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.

carpet baboon wrote:Is Angus Curtis brother (Dave??) No longer seen as a scrum half? Had been playing wing last time I noticed

His name is Graham and he is currently away with Ireland 7s. Just incase anyone else was interested. Still no idea if we see him as a wing or scrum half

Ireland are training with the Ulster squad today. I wonder will they let big Stu train on the Ulster side just to prove how easily he'd swat Aki away

Stu has been banned from training to ensure no youtube footage can escape and do even more damage to Ireland inc reputations.

Jack McGrath must like it alright in Belfast if he's staying for another 2 years. See lads, it's not so grim up north after all

Pro 14 has been suspended indefinitely https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51858815.

Ulster have announced the signing of Ian Madigan for next year.

Madigan to Ulster seemed like an obvious move. The Ulster team is shaping up to be one of the strongest.

Pete330v2 wrote:Jack McGrath must like it alright in Belfast if he's staying for another 2 years. See lads, it's not so grim up north after all

Jack McGrath is well known for being a xenophobic, agoraphobic, anthrophobic loner who don't like bright lights, big cities, drink, music, women or playing cards.....

.... it's his business if he's found the perfect place for his bloody complexes to unwind....

mikey_dragon wrote:Madigan to Ulster seemed like an obvious move. The Ulster team is shaping up to be one of the strongest.

Pity it might be three years before we find out how strong.......

True. Either way, it's another Leinster B team in Ireland .

Never been convinced by Madigan as an out half. He is too attack minded for the really big games. Maybe Nucifora hopes Ulster will have a Cooney effect on him and is trying it for 1 year - to give an option to the declining Sexton?

He can play 12 though right? Did he play there with Gopperth at 10 for Leinster, or was it the other way around? And it would give Ulster a good contrast to McCloskey.

mikey_dragon wrote:He can play 12 though right? Did he play there with Gopperth at 10 for Leinster, or was it the other way around? And it would give Ulster a good contrast to McCloskey.

Dear God. The MOC years. Don't remind me, Mikey. The Horror.

This was just before I think, Schmidt’s last season with Leinster.

I wouldn't expect too much from Madigan. He's fallen down the pecking order at Bristol. His kicking game is good but the one year deal is the key indicator, this is signing is a punt that Madigan can refind his best form with no guarantee he's still at the required level. Be interesting to see how he goes.

Now would be a good time for Ulster to re-sign Paddy Jackson.

Pot Hale wrote:Now would be a good time for Ulster to re-sign Paddy Jackson.

We're he not under contract with LI yes. I'm not sure if he's struggling with injury though as Myler seems to be playing more this season than Jackson.

I really don't see the worth in bringing Madigan to Ulster. We have Burn, Johnson and Lowry as well as Cooney who can cover 10. I know there's a more positive spin in claiming that he brings a wealth of experience to pass on to the young out halves but he's never been anything but sub-par IMO so that experience we could do without.

There is also the fact that we'll have yet another Leinsterman, they're more infectious than Covid19.

Pete330v2 wrote:

There is also the fact that we'll have yet another Leinsterman, they're more infectious than Covid19.

Ah they're all a daycent bunch of people though, God love'em..... Salt'uda'Earth.

SecretFly wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:

There is also the fact that we'll have yet another Leinsterman, they're more infectious than Covid19.

Ah they're all a daycent bunch of people though, God love'em.....  Salt'uda'Earth.

My father's a Donabate man Fly so thanks

Ah welcome to our little ultra exclusive club, Pete. Always knew you sounded intelligent enough to qualify
Sure wasn't James Bond himself born in the same hospital that I was. And he's so proud of that connection. Always name dropping me when ever he gets a chance, the blighter.

SecretFly wrote:Ah welcome to our little ultra exclusive club, Pete.  Always knew you sounded intelligent enough to qualify
Sure wasn't James Bond himself born in the same hospital that I was.  And he's so proud of that connection.  Always name dropping me when ever he gets a chance, the blighter.

I can't attest to anything as impressive, I simply satisfy myself that I have qualified for the right to support both Ulster and Leinster with equal passion (except when those boys in blue play the boys in white).

My heart however resides in Kerry, Castlegregory to be precise so that gives me free reign to support those lads in red as well.

I have no connection to Connacht but am working on that

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/22/rory-best-ireland-played-hard-partied-hard-change-protestant

Interview with Rory Brest in the Guardian, presumably doing the publicity for his book

Are we back? When will we be back?

Don Alfonso wrote:Are we back? When will we be back?

Almost there Don, just a few more sleeps.

Sunday, 4:30pm kick off

Have to say looking forward to the playoff if they happen. I think Ulster (until the break) were possibly the second best team in the league. I think Ulster on form can turn over Edinburgh, Munster or Scarlets comfortably at home. Away from home I think they have enough fight to turn any of them over in the semi.

I didn't think it would actually happen but here we are on the cusp of the season kicking off again. It's like being a cub at Xmas.
We're able to field our new signings aren't we?

Pete330v2 wrote:I didn't think it would actually happen but here we are on the cusp of the season kicking off again. It's like being a cub at Xmas.
We're able to field our new signings aren't we?

They did in the Premiership restart at the weekend so I'm assuming yes

Yes in Pro 14, at least.

For Connacht I'd go all guns blazing.

McGrath
Herring
Moore
Carter
O'Connor
Rea
Murphy
Coetzee
Cooney
Burns
Stockdale
McCloskey
Marshall
Baloucoune
Ludik

O'Sullivan
McBurney
Moore
Treadwell
Reidy
Mathewson
Madigan
Faddes

With Madigan covering 10, 12 and 15 across the backline, Faddes is in because he can over 13 and wing. Minimum disruption. If we can get the two points, we're into the play-offs, and give Lowry, Milasinovich, possibly Hume some game time against Leinster (although we'll need to get the big guns up to speed, so I don't foresee too many changes.)

Strike that. Baloucoune our for "a number of months" with a hamstring injury, Reidy 4 -6 weeks. Bloody hell.

That’s a strong Ulster 23!

Moore in twice?
These two games are pretty meaningless to Ulster, to not make the knockouts Ulster would have to pick up zero points and Glasgow get to BP wins.

These games will be used kike warm up games to get the squad match fit for the knock outs, there won't be any unused subs on the bench. Aim for front line players getting a game and a half, and everyone else that may be used at least 1/2 a game. However may feature in the knock outs (most of squad) to definitely get a run out over these two games.

With Madigan on the bench covering 10,12,15 I think if either one of Addison,Faddes or Ludik are on the pitch (each covers 11,13,14,15) then thats the backs covered and we can take an extra forward on the bench rather than another back.

Think it would give us a big advantage in the knockouts to be able to spring on and extra fresh backrow.

Imagine 60/65 min, EOS, Burnley, TOT, Treadwell, Rea, Timoney all coming on. That would freshen things up. Only 2 forwards play the full game.

If it becomes part of the gameplan, Cutriss could fill the Madigan bench role in the future when he leaves.

Interesting point about the bench. The bench coming on is often where we've fallen away in our toughest games. For example, TOT is great, but his scrummaging is shown up against the likes of Clermont when they bring on their gnarly old bench. Milasinoch and Mathewson might make a real difference to us.

This has been far, far too long coming but here it is folks.

Ulster team to play Connacht, Guinness PRO14 Round 14, Sunday 23 August at Aviva Stadium (kick-off 4.30pm, live on Premier Sports & TG4):

(15-9) Jacob Stockdale, Craig Gilroy, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns (Capt.), John Cooney;

(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, Jordi Murphy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Sam Carter, Matthew Rea, Alby Mathewson, Ian Madigan, Michael Lowry.

Ulster have been so poor since the restart, I was hoping that last week would have got it out the system but everything is so loose again today.

To be fair, no Ulster player was on the ground or competing the ruck at the time Cooney was called offside. Surely there’s no offside if there’s no longer a ruck?

Ruck was called Clive. But whinge away if it makes you feel better. Ulster with Leinster rejects look pretty poor. Ulster without Leinster rejects would have been eviscerated given it was Leinsters training team

I don't think it mattered, Ulster probably were never going to sneak the win, nor would they have deserved to.

I was genuinely curious. I know a ruck was called, but if the only person engaging is shoved back well away from the breakdown, is it still a ruck. Legit, we had the tackle player on the ground, his team mate standing over him, and the scrum half ready to play the ball. Is it still a ruck, and does offside still apply?

Genuinely just curious.

I actually thought it was ok even with the review. In fairness I think Clancy would have given it except for the tmo.

Personally kind of shocked with where Ulster are at after last season or this season or where ever we are at the moment. Thought they wound kick on big time from last year. Time
Yet I suppose.

They look very rusty. Most of the players either giving away cheap penalties or making a few errors each.


On the plus side theyve had 2 hard games to knock off that rust. On the negative, confidence might have taken a hit.

clivemcl wrote:To be fair, no Ulster player was on the ground or competing the ruck at the time Cooney was called offside. Surely there’s no offside if there’s no longer a ruck?

Once the ruck is called it doesn't end until either the ball becomes unplayable, the ball is played away by the scrumhalf (or other player) or when the ball leaves the ruck for example if kicked out etc so it was a correct decision, really harsh though if you are Cooney and have to run 70 yards for nothing bet he was not thanking the TMO

I wouldn't panic just yet, Ulster have looked very off the pace but after the loss to Connacht Bernard Jackman made a very valid point. Ulster went back to training a couple of weeks after the rest, mainly due to the special people that pretend to run the country out of Stormount. That added to the fact that the Ulster squad had to deal with different regulations on training throughout lockdown it has left the players missing that fitness edge that the other 3 provinces seem to have. It's no excuse for some of the performances but it might explain a certain aspect of them. That aside, with 2 games completed and plenty of normal training done you'd expect them to have achieved full match fitness.
So beware Edinburgh, we're coming and you're going down

First two league games since the restart left a lot to be desired. A second half performance against Edinburgh and a fair effort against a strong Leinster was certainly an improvement... but what do we think - have we shown enough to have any hope in advancing beyond Toulouse?

Why has Cooney seemingly gone backwards competing with Alby Mathewson rather than kick on? Certainly seems counter intuitive.

One more question I've had in my mind since the restart... as much as I wish he could make it - is Lowry just too small to cut it at this level? Is Lyttle only ever going to be squad material? Is Ludik nearing the end of his career? Is Addison close to returning?

clivemcl wrote:First two league games since the restart left a lot to be desired. A second half performance against Edinburgh and a fair effort against a strong Leinster was certainly an improvement... but what do we think - have we shown enough to have any hope in advancing beyond Toulouse?

Why has Cooney seemingly gone backwards competing with Alby Mathewson rather than kick on? Certainly seems counter intuitive.

One more question I've had in my mind since the restart... as much as I wish he could make it - is Lowry just too small to cut it at this level? Is Lyttle only ever going to be squad material? Is Ludik nearing the end of his career? Is Addison close to returning?

You have a chance against Toulouse. Theyre very good but unlike Leinster, they'll leave more space for Ulster to attack. On the other hand they'll probably be more dangerous going forward than leinster but its early season for them too.


Forget about Addison. If he does get to play it'll be a bonus but I'd say he's never going to get a run of games.

I had a bit of a similar discussion with my friend about Lowry. I genuinely feel he is too small. As for Addison, I getting really worried about his injuries. I had him earmarked to be pushing for the Ireland number 15 spot if he could stay fit. Lyttle has the makings of a decent squad player. What's the word on Gilroy? Injured or does MacFarland not particularly keen on him?

clivemcl wrote:First two league games since the restart left a lot to be desired. A second half performance against Edinburgh and a fair effort against a strong Leinster was certainly an improvement... but what do we think - have we shown enough to have any hope in advancing beyond Toulouse?

Why has Cooney seemingly gone backwards competing with Alby Mathewson rather than kick on? Certainly seems counter intuitive.

One more question I've had in my mind since the restart... as much as I wish he could make it - is Lowry just too small to cut it at this level? Is Lyttle only ever going to be squad material? Is Ludik nearing the end of his career? Is Addison close to returning?

I think we have a chance, Leinster defend very well, don't challange for turn overs keeping numbers available to defend and forceing errors. Its effective but Ulster will get tries against Toulouse. However Toulouse will also score tries. Toulouse big favourites, but no more so than Leinster were.

On Lowery hes bulked up over the time off, and is about the same height and Weight as Matthew Morgan for Cardiff Blues, he plays outhalf and fullback too, and has even managed to pick up international caps. So while things are stacked against him physically, players the same size are having good careers, I wouldn't write him off yet.

Cooney just hasn't hit the same form as before lockdown, he'll rediscover it.

I have thought Ludik has been a great signing, very solid. However I do feel he has entered the end, but over the coming season will still offer a lot, but maybe not in the big games anymore.

Addison if fit is a bonus, but if this injury rate keeps up I can't see him playing for much longer. I hope he just comes back fit and the injuries stay behind him like Coetzee's have.

Lyttle has really been good, but there is so much talent there and also coming though, with McIlroy and Sexton that I think one may go to another province.

What's the word on Gilroy? Since he has come back from injury he hasn't really played that well. Stockdale RB, Lyttle are all ahead of him Faddes and Ludik maybe as well. He needs to rediscover form. Knock out games arnt for that but in the next season he'll get games and see if he can push up the rankings again.

(15-9) Michael Lowry, Rob Lyttle, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney.

(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson (Capt.), Sean Reidy, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney.

Replacements (16-23): John Andrew, Eric O’Sullivan, Marty Moore, Sam Carter, Kieran Treadwell, Alby Mathewson, Matt Faddes, Matthew Rea.


Some big calls by McF, taking no replacement outhalf on bench (ie no Madigan) guess that means either Lowry or Cooney is covering flyhalf. Has taken 4 locks, which I guess means he plans on moving Henderson to 6 in the 2nd half. Think he got the front row correct, McG has played fewer mins recently than eos so should be a bit fresher.
Hopefully Faddes can show the ability we all thought he had when he first signed.

Overall Im very happy with that and McF isnt afraid to take big risks, or make big gameplans for big games. MC will be missed but nothing can be done about that, McCloskey and Henderson will need to make the big carries, O'Connor has shown he can as well recently as well. Looking forwars to this big time.

When are you guys going to cut Aaron Sexton loose- just been watching some of his highlights on you tube- size, pace and balance he looks like a superstar in the making