Rejoice, northern hemisphere rugby fans! For there is actually some rugby on the telly tonight, in the form of a pre-season ‘friendly’ between Ulster and Exeter. Scarlets v Bristol and Leinster v Harlequins are also tonight, but on some dodgy channels I’ve never heard of. On Saturday and Sunday, there are Rugby Championship and Top14 matches.
Ulster are putting out a slew of new/little-known faces, including five new signings. Jake Flannery (10) and Michael McDonald (9) start at half-back, with the other three newbies – Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Frank Bradshaw-Ryan and Sean Reffell – in the pack.
There’s a massive replacement list that will have to be whittled down before kick-off, but Jacob Stockdale is expected to make an appearance.
Ulster: Shea O’Brien; Aaron Sexton, Angus Curtis, Ian Madigan, Rob Lyttle; Jake Flannery, Michael McDonald; Callum Reid, Declan Moore, Jeff Toomaga-Allen; Frank Bradshaw-Ryan, Sam Carter; Harry Sheridan, Sean Reffell, Jordi Murphy (capt).
Replacements from: Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart, John Andrew, Marty Moore, Gareth Milasinovich, Alan O’Connor, Cormac Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, Marcus Rea, Greg Jones, Nathan Doak, Conor McKee, Billy Burns, Jacob Stockdale, Luke Marshall, Craig Gilroy, Stewart Moore, Rory Telfer.
I can’t find any info on the Exeter side, but let’s hope it’s equally experimental. Perhaps Slade can enlighten us.
Onna telly this week
Friday 2nd September
| Ulster v Exeter | 19:00 | BBC2 NI / iPlayer |
| Scarlets v Bristol | 19:00 | recast |
| Leinster v Harlequins | 19:30 | 247.tv |
Saturday 3rd September
| New Zealand v Argentina | 08:05 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Australia v South Africa | 10:35 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Racing 92 v Castres | 14:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| England v USA (women) | 15:00 | ITV4 |
| Stade Franรงais v Clermont | 16:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| La Rochelle v Montpellier | 20:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
Sunday 4th September
| Bordeaux v Toulouse | 20:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
Ovally Balls 
and for those interested Munster vs London Irish can be streamed on the Irish Examiner’s channel https://www.irishexaminer.com/liveevents/
โฌ8 is the catch….. so I might skip it
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Hope Munster smash ’em, Trisk!
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I’ve got Ahlsturr v non-Racists, hope it’s a good game and not too “friendly”-like, ie like a BaaBaas game
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Oh dear. It seems Exeter are putting out something close to their first team.
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Oh. It looks like Stockdale hasn’t been named as a replacement. Throw away the ATL!
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Exeter wearing pink. They deserve to lose for that.
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Embra are playing London Scottish, it’s a way off our first choice side, but Ldn Scottish are winning 7-12.
The new defence coach is working out well, then.
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TRY Madigan!
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Conversion is good, and it’s 7-0.
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The restart goes badly for Ulster (although I think there was some interference with an Ulster player) and it’s a 5m scrum to Exeter.
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7 – 17 now, three tries to one.
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Exeter spill the ball and it’s an Ulster scrum, still in their 22.
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For context, Quins put 11 tries on ‘Scottish last week, and it wasn’t anything like their first team
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Sexton (not that one – his brother?) makes a break and Ulster get close to Exeter’s 22.
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Ticht – oh dear.
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TRY Lyttle!
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Came from a clever cross-field kick by Flannery, who bounced the touchline conversion off the posts. 12-0.
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Good finish from Ulster
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Ticht – surprised they didn’t look at it, but I’m not arguing!
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I think we’re just so used to tries being reviewed that we expect it now, Thaum.
It was a clean enough finish from the replays
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Well, O’Brien’s going to the bin for something I’m not quite sure about. Exeter in Ulster’s 22 in front of the posts.
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And Exeter look to be in for a try, but somehow drop the ball and Ulster grab it!
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Bit of a howler from Exeter there, skied it over an open goal
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Exeter have a real case of the dropsies. Win the line-out, and drop it. Another Ulster scrum.
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Gilroy on for Sexton, who must have been injured.
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Disastrous Ulster line-out, grabbed by Exeter, but ball goes out in the Exeter 22, and it’s Ulster’s line-out, which they win this time.
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It’s all gone quite scrappy, with both sides making replacements already.
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Looks like Embra have got a couple back, 21 – 24 at the break.
We have a new defence coach who has just come in, but fffs, Ldn Scot are semi pros these days. The Embra team might not be full of first choices but many of them are full internationals
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Ulster get a drive on to the line, but it ends in a card for Exeter.
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It all recycles, Ulster get more penalties, and we’re going back for one.
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Exeter on a warning about losing another man. Ulster go for the corner again.
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This time they maul over. TRY!
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Flannery adds the extras, and it’s 19-0 at HT.
We are promised a completely different Ulster side after HT.
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I don’t know how I seem to be about a minute behind you on the player, Thaum.
The signal must take longer to get down here :-)
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Watching it on the satellite, Ticht, not iPlayer.
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Glad to see Embra’s resurgence!
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Well, now it seems Stockdale might be on the bench after all. Confusing!
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Bit of controversy over this ‘Emerging Ireland’ squad that’s been announced.
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And here is Stockdale!
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Doak and Burns also on.
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Ulster give away only their second penalty of the match, but it puts Exeter right into the corner.
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Alan O’Connor also on. They must be able to use the whole massive replacements list?
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One Maunder maunders on to replace another Maunder for Exeter.
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Ulster looked to have scored again, but ball dislodged just short of the line.
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Exeter have got a Schickerlink (sp?) on. What a fun name.
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TRY Marshall!
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(Luke.)
Doak adds the honours. 26-0.
Despite what we were told before the match, I don’t think this is Exeter’s first team at all. I don’t see Slade, for example, or many other players I recognise. Woodburn has been their best player by far.
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Great Ulster defending.
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But Exeter go again and score under the posts.
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