.

"We don't want to leave anything behind.

"If Leinster are the better team on the day, so be it, but we will give it everything and we badly want to win this one."
http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/16633.php

Whiff

The Pro12: Its a Wrap.......................
We rarely have good things to say about the Pro12 – don’t get us wrong, we love the games, and think its underrated as a development tool (ask Mike Cheika if Leinster would have won the HEC in 2009 without winning the then-Magners the previous year), but it is a bit dowdy. Trips to an empty Murrayfield, the presence of the zebra-bunnies, the Irish interpros with 2.5th teams and the lamentable organisation of the Welsh regions do not exactly compare well to the skill levels and intensity of the Top14 or the glitzy try-fest that is Ooooooooooooooh the Premiership. Plus its boring most of the time to be frank – its generally highly predictable.

It might seem a bit rich to be taking a pop at the Pro12 for not being competitive enough when the other two European pro leagues have had the same 10 teams in the playoffs for the past two seasons, but its true – the Pro12 has been pretty dull for much of its history. Leinster, Munster and the Ospreys have dominated, and the odd challenge by someone else is noticeable by its rarity.

Its easy for McCafferty and the like to point fingers at the lack of relegation, but its hard to see how that has benefitted, say, the Dragons or Connacht. Relegation, and the creative destruction it sometimes wreaks, can sometimes be a positive force – just ask the juvenated Saints.

But the cartel may be changing – its been a positive season on the depth front. For a start, Ulster might win it this year. Before the play-offs started, we would have picked Leinster, but after struggling past Glasgow, and post-Amlin, they look a little beaten up – Ulster’s stroll in the park past a lamentable Scarlets effort has set them up well, and the drive that comes from honouring the tragic Nevin Spence could well be too much for Leinster. To be truthful, we’re split down the middle (naturally), but since Egg holds the pen right now, he’s going to pick Ulster by a nose.

Getting back to the Scarlets, we get that the regions are not in a good place right now, and that the structures of Welsh professional rugby are somewhat teetering, but none of that excuses the lack of effort from the Scarlets’ two Lions (one more than Ulster, don’t forget) in their semi-final – Johnny Davies looked panicked and passed poorly all day, and George North’s statuesque defending would have embarrassed Lesley Vainikolo.

That aside, the Scarlets were there for their season-long consistency, and most of them will be back next year (though not North unfortunately). Ulster won’t just be back, they’ll expect to win it. What then of Glasgae, the third cartel-buster in the playoffs?

Unlike this season, when Glasgow had a summer of flux, having to manage the loss of key players such as Richie Grey and Kelly Brown ,and a long-serving coach in Sean Lineen, they will be able to build on top of this season’s excellent effort. Last years recruits (Matawalu, Maitland and Strauss – an excellent summer of work) will have had this season under their belts, and they’ll be even better for it.

The most interesting challenge next season may well come from Treviso – the Italians have always had that ‘plucky underdog’ look about them, where they can win at home, albeit narrowly, but struggle away. This season, they started winning away, and handing out some hurt to teams as well (notably Munster and the Scarlets) – their wretched winter ruined their chances of finishing even further up the league than seventh,

So next season, as well as the old firm of Leinster, Munster and the Ospreys sniffing around the playoffs (Ospreys and, particularly, Munster will want to improve on this seasons showing – Munster, like Ulster last year, gave up after the HEC quarter-final), you’ll have Ulster, Glasgow, the Scarlets, Treviso, and possibly even Cardiff if they get their ass together. As well as seven competitive teams, you have teams from all four constituent countries will harbour playoff ambitions for the first time – and that’s a good thing, particularly as Sky begin the process of glamming it up.

As for Saturday, lets enjoy it – thankfully the Ulster-Leinster rivalry is still a friendly one, and its going to be a sunny, beery, relaxing day out! Plus we’re certain the home team will win.
http://whiffofcordite.com/2013/05/22/th ... ts-a-wrap/

:compress: TheFlipSide >skull

TheScore

‘Watch this space’ for O’Brien in Pro12 Final after miracle injury recovery.......................
Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree says the back-row’s participation in the Pro12 Final is up to the player and Leinster.
RULED OUT OF action for three weeks on Monday, in with a starting chance for the Pro12 Grand Final on Tuesday – Sean O’Brien is trying his best to impersonate Lazarus.

The flanker picked up a ‘knee on knee’ injury in Friday’s 34-13 Amlin Challenge Cup victory over Stade Francais and was effectively ruled out of Saturday’s league final with Ulster by British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland. Around the same time [Monday afternoon] Leinster said the Carlow native was ’50/50′ for the upcoming clash at the RDS.

Gatland’s grim declaration that O’Brien may not be ready to play again until the third or fourth game of the Lions Tour was tempered on Monday night by Lions medic, Dr James Robson. Speaking to TheScore.ie on Tuesday, Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree gave Leinster supporters further hope of a miraculous recovery for The Tullow Tank.

“It’s my understanding with Sean that he is getting a lot better,” said Rowntree. “He’s got a lot better over the last 24, 48 hours and, in regards to this weekend’s game, it’s watch this space.”

Asked, later, to expand on his initial comments on O’Brien’s fitness, and his chances of facing Ulster, Rowntree said, “I think that will be confirmed by the weekend.

At this point in time he is getting better; better than first hoped. That’s up to Sean and Leinster, whether he plays or not. My understanding is he is getting better.”

Rowntree added, “He’s been in to see us, to see what we’re doing, but he has been with both [Lions and Leinster].”

“I have seen him today,” he remarked. “I can confirm that.”

Having made one quip, the former England prop stated he was not trying to be funny when he said O’Brien’s best position was back-row. He commented, “I think Sean can play all three positions, he’ll be a good impact player. He’s an exceptional talent.”
http://www.thescore.ie/pro12-final-lein ... 5-May2013/

Partying not an option for Kearney until Leinster show Ulster who’s boss.......................
“No disrespect to Stade Francais,” said the fullback, “but you’re not going to score first-phase tries against Ulster.”
ROB KEARNEY IS starting to resemble the attacking backline dangerman of old and hopes he can continue his ‘upward curve’ to help Leinster to a league and cup double.

The fullback went airborne to score an excellent try, following a Jonny Sexton-Isa Nacewa crossfield kick move, last week. He had another effort incorrectly chalked off in the closing stages of his Leinster’s Amlin Challenge Cup Final victory over Stade Francais.

With Ulster in town this weekend, the Blues have a chance to win their first league trophy since 2008. This is Leinster’s fourth final in succession and the Magners/Rabo Cup has, thus far, proved elusive.

Kearney said the Leinster players, himself included, were guilty in the past of not giving the Pro12 Grand Final the focus it deserves. ‘It was pretty quiet’ on Friday night for the squad after they captured their European title. He said, “We made that mistake, over the last few years, of partying and taking our eye off the ball a little bit. We’re making a big emphasis now to really focus, switch on this week.

No disrespect to Stade but you’re not going to score first-phase tries against Ulster. That means two things – we’re going to have to scout and do things differently, and we’ll have to hold onto more ball. We didn’t have too much possession at the weekend, or build phases of play, so we’ll have to up our performance from that perspective.”

Losing run

Leinster’s dominance over Ulster premeated to their emphatic Heineken Cup Final win over the northern province last season. This season, under Mark Anscombe, Ulster have mounted a sterner challenge, beating the Blues in Dublin for the first time since 1999.

Speaking to TheScore.ie following that 22-18 win at the RDS, Ulster forward Iain Henderson declared, “Growing up, I would have heard talk like ‘it’s going to be this year, it’s going to be this year’. There was a bit of chat about it but we made sure we went out and raised our intensity and that our game was the best it could be.”

“They’ve been the form side in the Rabo all season,” Kearney admitted, “and have a real powerful scrum. They’ve done a job on us twice this season, most recently in the RDS. That was a tough game. We put a huge amount of effort into that and they still came out on top.”

Ruan Pienaar is in top form at the moment; really bossing things. Their backline, their back three – from Payne, Tommy [Bowe], Gilroy and Trimble there – they can cause a lot of trouble too. They were unlucky in the Heineken Cup. They probably felt like they didn’t do themselves justice on the day.”

The Leinster backline featured Fergus McFadden and Ian Madigan in the midfield axis. Gordon D’Arcy is definitely out of contention but Brian O’Driscoll, says Kearney, is desperate to get back for Saturday’s tie. “Brian was hugely disappointed to miss last week so he is going to want to get out there,” he said.

The Louth native is happy that, after injury blighted the beginning of the season, he has approached optimum fitness and form.

“After injury,” he said, “it does take a while to get back to full form, full fitness, full everything. Six Nations was a bit frustrating, form wise, because, as a team, we were on the back foot and getting poor conditions to play in.

“I feel as though I’m slowly, gradually building every week so if I could just keep that upward curve I’ll be happy.”
http://www.thescore.ie/pro12-final-ulst ... 7-May2013/

Herald

Kearney to take Payne...................
LEINSTER full-back Rob Kearney has just seen the back of Glasgow Warrior Stuart Hogg in the PRO12 League semi-final, only to be met with Ulster's Jared Payne in the final.

It is one first-class challenge after another and Payne will be Ireland-qualified at the end of next season.

"I think he's a quality player. I have to be honest. I'm hoping his 15 months doesn't come too quickly because I think that's all he's left.

"I've no doubt that a player of his calibre is going to offer a huge amount to the Irish set-up when he does come in," said Kearney.

Kearney has always taken a keen interest in those that could contest his supremacy as Ireland's automatic first-choice full-back.

"I think his greatest attribute is probably his consistency. He has very few weaknesses," admitted the Louthman.

"I think when you are looking for cornerstone positions like full-back, it's important that every aspect of your game is at a pretty high standard. I think he's got that." Payne has also got experience at outside centre, a jersey expected to be vacated by one Brian O'Driscoll at the end of 2013/2014.

The former Waikato Chief (2007), Canterbury Crusader (2009 and 2010) and Auckland Blue (2011) has seen that there could be a hole in the Irish midfield.

"I don't know how much he has played at 13. I remember reading an interview with him when he said he'd like to be playing a little more at 13," said Kearney.

"And Mark Anscombe has said something similar. But that's all in the future. He'll be playing full-back at the weekend."

The form book all season points to Ulster. They have dominated the PRO12 League, despite a dip in form during the Six Nations window.

"They are the form team in the Rabo this year. There is no doubt about it," conceded Kearney.

"Although they will probably be unhappy with their performance in the quarter-final, they are one of the form sides in Europe too.

"They did a job on us in the RDS this season already, so they will have no qualms about coming here to beat us again."

Kearney doesn't want the season to end as it has done in losing the last three league finals to the Ospreys twice and Munster once.

"I don't think our commitment over the last couple of years in terms of that final game can be questioned," he said.

CHALLENGE

"I think it is a mental challenge. Getting up for two finals in a row is a difficult thing to do. But I think you have to learn from these things. Last year, we won the Heineken the week before the Rabo and then we went out and lost. It's so true. You do only remember and the emotions stick with you from the previous game.

"When you put yourself in the position to sort of win trophies, it's a difficult thing to do.

"There is only a handful of clubs across Europe that get an opportunity to win trophies at the end of the season.

"It's what you build for the whole year. You have a 50 per cent chance of winning it, so when you do get to the final, no one likes losing them.

"It's those moments afterwards when the opposition are doing their lap of honour and collecting silverware. That's a pretty sick feeling."
http://www.herald.ie/sport/rugby/kearne ... 84796.html
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012/2013

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Thursday 23rd May 2013

Tele

Bowe out to tune in for final repeat.....................
Ulster's Tommy Bowe has been down this path before –and emerged as a winner.

Now, with the omens in place for a repeat, the province's only representative on the 2013 British & Irish Lions is hoping for a similar outcome.

On May 27, 2010 Bowe lined up on the wing for the Ospreys and scored against Leinster at the RDS in the tournament's first-ever play-off. In what was coach Michael Cheika's last game in charge of Leinster, the guests from Swansea spoiled what was to have been his going-away gig by winning 17-12.

Fast forward three years, replacing Magners with RaboDirect as the sponsors and Cheika's name with that of Joe Schmidt, and everything seemingly falls perfectly into place. The circumstances bear a remarkable resemblance; same opponents, same venue, same stage of the same competition.

But same outcome on May 25, 2013? Ah, that's the $64,000 question.

Twelve months ago Bowe was a spectator when Ospreys returned to the RDS and, for a second time, upstaged Leinster in the final.

Now, having contributed to his former club's play-off victory in 2010 and witnessed their 2012 triumph (pictured right), Bowe is hopeful of being able to help Ulster follow suit by lowering Leinster's blue flag in Saturday's winner-takes-all showdown.

Assessing the magnitude of this wekend's task, Bowe said: "It's a difficult proposition; everybody knows that to beat Leinster anywhere is tough but to beat them in their own back yard is going to be extremely difficult."

Defeatist? No chance.

He continued: "But Ulster have played some great rugby this year. We had a bit of a dip in the middle of the season, but we're back, feeling confident, playing some good rugby and looking dangerous.

"I don't think we could be in a better way going into this match," was his considered and telling add-on.

Even when indirectly billing Leinster as favourites, Bowe managed to qualify that tag by pointing to the gruelling schedule through which Schmidt's Amlin Challenge Cup winners have just come.

"We'll probably be underdogs going into this game, which I think suits us. Leinster have played a lot of matches – four or five on the bounce now and very tough games – while we've had a week off so the players will be feeling fresh going into it," he suggested.

And while willing to concede that it is a massive challenge, Bowe said enough to leave no-one in any doubt that he feels Ulster are good enough to rise to it.

"We know it's going to be a very difficult proposition for us, but I think that we've played some great rugby. If we can play for a full 80 minutes – we've maybe taken our foot off the gas in the past couple of weeks – it's going to come down to a one-score match," he forecast.

Bowe's take on such shoot-out situations was: "It's a final and anything can happen."

Asked for his recollection of the 2010 final at the RDS, he said: "We went into it that day knowing that the majority of the supporters were Leinster supporters and the odds were stacked against us.

"But, as I said, anything can happen on the day. We got off to a cracker of a start, scored a couple of tries (man of the match Lee Byrne got the second) and managed to hold onto a win. I'm sure we'll be hoping to do something similar this week."

Preparations for Saturday's final have been somewhat different for Bowe. On Monday he and Ulster and Ireland team-mate Andrew Trimble sat their final papers in a management course with Hibernia College through the University of London. He felt the distraction was timely."That's taken our minds off it for the last while, which as been good," the Monaghan man said. "It has been such a hectic couple of weeks with the Lions (call) and us getting through to the final.

"We're now fully focused on that and you can see there's a lot of excitement around the squad. Maybe a bit of nervous energy which I think is exactly what you want going into such a big game.

"Getting named in a Lions squad is very special to me, but obviously this match is most important at the moment."

And there is something else which is particularly important to Bowe and his provincial colleagues who will – very literally – carry the name of their young former team-mate, Nevin Spence, into battle at the RDS. The tragedy of September 15, 2012 when the Ulster centre, his brother Graham and their father Noel died in a slurry tank accident at the family farm near Hillsborough has bound this group of players tightly.

Highlighting the importance of that fact, Bowe said: "It was such a tragic circumstance. I don't think anything really needs to be said about Nevin. I think the players know that he has always been in the back of our minds the whole season.

"His initials are stitched in underneath the Ulster badge on all our jerseys and we have memorials to him in different areas around the training facilities.

"I think he'll be looking down on us this weekend and it would be a great way to finish off the season with a bit of silverware for him."
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 86288.html
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/r ... 89907.html

>6shooter Let's end season on a real high.....................
Ulster coach Mark Anscombe is looking forward to a break following Saturday evening's RaboDirect PRO12 play-off against Leinster at the RDS

"Booked the flights, going home next Thursday," he beamed.

But while he will enjoy getting back to New Zealand with his wife Tracey and seeing their three children – Elisha and twins Gareth and Chloe – before soaking up the sun in Dubai on the way back to Belfast, Anscombe does not envy any of those already basking on far-off beaches.

"We set out to achieve certain things at the start of September. All of a sudden nine months have disappeared and here we are," he said.

"We're here contesting the final and there's 10 other teams who are at the beach now," he smiled with no hint of jealousy.

Has this exceeded expectations?

"No, this was a goal – we set out to be here. During the year there were some things that happened beyond our expectation, but getting here was a clear goal," he said.

"Now it's about taking our chances, being who we are and being true to ourselves on the day by performing as we can."

Asked about injury concerns, he replied: "There's a couple of niggles, but I'm confident that Johnny (Afoa) and Chris (Henry) will be okay."

Coming to the end of his inaugural campaign as Ulster's head coach, already Anscombe has chalked up a number of notable achievements which include guiding his adopted province to a first ever win over Leinster at the RDS.

Always the realist he said: "History shows we haven't a great record there, but we got that monkey off our backs the last time.

"Does that mean we'll do it again? No. But what it does do is give us confidence that if we play rugby, back ourselves, play for 80 minutes, take our chances and keep our discipline, then we can do the job.

"We know we face a huge challenge in trying to beat Leinster on their home track, but we've got to believe we're capable of doing it.

"We played some good rugby last time so we've got to be confident that we can repeat that."
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 86286.html

BBC

Ulster captain Johann Muller looks for big performance in Pro12 final...................VIDEO
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22629199
Ulster captain Johann Muller says being part of big occasions like the Pro12 final is "the reason why we play rugby" as he and his side prepare for the massive clash with Irish interprovincial rivals Leinster.

"They have a huge amount of depth in their squad and it is up to us to produce some really good rugby if we want to beat them - we must concentrate on our own performance," said Muller.

"At the end of the day, you are judged on trophies and if we don't win this weekend, it will be a massive disappointment," added the Springbok second row.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22629199

Harpin'

Eighty minutes from glory......................
A long, mostly successful season for the Ulstermen boils down to one game in Dublin, writes Kristian Ross…
So here we are. Counting down. The hotly anticipated RaboPRO12 final between Ulster Rugby and Leinster Rugby is just days away, and both Irish provinces will look to cap off a fine season with domestic success come Saturday.

The Ulstermen despite a blip at the start of the year have been in scintillating form since round one of this year’s competition, seventeen wins, a draw vs Treviso and just four defeats has seen Ulster Rugby score sixty two tries and concede thirty three in the process. Mark Anscombe’s first season in charge of the province has been a whirlwind of tries, points, and some wonderful free flowing rugby that has left many pundits in awe. Not to mention the introduction of young talent such as Stuart Olding, as well as seeing players starting to mature, Iain Henderson, Luke Marshall and Paddy Jackson having both been rewarded with Ireland caps earlier in the year after impressing in PRO12 games.

Then we have Leinster. Not the greatest start to the season under Joe Schmidt, but as always come the end of the year, the boys from Ballsbridge have been so clinical. A win for the Leinster A side in the B&I Cup and the huge success of yet another European trophy last week as they battered Stade Francais on home soil. Schmidt is of course aiming to leave the province with a double before he departs for the Ireland job come summer. Not to mention that Johnny Sexton will also for domestic success before his move to France. Leinster will be simply desperate to get their hands on this trophy, having been runners up for the last two season running. Schmidt has seen his side play in three European finals in a row, and on the last two occasions they have taken their toll, to name one Ospreys snatching the win at the RDS last year.

The form books are looking pretty impressive too. Ulster started to wane earlier on the year, but have came back strong, four wins in the last five meant they guaranteed that top spot in style, the win over Cardiff Blues on the final day of the season simply too easy, and the semi final tie against Scarlets didn’t prove that much of a test either. Meanwhile looking into how Leinster have played over the last few rounds it makes for pretty good reading indeed. Five wins in the last five, Leinster have not lost since they were beaten at home by the Ulstermen in April. Maybe that will be a physiological blow for the boys in blue, they haven’t beat Ulster yet this season, both home and away fixtures having ended in defeat.

The venue is certainly one that may not exactly give Ulster home advantage, the redevelopment of Ravenhill coming to early, as the Royal Dublin Society Arena was chosen by the Belfast side as their preference to hold the final. But with numerous posts on social networking about how it will be ‘’Our DS’’ I don’t think many Ulster fans will feel too worried, especially after the superb fan support at Twickenham this season.

Ulster players and fans alike believe this really is their year. The death of brave Nevin Spence has touched so many not just within Ireland, but the rugby community, and it seems fitting that the Ulstermen have made it to the final, a superb tribute to his memory, and no doubt the win will be dedicated to his memory should Ulster come out victorious on Saturday evening.

These old foes are now ready to do battle in what could will be the best match we will see this season. Both teams are ready, and both teams know that it will separate these two fierce rivals, not just for the PRO12, but for the bragging rights themselves. It’s been a year with ups and downs for both teams, but in what will be an epic encounter there can only be one winner.

It’s a season that no one has been able to take their eyes off, and from the kick off to the final whistle this weekend, both teams know that they have done themselves proud no matter what this season.

Good luck to Leinster on their quest for glory this weekend, but for me, it’s Ulster Rugby who I want to see crowned PRO12 champions on Saturday, and it is without doubt that this saying has never probably meant as much come the final.

Stand Up For The Ulstermen.
I'm Kristian. 18. And my mind is filled with rugby shaped thoughts. Supporting Ulster Rugby
http://harpin2.blogspot.ie/2013/05/eigh ... glory.html

Herald

Cave: I'm relishing chance of Ireland start......................
A cave is a dark and dreary place where depression can set in and fester.

Ulster centre Darren Cave could be forgiven for accepting he is destined for an even longer, darker period playing in the shadow of Brian O'Driscoll.

When 34-year-old O'Driscoll signed a one-year contract extension to play on for Ireland under incoming coach Joe Schmidt, it must have come as a big blow to the man from Holywood.

Cave, 26, made his Ireland debut four years ago – against Canada in the first of two caps on Ireland's two-Test tour to North America – for the paltry gain of three caps at a time when he was the only other regular 13 in the country.

This is a testament to O'Driscoll's durability and consistency and a reflection of how former Ireland coach Declan Kidney rated Cave, giving him his third and latest cap against New Zealand last November.

"I understand why I haven't played more with O'Driscoll having played so well for so long," he said.

"At the same time, it has been hard to watch so many players come in and out when I don't feel like I've had a fair crack of the whip internationally."

That O'Driscoll will leave on his fourth British and Irish Lions tour opens the door to a sense of déjà vu for Cave and further international exposure for another two-Test trip to North America in front of interim coach Les Kiss and Schmidt.

"With the Lions on there will be an opportunity and it's something I would relish," he said. "If I get the chance to wear the shirt again I'll be sure to make it hard for them to take it back off me."

NEMESIS

First, Cave may have to deal with his nemesis in the Rabodirect PRO12 League final at the RDS on Saturday, as O'Driscoll has declared himelf fit after the back problem that kept him out of the Amlin Challenge Cup final.

The ambition to capture more silverware is something that keeps O'Driscoll in the game. The need for any silverware is what drives Cave on.

"There are a lot of players who have been here for a long time without winning anything so there is a determination to put that right," he said.

"It's a special thing to play for Ulster but it means even more if you're part of a side who win something and now we have the chance to do that."

The slight from being annihilated by Leinster in the 2012 Heineken Cup final has been partly diminished by Ulster's double over their rivals in the PRO12 League this season.

"We feel like we owe them one a bit after they beat us quite badly. But, at the same time, we've beaten them twice this season, once down there, so they'll be feeling the same."
http://www.herald.ie/sport/rugby/cave-i ... 88527.html

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Tele

Final not out of reach for O'Brien just yet.........................
British and Irish Lions flanker Sean O'Brien could yet play for Leinster in Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 final against Ulster after making rapid progress in his recovery from a knee injury.

O'Brien was expected to be out for two weeks after incurring bone bruising in last weekend's Amlin Challenge Cup final victory over Stade Francais.

But Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree yesterday revealed that the injury is not as bad as initially feared and that the 26-year-old Ireland back row could be in contention for selection against Ulster at the RDS.

"Sean is getting a lot better and has improved quickly over the last 48 hours and with regards to Saturday, watch this space," Rowntree said.

O'Brien will miss out on the Lions' opening fixture against the Barbarians in Hong Kong on June 1 even if he does face Ulster, but it would make him available to face Western Force four days later.

Rowntree was speaking at yesterday's open practice session at Carton House, the squad's training camp outside Dublin, with some 200 supporters in attendance.

"The lads get a buzz out of it and it puts a bit of pressure on them," England's forward coach said.

"We got a couple wrong on our line-out throw because of the added pressure.

"It was great to see everyone there and the lads were good, staying behind to sign autographs."

Of the 37-man squad selected for the tour to Hong Kong and Australia, 15 are involved in matches this weekend with Leinster, Ulster, Leicester, Northampton and Toulon and have yet to join their counterparts.

Rowntree, himself a two-time Lions tourist, envisages few issues integrating the incoming players when they arrive on Sunday.

"Given the nature and class of those players, I'm sure they'll pick up our systems and the way we do things very quickly, that's why we're picking them," he said.

"The beauty of how we're doing things is that it's very simple.

"There's a very simple shape to how we're playing the game, our calling structure is very simple because of the understanding that we have limited time to get things right.

"So the guys coming in will slip straight in and they'll be battle hardened heading into Hong Kong.

"We'll be anxious watching the matches they're playing in, but the beauty of this squad is the players we've left at home. I'll be sat with everything crossed."

The Lions training sessions have been short, sharp and challenging, prompting head coach Warren Gatland to declare yesterday that "we trained with a level of intensity that some of the players from other countries hadn't experienced before".

Gatland has taken a sabbatical from his role as Wales boss to take charge of the 2013 Lions tour and Rowntree spoke of the players from the RBS 6 Nations champions in glowing terms.

England were thrashed 30-3 by the Welsh in the tournament title decider at the Millennium Stadium in March.

"I can see why they were very good that day. They're very impressive physically, having seen them working in the gym in particular," he said.

"I've been very impressed with their strength.

"They're an impressive bunch who are very well coached."
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 86287.html

Indo

Best: We want to emulate what Leinster have done......................
AS always, there is precious little flannelling when Rory Best is facing you.

He has brought with him a typically direct message regarding Ulster's need to get their hands on silverware again from Saturday's RaboDirect Pro12 final.

"We're sick of saying we're building and talking about how close we are – we want to emulate what Leinster have done and we want to emulate what Munster did before that.

"We have to make sure it's not all for nothing," states Best, alluding to the second consecutive year that Ulster have reached a showpiece final, with last year's Heineken Cup experience having ended rather badly for them.

That was, of course, also against Leinster, who stand in Ulster's path as Best and his team-mates attempt to bring a trophy back to Ravenhill for the first time since the Celtic League success of 2006.

And with Leinster having lifted the Amlin Challenge Cup last weekend, the men in blue appear determined to send Joe Schmidt on his way to the Ireland coaching job on the back of an elusive European and Pro12 double.

Best doesn't try to deny that Leinster have impressive pedigree and lethal form when it comes to delivering at the business end of the season, but for all that, he feels that Ulster have more than a chink of light this time around.

After all, they have already beaten Schmidt's men twice in the Pro12 – the first victory in Dublin since 1999 causing much celebration back in March – while Leinster have also managed to lose the last three finals.

"Yes, there was a fairly substantial gap between the two teams last year and we have shown this year that the gap is closing," says Best (30), who will be leading Ireland's two-Test tour to North America next month.

"But it was still a big achievement for us to win in the RDS and we know it will take an unbelievable effort again, but the one thing we are taking a lot of solace from is that it's going to be a 50/50 split of fans.

"We have the hunger and belief and we have a couple of big causes why we want to win something this year," adds the hooker, before alluding more directly to the tragic loss of Nevin Spence last September.

"We've seen a few tributes online over the last week and it's very much there for us, as it has been all season. Tragedy is never a good thing but it can be something that can spur us on.

"We have to make sure when we come off the pitch we can say we gave everything and played to the best of our ability. And I believe if we can do that we'll have won the game."
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/r ... 89911.html

Cian Healy hopes a Leinster win over Ulster will help boost the Lions .....................
Prop knows the risk of injury is big but is prepared to put his body on the line
The shadow of two different shirts cast across his back is not how Cian Healy would prefer to go into a season’s league final. The imperatives around Lions Tours and PRO12 trophies don’t seamlessly mix and with Ulster quietly simmering in Belfast while the ballyhoo blows around Joe Schmidt’s players, well it’s enough to demand caution. In that the loosehead prop is a brand leader.

Healy has never been damned for being overly garrulous and while he ploughs a Leinster furrow in Dublin while Warren Gatland does the same with the Lions in Carton House, this week has been as much about blanking out the thinking of one Kiwi in Kildare, double guessing another in Ulster and listening to a third in the RDS. Gatland, Mark Anscombe and Schmidt may laugh about it later.

Where that leaves the Leinster players is a moot point as two schools of thought diverge. Forced into playing catch-up after jetting off to Hong Kong, or, on a war footing and bearing the scars of a long and successful season, form opposing views.

“They have an advantage but they’re at a disadvantage of not being in another final,” said Healy. “You can look at it from any way. We’re in a final for Leinster, we’re paying that a lot of respect. When we get into Lions we will be complete professionals, we’ll be sitting down, learning the moves and be up to scratch come training time and that’s that.”

Healy’s no drama queen. Moving from Leinster to Ireland, especially with Schmidt now in charge, should be seamless. But with English, Welsh and Scottish players all bringing their own nuances to the same moves, as well as a completely new set of instructions designed to undermine Australia, there is a newness to the undertaking with Gatland.

Hitting the books and learning the moves can be a difficult process, with some players needing to walk them through on the ground.

Others are more comfortable memorising details from the page. In that Healy doesn’t erect barriers where none exist.

Learning moves
“It depends. I’m alright on learning moves,” he says. “I can sit myself down and go through a play-book. That’s the thing. There is a play-book there. We don’t have to go out and walk through each and every move. Some places don’t use a play-book and you have to do repetition to learn. These ones, we can read them, we can know where we’re supposed to be and can run it straight off.”

There still remains conflicting opinion as to whether those playing in the PRO12 and Premiership finals this weekend fall into a disadvantage or not.

Welsh flanker Dan Lydiate believes those now in camp may have the quicker start to the tour and although Healy likes to rely on performance with Leinster, coach Graham Rowntree sees enough rugby brain and ability to quickly level the playing field. A former Leicester and England loosehead prop, his area of expertise is also that of the 25-year-old.

“Given the nature and the class of those players I’m sure they’ll pick up the systems very quickly,” said Rowntree. “That’s why we’re picking them. The beauty of how we are doing things is very simple. Our calling systems are very simple with the understanding that we have got a very limited time to get things right. So, those guys will fit straight in.

“These are world-class players who are used to moving every week between club and country calling systems. They are used to that so they will pick things up very quickly and we will make sure of that. Guys will come off the back of pretty big battles and be battle-hardened and we want that. There is always the risk of injury but we would rather take that risk. I am looking forward to seeing those two games.”

The flipside is whether defeat by Ulster could travel with the Leinster players. The Ospreys win in last season’s PRO12 final hurt and despite the Heineken Cup success some players carried the disappointment through the summer. Three out of three wins for Ulster would be a bold statement.

“Leinster to lose this final would be devastating,” said Healy. “It doesn’t matter what the opposition is. Losing a final is terrible, something we don’t want to do. We’ve been working hard on our moves, where we’re supposed to be and what we’re supposed to do.

“In the last couple of years, there’s been success bred into Leinster. We want to win and continuously be the best, play the best, to have good moves and have players knowing what they’re doing.

“When that doesn’t come off, if we don’t come out of a game with the win or not playing well, that’s something that sticks.”

Gatland would approve.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/c ... -1.1403397

Examiner

Healy plays it cool as RDS finale looms large ......................
Cian Healy isn’t one for cracking under questioning.
Yesterday afternoon saw him seated in the basement of an office block in Dublin’s city centre faced by a dozen or so journalists, most of whom wanted to talk about the Lions first, last and at all points in between.

Healy didn’t. Not with Leinster facing Ulster in the PRO12 final at the RDS this Saturday hoping to complete a European/league double while erasing the memories of recent ‘domestic’ decider defeats.

The prodding came from all angles — the mobile cryotherapy chamber parked out in Carton House, the prospect of visiting Hong Kong, Australia’s reputation for sledging — but none of it came close to eliciting anything like real engagement.

Not even a theory which was given some credence by Dan Lydiate the day before, that those training under Warren Gatland’s watchful eye in Kildare this week hold an advantage over those missing, could spark a reaction.

“You think about all that when you get there. It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t pay my full attention to Leinster and try to get our hands on another cup. If I had my mind on something that’s not there yet, it wouldn’t be right.

“They have an advantage but they’re at a disadvantage of not being in another final. You can look at it from any way. We’ve a final for Leinster, we’re paying that a lot of respect. When we get into the Lions we will be complete professionals [too].”

This is the sportsman’s equivalent of revealing nothing more than name, rank and serial number when captured in wartime, but the 25-year-old volunteers a tad more when the questions zero in on Leinster.

Yet even here he is dismissive of prefabricated angles and subplots. Tame, unthreatening entreaties designed to inspire headlines about sending Schmidt, Sexton or Nacewa off with a bang are given short thrift.

So too, a query on Ulster’s lauded front row and another on what it would be like to lose to their northern neighbours for the third time in a row this season just 12 months on from comprehensively outplaying them at Twickenham.

He answers them all like we just don’t get it: it’s not about Ulster or anyone else, it is about Leinster and ensuring a run of three defeats in the last four Celtic League finals doesn’t expand into one of four from five.

“Leinster to lose this final would be devastating because we’ve lost them before,” he insists, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of the Specsavers hoodie he is wearing to promote the company’s ‘Unbreakable Friendship’ initiative.

“It doesn’t matter what the opposition is, losing a final is terrible and something we don’t want to do. We’ve been working hard on our moves, where we’re supposed to be and what we’re supposed to do, to ensure we don’t make that happen again.”

The vibes in camp have been good.

Last Friday’s Amlin Challenge Cup success was celebrated but in a curtailed manner, training has been crisp and team meetings focused, even if Healy can’t be sure who he will be packing down opposite just yet.

The word from Belfast earlier this week was that John Afoa’s hamstring would reduce him to a role off the bench. That would leave the onus on Ricky Lutton whose first start for Ulster came in the defeat of Leinster in Dublin early last month.

Lutton’s dramatic elevation to top-class provincial rugby from the ranks of the AIL has been one of the more unusual and elevating stories of the season but Healy wasn’t as taken aback as the rest of us by the quantum leap.

“He did well. He’s had a strong season, he’s scrummaging well. It’s not something you should be shocked at. If a fella is brought in, he’s been brought in for a reason. They’re not going to be bringing in someone who can’t hold up a scrum. They’ve sourced a good player, they have him in to do a job and he’s doing a good one.


“It’s happened with a lot of people. You see Leo Au’va getting called in [by Leinster] from Old Belvedere. There’s always a chance because coaches are always looking for players to come in and do a job. We do our homework on all their props and whichever one gets selected — and if I get selected — I’ll be ready for it.”

You can bet on that.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/heal ... 32079.html
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012/2013

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Thursday 23rd May................Continued

BBC

Rory Best urges Ulster players to enjoy final experience..................VIDEO
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22645700
Rory Best has urged the Ulster squad to enjoy the experience of appearing in the Pro12 final against Leinster.

"You play rugby to reach finals and to win finals but you don't want the week to pass you by without enjoying it.

"As the week goes on we will focus more narrowly on the 80 minutes but you have to enjoy everything that goes with it as you don't get too many," said Best.

"You can put too much pressure on yourself but if we perform individually and collectively we know we can win."

"Everything we have worked for all season comes down to these 80 minutes and we have the firepower to beat anyone.

"Winning some silverware has been our main aim since August and things have happened along the way which have made it even more important for us.

"Having gone through losing such a special person as Nevin (Spence) gives us added incentive, but win or lose, he will never be forgotten.

"We are going to need a performance similar to that which helped us beat Leinster at the RDS earlier this season, and maybe more. But if we turn up and perform, we can beat them."

Ulster skipper Johann Muller warns his team-mates that they are playing "a massively impressive side" and adds that "we must produce the rugby we are capable of".

"At the end of the day, you are judged on trophies and if we don't win on Saturday, it will be a massive disappointment," added the Springbok.

Wing Tommy Bowe believes it will be "a hectic game" against the Amlin Challenge Cup winners in Dublin but he believes Ulster are "fully equipped to do the business".

"We let ourselves down in the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens, we didn't turn up, but the players know how much this match means to the province.

"Naturally, everyone is a little nervous, but also excited."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22645700

Newsletter

RaboDirect final preview with Johann Muller........................VIDEO
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/video- ... -1-5124173
Ulster travel to the RDS in Dublin on Saturday to face Leinster in the Grand Final of the 2013 RaboDirect PRO12 Championship.

Leinster have lost the last three finals, but their success in Europe has been impressive winning back to back Heineken Cups and last week they lifted the Amlin Challenge Cup with a comfortable win over Stade Francais at the RDS.

Ulster lost to Leinster in last year’s Heineken Cup final and go into Saturday’s PRO12 showdown as underdogs once again in spite of having completed the double in the regular league season over their Irish rivals, which included a first win over the Blues in 13 years in Dublin.

News Letter Sports Editor and rugby correspondent, Richard Mulligan, got the views of Ulster captain, Johann Muller, ahead of this Saturday’s shoot-out.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/video- ... -1-5124173

ESPN

Ulster vow to win for Spence.............................
Ulster winger Tommy Bowe is hoping his side can honour the memory of former team-mate Nevin Spence with victory over Leinster in Saturday night's RaboDirect PRO12 final.

Spence was killed in a slurry tank accident at his family's farm in September last year - a tragedy that also claimed the life of his brother Graham and their father Noel. The death of the 22-year-old centre rocked Irish rugby and united the Ulster squad who will once again wear shirts embroidered with his initials for the showdown with the Irish rivals at the RDS.

"It was such a tragic circumstance," Bowe told the Irish Indepdendent. "I don't think anything really needs to be said about Nevin. I think the players know that he has always been in the back of our minds the whole season.

"His initials are stitched in underneath the Ulster badge on all our jerseys and we have memorials to him in different areas around the training facilities. I think he'll be looking down on us this weekend and it would be a great way to finish off the season with a bit of silverware for him."

Hooker Rory Best has also spoken of the squad's determination to end a season touched by tragedy on an upbeat note. "We have the hunger and belief and we have a couple of big causes why we want to win something this year," said Best.

"We've seen a few tributes online over the last week and it's very much there for us, as it has been all season. Tragedy is never a good thing but it can be something that can spur us on. We have to make sure when we come off the pitch we can say we gave everything and played to the best of our ability. And I believe if we can do that we'll have won the game."

Those sentiments echoed those of team-mate Nick Williams who spoke of his desire to win for Spence having recently collected IRUPA Player of the Season award - the latest honour to be bestowed on him following an outstanding season.

"We all wear Nevin's name in our hearts and on our sleeves," said the No.8. "He's like one of our angel supporters at the moment," says a visibly moved Williams. "It was such a big loss. We haven't wanted to use it or exploit it but it has always been in the back of our minds."
http://www.espn.co.uk/rabodirect-pro12- ... MP=OTC-RSS

PlanetR

Ulster to win for Spence.............................
Ulster winger Tommy Bowe admits that his side will have the late Nevin Spence at the forefront of their minds during the Rabodirect PRO12 final.

The 22-year-old Spence passed away last September in a tragic slurry tank accident that also claimed the lives of his father and brother.

Spence had become a top player for Ulster since making his debut in 2010 and was knocking on the door for national selection when his life was tragically cut short.

His death rocked Ulster and Irish rugby to its core and the Ulstermen will wear shirts embroidered with his initials when they take on Leinster in Saturday's PRO12 final.

Bowe reveals that Spence's memory very much lives on in the squad and that a victory would be a fitting tribute to the winger.

"It was such a tragic circumstance," Bowe told the Irish Indepdendent.

"I don't think anything really needs to be said about Nevin. I think the players know that he has always been in the back of our minds the whole season.

"His initials are stitched in underneath the Ulster badge on all our jerseys and we have memorials to him in different areas around the training facilities. I think he'll be looking down on us this weekend and it would be a great way to finish off the season with a bit of silverware for him."

Hooker Rory Best believes that Spence's death will serve as inspiration for Ulster.

"We have the hunger and belief and we have a couple of big causes why we want to win something this year," he said,

"We've seen a few tributes online over the last week and it's very much there for us, as it has been all season. Tragedy is never a good thing but it can be something that can spur us on. We have to make sure when we come off the pitch we can say we gave everything and played to the best of our ability. And I believe if we can do that we'll have won the game."
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 28,00.html
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012/2013

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Great stuff from Rory >appl :red: :fleg:
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012/2013

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Friday 24th May 2013

Tele

Let's show that Ulster are number one team now, blasts Best.......................
As always, there is precious little flannelling when Rory Best is facing you.

He has brought with him a typically direct message regarding Ulster's need to get their hands on silverware in Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 final against Leinster at the RDS.

And this is forcefully hammered home even though it's hard not to be distracted by the still angry looking bang above his left eye picked up a fortnight ago against the Scarlets.

"We're sick of saying we're building and talking about how close we are, we want to emulate what Leinster have done and we want to emulate what Munster did before that," he said.

"We have to make sure it's not all for nothing," stated Best, alluding to the second consecutive year that Ulster have reached a showpiece final, with last year's Heineken Cup experience having ended rather badly for them.

That was, of course, also against Leinster who now stand in Ulster's path as Best and his team-mates attempt to bring a trophy back to Ravenhill for the first time since the dramatically clinched Celtic League success of 2006, a game in which Best played.

And with Leinster having lifted the Amlin Challenge Cup last weekend – a third European trophy in Joe Schmidt's three years in charge after two Heineken Cup victories – the men in blue appear determined to send the coach on his way to the Ireland job on the back of an elusive European and PRO12 double.

Best doesn't try to deny that Leinster have impressive pedigree and lethal form when it comes to delivering at the business end of the season but for all that, he feels Ulster have more than a chink of light when it comes to their chances this time around.

After all, they have already beaten Schmidt's men twice in the PRO12 – the first victory in Dublin since 1999 causing much celebration back in March – while Leinster have also lost the last three finals with two of those defeats actually coming at the RDS.

"Yes, there was a fairly substantial gap between the two teams last year and we have shown this year that the gap is closing," said the 30-year-old who will lead Ireland's two-Test tour to North America next month.

"Leinster have shown their quality. They were impressive (in beating Stade Francais to lift the Amlin) which is a sign of the strength of squad they have, particularly as they can tinker a little bit to put out a so-called slightly weaker team and everyone is still able to hit a certain level.

"But it was still a big achievement for us to win in the RDS and we know it will take an unbelievable effort again, but the one thing we are taking a lot of solace from is that it's going to be a 50/50 split of fans.

"We know our travelling fans will take up our allocation and will make their fair share of noise.

"We have the hunger and belief and we have a couple of big causes why we want to win something this year," said the hooker, who will make his 143rd appearance for Ulster on Saturday night.

He then alludes to the tragic loss of Ulster's Nevin Spence last September.

"We've seen tributes online over the last week and it's very much there for us as it has been all season. Tragedy is never a good thing but it can be something that can spur us on," he said.

And with that comes another of those direct statements.

He said: "We have to make sure when we come off the pitch on Saturday we can look each other in the eye and say we gave everything and played to the best of our ability. And I believe if we can do that we'll have won the game."
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 90186.html

Who wins the duels across the pitch will decide final destination of pro12 crown......................
THEY know each other inside-out as a result of having squared up so often in the past. As well as having gone head to head on such a regular basis, most of the protagonists are Irish training camp regulars. In addition, many of them have been Test match colleagues.

Given those circumstances it is improbable that either will be able to catch the other out. So with the element of surprise removed from the equation it is going to boil down to who plays the better chess on the day.

At this level, securing set-piece possession on their own put-in/throw-in ought to be a given. That being the case it then hinges on who wins the battle at the breakdown, produces more go-forward ball, outdoes his opposite number in the personal match-ups, maintains discipline, bags chances and plays with greater intensity for the full 80 minutes.

So let's examine the various components: front five forwards, back rows, halves, midfield, back three, the benches and the coaches.

FRONT FIVE

If both are at full strength the front row showdown will see Ulster's Tom Court, Rory Best and John Afoa packing down against Leinster's Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss or Sean Cronin and Mike Ross. Bar former All Black and 2011 World Cup winner, Afoa, each of the others is an Ireland international.

Move back one division and it's Johann Muller and Dan Tuohy versus Leo Cullen and Devin Toner or South African Quinn Roux, the only uncapped player of the five. Opposing captains Muller and Cullen are vastly experienced big-match performers.

There is little to choose between those two units, though last time out against Leinster the Ulster scrum was particularly good – and that was on a night when Afoa was absent.

BACK ROWS

ROBBIE Diack has had a tremendous season, winning the Belfast Telegraph Most Improved Player Award and a place in Ireland's Development Squad. And when Iain Henderson has lined out at blindside, he has excelled, too, witness a Heineken Cup tackle count of 62 out of 66.

At seven, Chris Henry's solitary miss in 78 attempted tackles this season's Heineken Cup made him that tournament's most dependable hitman.

Nick Williams? PRO12 Player of the Season and IRUP's Player of the Year. Enough said.

But Leinster have a pair of Lions in Jamie Heaslip and hopefully-fit Sean O'Brien, with Ireland-capped duo Shane Jennings and Rhys Ruddock, plus promising Jordi Murphy, all vying for inclusion.

The winners of this battle win the war for their side.

HALF-BACKS

ULSTER have superiority at nine, Leinster hold the ace card at 10.

Ruan Pienaar is one of the best – if not the best – scrum-halves in the world. Blessed with a full repertoire of the skills required for this pivotal role, he can pass off either hand, box kick better than anybody in the game, thereby keeping his team going forward and the opposition guessing, break or create something from nothing.

Ask Andrew Trimble who availed of Pienaar's sublime back-hand pass to score that try against Connacht.

Isaac Boss is not in the same class. Paddy Jackson is learning a lot, very quickly, but Leinster will target him. And Jonny Sexton – making his final appearance before joining Racing Metro – is lethal.

MIDFIELD

IN Leinster's case it boils down to who is available. Back spasm or nay, I would wager my house on Brian O'Driscoll wearing 13 before jetting off with the Lions once more. But who will partner him? Ian Madigan looks the best bet to get the nod to don number 12.

The Stuart Olding success story appears to have a fresh chapter added on an almost daily basis with this week's salient facts being a call-up to Ireland's senior squad followed by a PRO12 final outing at inside-centre. Not bad for a boy not quite two years out of school.

Darren Cave has spent his entire career in O'Driscoll's shadow. What a great stage on which to try to match the master.

BACK THREE

TOMMY Bowe is PRO12's most prolific try-scorer of all time, Andrew Trimble has notched up a personal best one dozen touch-downs this campaign and Jared Payne's all-round form in 2012/13 has been quite outstanding. Bowe and Trimble are Irish internationals; 15 months hence, New Zealander Payne will be.

Leinster have Rob Kearney – ERC Player of the Year in 2012 and, like Bowe, a Lion in 2009 who has been retained for the trip to Australia – Isa Nacewa for whom this is his final match in what has been a quite brilliant career in the Dubliners' blue, plus AN Other with Fergus McFadden, Andrew Conway and Dave Kearney the candidates.

These are the finishers their colleagues will aim to supply. Who among them wants it more?

THE BENCHES

While Ulster beat Munster at Thomond Park in the 2012 Heineken Cup quarter-final without deploying a single replacement, that was an exception; the days when rugby was a 15 versus 15-man game are gone. Now it's 23 v 23, with the quality and timing of the substitutions as important as the composition of the starters.

For years we have marvelled at Leinster's strength in depth and the calibre of those they have been able to introduce from the bench.

But now Ulster are able to do that, too, with Mark Anscombe giving ample meaningful game-time to all of his squad, a point he underlined eight weeks ago at the RDS by sending five fresh faces into the heat of the battle. They were not found wanting. Significant.

THE COACHES

TWO New Zealanders whose sides finished first and second in the PRO12 table before winning their respective semi-finals en route to this.

Ulster's Mark Anscombe – who sent Leinster's Joe Schmidt a text congratulating him on his appointment as Ireland's head coach – knows that with this being his rival's final game in charge, he will be fired up to leave on a high. The Leinster players, too, will seek to give their much-loved boss an unprecedented Amlin Cup-PRO12 double as a going-away present.

But the man nicknamed Cowboy has spent his first season with Ulster proving that he can shoot down opponents and win with the panache of a cavalry charge. Be warned, Dead Eye Joe – he may send texts but he doesn't take prisoners.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 90254.html

Newsletter

Ulster have bridged gap with Leinster and now have to prove it, says Andrew Trimble...............
Ireland winger is hoping Ulster can put the pain of last season’s Heineken Cup defeat to Leinster behind them but gaining revenge in the PRO12 final at the RDS.

“We were gutted, it is just one of those things when you put yourself in that position you’d love to win.

“I think we have come a long way from last year and I just don’t think we were good enough, Leinster were too good and there was too big a gap.

“We have shown this year that we can bridge that gap,” said Trimble.

“We still have an enormous amount of healthy respect for Leinster and we know what it is going to take.”

Ulster completed a league double over Leinster with a nail biting win in March and Trimble feels the games this season have more relevance than last May’s encounter at Twickenham.

“I think the lessons we learned that are more applicable are the lessons from playing Leinster this season, Ravenhill at Christmas and the RDS in March, it took every single bit of what we had to get the win and we just got over the line, you can see how sides like Glasgow who produced two massive performances against them in the league and the playoff game and it just wasn’t enough.”

“Even Stade were a little bit disorganised at times but they had quite a lot of ball and made a few opportunities but they were clinical were Leinster are the opposite whatever amount of ball they get they score tries and we are going to have to be very clinical on Saturday.”

Trimble feels the effort Ulster put in to win at the RDS affected the performance against Saracens a week later but thinks the few days in Enniskillen in the build up had no relation to the result.

“If we hadn’t of beat Leinster it would have been hard getting up for Saracens but it definitely took a lot out of us and it was an 87 minute performance and it took everything we had and I think that is a key lesson we can take into the weekend is that we can’t play for 50 or 60 minutes like we have done the last few weeks, we have to go out and produce a massive performance and take on opportunities.”

“If we’d have beaten Saracens then we would have been in Enniskillen ever week, there are a lot more factors than Enniskillen, it was nice to get down with all the boys together, it’s definitely good for the team, we did the same thing for the final last year we went to Brown’s in Portugal and I remember after that feeling we were going to beat Leinster in the final then it didn’t work out but it’s hard to know what’s good for your head or your preparation.”

Trimble knows where the game will be won and lost.

“Our defence is what we pride ourselves on and in the big games it is usually your defence that wins or loses the game for you, the same is true for them their defence is very difficult to break down and you have to take them through a lot of phases than you think, you just have to grind them out and get over the line eventually, it could take 10 to 15 phases but you just have to be prepared to do that.”
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby ... -1-5125716

Examiner

Missing team-mate Spence never far from Bowe’s mind.....................
Ulster’s Tommy Bowe says Nevin Spence will be on his team-mates’ minds when they take to the RDS tomorrow evening to face Leinster.
Bowe, the only Ulster player assembling with the Lions next Monday, got to know the young Ireland Wolfhounds centre very well on his return from the Ospreys and his tragic death last September alongside his brother Graham and father Noel has had a lasting effect on the players.

“It was such a tragic circumstance,” said Bowe. “I don’t think anything really needs to be said about Nevin. I think the players know that he has always been in the back of our minds right through the whole season.

“His initials are stitched in underneath the Ulster badge on all our jerseys and we have memorials to him in different areas around our training facilities.

“He will be looking down on us this weekend, and it would be a great way to finish off the season with a bit of silverware for him,” said Bowe, who along with fellow Ireland winger Andrew Trimble had been studying at Hibernia College and sat their final management examinations last Monday.

“I suppose we really hadn’t time to think too much about the game with the pressure of our finals. It has taken our minds off it for the last while, which as been good.

“But we are now fully focused on that and you can see there’s a lot of excitement around the squad. Maybe a bit of nervous energy, which I think is exactly what you want going into such a big game.

“It’s a difficult proposition. Everybody knows that to beat Leinster anywhere is tough but to beat them in their own back yard is going to be extremely difficult,” said Bowe.

Having already beaten Leinster twice this season, including at the RDS back in March, Bowe believes Ulster have the where-with-all to claim some silverware.

“We had a bit of a dip in the middle of the season, but we’re back, feeling confident, playing some good rugby and looking dangerous. I don’t think we could be in a better way going into this match.

“We know it’s going to be a very difficult proposition for us, but I think that we’ve played some great rugby. If we can play for a full 80 minutes — we’ve maybe taken our foot off the gas in the past couple of weeks — it’s going to come down to a one-score match. But it’s a final and anything can happen.”
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/miss ... 32248.html

Rugby365

Preview: Pro12 Final ...................
After 22 rounds and two play-off games, the 2012/13 Pro12 season wraps up on Saturday with the Final at the Royal Dublin Society.

It is, appropriately, between first and second seeds, Ulster and Leinster.

European Challenge Cup holders Leinster have made it through to their fourth straight Pro12 Final, but have yet to win one - although they were champions in the inaugural season, 2001/02 and again in 2007/08.

For Ulster it will be the first opportunity to compete for the title through a play-off, having last taken the crown in 2006.

Tommy Bowe believes Ulster couldn't ask to be in a better place ahead of the Final.

The Ireland wing is hoping to mark his return to Ulster this season in style as he takes to the RDS field on Saturday to tackle Leinster in their own back yard.

This might seem like a daunting task but Bowe has previous against the province, having scored a try against them for the Ospreys in the competition's first-ever play-off at the RDS back in 2010 - ruining then-coach Michael Cheika's final game in charge.

Last year Bowe was a spectator as Ospreys upstaged Leinster in the Final at the same venue and the 29-year-old is hoping for more of the same this time around in Ulster colours.

"It's a difficult proposition; everybody knows that to beat Leinster anywhere is tough but to beat them in their own back yard is going to be extremely difficult," Bowe told the Belfast Telegraph.

"But Ulster have played some great rugby this year. We had a bit of a dip in the middle of the season, but we're back, feeling confident, playing some good rugby and looking dangerous.

"I don't think we could be in a better way going into this match."

In the three previous play-off finals the top seeds have become champions just once, when Munster defeated Leinster 19-9 at Thomond Park in 2011.

In the other two finals, both held at the RDS, that season's top seeds Leinster were defeated by the second placed team, Ospreys.

No team that finished lower than second in the table during the regular season has ever lifted the title.

Ulster, who finished on top of the Pro12 table this season, attempt to become only the second number one seed to win the play-off Final after Munster in 2010/11.

The Ulstermen have won their last five Pro12 fixtures since their 8-14 reversal at Edinburgh on 22 March.

Ulster have won two of the three previous finals they have contested in all competitions, one of those being played in Dublin - the 1999 European Cup Final at the old Lansdowne Road beating Colomiers 21-6.

Ulster are aiming for a second PRO12 crown, the previous one being gained in 2005/06, before the introduction of the play-offs.

Leinster became only the second PRO12 side to win the European Challenge Cup after Cardiff Blues in 2009/10 when they beat Stade Francais at the RDS on Friday.

The Leinstermen's only loss in their last 17 encounters in all tournaments since 21 December was 18-22 to Ulster at the RDS in the Pro12 on 30 March.

This is Leinster's fourth successive PRO12 Final, but they are yet to actually win one. This is in marked contrast to their form in ERC finals where they have a played four, won four record!

Leinster have lost just once at the RDS in any tournament this season, to Ulster in round 19 of the PRO12.

Ulster achieved a league double over Leinster for the first time this season, including a first ever victory at the RDS.

Leinster, however, won the only previous Final the two have contested: 42-14 in at last season's European Cup Final at Twickenham.

In the event of a tie:
In the event of a tie at full time in a Pro12 Final then extra-time will be played, consisting of two periods, each of 10 minutes. If the score is still tied after extra-time, the Team that has scored the most tries in the match will be deemed the winner. If the Teams are still tied on points and tries at the end of extra-time then the winner will be determined by a Place Kick Competition. In the event that a Place Kick Competition is required, each Team will nominate three goal kickers who will take six place kicks between them from different positions along the twenty-two metre and ten metre lines. The Team with the most place kicks scored will be the winner. If the Teams are tied at the end of their six kicks, then sudden death will apply. Only players in the playing area at the final whistle of extra-time may be nominated for the Place Kick Competition. No substituted players or players who have been shown a red card may take part at any time including any player who has received a yellow card and who remains in the sin bin at the time of the final whistle of extra-time.

Players to watch:

For Leinster: Their British and Irish Lions tour contingent will obviously run the risk of injury and may hold back - the likes of fullback Rob Kearney, centre Brian O'Driscoll, flyhalf Jonathan Sexton, prop Cian Healy, as well as back row forwards Jamie Heaslip and Sean O'Brien.

For Ulster: It all starts with their South African contingent - captain Johann Muller, veteran Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, who may well earn himself a recall to SA's national team, and loose forward Robbie Diack. There is powerful wing Tommy Bowe, who is the only Ulster representative in the British and Irish Lions squad, while hooker Rory Best may want to make a statement after missing out on selection for the Lions' tour squad to Australia.

Head to head: There is still a late fitness test to come, but if Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster) is clear to play he can expect a stern test from Darren Cave (Ulster). However, the most exciting showdown may well be at flyhalf, where Lions tourist Johnny Sexton (Leinster) will come up against Paddy Jackson (Ulster) in a battle that will crucial to the outcome of the game. Ireland hookers Richard Strauss (Leinster) and Rory Best (Ulster) could also produce some fireworks.

Recent results:
2011: Leinster won 34-26, RDS
2011: Leinster won 42-13, RDS
2011: Leinster won 18-3, RDS (semifinal)
2012: Leinster won 16-8, (Ravenhill
2012: Ulster won 27-19, Ravenhill
2013: Ulster won 22-18, RDS

Prediction: There is not much to choose between the two sides and even Irish bookmakers are having a tough time separating them. Home ground advantage could have an influence, but Ulster's South African contingent may have more motivation than Leinster's Lions clan - who may want to avoid injury and as a result miss out on the tour. We feel Ulster will sneak the Final, by less than 10 points.

Teams:

Leinster: TBC

Ulster: TBC

Date: Saturday, May 25
Venue: RDS, Dublin
Kick-off: 16.45 (15.45 GMT)
Expected weather: Light rain expected on Saturday night, so it may well be a 'dry' match. High of 15°C, low of 10°C
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: George Clancy, Peter Fitzgibbon (both Ireland)
TMO: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)
http://www.rugby365.com/article/54078-p ... ro12-final

Harpin'

Finals Saturday promises plenty................
The midfield battle could prove key at the RDS on Saturday, writes Ryan Cullen
The British and Irish season comes to an end this weekend with two games of genuine unpredictability and intrigue. The combatants in the game at the RDS were considerably more predictable than the one due to take place at Twickenham, yet all results still seem possible given the quality of semi-final performances we witnessed from all four clubs. The nerves that come with playing in finals will certainly play their part as well.

We witnessed just how affecting those ‘inner demons’ can be to those afflicted by them at the Aviva on Saturday. To be plain, Clermont should be European champions. In a game which was always likely to be tight, Clermont controlled the shape of the game, played with greater fluidity and dominated both possession and territory. They also established what seemed to be a solid lead with a quick double score after half time, at which point it was difficult to see how Toulon would get themselves back into the game.

Toulon, though, are a high quality team themselves and although there was an element of fortune regarding the decisive score by the classless Delon Armitage, their defence in the last 15 minutes was outstanding. Any team that wins the H Cup ultimately deserves it but there was an element of sadness about the men from the Auvergne getting so close and failing. Beware the rest of Europe next year I think.

At Twickenham on Saturday we will see an East Midlands clash that not many would have predicted two weeks ago let alone two months ago. Leicester’s presence is far from a surprise of course. The Welford Road outfit has become the byword for English rugby consistency and justifiably go into the weekend’s decider as strong favourites. Their routing of Northampton at Franklins Gardens in March also suggests they will have too much for Jim Mallinder’s men.

Northampton, though, are considerably improved since the teams’ last encounter. Their set piece is once again strong enough to compete at the top level whilst their rolling maul is again a thing of ferocious beauty. Whilst their backline doesn’t quite pose the same threat as the pack, it may not have to for Northampton to become champions. As we have seen in the past, finals are often tight, forward orientated contests and if Northampton can outmuscle Leicester up front they may just be able to get their hands on the Premiership trophy.

That said, I still wouldn’t back against Leicester this weekend. Whilst I don’t think the gap between the sides is as big as some would have you believe, Leicester are a much better balanced side and I would be surprised if they aren’t crowned champions. It would certainly be deserved.

The game at the RDS on Saturday evening is certainly a much more difficult game to call than the one in London. Leinster go into the game boosted by securing another European trophy. Whilst the Amlin competition is undoubtedly the poor relation of the H Cup, a trophy and winners medal is still a pleasant fillip for any player heading into an important game.

To fill the club’s trophy cabinet further, though, it’s hard to think Leinster won’t have to improve. The performance against a plucky but limited Stade Français was an exercise in clinical efficiency, seizing upon the Parisian’s numerous mistakes to move out of sight by half time. Ulster will be a much greater challenge one would think.

The return of Brian O’Driscoll and several other front-liners suggests that Leinster will certainly be capable of rising to that challenge though. As we have seen over the past few seasons, there are few clubs more capable of preparing themselves mentally for big games than Leinster. They have the knack of winning finals and know that there will be still be an element of nervousness amongst the Ulster players following last season’s H Cup final, despite Ulster’s two league victories over the Dubliners this season.

It is unfortunate for Ulster that the best option for a stadium switch just happened to be the home ground of their final opponents. Ravenhill is a genuine rugby fortress these days and has a special atmosphere which lifts the players that extra 5%. Giving that up certainly isn’t ideal but Ulster’s progress this season suggests they are still fully capable of travelling to Dublin and taking the trophy. The 50/50 ticket split will certainly help there as well.

After a packed season, the fortnight break will have been a welcome one for Ulster’s players. That it has allowed John Afoa enough time to get back to something approaching full fitness is another major boost. Ulster is likely to try and pressurize Leinster up front and the Kiwi will be key to that effort.

The midfield battle is likely to be where the game is won and lost though. Whilst the likes of Stuart Olding and Paddy Jackson have come on leaps and bounds this season, this is undoubtedly their biggest challenge of the year. Taking on the Lions out half Jonathan Sexton, the living legend Brian O’Driscoll and the Leinster wunderkind Ian Madigan would prove a test for any midfield, never mind a young, inexperienced trio. But Mark Anscombe believes in them and that has been quite a recommendation so far this year.

Elsewhere, the battle between Jamie Heaslip and Nick Williams is mouth-watering, whilst Rob Kearney’s battle with Jared Payne should be a terrific guide to the future international potential of the former Auckland Blue. In truth, all the ingredients are there for a terrific final to cap the best year of Pro12 rugby we have seen to date.

The biggest question, of course, is who will be spraying the champagne come 7 o’clock on Saturday evening? Realistically all results are possible given the quality of both sides. Although Leinster are justified favourites, I suspect the Ulstermen will just edge this one.

Spurred on by a dearth of silverware in recent years and the humbling defeat in last season’s H Cup final, I believe the men from Ravenhill will produce a performance akin to their effort at Franklins Gardens earlier in the season which will get them over the line. Set piece will be crucial and as long as the Ulster pack keeps their composure I think they may just bring the Celtic League title back to Belfast for the second time.

P.S. Having seen the seedings for the H Cup next year, it looks like being the best most competitive year of the competition ever! All four groups contain teams of genuine quality which bodes well for fans. Here’s hoping some heads can be knocked together over the summer and the risk to the crown jewel of club rugby disappears.
http://harpin2.blogspot.ie/2013/05/fina ... lenty.html

:compress: TheFlipSide >skull :mexican:

Times

Brian O’Driscoll fit and ready to face Ulster in Pro12 final ..........................
Lessons of defeat to Ospreys last year add to Leinster motivation
Nothing can wipe the assured expression from the face of Brian O’Driscoll today, although there is one question. Brian, after next year . . . have you thought about another year after that? Yesterday’s conversation in Belfield at least steered the conversation away from the Seán O’Brien “wounded knee” affair that rumbles on.

O’Driscoll, though, is good. He’s fine. He’s fit and ready to go. Richardt Strauss and Fergus McFadden are too. They’ve shrugged off their ailments in a day of Leinster optimism and for the centre another day of clarity about the future, his body, his career and the one more year after next.

“You get sick of answering the same questions, you get sick of your own voice and I’d say you people were getting sick of hearing the same answers,” he said. “I really can’t get into another year of speculation of will it be one more. I’m saying it’s one more year and that’s it.”

It seems churlish to pique O’Driscoll as he faces into a possible fourth final defeat (Munster and Ospreys twice) or a victorious double of Challenge Cup and League. The back spasm issue has been resolved and he looks forward to meeting one of the few teams that arrive to Dublin with bragging rights.

More hard-bitten caution in his voice than apprehension, he sees Ulster as deserving league toppers with tomorrow’s outing in the RDS one that will turn on small margins or moments in the game.

Familiarity and taut nerves will see to that. Ulster may not have the bravado or flourish of Leinster but twice this season they have discovered how to bring hurt to Dublin.

“They’ve gotten better,” said O’Driscoll. “They brought in a couple of big performers. Nick Williams has been a revelation for them. Tommy (Bowe) coming back has just given them that extra dimension. Jared Payne at 15 has been phenomenal.

“They probably could have had a few guys in the running for Rabo Player of the Year. Their consistency has shown they deserve to be top of the pile at the end of the regular season, before knockout.”

Spirit good
The spirit in the Leinster camp has been good this week although there has been less time spent with “on feet” sessions after a long season and last week’s win over Stade Francais. But the 34-year-old breaks into a wry smile lest anyone should confuse high spirits with party mood. He puts it to bed quite like the two more years suggestion.

“The spirits are high but we won’t rely on high spirits to win this game. It will be sleeves up,” he says. “Clarity is what we need. That is going to win us or lose us the game.”

Understanding that the precedents are almost overwhelming and knowing that two finals in quick succession brings a particular dynamic, this is a week that Leinster are showing respect. Looking back at the final phase last year that cost the match and Leinster seemed uncharacteristically limp when the time came to grab victory.

Hangs in air
The bald facts recalled and O’Driscoll’s sense of professional pride bristles as the impression that Leinster may have blown it still hangs in the air. It was costly alright and as Ulster will look to the areas that allowed them win twice, Leinster hope there are dividends to be taken from a final defeat 12 months ago.

“It was the manner in which we lost the game. We were in control of it,” he explained. “We were nine points up with eight minutes to play and you should usually have the ability to see out those sorts of games.

“So we lacked the ability to close it out. It was sickening the manner in which it happened and took the shine off our (Heineken Cup) victory the previous week. I wouldn’t say it stayed with me for the year or that it haunts me but I look back on it as one that got away.”

On a personal level he is hoping the well-worn trade-off will work and freshness will compensate for his recent lack of game time.

“I played three games in a row. Then I benched for a game, the idea being that I’d hopefully have three games in the run-in. But I’ve only had 12 minutes so it’s been frustrating,” he says.

Maybe no bad thing.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/b ... -1.1404776

Seán O’Brien won’t take risks with injury to play in Pro 12 decider against Ulster.......................
Flanker wants to play but knows he could jeopardise his Lions prospects
“You smash buses, taxis and you smash people who come towards you,” explained Seán O’Brien. That’s a bit like rugby then? “Yeah very like playing a game,” he said.

It’s what we’ve come to know and love about the Irish flanker. His part in a new mobile game Street Rugby allows people to control him as he tackles his way around the streets of Dublin.

It’s a fitting metaphor for O’Brien’s rampaging style and selfless physical contribution to all things Leinster, although yesterday his capacity for the hard yards remained doubtfully in the balance.

O’Brien will know this morning if he can play tomorrow. If he does Lions coach Warren Gatland was given the biggest bum steer this side of Alice Springs when he said his Irish pick should be fit for the second or third game of the tour.

Still, O’Brien’s mood is buoyant and the tour, which shakes off all the other distractions on Monday when the Lions fly out to Hong Kong, opens up a summer of opportunity.

‘Going to be tight’
“It’s going to be tight. That’s being honest,” he said. “At the start of the week it (knee) was looking a little bit dodgy but then come Monday evening I was feeling very good again, I was feeling loose. I suppose if the next 24 hours are really good it will be touch and go I think.

“The fact is if I get another slap on the same spot where the bone bruising is it might hinder my chances of playing in the first couple of games on tour. That’s the risk and the danger. They’re going to assess it again tomorrow and see what happens.”

The decision will not be taken by the flanker. The fact it is a final tomorrow is a guiding imperative to the medical team, but caution often rules especially with the chance of O’Brien breaking down during the game and also ruling himself out of the Lions in a worst-case scenario.

“If I’m fit, I’ll play. If I’m not . . . there won’t be a risk taken, I’ll put it to you that way,” he said. “There’s no point in taking a risk at this stage. It will be touch and go.

“If it wasn’t for the Lions I’d probably just chance it because if anything did happen I’d have the rest of the summer to heal up. It’s a massive day for the club. It’s very important. That’s the thing that’s killing me the most, not knowing what way it will be and whether to chance it or not.”

It was a simple collision of two knees that caused the problem, although, when it happened first thoughts turned to his calf muscle, which had been a problem.

In a Leinster context, O’Brien is the only concern management have outside the long-term list of injuries, with back Fergus McFadden and hooker Richardt Strauss both expected to be available for Joe Schmidt in his last Leinster outing.

“That’s all it was, a freak thing,” O’Brien said with finality. “This is a fresh injury. I don’t pass the fitness in the morning then no big deal.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/s ... -1.1404585

Tele

Leinster's Healy has final focus.......................
Cian Healy may not choose to reside in the past but it is impossible for the past not to inhabit him.

Muscle memories course the onward march of every sportsman; Ireland's loose-head prop, and the most outstanding candidate to start for the Lions this summer, is no different.

Of the many stirring images during one of Irish international rugby's most inspiring evenings of recent times, that involving Healy (pictured) despatching Quade Cooper into another postcode with a thunderous tackle was particularly visceral.

Ultimately, that famous November 2011 night in Auckland proved to have little relevance to the rest of Ireland's World Cup campaign or, indeed, the remainder of Declan Kidney's tenure as an international coach.

Healy, man of the match that day, also attempts to strip the enormity of that occasion of all significance.

"It was great," he recalls. "It was nice to get it at a game of that level but look, that's a long time ago and I'm not going to go back to that looking for any inspiration.

"Anything that is ahead with Lions stuff is going to be a new experience and that's how I will treat it. I won't look for any inspiration from what we have done with Ireland. It's going to be set out to do something new."

While Cian Healy may be more comfortable publicly expressing his emotions via the medium of either a ball or a paintbrush, even he cannot fail to be moved by the prestige of a Lions call-up.

"Yeah, it's great," he says. "It's something I enjoyed. I was happy with my family and I enjoyed the whole selection process.

"But it's something I'd parked because I'd a few games in between that selection and getting on the plane.

"So I've kind of come to a realisation that anything can come to happen to you in those games. If you took a knock that could be that. And if I'd built myself up to be in some proud kind of thing with so much history and ended up not going that would be a big let down.

"So I've held off on the emotional side of things until I've become fully involved."

That involvement has been delayed, albeit he has good reason to be bunking off, as he commits to the second-half of Leinster's unprecedented double trophy tilt.

Hence, he has avoided one of Gatland's favourite fads, the cryotherapy chamber, within which players spend 30 seconds in a holding chamber at -70°C, before entering a second chamber for two minutes and 30 seconds at -130°C, all in the cause of preventing muscle damage after exercise.

"It's grand, it's not that bad," says Healy, who has taken the plunge a couple of times in his Leinster career.

"It's not as cold as it sounds."

Playing for the Lions will represent a stark contrast in temperature; Healy, at 25 and with 39 caps behind him, not to mention a hat-trick of Heineken Cups, is primed for such a challenge.

However, Gatland has maintained that those players who have been detained on club duty could hamper their chances of being in that first test starting XV at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on June 22nd.

Healy, who has only had the briefest of engagements with his fellow Lions until now – he admits he hasn't even seen their play-book – isn't too unnerved.

"No, I'll do that after the next game," he says, assessing the appropriate time to worry about the responsibilities of wearing a red jersey. For now, filling the blue of Leinster is paramount as they prepare to tackle Ulster in Saturday's RaboDirect Pro12 final.

"It wouldn't be right if I didn't pay my full attention to Leinster and trying to get our hands on another cup. If I had my mind on something that's not there yet it wouldn't be right.

"The players who are already in the Lions may have an advantage but they're at a disadvantage of not being in another final. You can look at it from any way.

"We're in a final for Leinster, we're paying that a lot of respect. When we get into Lions we will be complete professionals, we'll be sitting down, learning the moves and be up to scratch come training time and that's that."

That familiarisation process – albeit Gatland and his assistants have necessarily restricted how elaborate their calls will be – should be relatively fluid, especially given northern hemisphere players are so familiar with the staccato nature of a season that regularly flits between the provincial and international.

"That depends from person to person," admits Healy.

"I'm alright on learning moves. I can sit myself down and go through a play-book. That's the thing, there is a play-book there.

"We don't have to go out and walk through each and every move. Some places don't use a play-book and you have to do repetition to learn. "These ones, we can read them, we can know where we're supposed to be and can run it straight off."

Healy will be prepared; just as he will be this Saturday in the RDS, regardless of whether it is John Afoa, Declan Fitzpatrick or Ricky Lutton packing down opposite him.

Andrew Trimble has declared that beating Leinster three times would be an awesome achievement; asked to flip that feeling should another league final go begging, Healy is forthright.

"For Leinster to lose this final would be devastating because we've lost those finals before. It doesn't matter what the opposition is. Losing a final is terrible and something we don't want to do. That's something that sticks."

Losing this Saturday is a memory he dare not contemplate for one moment.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 90187.html

Indo

O'Brien caught in injury dilemma as clock ticks down on Ulster collision..................
A VIRTUAL Sean O'Brien is up on a big screen boshing buses and side-stepping taxis, but down below the real deal admits he is losing his battle to face Ulster this weekend.

The 'Tullow Tank' may have his own video game, but he is experiencing some mechanical issues after clashing knees with a Stade Francais player in last week's Amlin Challenge Cup final.

His condition caused mixed messages to flow out of the Leinster and Lions camps – "a communication breakdown" according to himself – with Warren Gatland fretting over his Test availability and Leinster marking him as a mere doubt for tomorrow's Pro12 final against Ulster.

After a week of physical assessments, the final call will be made this morning and his Lions prospects are a factor in the decision. If he was facing holidays he'd play, but the tour is looming and he is loath to ruin his chances before the plane departs for Hong Kong.

"It's going to be tight," he said. "At the start of the week it was looking dodgy but then on Monday evening, I was feeling good again.

"If I get another slap on the same spot where the bruising is it might hinder my chances of playing in the first couple of games on tour. That's the risk. They're going to assess it and see what happens. If it wasn't for the Lions I'd probably just chance it because if anything did happen I'd have the rest of the summer to heal up.

"That's the thing that's killing me the most, not knowing what way it will be and whether to chance it or not."

Apart from his visits to Carton House to be looked at by the Lions medical team, O'Brien has had limited interaction with the touring squad.

He and the Leinster players dropped into Jamie Heaslip's restaurant on Wednesday night, but left before the craic really started. They fly to Hong Kong on Sunday with plenty of catching up to do.

"We went in for dinner and left the lads at it. We definitely didn't go to Coppers anyway," he smiled.

"Jamie and all the staff looked after us. It was good to see everyone there and there was a buzz in around the camp and it is up to us, the lads who are coming in next to get up to speed.


"The other lads have had two weeks now to get used to it, the structures and gameplan, the line-out calls."

Ahead of the global attention of the Lions comes the more parochial clash with Ulster whose '#OurDS' promotional film has ruffled feathers around Leinster way.

By nominating the RDS as their home venue, the northerners were laying down a marker and tomorrow's nominal away side are not impressed.

"They might be laying down a marker in their own heads, do you know what I mean?" O'Brien said at the launch of the mobile game 'Street Rugby'. "It's not their home ground, it's our home ground. Whatever they think about it themselves, fair play to them.

"We want the opposition to respect us there. I wouldn't read too much into it, but whatever they want to do, whatever motivation they want to give themselves, they can do. We'll look after our own stuff. I'm sure it'll be a cracking game and neither side will give an inch."

Whatever happens, O'Brien reckons Leinster won't experience the same post-European hangover that has affected their Pro12 final efforts in recent years.

"We probably didn't prepare as best we could. A Heineken final takes more out of you anyway than an Amlin, to be honest," he said.

"Lads could say they were fatigued in previous years, I certainly was against Munster two years ago down there – I was strolling around the place, I could not get moving or get the energy.

"It definitely makes a big difference, a home crowd will help and everyone will want to give Joe (Schmidt), Jonny (Sexton) and Isa (Nacewa) a big send-off."
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/o ... 92644.html

Examiner

O’Brien: I may be stuck on the bench.......................
Sean O’Brien yesterday launched a game for mobile phones which involves him storming through the streets of Dublin and sending any taxis and buses unfortunate enough to be in his path flying like skittles.

The idea to use O’Brien for the Street Rugby app was hardly a reach with a man whose nickname is the Tullow Tank and yet the Leinster and Ireland flanker is a good deal more delicate than his virtual alter ego would suggest.

He picked up bad bruising on a knee during last week’s Amlin Challenge Cup final defeat of Stade Francais and won’t know for sure if he can play tomorrow’s RaboDirect Pro12 decider against Ulster until a run-through at the RDS this morning.

Were this any other year, he would risk the joint regardless. But this is no ordinary year. A ticket to Hong Kong, paid for by the British and Irish Lions, awaits him on Sunday and he admits another bang on the sore spot could leave his tour in ruins.

“It’s going to be tight,” he said of tomorrow’s game. “That’s being honest. At the start of the week it was looking a little bit dodgy but then, come Monday evening, I was feeling very good again. I was feeling loose. If the next 24 hours are really good, it will be touch and go, I think.

“The fact is if I get another slap on the same spot where the bone bruising is it might hinder my chances of playing in the first couple of games on tour. That’s the risk and the danger. They’re going to assess it again [today] and see what happens.”

Adding to the frustration is the fact he feels fine. There is no pain, no jarring when he walks, but he knows players who have been out for months with bruised bones and even the most innocuous bang could send him to the casualty ward for six to seven weeks.

At this stage, it will be a shock if O’Brien suits up against Ulster. Leinster assistant coach Jono Gibbes has admitted he is “unlikely” to feature which all but brings to an end a week which started with crossed wires on the player’s availability between the province and the Lions.

The optics of it all didn’t look good.

“There was a bit of confusion probably between both camps. The Lions wanted to have a look at me and when I got out to them they thought differently about it. It was probably just a breakdown in communication. I think that got sorted out very quickly.”

His trips to Kildare to see the Lions physios were, at least, an opportunity to experience the building fervour over the legendary touring party which has spent the week in Carton House while he and the other Leinster Lions met the rest of the four-nations squad for dinner in Dublin as well.

O’Brien and their long-term injuries aside, Leinster have reported no other injury concerns aside from O’Brien and their long-term absentees with Brian O’Driscoll, Fergus McFadden and Richardt Strauss all good to go.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/obri ... 32250.html
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012/2013

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Friday 24th May..................Continued
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Tele

:red: Ulster name team to face Leinster in RaboDirect PRO12 final...........
John Afoa will start at tighthead in the only change to the Ulster team that defeated the Scarlets a fortnight ago for tomorrow's RaboDirect PRO12 Final against Leinster at the RDS (kick off 16.45).

The All Black prop missed the Play Off with a hamstring strain but has been passed fit for the end-of-season finale.

Afoa will join this summer’s Ireland captain, Rory Best, and Tom Court in the front row, while Ulster Captain, Johann Muller, continues his partnership with Dan Tuohy in the second-row. Robbie Diack and Chris Henry start either side of the scrum with the RaboDirect PRO12 Players’ Player of the Year, Nick Williams, selected at Number 8.

Ruan Pienaar starts at scrumhalf, with Paddy Jackson named at outhalf. 20 year-old Stuart Olding partners Darren Cave in midfield with British and Irish Lions winger, Tommy Bowe, joining Andrew Trimble and Jared Payne in the back three.

Commenting on his selection, Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe, said: ‘It’s great to be able to welcome John back into the starting line-up. John and players like Ruan (Pienaar) and Johann (Muller) have been part of World Cup winning squads. When the big moments come, they are cool heads under pressure and you can’t put a price on that. When you put them together with our Ireland internationals and our excellent young players like Stuart Olding then you have a great mix.

‘However, Leinster are a quality team and we have a huge amount of respect for them. They will ask a lot of questions of us and we will have to play at our very best to beat them.

‘This is a massive match, a local derby and it is an occasion that everyone at Ulster is looking forward to. In recent seasons Ulster have been the bridesmaids too often. We have done our learning – it’s now time to step up and to prove that we are good enough.’

Ulster XV and replacements to face Leinster, RaboDirect PRO12 Final, RDS, Saturday 25th May 2013 (kick off 16.45);

(15-9): J Payne, A Trimble, D Cave, S Olding, T Bowe, P Jackson, R Pienaar;
(1-8): T Court, R Best, J Afoa, J Muller (C), D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams;
Replacements (16-23): R Herring, C Black, D Fitzpatrick, I Henderson, M McComish, P Marshall, M Allen, P Nelson.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 93494.html

Indo

Brian O'Driscoll returns but Sean O'Brien misses Pro12 finale........................
Brian O'Driscoll returns to Leinster's starting XV for tomorrow's Rabodirect Pro12 final clash with Ulster at the RDS but Sean O'Brien misses out.

The Tullow Tank has been struggling to recover from bone bruising to his knee sustained in last Friday's Amlin Challenge Cup win over Stade Francais.

Joe Schmidt, who names his Leinster team for the final time, has made six changes to his starting line-up for the inter-provincial grudge match.

Most of the changes are in the pack where Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, captain Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings and Kevin McLaughlin come back in to join O’Driscoll on the night when Isa Nacewa, Jonathan Sexton and Joe Schmidt will say their farewell to Leinster.

Ulster boss Mark Anscombe makes just once change to the Ulster team for the game with Kiwi John Afoa coming in at tighthead prop.

He missed the semi-final against the Scarlets a fortnight ago with a hamstring strain but has recovered in time to regain his place in the starting line-up.

Commenting on his selection, Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe, said: "It’s great to be able to welcome John back into the starting line-up. John and players like Ruan (Pienaar) and Johann (Muller) have been part of World Cup winning squads.

"When the big moments come, they are cool heads under pressure and you can’t put a price on that. When you put them together with our Ireland internationals and our excellent young players like Stuart Olding then you have a great mix.

"However, Leinster are a quality team and we have a huge amount of respect for them. They will ask a lot of questions of us and we will have to play at our very best to beat them.

"This is a massive match, a local derby and it is an occasion that everyone at Ulster is looking forward to. In recent seasons Ulster have been the bridesmaids too often. We have done our learning – it’s now time to step up and to prove that we are good enough."

Leinster: (15-9)R Kearney; F McFadden, B O’Driscoll, I Madigan, I Nacewa; J Sexton, I Boss; (1-8) C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross, L Cullen (capt), D Toner, K McLaughlin, S Jennings, J Heaslip.

Replacements: (16-23) Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath,Jamie Hagan, Quinn Roux, Rhys Ruddock, John Cooney, Andrew Goodman, Andrew Conway.

Ulster: (15-9): J Payne, A Trimble, D Cave, S Olding, T Bowe, P Jackson, R Pienaar;(1-8): T Court, R Best, J Afoa, J Muller (C), D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams.

Replacements (16-23): R Herring, C Black, D Fitzpatrick, I Henderson, M McComish, P Marshall, M Allen, P Nelson.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/r ... 93461.html

Times

O’Driscoll returns for Leinster but O’Brien sits out final .......................
Ulster welcome back prop John Afoa in only change from play-off game
Brian O’Driscoll has been named at centre in the Leinster side for Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro12 final clash against Ulster at the RDS, but Seán O’Brien’s bruised knee keeps him out of the end of season finale.

Joe Schmidt has named 14 of the side that started the play-off victory over Glasgow a fortnight ago, with Ian Madigan coming in to join O’Driscoll in midfield in place of the injured Gordon D’Arcy.

O’Brien started last weekend’s Amlin Challenge Cup Final against Stade Francais, but was replaced just before the hour mark by Shane Jennings, who will start at openside against Ulster.

John Afoa will start at tighthead prop in the only change to the Ulster team that defeated the Scarlets in the play-offs.

The All Black prop missed the 28-17 victory against the Welsh side with a hamstring strain but has been passed fit for the end-of-season finale.

Commenting on his selection, Ulster coach Mark Anscombe, said: “It’s great to be able to welcome John back into the starting line-up. John and players like Ruan (Pienaar) and Johann (Muller) have been part of World Cup winning squads. When the big moments come, they are cool heads under pressure and you can’t put a price on that. When you put them together with our Ireland internationals and our excellent young players like Stuart Olding then you have a great mix.

“However, Leinster are a quality team and we have a huge amount of respect for them. They will ask a lot of questions of us and we will have to play at our very best to beat them.

“This is a massive match, a local derby and it is an occasion that everyone at Ulster is looking forward to. In recent seasons Ulster have been the bridesmaids too often. We have done our learning – it’s now time to step up and to prove that we are good enough.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/o ... -1.1405408

Newsletter

Tommy Bowe aims to win RaboDirect Final...................Video
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby ... -1-5128703
Tommy Bowe is aiming to win a third Celtic Rugby title on Saturday when he lines out for Ulster against Leinster in this season’s RaboDirect PRO12 Grand Final at the RDS in Dublin.

The Irish winger was one of a handful of players who was on the 2006 Ulster team which lifted the Celtic title and he was a member of the Ospreys side which last year defeated Leinster in the final.

However, it is different this year as Bowe had to watch from the stands as the Welsh side won 31-30 as he has suffered injury.

Bowe jets off with the British Lions on Monday, but he is hoping Ulster will be roaring first against Leinster on Saturday evening.

News Letter Sports Editor and rugby correspondent, Richard Mulligan, caught up with Tommy this week ahead of the big PRO12 showdown.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby ... -1-5128703

Tele

One last effort can kick-start a new Ulster era................Tyrone
It must have been something in my waters when I wrote last week that I thought Jonny Wilkinson's boot would play a key role in a Toulon victory in the Heineken Cup final.

When you look at the statistics, Clermont's dominance was up there with Ireland's against Scotland in the Six Nations.

You look at the percentages and think that there can only be one winner. For Ireland and Clermont the better side on the day didn't win.

But that is what Test match rugby is about – every game is a cup final with the finest margins at play and you have got to take your chances.

The Heineken Cup is not dissimilar – if you lose a game in the pool stages it can dictate much about your chances in the competition.

Ulster's loss against Northampton Saints at home meant that a home quarter-final looked ominously distant.

Therefore, while 29 other players battled it out, there can be little doubt that one player had his personal stamp all over this year's competition. Step forward Jonny Wilkinson – you can't really argue with a flawless 100 per cent record with the boot in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. In total he scored 56 out of 61 Toulon points in those three games.

The only shame, however, was that for all the talent on show Toulon only managed one try in the knockout stages.

Effectively the team that played the best rugby of the competition lost to a side whose hunger, defence and doggedness kept them in the hunt and they pounced when they had their chance.

As Ulster look ahead to their tilt at Leinster in the RaboDirect Pro12 final at the RDS on Saturday, there are plenty of lessons that the players will take from Toulon's performance at the weekend.

Posing the question, 'How did they win?' you come up with some crucial pointers to potential success. Awesome defence, as produced by Matthieu Bastareaud, will have to be at the heart of Ulster's performance – aggressive and together.

That first hit is crucial because it dictates the time that you have to reset your defensive line compared to the time the opposition has to recycle and set up another attack.

Ulster need to be strong and organised.

The composure that Wilkinson gave Toulon has to be offered by both Paddy Jackson and Ruan Pienaar.

This is a key feature of what makes the latter world class – Pienaar has that same composure as Wilkinson under pressure, he invariably makes the right decisions and dictates the pace of the game. Pienaar needs a big game and then a long, overdue rest.

The other big name players also need to perform. One of the features of the Heineken Cup defeat to Saracens was that the main guys didn't have great games.

In certain cases match fitness was an issue – this is no longer an issue and Ulster have had an extra week to get fresh, so the players should be firing on all cylinders.

We have seen Ulster perform mightily this season and at their best we have seen a front row dominate opponents, Nick Williams on rampaging form, Jared Payne in brilliant counter-attacking style and player of the season Andrew Trimble aggressive and hungry for work.

Collectively the players know that it is possible due to the victory at the RDS less than two months ago and this mental factor cannot be underestimated.

It will be brutally difficult. Leinster, as they showed against Stade Francais, are a team that knows how to win and close out competitions.

They will be driven on by out-going coach Joe Schmidt, who is greedy for success.

But Ulster also have a great need for something – there is a burning desire to come out of the season with something tangible; to show that the lessons have been learned from the Heineken Cup final last year and prove that this is a better team one year on.

Yes, the French teams have an added advantage courtesy of their chequebooks. But look at the Ulster team sheet – it is littered with internationals and excellent players.

As ever the game is not played on paper.

It is on the pitch where it counts and Ulster need to come together this Saturday for one last monumental effort this season.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 86282.html
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012/2013

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Saturday 25th May 2013...................Pro12 Final

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Indo

:red: Humphreys desperate for Ulster to finally start bridging the gap to rivals with silverware................
Northern legend hopeful ending seven-year trophy famine can be platform for era of sustained success
If most accomplishments are predicated upon a series of disappointments, then Ulster Rugby have had their fair share of the latter.

In fact, they've just about had enough. It is seven years since Ulster won a trophy. The man who helped deliver that thrilling triumph with a late, late drop goal against the Ospreys has assumed much of the responsibility for restoring the northerners' status.

If you push David Humphreys, now Ulster's director of rugby, hard enough, he will look back even further, to the province's breakthrough European success in 1999, and reflect regretfully on the club's failure to capitalise on that triumph.

"There's no doubt that we didn't make the most of winning the cup," he says. Humphreys oversaw Ulster's return to a European final last May but, long before that grand occasion, he had outlined a vision that would encompass more sustained success.

Ironically, his vision didn't include the man who would haul Ulster on a remarkable odyssey all the way to the Heineken Cup final in Twickenham.

And so, Brian McLaughlin led his side knowing that their greatest day since 1999 would be his last in charge.

Not surprisingly, Ulster were flattened by the machine that was Leinster in last season's final; it wasn't meant to frank Humphreys' decision with a comforting post-hoc justification. Yet it did just that.

Nevertheless, were the new coach not to, at least, emulate McLaughlin's achievements this season, would it be appropriate for Humphreys' actions to be questioned? Some supporters still argue strongly that it most definitely should; a quarter-final exit against one-dimensional Saracens added weight to their argument.

Ulster's goal at the start of the season was to win silverware; one chance has already evaporated, today represents their final opportunity.

Every single player has reiterated a running theme since Ulster saw off a poor Scarlets outfit in the semi-final of this competition.

"Not winning silverware will represent failure. We're desperate to win a trophy. We are judged on winning trophies."

Different lines, same message. Silverware will provide validation for so much – from the expensive recruitment of overseas players to the expansive development of the facilities. Ulster have become used to fielding criticism about how their cheque book has bought success and they have cited Munster and Leinster. There is an obvious difference – Munster and Ulster have won Heineken Cups.

The only way to bridge the gap is to fill it with silverware. Humphreys, coach Mark Anscombe and chief executive Shane Logan know this. Leinster can afford to lose today's final, but can Ulster?

There are mitigating circumstances; compared to last season's fairytale run, Ulster have developed a squad that is much broader and possessed of much more quality. Also, their presence as top seeds for the knock-out stages of the Pro12 reflects well on that squad's depth and also a consistency of performance that has been, more or less, maintained all season. There is a longer game here. But winning today's game would be most helpful.

Maurice Field, the former Ireland and Ulster centre, agrees with the argument that there needs to be some tangible return on investment, whether on overseas players or the Academy.

"We probably over-achieved last year in terms of getting to the Heineken Cup final," he says.

"The decision had already been made back in the previous October to replace Brian. Mark has come in and brought a very pragmatic, Joe Schmidt-like approach to the organisation.

"And yet they've potentially under-achieved this season in terms of the expectations within the squad. This Pro12 was one of their goals but so was the Heineken Cup, which by their own words ended in a shocking performance against Saracens.

"They want to make amends even if Leinster are strong favourites. If Ulster bring their A game, they have the skills and weaponry to turn Leinster over. If they want to be in the top five in Europe, they have to win silverware. You can't just get to finals and not win them. Guys like John Afoa and Ruan Pieanaar are used to success."

Fulfilling that sense of progression lay behind the appointment of Anscombe; today's final would be a prime time for the players to repay the vision of those who pay their wages.

"There's some truth in that," says Andrew Trimble. "We want to keep pushing on and the way to do that is to win something.

"We know that our big performances mean nothing if we don't win. Winning there (the RDS) already is brilliant for our psyche. In the past, we would have gone down there expecting a long afternoon. It's different now."

How different? We shall find out shortly before 7.0 this evening when Ulster will hope that, instead of disappointment, they can finally celebrate some real achievement.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/h ... 95247.html

:red: Munster reject, Ulster star, now Williams could spoil Leinster's farewell party..........................
Success at the top level of professional sport requires absolute focus and attention to the smallest detail. Over the years, heroes of all codes have testified to the importance of winning smaller battles in order to claim victory in the war.

These fine lines start at pre-season training and progress right through to the final day of the season. Glory comes to those who are not prepared to cut corners but choose to suffer the long and difficult road in order to achieve success. In a world where the margin between success and failure is ever so slight, the smallest advantage can be the difference between winning and losing.

With that in mind, Ulster's decision to host the Pro12 final at the home of Leinster rugby this afternoon is baffling.

Before the semi-final play-offs had even kicked off, Ulster signalled their intent to stage the final at the RDS. Even then, Leinster were favourites to come through their home semi-final against Glasgow, so the probability of Ulster conceding home advantage to their rivals was fairly high.

Now, with the final looming, Ulster fans must set out on a four-hour round trip to support their team at a ground where Leinster play week in, week out. Strange?

For both camps, this game marks the end of a long hard season.

Ulster have been at full tilt since mid-July, when Mark Anscombe took over from Brian McLaughlin as head coach. The uncompromising Kiwi made no excuses to his players from the very beginning. They were to expect a tough, brutal pre-season regime to prepare them for the slog ahead.

BAPTISM

The players spoke of full-contact sessions from the very first week as they adapted to life under their new boss. It may have been a baptism of fire for some, but Anscombe's methods were clearly visible in the early rounds of the league. Ulster destroyed all in their path and looked almost unstoppable until mid-December.

Anscombe has always had to work hard at his game. As a player, he was relatively small for a back-row forward, but he conditioned himself to be one of the fittest men in his squad and he carved out a reputation as a tough, hard tackler.

He carries this same approach to his job at Ulster and the players there have seen huge improvements in their physical conditioning over the last nine months.

Nick Williams is a prime example of Anscombe's influence. The two already knew each other from their time together in Auckland, but Anscombe wasted little time turning an injury-prone, overweight squad player into one of the top performers in Europe this season.

In 2010, Williams had to leave Munster after only 19 appearances in two seasons for the province. Today, he is top of the stats in yards made and number of carries this season and he epitomises Anscombe's philosophy of hard, fast rugby. An IRUPA Player of the Year award earlier this month was just reward for Williams' progress over the last 15 months.

Ulster need no help with motivation this afternoon. Aside from their quest for a first league title since 2006, the death of Nevin Spence is bound to be foremost in the player's minds.

Spence tragically passed away last September after an accident at the family farm in Hillsborough, Co Down, leaving the entire squad at Ulster stricken with grief. Spence was universally liked at Ravenhill and was just beginning to attract the attention of the Ireland coaching staff after a successful underage international career.

Tommy Bowe spoke earlier this week of Ulster's motivation to bring back the league title for Spence. It is bound to be an emotional afternoon for the northerners, regardless of the result.

Leinster find themselves in familiar territory again this year. Fresh from a European title, Joe Schmidt has had to refocus his players' minds on the task at hand. They've been here twice before, and both times they fell at the final hurdle. This year, according to the players, it will be different. After last year's Heineken Cup victory over Ulster, the Leinster squad were back at the training ground early the next week to prepare for the Pro12 decider against the Ospreys.

Shane Williams' last-minute try and Dan Biggar's touchline conversion broke Leinster hearts for the second successive season. The players reaction said it all. This year, they are determined to get it right.

For Leinster fans, this afternoon represents the last chance to see Isa Nacewa line out in a blue jersey. The Fijian international is due to retire at the end of the season and return to New Zealand to spend more time with his family. He is perhaps the greatest overseas signing in the Irish professional era.

Nacewa's contribution to Leinster rugby has been invaluable. His innovation and fearless nature have played an enormous role in Leinster's success over the last five years.

It's rare to witness a player with such a natural feel for the game. The full-back's first instinct is always to attack and his ability to read the game has perplexed even his own team-mates over the years.

Nacewa arrived in Dublin five years ago as an out-half but it was soon obvious that his talent lay in the back three. When Rob Kearney was absent from the Leinster squad, through injury or international duty, Nacewa was a more than capable replacement.

He inspired Leinster during international tournaments and commanded the respect of his team-mates for his professional approach to the game. After 125 caps and 24 tries, Nacewa is on the verge of retirement. It's a shame, really. At just 30, he could realistically keep playing for another two or three years.

Leinster's return to form this year was too late to save their Heineken Cup campaign, but Schmidt's side have steadily progressed since their elimination in the pool stage at the hands of Clermont. Ulster, after an incredible start to the season, fought back from a mid-season blip to find their rhythm in time for this decider.

Bookmakers have both teams level on the handicap and it is seldom they are wrong. This one could come down to the bounce of a ball.

It's easy to make a case for both sides this afternoon. Leinster have lost the last three league finals, the last two coming on the back of Heineken Cup victories, and will be fully aware of the sickening taste that a third defeat would leave, particularly for Schmidt's last game in charge.

Ulster haven't won any silverware since they last won the Celtic League in 2006. They will be desperate to finish an impressive campaign with a trophy.

Leinster have made the RDS a fortress in recent years. Few sides come to Dublin and leave with victory. Ulster managed it against a weakened Leinster outfit already this season, but this is an entirely different proposition.

Last weekend, against Stade Francais, Leinster proved that they can live off scraps and strike at a moment's notice. For all of Ulster's impressive form this season, doubts remain over their ability to take a trophy.

At this level the margins are tight. Leinster's home advantage should see them through.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/r ... 95236.html

Anscombe has stage to prove his worth.......................George
This evening in Dublin's RDS arena, we will find out just how good Mark Anscombe is. The New Zealander's first season in charge at Ulster boils down to 80 minutes of rugby against the three-time European champions.

This evening in Dublin's RDS arena, we will find out just how good Mark Anscombe is. The New Zealander's first season in charge at Ulster boils down to 80 minutes of rugby against the three-time European champions.

This time last year, Ulster, under Brian McLaughlin, suffered humiliation and embarrassment at the hands of their provincial rivals in the final of the Heineken Cup.

At Twickenham that afternoon, Ulster were outclassed and out-played in every area of the pitch. Fast-forward one year, and with a league title on the line, Ulster are preparing to face down Leinster once again. Have Ulster improved sufficiently under Anscombe this season to bridge the gap?

Statistically, there has been very little to choose between the sides this season. League form rarely lies and it's no coincidence that Ulster and Leinster have emerged from the pack as the top two sides in the competition.

Both teams come into the final with 18 wins from 23 games played.

Leinster edge Ulster by the narrowest margin in terms of tries scored (63 versus 62), but Ulster's defence has been stronger across the league campaign, conceding 38 points less than Leinster in 22 games. Just three yellow cards separate the sides in the fair play table, so discipline for both teams has been above average. Crucially, though, Ulster have already beaten Leinster twice this season.

The absence of Sean O'Brien through injury is a huge blow to Leinster.

His physical presence would have provided Joe Schmidt with the ideal platform to attack, while simultaneously negating the threat of Ulster's monstrous No 8 Nick Williams in defence.

O'Brien is irreplaceable and Schmidt must alter his game plan to allow for his absence.

Much will rest on the shoulders of Jamie Heaslip. If Leinster are to stop Williams from causing havoc up front, Heaslip's primary function will come in defence. Here, the Ireland No 8 gives weight, height and muscle to his New Zealand counterpart, but not determination.

Heaslip, on form, can be as menacing and troublesome as any back-row forward in the world. His most recent performances against Biarritz, Glasgow and Stade Francais suggest Schmidt has no need for concern.

Shane Jennings' speed at the breakdown will also come in to play if Leinster are to secure quick ball and allow their back line space to attack.

Ulster, with Chris Henry and Robbie Diack on the flanks, will look to disrupt at every opportunity.

I expect parity in the scrum. The prospect of John Afoa and Cian Healy going head-to-head is worth the admission fee alone, while Mike Ross and Tom Court should cancel each other out.

Both front-rows have points to prove. Ulster had the edge in the set-piece in this fixture at Ravenhill in December, but Leinster will look to lay down a marker at the earliest opportunity this afternoon.

With so much at stake, the scrum will be difficult to police. Thankfully, in referee Johnny Lacey, we have the perfect man for the job.

Rory Best's omission from Warren Gatland's Lions squad was predominantly down to his poor throwing in the line-out during the Six Nations and the subsequent Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Saracens. If Devin Toner can disrupt Ulster ball, I would worry about Best's ability to recover.

Leinster are stronger from 10 to 15. Jonny Sexton was missing the last time these sides played each other at the RDS, but the Ireland out-half holds the key to unlocking the Ulster defence.

Sexton is almost the complete No 10 – far superior to the young Paddy Jackson in every department – and if Jackson gets caught up in a personal battle with his opposite number, there can only be one winner.

EXPERIENCE

Ruan Pienaar must stop Leinster from dictating the pace of the game. Experience should tell him that Ulster's strength is up front and if the South African keeps the ball tight, Ulster have enough fire power to cause Leinster problems.

Ulster's back-to-back victories over Leinster in the league will amount to nothing if they cannot get over the line this afternoon. Like Clermont Auvergne last weekend, I worry about Ulster's mental frailty under pressure.

The alarming collapse against Saracens in the Heineken Cup suggests Anscombe has actually done little to address the shortcomings that existed under McLaughlin last season and, while Ulster have played some decent rugby at times, they have yet to come through a cup final.

At 4.45 this afternoon, when the starting 15 take to the pitch at the RDS, they will face a side that has won four European trophies in the last five years.

Leinster's killer instinct is certainly not in question. Ulster have everything to prove.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/g ... 95238.html

Tele

:red: Ulster will get it right this time, says Muller........................
There's a knowing smile on Johann Muller's face when mention is made of Toulon's comeback win in last weekend's Heineken Cup final.

After all, two of Muller's former Springbok colleagues have now bagged winners' medals to add European success to the extensive collections both Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw gleaned from their years of playing back home.

Even though the Ulster skipper has been around these parts longer than his two now even more decorated South African contemporaries, he has, of course, yet to add anything glittering to his sideboard in east Belfast.

"With the squad they (Toulon) have they should win things and they did," is the second row's rather brisk reaction to being reminded of what Botha and Rossouw have achieved and the fact that this Ulster squad have still to make the transition from trophy bidders to winners.

"For a squad like ours it's been a process and for a couple of seasons now we've been trying to build.

"But it all comes down to this (today's RaboDirect PRO12 final against Leinster at the RDS) so you couldn't ask for a better opportunity and of course it's all about one thing, winning the silverware."

Indeed, except that, yet again, it just happens to be Leinster who are providing the opposition.

You recall Muller last May, in the aftermath of the tanking Ulster had taken from Leinster in the Heineken Cup final, speaking about the fact that Joe Schmidt's side were simply too good and that there had been little any opposition could have done to live with the southern province that day.

Funnily enough, Muller isn't to be found trumpeting a likely repeat of that outcome now even though Leinster have already captured the Amlin Challenge Cup with a typically attacking-orientated display last week which, he concedes, is testament to their undoubted talents.

"They've got a quality side and have just won the Amlin and they've six Lions players in the squad so there's no secret to it, they are a brilliant rugby side.

"But look," he states referring to the experience of last May's European final, "Twelve months in rugby is a very long time and I think that as a squad we've grown quite a bit.

"The experience is now there, the hunger is there, the ability is there and so is the quality," the 32-year-old Southern Cape native says with some conviction.

Though all of the above could also easily be applied to their opponents, Ulster's belief ahead of the RDS showdown has been built upon rather more solid-looking foundations than usual with added reinforcement through having Tommy Bowe and Jared Payne bringing greater cutting edge than 12 months ago.

Getting the better of Leinster twice in the regular PRO12 season has been of notable importance with last March's backs-to-the-wall effort to win for the first time in Dublin for 14 years hailed as a seminal moment in what was then a stuttering league campaign.

"To achieve that was something special," agrees Muller before quickly moving to avoid tripping up with a few potentially tactless words over a game that ended in some confusion when referee George Clancy went to the TMO for Leinster after he had blown the final whistle.

"But having said that, we know if we go down to the RDS and if we're not 10-15 per cent better than the last time we played them in the round-robin we just won't achieve the result we want.

"In big games like this you get maybe two or three opportunities and if you don't take these opportunities then you're not going to win.

"That's where they've been so impressive over the last few seasons. Nearly every time they get an opportunity they get their seven points," he says.

And that's the worry for Ulster, as though they have been winning, their consistency of performance throughout recent games has tended to ebb and flow and this tendency, if repeated, will be ruthlessly exposed by a high-achieving Leinster side focused on a European and PRO12 double.

"Sometimes the accuracy hasn't been there," admits Muller whose third season here has been interrupted by injuries and has already been somewhat deflated by the disappointing European quarter-final exit to Saracens.

But there is still a chance to capture a trophy to bring some return on Ulster's investment, ending the seven years since the last title was secured while also avenging the 2011 RDS knockout encounter between the sides which saw Ulster go down in the then Magners League semi-final.

It has, of course, been a traumatic season and the devastating loss of Nevin Spence, along with his brother Graham and father Noel, will, as always, be on the players' minds come the game, though Muller downplays it when asked if this will be of any greater significance come the final.

"He (Nevin) hasn't left our thoughts since September so there is nothing that will change for us as a team.

"There's a reason why we have his initials on our shirt and it will be exactly the same on Saturday where once again we can realise how fortunate we are to play this game and enjoy life and to do what we love," he says before returning to on-field matters.

"If we don't win on Saturday the season will be a massive disappointment for us," admits Muller who recently signed on for one more year up until summer 2014 and is doubtless feeling that his time to achieve notable success here is probably running out.

"So for us all there's one objective and that's to win silverware. If not it's a disappointing season, end of story."

He adds: "But look, we're going out there to win and to show something for all our efforts over the last couple of seasons.

"We'll have to be absolutely brilliant if we want to beat them and anything less than that won't be good enough."

The captain has spoken.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 93042.html

Times

Anscombe looks to finish what he started with Ulster .......................
The Ulster coach thinks defeat today would not mean an unsuccessful season for his side
It has been a respectable opening gambit from a coach that had the spine of his team stripped away in November and again this spring.

But that’s northern hemisphere rugby Mr Anscombe.

For all the expressive rugby Ulster have produced under the Aucklander’s guidance, the 27-16 defeat to Saracens at Twickenham in April looms large over his first season in Belfast.

Ulster started with a remarkable 16-game unbeaten run, which ended on December 15th when the Northampton Saints escaped Ravenhill with a 10-9 victory. Tommy Bowe’s knee was on ice from that night until the last 22 minutes of the Heineken Cup quarter-final.

There followed a horrid February and March period, with so many frontliners – including Stephen Ferris, captain Johann Muller and Paddy Wallace – injured, Ulster lost to the Ospreys, Glasgow, Edinburgh and drew with Treviso.

However, in the middle of the malaise they beat an undermanned Leinster at the RDS. The only team to do that this season.

It matters this week. Giving up Ravenhill, due to redevelopment work, they must win a home final in enemy territory if they are to call 2012/13 a success.

Anscombe disagrees.

“Look, I know that’s how it will be measured because that’s what it is always about. It’s about winning silverware.

Achieved something
“In the context of playing 30 games of rugby we’ve lost six. We won our (European) pool and were top qualifiers in the Rabo. You can’t do all that and not say you have achieved something in the course of the season.

“We’ve been consistent on two fronts and blooded a lot of guys and 20 guys have made national teams.

“It would be harsh to say defeat would mean an unsuccessful season, I would argue that.”

And so he should. But one wonders what Vern Cotter would say if ASM Clermont Auvergne failed to capture the Bouclier de Brennus.

Anscombe spoke impressively after the Saracens game. It was late Saturday night in a Twickenham corporate box, Ulster had just been rinsed and kneaded by the Saracens pack. Even Chris Ashton swan dived in their face.

They weren’t a patch on the standard set these past three years. The Nick Williams route one carry was enveloped. So was Johann Muller (who tore a bicep but soldiered on). Turnover after turnover followed.

Andrew Trimble conceded this week that they lacked a coherent game plan, never building a sufficient platform to go wide, and at pace.

They dropped a ridiculous amount of ball. A season that promised so much looked to be in ruins. Again, the fall coming at Twickenham.

Anscombe came before us and admitted his team deserved to lose. No bullsh**. Then he talked about the loss of players in international windows coupled with injuries.

Chronic injuries
The injuries have been chronic but the Six Nations break doesn’t wash. Most teams, including Saracens, must contend with that.

“The week before the Saracens game we had about four or five guys having their first game back in about five six weeks. We went into that game with six guys who hadn’t had one game of rugby in six weeks and that’s not a preparation you need to play a good team like Saracens. That’s not an excuse that’s a reality.

“I just think the game came on us two, three weeks too early.”

He would dearly love to have this week’s preparation for the Saracens game. “We’ve got no excuses, if we lose we will have been beaten by the better team.”

One significant disruption has been John Afoa travelling back and forth to New Zealand to spend time with his family.

Earlier this week Ulster signed their answer to Michael Bent from Coventry. Bronson Ross is a tighthead prop, Irish qualified and looks the part on his own YouTube reel.

“Yeah, we’re just looking at adding some depth to the position. To make sure our props are covered.”

Afoa arrived late after the 2011 World Cup due to Jerome Kaino’s wedding. Fair enough, but three long haul trips back to New Zealand this season, one for the birth of his child (days before playing well against Saracens), led to speculation in the New Zealand media that he might return to the Blues before his contract ends in July 2014.

Big man
Afoa even trained with Auckland and their coach, legendary winger John Kirwan said they would like to see the big man return.

It begged the question: will Afoa, Ricky Lutton, Declan Fitzpatrick and Ross all be with Ulster next season?

“Yep. Yep.”

Four tightheads, that’s not bad going?

“Well, you never know. You let one go and you are down to two and then you got none.”

We move on. Joe Schmidt?

“I know Joe from back in New Zealand and have a great deal of respect for the man. He’s done a tremendous job with Leinster.

“I communicated with him two, three times when I first got here and congratulated him when he got the Irish job.

“I get on well with him so I don’t see any problem going forward.”

What was he like as a player?

“I did play against him but I can’t remember. I honestly can’t remember but we did apparently play against each other.”

No worries. Remember his progress from NZ Schools to Bay of Plenty and obviously into the Auckland Blues as backs coach?

“No, I can’t. I didn’t know Joe really until he came to the Blues. I didn’t even know what his background was until he got to Bay of Plenty job. I didn’t really know much of him to be honest.”

Not quite the week for opinions on your fellow Kiwi coach then.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/a ... -1.1405919

Newsletter

‘Just go for it’ Ulster coach Mark Anscombe tells the players.........................
The message from Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe to his players on Saturday evening is simple - ‘just go for it boys, this is a one off game.’

Ulster face Leinster in Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 Final at the RDS, Dublin (kick-off 4.45pm) as the top two teams in this season’s regular league campaign go head-head-head in a mouthwatering clash which will put last week’s Heineken Cup final between Toulon and Clermont in Dublin in the shadows.

Ulster have already beaten Leinster twice this season, the latter meeting in Dublin at the end of March a nail-biting affair which saw the visitors hold on to win 22-18 after 87 minutes of pulsating rugby.

“Of course we can take a lot of confidence from going down there and winning for the first time in 13 years against them,” said Anscombe.

“But this is a final. It is a one-off. It is case of the boys getting out there and just going for it.”

Ulster have made one change to the starting team which defeated Scarlets in the PRO12 semi-final two weeks ago.

New Zealand World Cup winning prop, John Afoa, was declared fight yesterday and takes the place of Declan Fitzpatrick at thighthead in the front row.

He has recovered from a hamstring injury which kept him out of the semi-final game.

Anscombe said: “ It was great to be able to welcome John back into the starting line-up.

“John and players like Ruan Pienaar and Johann Muller have been part of World Cup winning squads.

“When the big moments come, they are cool heads under pressure and you cannot put a price on that.”

Meanwhile, Leinster were able to name talismanic centre, Brian O’Driscoll as starting in the centre after he recovered from a back injury.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby ... -1-5130388

:compress: TheFlipSide >skull

FECK IT............not today "peoples"
For Leinster yes...........here it it !!!!!
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Mac
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012/2013

Post by Mac »

Sunday 26th May 2013.................The Result

Tele

Back to the drawing board for Ulster Rugby as Leinster crush Pro 12 title hopes................
Leinster put past disappointments behind them to scoop an elusive RaboDirect PRO12 title in head coach Joe Schmidt's last game in charge.

Jonathan Sexton signed off before the Lions tour with 14 points as his home province were crowned champions for the first time since 2008, ending a run of three successive league final losses.

New Zealander Schmidt, who will take over the Ireland job later this year, bowed out with a much-prized domestic and European double - eight days on from his side's Amlin Challenge Cup success.

A resilient Ulster certainly put it up to them in this all-Irish decider, with their South African star Ruan Pienaar kicking immaculately in an 18-point haul.

But tries in each half from back rowers Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip, allied to some rock solid defending, got Leinster over the finish line.

Sexton booted three penalties after converting Jennings' early try as Leinster - without late withdrawal Rob Kearney, who had a tight hamstring - ended a hugely physical first half with a 16-6 lead.

Despite leaking a succession of penalties, particularly at the breakdown, the Ulstermen remained in the hunt thanks to Pienaar's opening two kicks.

The place-kicking battle continued after yellow cards for Robbie Diack and Isa Nacewa - in his final professional match - with Pienaar drawing Ulster back to within four points.

However, Heaslip's try entering the final quarter proved to be enough to seal it in favour of the men in blue.

Table toppers Ulster designated the RDS as their home venue for the league final - with Ravenhill not meeting the minimum 18,000-capacity mark - and they wryly renamed the Dublin venue 'OurDS'.

Ulster leaked four penalties in the opening seven minutes as Leinster raced into an early 10-0 lead, Sexton converting man of the match Jennings' try and adding a straightforward penalty.

Mark Anscombe's men were too eager at the breakdown, the opening penalty offering Sexton a chance to find the right corner, and from the ensuing lineout a well-supported Jennings was mauled over.

Sexton slotted the conversion and then clipped over a penalty from just outside the 22, with Ulster growing increasingly frustrated by some of referee John Lacey's calls.

They showed their set-piece strength after Nacewa was charged down and Isaac Boss had to concede a five-metre scrum. Johann Muller's pack hunted for a penalty try but Leinster just about survived.

Tommy Bowe hurtled through midfield soon after, linking with Paddy Jackson, and a raid out to the right almost led to a Diack try - Sexton and company doing just enough to hold him up.

Ulster kept knocking on the door and deservedly got off the mark in the 24th minute, Pienaar curling a penalty over after a robust Nick Williams charge.

On the half hour, Ulster had a let-off when Sexton missed a kickable penalty awarded for Chris Henry interfering with Boss at a ruck.

It was wholehearted stuff, the derby nature of the final leading to a suffocating breakdown area and some frantic spells of possession.

Pienaar's second three-pointer was sandwiched by two more Sexton strikes, the Racing Metro signing's final effort coming as the match officials missed a clear off-the-ball infringement on John Afoa.

Worse followed for the vocal Ulster support when flanker Diack saw yellow for another ruck offence, the resulting penalty seeing Sexton strengthen Leinster's advantage.

However, Ulster reacted smartly and made serious headway approaching the hour mark. A smashing break from Paddy Jackson led to Nacewa being sin-binned for pulling back the young Ireland international by his collar.

Pienaar took centre stage, quickly adding three points to Ulster's tally and the Springbok converted two more penalties - the first after a great kick chase by Bowe - to suddenly make it 19-15.

Leinster, though, struck a killer blow after Sexton found a terrific touch from a penalty. The ball was worked infield through patient phases and Heaslip, with the support of Devin Toner, powered over from close range.

Sexton was unable to convert and a monster effort from the talismanic Pienaar brought Ulster back to within a converted try with just 10 nervy minutes left.

But unlike a year ago against the Ospreys, Leinster did not falter late on and a second piece of silverware for the season was theirs.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 96332.html

Schmidt signs off with title win..................

Newsletter

Ulster are denied PRO12 glory as Leinster claim Celtic title....................
Leinster finally won their first Celtic League title since the introduction of the Play-offs at the fourth straight attempt.

In a thoroughly entertaining game at the sun splashed RDS in Dublin on Saturday, the Leinster side finished the season with a double haul of trophies having won the Amlin Challenge Cup a week earlier at the same venue against Stade Francais.

Ulster played catch up throughout the game but did get within in five points in the second half, but it was a day on which they again failed to take their chances.

Leinster were forced into a late change with Rob Kearney withdrawn due to a hamstring injury which saw Andrew Conway pushed up from the bench to the wing and the departing Isa Nacewa taking the fullback shirt.

Nacewa was key to the early Leinster attacks after Ulster had made a promising start. But two penalties later and a lineout in the corner, Leinster drove over and backrow forward, Shane Jennings opened the scoring with a try after three minutes.

British Lion outhalf, Jonathan Sexton added the extras and three minutes later after two more Ulster penalty concessions he made it 10-0 with a penalty strike.

It had the makings of turning the game into a cracker and Ulster responded in the perfect conditions with a break by Stuart Olding who took an angled run to the left tram line. A quick lineout by Isaac Boss to Nacewa saw the latter’s kick charged down by Paddy Jackson’s hand and Pienaar just failed to get to the line before Jennings.

Ulster did enjoy a purple patch, forcing penalty after penalty at ruck time, but Nick Williams failed to pick up at the base of the third set piece and Leinster cleared. Criminally Ulster lost the lineout, Devin Toner turning it over and a chance was gone.

It was Ulster who came again though after 17 minutes when a break by Jackson and then Tommy Bowe took them into the 22. Ball was spread right, Darren Cave gave the perfect pass out to Robbie Diack and all he had to do was fall over the line.

But the backrow forward tried to spin in and out of a tackle and was held out. It was a crucial point of the match.

Pienaar did convert a penalty on 23 minutes and again on 35 minutes, but Sexton landed two from three to leave them ahead 16-6 at the break.

Leinster started the second half strongly and got a huge advantage when Diack was sin-binned in the third minute for deliberately killing the ball at a ruck, Sexton despatched the penalty for a 19-6 advantage.

Ulster sparked though and a drive by Williams saw him offload to Bowe who in turn gave to Jackson. The young outhalf weaved his way through, slipping past Jamie Heaslip.

As he came to within 10m he got past Nacewa but he brought him down illegally, earned a yellow card for his efforts and Pienaar put the 10 points between the sides with the simple penalty of 46 minutes.

A great turnover by Olding saw Ulster on the attack again, Pienaar launching a high ball which was taken by Ian Madigan, but Bowe dumped him and earned the penalty, Pienaar putting seven points between the sides on 50 minutes with another penalty.

A steal by Best on O’Driscoll, led to another Pienaar kick to touch and from the ruck another penalty to Ulster, Pienaar slotting over from wide on the right to make it 19-15.

O’Driscoll threatened with a break on the left, but Best hauled him down and the ball went forward in the tackle.

However the international centre played his part in the next Leinster attack, a try for Heaslip after TMO assistance – Sexton missing the conversion to leave nine points between the sides again.

Ulster worked their way back in again with some good phases and finally with numbers on the left spun it out, but replacement centre Michael Allen spilled the pass – but Cian Healy dropped the ball in the next Leinster phase off the resultant scrum.

Ulster took the option to put to touch with a penalty four minutes from time, skipper Johann Muller secured the lineout, but replacement Iain Henderson then gave away a penalty at the next ruck.

It was to signal the end for Ulster.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby ... -1-5132595

Times

Leinster’s direct style earns Pro12 success...................
Ulster come up just short in pulsating encounter at the RDS
The big call in this Rabo Pro 12 final was made by Ulster’s South African duo Johann Muller and Ruan Pienaar with 76 minutes on the clock, the score reading 24-18 to Leinster.

It was winning time, World champions both, they refused to kick for goal to make it a three point game, instead taking the lineout in Leinster’s 22.

Ulster heavies rumbled into the guts of Leinster’s defence until, finally, Iain Henderson, the young flanker with a long international future ahead of him, was tackled by Brian O’Driscoll.

Shane Jennings capped a brilliant performance by getting over the ball. Leinster penalty. It took a few more phases before the 80 minutes came up and, fittingly, it was O’Driscoll who went into scrumhalf and belted it off the park.

This being their fourth Pro 12 final in succession, they couldn’t stomach another year without the title. Undoubtedly, Ulster will come again. It has long been the case with Leinster that a few players pick up the slack and drive them to victory. Any number of them are capable of doing this.

Take Sean O’Brien out of the equation and Jennings has a blinder at openside. Lose Rob Kearney in the warm up to a tight hamstring and Isa Nacewa is freed up to shine from fullback.

Kevin McLaughlin was another unsung performer who made some huge plays. Another is Isaac Boss. A journey man to the untrained eye, a stop gap for Ireland and useful physical foil for Eoin Reddan, particularly away to French clubs, he has been outstanding these past few weeks.

Here, the New Zealand born, former Ulster scrumhalf saved a certain try in the early stages after Paddy Jackson blocked Isa Nacewa’s attempted clearance.

He also turned over a vital Ulster attack under his own posts. The visitors had no choice but to come at Leinster with everything, having coughed up 10 points in the opening seven minutes; a cardinal sin in Dublin (regardless of the even spread of supporters on this fine occasion).

The fear today was which of the 12 Lions playing in the Pro 12 and English Premiership final would pull up lame. Sure enough, Kearney felt his hamstring tighten in the warm up and was withdrawn but is expected to be on Tuesday’s flight to Hong Kong.

With Dylan Hartley’s chances of touring Australia in serious trouble, having been red carded for abusing referee Wayne Barnes, as Leicester put his Northampton side to the sword at Twickenham, the focus switched to Rory Best and Richardt Strauss. Best looks in pole position to be called up if Hartley is suspended.

The opening try was awfully soft. Leo Cullen took a lineout five metres out and the maul walked Jennings over. Sexton added the touchline conversion and another penalty when Best was penalised for not releasing Ian Madigan.

Ulster’s response was ferocious, with John Afoa destroying Healy in successive scrums, but all they had to show for this period of dominance was Ruan Pienaar’s 24th minute penalty.

Robbie Diack butchered what looked a certain try after a fine break by Tommy Bowe and cut out pass from Darren Cave. With two backs, Sexton and Conway, in the road all Diack had to do was plough through them but instead he tried to spin over and was held up.

That mattered at the finish. Two more Sexton penalties and one by Pienaar left Leinster in the ascendancy at the interval, leading 16-6. Ulster needed the next score but they were reduced to 14 men and Sexton put Leinster 19-6 up after Diack was sin-binned for going off his feet.

The already raucous Ulster crowd went berserk when Paddy Jackson was collared by Nacewa as he burst into the Leinster 22. Nacewa, in his last ever game, got 10 minutes on the advice of touch judge Peter Fitzgibbon. 14 players each and Pienaar made it 19-9.

Ulster’s tails were up and a clever kick by Pienaar left Madigan in no man’s land. He was belted by Bowe, allowing Pienaar to make it 19-12 from the resulting penalty.

The momentum had completely shifted now, with Pienaar making it a four-point game, despite Cullen’s disgust with referee John Lacey. Every single player needed to contribute.

And they did, Jamie Heaslip eventually muscling over when O’Driscoll was stopped short. The Ulster contingent was not happy with Fitzgibbon, claiming Sexton’s kick down the touchline, leading up to the score, had gone dead.

For a split second it felt like the result was sorted but Ulster’s investment in Pienaar was rewarded once again. The Springbok landed a mammoth penalty from the right touchline on halfway to make it a six point contest entering the final 10 minutes.

Ulster kept coming. Williams rampaged over the gainline only for a clever incursion into the line by Bowe ruined when replacement Mike Allen knocked on.

The drama wasn’t over but Ulster will rue the early try they conceded and the one they failed to take. That’s the difference right now, Leinster rarely leave any scores behind them.

In typical fashion Cullen let Heaslip lift the trophy. It felt like the passing of the leadership mantle.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/l ... 692?page=2

TheScore

Reaction: Leinster dig deep to banish Pro12 hoodoo..................
FOUR LEAGUE FINALS in four years for Leinster, three with Tommy Bowe counted among the opposition’s playing staff.

The Ospreys twice, Munster and now Ulster.

Defeat at this competition’s final hurdle in three previous years has been the one fly in the ointment for Joe Schmidt in his time at Leinster.

Now, at long last, the jinx is over after today’s 18-24 win over Ulster at the RDS.

Just like last year’s final, Leinster had their home venue bathed in terrific sunshine. But this time there were more than just a smattering of visiting fans. Having beaten Leinster twice already this season, the Ulstermen and women travelled with more than mere hope.

Leinster showed all the hunger of a side who had had a whiff of this title three times in three years. Jonathan Sexton began his final game for the province by kicking two penalties to touch and Ulster’s pack were caught cold as Shane Jennings profited with a third minute try.

By the time Ulster’s penalty toll had doubled three minutes later, they were 10 points down.

The designated home side did warm to the task and looked to have Leinster on the rack twice before they eventually got on the scoresheet with a 24th minute penalty.

By then however, they had failed to reap from the momentum of two consecutive scrum penalties in the left-hand corner and after Bowe and Jackson combined to make a break through the middle, Robbie Diack contrived to be held up after opting to cut inside Sexton rather than ground the ball at his feet.

Leinster’s attacking threat was limited to the bookends of the first-half. Ulster dominated the opening 40-minute period, but just could not find the clinical finish and went in trailing 6-16 at the break.

Under Mark Anscombe, however, belief is on the up in the northern province. At the stage they wilted in the Heineken Cup last season, they roared back today.

The players, for the most part, kept cool while their supporters were screaming blue murder at referee John Lacey. And even with Schmidt’s men seemingly out of sight at 6-19 (and a man) to the good after Diack’s yellow card, they kept their hand on the pump and Jackson forced Isa Nacewa into a ‘horse-collar’ of a high tackle.

“Isa, he’s obviously getting a little bit older,” joked Joe Schmidt in a post-match interview with RTE,”he decided to just play 70 minutes today.”

Pienaar rattled off nine points with Nacewa cooling off. But every time Ulster got close, Leinster dug deep and pulled away.

Sexton showed the benefit of ’heads up’ rugby espoused by his coach and broke down the blindside. Two minutes later, with Nacewa back on the field, he was juicing every last inch out of a touch-finding penalty to give his side another five-metre scrum and from there Leinster would stretch the white wall to breaking point with Heaslip tumbling onto the line.


“I was delighted with our defence.” Schmidt added. “We didn’t really do a lot of attack work this week. We really said lets not give them anything over our whitewash.”

They didn’t and they managed to punish Ulster for their profligacy. Yet still Ulster came battling back. The gap was six points again with 10 minutes on the clock and the blue hordes were surely afraid that their recurring nightmare was back.

With five minutes to go, Ulster made it clear they would not leave Dublin wondering what might have been. Pienaar passed up a certain three points and they went all out for seven. The blue wall would not crumble on its own 22 and only a half-break from Cave came close.

“The players were really in the zone.” Schmidt said, embracing the cliche. “They worked really hard for each other. Defence is often about attitude and I couldn’t fault the attitude.”

Another in a long list of penalties went against Ulster and Iain Henderson to allow Leinster rumble back to neutral territory. But the latest in a long list of Pro12 finals went to Leinster on their home patch.
http://www.thescore.ie/ulster-leinster- ... 2-May2013/

As it happened....................
Ulster 18 – 24 Leinster

16.38 – Well, well, well well. Fancy meeting you here, rugby fans.

The anticipation is growing at the RDS for the Pro12 Grand Final between Ulster and Leinster.

Before we get into the swing of things, there is big news from Twickenham that could distract Rory Best as much as it has distracted us. Dylan Hartley has been red-carded in the Aviva Premiership final for some very, very bad language directed at referee Wayne Barnes.

16.40 – Kick off is just moments away now in Ballsbridge. Ulster have elected to take their usual away dressing room and by the looks of things their fans have indeed taken their full allocation as the RDS is divided equally into blue and white camps.

16.43 – Wow. More breaking news as Rob Kearney is marked absent from Leinster’s starting XV. Nacewa moves to full back and Andrew Conway will start on the wing.

16.45 – A quick reminder of the teams then as Leinster take the field, Dave Kearney is a late call to the bench in place of his brother.

16.47 – KICK OFF: Ulster get us underway and retain the kick-off. Darren Cave’s first act is to grubber in behind to test Nacewa’s positioning. He’s got it. And after his clearance Leinster win a break down penalty on half way.

16.49 – Sexton rams the penalty into the corner and after Tom Court is called for side-entry to the ruck, he does the same again and Leinster rumble over from the line-out.

TRY! Ulster 0 – 5 Leinster (Jennings ‘ 3)

16.51 – Sexton adds the extras with a tight conversion from the right. This side is hell-bent on ending their run of defeats at this stage.

Ulster 0 – 7 Leinster

16.54 – Madigan carries and Rory Best in pinged for holding on. That’s four penalties John Lacey has awarded against Ulster in just over five minutes. To make matters worse, it’s right on the 22. Meat and drink for Sexton.

PENALTY: Ulster 0 -10 Leinster (Sexton ’7)

16.55 – No let-up in the pace here. Nacewa’s clearance from his 22 is blocked down by Paddy Jackson, but Pienaar cannot beat Boss to the loose ball crossing the try-line.

Scrum V to Ulster.

16.57 – Tom Court forces the error from Ross a scrum time and Ulster bullishly elect for another scrum. They want seven points bad.

16.58 – Unreal power from a low Ulster drive. Healy this time drops and it’s another penalty and another set-piece. Hang onto your hats.

17.00 – A reprieve for Leinster as the ref deems the ball to be out while it’s under Nick Williams’ feet. Boss snaffles it and Madigan smashes it clear.

Leinster escape with their score-board in tact, but what has it taken out of their pack?

17.01 – Ulster will be kicking themselves for that slow start. They are showing why they ended the season as league leaders now, making Leinster work for every inch.

17.05 – A break from Jackson into the 22 gives Ulster an overlap on the right. Robbie Diack has the line at his mercy, but he attempts to cut inside Sexton and gets wrapped up in a cloud of blue bodies.

Diack does touch down, but Lacey’s whistle had already blown to stop play. An outrageous miss. :duh:

17.06 – Ulster rumble to the line and again look to have a good platform, but the man so often selected to play as a ninth forward, Isaac Boss, bridges in and forces the penalty under his own posts.

17.13 – Nick Williams is starting to make his present felt in the hot conditions now. Healy is penalised on his 22 and a somewhat ironic cheer is drawn from the Ulster fans who feel most decisions have gone against them.

PENALTY: Ulster 3 – 10 Leinster (Pienaar ’24)

Something on the board at last then for Ulster. Leinster will need to find their rhythm again to keep them at arm’s length.

17.16 – Another handful of phases end in frustration for Ulster.

Not because of a knock-on – Paddy Jackson had to pick a Pienaar pass off his boot – and definitely not because of Williams who had blue jerseys approaching cautiously: Court is adjudged to have held on after being tackled and Sexton sets the platform on Ulster’s 22.

17.18 – There can be no complaints about the latest penalty against Ulster, Chris Henry slapping the ball on the ground after taking down Ian Madigan.

But Sexton misses. A shocker by his standards.

17.20 – Frustration on the face of Andrew Trimble. Neither he nor Tommy Bowe have had much opportunity and both have knocked on in the past minute. Bowe’s resulted in advantage, Trimble just mis-handled what would have been a 60-metre sprint for the line.

17.23 – PENALTY: Ulster 3 – 13 Leinster (Sexton ’33)

That’s more like it from Sexton, blasting an effort from half way to make up for his earlier miss.

17.25 – Right back atcha as Jennings is on the wrong side of the ref’s whistle and Robbie Diack’s awful attempt at a finish remains the difference between the sides.

PENALTY: Ulster 6 – 13 Leinster (Pienaar ’36)

17.29 – Leinster end the half as they started it, piling the pressure on Ulster’s line. The red hand-waving crowd behind the goal are aggrieved as another penalty is awarded with Ulster defending their five-metre line frantically.

PENALTY: Ulster 6 – 16 Leinster (Sexton ‘ 39)

HALF TIME: Ulster 6 – 16 Leinster

17.43 – The second half is off and running at the RDS. Will the 10-point gap be enough to end four years of hurt for Leinster?

17.45 – Ulster get Bowe into the game straight away with a big attempt at a strike in midfield, but he is wrapped up and the penalty is blue again.
17.47 – Wow. Long advantage played by Lacey and Leinster given a penalty after Boss’ box-kick is marked by Pienaar.

SIN BIN: Robbie Diack pays the price for the accumulated penalty count.

PENALTY: Ulster 6 – 19 Leinster (Sexton ’44)

17.51 – What a break from Paddy Jackson. The young out-half broke at the posts and then found a gap between Nacewa and Conway. The Kiwi-Fijian took him out with a horse-collar tackle and prevented a near certain try.

SIN BIN: Nacewa

PENALTY: Ulster 9 – 19 Leinster (Pienaar ’46)

It’s 14-v 14.

17.55 – An ill-advised Healy offload allows Ulster kick clear and Bowe’s chase to Madigan forces a penalty as the Blackrock man holds on.

PENALTY: Ulster 12 -19 Leinster (Pienaar ‘ 51)

Game on again.

18.00 – Robbie Diack is back for Ulster in time to see Conway slip and let the ball find touch deep in Leinster’s 22. Will the blues be haunted by their past three finals?

PENALTY: Ulster 15 – 19 Leinster (Pienaar ‘ 54)

It was close, but Pienaar converts after Leo Cullen is penalised from the Leinster line-out.

Where’s your money now, rugby fans?

18.04 – ‘Come on you boys in blue’ rings around half of the RDS after Sexton makes a blindside break to make Ulster sweat in their own 22. Boss knocks on and it’s a white scrum, but this Leinster crowd are relieved to be in the opponents’ half.

18.06 – Cave’s big clearance kick from his own 22 is carried back at the white wall on half way. There Henry is called for hands in the ruck and Sexton opts for the touchline again and gets every last inch. Five mere line-out.

18.07 – It must be on the line for Leinster and Heaslip. We’re with the TMO.

18.09 – TRY: Ulster 15 – 24 (Heaslip ’62)

Sexton’s conversion is narrowly wide. The gap is back to nine points.

18.16 – It’s all gone a bit scrappy and Leinster look more than happy with that state of affairs. They concede a penalty just inside halfway and Pienaar attempts to close the gap again.

From all of 55 metres including the angle..

PENALTY: Ulster 18 – 24 Leinster (Pienaar ‘ 69)

18.16 – 10 minutes, six points. Who wants a Pro12 title, lads?

18.18 – Healy crosses the gain-line, but he tries to force another offload and it’s stolen by Henderson. Nacewa is penalised for hanging onto the young lock after tackling him.

18.19 – From the line-out, Ulster look to have Leinster on the hind foot, but the pass to Michael Allen is knocked on by the youngster and Leinster will look to eke precious seconds from this scrum.

18.23 – Penalty to Ulster and Pienaar kicks for touch instead of narrowing the gap to a single kick.

18.28 – Best takes his time over the line-out and Ulster sweep from one side to the other with only a half break from Cave to show for it.

Henderson carries and conceded the penalty on the 22 metre line.Two minutes to go and it’s Leinster ball on half way.

Here comes the long-awaited Pro12 title.

18.29 – They rumble on and wind the clock down to red.

FULL TIME: Ulster 18 – 24 Leinster

18.30 – Leinster are Pro12 champions at the fourth time of asking. Joe Schmidt signs off from the province having won every trophy available to him.

18.36 – Leo Cullen hoists Schmidt onto his team’s shoulders and bounce him in front of the crowd. It’s the happiest end he has experienced to a Leinster season.

Ulster will leave feeling aggrieved at some of the decisions from John Lacey, but they had one golden opportunity to score a try and they let it slip by.
http://www.thescore.ie/live-ulster-lein ... 0-May2013/
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012/2013

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Sunday 26th May 2013..................Continued

BBC

Mark Anscombe says Ulster 'now equal' with Leinster.......................
Mark Anscombe believes Saturday's Pro12 final shows his Ulster team are now Leinster's "equal" despite the northerners' narrow defeat at the RDS.

Leinster completed a European Challenge Cup and Pro12 double as they edged out their Irish provincial rivals 24-18.

But Anscombe, despite lamenting his team's indiscipline, did take positives from the defeat in Dublin.

"I think we showed we are their equal now. I got a lot of heart from what I have seen," said the New Zealander.

"(The season) has been long, endurable, cold, wet but they're a good bunch of guys.

"We finished last year when I wasn't here. In the Heineken Cup final we got cleaned out.

"We can take heart. We've got to make sure we bounce back from this. We've come a long way this year.

"(Even) Not doing as best as we could (on Saturday), we could have beaten and should have beaten the best team in the competition.

"We had our chances but the key is discipline. You can't give a good team like that chances."

Anscombe highlighted his team's slow start as a third-minute Shane Jennings try helped Joe Schmidt's side take an early 10-0 lead.

"We were on the back foot straight away. When you start a game, you want to get into the ascendancy."

Ulster hooker Rory Best had no complaint with the performance of referee John Lacey but Anscombe did hint at unhappiness with the Munster man's interpretation of the key breakdown exchanges.

"I thought some of the penalties were pretty tough," added Anscombe.

"I can't argue for what we were getting done for. I thought that was legit. But I thought there was a little going on the other way that wasn't happening."

But Anscombe acknowledged that Ulster had only themselves to blame for wasting a glorious try-scoring chance in the first half when Robbie Diack was held up, over the Leinster line, after he chose to cut inside instead of diving into the corner.

Best struggled to contain his disappointment after a second defeat in a major final in 12 months.

"We wanted silverware. Anything else was going to be a bit of a failure," said a battered and bruised Best.

"You can never fault the effort but at times we just lacked a little bit of accuracy.

"Our discipline was very poor. And when you are playing the top sides in finals, that is going to be the difference.

"We feel we gifted them nine, maybe 12 points. We lost by six."

Best would not accept the suggestion that the defeat could be spun into another "learning experience" for the northerners.

"When it comes to big games, we can't keep saying that.

"It's not a case of not having fronted up but of maybe being a bit more streetwise.

"We got played today by a team that were a lot more streetwise than us. I don't think they infringed any less than us. They were just smarter about it."

The hooker refused to use referee Lacey's performance as an excuse for Ulster's defeat.

"Personally I felt you couldn't fault the referee. Ultimately we kind of cost it ourselves by being outplayed at the breakdown."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22673381

PlanetR

Ulster rue indisciplined first half....................
Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe was left frustrated by his side's poor start in Saturday's PRO12 Final defeat to Leinster in Dublin.

The league table toppers coughed up a number of penalties, particularly at ruck time, that left them with too much to do in the second half after trailing by ten points at the break.

"Discipline. Little things," said Anscombe.

"You start a game and it is important. You want to get the start and things go your way. A couple of lazy penalties from us, they are metres from our line and they took their try really well (and went 10-0 up).

"Penalties really hurt us in the first half and when you get close to the goal-line it is about getting to the goal-line."

"(The season) has been long, endurable, cold, wet, but they're a good bunch of guys," added Anscombe, reflecting on his first year in charge.

"We finished last year when I wasn't here. In the Heineken Cup final we got cleaned out," he said.

"I think we showed today we are their equal now. I got a lot of heart of what I have seen and look forward to next year as a province."
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 26,00.html


A little bit of bile from a usual source................. :puker:

Indo

Leinster prove smartest in class.....................
Scoreboard does not reflect gulf in intelligence and temperament, writes .....Guess Who!
There were six points between the two sides, no doubt it was close on the scoreboard, but the gulf in knowing was enormous. The mental step between intelligence and reason.

Leinster have a sense of order and intelligent purpose about them and you knew it before they entered this game that their objectives were certain and there was pre-meditation in everything they did across the park. The faculty of the collective human mind on a rugby pitch and how they express themselves with intuition and perception is what distinguishes Leinster from other sides in this competition. And in any other competition in Europe.

They were irresistible yesterday and they met an immovable object which was determined to come away from a hugely productive season with some form of compensation for the hard work that they have put in. They did their work off the field and had done a huge amount to analyse Leinster, but they just did not have the flexibility of temperament to match Leinster and counter them when they managed to ramp up the intensity levels.

There is no question that Ulster will be disappointed to have ended the season without a trophy considering the output of effort. They left the RDS ruefully knowing that their best, and they did produce something close to their best, was ultimately not enough.

I'm struggling for a word to describe the physical exchanges yesterday. I don't think the words ferocious or feral quite does justice to the commitment in the tackle. I don't think I have seen a match in this competition where the savagery of the exchanges bordered on something close to mortal danger. Nearly all of the players walked off the pitch of their own volition, which is a miracle.

So for Leinster, atonement, that they managed to win this competition at the fourth time of asking. Where do they succeed where their northern brothers fail? Ulster will quibble with some of the marginal decisions that went against them. However, they were less than intelligent with some of the penalties they gave away and they probably deserved more than the one yellow card that they got – Chris Henry being particularly lucky that he didn't get 10 minutes for habitual malfeasance.


Leinster played the referee and more and more in these big matches, that is how you manage to win the game. Leinster were just smarter with what they could get away with and they knew what John Lacey was doing at the breakdown. The referee was very consistent on not releasing in the tackle and also very direct when it came to penalising the second tackler who did not release and then re-engage.

Leinster could read the way Lacey was playing the game and they were also incredibly dynamic in supporting their ball carrier. It was very rare that the player on the ground didn't have immediate and direct support to release the ball from the ruck.

Leinster's area of greatest prominence was their ascendancy in the back row. Shane Jennings had one of those games when you have to wonder why he doesn't have 50 caps. His lines of running, his natural intuition and his perception as to where the ball would be were just top drawer. Kevin McLaughlin, too, drove really well throughout and he got the reward for being stood down for the Amlin with another outstanding performance, up there with his outing in the semi-final against Glasgow.

Heaslip, on his current form, has overtaken Toby Faletau for the starting position against Australia in a few weeks' time. So with this pronounced advantage, Leinster could control the pace of the game and they managed to convert half of their four realistic try chances, which was enough.

Ulster's one try chance, butchered by Robbie Diack, revealed a huge amount about Leinster's resolve and the protecting of their line was embodied in the determination of Jonny Sexton. Ulster should really have scored. Sexton also missed a couple of kicks which would have put Leinster out of reach.

Ruan Pienaar took some responsibility and began to drive the game for Ulster in the second half. Paddy Jackson didn't have a bad game, but once again as the game wore on his influence lessened and lessened, despite a couple of good moments. Ian Madigan, now that Declan Kidney has been dispatched, will undoubtedly be Ireland's back-up outhalf.

Isa Nacewa played his last game for Leinster yesterday. He has been the best player in this country for the last five years and it is a matter of regret that we will not see him grace a pitch again in this part of the world. He was fleet of foot and of mind and was a guy who also did the right thing at the right time – a gentleman and a player who leaves these shores owing nothing to anybody who watched him play.

Bill Shankly said once that if Everton were playing at the back of his garden he'd draw the curtains. I had absolutely no interest in watching the Aviva Premiership final between Leicester and Northampton – both of these sides would be easily dispatched by either of the Pro12 contestants.

It was significant that Dylan Hartley was sent off. Wayne Barnes may have done everybody a favour by hopefully making sure that this unseemly player does not travel with the Lions after yet another red card. How he was ever picked in the first place is beyond me, but hopefully Rory Best will take his place.

The door to being Kings of Europe is open again after Clermont were beaten yesterday by a very average Castres side. Vern Cotter will not survive this latest lack of success so it remains to be seen whether Matt O'Connor can emulate Joe Schmidt and take this Leinster side on to another level.

Congratulations to both sides on a fantastic final and undiminished effort at this late stage in the season.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/l ... 97336.html

AND todays bit of good news...............

Newsletter

Rory Best lifted by British Lions call up......................
Rory Best’s goal now that he has been called up to the British Lions team to tour Australia is to make the Test team.

Best got the nod on Sunday after England and Northampton’s Dylan Hartley had been slapped with an 11-week ban for using abusive language to referee Wayne Barnes during the English Premiership final with Leicester Tigers on Saturday.

It had been an initial shock that Hartley had got the call ahead of Best when the tour party was initially announced four weeks ago.

Best said on Sunday: “To be called up to the squad is a massive honour.”

Twenty four hours earlier the Irish hooker was left dejected after Ulster lost the RaboDirect PRO12 final to Leinster, 24-18, at the RDS in Dublin.

Best said: “Yesterday was bitterly disappointing from a team point of view. Today from a personal view it has lifted me out of a bit of despair after the game and it was great to get the news.”

The popular player admitted that it was hard to take when he had not made the initial squad.

“It is everyone’s ambition to be called up to the Lions,” he said. “It is an ultimate goal, it is the pinnacle in Northern Hemisphere rugby.

“When you don’t make squads, you doubt your ability and the way that you are playing.

“I was fairly happy with the way that I was playing, but the support that I have had over the past number of weeks, not just from friends and family but also from the Ulster Rugby players and Management and from the fans and general public has meant a lot to me.

“Now, to finally be there, it’s hard to put into words, it makes it all worthwhile. The past few weeks, with the receptions at Ravenhill, everywhere I go, everyone wants to wish me well. Now, to finally be there, it is great.

Now that he has made the squad Best said his goal was to push for a place in the Test games against the Australians, the first of which is on June 22.

“There will be 37 players getting on a plane to Hong Kong tomorrow aiming to make the test squad and I am no different.

“I am as ambitious as everyone else. To be on the tour is unbelievable, but you have to go there and play your best rugby, put your hand up and see where that takes you.”

The Lions begin their tour with a game in Hong Kong on Saturday against the Barbarians.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby ... -1-5133928
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012/2013

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Thanks for all this Mac, brilliant idea and tirelessly carried out! Good job!!!
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012/2013

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Right folks that’s it, another season done and dusted. Still moving in the right direction overall with numerous highs and one particular low. A lot done and in place but we’re not quite there yet. This journey continues next season and again there will be ups and downs. But remember this is still only a game, where we here can drop in and out while voicing our opinions or venting our frustrations at will. As “Vinny” once said ...........”It’s been emotional”.

Rest peacefully young Nevin, you will always be one of us.

Mac.

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