Issue 41
   
02 January 2007
Leinster 20     Ulster 12

We set off for Dublin at 8:30am on New Years Eve leaving a windy but dry Larne behind as we cruised towards Belfast. We were practically the only car on the road this holiday weekend until we hit the outskirts of Belfast where we picked up more and more traffic heading in our direction.

A quick glance across to the other cars and there was an Ulster shirt, and there another one. As we passed Lisburn and made our way towards the border it appeared that every other car was full of fellow supporters making their way down for the big match.

The journey was uneventful and we arrived at our hotel on the Stillorgan Road at 11:15am and then the heavens opened. We threw off our bags and with taxi's in short supply we decided to get the bus into town to meet up with the rest of the Larne crowd. Then disaster struck. On going to a garage to get change for the bus Mrs Dewi slipped on the wet forecourt and split her knee open requiring hospital treatment.

Two and a half hours and four stitches later, thanks to the staff at St Vincents University Hospital, I'm dropping Mrs Dewi off back at the hotel and trying to get a taxi to Lansdowne Road. At 2:30pm I'm the only person walking down Ballsbridge Road towards the ground as the strains of "Stand Up For The Ulster Men" waft over the rooftops. Ten minutes later I'm taking my seat just in time to see Hickey go over for Leinster's first try. However just as my friends are calling me a scud, Paddy drops a goal to take the halftime score to 5 - 12.

The second half was hard to watch as Ulster struggled to find continuity and every decision and bounce seemed to go Leinster's way. A couple of mistakes with a missed touch and a charge down and its 8 - 12. Ulster break and Hickie lies on the ball. Ulster have a good position in the Leinster 22 with Leinster down to 14 men. Ulster should have taken the scrum, but opt for the penalty which is missed in difficult conditions.

The rest of the game belongs to Leinster as they pressurise Ulster into mistakes. Leinster score two more tries to win 20 - 12 and "The Last Stand" is over.

From what I saw it was a tremendous occasion, however it was somewhat spoiled by the incompetent refereeing of Clancy who was well out of his depth and was somewhat intimidated by O'Driscoll and Horgan who appeared to be tag teaming their whinging at every decision.

I'm finding it increasingly hard to like O'Driscoll. The Magners League is going to find it hard to establish its credibility while it continues to allow this continual abuse of its referees. Perhaps it's time that Magners took up Ulster's suggestion to appoint a core of professional referees who will have the ability to stamp out this unsavoury behaviour.

INTISTA Predictions League Week 16



Is there no stopping this smug git chosen one?

Chairman of World Rugby, beautiful girl on each arm, Youngman Enterprises® corporate entertainment everywhere he goes and still he has time to score another bonus in Ulster's biggest Predictions League, INTISTA.

And his "pal" Cap'n Grumpy has moved back into second place thanks to a no show from Ardmhicneasahicheal who has obviously overdosed on the seasonal goodwill!

In the also rans Hound and Stormin Norman keep the pressure on. Is it too little too late?

       
The Last Stand.

Top left - Boys on Tour celebrate making it to a match before kick off.

Top right - The players return to the pitch to see if there's anything worth nicking from the Old Ground.

Middle - This sign will now be proudly displayed in someones toilet.

Botton left - Chief Fruette manages to keep O'Driscoll's mouth shut for a few seconds. If you look closely though you can see him still mumbling out the side of his mouth.

Bottom right - Fruette in Aussie sandwich shock! Dergman looks buff in his new top!

       

Happy New Year.

It's a New Year with new challenges. The FRU has produced the following list to help some of our readers make 2007 an even better year than 2006. Just follow the tips below:-

 

In 2007 I must :

Make greater use of the glorious English Language and not be so concise in my posts - Ballpark / Gremlyn

Overcome my inhibitions, get out more and meet more girls - Pervyfan

Become less self effacing and finally accept my destiny as a leader of men - TOK

Become more assertive and less reluctant to voice my opinions - Youngman

Become less camera shy and accept that the photographic image is a necessary evil in the modern world - Dewi and Jamesie

Be less charitable to Ulster rugby players who don't perform to my exacting standards - dcpete

Finally enrol for the Photography course I have always promised myself - Colin H

Be less picky with my food and eat larger helpings - THP

Be less reluctant to say that my school rugby team is better than your school rugby team - every schools' poster on the UR Site

Pay more attention to the female form - Holywoodmike

Try to be a little more outgoing on away trips - Goodaine

 
       
   
       
   




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© 2006 FRU Publications.
Recommended by Neil "Sick Note" McMillan.