The IMF wrote: See Afoa has been cited for a dangerous tackle?

Given the current climate in relation to spear tackles and the fact that he doesn't (yet) play for England he is in serious danger of being banned for the Semi Final.

That throws a massive spanner in the works in terms of hoping for an all Ireland final but even if he is banned I think Ulster will have enough to beat Edinburg but i'd say it will be tight.

Would be a bigger problem for them if they were drawn to meet Clermont, don't think they'll be too badly hurt against Edinburgh though. Anyway they should suspend him for our game just in case he gets a leniant one. Tackle may have looked bad, but to me it looked like he tried to bring Jones down with himself rather than complete a tip tackle..

See Afoa has been cited for a dangerous tackle?

Given the current climate in relation to spear tackles and the fact that he doesn't (yet) play for England he is in serious danger of being banned for the Semi Final.

That throws a massive spanner in the works in terms of hoping for an all Ireland final but even if he is banned I think Ulster will have enough to beat Edinburg but i'd say it will be tight.

Congrats indeed to Ulster.

My prediction before the game was that Ulster would run them closer than people thought.Didin't think the Northerners were getting the respect they deserve,would play a good game but would lose by less than 5 .

Not for a moment did i think they'd win (to my eternal shame)

Well frickin done.

congrats to ulster, im gutted but you cant give a team a 19pt lead after 20 odd min and expect to win.

Congrats to Ulster. Thought Munster might edge it but fair play to the men from the north. Was listening on the radio and it sounded like they dictated the pace from the off giving them enough of a buffer to withstand the inevitable Munster fightback.

As usual Mr. Poite isn't a popular man in Limerick, looking at the highlights Munster could have a case with some of the calls but Ulster have come of age as a serious European contender today.

For me the quality just isn't there in Munster at present and they are going to have a few years in the doldrums I reckon, obviously they have been unfortunate with injury, Howlett, O'Connell etc. but whoever gets the job next has a tough job on their hands.

Ulster v Edinburgh is a potential banana skin, Ulster will have to handle the expectation of being favourites but their form since around the turn of the year has been good and with home advantage and this momentum behind them they should be able to see off the Scots.

Clermont have shown at Saracens today that they mean business in this competition, they are always strong at home but rarely won the important HC games on the road so thats a big one today. It'll be a massive test for Leinster.

Victory to Ulster!

Congrats,

Two Irish Provinces in the semis, lets hope for an Irish showdown

ConnachtCows wrote:

Greendragon wrote: Don't care as long as we have two Irish Provinces in the final!!! then just sit back and wait for next years Heineken Cup.

And watch the Season Ticket sales soar

Well hopefully, a beneficial draw like last seasonshowever unlikely would certainly help.

Have to say that I will be rooting for Munster (due to family connections)

tomorrow my son will be wearing a Connacht shirt with a Munster vest underneath,

family compromise :silly:

ive never tried to hide that im from limerick and a munster thomond park season ticketholder. i live in roscommon and ive attended 10 connacht games this season so far and intend going to remaining 2 home games. Connacht come a very close 2nd to me. My son attends connacht games with me and considers himself a rossie and connacht man in spite of my best efforts and that of my family. I did convince my daughter to support Munster but i kno in my heart that its only because she likes sitting in the stand and eating the muffins etc. Thats women for you!

In relation to the warmth towards tipp comment, i know thats hard to believe for u galway lads, as alimk man i feel the same. I was at the last 3 finals and to my surprise there was very much a swing towards tipp for the first two among the nuetrals and tipp supporters for their part were trying to remain humble.
Last years final tho normal service resumed. all nuetrals wanted them beaten and they were their usual arrogant selves!

So Rossie is a Munster Man/woman ...hmmm

Greendragon wrote: Don't care as long as we have two Irish Provinces in the final!!! then just sit back and wait for next years Heineken Cup.

And watch the Season Ticket sales soar

Don't care as long as we have two Irish Provinces in the final!!! then just sit back and wait for next years Heineken Cup.

Ulsterrrrrr

For no other reason than I like underdogs. Would be quite content if Munster got through. To be frank as long as one of the Provinces win the HEC I couldn't care which!

rossie wrote: firstly id like to state that i dont mind what result contributers here want from this game. each to their own and all that.

having said that im surprised at the preferences being posted here given that on a previous thread early in the season most posters cited ulster as connachts biggest rivals in pro rugby!

was there a few porkies being told then and the true answer is in fact munster?

the reasons given at the time were sound, in that connacht to qualify in own right for hec means finisishing higher than ulster in pro 12, so therefore how does an ulster win help connacht this season or next?

there is an obvious belief here that munster have gotten bigger than their boots but be careful what you wish for. i remember the warmth out there towards clare in 95 for mccarthy triumph and the swing against them in 96,97 and 98. same in 2010 for tipp and against them in 2011. different code, same culture and sentiment.

the best result out of this game for connacht rugby in a good munster win on two fronts.

1. Munster will have a home semi against toulouse(prob) where 45 to 50000 munster fans will (prob) help get them over the line in aviva against a very good team. if leinster are beaten by Clermont(prob winners of qtr) in france then munster will have 60000+ at final giving massive advantage to them which should help them over line and connacht into hec. if leinster win game on and happy days for connacht.
2. A beaten ulster team stops or slows momentum building at a time when connacht are invessting in trying to close the gap between teams in order to qualify in future years in their own right.

Either way a win for ulster isnt good for connacht in any way, no matter what your opinion of munster rugby is.

for me, and i dont care if its 1 pt or 50 pts, but i believe we will win the game and maybe the cup. We have the pack, half backs, and an underated backline(nothing new there,2 wins), not to mention experience and a decent draw to do it. in addition the injury list is thinning at the right time(touch wood)and everyone is up for it from crowd to team.
Last week was dissapointing definately but this sunday is what its all about. Everyone who attended last saturday understood that beforehand and know whats expected of them this week.

If it goes the other way il be the first to congratulate ulster because thats rugby but until that happens MUNSTER!!! holiier than thou or not!

You nullified your whole arguement by saying there was "warmth" towards Tipp,

Nobody likes Tipp

firstly id like to state that i dont mind what result contributers here want from this game. each to their own and all that.

having said that im surprised at the preferences being posted here given that on a previous thread early in the season most posters cited ulster as connachts biggest rivals in pro rugby!

was there a few porkies being told then and the true answer is in fact munster?

the reasons given at the time were sound, in that connacht to qualify in own right for hec means finisishing higher than ulster in pro 12, so therefore how does an ulster win help connacht this season or next?

there is an obvious belief here that munster have gotten bigger than their boots but be careful what you wish for. i remember the warmth out there towards clare in 95 for mccarthy triumph and the swing against them in 96,97 and 98. same in 2010 for tipp and against them in 2011. different code, same culture and sentiment.

the best result out of this game for connacht rugby in a good munster win on two fronts.

1. Munster will have a home semi against toulouse(prob) where 45 to 50000 munster fans will (prob) help get them over the line in aviva against a very good team. if leinster are beaten by Clermont(prob winners of qtr) in france then munster will have 60000+ at final giving massive advantage to them which should help them over line and connacht into hec. if leinster win game on and happy days for connacht.
2. A beaten ulster team stops or slows momentum building at a time when connacht are invessting in trying to close the gap between teams in order to qualify in future years in their own right.

Either way a win for ulster isnt good for connacht in any way, no matter what your opinion of munster rugby is.

for me, and i dont care if its 1 pt or 50 pts, but i believe we will win the game and maybe the cup. We have the pack, half backs, and an underated backline(nothing new there,2 wins), not to mention experience and a decent draw to do it. in addition the injury list is thinning at the right time(touch wood)and everyone is up for it from crowd to team.
Last week was dissapointing definately but this sunday is what its all about. Everyone who attended last saturday understood that beforehand and know whats expected of them this week.

If it goes the other way il be the first to congratulate ulster because thats rugby but until that happens MUNSTER!!! holiier than thou or not!

Munster will probably do enough to win this but although they've done well in the Heineken to date, really can't see this Munster side going all the way. Too many question marks for me and over-reliance on the two props and O'Gara in particular.

Would like to see Ulster win in one way so McLaughlin could give two fingers to the board and also they'd probably take their eye off the ball in the Rabo against us the following weekend!

Don't really mind, just hope its a better game (or allowed to be a better game) than last Saturdays Rabo bore.