EUROPEAN SEMI FINALS

[Scott1]

Hold on,the website is contradicting itself! On the fixture list it only says May 1/2 but on the news article of the draw it says 30 April and May 1/2.

[Scott1]

why not have 2 Saturday and 2 Sunday instead of having one Friday night?

Why?! Some people enjoy a Friday night game after a long hard slog at work with a beer or 8 and a curry. Used to love Friday night WR games too.

it just makes more sense you are going to get a bigger audience Saturday and Sunday then Friday night

Who cares? We are not there so it doesn’t matter. And I would’ve thought that more people have more to do on a Saturday afternoon than a Friday night but I dont know if the viewing figures back that up.

[jgriffin]

Well pleased to be wrong. To win this we would probably need to beat Ulster as I know Bath wouldn't. If we arrive in good fettle, could be our breakout game.
Also chuffed Leinster got a hospital pass.

[Offside]

Yes Ulster confirmed. Draw was live on BT Sport, for some reason. I hope it is not the Friday night game but I suspect one of the two Challenge cup games will be. Not sure when that will be decided.

Looking forward to some good games in the next 3 week. Tigers to win all of them .

they are the channel showing the competitions its quite normal for them to show the draw, they do so for their Football cups so I would expect nothing less for Rugby

Agreed, but it is a European competition so I was expecting one of the other broadcasters may want to be involved?

[Tigerbeat]

Yes Ulster confirmed. Draw was live on BT Sport, for some reason. I hope it is not the Friday night game but I suspect one of the two Challenge cup games will be. Not sure when that will be decided.

Looking forward to some good games in the next 3 week. Tigers to win all of them .

they are the channel showing the competitions its quite normal for them to show the draw, they do so for their Football cups so I would expect nothing less for Rugby

Agreed, but it is a European competition so I was expecting one of the other broadcasters may want to be involved?

BT Sport are the primary broadcasters with the broadcasting rights for the European rugby competitions.

[Old Hob]

True, Tigerbeat and amusing to hear commentator talk about French TV director bingo - slo-mo shot, raindrops, through legs shot...

[ourla]

Odds to win the comp

Ulster 5/2
Leicester 9/2
Bath 5/1
Montpelier 7/1

Ulster fans very bullish on their forum.

I'm not saying we'll win but I think we are different gravy to a year ago or two years ago and slowly but surely improving. Maybe not soon enough to beat Ulster but certainly more a challenge to look forward than to fear.

[RagingBull]

Ulster fans are still talking about their record v us like it has anything to do with this squad and coaches.

They only beat us by 1 point in 2019, when we was on a real downward spiral.

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My Ulster mate is tipping us to beat them. But then he's always really pessmistic about their chances....

[Big Dai]

Ulster fans are still talking about their record v us like it has anything to do with this squad and coaches.

They only beat us by 1 point in 2019, when we was on a real downward spiral.

Isn't there classic Johnno "look at me, I'm really a centre" long run in try against Ulster somewhere in the archive?

[Leicesterr]

Ulster are due to have back Henderson and Addison for this game

This will be very tough against a side that have lost just two games in the pro14 this season both to Leinster

[ourla]

Ulster are due to have back Henderson and Addison for this game

This will be very tough against a side that have lost just two games in the pro14 this season both to Leinster

My understanding Addison is unlikely to feature.

A lot of the wins have been tight, Dragons by 4, Glasgow by 6, Munster by 5. Gloucester beat them in the Champions Cup.

I understand they have no fixtures scheduled between now and the game which could help them or not.

Don't get me wrong it will be a tough game but I think it's a realistic test for us given where we are at.

Of course a lot depends if we play well and remain largely suspension and injury free for Ulster. And if we play enough to get wins against Bath and Saints momentum and confidence will be massive. But let's see..

[kk20gb30]

Tough opponents (much like old times) , a difficult game but a home Semi Final is a test to be savoured.

[Tigers86asw]

Ulster seem a good side but nothing for us to fear,
especially with our England contingent back and us being at home.

McCloskey is key for them as he gives them so much go forward and Henderson is their talisman- excellent player. However they do not have Coetzee who was so important to them and I still fancy us to match them physically.

Their lack of games could be a blessing or a curse but they did look very fit against Northampton. I don’t think they will be that familiar with us given how new our team is. I am also wary of many results in the pro 14 given how poor so many teams are. Their result against Saints is there most impressive this year and they will not have it so easy up front against us.

[Baggy Trousers]

Top of the morning Tigers Fans. It's been a while, I've largely retired from spreading wisdom, even on the mighty UAFC where I'm having a Mexican standoff with the owner for his stubborn refusal to make me chief moderator.

However, I've always enjoyed the contests with Tigers, going back to Johnno's days when we felt barely worthy to be on the same pitch, which made the wins all the sweeter. And yes the record book favours us but so what?

Changed days of course and many at home will feel favourites to beat anyone but Leinster, our -and many others - nemeisis. I don't see it that way, semi-finals are hard work especially away.

It'll be a contest, if we have Henderson & Coetzee back, it is a push in the right direction, I very much doubt you need to consider Addison, a very good operator but sadly often something of a chocolate fireguard, neither use nor ornament, poor fella.

For info, we do actually have a game or games due before the semi, the Rainbow Cup (part fanciful part farce) is due to start with 3 InterPro derbies, Connacht first up at Ravenhill and despite it's absence on the Ulster website, I believe it is due on the weekend before the semi, so Ulster will be lightly run.

Anyway, regards to all, good to be playing you again.