Ulster squad additions

First topic message reminder :

All of the following will be contracted to Ulster next year - I don't know the nature of each contract though

Niall Annett
Jerry Cronin
Craig Gilroy
Paddy Jackson
Adam Macklin
Luke Marshall
James McKinney
Ian Porter

Will supply a fully list shortly - still no mention of Bryan Young. Also no mention of Gaston yet

Brian Young has bee ntold he doesn't have the experience for the job.
Ulster are still looking elsewhere.

Brian has decided to retire from front line rugby.

Smart move by Ulster. Get a new approach to scrummaging drilled in.

geoff998rugby wrote:Brian Young has bee ntold he doesn't have the experience for the job.
Ulster are still looking elsewhere.

Brian has decided to retire from front line rugby.

Probably a good move by Brian. He was left wanting last year in the main. I would also agree he wouldn't have the experience to coach.

A nice bloke. I met him last year and had a nice convo with him. I hope he enjoys the rest of his career at Club level.

Matt Sexton has been seen in the building

geoff998rugby wrote:Matt Sexton has been seen in the building

Great news!

http://thefrontrowunion.com/2011/07/ulster-academy-spread-the-net/

Some really really good news maybe............

In an interview in SA Ruan Pienaer was ask whether he would return to the Sharks and his answer was something like

"I had a really good time at the Sharks but I am concentrating on playing for SA and the next TWO YEARS at Ulster"

His contract has only one year to go and this suggests he has signed an extension for a further year ala Muller.
Great news if true, trying to confirm.

I think the extra backrower is dead in the water. Either Leinster don't want to release any one or no one wants to come - probably a combination of the two.

I thing our squad of 33 plus 5 Academy players is it for next year.

The scrummage coach is still alive but does appear to be dragging on a bit though.

There was an interview with Stephen Ferris on Radio Foyle (Radio Ulster too maybe?) on Saturday afternoon. He mentioned that the SA boys were staying and also that he was off the treadmill and back doing pitch training.

Did anyone else hear it?

Class.

A couple of points of clarification.

Cronin is on a development contract not a full contract so the split is 32/6 not 33/5.

Also posts on the Academy on the supporters forum. Whilst individual announcements have been made the final make up of the Academy will not be confirmed till September - any posts to the contrary are speculation - unless there by me of course.

I really hope that Pienaar is staying on!

Not good news - looks highly unlikely IHumph will be fit for the start of the season.

A huge blow to our prosects.

Paddy Jackson will need to grow up fast

Whats up with him Geoff?

That's a shame but in the bigger scheme of things this is a great opportunity for Jackson to get some gametime.

Or McKinney.

Shoulder injury - I don't think it will be that long but just not the first few games. McKinney could indeed play a part as well. I would expect both to get game time in the friedlies.

We have an extra one away to Neath by the way

I would not under estimate the part Marshall will play - he is such a versatile player.

So we could see him at 10?

I'd say so, yes.

Would I be right in saying that Johan Muller has returned to Ulster for recuperation on his hamstring injury having not been named in the Bok squad for the last two games of the TriNations?

Looks like he won't be travelling to the World Cup.

Reviving this thread to let those who don't know that there is some chatter in the southern press that Ulster have gone back to Roger Wilson to try and persuade him to return.

This suggests that Saints only gave him a 1 year contract extension last summer

Should also add some chatter about Danielli going to Italy for a couple of years - will try and find out more

Does that mean Pedre is going for sure?

Not sure how I feel about Wilson returning to be honest. He's a good player but wasn't he a bit of a trouble maker in the past?

I though Pedre was for France, Danielli I knew would be going but wasn't sure where, Glasgow or Edinburgh seamed logical, but doin't think they wil want him , Italy may be good as Aironi could learn from somone with his experience.
Roger Wilson would be the quality player we could add to the Back row, not sure about character, but if Humph is ok with him then so am I.

We don't really have a specialist number 8, just player that can play across the backrow.

As long as Kaino is still an option even with Wilson then I see it as strengthing the Squad

It does look like Pedre is on the way out.

Wilson, unlike Best, did not burn his bridges when he left. He did act the idiot at the time but to use a local phrase he has 'wised up' and has been a model professional at Saints.

IQ and will strengthen our back row - we need it as we affectly only have 3 players of the required standard, definitely, for next year - Ferris, Henry, Faloon. Kaino and Wilson would make that acceptable and then Diack, McCormish and Birch as further cover.

Any word on Kaino? Presumably neither he nor Wilson would be coming to warm the bench. As Ferris would be nailed on to start at 6 then where would that leave Henry, Diack and Faloon?

I can't see the logic in signing Wilson AND Kaino.

I'd far rather get someone like Ruddock or keep Pedre than sign an expensive journeyman like Wilson.

Kaino would be 8 and Henry 7.
In practise it would be Pro 12 - Kaino, Wilson, Henry. HC - Ferris, Kaino, Henry

Ruddock wont come and we do not have a NIE slot for both Kaino and Wannenberg so Wannenberg is not an option either.

The reason to sign Wilson is simple - we need more strength in depth.
Kaino would bring us up to 4 players of the required and any addition other than that needs to be IQ. Who else is there ?

I also do not believe Wilson would be that expensive - no more than an regular first team squad player.

geoff998rugby wrote:Kaino would be 8 and Henry 7.
In practise it would be Pro 12 - Kaino, Wilson, Henry. HC - Ferris, Kaino, Henry

OK that works for me ....

Is the Kaino talk serious then Geoff? I assumed it was more pie in the sky from Ulster supporters.

We are talking to him but I as I said here it is very early stages so should it be taken seriously - YES.

Will it happen - we are a long long way from being able to say that.
What I think it does mean is that, given Wannenberg seems likely to leave someone of top quality is coming in .

Remember last year we started talking to Cory Jane and ended up with Jared Payne so no one should assume he is on his way at this stage.

I should add that, in part, the reason I believe we are considering Wilson is the realization that Diack just isn't cutting it.

Just realised something Geoff. If these IRFU changes go ahead Kaino won't be able to play 6 and 8.

Other than at scrum time - who would know

I reckon this is one stipulation that will have to be droped, in favour of something like must play x% in favoured position.

Take our game at Edinburgh - we picked Humphreys, Jackson was injured, Wallace wasn't full fit and then Humphreys got injured who in the hell would Dublin have expected us to put at 10.

Geoff - if there's scepticism about Diack (sadly well-founded, in my view), why did he just get an extension to 2014? Because there are no guarantees we'd get anyone else, presumably?

To be fair to Diack he looked the business up until the start of the 2010/11 season. He headed off to get married and came back a different player

The extension to 2014 did suprise me I think you are right the lack of options was a factor.

To be honest unless he steps up a gear he will on a plane back to SA in 2014.

diack was our best player up until Christmas of last year. I recall being in biarritz and he was a man possessed and the best player on the park until he got injured. Add to that he has lovely hands for a backrow and I can see why he was given the extension. Sadly he has regressed massively.

I think Diack's confidence was shattered when we signed Wannenberg. Up to then he looked to have nailed a start in the team. Enter Wannenberg, add that Diack picked up an injury, and he has never been first choice since. The body language he has displayed at times has been awful. I was/still am a big fan and agree he has the skills to be top class. Perhaps he himself should have looked elsewhere for a new challenge.

Rava wrote:I think Diack's confidence was shattered when we signed Wannenberg. Up to then he looked to have nailed a start in the team. Enter Wannenberg, add that Diack picked up an injury, and he has never been first choice since. The body language he has displayed at times has been awful. I was/still am a big fan and agree he has the skills to be top class. Perhaps he himself should have looked elsewhere for a new challenge.

Yup that fits my recollection, whatever the reasons, he isn't the player he was and he's looked pretty disinterested and lethargic on the rare occaisions when he has featured.

Maybe the Wilson talk is just to get him a better contract at Saints, or maybe it's to direct a rocket at Robbie?

I wouldn't be keen on him coming at all. He never had enough pace to be really powerful off the base nor enough height to be a lineout option - and he hasn't acquired either since he left. He would be solid PRO 12 cover but that is the level I'd be expecting developing players to be playing at. He'd effectively block guys like McGuigan, Joyce, Simpson and O'Connell who should be starting to get more PRO 12 time.

Diack is contracted to 2014, and Ulster can't afford to carry passengers, so unless he is going to leave by mutual consent, how can Ulster justify signing another 8? Robbie showed at his best he is a bigger, faster player than Roger, so why isn't he showing that? Perhaps he's injured, or disillusioned, or too comfortable or... whatever the reason it should be Humphreys' and McLaughlin's priority to get him purring again. If they've acknowledged they can't do that, then swapping Diack for Wilson in the squad is probably the easiest short term fix for them.

If Wilson is the replacement for Pedrie, and no NIE backrow is arriving, it would indicate that Ulster's ambition is on the wane.

If Wannenberg goes a NIE player will come in I am 100% certain.

Wilson or any other IQ player would be an as well as not an instead of.

The NIE player we will not be replacing will be Danielli not Wannenberg

I wonder if Wannenberg goes, and we bring in a a blindside or openside flanker, if he might be invigorated with all to play for?

If Ferris isn't playing Pro12, effectively, then if he stepped up he could be a starter in those games - NIQ flanker, Henry, and Diack. He has the physical potential, and considerable skill.

Come on, Robbie.

If we our going to sigh a NIQ player for the back row I hear that Todd Clever's contract is up in Japan!

We should sign him, if not for his skills, then for his lush long brown hair!!

Always a plus.

Was it Diack who suffered that terrible pulled muscle last year? Or was that Tuohy?

If it was Robbie then I'm not surprised it has taken a while to get back.

He did have a fairly major injury last year but came back before the end of the season and showed no ill effects. He has had loads of time this season to be back up to speed. Apparently he is doing it in training but just doesn't transfer that to the pitch on matchday. Maybe he isn't being man-managed properly by the coaches and management. Getting picked and knowing that no matter how well you play, you will be replaced isn't a great mindset to take on to a pitch. I haven't looked at the stats but I would bet in any game he started this season he hasn't finished it on the pitch.

As I have mentioned elsewhere the new rulings form Dublin are the only thing that can prevent Pienaer re signing. I am now absolutely convinced of that.

How would these new IRFU rules affect the resigning of Pienaar.
Ulsters have an NIE 9 but neitehr Munster or Leinster have. Thus 1 NIE scrum half across the 3 provinces.

Is the problem not in other positions;
especially with 6-7 odd props between the 3 provinces.
But in the backs - what about 15?
10 - Leinster - Bergquist
12&13 - Munster - Mafi / Chambers
11&14 - Munster - Howlett & Ulster Danielli
15 - Leinster - Nacewa & Ulster Payne

Of course there could a bit of shuffling around next year but looks to me no reason why a Pienaar can stay.

But in theory, who gets the NIE player if a contract is due up at 1 province while another province want to sign a new player in the same position?

E.g if Leinster want a foreign scrum half, do the IRFU decide if they need it more than Ulster and then force ulster to let Pienaar go... Or, as it should be, does the spot go to the player seeking renewal over one that hasn't even been signed yet?

RF09, the IRFU have also said that a NIQ can never reknew their contract. So when their contract is up, its up. No re-signing.

I think when this all gets going by 2014 we are looking at:

1 - Munster
2 - Leinster
3 - Ulster
4 - Ulster
5 - Leinster
6 - Leinster
7 - Munster
8 - Ulster
9 - Leinster
10 - Munster
11 - Ulster
12 - Munster
13 - Munster
14 - Leinster
15 - Ulster

Who did you see on the wing for Ulster Stag?

Gilroy, Trimble, Bowe, Gaston, Cochrane.

And some youingsters.

And who would you see as the Leinster 9?

This might be of some interest to some people from Stephen Ferris' twitter page.

Ferris: @JKaino u hear Afoa is scoring try's and has had 2 MOM's in the last 2 games. Also unbeaten since joining ulster lol. U fancy it chief????

Kaino: @StephenFerris6 lol yeah he's been the man, we've watching over here, oh bro don't think I'd cut it over there,y body would fall apart lol

red_stag wrote:RF09, the IRFU have also said that a NIQ can never reknew their contract. So when their contract is up, its up. No re-signing.

Is that what they have clarified it to be? Are you sure it isn't a case of 1 NIQ for the position between the 3 provinces from 13/14 onwards. Where more than one province has an NIQ, the IRFUs Professional Contracts Group will assess both needs and determine whose is more pressing (i.e. pick the winner).

If that is the case, then a current NIQ player could be retained, but it would clearly show that other provinces would no longer be able to go after that position for a player.


My real confusion with this relates to player position. Some props cover both sides, some scrumhalfs cover outhalf, the back3 can be interchangeable in most teams, so will the go the route of 3 back3 NIQ allowed? or 1 fullback required? Because you could still end up in a position of Munster/Leinster/Ulster all playing an NIQ at fullback if you go down this route, potentially.

No renewals was definitely part of the plan but I expect it will be changed before it comes in. This is the thing I think most people have a problem with