Benetton v Ulster Saturday January 7 1pm KO (UK Time) Viaplay (Premier) Sports 1 / URC TV / Super Sport

[Neill_M]

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7
Benetton v Ulster
Stadio Monigo, Treviso – KO 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 87th league game)
AR 1: Filippo Russo (FIR) AR 2: Filippo Vinci (FIR)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)

[Dharper]

Massive point to prove by the group to the “external noise”. The aim has to be a bp win, a second half shut out, a solid MMless scrum, lower error count, more clinical attack.

[Neill_M]

Benetton 33-11 Glasgow Round 1
Benetton 34-23 Scarlets Round 3
Benetton 34-14 Dragons Round 4
Benetton 22-44 Bulls Round 6
Benetton 24-17 Edinburgh Round 8
Benetton 38-5 Zebre Round 10

5-1 record at home this season, 5-0 v NH sides.

[justinr73]

It’s the Epiphany Bank Holiday on Friday.

Given Italy’s relatively high proportion of God botherers, do we know to what extent that may impact upon our likely programme of cultural activities?

ie will the Celtic pub be open?

[Big-al]

Massive point to prove by the group to the “external noise”. The aim has to be a bp win, a second half shut out, a solid MMless scrum, lower error count, more clinical attack.

Ulster can never be confident if EOS and Milo are coming on to shore up the scrum.

It’s time to see if Scott Wilson is an option. He looked decent at u20 level.

[Neill_M]

It’s the Epiphany Bank Holiday on Friday.

Given Italy’s relatively high proportion of God botherers, do we know to what extent that may impact upon our likely programme of cultural activities?

ie will the Celtic pub be open?

Shops and tourist sites apparently only closed, bars and restaurants ok - it is a national holiday.

Celtic Pub Opening Hours (From their Facebook page)

Monday 10:00 - 15:00 18:00 - 02:00
Tuesday 10:00 - 15:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 15:00 18:00 - 02:00
Thursday 10:00 - 15:00 18:00 - 02:00
Friday 10:00 - 15:00 18:00 - 02:00
Saturday 10:00 - 02:00
Sunday CLOSED

[thecrouch]

Massive point to prove by the group to the “external noise”. The aim has to be a bp win, a second half shut out, a solid MMless scrum, lower error count, more clinical attack.

There is no way we'll get a BP win here, a LBP is more likely!

It's going to be a heavily rotated side that travels to this, I think numerous players are due a rest. Treviso are pretty good at home, certainly good enough to beat rotated Ulster.

Given the euro game the week after I'd bet Hendo, Cooney, McCloskey, Vermuelen etc will all be watching this one on TV from their sofas.

[justinr73]

I’d rather they were watching the LR game on the tele!

[jean valjean]

Agree that the benetton game is much more important that the LR one. The away game in France is a free hit for some fringe players to show what they can do.

[Neill_M]

Massive point to prove by the group to the “external noise”. The aim has to be a bp win, a second half shut out, a solid MMless scrum, lower error count, more clinical attack.

There is no way we'll get a BP win here, a LBP is more likely!

It's going to be a heavily rotated side that travels to this, I think numerous players are due a rest. Treviso are pretty good at home, certainly good enough to beat rotated Ulster.

Given the euro game the week after I'd bet Hendo, Cooney, McCloskey, Vermuelen etc will all be watching this one on TV from their sofas.

McCloskey and Henderson are due to sit out 1 more game in this stretch so either Treviso / La Rochelle / Sale. Vermeulen sat out Connacht and Cooney didn't play v Zebre or Sale. Shanahan is unavailable this weekend also (hammie).

[Silverstu]

They rested McCann, Rea jr and Timoney, big Al is back in the row and Hume, Stockdale and Baloucoune need game time . A returning Herring and o"Toole - decent enough squad. Does Henderson need rested? He's just back?
Definite need a more clinical performance and the backline to start performing- our last two games we have been dominant but we haven't been scoring. Are Lowry and Luke Marshall out with injuries or just rested?

[Neill_M]

They rested McCann, Rea jr and Timoney, big Al is back in the row and Hume, Stockdale and Baloucoune need game time . A returning Herring and o"Toole - decent enough squad. Does Henderson need rested? He's just back?
Definite need a more clinical performance and the backline to start performing- our last two games we have been dominant but we haven't been scoring. Are Lowry and Luke Marshall out with injuries or just rested?

Neither Lowry / Marshall listed as injured but that list always seems to be incomplete for whatever reason. Henderson is within Ireland set up so his minutes are probably controlled.

https://all.rugby/player/iain-henderson

[thecrouch]

Agree that the benetton game is much more important that the LR one. The away game in France is a free hit for some fringe players to show what they can do.

I agree that this league game is more important, but there is absolutely 0% chance that Ulster will ever select a rotated team for a European game.

[paddybrown]

Lowry went off for an HIA against Connacht and didn't come back on, so he would have been in the head bin for Munster.

[Hans Indaruck]

Lowry went off for an HIA against Connacht and didn't come back on, so he would have been in the head bin for Munster.

Spoke to him on Sunday - he says he’ll be back this week.