hard one to call but dont really mind!

Id have to go with ulster.
I think they will be hungrier than Munster and if Ferris is fit i dont see why they cant do it.
I think they are more dynamic in the backline and if they beat Munster that will be needed against Tolouse.I dont think the Munster backline is on fire at the moment.
As long as either team can beat Tolouse i dont mind too much.

mary hinge wrote: Difficult one. I think I'll be shouting for Ulster as I'd like to see them do well, although I must admit if they had a few more Ulstermen, and a few less Boers on the park I'd take to them more. From a purely selfish point of view of Connacht qualifying for next year's HEC, then Munster probably have a better chance of winning this tournament than Ulster.........therefore the holier-than-thou's to win.

Personally I'll be cheering on Ulster, two-fold really as my better half is a gringo and on the other hand I also want to see the Munster-Leinster dominence broken which in turn will be a good fillup for Connacht.

Mary - if you look at both squads there is not much difference in their recruitment makeup to seperate them. Ulster in fact halve always produced more local lads if anything espcially in the backs.

Munster still have a lot of NIQ's in their squad (excluding the injured Doug Howlett) they still have two Saffers who will definately start at Prop and a Tongan/Kiwi in the Centre. Their other NIQ's are Fijian Savenaca Tokula and another Kiwi Peter Borlase (both not required for HEC).

In terms of local players they have imported from outside Munster nearly half their backline as Jones, Murphy and (NIQ) Mafi will start, and Keatley will be on the bench.

Ulster have NIQ's [Payne (like Howlett on long term injury), Pienaar, Terblanche, Afoa, Mueller and Wannenberg] Terblanche will probably bench.

Robbie Diack was a Project Player form South Africa but since summer 2011 qualifies for Ireland. Of their other "imports" Kyriacku has played for Ireland A, Callum Black although English came through the Exiles & Ireland Age groups and Aussie Adam Darcy is Irish qualified by parentage. Next season will see Danieli leave as Bowe is back in town, Wannenberg is being replaced by Roger Wilson and Tereblanche will leave as Payne should be fit. So that will see a much smaller group of NIQ's..

NIQ'sinBold wrote:
Munster Squad:

Backs: Johne Murphy, Ian Keatley, Tomas O’Leary, Felix Jones, Denis Hurley, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Simon Zebo, Ronan O’Gara, Conor Murray, Danny Barnes, Duncan Williams, Scott Deasy,

Forwards: David Wallace, Donnacha O’Callaghan, Stephen Archer, Marcus Horan, Damien Varley, James Coughlan, Tommy O’Donnell, Peter O’Mahony, Paul O’Connell, Donnacha Ryan, BJ Botha, Mike Sherry, Wian Du Preez, Mick O’Driscoll, Billy Holland, John Ryan, Denis Fogarty.

Ulster Squad:
Forwards:
Callum Black, Tom Court, Adam Macklin, Declan Fitzpatrick, John Afoa, Paddy McAllister, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Andi Kyricaou, Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy, Johann Muller (captain), Neil McComb, Stephen Ferris, Mike McComish, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack

Backs:
Paul Marshall, Ruan Pienaar, Ian Porter, Ian Humphreys, Paddy Jackson, Luke Marshall, Paddy Wallace, Ian Whitten, Nevin Spence, Darren Cave, Stefan Terblanche, Conor Gaston, Craig Gilroy, Andrew Trimble, Adam D’Arcy

Not sure I get the whole "Ulster have too many South Africans" thing. Is it because the a number of their NIE players are from SA? Or that the majority of their NIE players are first team starters?

If it's the former, well, we're hardly SA free.

If it's the latter, well sorry, but that's just good business. Ulster haven't wasted investment in NIE players. It makes a lot more sense to get in NIE starters in areas that need improvement rather than just fill your quota for the sake of it. Ulster have been the best of the province at getting quality NIEs in.

Difficult one. I think I'll be shouting for Ulster as I'd like to see them do well, although I must admit if they had a few more Ulstermen, and a few less Boers on the park I'd take to them more. From a purely selfish point of view of Connacht qualifying for next year's HEC, then Munster probably have a better chance of winning this tournament than Ulster.........therefore the holier-than-thou's to win.

Agree with ummm

Munster in Ireland for the Semi would be very hard to beat.

Away to Clermont for Leinster would not be best but you always have to remember that the French sides do not always turn up for away matches so some hope for Saracens.

Clermont are 3-1 up in the HC head to head matches against Saracens but they are also only 1 point behind Toulouse in the race for the Super 14. Wonder where their focus lies.

The winner will play either Edinburgh or Toulouse in Lansdowne Road. I'd be more comfortable with a Munster win TBH. Nothing against Ulster, just think a Munster win would give Connacht a better chance of HEC games next year.

Leinster, if they win, will play away to Saracens or Clermont. Ouch.

Ulster

Surely Ulster, on the grounds that they're more likely to beat Toulouse in the semifinal. Munster may be unbeaten but they could have lost 5 of 6; Ulster were denied victory in Clermont only by a dodgy ref, even though they were already qualified.

Who do we want to win here?

Munster, could have a beter chance of getting to the final due to their experience
Ulster, could focus their energy and players on a HC semi-final, giving us a better chance of beating them next week in Galway

If there was zero impact on Connacht in this match, I'd like to see Ulster win. Not sure why. Just would