2011–12_Ulster_Rugby_season

2011–12 Ulster Rugby season

2011–12 Ulster Rugby season

Rugby team


The 2011–12 Ulster Rugby season was Ulster's 18th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and their third under head coach Brian McLaughlin. They competed in the Heineken Cup and the inaugural Pro12, successor competition to the Celtic League.

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They finished sixth in the Pro12, and qualified for next season's Champions Cup as the third highest placed Irish team. Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, lock Dan Tuohy and prop BJ Botha made the Pro12 Dream Team. They finished second in their pool in the Heineken Cup, beat Edinburgh in the semi-final, and lost to Leinster in the final. Out-half Ian Humphreys was Ulster's top scorer with 168 points. Wings Andrew Trimble and Craig Gilroy were joint top try scorers with six each. Flanker Chris Henry was Player of the Year. Craig Gilroy won the IRUPA Try of the Year award.[1]

Brian McLaughlin, who was coaching Ulster while on sabbatical from his regular job as a teacher at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, stood to lose his teaching position and pension if he extended his contract with Ulster any further, and as head coach risked losing his job at any time. Director of rugby David Humphreys decided to offer him the security of a full-time position coaching the academy, and to replace him as head coach with Mark Anscombe.[2]

Staff

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Squad

Senior squad

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Academy squad

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Heineken Cup

Pool 4

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12 November 2011 Ulster Ireland 16 – 11 France Clermont Auvergne Ravenhill, Belfast  
15:40 Try: Humphreys 69' c
Con: Humphreys (1/1)
Pen: Humphreys (3/4) 12', 40', 50'
Report[12]
Highlights
Full game
Try: Nakaitaci 5' m
Pen: Skrela (2/2) 17', 38'
Attendance: 9,385
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Ulster lineup:

Ulster lineup:
1. Tom Court, 2. Rory Best, 3. John Afoa,
4. Johann Muller (c), 5. Dan Tuohy,
6. Stephen Ferris, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Pedrie Wannenburg,
9. Paul Marshall, 10. Ian Humphreys,
11. Craig Gilroy, 12. Paddy Wallace, 13. Darren Cave, 14. Andrew Trimble,
15. Simon Danielli.
Replacements:
16. Andi Kyriacou, 17. Paddy McAllister (for Court 67'), 18. Declan Fitzpatrick (for Afoa 67'),
19. Lewis Stevenson, 20. Willie Faloon (for Ferris 76'),
21. Ian Porter, 22. Nevin Spence, 23. Adam D'Arcy (for Danielli 55').

19 November 2011 Leicester Tigers England 20 – 9 Ireland Ulster Welford Road, Leicester  
18:00 Try: Smith 66' m
Pen: Flood (5/6) 7', 16', 22', 45', 80'
Report[13] Pen: Humphreys (3/4) 2', 10', 19'
Attendance: 21,473
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Ulster lineup:

1. Tom Court, 2. Rory Best, 3. Declan Fitzpatrick,
4. Johann Muller (c), 5. Dan Tuohy,
6. Stephen Ferris, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Pedrie Wannenburg,
9. Paul Marshall, 10. Ian Humphreys,
11. Craig Gilroy, 12. Nevin Spence, 13. Darren Cave, 14. Andrew Trimble,
15. Simon Danielli.
Replacements:
16. Nigel Brady, 17. Paddy McAllister, 18. Adam Macklin (for Fitzpatrick 68'),
19. Lewis Stevenson, 20. Willie Faloon,
21. Ian Porter, 22. Paddy Jackson (for Humphreys 74'), 23. Adam D'Arcy (for Danielli 68').

9 December 2011 Ulster Ireland 31 – 10 Italy Aironi Ravenhill, Belfast  
19:30 Try: Ferris 16' c
D'Arcy 40' m
Trimble 42' m
Marshall 56' c
Jackson 68' c
Con: Humphreys (3/5)
Report[14] Try: D'Apice 78' c
Con: Olivier (1/1)
Pen: Tebaldi (1/3) 20'
Attendance: 7,494
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Ulster lineup:

1. Paddy McAllister, 2. Rory Best, 3. John Afoa,
4. Johann Muller (c), 5. Dan Tuohy,
6. Stephen Ferris, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Pedrie Wannenburg,
9. Ruan Pienaar, 10. Ian Humphreys,
11. Craig Gilroy, 12. Nevin Spence, 13. Darren Cave, 14. Andrew Trimble,
15. Adam D'Arcy.
Replacements:
16. Andi Kyriacou, 17. Tom Court (for McAllister 50'), 18. Adam Macklin,
19. Lewis Stevenson, 20. Robbie Diack,
21. Paul Marshall (for Pienaar 50'), 22. Paddy Jackson (for Spence 53'), 23. Stefan Terblanche (for Trimble 50').

17 December 2011 Aironi Italy 20 – 46 Ireland Ulster Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana  
14:30 Try: Sinoti 56' c
Quartaroli 60' m
Biagi 74' m
Con: Orquera (1/1)
Pen: Orquera (1/1) 17'
Report[15] Try: Trimble 5' c
penalty try 22' c
Court 37' c
Gilroy 69' c
Diack 77' c
Macklin 80' m
Con: Humphreys (3/3)
Pienaar (2/3)
Pen: Humphreys (2/2) 15', 33'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
Ulster lineup:

1. Tom Court, 2. Rory Best, 3. John Afoa,
4. Johann Muller (c), 5. Dan Tuohy,
6. Stephen Ferris, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Pedrie Wannenburg,
9. Ruan Pienaar, 10. Ian Humphreys,
11. Craig Gilroy, 12. Nevin Spence, 13. Darren Cave, 14. Andrew Trimble,
15. Adam D'Arcy.
Replacements:
16. Nigel Brady (for Jackson 67'), 17. Paddy McAllister (for Court 49'), 18. Adam Macklin (for Afoa 78'),
19. Tim Barker (for Tuohy 61'), 20. Robbie Diack (for Wannenburg 65'),
21. Paul Marshall (for Humphreys 65'), 22. Paddy Jackson (for Spence 46'), 23. Stefan Terblanche (for Trimble 49').

13 January 2012 Ulster Ireland 41 – 7 England Leicester Tigers Ravenhill, Belfast  
20:00 Try: Trimble (2) 5' c, 39' m
Gilroy 69' c
P. Marshall 72' c
Con: Pienaar (3/4)
Pen: Pienaar (5/5) 11', 32', 53', 56', 63'
Report[16] Try: Murphy 13' c
Con: Twelvetrees (1/1)
Attendance: 11,900
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Ulster lineup:

1. Tom Court, 2. Rory Best, 3. John Afoa,
4. Johann Muller (c), 5. Dan Tuohy,
6. Stephen Ferris, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Pedrie Wannenburg,
9. Ruan Pienaar, 10. Ian Humphreys,
11. Craig Gilroy, 12. Paddy Wallace, 13. Darren Cave, 14. Andrew Trimble,
15. Stefan Terblanche.
Replacements:
16. Nigel Brady (for Best 76'), 17. Callum Black (for Court 76'), 18. Adam Macklin (for Afoa 76'),
19. Lewis Stevenson (for Ferris 71'), 20. Willie Faloon (for Wannenburg 71'),
21. Paul Marshall (for Humphreys 65'), 22. Ian Whitten (for Cave 57'), 23. Adam D'Arcy.

21 January 2012 Clermont Auvergne France 19 – 15 Ireland Ulster Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand  
16:40 Try: Paulo 62' c
Con: Parra (1/1)
Pen: Parra (4/4) 14', 21', 48', 73'
Report[17] Pen: Pienaar (5/7) 17', 32', 45', 56', 70'
Attendance: 17,633
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Ulster lineup:

1. Tom Court, 2. Rory Best, 3. John Afoa,
4. Johann Muller (c), 5. Dan Tuohy Yellow card 12',
6. Stephen Ferris, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Pedrie Wannenburg,
9. Ruan Pienaar, 10. Ian Humphreys,
11. Craig Gilroy, 12. Paddy Wallace, 13. Ian Whitten, 14. Andrew Trimble,
15. Stefan Terblanche.
Replacements:
16. Andi Kyriacou, 17. Callum Black, 18. Adam Macklin,
19. Lewis Stevenson, 20. Willie Faloon,
21. Paul Marshall (for Humphreys 61'), 22. Nevin Spence, 23. Adam D'Arcy.

Quarter-final

8 April 2012 Munster Ireland 16–22 Ireland Ulster Thomond Park, Limerick  
13:45 IST Try: Zebo 34' c
Con: O'Gara (1/1)
Pen: O'Gara (3/4) 40', 49', 61'
Report[18] Try: Gilroy 16' c
Con: Pienaar (1/1)
Pen: Pienaar (4/5) 5', 11', 20', 59'
Drop: Humphreys (1/1) 32'
Attendance: 26,500
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Ulster lineup:

1. Tom Court, 2. Rory Best, 3. John Afoa,
4. Johann Muller (c), 5. Dan Tuohy,
6. Stephen Ferris, 7. Chris Henry Yellow card 37', 8. Pedrie Wannenburg,
9. Ruan Pienaar, 10. Ian Humphreys,
11. Craig Gilroy, 12. Paddy Wallace, 13. Darren Cave, 14. Andrew Trimble,
15. Stefan Terblanche.
Replacements:
16. Nigel Brady, 17. Paddy McAllister, 18. Adam Macklin,
19. Lewis Stevenson, 20. Willie Faloon,
21. Paul Marshall, 22. Nevin Spence, 23. Adam D'Arcy.

Semi-finals

28 April 2012 Ulster Ireland 22–19 Scotland Edinburgh Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:45 IST Try: Wannenburg 15' c
Con: Pienaar (1/1)
Pen: Pienaar (5/5) 5', 38', 58', 63', 75'
Report[19] Try: Thompson 80' c
Con: Laidlaw (1/1)
Pen: Laidlaw (4/4) 9', 11', 40', 45'
Attendance: 45,147
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Ulster lineup:

1. Tom Court, 2. Rory Best, 3. Declan Fitzpatrick,
4. Johann Muller (c), 5. Dan Tuohy,
6. Stephen Ferris, 7. Willie Faloon, 8. Pedrie Wannenburg,
9. Ruan Pienaar, 10. Paddy Jackson,
11. Craig Gilroy, 12. Paddy Wallace, 13. Darren Cave, 14. Andrew Trimble,
15. Stefan Terblanche Yellow card 28'.
Replacements:
16. Nigel Brady, 17. Paddy McAllister (for Court 77'), 18. Adam Macklin (for Fitzpatrick 65'),
19. Lewis Stevenson (for Ferris 77'), 20. Robbie Diack (for Faloon 73'),
21. Paul Marshall, 22. Ian Humphreys, 23. Adam D'Arcy.

Final

19 May 2012 Leinster Ireland 42–14 Ireland Ulster Twickenham Stadium, London  
17:00 BST Try: O'Brien 12' c
Healy 31' c
penalty try 44' c
van der Merwe 76' m
Cronin 80' c
Con: Sexton (3/3)
McFadden (1/2)
Pen: Sexton (3/4) 51', 67', 73'
Report[20] Try: Tuohy 60' m
Pen: Pienaar (3/3) 7', 40', 49'
Attendance: 81,774
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Ulster lineup:

1. Tom Court, 2. Rory Best, 3. John Afoa,
4. Johann Muller (c), 5. Dan Tuohy,
6. Stephen Ferris, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Pedrie Wannenburg,
9. Ruan Pienaar, 10. Paddy Jackson,
11. Craig Gilroy, 12. Paddy Wallace, 13. Darren Cave, 14. Andrew Trimble,
15. Stefan Terblanche Yellow card 72'.
Replacements:
16. Nigel Brady, 17. Paddy McAllister (for Court 74'), 18. Declan Fitzpatrick,
19. Lewis Stevenson (for Tuohy 79'), 20. Willie Faloon (for Henry 67'),
21. Paul Marshall (for Humphreys 69'), 22. Ian Humphreys (for Jackson 45'), 23. Adam D'Arcy (for Trimble 79').

Pro12

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Updated to match(es) played on 5 May 2012. Source: RaboDirect PRO12
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[21]
  1. number of matches won;
  2. the difference between points for and points against;
  3. the number of tries scored;
  4. the most points scored;
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against;
  6. the fewest red cards received;
  7. the fewest yellow cards received.
    (C) Champions; (F) Lost in the final; (SF) Lost in the semi-finals
    Notes:
  1. Qualification for the Heineken Cup is based on each country's allocation, i.e. three highest-ranked Irish teams, three highest-ranked Welsh teams, both Italian teams and both Scottish teams. Because Leinster won the 2012 Heineken Cup Final, Ireland earned an extra Heineken Cup place, which will go to Connacht. Aironi were denied a licence for the 2012–13 season due to financial issues; the newly established Zebre side replaced Aironi in the Pro12 and Heineken Cup.
2 September 2011 Ulster Ireland 28 – 14 Scotland Glasgow Warriors Ravenhill, Belfast  
19:05 Try: Cave
Henry
Marshall
Con: Humphreys (2)
Pen: Humphreys (3)
Report Try: Nathan
Pen: Weir (3)
Attendance: 6,296
Referee: Leighton Hodges
10 September 2011 (1 BP) Aironi Italy 19 – 25 Ireland Ulster Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana  
15:00 Try: Williams
Con: Olivier
Pen: Olivier (4)
Report Try: Gilroy
Tuohy
Whitten
Con: Humphreys (2)
Pen: Humphreys (2)
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Neil Hennessy
16 September 2011 Ulster Ireland 20 – 3 Wales Cardiff Blues Ravenhill, Belfast  
19:05 Try: Cave (2)
Con: Humphreys (2)
Pen: Humphreys
Jackson
Report Pen: Sweeney
Attendance: 6,555
Referee: James Jones
25 September 2011 Ospreys Wales 32 – 14 Ireland Ulster Liberty Stadium, Swansea  
16:30 Try: Penalty try
Fussell
Con: Biggar
Morgan
Pen: Biggar (6)
Report Try: Jackson
Penalty try
Con: Jackson
McKinney
Attendance: 5,590
Referee: Dudley Phillips
30 September 2011 Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 22 – 9 Ireland Ulster Rodney Parade, Newport  
19:05 Try: Riley
Con: Tovey
Pen: Tovey (4)
Report Pen: Jackson (3)
Attendance: 4,554
Referee: Neil Paterson
7 October 2011 Ulster Ireland 12 – 23 Italy Benetton Treviso Ravenhill, Belfast  
19:05 Try: Wannenburg (2)
Con: Humphreys
Report Try: Penalty try
Burton
Con: Burton (2)
Pen: Burton (3)
Attendance: 7,372
Referee: Stefano Penne
29 October 2011 Scarlets Wales 24 – 17 Ireland Ulster (1 BP) Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
15:00 Try: Trimble
Pen: Humphreys (4)
Report Try: Williams
Warren
Con: Thomas
Pen: Thomas (3)
Newton
Attendance: 7,075
Referee: Alan Falzone
5 November 2011 Ulster Ireland 22 – 3 Ireland Connacht Ravenhill, Belfast  
17:35 Try: Gilroy
Court
Humphreys
Con: Humphreys (2)
Pen: Humphreys
Report Pen: Nikora
Attendance: 6,887
Referee: John Lacey
25 November 2011 Glasgow Warriors Scotland 17 – 9 Ireland Ulster Firhill Stadium, Glasgow  
19:35 Try: Nathan
Pen: Weir (3)
Drop: Weir
Report Pen: Humphreys (3)
Attendance: 3,940
Referee: Stefano Penne
2 December 2011 Ulster Ireland 24 – 17 Wales Scarlets (1 BP) Ravenhill, Belfast  
19:05 Try: Ferris (2)
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (4)
Report Try: Lamont
Longi
Murphy
Con: Jones
Attendance: 8,117
Referee: Alain Rolland
26 December 2011 (1 BP) Leinster Ireland 42 – 13 Ireland Ulster RDS Arena, Dublin  
17:30 Try: Carr
Cronin
Auva'a
Penalty try
Madigan
Hagan
Con: McFadden (6)
Report Try: Cochrane
Con: McKinney
Pen: McKinney (2)
Attendance: 18,500
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon
30 December 2011 (1 BP) Ulster Ireland 33 – 17 Ireland Munster Ravenhill, Belfast  
19:05 Try: Terblanche
Afoa
Humphreys
Pienaar
Con: Humphreys (2)
Pen: Humphreys (2)
Pienaar
Report Try: O'Dea
Murphy
Con: Keatley (2)
Pen: Keatley
Attendance: 11,379
Referee: Alain Rolland
6 January 2012 Edinburgh Scotland 20 – 42 Ireland Ulster (1 BP) Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh  
19:30 Try: De Luca
Walker
Con: Laidlaw (2)
Pen: Laidlaw (2)
Report Try: Best
Tuohy
Trimble
Cave
Con: Pienaar (2)
Pen: Humphreys (2)
Pienaar (4)
Attendance: 3,792
Referee: George Clancy
10 February 2012 (1 BP) Ulster Ireland 30 – 12 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons Ravenhill, Belfast  
19:05 Try: Diack
Pienaar
Gilroy
Terblanche
Con: Pienaar (2)
Pen: Pienaar (2)
Report Pen: Tovey (4)
Attendance: 7,435
Referee: Carlo Damasco
17 February 2012 Cardiff Blues Wales 21 – 14 Ireland Ulster (1 BP) Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff  
19:05 Try: Parks
James
Con: Parks
Pen: Parks (3)
Report Try: Diack
Pen: Pienaar (3)
Attendance: 9,154
Referee: George Clancy
24 February 2012 Ulster Ireland 15 – 14 Wales Ospreys (1 BP) Ravenhill, Belfast  
19:05 Try: Penalty try
Wallace
Con: Pienaar
Pen: Pienaar
Report Try: Bearman
Walker
Con: Biggar
Attendance: 8,131
Referee: Neil Hennessy
2 March 2012 (1 BP) Ulster Ireland 38 – 16 Scotland Edinburgh Ravenhill, Belfast  
19:05 Try: Marshall
Terblanche
D'Arcy
Penalty try
Cochrane
Humphreys
Con: Pienaar (4)
Report Try: S. Visser
T. Visser
Pen: Godman (2)
Attendance: 8,044
Referee: Nigel Owens
24 March 2012 (1 BP) Benetton Treviso Italy 23 – 27 Ireland Ulster Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
16:15 Try: Ceccato
Di Bernardo
Con: Burton (2)
Pen: Burton
Drop: Burton
Report Try: Henry
Wallace
D'Arcy
Con: Pienaar (3)
Pen: Pienaar
Attendance: 4,200
Referee: Leighton Hodges
30 March 2012 (1 BP) Ulster Ireland 45 – 7 Italy Aironi Ravenhill, Belfast  
19:05 Try: Wallace
Penalty try
Best
Cave
Court
Wannenburg
Con: Pienaar (4)
Humphreys (2)
Pen: Pienaar
Report Try: Tibaldi
Con: Olivier
Attendance: 10,125
Referee: Neil Paterson
14 April 2012 Connacht Ireland 26 – 21 Ireland Ulster (1 BP) Galway Sportsgrounds, Galway  
17:15 Try: Nikora
Duffy
Tiernan O'Halloran
Con: Nikora
Pen: Nikora (3)
Report Try: Marshall
Jackson
Con: Jackson
Pen: Jackson (3)
Attendance: 5,017
Referee: Dudley Phillips
20 April 2012 Ulster Ireland 8 – 16 Ireland Leinster Ravenhill, Belfast  
19:05 Try: Laughlin
Con: Sexton
Pen: Sexton
Drop: Sexton
Report Try: Muller
Pen: Pienaar
Attendance: 10,500
Referee: John Lacey
5 May 2012 (1 BP) Munster Ireland 36 – 8 Ireland Ulster Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:30 Try: Zebo
O'Mahony
Sherry
Archer
O'Donnell
Con: Deasy (2)
Cusack
Pen: Deasy
Report Try: Henderson
Pen: Jackson
Attendance: 19,362
Referee: Alain Rolland

End-of-season awards

2011–2012 Dream Team[22]

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Ulster Ravens

British and Irish Cup

Pool C

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[23][24]

11 November 2011 Ulster Ravens Ireland 39 7 England Doncaster Deramore Park  
19:30 Stats
18 November 2011 Currie Scotland 13 28 Ireland Ulster Ravens Malleny Park  
19:30 Stats Attendance: 652
10 December 2011 Ulster Ravens Ireland 17 16 Wales Pontypridd Deramore Park  
14:30 Stats
17 December 2011 Rotherham England 24 31 Ireland Ulster Ravens Clifton Lane  
13:30 Stats Attendance: 581

Home attendance

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Ulster Rugby Awards

The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Culloden Hotel on 10 May 2012.[25] Winners were:[26]


References

  1. "It's Grim Up North - Ulster's Malaise", Digging Like a Demented Mole, 4 March 2018
  2. "Team Management", Ulster Rugby, archived 9 October 2011
  3. "Ulster Sign All-Black Prop John Afoa". Ulster Rugby. 16 March 2011.
  4. "Payne signs with Ulster". The Blues. 1 April 2011.
  5. "Ulster snap up Stevenson". Sky Sports. 18 February 2011.
  6. "Connacht sign Anderson from Ulster", The Irish Times, 7 March 2011
  7. Appearances and scoring stats from ItsRugby.co.uk
  8. "Ulster Rugby Academy", Ulster Rugby, archived 14 January 2012
  9. "Humphreys the hero for Ulster", Sky Sports, 12 November 2011
  10. "Tigers grind out victory", Sky Sports, 19 November 2011
  11. "Efficient Ulster get it done", Sky Sports, 9 December 2011
  12. "Rampant Ulster top Pool", Sky Sports, 17 December 2011
  13. "Tigers hopes crushed at Ravenhill", Sky Sports, 13 January 2012
  14. "Clermont win to top pool", Sky Sport, 21 January 2012
  15. "Munster suffer Ulster upset", Sky Sports, 8 April 2012
  16. "Pienaar ends Edinburgh hopes", Sky Sports, 28 April 2012
  17. "Leinster lord it up again", Sky Sports, 19 May 2012
  18. Competition Rule 3.5 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro12. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  19. "2012 RaboDirect PRO12 Dream Team 2011/12". The Rugby Blog. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  20. "Ulster Rugby". Archived from the original on 8 April 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  21. "British & Irish Cup Tables". BBC. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  22. Niall Crozier, "Ulster's big winners to be unveiled at glitzy awards night", Belfast Telegraph, 10 May 2012
  23. "Ferris lost for words as he scoops top Ulster award", News Letter, 12 May 2012

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