Ulster v Cardiff Fri 25th October 7:35pm

[Neill_M]

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 38th Championship appearance)
AR1: Sean Gallagher (IRFU) AR2: Dave Sutherland (SRU)
TMO: Neil Paterson (SRU)
Live on eir sport 2, Premier Sports 1, S4C

[Neill_M]

The Ulster Rugby Medical Performance Team have issued a squad update ahead of Friday’s fixture versus Cardiff Blues at Kingspan Stadium.

Following his return from South Africa, Michael Lowry underwent ankle surgery and will be unavailable for 6-8 weeks.

The following players have sustained recent injuries and are also unavailable for selection this weekend:
Rob Lyttle (back)
Tommy O’Hagan (knee)

Squad updates in association with The Ulster Independent Clinic.

No mention of Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Stuart McCloskey or Will Addison.

https://twitter.com/admckendry/status/1 ... 59424?s=20

[Amiga500]

No question we need to be beating the Blues at home.

Glasgow might go down to the Dragons at Rodney parade given how they've started which would be useful - but the Cheetahs may well beat the Westies. Which would mean they'll be troublesome to catch over the full season.

[Neill_M]

No question we need to be beating the Blues at home.

Glasgow might go down to the Dragons at Rodney parade given how they've started which would be useful - but the Cheetahs may well beat the Westies. Which would mean they'll be troublesome to catch over the full season.

Need to win the home games. Once things settle down Glasgow and Leinster will probably occupy the top 2 spots. Given Scotland's early RWC exit, Glasgow may start seeing their 1st XV players return. Read on twitter that the Munster players in the Ireland squad will report back the week of their game v ourselves (week starting Monday Nov 4th).

Cheetahs have crazy schedule, just had 3 home games. Next home game is in February, next game in South Africa at the Kings is in January. Have 5 straight games in the NH and 8 of their next 10 games are in the NH. They finish off with 7 of last 8 games in South Africa.

[Amiga500]

Its gonna be real interesting to see how the Cheetahs go with RP directing traffic from 9.

If they have a back three that can chase and catch - then they have the tools to do very well.

[Neill_M]

Ulster team to play Cardiff Blues, Guinness PRO14 Round 4, Friday 25 October 2019 at Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 7.35pm):

(15-9) Will Addison, Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, James Hume, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns (Capt.), John Cooney;

(1-8) Jack McGrath, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, Sean Reidy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements (16-23) Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Ross Kane, Sam Carter, Nick Timoney, David Shanahan, Bill Johnston, Matt Faddes.

Cardiff Blues: Matthew Morgan; Jason Harries, Garyn Smith, Willis Halaholo, Aled Summerhill; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; Brad Thyer, Liam Belcher, Scott Andrews, Josh Turnbull, Rory Thornton, Will Boyde, Olly Robinson, Nick Williams (capt)

Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Corey Domachowski, Keiron Assiratti, Seb Davies, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Lewis Jones, Jason Tovey, Harri Millard

[Lurgan Lad]

Like to think we will win this handily enough, pretty decent team we have out.

[Aird]

Would have agreed with Lurgan Lad if I hadn’t seen that Mike Adamson is reffing the match with his usual style.

[damianmcr]

Great start.

[for dog and ulcer]

Ulster fortunate to be 17 up at halftime. Not playing at all impressively given the apparent strength of the team fielded. Looked in first 20 like it could be a big score. Then momentum shifted and only shocking Cardiff ineptitude stopped Cardiff scoring. Marshall's yellow card debatable.

[for dog and ulcer]

I have the volume up on the S4C commentary which is in Welsh. That way I can hear the referee. There is nothing else of any value to me.

[for dog and ulcer]

Classic Ulster lack of concentration gives away dodgy try. Adamson and Patterson combined joke. 17 7

[fermain]

Good partisan crowd!
thought Cardiff deserved their try just because of their good footwork, decent support and poor Ulster tackling. Forward pass or not.

[fermain]

Cooney penalty "over the bar!!"

20 - 7

[GLENN CORNICK]

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 38th Championship appearance)

More Scotch shytte reffing.