Yes Paul, that applause was...

[BR]

I tend to agree that p will not get an Irish cap in 2012 but if he doesn't get the Fiji game things are a lot worse at D4 than I'd thought.

[bazzaj]

I have just watched Connor Murry put in a really poor 80 minutes culminating in giving Racing a penalty to win the game.

He honestly resembled the Paul Marshall of two years ago with his brain fart attempt at running out of his own 22.

You beat me to this.
If DK reckons Murray is better than small P we should seriously question his sanity.
On the other hand it may be better for him and PJs development that they dont get selected for Ireland.
Kidney could potentially ruin the pair of them.
Wait till the IRFU grow a pair and get rid of DK and replace him with someone who knows what they are doing, before bringing the two of them in.

[Amiga500]

Also Pienaars cameo was just okay? Did you leave after 70 minutes and not see his try?

Lies, damn lies... and statistics.

IMO we were markedly worse with Pienaar at the base of the rucks. Being the last man on the end of a breakaway run of two backs against two forwards should not be allowed to mask that.

[TheElephantMan]

Have to comment on the wonderful performace by Paul Marshall ......what a talent! Surely he is in line for an Irish call up (even Kidney will have to get over his prejudice against Ulster players!!) and some improvement will see him challenging Phillips for the Lions.there is no one else to challenge him unfortunately!!

[Russ]

I have just watched Connor Murry put in a really poor 80 minutes culminating in giving Racing a penalty to win the game.

He honestly resembled the Paul Marshall of two years ago with his brain fart attempt at running out of his own 22.

You beat me to this.
If DK reckons Murray is better than small P we should seriously question his sanity.
On the other hand it may be better for him and PJs development that they dont get selected for Ireland.
Kidney could potentially ruin the pair of them.
Wait till the IRFU grow a pair and get rid of DK and replace him with someone who knows what they are doing, before bringing the two of them in.

Someone get this man a pint for the comment of the day!

[darkside lightside]

Outstanding stuff from Marshall, forget about the tries his distribution, decisions and box kicks were absolutely on the money - and no harm to Pienaar, justifiably held very high in our collective esteem - IMO ulsters attacking play unquestionably suffered when small left the park.. Absolutely agree with the OP btw, for my money the ovation was more for Marshall's performance, than Ruan's welcome..

Wrt Irish selection - Marshall has been the best Irish 9 this season by a country mile; Reddan has been pretty good as well, but the grossly over-rated Murray hasn't even been decent. 2 big matches back to back, Leinster and Racing - he has been unspeakably bad. But guess what, little bogger Kidney will still have him nailed on for the AIs... Go figure..

[ruckover]

BD, who would you put in for Glasgow next week and why? Anscombe has to ask himself this question too.

If he chooses Pienaar, it is simply because of his reputation, not how he played last night. And this is something which the man himself has admitted he is trying to avoid.

If he chooses Marshall, it is because he played well last night and is a reward for his good form. It may upset Ruan, but it will give him a kick up the backside and tell him, "You need to prove yourself to be selected."

I don't care which plays, one is world class, and one is in great form. Whichever scrum-half starts will have my backing, but I would choose Marshall because he is in form and will prove that Pienaar is not just selected because of his reputation.

And, no, I didn't leave after 70 minutes. Pienaar's try was a classic breakaway try. Any other scrum-half could have, and probably would have done the same thing in his position. Just because he finishes a breakaway move doesn't mean he's brilliant. In my opinion Luke Marshall did more work, spinning away from the first defender, whereas Pienaar just had to turn on the afterburners to beat the two tired defenders at the back.

[ruckover]

Guys, we should stop talking about Ireland selection right now. Although Marshall should be in the Autumn International starting team, we all know he won't even be in the squad. So there's no point in talking about it.

[Aird]

Certainly a great night for beagle,and really well taken scores, but RP is still a Class act, his delivery of his pans seems effortless.
The other good news for beagle was Muray Haida nightmare in Paris this afternoon.
This could be a problem for Ulster if both First Choice scrumhalfs are away with their international squads, although young Heaney has played quite effecitively when he has come on.

[breakdown]

BD, who would you put in for Glasgow next week and why? Anscombe has to ask himself this question too.

If he chooses Pienaar, it is simply because of his reputation, not how he played last night. And this is something which the man himself has admitted he is trying to avoid.

If he chooses Marshall, it is because he played well last night and is a reward for his good form. It may upset Ruan, but it will give him a kick up the backside and tell him, "You need to prove yourself to be selected."

I don't care which plays, one is world class, and one is in great form. Whichever scrum-half starts will have my backing, but I would choose Marshall because he is in form and will prove that Pienaar is not just selected because of his reputation.

And, no, I didn't leave after 70 minutes. Pienaar's try was a classic breakaway try. Any other scrum-half could have, and probably would have done the same thing in his position. Just because he finishes a breakaway move doesn't mean he's brilliant. In my opinion Luke Marshall did more work, spinning away from the first defender, whereas Pienaar just had to turn on the afterburners to beat the two tired defenders at the back.

I'd start Ruan, to give him a chance. It's in Scotland so sterotypicay it will probably rain, meaning a more forward dominated game. beagle wouldn't be as effective in that situation IMO. And as someone else said, it's an away match in Europe, we need to control it consistently, and Ruan brings a lot more control and composure with him than Marshall.

[Bart S]

Wrt Irish selection - Marshall has been the best Irish 9 this season by a country mile; Reddan has been pretty good as well, but the grossly over-rated Murray hasn't even been decent. 2 big matches back to back, Leinster and Racing - he has been unspeakably bad. But guess what, little bogger Kidney will still have him nailed on for the AIs... Go figure..

So D/L, if Kidney picks Marshall for the Ireland side ahead of Murray can we expect an apology from you on here admitting that you were wrong to have jumped the gun?? After all, I'm sure if he does pick Murray ahead of Marshall you'll be the first on here telling us how you were right

Ireland haven't played any matches since beagle started showing consistently good form so I'll wait and see before hanging Kidney for this one.

[ColinM]

You know what, i couldnt give a ballix if he chooses p or Ruan, Ferris or Hendo, fat Nick or Roger, let the cowboy decide, we have enough firepower whoever is picked. Boy it feels good to be able to think like that

[Bart S]

I don't think Ulster's attacking game improved when RP came on but I think it's a bit harsh to say it deteriorated when he did. It was much poorer in the 2nd half generally as we struggled to get as much good quality ball. The excellent rucking and lineout ball from the first half didn't provide the same platform in the 2nd half, so even when beagle was on it was struggling a bit.

I'm surprised by some of the comments on here saying a couple of his passes weren't 100% on the mark or a box kick wasn't inch perfect. I'm pretty sure this happens even when Ruan's playing but we all look at the overall performance. Last night beagle was top class without any doubt and absolutely instrumental in getting the win.

As for next Friday and who to select it really is a tough call. Head says Ruan as I think this is going to be a really tough outing, but heart says beagle. Either way MA has a tough decision to make and I for one won't be castigating him for choosing whichever, regardless of how they end up playing. I just think it's great for Ulster that we are even having a serious debate about this on here.

[BaggyTrousers]

Certainly a great night for beagle,and really well taken scores, but RP is still a Class act, his delivery of his pans seems effortless.
The other good news for beagle was Muray Haida nightmare in Paris this afternoon.
This could be a problem for Ulster if both First Choice scrumhalfs are away with their international squads, although young Heaney has played quite effecitively when he has come on.

Aye he certainly did & Reddan looked his usual poor self in Dublin. If Deccie saw the three games which he will obviously, he has got to at least consider Small p for the AIs.

From a purely selfish point of view I'd worry we would be without our 2 best 9s.

[Bart S]

If beagle and Ruan are away then it's a great opportunity for Heaney to show what he can do. He'll be playing behind a pack that should still be a pretty strong Ulster pack (compared to other weakened teams). MA seems to be creating an environment where guys know that if they come in and take their chance it will be recognised so there's plenty of incentive for him there.