Ulster v Northampton

[fivepointer]

This one does go ahead tonight. Not the game Saints would have wanted after last weeks hammering.

Ulster: Lowry; Gilroy, Hume, McCloskey, McIlroy; Burns, Cooney; Warwick, Herring, M Moore, O'Connor, Henderson (capt), Marcus Rea, Timoney, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Andrew, McGrath, O'Toole, Treadwell, Carter, Jones, Doak, S Moore.

Northampton Saints: Tuala; Sleightholme, Proctor, Dingwall, Skosan; Furbank, Mitchell; Waller, Haywood, Painter, Ribbans, Ratuniyawara, Lawes, Ludlam (capt), Wood.

Replacements: Fish, Iyogun, Carey, Coles, Augustus, James, J Grayson, Hutchinson.

[Mellsblue]

Uh oh.

[Adam_P]

That's very harsh, he almost caught it

[Mellsblue]

If Eddie’s watching he’s already plotting a 7-1 bench.

[FKAS]

Ulster are all over Saints. This could get messy if Ulster can sort out their discipline.

[Adam_P]

Sleightholme looking decent so far, good effort nearly saving the try, big carry through traffic up the middle and a very nice jackal just now.

[Adam_P]

How has that drop onto Skosan on the floor not looked at at all? Dropped his shoulder too

[Oakboy]

Did the Mitchell 'knock-on' actually go forward?

[Adam_P]

Legitimate attempt to catch the ball, with a player covering back in defence - yellow card and penalty try.

Tuck arm and drop shoulder into Skosan, possibly contacting his head, whilst lying on the floor - completely ignored

[FKAS]

The cover was never getting there on the Mitchell yellow card. The problem is he doesn't really make an effort to catch it, it's one handed despite him being in a really good position to make a legitimate catch. Looked a 50/50 call for me but as soon as the ref decided deliberate knock on it was a penalty try and that automatically means yellow card.

Yeah the Gilroy shot on Skosan on the floor was a proper cheap shot minimum penalty for me.

[Adam_P]

I feel like that was worse than a 5 point loss

[Cameo]

The cover was never getting there on the Mitchell yellow card. The problem is he doesn't really make an effort to catch it, it's one handed despite him being in a really good position to make a legitimate catch. Looked a 50/50 call for me but as soon as the ref decided deliberate knock on it was a penalty try and that automatically means yellow card.

Yeah the Gilroy shot on Skosan on the floor was a proper cheap shot minimum penalty for me.

Yeah, that's what I thought on the Mitchell one. A very strange one as he was there to catch it but didn't make any real effort to (or if he did, made a very bad effort which involved pushing the ball down with his palm facing downwards).

I would be on board with a general more lenient attitude to these though.

[Spiffy]

Good comeback by Saints. Ulster, with that possession and territory, should have been out of sight by half time but gifted Saints a series of soft penalties through poor discipline. They became more sloppy as the game progressed but held on in the end. Just about deserved the win.
Most of the discussion here on Irish v. English club games now seems to revolve around ref decisions with little or no comment/analysis on the actual rugby.
I would agree that the ref was not great but feel he did not favour either side and the result was fair.

[fivepointer]

Saints came back pretty well after a horrible opening quarter. They will be disappointed with conceding the 4 tries and their lack of accuracy at attacking breakdowns which led to a number of turnovers.
Lawes, Ribbans, Dingwall and Mitchell were the pick of their players. Painter is showing encouraging signs of development.

[Adam_P]

Dingwall has had a reasonable string of good performances now, definitely seen improvement going forward in attack. He's always been very decent in defence, and continues to hit well above his weight.

[Banquo]

Dingwall has had a reasonable string of good performances now, definitely seen improvement going forward in attack. He's always been very decent in defence, and continues to hit well above his weight.

always thought he's looked good going forward tbh- good eye for a gap and good hands- but 12 has seen him more involved and suits him.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah, also seems odd they insist on shuffling him back and forth when Hutchinson (who is far better at 13 anyway) comes in.

I thought he was one of those players full of promise that would ever actually string a handful of games together but he’s been good to watch.

[Banquo]

Yeah, also seems odd they insist on shuffling him back and forth when Hutchinson (who is far better at 13 anyway) comes in.

I thought he was one of those players full of promise that would ever actually string a handful of games together but he’s been good to watch.

They prefer his (Frasers) defence at 13 from what I gather when Hutchinson plays.