The UAFC

Ulster A team to play Munster A, Celtic Cup Round 7, Friday 4 October 2019 at Shaw’s Bridge (kick-off 5.00pm):

(15-9): Ethan McIlroy; Angus Kernohan, Hayden Hyde, Ben Power, Graham Curtis; Bruce Houston, Jonny Stewart;

(1-8): Tommy O’Hagan, Zack McCall, Andrew Warwick, David O’Connor, Jack Regan, Joe Dunleavy, David McCann (Capt), Marcus Rea.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Callum Reid, Peter Cooper, Matthew Dalton, Matthew Agnew, Nathan Doak, Luke Pollock, Conor Rankin.

Ulster confirmed as 2nd as 1st placed Leinster beat 3rd placed Connacht 43-14 this afternoon.

Celtic Cup Final – Saturday 12th October

Ulster 12-31 Munster FT. McCann and Curtis with the Ulster tries (info from Ulster twitter feed who was not originally aware the Connacht Leinster game was today)

The final is at 15:00 on Saturday 13th October in Donnybrook.

d4surfer wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 11:39 am The final is at 15:00 on Saturday 13th October in Donnybrook.

Sunday 13th

Neill_M wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 11:56 am

d4surfer wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 11:39 am The final is at 15:00 on Saturday 13th October in Donnybrook.

Sunday 13th

Correct Sunday 13th.

Who's losing to Leinster in the final? I assume Leinster are in the final and some other poor souls are making up the numbers.

solidarity wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:54 pm Who's losing to Leinster in the final? I assume Leinster are in the final and some other poor souls are making up the numbers.

... errr, it's Ulster actually.

Leinster 7-0 35 pts
Ulster 5-2 25 pts
Connacht 5-2 23 pts
Scarlets 4-3 22 pts
Dragons 2-5 15 pts
Munster 2-4-1 13 pts
Ospreys 1-5-1 8 pts
Cardiff Blues 1-6 7 pts

big mervyn wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2019 10:20 pm

solidarity wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:54 pm Who's losing to Leinster in the final? I assume Leinster are in the final and some other poor souls are making up the numbers.

... errr, it's Ulster actually.

Oops

Leinster A 31 - 10 Ulster A in the Celtic Cup Final

Doak preferred over Stewart is interesting

17-10 HT, much closer than game in League phase

Still, a final appearance is not to be sniffed at. Does this C C show that the gap between Irish and Welsh rugby is growing?

Knows nothing wrote: ↑Sun Oct 13, 2019 8:18 pm Doak preferred over Stewart is interesting

They've kept continuity with the team over the span of the competition, for instance we probably could have had Johnston involved over Houston. Then Stewart really hasn't kicked on as a player and they do seem to rate Doak (rather than invest time in a player who could actually play for Ulster this season).

solidarity wrote: ↑Sun Oct 13, 2019 10:27 pm Still, a final appearance is not to be sniffed at. Does this C C show that the gap between Irish and Welsh rugby is growing?

Ulster, Leinster and Connacht all beat the four Welsh teams which would suggest that gap is growing at this level anyway. In the Pro14, the Welsh don't appear to have great strength in depth. The Welsh national team are clearly world class but the step down seems particularly steep.