The UAFC

Setanta wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2020 3:31 pm When is the team announced? I see Nakarawa is back for Glasgow and Tuilagi back for the England game.

Saturday game, so match day squad announced Friday lunchtime.

Dragons Benetton has been postponed due to Storm Dennis. Was scheduled for a 7:35pm KO on Saturday. Not a big distance between Newport and Swansea.

Neill_M wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2020 6:21 pm Not a big distance between Newport and Swansea.

9 points.

May be a good idea to leave Peel in Belfast for this one.

Dragons v Benneton already postponed due to a threat of some rain.

Big difference in pitch though.

justinr73 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:28 am Big difference in pitch though.

No mention of pitch in the official tweet. Safety of supporters and staff was the given reason. Safety Elves.

The state of the stands in Newport is as bad as the pitch!

justinr73 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:28 am Big difference in pitch though.

Didn't they get a new pitch.....

You're right - in 2017 apparently.

"A synthetic weave goes on the base with the grass and soil on top, which gives the pitch a muddy aesthetic but is actually not too bad to play on."

I'm glad they retained the muddy aesthetic from the last one!

jackthelad wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2020 10:52 am

justinr73 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:28 am Big difference in pitch though.

Didn't they get a new pitch.....

They did. One of those GrassMaster pitches - part grass/artificial. Same sort as Lansdowne Road, Twickenham, Murrayfield, Millenium Stadium and Stade Marcel Michelin. Their issue will always be that Dave Parade is beside the river and at flood risk.

Anyway Ulster due to fly out to Cardiff at 2:30pm this afternoon from Aldergrove, fun fact.

Glad I settled for Bishop's Stortford against Blackheath tomorrow - the weather forecast isn't much better but at least I won't be too far from home!

A nice Ravenhill/Twickenham double-header the week after - don't make me drink too much beer after the Ulster game please Neill as I will have an early start in the morning.

Ulster team to play Ospreys, Guinness PRO14 Round 11, Saturday 15 February at Liberty Stadium, kick-off 5.15pm (Live on Premier Sports 1, Eir Sport 1 and S4C):

(15-9) Matt Faddes, Robert Baloucoune, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns, David Shanahan.

(1-8) Eric O'Sullivan, Adam McBurney, Marty Moore, Alan O'Connor (Capt.), Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, Sean Reidy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: John Andrew, Jack McGrath, Tom O'Toole, David O'Connor, Jordi Murphy, Jonny Stewart, Bill Johnston, Craig Gilroy.

Starting XV
15. Cai Evans
14. Hanno Dirksen
13. Owen Watkin
12. Kieran Williams
11. Luke Morgan
10. Luke Price
9. Aled Davies

1.Nicky Smith
2. Scott Otten
3. Simon Gardiner
4. Adam Beard
5. Bradley Davies
6. Dan Lydiate ©
7. Olly Cracknell
8. Gareth Evans

Replacements
16. Sam Parry
17. Gareth Thomas
18. Gheorghe Gajion
19. Lloyd Ashley
20. Sam Cross
21. Shaun Venter
22. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler
23. James Hook

The following players were unavailable for selection due to International duty:
Justin Tipuric, Alun Wyn Jones, George North (All Wales).

The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury:
Gareth Anscombe
Harri Morgan
Cory Allen
James King
Rhys Henry
Ben Glynn
Will Griffiths
Keelan Giles
Tom Botha
Rhodri Jones
Scott Williams

James Hook still going!

Jordi on the bench ??

Is he in negotiations ?