Ulster v Munster Sunday 1 January 5:15pm KO TG4 / Viaplay Sports 1 / URC TV / Super Sport

[Neill_M]

Which Ulster players are subject to the player management rule?

Herring, Treadwell, Henderson, McCloskey, Hume (currently out), Lowry, Baloucoune (currently out) ?

Nearly all of those players have been absent for games though.

Ulster really need one, if not both, of TOT or Moore available. The scrum, when EOS and Milo came on, last week was the avenue that got Connacht back into the game.

Is the Samoan All black injured or just not as good as Milo? surely if he can scrummage at all, he’s worthy of some gametime?

Not been listed on the weekly reports, so guessing Milo is ahead of him re selection?

[kingofthehill]

Which Ulster players are subject to the player management rule?

Herring, Treadwell, Henderson, McCloskey, Hume (currently out), Lowry, Baloucoune (currently out) ?

Nearly all of those players have been absent for games though.

Ulster really need one, if not both, of TOT or Moore available. The scrum, when EOS and Milo came on, last week was the avenue that got Connacht back into the game.

Is the Samoan All black injured or just not as good as Milo? surely if he can scrummage at all, he’s worthy of some gametime?

Not been listed on the weekly reports, so guessing Milo is ahead of him re selection?

Not true. TOT injured.


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[justinr73]

Very tight in that Connacht and Bristol pool.

Cardiff, Toulon and Glasgow have all won both games too.

One of them stands out a mile in terms of a trip, whilst Bristol is usually a decent night out and arguably the easiest game.

[UlsterNo9]

It is a big derby between Munster and Leinster and it's not a good look for Munster as the home side not going with best side. They have the Lions at home in Round 12 before Europe, big game given the standings. I am guessing as best possible Ulster 23 and then rotation away at Benetton?

Although there is an alternative school of thought, going strong as possible in the two URC games and sending the 2nd XV to La Rochelle, low chance of victory etc then targeting the Sale game and try and go into Challenge Cup. That is unlikely however.

Benetton have been very good at home, if we go over there anything other than full strength I don't think we will get a result. They've won 5 from 6 at home in the league this season. They then rotate their squad when on the road.

The 2nd XV to La Rochelle is the answer, then target the Sale game. As you say it's unlikely. Does a 9th or 10th finish get you a home tie in the next round of the Challenge Cup? If yes, then that is the answer.

If Ulster finished 9th/10th in their Pool, they would have an away tie in the round of 16 of the Challenge Cup to the 3rd/4th from Pool A from that competition (currently Bristol/Connacht). Can't get a home tie in the Challenge Cup Quarter Final / Semi Final UNLESS, a team who finished in first / second in their Challenge Cup pool manage to lose at home v lower ranked side from same competition. Final of both competitions at Lansdowne Road of course.

Thanks Neill, great knowledge.

If that's the case then we need to be ruthless and give Europe no priority whatsoever, we cannot win Champions Cup and if away in all knockouts in Challenge Cup we won't win it either. Go for the jugular in the league.

[Neill_M]

Which Ulster players are subject to the player management rule?

Herring, Treadwell, Henderson, McCloskey, Hume (currently out), Lowry, Baloucoune (currently out) ?

Nearly all of those players have been absent for games though.

Ulster really need one, if not both, of TOT or Moore available. The scrum, when EOS and Milo came on, last week was the avenue that got Connacht back into the game.

Is the Samoan All black injured or just not as good as Milo? surely if he can scrummage at all, he’s worthy of some gametime?

Not been listed on the weekly reports, so guessing Milo is ahead of him re selection?

Not true. TOT injured.


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I was referring to JTA rather than TOT for clarification.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Andrew Brace will referee Ulster's New Year's Day clash with Munster, assisted by Andrew Cole and Paul Haycock, with Joy Neville as TMO in another all-Irish officiating team for an inter-provincial derby

Via @admckendry on twitter

Joy Neville ain't the worst of referees, but as TMO she tries to referee the game by proxy.

I suspect she will continuously be in Brace's ear asking him to look at plenty of "incidents" that he has ignored/missed, and then telling him what he's supposed to see and how to deal with them.

Could be a very long 80 minutes.

[Neill_M]

Andrew Brace will referee Ulster's New Year's Day clash with Munster, assisted by Andrew Cole and Paul Haycock, with Joy Neville as TMO in another all-Irish officiating team for an inter-provincial derby

Via @admckendry on twitter

Joy Neville ain't the worst of referees, but as TMO she tries to referee the game by proxy.

I suspect she will continuously be in Brace's ear asking him to look at plenty of "incidents" that he has ignored/missed, and then telling him what he's supposed to see and how to deal with them.

Could be a very long 80 minutes.

New directive from Jan 1 to reduce the role of TMO in theory.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Andrew Brace will referee Ulster's New Year's Day clash with Munster, assisted by Andrew Cole and Paul Haycock, with Joy Neville as TMO in another all-Irish officiating team for an inter-provincial derby

Via @admckendry on twitter

Not much chance if Joy Neville is TMO. She is a good ref but poor TMO. If an Ulster player broke wind on the pitch she would claim it was a f`ecking hurricane.

Apologies, I hadn't noticed your post whe I made similar comment about Joy. I agree entirely with your assessment.

[Big-al]

Ulster really need to get the backline going this season. It has been poor in general.

Some of that may be down to Baloucoune and Hume being innured, but the likes of Lowry and Mcilroy haven’t been an effective. Lowry especially.

I think Tom otoole is now our best TH also. So long as he doesn’t give away penalties at scrum time.

[Neill_M]

It is a big derby between Munster and Leinster and it's not a good look for Munster as the home side not going with best side. They have the Lions at home in Round 12 before Europe, big game given the standings. I am guessing as best possible Ulster 23 and then rotation away at Benetton?

Although there is an alternative school of thought, going strong as possible in the two URC games and sending the 2nd XV to La Rochelle, low chance of victory etc then targeting the Sale game and try and go into Challenge Cup. That is unlikely however.

Benetton have been very good at home, if we go over there anything other than full strength I don't think we will get a result. They've won 5 from 6 at home in the league this season. They then rotate their squad when on the road.

The 2nd XV to La Rochelle is the answer, then target the Sale game. As you say it's unlikely. Does a 9th or 10th finish get you a home tie in the next round of the Challenge Cup? If yes, then that is the answer.

If Ulster finished 9th/10th in their Pool, they would have an away tie in the round of 16 of the Challenge Cup to the 3rd/4th from Pool A from that competition (currently Bristol/Connacht). Can't get a home tie in the Challenge Cup Quarter Final / Semi Final UNLESS, a team who finished in first / second in their Challenge Cup pool manage to lose at home v lower ranked side from same competition. Final of both competitions at Lansdowne Road of course.

Thanks Neill, great knowledge.

If that's the case then we need to be ruthless and give Europe no priority whatsoever, we cannot win Champions Cup and if away in all knockouts in Challenge Cup we won't win it either. Go for the jugular in the league.

My reading of the Amlin rules is that Ulster say as 9th placed side from Champions Cup could only have a home knockout game if they faced a 10th placed side from same competition and that all Challenge Cup sides would have home advantage over them etc.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Andrew Brace will referee Ulster's New Year's Day clash with Munster, assisted by Andrew Cole and Paul Haycock, with Joy Neville as TMO in another all-Irish officiating team for an inter-provincial derby

Via @admckendry on twitter

Joy Neville ain't the worst of referees, but as TMO she tries to referee the game by proxy.

I suspect she will continuously be in Brace's ear asking him to look at plenty of "incidents" that he has ignored/missed, and then telling him what he's supposed to see and how to deal with them.

Could be a very long 80 minutes.

New directive from Jan 1 to reduce the role of TMO in theory.

Joy will still feel obliged, even under the new directive, to call to the attention of the referee everything and anything she chooses.

It's commonly agreed that at most breakdown's the ref could penalise someone for something. The good ref's know which ones need to be punished and allow play to continue for the rest. Joy feels the need to let the ref know that she has seen every possible infringement in the game.

If the ref permits her, Joy takes the joy out of the game. I hope Brace is secure enough of his own standing (he should be) to tell her to shut up unless she sees something calamitous that he's missed, and even then to think twice before opening her mouth.

[Deraless]

JTA's last appearance he went off with an ankle injury, no idea if he has fully recovered.

[kingofthehill]

Which Ulster players are subject to the player management rule?

Herring, Treadwell, Henderson, McCloskey, Hume (currently out), Lowry, Baloucoune (currently out) ?

Nearly all of those players have been absent for games though.

Ulster really need one, if not both, of TOT or Moore available. The scrum, when EOS and Milo came on, last week was the avenue that got Connacht back into the game.

Is the Samoan All black injured or just not as good as Milo? surely if he can scrummage at all, he’s worthy of some gametime?

Not been listed on the weekly reports, so guessing Milo is ahead of him re selection?

Not true. TOT injured.


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I was referring to JTA rather than TOT for clarification.

Ahh ok. Saw a video of JTA in the gym with a recovery boot on.


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[Jetstream]

Andrew Brace will referee Ulster's New Year's Day clash with Munster, assisted by Andrew Cole and Paul Haycock, with Joy Neville as TMO in another all-Irish officiating team for an inter-provincial derby

Via @admckendry on twitter

Not much chance if Joy Neville is TMO. She is a good ref but poor TMO. If an Ulster player broke wind on the pitch she would claim it was a f`ecking hurricane.

Apologies, I hadn't noticed your post whe I made similar comment about Joy. I agree entirely with your assessment.

No problem.

[Neill_M]

The Munster squad have started preparations at the HPC today ahead of our New Year’s Day game against Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium (5.15pm, live on TG4).

On the injury front following our St Stephen’s Day derby with Leinster, Diarmuid Barron failed his HIA and will enter the return to play protocols.
Jean Kleyn will go for a scan on a knee injury and his availability for Ulster will be determined later in the week. There is good news for Mike Haley as he will return to training this week after missing the Leinster clash.

In managing game time, Munster’s Ireland internationals will be rotated in the coming weeks.

Continuing to rehab: Jeremy Loughman (thigh), John Hodnett (thigh), Tom Ahern (shoulder), RG Snyman (knee), Fineen Wycherley (shoulder), Paddy Kelly (head), Jack Daly (knee), Andrew Conway (knee), Keynan Knox (knee).