Ulster Rugby 2018-19

First topic message reminder :

https://www.606v2.com/t68145-ulster-rugby-2017-2018-part-2


Last thread was at risk of self combusting, so started a new one for you. 


Bye.

You are always going to get a few morons protesting because they have nothing better to do but I don't think it would be a bad thing at all.

Then you grossly underestimate how things will go if it happened

I would love to have both Paddy and Stu back but there's no way either of them could come back nor even want to. To spend your days being heckled by the usual suspects. To be spat at whilst on an evening out. Not the life anyone would want.

Pete330v2 wrote:I would love to have both Paddy and Stu back but there's no way either of them could come back nor even want to. To spend your days being heckled by the usual suspects. To be spat at whilst on an evening out. Not the life anyone would want.

To be fair, Paddy doesn't seem to have any issues with his recent nights out in Belfast

marty2086 wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:I would love to have both Paddy and Stu back but there's no way either of them could come back nor even want to. To spend your days being heckled by the usual suspects. To be spat at whilst on an evening out. Not the life anyone would want.

To be fair, Paddy doesn't seem to have any issues with his recent nights out in Belfast

We'll I don't know how he feels about his recent nights out (I lost contact with the friend of his I worked with) but I do know how he felt about the attention he'd received during and shortly after the court case. I can imagine the occasional visit would feel a lot different to actually living there.

Fair point, I know Gilroy gets the whispers and the odd eejit on a night out but quite a few players do have to deal with eejits on a night out

Bill Johnston on his way next season from Munster it seems according to Gerry Thornley

marty2086 wrote:Bill Johnston on his way next season from Munster it seems according to Gerry Thornley

There were whispers that he was coming this time last year just after Carberry confirmed where he was going. He's a damn good acquisition and if he can gain some form I reckon will push Burns very hard for the shirt. It might be a very interesting tussle for starting spots next season.
IF he comes that is.

marty2086 wrote:Fair point, I know Gilroy gets the whispers and the odd eejit on a night out but quite a few players do have to deal with eejits on a night out

There are a lot of dopes and virtue signallers out there. Someone should quote them what Jesus said to the Pharisees.

Pete330v2 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Bill Johnston on his way next season from Munster it seems according to Gerry Thornley

There were whispers that he was coming this time last year just after Carberry confirmed where he was going. He's a damn good acquisition and if he can gain some form I reckon will push Burns very hard for the shirt. It might be a very interesting tussle for starting spots next season.
IF he comes that is.

Watching him and McPhillips at under 20 there always seemed to be little between them, McPhillips has proven himself last season, this season he's not got a decent run of games something Johnston has never really gotten either

Something that has gone under the radar, Kev Geary has announced he's leaving at the end of the season. Yet another S&C coach gone

Collapse2005 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Fair point, I know Gilroy gets the whispers and the odd eejit on a night out but quite a few players do have to deal with eejits on a night out

There are a lot of dopes and virtue signallers out there. Someone should quote them what Jesus said to the Pharisees.

What did he say?

He who is without sin let them cast the first stone or in other words anyone who hasn't said something a little stupid (no-one) in a private WhatsApp group then feel free to pester Gilroy.

Collapse2005 wrote:He who is without sin let them cast the first stone or in other words anyone who hasn't said something a little stupid (no-one) in a private WhatsApp group then feel free to pester Gilroy.

Oh yes, that's one of his finer points. Sorry, scripture isn't my thing so excuse the ignorance. I'm off to attack the twitterazis.

That's why Religion, particularly CHRISTianity is out of fashion in the elite societies of the world ( politics and entertainment)

Jesus said a lot of good stuff! A genuine rebel. Cool as Eastwood.

Bad karma for the Me Only generation.

Yeah there is a lot of good sensible stuff in the bible. Even if you dislike religion the 10 commandments isn't a bad way to live your life. They make perfect sense to me for the most part.

Collapse2005 wrote:Yeah there is a lot of good sensible stuff in the bible. Even if you dislike religion the 10 commandments isn't a bad way to live your life. They make perfect sense to me for the most part.

Sod off, my neighbours Oxen are stunning, I wish I had some like them.

Pete330v2 wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Yeah there is a lot of good sensible stuff in the bible. Even if you dislike religion the 10 commandments isn't a bad way to live your life. They make perfect sense to me for the most part.

Sod off, my neighbours Oxen are stunning, I wish I had some like them.

Get the old hormone treatment and you'll grow a lovely pair of them in no time.

Pete330v2 wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Yeah there is a lot of good sensible stuff in the bible. Even if you dislike religion the 10 commandments isn't a bad way to live your life. They make perfect sense to me for the most part.

Sod off, my neighbours Oxen are stunning, I wish I had some like them.

That maybe so but it doesnt do you much good pining over them. Is the secret to happiness not simply being happy for what you have got?

Burns is here in the hope of international honours. Two year contract half done. If he doesn't feel it's going to happen, I'm not sure I would expect him to stay. Bill Johnston, 3 years younger, might arguably have as much a chance internationally as Burns.
Either way, Burns could do with another 10 (an actual 10) pushing him.
The way UR used utility cover for the 10 position all season probably didn't put much pressure on burns to up his game.
Maybe Bill will light a fire under him.
Or maybe Burns has already called it quits on his international ambitions and has a get out clause of some kind.

Burns is the best OH Ulster have atm, but he isn't Test class. Johnson is injury prone and behind Carbery, Tyler and JJ so why wouldn't he look north.
Ulster have McPhillips who has been ignored this season and Curtis who has been injured with the jury out on Lowry as an OH.

Don't know much about Johnson but sounds like a good player.

I'm not sure why McPhillips isn't rated a bit higher though, he was excellent last season.

Re:Burns, he's grown on me actually. I was pretty unimpressed for most of the season but I think he's improved a lot the more he's played, he has a good commanding presence and game management. I do think we've over played him at times but that isn't his fault.

Johnson is a better player than McPhillips
Lowry only playing 15 because Addison, Ludik and Gilroy all unavailable

Next year 10s will be Burns, Lowry and Johnson - decent competition there
The 15s will be Addison, Ludik and Gilroy - same as above

Gilroy has a fight on his hand with Faddes, Stockdale, Balacoune and Lyttle all potential wing players
Seems an IQ 9 could be signed - no idea who

Genuine strength in depth developing in the backs - centre is reliant on the kids coming good though
After Marshall and McCloskey it is Curtis, Hume, Moore - although others, particularly Addison, can be slotted in there

Jackson will never come back to Ulster.
That ship has sailed - forget it and move on.

geoff999rugby wrote:
Gilroy has a fight on his hand with Faddes, Stockdale, Balacoune and Lyttle all potential wing players

Balacoune has been a revelation this season, he gets better with each game. I could see Him and Stockdale on the wings for years, if Addison could stay fit that would be an incredible back 3.

I don't expect Jackson to come back, butI can't help holding a grudge when I see double standards.
Denis Coulson while playing for Grenoble was involved with an alleged sexual assault along with two team mates where teh girl was allegedly/drunk/unconcious/asleep. He recorded video of the incident and shared it.

...and then he signs for Connacht.

So basically... as long as the irish media and sponsors aren't up in arms, the IRFU magically misplace their moral objections...

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/8yii5l/gangrape_by_three_rugbymen_lo%C3%AFck_jammes_denis/


Not to mention the fact that Gilroy broke his terms of contract more so than Jackson in terms of derogatory and demeaning language and yet remains. And we don't seem to see much protest or disdain from supporters whenever he has taken to the field this season.

Jackson is old news but worth noting there has been a significant backlash from LI fans with Jackson signing, so it isn't just Irish fans, media and sponsor had an issue

rodders wrote:Jackson is old news but worth noting there has been a significant backlash from LI fans with Jackson signing, so it isn't just Irish fans, media and sponsor had an issue

Have you any links to such reports Rodders? Its interesting how it tends to be Jackson who gets the most attention, probably down to being the more well known player.

I just read one story where it basically said that a Belfast Feminist Group has been calling on the English club’s sponsors to react to Jackson's signing but nothing about LI fans. I find that quite sad to be honest.

clivemcl wrote:I don't expect Jackson to come back, butI can't help holding a grudge when I see double standards.
Denis Coulson while playing for Grenoble was involved with an alleged sexual assault along with two team mates where teh girl was allegedly/drunk/unconcious/asleep. He recorded video of the incident and shared it.

...and then he signs for Connacht.

So basically... as long as the irish media and sponsors aren't up in arms, the IRFU magically misplace their moral objections...

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/8yii5l/gangrape_by_three_rugbymen_lo%C3%AFck_jammes_denis/


Not to mention the fact that Gilroy broke his terms of contract more so than Jackson in terms of derogatory and demeaning language and yet remains. And we don't seem to see much protest or disdain from supporters whenever he has taken to the field this season.

Exactly Clive. The whole debacle was ludicrously inconsistent. Basically it boiled down to trial by social media rather than trial by any form of intelligent logic.

I know this is equally as sad as the hashtag twitterazi but I did have a look at who were posting the most negative comments on twitter and the huge majority are from very angry but very ill-informed people. The perceived disgust is always about what they believe Paddy tweeted and all of them have it completely wrong and the vast majority of them have either no obvious interest in rugby or London Irish.

Pete330v2 wrote:I know this is equally as sad as the hashtag twitterazi but I did have a look at who were posting the most negative comments on twitter and the huge majority are from very angry but very ill-informed people. The perceived disgust is always about what they believe Paddy tweeted and all of them have it completely wrong and the vast majority of them have either no obvious interest in rugby or London Irish.

The anger relates to what they think he did rather than anything based on reality or fact. That's real Salem witch trial stuff which is why its quite sad. Some people have nothing better to do with their lives that to try to ruin the lives of others.

Faddes confirmed

That's good.

He had an injury there recently so they were probably just making sure he wasn't crocked.

I guess that's our reward for Stockdale's and to an extent Balacoune's emergence.

He likes to kill animals in his spare time. Let’s hope that doesn’t get out or the bored political activists will be repainting their picket signs.

Didn't you just tell everyone?

Well the tiger's out of the bag now.

It's great to know we can rely on him arriving now. Damn good player who will bring plenty to the party.

The hashtag army won't even notice, they're too busy oozing their bile at London Irish and Paddy.

Pete330v2 wrote:It's great to know we can rely on him arriving now. Damn good player who will bring plenty to the party.

The hashtag army won't even notice, they're too busy oozing their bile at London Irish and Paddy.

I think thats blown out of proportion. There will always be morons on twitter.

Johnson will be the last major signing - still trying to find out the full list of who has been released

geoff999rugby wrote:Johnson will be the last major signing - still trying to find out the full list of who has been released

Any word on McPhillips geoff? Apparently he has been saying he has another year on his contract so would be interesting to see where things go as our depth is suddenly looking really good across the park with or without him

Can Johnston play elsewhere? I’d say another option for 12 outside of the youth might be handy.

Any word on Stockdale or Gilroy for the semi?

Johnson is a youngster himself - has only played in 12 games and, I suspect, most of those from the bench.
He is also only a 10

Gilroy like Curtis will not be risked in the last game, hopefully 2.
I believe Stockdale will start against Glasgow

McPhillips is a strange one - I thought he was out of contract.
He definitely does not have a full contract for next year - maybe one more year on a development contract

geoff999rugby wrote:
McPhillips is a strange one - I thought he was out of contract.
He definitely does not have a full contract for next year - maybe one more year on a development contract

Everyone seems to think he was out of contract, he first signed a development contract in April 2016, pretty sure he was upgraded in 2017 to a 2 year deal maybe it was quietly extended

McPhillips had a development contract extended in 2017 for 2 years.

The only thing I can think off is he has been given a contract for a further year some time in the season.
Typically Ulster would not do this till later but under McFarland the following players have been given upgrades to
their contract during the season such that they will all be on full contracts in 2019-20 or 1 year in development then
full contracts in 2020-21. In each case the contract is for either 2 or 3 years.

Sullivan, Kane, O'Toole, Curtis, Lowry, Hume, Lyttle, Shanahan

maybe McPhillips got the same but for only 1 year, and it has not been made public

clivemcl wrote:I don't expect Jackson to come back, butI can't help holding a grudge when I see double standards.
Denis Coulson while playing for Grenoble was involved with an alleged sexual assault along with two team mates where teh girl was allegedly/drunk/unconcious/asleep. He recorded video of the incident and shared it.

...and then he signs for Connacht.

So basically... as long as the irish media and sponsors aren't up in arms, the IRFU magically misplace their moral objections...

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/8yii5l/gangrape_by_three_rugbymen_lo%C3%AFck_jammes_denis/


Not to mention the fact that Gilroy broke his terms of contract more so than Jackson in terms of derogatory and demeaning language and yet remains. And we don't seem to see much protest or disdain from supporters whenever he has taken to the field this season.

From what I can read of this case, Coulson and the other two layers were fired by Grenoble immediately when details of what allegedly happened were brought to attention of the club - even before the investigation concluded and before any trial court case was taken by the victim. Connacht hired him for a season, and when court case concluded, he was let go again by Connacht. I’m not sure if there is a trial to be held this year.

To clarify my previous post

I believe the following will be on full contracts next year (currently being on development ones):
Kane, Lyttle, Shanahan

To that you can add as racing certainties - Timoney and Matty Rea

The following will be on development contracts next year , and will automatically move up to full contracts for 2019-20:
Sullivan, O'Toole, Curtis, Lowry, Hume

Essentially being fast tracked through the development stage

To that you can add as a racing certainty -  Baloucoune

It is this fast tracking that is new.
McFarland want to reward those players showing outstanding form as Academy players - that is a good thing.
Shows if your good enough you will be given a chance - too often Academy players have been frustrated and become disillusioned under all previous coaching tickets

My guess at the team, from what I have been told

Stockdale, Balacoune, Marshall, McCloskey, Ludik, Burns, Coney
O'Sullivan, Best, Kane, Henderson. Treadwell, Timoney, Coetzee. Murphy
Bench: Warwick, Herring O'Toole, O'Connor, Reidy, Shanahan, Lowry, Lyttle

geoff999rugby wrote:My guess at the team, from what I have been told

Stockdale, Balacoune, Marshall, McCloskey, Ludik, Burns, Coney
O'Sullivan, Best, Kane, Henderson. Treadwell, Timoney, Coetzee. Murphy
Bench: Warwick, Herring O'Toole, O'Connor, Reidy, Shanahan, Lowry, Lyttle

That would so very well, I do think that side can compete very well with Glasgow but ultimately I feel they'll have too much for us. That being said I thought Leinster would have far too much for us and look what almost happened there. We're a different animal at the moment and previous results against Glasgow must be completely ignored, knockout rugby can throw up surprises.

geoff999rugby wrote:My guess at the team, from what I have been told

Stockdale, Balacoune, Marshall, McCloskey, Ludik, Burns, Coney
O'Sullivan, Best, Kane, Henderson. Treadwell, Timoney, Coetzee. Murphy
Bench: Warwick, Herring O'Toole, O'Connor, Reidy, Shanahan, Lowry, Lyttle

It would be great to see Stockdale back. Not sure about Ludik on the wing though, I think Lyttle or Lowry offer a bit more in attack especially with the style of rugby we are playing.

With Faddes coming in next season I wonder if Ludik will find his chances limited?

My prediction for our strongest starting 15 next year is:

Addison, Stockdale, Marshall, McCloskey, Faddes, Any 1 from 3, Cooney
McGrath, Herring, Moore, Carter, Treadwell, Henderson, Coetzee, Murphy

I think the three players - Burns, Lowry and Johnson will be in a real dogfight for the 10 spot.
For those really big crunch games I can see Henderson in the backrow given the signing of Carter and the improvement in Treadwell

Ludik is almost certainly entering his large year with us - he will be 33 early next season
We are getting rid of all our older players and he will be only player over 30 in the squad next year - Sean Reidy will be the next oldest (he was 30 on the 10th May)

rodders wrote:

It would be great to see Stockdale back. Not sure about Ludik on the wing though, I think Lyttle or Lowry offer a bit more in attack especially with the style of rugby we are playing.

Ludik is being picked for his superior defence