If My Memory Serves Me Well …

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I was standing in the middle of those flinty faced Munstermen, they staring unto the pitch as though summoning the gods of wrath to wreak havoc on Ulster. The time was the Celtic League semi final at Thomond Park and whilst the gods didn’t expedite the expected retribution they did have an ally in the excitable Mr. Watkins.

I remember him well, a bit of a pot belly for a referee and seemingly out of his depth amidst an Irish provincial derby. With all the panache of Dr. Mengele, he sent Justin Fitzpatrick, not just to the sin bin but to the elephant’s graveyard. Game over as they say, Ulster rolled and reeled and never recovered.

Oh and the portents had looked so good, the week before when the Claw’s rally car had failed to finish even the first stage of the Galway Rally, Musgrave Park lights had failed during a match, Ulster supporters were bringing torches with them in case Thomond dimmed in the same fashion and oh, before I forget, Ulster fancied their chances.

Well to be brutally accurate, Ulster supporters fancied their team’s chances. My memories remain undiminished even nine or so years later. I looked briefly across to my right when J. Fitz began his long walk to the changing rooms, to see Gary Leslie, his onetime Ulster teammate and his fellow Dungannon colleague standing expressionless amidst the debris of consequences for Ulster’s chances.

I wondered for a moment what Gary’s thought were for his friend. I’ll never know but I wonder do Munster have the same cohesion of spirit and determination not to have their colours lowered by another Irish provincial side, especially one considered inferior, such as Ulster are.

As someone who experienced the atmosphere at Clermont, Thomond I don’t think will have the same intensity and sheer noise that made you unable to think let alone be heard. Yet Ulster quietened that particular wall of sound by playing some great rugby.

They will have to do the same again on Sunday. At least there will be 6000 odd Ulstermen and women to make themselves heard above the noise of the Munster folk, a task much easier than at Clermont where about 400 Ulster braves were ignobly drowned out.

The Ulster team may well have the motivation of the Irish Independent’s article entitled ‘Ulster victory would be bad for Ireland’. It’s doubtful they need this kind of gee up, let alone the apparent emotional motivation of Jackie Browns red card from the Munsterfans forum. The latter motivation was a suggestion by said, Jackie Brown.

No, the Ulster team have plenty of reasons all over the park to take it to Munster on Sunday, not the least the apparent ignorance to a number of Ulster players by Declan Kidney during the Six Nations. This should be motivation enough for players like Dan Tuohy and Chris Henry to show that they had something to offer over the current incumbents.

I personally don’t care much for slights on Ulster players by the Ireland management; I’m greedy in that I’d rather see them give their all for Club than country.

I just hope it’s a good game and isn’t marred by the kind of excitable refereeing that blighted the last big occasion when Ulster met Munster at Thomond. Mind Monsieur Poite reminds me of someone who would be unflappable even if his house was on fire. I assume he will be his usual pragmatic and inscrutable self.

“Enjoy the game?” he may well enquire of Paul O’Connell who may well employ the honesty of Geordan Murphy and reply, “Not really”.

Build Up Bungled

My build up to this game has been mixed to say the least although I’m keen to emphasise that I’m ‘alright now’. First bungle came when waiting like an expectant mother to be, for the announcement that the supporter’s club members could claim their entitlement to a Thomond Park ticket.

UR’s town crier failed to ring this particular bell, so I enquired of UR as to when URSC ticket entitlement could be claimed. I was informed it was some weeks ago and had been announced, wait for it, on the URSC site. That paragon of, this is the week that was.

Secondly I checked the UR website on Friday afternoon last and it informed me tickets were on sale on the gate. I normally buy my tickets in advance but due to pressures of work I was relying on turning up and paying in. On arriving at the gate the lady informed me it was prom only.

I walked away, swizzled yet again by UR, I went home and watched it on TV, at least I was able to see the match. UR are less than transparent here but less you think I’m complaining bitterly, I’m not.

I just won’t be in any hurry to bust a gut for the Leinster match, given UR are busy selling tickets online but not telling anyone as they pull an extra 2 quid per tick on sales of terrace/prom tickets.

There’s plenty willing to pay and they’re welcome to it.

Transfer Coup For The FRU

I note the racially confused and Micheal Jackson wannabee, Darkside Lightside has recently signed for The FRU management, with a transfer fee from the UAFC reckoned to be in the region of a FRU Tee and a couple pints of cider.

Should you want to know in-depth analysis of kidney’s, darkie’s yer man with his long running commentary on the inner negative workings of a Kidney.

We look forward to further dialysis of a Kidney operation in the summer down under.

Underwhelming Motivation

Ulster will get their motivation on Sunday, not just from Hugh Farrelly’s last desperate grasp at an Oscar for best supporting villain to the Munster cause but from his own expulsion from the Munsterfans forum.

So says twiddledee guru of the Jackie paperisms Jackie Brown himself. Ulster players everywhere will be beside themselves with grief at the brutal almost totalitarian expulsion of Jackie who apparently two timed the moderators, or was it thrice. One can’t be sure, there’s as much smoke and mirrors here as a dodgey Ferris ankle.

At Home With Rooster

One read with morbid interest this week that 28 farms in Northern Ireland are to open their doors to the public. One of these establishments may well be Ulster rugby’s most high profile supporter, Rooster.

One imagines that the little kiddies will arrive at coop 19 hoping to get a view of smelly wellies wading through cubic metres of gooey mud and little chicks waddling round in the magisterial splendour of pampered coops.

The reality may be startlingly different as they spy Rooster in his tractor cab, all aerials and shiny wing mirrors, busily tapping out posts for the UAFC forum whilst adjusting his tractor position to suit the prevailing reception rather than the prevailing winds.

Meanwhile

My build up to the big game continues apace with arrangements in place to be located at the penthouse suite in the Europa, a place I’m already familiar with courtesy of the FRU’s dinner held a few years ago in these august surroundings. [Editors note: You’d be far better watching it in the Errigle!]

C’mon ULSTERRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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