Ulster need a new 10

The title says it all really Ian Humphreys has went incredibly backward in the last year and now we need someone else to come in and play 10 from the start instead, but who? It is likely to be have to be Irish qualified so maybe Steenson from exeter? Whats everyones thoughts?

Why not Jackson? Or Marshall at scrum half and Ruan to 10?

Pienaar doesn't like playing 10 it was allegedly part of the reason he came to Ulster from South Africa, Jackson is still very much a kid we need a 10 who will be consistently good week in week out. Humphreys put his whole season into 1 game there tonight with his missing tackles, passes, kicking was poor again.

Have to say that was a new class of performance by Humphreys. Absolutely diabolical.

Think Pienaar would play 10 if asked. I hope to see him play there next week. Even moving Wallace in one would be a better option when Humph is in that kind of mood.

yes he probably would but he probably wouldn't want to have to play there all the time

I reckon that Pienaar would be more than happy to play at 10 now.

I know he came to play 9 but he has had a long run there and shown the world and the Springbok selectors what he is capable of at SH. I really think it would be much less of an issue for him now.

Just guessing mind.

I agree MrsP. I think he would play there no problem. Form permitting for the remainder of this season I would like to see Marshall/Pienaar and bring Jackson in with Pienaar at 9 next season.

Realistically the combo of Marshall-Pienaar strikes more fear into me as a Leinster fan than Pienaar-Humphreys.

It also means that your largest defensive weaklink is on the bench rather than at 10.

Game management would be better too

Hump is great when he decides to be though

That's the problem Pete. He is the ultimate Jeckel and Hyde player. Best Irish fly half hands down when he performs. But when he doesn't by gum he is utterly atrocious.

WillyGilly wrote:That's the problem Pete. He is the ultimate Jeckel and Hyde player. Best Irish fly half hands down when he performs. But when he doesn't by gum he is utterly atrocious.

Maybe if we bring in Jackson to start it will actually help Ian, maybe the competition will bring the best out in him, without Niall O'Connor around maybe he has got a bit set in his ways? Either way for the rest of the season marshall and pienaar should go at 9 and 10 especially if we want to make it past Munster.

Parks...

gowales,

Erm....how can I put this.... .... ....Any OH we would be looking for would need to be..... ....IQ!

Could we pinch Madigan from Leinster?

Maybe Ulster should go for a NIQ 10. A really classy player. None of the other provinces have one so it would be ok right?

Bullmoose IOP wrote:Could we pinch Madigan from Leinster?

No!
I was actually thinking of Steenson as a backup 10 for us. But I think we may be ok with Sexton, Madigan, Reid for Pro 12 backup and Isa for injuriy cover. Cutting it fine in case of injury though.

All out of NIQ slots for next season I'm afraid.

Otherwise...well...you know...we'd love to help you out and all.

Well if we don't sign a backrow and let Wannenburg go we may be able to sign a 10 (now Berquist is leaving Leinster) but we really, really need to use a slot on a backrow imo. A 6 or an 8. Wouldn't mind if it was Wannenburg again.

Berquist has already been snapped up by biarritz.

Marshall 9, Pienaar 10. Problem sorted.

I haven't even seen Berquist play for Leinster, and he's all ready signed for another team.

Luckily we didn't even need him. Madigan has been far better than anyone would have hoped for or expected.

Golden wrote:Berquist has already been snapped up by biarritz.

Golden my point was Berquist is leaving Ireland, therefore none of the three main provinces have an NIQ outhalf. That leaves a vacancy we could theoretically take advantage of.

But whoever we sign, is he going to be better than Pienaar at 10? Realistically, no. We should sign a 6 or an 8 and follow Dons sage advice above. I see Marshall and Humphreys as similar cases; brilliant on form, awful when off form. So right now Pienaar seems happy to play more at 10 and Marshall is on form. Let Humph get a few splinters in his backside for the next few weeks.

I no it ain't happening but if Cipriani showed interest in going to Ulster what would you guys think?

gowales wrote:I no it ain't happening but if Cipriani showed interest in going to Ulster what would you guys think?

Suddenly Humphreys doesnt look so bad

I would run a mile to slap the pen out of David Humphreys hand, go.

I'd play Paddy Jackson when Paddy Wallacesian's Pienaar are available, so that he is nestled in between two very talented, experienced players. Ruan can place-kick. When Paddy W. is being rested, I'd rest Paddy J. as well, and play Marshall-Peinaar-Whitten.

And in fact I would consider McKinley in PJ's absence.

The only thing is we are guessing Pienaar is OK playing ten maybe he isn't maybe thats the reason they havent done that up until now, we shall see, if they persist in playing Ian then maybe ruan doesnt wanna play ten

I dont think Pienaar cares. His Bok career is over. he doesnt want to be messed about or shoved to 15 or anything like that.

Don raises a good point above and his idea has a lot of merit. I doubt the coaches will go for it as every game is now must win but it would be a good shout imo.

If Ruan thought that him at 10 in the HCup might get him to the final while him at 9 watching iHumph have a 'mare against Munster in the QF would finish his season, I don't think you would even have to ask him the question.

Oh, just to stir it up a bit... did McLaughlin want make these moves and get rid of iHumph? Because if so, it would put a different slant on Humphreys Snr moving him to the creche.

Band

There is a lot of crap talked about amongst ulster fans that Humphreys Snr picks the team and thats the only reason why Ian is getting starts. Load of nonsense mind you. Marshall is inconsistent too but his form is seemingly much better than Humphreys at the minute (albeit in cameos).

Yea Stand, Marshall is doing everything right as an impact sub. But whether he would be as effective doing the full 80 week in week out is anyones guess.

Him coming on for humphs on friday night might have had the same old impact had humph not gotten himself sin-binned.

I would like to see how marshall pienaar goes, but ultimatly i think the best option would be for humph to just man-the f*$k-up, and contunue using marshalls impact.

Humph isn't giving us much option though!

Agree with everything you say Clive particularly the last part. At this stage i think Marshall should be given a go and if that doesnt work then Don's suggestion regarding Jackson has merit.

If Jackson comes in then Humph is out of the squad as well. With Wallace, Pienaar and Jackson potentially in a squad we dont need fly half cover.

If anything, I think Humphreys has been hard on his little brother to avoid accusations of favouritism. No-one was saying this shoite when he couldn't get into the team ahead of O'Connor, even though O'Connor was playing awful stuff. And we had the same coach with Humphreys in charge then.

Its populism pure and simple. If you listen to most ulster fans Brian McLaughlin evacuates liquid gold whereas Humphreys Snr has just betrayed the republic to become a sith lord.

Even whilst lurking on UAFC there are unparalleled levels of turd being spouted in there.

I think McLaughlin sees 10 as a position where you back one player and stick with him. He's quite old school like that. He wouldn't rotate the halfbacks much. Humphreys isn't far off losing his place though

I agree Notch. There is only so much you can take. Realistically i think McL has to make the call now as if he does change things i think we need a few games to get used to it. If we persist with IHumph over the next two game i think we might be leaving it too late to change.

Can they get a dispensation for a NIQ? I reckon Dan Biggar would suit Irish teams more than Welsh ones.

Biggar would not suit Ulster. Or Leinster. Or Ireland, hopefully, when we change our game-plan.

He'd be right up Munster's street though. It depends what you want in your fly half. The ruthless and right thing to do is send iHump packing and go after Keatley or Madigan. Have you got the cash and would they come?

No, they really won't but Jackson will be a good and attacking player. I think Madigan may be a better bet than young PJ but Jackson will certainly be better than Keatley.

He's still a bit young though, just turned 20. I think he needs a few games now but he is in the Ireland U20s so think we'll leave him play there next week. But Jackson is like Humph in that he likes to play on the gainline and run the ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hggyb1kbCt4

To add to that Glas, the last three years Ulster have provided the outhalf to Ireland U20s and with experienced guys like Pienaar, Wallace and (the admittedly off-form) Humphreys who can play 10 in the crunch games we should be looking to blood either Jackson or McKinney as future prospects in key positions rather than going shopping for another Irishman.

You have to take a chance on youth at some point. Jackson played a few games when the team was off form at the start of the season and it was a learning curve for him to be fair. Not quite ready, but he could benefit form more gametime after the 20s 6N campaign is over.

Can't see him getting picked before the QF mind you, if he's not available in the international window.

Notch wrote:To add to that Glas, the last three years Ulster have provided the outhalf to Ireland U20s and with experienced guys like Pienaar, Wallace and (the admittedly off-form) Humphreys who can play 10 in the crunch games we should be looking to blood either Jackson or McKinney as future prospects in key positions rather than going shopping for another Irishman.

You have to take a chance on youth at some point. Jackson played a few games when the team was off form at the start of the season and it was a learning curve for him to be fair. Not quite ready, but he could benefit form more gametime after the 20s 6N campaign is over.

Can't see him getting picked before the QF mind you, if he's not available in the international window.

Very good point Notch. McKinney and PJ both have potential and given IH's form they surely must be gutted they haven't been given a chance. PJ captained the team as well this year. And a big thing which I think has gone under the radar is the under 20s win in France last weekend.

In fairness Willy, Jackson has been poor and I think there is too much responsibility thrown at him as captain plus outhalf. Same thing for Annett at the JWC last year - if he wasn't captain he would have been subbed.

Another good point sin e. Out halfs make very poor captains. They have more than enough responsibility.

The game I say he played very well but kicked at goal poorly.

PJ is very quick for 10. At some point we have to let him loose.

Didn't see the game, was IHumph really that bad? He's such a talented player but he's been so inconsistant this season which is a shame because he seemed to have turned a corner last season.

Is it time to bring back Niall O'Connor?.......

Rodders,

Yes he was.

At least twice in the match he just decided not to bother even attempting a tackle. At least one of those if not both led to tries.

For one he felt the short pop pass given on the gain line was forward and decided that the best plan was to stand there waving his arms at the ref rather than attempt to tackle the player. He just stopped.

He wasn't taking the kicks and he wasn't creating anything. He was just about to be replaced when he was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on.

It may have been the worst performance I've seen from him.