Pretty much this. He wasnt given license to do much in the semi final and in the 2nd half it was all about pinning them back and forcing the errors. Did what was required and no more imo. He will need to be a lot more involved offensively this time.

It'll be Jackson. He did everything that was asked of him in the semi, and rightly had a bit of pressure taken off him by Pienaar and Wallace. He isn't a big guy but he is strong at his weight, he took to the physical conditioning very well when he joined Ulster.

As I said before the Munster game, we can expect solid performances from the likes of Best, Ferris, Trimble, and the NIQs. It will be the guys like Court, Tuohy, Henry, Jackson, Wallace, Cave, Gilroy that will turn this game. If they all put a shift in we will run Leinster close enough.

I have to say, Thorn is a great deal for Leinster. I think we might have had a nudge in the tight 5 without Thorn in the mix.

Fascinated to see how Henry does in this game, I hope his conditioning hasn't suffered too badly from the time off as I think we need at least a good 60 from him.

We kicked less than Edinburgh, keep up and passed or ran the ball more than 5 times as much as we kicked it

I'd be very surprised if our team didn't line up like this:

1. Court
2. Best
3. Afoa
4. Tuohy
5. Muller
6. Ferris
7. Henry
8. Wannenburg
9. Pienaar
10. Jackson
11. Gilroy
12. Wallace
13. Cave
14. Trimble
15. Terblanche

16. Brady
17. McAllister
18. Fitzpatrick
19. Stevenson
20. Diack
21. Marshall
22. Humphreys
23. D'arcy/Spence

Our team pretty much picks itself.
Trimble and Court aren't playing well and our backs in general haven't been as sharp in attack although they have been good defensively.
I think our pack can get on top though

My head says Leinster by 4 but my heart says Ulster by 3.
I stuck £20 on Ulster because the bookies are giving 5/2 which is excellent value for a close 2 horse race for me

Well I hope they continue to hoof the ball away on Sat - who will do the linekicking from penos Paddy or Piennar?

How Henry goes (or is allowed to go) is a key factor alright.

He absolutely ruled the roost in Thomond. That being said, the Munster backrow got owned on Fri night again by the Ospreys so I think that needs to be taken into account. In addition, Leinster will be well warned of the need to stop him and have some pretty brutal ruckers who can put a marker down there.

McLaughlin for the lineout or Jennings to combat Henry?

Don't know where the Court not playing well thing comes from? He's made shedloads of tackles and scrummaged his arse off since his return from the 6N.

Trimble hasn't been as sharp as he was pre-6N and I blame Kidney for that, he will do fine though, he'll look to run into the midfield to free up space for the rest of the backs as he's our go to bosher in the backline, he was instrumental in putting Munster's defence on the backfoot for Gilroy's try against Munster.

Pienaar without a shadow of a doubt.

Like anything else there is a right time to put boot to ball and a time to keep it in hand. Whoever wins the breakdown and the collisions will determine this.

Fair play Appo, great call. Shame, but it had to be done.

On Jackson, I'm very happy that he's getting the gametime so early, I don't think he will be going to NZ though as he's already named in the JWC squad, which is a shame, but great for the U20's that they have a fly half who started the HEC final.

NO OTHER team at the tournament will have that, NH or SH, will have a player that started at such a critical position in either the HEC or S15 finals. Should give us a leg up and hopefully allow us to do well.

I thought he was fine in the semi, some people may have been expecting a Carter rebirth, but he did exactly what the aim would have been to do - not fuck up. He'll grow into it with Pienaar helping him along, who plays like a defacto outhalf controlling the game. He'll get more and more responsibilities as he plays, but the lad's only 20, give him time.

Henderson is only a good game or two from moving past Diack. Henderson looks to have the size and strength, and the attitude. He is younger and a far better long term prospect.

Maybe the biggest game in European rugby might be a big enough occasion to motivate Diack and get a performance out of him. Then again maybe not. I just get the impression he trains soft and plays soft.

I wonder will Leinster try a few cross field kicks to keep Trimble honest it worked a few years ago - it might stop him from rushing up in Defence.

Where's this other thread that Willie started?

Court gets a ridiculously hard time, he did an incredible shift in Thomond in the QF. Unfortunately the injury to Paddy Mac has given him more game time than he needed. He'll put in another massive effort.

Consigned to the rubbish bin of history.....or about page 2 of the bored.

Henderson is the future. Diack has shown up quite well in recent weeks which would i think swing it for him on this occasion. Henderson should see a lot of gametime next season. i would be much happier to see him coming off the bench in Twickenham than Faloon. Puts a lot of pressure on Henry mind you

Ulster will only win if it's a low scoring game i.e. total matchpoints below 35 or so. I think that will frame their approach to this game. They'll attack the setpieces big-style. I suspect they'll happily kick the ball away for the first while and go after the Leinster lineout. Very tight with ball in hand as they won't want to risk turnovers out wide. Without the ball it will be all about slowing the Leinster ball and ultimately concede the penalty if they have to.

First 20 mins will be crucial. Leinster started very poorly in last years final and it almost cost them. If Ulster can start like they did in Thomond then they'll be flying into the game and will be much more comfortable defending a lead than chasing one.

I really, really, really, REALLY don't want Henderson shoehorned and fucked about with in the backrow. He's a lock. Play him there.

You dont have shaggy now though. Was it not him who was the recipient of those kicks. Not saying it is a bad tactic and nacewa is bloody brilliant but he would be up against Gilroy i think. might see a bit more directed down that route.

What wing does nacewa play?

Court hasn't been as good since the 6 nations.
He was great against embra but he's been poor in the other games.
He also had a shocker against connacht when playing TH.
I expect McAllister to put him under a lot of pressure next year if he can get an injury free run

That's a very strong XV and can easily do the business if you dont have to go to the bench too early. Might have a punt myself to keep things interesting.

I agree Binge
He only has to get past stevenson to become the 3rd choice lock anyway
If Tuohy gets called up for the 6 nations next year he should get a right few starts.

I dont think he will be fucked about. A coulpe of games in the backrow whilst he gets Pro12 experience wont do him any harm but he will be in our top four locks next season i reckon.

Muller cant play every game. Tuohy could be with Ireland (Deccie) so i think we will see him move to lock. I agree with you though he needs to be developed as a lock

Also agree that Court has been great for us when it has mattered. The pro12 was given up on after thomond really

As good as what?

His stats for the Munster QF were superb. So actually he has been very good in both our key games since the 6 Nations. His "form" at tighthead is completely irrelevant. McAllister is a good prospect but he has a long way to go to overtake Court.

On Henderson playing back row, there is no harm in giving him gametime there it makes sense because we are strong at lock and weak in depth in the back row. Also and he could also provide another lineout option.

How tall is Gilroy as a matter of interest?

5/2 on Ulster is ridiculously good value btw. I couldn't bet against Leinster in a Heineken final but if I was a neutral I'd be all over that.

Court was playing better before the 6 nations.
He isn't playing as well now as he was then
He is still a good player though

No Diack in the Ulster squad for the final.

henderson must be bloody close.

Oh yeah. I forgot about that one over the weekend.

Very funny. Appo, you big meanie.

Scrums are gonna be interesting.

Diack is injured, would much prefer him on the bench to Faloon.

I'd take henderson over falloon.
If he makes the bench he probably won't be used unless theres an injury though

I don't know if Henry will have the full 80 in him at the pace he has been playing this season. The ankle injury has got to have affected his fitness.

From Memory and I am sure someone will correct me they were not really crossfield high kicks that were competed for in the air but more your defence being too tight and players touching down unopposed.
I think Nacewa gernerally plays on the right wing.

My finest work.

Someone had to stop Willie making it a pathetic squabble.

Two Irish teams in the HEC final is a cause for celebration

It could be a long time before this happens again, although hopefully it won't be.

Maybe
I can't see McLaughlin using any of our subs really
Fitzpatrick for Afoa with about 5 minutes left is the most likely

Maybe Marshall and/or D'Arcy if we're chasing the game.

It's nice to have Birch and Henderson in contention for backrow places already. Two great prospects there.

To be honest I expect a bit of a stalemate there, the cheating and relative success of each side's cheating will swing it.

So for all the talk of mind games BOD really was unavailable - key-hole surgery last Friday!