Ulster 2016/2017

First topic message reminder :

Well the danger is always that life happens and he might refocus his entire life after two years in France.... were he to go.

Pete330v2 wrote:I was saying that this morning, that Marcel can make as immediate and inspiring impact for us as Ferris did that night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry8PZINojgo

Still brings a tear to my eye - an example of why he was a truly great player - the best Ulster born player in the professional era (comfortably)

geoff999rugby wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:I was saying that this morning, that Marcel can make as immediate and inspiring impact for us as Ferris did that night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry8PZINojgo

Still brings a tear to my eye - an example of why he was a truly great player - the best Ulster born player in the professional era (comfortably)

I don't think there are many would argue with that Geoff, the guy was a one off unfortunately which makes it even more gutting that his career was cruelly cut short.

When's the team announcement today? 1 o'clock or so?

Anyone fancy doing an Ulster-Edinburgh thread?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Anyone fancy doing an Ulster-Edinburgh thread?

Go on RD, you can do it

Do you not see the green badge? I'm far too busy an important!

Jared Payne injury update (all be it by the newsletter)

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-jared-payne-inching-closer-to-ulster-return-1-7811429

Ulster team & replacements to play Edinburgh, Guinness PRO12, Friday 10th February, Kingspan Stadium (7.35pm kick-off):

15 L Ludik
14 J Stockdale
13 D Cave
12 S Olding
11 C Piutau
10 P Nelson
9  P Marshall

1 A Warwick
2 J Andrew
3 R Lutton
4 K Treadwell
5 A O'Connor
6 R Diack
7 C Henry (C)
8 M Coetzee

Replacements (16-23): J Murphy, C Black, W Herbst, P Browne, S Reidy, D Shanahan, S McCloskey, T Bowe.

Woohoo, Ludik at 15, Charlie at 11 where he belongs, Marcel to do a load of wrecking ball impressions from 8 and the return of Nelson at 10. Yessssss!!!!

Good to see AOC back too, be interesting to see him and Treadwell together

Strange that Nelson comes straight in following so long out and no replacement on the bench, after so long theres usually muscle problems either strains or cramp when you first come back

Wonder if Luke Marshalls busy this weekend

AOC and Treadwell are our best Locks with Browne on the bench 3rd best.
Sadly de Merwe is in decline and rightly doesn't make the bench
(ignoring Henderson for this analysis)

Olding straight back reflects the fact, rightly, not happy with McCloskey in defence.
Marshall has been kept by Ireland.
Herbst obviously not quite there.
Herron will leave once McPhillips deemed ready (provided Paddy stays)
Where's Gilroy though ?

marty2086 wrote:Good to see AOC back too, be interesting to see him and Treadwell together

Strange that Nelson comes straight in following so long out and no replacement on the bench, after so long theres usually muscle problems either strains or cramp when you first come back

Wonder if Luke Marshalls busy this weekend

Nelson playing because Herron isn't up to it.
Olding is the cover

Post from one of the better posters on the other site

'The clear out has started. At least six fringe players have been released.
Robin Copeland possibly coming next season'

geoff999rugby wrote:Post from one of the better posters on the other site

'The clear out has started. At least six fringe players have been released.
Robin Copeland possibly coming next season'

Interesting!!!
Copeland would be a great addition I believe.
I wonder who the 'fringe' players would be.

geoff999rugby wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Good to see AOC back too, be interesting to see him and Treadwell together

Strange that Nelson comes straight in following so long out and no replacement on the bench, after so long theres usually muscle problems either strains or cramp when you first come back

Wonder if Luke Marshalls busy this weekend

Nelson playing because Herron isn't up to it.
Olding is the cover

He had one bad game although it was against Edinburgh but has the skillset, are we not always saying the young guys deserve a fair crack? Its also short termism and we NEED Herron to get games and develop as he'll be needed along the way and it'll again be a case of not having had enough game time and experience

Pete330v2 wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:Post from one of the better posters on the other site

'The clear out has started. At least six fringe players have been released.
Robin Copeland possibly coming next season'

Interesting!!!
Copeland would be a great addition I believe.
I wonder who the 'fringe' players would be.

Though it seems Conans off to Leicester

marty2086 wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:Post from one of the better posters on the other site

'The clear out has started. At least six fringe players have been released.
Robin Copeland possibly coming next season'

Interesting!!!
Copeland would be a great addition I believe.
I wonder who the 'fringe' players would be.

Though it seems Conans off to Leicester

So he'd rather throw away even the remotest sniff of an Irish shirt than come to Ulster.....

marty2086 wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Good to see AOC back too, be interesting to see him and Treadwell together

Strange that Nelson comes straight in following so long out and no replacement on the bench, after so long theres usually muscle problems either strains or cramp when you first come back

Wonder if Luke Marshalls busy this weekend

Nelson playing because Herron isn't up to it.
Olding is the cover

He had one bad game although it was against Edinburgh but has the skillset, are we not always saying the young guys deserve a fair crack? Its also short termism and we NEED Herron to get games and develop as he'll be needed along the way and it'll again be a case of not having had enough game time and experience

Watching him play for club and A sides he is coming up short.
As I say McPhillips will be ahead of him next year.

The fact that Nelson is straight back in after a long time away with a terrible injury speaks volumes.

Pete330v2 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:Post from one of the better posters on the other site

'The clear out has started. At least six fringe players have been released.
Robin Copeland possibly coming next season'

Interesting!!!
Copeland would be a great addition I believe.
I wonder who the 'fringe' players would be.

Though it seems Conans off to Leicester

So he'd rather throw away even the remotest sniff of an Irish shirt than come to Ulster.....

Correct and he is not the only one

No Herring?

I find it very hard to believe that Jack Conan would move to Leicester Tigers. Heaslip is 33 and Conan is next in line at Leinster, if not Ireland. Out of all the young 8s (bar Stander) he is probably the most impressive so far.

Welll at least the Irish selection has explained why Gilroy's missing from an Ulster shirt this weekend. He'll be in a green one

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I find it very hard to believe that Jack Conan would move to Leicester Tigers. Heaslip is 33 and Conan is next in line at Leinster, if not Ireland. Out of all the young 8s (bar Stander) he is probably the most impressive so far.

And Heaslip agreed a new 3 year deal last month which he has ye to sign

Decent team, although a lot returning from injury. -worried about rustiness and lack of natch fitness. Delighted to see Nelson back and that second row.

I'd say Joyce and Mulholland must be off. Herron maybe as well, provided Paddy is staying.

geoff999rugby wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Good to see AOC back too, be interesting to see him and Treadwell together

Strange that Nelson comes straight in following so long out and no replacement on the bench, after so long theres usually muscle problems either strains or cramp when you first come back

Wonder if Luke Marshalls busy this weekend

Nelson playing because Herron isn't up to it.
Olding is the cover

He had one bad game although it was against Edinburgh but has the skillset, are we not always saying the young guys deserve a fair crack? Its also short termism and we NEED Herron to get games and develop as he'll be needed along the way and it'll again be a case of not having had enough game time and experience

Watching him play for club and A sides he is coming up short.
As I say McPhillips will be ahead of him next year.

The fact that Nelson is straight back in after a long time away with a terrible injury speaks volumes.

I like McPhillips, watching him replace Johnstone for the U20s he seems a similar player and of similar quality. Though a few Munster boys were offended by that suggestion during the JWC last year

This is Ulster though and it'll be two years before he usurps Herron

Don Alfonso wrote:Decent team, although a lot returning from injury. -worried about rustiness and lack of natch fitness.  Delighted to see Nelson back and that second row.

I'd say Joyce and Mulholland must be off. Herron maybe as well, provided Paddy is staying.

With Keatley off to France, Madigan already there, Hanrahan coming to be second choice at Munster and Sexton helping the medical staff of the IRFU clock up the overtime you'd think the IRFU would be putting a nice Central Contract in front of Paddy and begging him to sign

Don Alfonso wrote:Decent team, although a lot returning from injury. -worried about rustiness and lack of natch fitness.  Delighted to see Nelson back and that second row.

I'd say Joyce and Mulholland must be off. Herron maybe as well, provided Paddy is staying.

Id say Lutton, Black, Marshall must also be candidates for departure,

The Great Aukster wrote:No Herring?

Injured

Pete330v2 wrote:Ulster team & replacements to play Edinburgh, Guinness PRO12, Friday 10th February, Kingspan Stadium (7.35pm kick-off):

15 L Ludik
14 J Stockdale
13 D Cave
12 S Olding
11 C Piutau
10 P Nelson
9  P Marshall

1 A Warwick
2 J Andrew
3 R Lutton
4 K Treadwell
5 A O'Connor
6 R Diack
7 C Henry (C)
8 M Coetzee

Replacements (16-23): J Murphy, C Black, W Herbst, P Browne, S Reidy, D Shanahan, S McCloskey, T Bowe.

Great to see Nelson back. Hopefully he can get through the next few games without injury. Nelson can make a massive difference to this side, unlike some of the pretenders to PJ's throne.

Can Olding last more than a few games without injury? Wonderfully skilled player but a bad run of injuries are seriously holding him back.

Coetzee, at long last! Not expecting too much from him in his first game back, but still really excited about seeing him play in an Ulster shirt.

Not the weakest starting XV, and with Herbst, Browne, Reidy and McCloskey on the bench, the game should be ours. I say 'should be' but, with our coaching ticket, we will probably find a way to royally screw ourselves.

Onwards and downwards

Biggest worry is the front row - not the best.

Fortunately I don't think Edinburgh will strong in that department either

geoff999rugby wrote:Biggest worry is the front row - not the best.

Fortunately I don't think Edinburgh will strong in that department either

Definitely not the best but if parity can be achieved I'll be more than happy.
My biggest worry is Viliame Mata, will be smash holes in our defence again??

That's what Coetzee is for - he is a tackling machine.

Not an 8 though but that's another story

geoff999rugby wrote:That's what Coetzee is for - he is a tackling machine.

Not an 8 though but that's another story

You know what? I forgot about Marcel. How the hell did I forget what he brings.

This is almost the same Edinburgh team that humiliated us in Scotland but this is not the same Ulster team and it's at Ravers so hopefully it'll be a happy Friday night.

The Edinburgh front row looked good last week against Munster, gave Munster a few problems at times

geoff999rugby wrote:That's what Coetzee is for - he is a tackling machine.

Not an 8 though but that's another story

Am I right in thinking he's a robust 7? That would make our best 3 back row players at the moment all 7s - Reidy, Henry and Coetzee. I guess Botha is a proper 8 when he comes.

For the sake of Hendy's Ireland career I wouldn't be surprised if he asked to play lock for Ulster from now on. (Personally he has always looked like he has everything you would want in an 8, but I'm no expert.

I hope Ulster put in a performance to be proud of tonight, regardless of the score

Botha is indeed an 8

Henderson and Diack will be playing lock next year.

If we get Copeland we will have Botha, Coetzee, Reidy, Henry and Copeland

So that is a 2nd string backrow of Ross, Copeland, Reidy - compare that to this years back row !

Edinburgh Try within the first 2 minutes. We are so easy at the start of games.

Not been too bad since. Big let off though with Edinburgh botching that try.

Yes, thought Nelson did really well to force the pass, or it was Try for Edinburgh.

Scrum is doing well, although Marshall putting the ball in straight doesn't help.

Great to get the TBP so early, but we shouldn't ease off.

Stockdale is playing really well. excellent Try for him.

And there's a Try for Edinburgh ....

Thought Olding was holding his arm after that...
But seems ok.every little knock with him you expect the worst!

A bit fire in a lot of bellies tonight. Still not fantastic in all areas, but good to see other squad players feeding off what Piutau and Coetzee bring.

They seem to playing with a bit of conviction, but really need to keep it up. Edinburgh left a couple of Try's out there in the first half, and we can't afford to let them score early in the 2nd.

Nelson is playing well for his first game back with the seniors. Such a relief after some of the dross we've been treated to recently.

Coetzee firing the players up. Looks like a leader.

Edinburgh back in it .....

Anyone else noticed how Kiss has looked a lot more worked up and agitated than he normally looks.
This is a pretty vital game and Coetzee and Piutau both off the field.

Have ulster even got a tactical kicking game? Their game management is woeful.

No real kickers for a tactical kicking game this evening.


Nervy end to the 2nd half, but just very happy we got the 5 point win with players missing and players just returning from long-term injuries.

Thankfully, Piutau doesn't think his injury is bad. Said "it feels ok now".

Cave goes off and the defence of the backs falls apart - headless bunnies

McCloskey is becoming a serious liability in defence

Bowe was an embarrassment - hang you boots up for your own self respect Tommy

The fall off of intensity in the forwards in the second half was very worrying.

Some of the first half stuff was excellent
Nelson is the best backup 10 we have had in the professional era - not that there has been much competition

Bowe and Gilroy should be worried for their places, Stockdale just seems to keep getting better and looked like he had another gear for his try

geoff999rugby wrote:Cave goes off and the defence of the backs falls apart - headless bunnies

McCloskey is becoming a serious liability in defence

Bowe was an embarrassment - hang you boots up for your own self respect Tommy

The fall off of intensity in the forwards in the second half was very worrying.

Some of the first half stuff was excellent
Nelson is the best backup 10 we have had in the professional era - not that there has been much competition

Cave was a loss. Don't know if he was injured or if was a D4 order.

Yep, time for Tommy to call it a day. I have thought so for quite a while now. Stockdale was very good this evening and he should be getting as much game time as possible.

I think the forwards were exhausted. Not very many breaks for them to get a breath, and they gave it all in the first 50 minutes. Diack was as soft as ever and Reidy made a big difference when he came on.

Nelson is an excellent backup to Jackson. Marshall was ok today, and Shanahan was good, I thought. Actually fairly strong for a tiny person.