Ulster V Leinster Friday 30th Sept

[Kanbei]

The whole concept has been a shambles from day one. I would love to know how much this is costing. Good money that could have been spent on grass roots rugby.

Not costing anything, Toyota are paying Ireland to come over.

[StandUp]

I know Toyota are sponsoring the so called “tournament” but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are covering all costs.

[Neill_M]

Adam McKendry
@admckendry

Sean Reffell (hamstring) the only player listed as unlikely for this weekend's game against Leinster by Ulster head coach Dan McFarland.

"Most of the other guys should be OK but we've got some guys we need to check up on," he adds.

[Neill_M]

I know Toyota are sponsoring the so called “tournament” but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are covering all costs.

Apparently IRFU paying for the flights, everything else is being covered by Toyota.

[StandUp]

Adam McKendry
@admckendry

Sean Reffell (hamstring) the only player listed as unlikely for this weekend's game against Leinster by Ulster head coach Dan McFarland.

"Most of the other guys should be OK but we've got some guys we need to check up on," he adds.

Very unlucky for Reffell. Hopefully it’s not serious. Looks like a very useful player.
Sounds like a few guys carrying knocks already.

[Bart S]

Whatever the merits ir lack of them regarding this tour, the reality is that ulster have lost the grand total of 1 first choice player (Bobby B) and 2 others (Doak and possibly Stewart) who would make a first choice 23. Leinster have been a lot more hamstrung before and get on with it, sometimes only having the grand total of 1 first choice player actually available.

Hope they bring a strong side and let ulster get stuck into them. Good test of where ulster are.

[StandUp]

Whatever the merits ir lack of them regarding this tour, the reality is that ulster have lost the grand total of 1 first choice player (Bobby B) and 2 others (Doak and possibly Stewart) who would make a first choice 23. Leinster have been a lot more hamstrung before and get on with it, sometimes only having the grand total of 1 first choice player actually available.

Hope they bring a strong side and let ulster get stuck into them. Good test of where ulster are.

Apples and bowling balls. Leinster have a much larger squad, and can lose players without too much disruption.

[HwoodMike2umate]

Lest We Forget, it will be DAY 5732. Or approx 8,254,080 minutes.

[Bart S]

Whatever the merits ir lack of them regarding this tour, the reality is that ulster have lost the grand total of 1 first choice player (Bobby B) and 2 others (Doak and possibly Stewart) who would make a first choice 23. Leinster have been a lot more hamstrung before and get on with it, sometimes only having the grand total of 1 first choice player actually available.

Hope they bring a strong side and let ulster get stuck into them. Good test of where ulster are.

Apples and bowling balls. Leinster have a much larger squad, and can lose players without too much disruption.

The apples and bowling balls comparison could easily be made to the number of players both teams lose to these kinds of call ups.

If Ulster have aspirations of being a top team then they should be challenging Leinster this weekend regardless of these call ups, especially at home.

[Columbo]

Whatever the merits ir lack of them regarding this tour, the reality is that ulster have lost the grand total of 1 first choice player (Bobby B) and 2 others (Doak and possibly Stewart) who would make a first choice 23. Leinster have been a lot more hamstrung before and get on with it, sometimes only having the grand total of 1 first choice player actually available.

Hope they bring a strong side and let ulster get stuck into them. Good test of where ulster are.

Taking Baloucoune on the tour really annoys me, because he’s in a different category to the rest, but I agree with this sentiment - I hope they come fully loaded, we can lay down a big marker..

[Bart S]

Whatever the merits ir lack of them regarding this tour, the reality is that ulster have lost the grand total of 1 first choice player (Bobby B) and 2 others (Doak and possibly Stewart) who would make a first choice 23. Leinster have been a lot more hamstrung before and get on with it, sometimes only having the grand total of 1 first choice player actually available.

Hope they bring a strong side and let ulster get stuck into them. Good test of where ulster are.

Taking Baloucoune on the tour really annoys me, because he’s in a different category to the rest, but I agree with this sentiment - I hope they come fully loaded, we can lay down a big marker..

Agree on Baloucoune. He should be challenging for a starting xv shirt for Ireland, whereas of the others I'd say only the now injured Frawley has any chance of making the squad.

[Dave]

Whatever the merits ir lack of them regarding this tour, the reality is that ulster have lost the grand total of 1 first choice player (Bobby B) and 2 others (Doak and possibly Stewart) who would make a first choice 23. Leinster have been a lot more hamstrung before and get on with it, sometimes only having the grand total of 1 first choice player actually available.

Hope they bring a strong side and let ulster get stuck into them. Good test of where ulster are.

Neither team should lose any players in the course of the season like this. It's utter BS. This should not be normalised in any way.

[justinr73]

Whatever the merits ir lack of them regarding this tour, the reality is that ulster have lost the grand total of 1 first choice player (Bobby B) and 2 others (Doak and possibly Stewart) who would make a first choice 23. Leinster have been a lot more hamstrung before and get on with it, sometimes only having the grand total of 1 first choice player actually available.

Hope they bring a strong side and let ulster get stuck into them. Good test of where ulster are.

Correct and let’s not forget that BB is hardly an established international - he’s got 2 caps.

This admittedly weird tour is manna from heaven in terms of the lad’s chances of making the World Cup squad.

[UlsterNo9]

Whatever the merits ir lack of them regarding this tour, the reality is that ulster have lost the grand total of 1 first choice player (Bobby B) and 2 others (Doak and possibly Stewart) who would make a first choice 23. Leinster have been a lot more hamstrung before and get on with it, sometimes only having the grand total of 1 first choice player actually available.

Hope they bring a strong side and let ulster get stuck into them. Good test of where ulster are.

Great post. If anything we are going to be facing a stronger Leinster team as they are unable to draw on their wider squad who are away with Emerging Ireland, therefore Leinster are forced to play their front line.

A proper inter pro. Most welcome. Let's see where we really are at in terms of progress.

[StandUp]

A proper interpro would indeed be most welcome if both team had full squads to pick from. We have been unnecessarily weakened by a ridiculous excuse of a tour.