Ulster Discussion Thread

by Kingshu Wed 19 Jun - 12:05

First topic message reminder :

In a backrow of Izzy,Timoney and McCann and any Ulster fan will tell you its McCann whos played the best this season. But the other two are the ones called up. It appears that for Ulster players for national selection you are soley judged on the games V Leinster and Munster, the rest of the season the selectors arnt watching. Izzy and Timoney both had great games V them and had some great highlights, McCann was good but no real showreel moments in those games.

by Redman Sun 8 Dec - 15:57

They’re relentlessly targeting our right wing.

Still, 2 scores for us is probably us ahead of what I’d hoped for.

by Redman Mon 9 Dec - 14:37

The result, however inevitable, reminded me of this.

https://ulster.rugby/content/rc-toulon-60-ulster-22

I wrongly remembered that game being academy kids offered up as fresh meat but actually it was a decent mixture of youth and experience. Amazingly we have 3 players still involved from that game. All forwards. Warwick, O'Connor and Herring.

by Pete330v2 Tue 10 Dec - 10:34

Redman wrote:The result, however inevitable, reminded me of this.

https://ulster.rugby/content/rc-toulon-60-ulster-22

I wrongly remembered that game being academy kids offered up as fresh meat but actually it was a decent mixture of youth and experience. Amazingly we have 3 players still involved from that game. All forwards. Warwick, O'Connor and Herring.

That was a decent side back then, plenty of class in that backline. The Jackson/Pienaar partnership, the Olding/Cave pairing and Payne. Then again when you look at the Toulon selection the scoreline is equally as indicative of the gulf between the sides as the scoreline on Sunday. We had less class in the constituent parts and moreover in the whole package on Sunday though.

by Unclear Tue 10 Dec - 15:53

What struck me in Sunday's game, apart from the skill, power and overall class of Toulouse, was how poor some of our basics were. The quality of passing was poor, frequently stopping the momentum of the player coming onto the ball. Also the decision making. It should have been obvious to Herring on that penultimate line out that he couldn't be forced into touch. A couple of extra yards was never going to provide any additional benefit when we just needed to hang on to the ball. Yes a fourth try would be great for the bonus point, but we really shouldn't be conceding anymore points.

I'm sure the young lads will have learnt a lot from the experience, but I just hope it hasn't destroyed their confidence. McNabney looked like a rabbit in the headlights to me, and I hope the coaching staff are making sure this game (and the dropped restart) hasn't mentally scarred him.

by Kingshu Wed 11 Dec - 12:51

I know this idea isn't in the spirit of the sport, but is within the laws.

Ulster last week and in a few other games, needing 1 more try to secure the TBP. A LBP was far out of sight. Why sit defending on the line for so long in last 10/15 mins? Just let them score, and recieve kickoff, you'll be further up the field and in possession of the ball?

Losing buy an extra 7 or 14 points doesnt mean much, as points diffence only comes into in, after head to head and wins, its very very very unlikely to be a deciding factor on qualification, esp if you are already 40 points behind. But a TBP may make all the difference. So when spend so much time and energy defending tyour line late in a game in situations like that, why not just concede and restart in a better position to actually get the TBP?

by Pete330v2 Thu 12 Dec - 9:39

"What struck me in Sunday's game, apart from the skill, power and overall class of Toulouse, was how poor some of our basics were"

Ditto, losing heavily to Toulouse would be the outcome for most club sides especially when not up to full strength and lacking a scrum but at least show us that you have some of the basics and he manner of the defeat won't pinch quite so much. There's pride to be had even in defeat but that first half performance in particular won't hold any pride. Soper's attack hasn't remained stagnant and Bell's defence clearly isn't going to work.

by carpet baboon Thu 12 Dec - 16:37

Are both Bell's and Soper's contracts up at the end of the season?

by Maine man Thu 12 Dec - 20:28

carpet baboon wrote:Are both Bell's and Soper's contracts up at the end of the season?

Bloody well hope so.

by Pete330v2 Fri 13 Dec - 8:48

Maine man wrote:
carpet baboon wrote:Are both Bell's and Soper's contracts up at the end of the season?

Bloody well hope so.

I think Bell's is, don't remember Soper's. Ulster Rugby should be going all out to target Jared and get him back from Wales to sort out a few things, assistant head coach, defence, attack, I don't care, he alone would be a step up from Bell & Soper......Boper.....Sopell

by Pete330v2 Fri 13 Dec - 13:02

Squad's Up

15. Michael Lowry (111)
14. Werner Kok (8)
13. Jude Postlethwaite (18)
12. Stuart McCloskey (194)
11. Zac Ward (0)
10. Aidan Morgan (8)
9. Nathan Doak (75)

1. Eric O’Sullivan (122)
2. Rob Herring (242)
3. Tom O’Toole (113)
4. Iain Henderson (158) (Capt.)
5. Kieran Treadwell (165)
6. Cormac Izuchukwu (33)
7. Nick Timoney (153)
8. David McCann (53)

Replacements:
16. John Andrew (125)
17. Andrew Warwick (202)
18. Scott Wilson (20)
19. Harry Sheridan (33)
20. Marcus Rea (52)
21. Dave Shanahan (95)
22. James Humphreys (3)
23. Rory Telfer (0)

by carpet baboon Fri 13 Dec - 14:36

Decent pack, the backline is pretty much the only available options.

Will be interesting to see how Zak gets on

by geoff999rugby Fri 13 Dec - 14:55

With the exception of Andrew on the bench this is Murphy's first choice set of forwards.
I would start with Sheridan rather than Treadwell but other than that it makes sense.

As to the backs anyone with two working legs plays
Given that; its pretty good.

Depends if Bordeaux bring the first XV and are up for it.
If the answer is yes to both questions its going to be a long afternoon.
If not we can win this.

by formerly known as Sam Fri 13 Dec - 15:28

Bordeaux weren't great up front Vs Tigers and took a real kicking at scrum time. Give their backs a sniff though and it's try time. So much skill and pace in their back division they can put points on the board rapidly. Tigers effectively lost last week's game inside about 10 mins as three rapid fire tries were scored.

As always depends on how well they want to travel with a French team.

by Pete330v2 Fri 13 Dec - 15:41

geoff999rugby wrote:With the exception of Andrew on the bench this is Murphy's first choice set of forwards.
I would start with Sheridan rather than Treadwell but other than that it makes sense.

As to the backs anyone with two working legs plays
Given that; its pretty good.

Depends if Bordeaux bring the first XV and are up for it.
If the answer is yes to both questions its going to be a long afternoon.
If not we can win this.

I'm not entirely up to speed with Bordeaux's squad but by the looks of it they're coming fully loaded with Bielle Biarrey and Penaud in the backline. Carberry at 10 for them will be interesting to watch but it depends if their pack can front up if they're not on par with what is a damn good Ulster pack for once.

by geoff999rugby Sat 14 Dec - 18:38

The grime reality is we have a lot of quality players in the squad

BUT
when you have no quality at half back (Cooney who is leaving being an honourable exception)
and at prop (Wilson who will be class being an honourable exception)

you are screwed

Also Treadwell is just not fit - he was totally knackered for the last 25 mins
Neither he , nor Henderson, have 80 mins in them which why Sheridan should always start.

by clivemcl Sun 15 Dec - 8:31

Ok I’ve tried my best to give him a good chance… but time has come to admit it I think. Morgan isn’t good. Dare I say it… I’d take Billy back in a heartbeat.

by geoff999rugby Sun 15 Dec - 11:16

Understand the sentiment but Billy isn't the answer.

We are going nowhere with 10's who cant kick distance - it changes the whole dynamic of a game.
For the same reason Crowley is not the answer for Ireland.

Flannery has more distance in his kicking and when he is fit, he says he is close, I'd start with him

by carpet baboon Sun 15 Dec - 11:50

Thought Jude played well and Ward.
Your right about Treadwell. He seems to start well but fades drastically in the second half.
Think Ritchie could tempt his other son up? With Cooney most likely leaving we will need a new 9.

by geoff999rugby Sun 15 Dec - 12:30

I thought Lowry, McCloskey and the all the Backrow also did well.

There is no shortage of talent but key positions are killing us.

by Redman Sun 15 Dec - 21:34

Morgan had one bad kick from hand. His kicking from hand has been close to excellent since he joined us. It's his kicking from the tee (all 3 or 4 of them which we've seen) which is a worry. The rest of his game is about what I'd expect of a 23 year old being parachuted across hemispheres.

Doak has improved his speed to the breakdown but remains incredibly self-conscious at the base. That seems to be a combination of him trying to play the ref and win a penalty at every ruck for hands and a chronic fear of knocking on. He has long arms. There's no reason for it.
The ponderousness shows and was relentlessly targeted by Bordeaux. The rest of his play however is fine and I'm actually more optimistic about what he needs to work on now than I was a year ago. That said I would never assume Ulster will be able to identify those sort of issues and look to correct through coaching.

All that being said while our half backs weren't great, they didn't lose us the game.

What lost us the game were amateur mistakes and not being clinical. Knocking on at the kick off was a devastating mistake. We conceded 3 minutes later and valiantly chased our tails every minute after.

It meant we had to work that extra 5-15%% for our scores. That was 5-15%% we didn't have for when they ran riot in the second half. We should have gone into half time 19-3. Their first half scores were cheap. If we had that sort of lead into the second half it would have been a different game.

by Pete330v2 Mon 16 Dec - 10:18

I thought Morgan had one of his better outings, his kicking from hand is very good and some of his distribution is sublime. I'd love to see what he'd be like if he had something remotely close to an armchair ride but our pack doesn't offer up go-forward ball in spades. On that subject, I watched the Northampton match and we definitely have some go forward ball coming next year. Augustus is a tank.
Doak would be a really effective player if his work at the base of the ruck got a dose of urgency. As Redman says he's either trying to play the ref or just looks lacking in self-belief in that one area. The rest of his game is excellent and he has a strong eye for the game but the delays at ruck & scrum are killing our phase play.
McCloskey and Postlethwaite were class despite the latter's couple of spills and Lowry always makes yards. I like Kok's workrate and industriousness but it can leave us short defensively if he's always stuck in rucks. I'm not going to criticise him too much though, he's some player. Ward had a fantastic first start, if he can continue that kind of form he'll be well in the fight for the 11 shirt when Stockdale's back.
The comments on Treadwell and Hendo are very valid, they were out on their feet but weren't alone. Ulster just hadn't enough in the tank and Bordeaux seemed to know that from the off and were incredibly patient before doing that very Bordeaux thing and piling points on.
There's an awful lot more to be positive about than the previous week though and we're just not up to this standard right now. The sooner we're out of Europe the better and we can concentrate on the bread and butter of the URC. Qualification for next year's competition depends upon it.

by geoff999rugby Mon 16 Dec - 10:22

His kicking from hand has been close to excellent since he joined us.

Have to say I fundamentally disagree - he doesn't get the required distance WHEN REQUIRED.
His kicking to touch for penalties is particularly poor, consistently 10 metres less than it should be.
This becomes telling over the course of a game.
His handling is good and his eye for a break is good but in the modern game you need to be better with the boot.

All that being said while our half backs weren't great, they didn't lose us the game.
I Don't necessarily disagree with that but my point is they do not control games and I question if they will ever be good enough.
Doak could be, Morgan I think comes ups short.
What there undoubtably is is a drop in class, neither close to matching Cooney at his best.

The other fundamental issue, is one identified at the start of the season, a lack of firepower in the front five.
Hooker apart, we are very weak.

A very poor set of props.

None of our three senior Locks have 80 minutes in them any more.
Izzy has moved to the backrow leaving only Sheridan in the entire squad capable of putting in an 80 minute shift.

by clivemcl Mon 16 Dec - 12:26

Have to say, I'm with Geoff on this.

And I do wonder when we debate how good players are, if it all comes down to our expectations?

Perhaps Morgan isn't awful. But shouldn't we be looking for top tier?
I would have more grace for a homegrown, but when you bring somebody around the world from NZ, having lost an already 'OK' out half (Billy), I just expected more.

And shouldn't we?

Same with the comments re Zak Ward and Lowry etc.

I feel like we call sub standard players 'sub standard', but call our decent players 'good', when in reality the displays of McCloskey/Postlewaite/Lowry at the weekend should not be heralded. That should be the base standard.

Is it unreasonable to want a player or two who might be even close to a conversation about 'world class'?

I know you may say I'm being negative. But next year we will be without Cooney and Burns - a partnership that wasn't quite great enough for many years, and we will instead have Doak/Morgan.
I just don't see how with that, there will be any likelihood of us progressing never mind doing better than anything we've seen in the last 5 years.

Yes, we are in the process of building. But I'm just not seeing as much to be hopeful about as some of you.

But again, maybe comes down to expectations.
Maybe some of us just want to get back to being a European QF team again. And we'll likely have to settle for that as our ceiling unless we unearth or develop some actual world class talent in multiple positions.

by geoff999rugby Mon 16 Dec - 13:12

clivemcl wrote:

Perhaps Morgan isn't awful. But shouldn't we be looking for top tier?

To be fair to the management I think a case of what was available - if better was available they would have been interested.
With Flannerys injury, Humphreys just out of the Academy and Doak at 10 being a failure we had to sign someone

clivemcl wrote:
I feel like we call sub standard players 'sub standard', but call our decent players 'good', when in reality the displays of McCloskey/Postlewaite/Lowry at the weekend should not be heralded. That should be the base standard.

I think that is a little unfair - for me McCloskey and Postlewaite were outstanding in the first half

clivemcl wrote:
Is it unreasonable to want a player or two who might be even close to a conversation about 'world class'?

Not unreasonable to expect players who are International class but World Class yes it is.
International class we have genuine prospects in a lot of positions but not half back and prop (Wilson aside)
Who is truly World Class - you could reasonably argue only Pienaar and Ferris have both been World Class and played at that level whilst at Ulster in the last 15 years.
(The likes of Piatau and Kitshoff were not World Class in an Ulster shirt)

clivemcl wrote:
I know you may say I'm being negative. But next year we will be without Cooney and Burns - a partnership that wasn't quite great enough for many years, and we will instead have Doak/Morgan.

As I've said that's down to Cooney for me, not Burns.
Since Jackson left we have only had three top half backs
Pienaar who was true World Class
Cooney who was true International class
Leali'ifano very briefly.

They have between them masked our inadequacies at Fly Half

The brutal truth is given the European set up and the Irish set up past glories may be out of reach

by formerly known as Sam Mon 16 Dec - 17:49

geoff999rugby wrote:
clivemcl wrote:

Perhaps Morgan isn't awful. But shouldn't we be looking for top tier?

To be fair to the management I think a case of what was available - if better was available they would have been interested.
With Flannerys injury, Humphreys just out of the Academy and Doak at 10 being a failure we had to sign someone

Also "top tier" flyhalfs aren't readily available as most can't head to Ireland and still play for their country. For those that can you are looking at a minimum of £500k a season. That's what they'd be getting elsewhere. Pollard is on £650k a year at Tigers, Russell close to a mil at Bath for instance.

The best Ulster could probably hope for is to bring up one of the Leinster international options who can't get near the 23. Even then Ross Byrne has his agent passing his CV around the Prem and France looking at those £500k+ offers.

by carpet baboon Mon 16 Dec - 18:17

Some reports in France that Stockdale has decided to stay in Ulster.

by geoff999rugby Mon 16 Dec - 19:11

My understanding is

Cooney going
Stockdale staying

by Redman Mon 16 Dec - 22:50

geoff999rugby wrote:My understanding is

Cooney going
Stockdale staying

That's probably as good as we can hope for. Do we have any 9s coming through the system? I had thought there was one that was being hyped around 6 months ago.

On Morgan we'll have to agree to disagree. You'll forgive me for hoping you're wrong about him. We'll see.

Where I do agree wholeheartedly is on your review of backs over the last decade. Cooney, as wonderous as he's been, was still a shade behind Pienaar. Cooney was arguably for a season or two the best 9 in Ireland. Even with the emergence of Gibson-Park he was clearly the 2nd best 9 for 5 years or more. Pienaar at his best was probably the finest 9 in the Northern Hemisphere for a couple of years, top 3 in the world. And while Leali'ifano was much maligned I really rated him coming in difficult circumstances. Thought he was an extremely solid signing for us.

Piutau was pretty close to world class in his first season but a shadow of that in his second. He was also the beginning of us signing big players that we actually didn't really need.

Back to this season it's probably worth offering up some optimism. It's been a brutal run of games. Toulouse, Bordeaux, Leinster are probably the best 3 teams in Europe. A South Africa tour and Glasgow. It'll get easier from here.

by geoff999rugby Mon 16 Dec - 22:58

Easier yes but we could lose the next three unless we are at our best.
Talk we have 6 new injuries from the Bordeaux game including Henderson and Timoney.
Izzy went off with a knock
Could be getting desperate

Munster (H)
Connacht (A)
Leicester (A)

A long way from any easy games in that lot

Don't get me wrong I hope I'm wrong about Morgan, I just don't see it.
I don't think he has the equipment to run a game unless he has an armchair
ride and he ain't going to get that with our front 5.

by Redman Tue 17 Dec - 0:22

Understood on Morgan.

On the fixtures ........... yup those are 3 easily losable games. I'd just assumed it'd get considerably easier.

Looking at the rest of the season it's:

10 Ulster vs Zebre
11 Benetton vs Ulster
12 Ulster vs Scarlets
13 Dragons vs Ulster
14 Ulster vs Stormers
15 Leinster vs Ulster
16 Ulster vs Sharks
17 Munster vs Ulster
18 Edinburgh vs Ulster

Of those games I'd only be very confident of beating Zebre and Scarlets. Probably beat Dragons away and Stormers at home. Maybe beat Sharks if they're away, it'll depend on what Sharks team shows up. Have a chance Benetton away. Expect to lose against Munster and Leinster.

Do we usually play Leinster and Munster home and and away? That feels new.

by Redman Tue 17 Dec - 0:25

Missed Edinburgh away as the last game.

Could be a brilliant time to play them. Could be terrible.

by geoff999rugby Tue 17 Dec - 10:03

To my mind we have to win all the 4 home games, and I think we will, that takes us to 7 wins.

We need to get a minimum of 3 more wins from
Munster (H)
and the away games at Benetton, Connacht, Dragons and Edinburgh
Munster would be very tough and Leinster I'm writing off

It is going to be very much touch and go.
That Cardiff defeat could come back and haunt us big time

by Pete330v2 Tue 17 Dec - 12:06

"Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, Werner Kok, Nathan Doak and Aidan Morgan all picked up injuries that will be monitored through training this week to ascertain their fitness to play in Friday's URC fixture against Munster.
There are also ongoing doubts around the availability of Ben Carson and Stewart Moore, who were both injured in the Champions Cup Round 1 game against Toulouse.
John Cooney has resumed full team training and is available for selection."

Just in case anyone hadn't seen the latest injuries that Geoff was talking about here they are in all their glory.
I saw someone on X saying that Munster have a raft of injuries too. They may well but these injuries effect Ulster's heavily whittled squad with increased severity. We don't have a scrum and now, by the look of it no back line either. I mean who's left?

by carpet baboon Tue 17 Dec - 12:28

Could we see Yong Murphy, DeKlerk or Brennan in the backs.
Maybe Hopes and the younger Ward in the pack.

Will be an interesting team anyway

by geoff999rugby Tue 17 Dec - 12:28

Assuming the worst:

O'Sullivan Herring, O'Toole, Sheridan, Treadwell, McNabney, Matty Rea, McCann
Cooney, Humphreys, Ward, McCloskey, Postlewaite, Telfer, Lowry
Bench: Warwick, Andrews, Wilson, O'Connor, McLoughlin, Crothers/Marcus Rea, Shanahan, Graham

by Kingshu Wed 18 Dec - 16:56

Seams the provinces are allowed 2 NIQs, Ulster I think will get in an additional NIQ lock next season, and have NIQ lock play 80s and Henderson/Sheridan start/come of the bench, but rotate who starts depending on game.

Does seam silly that Ulster were unable/didnt want to sign Ross Moloney and Ed Byrne, those two would have added depth we need, though maybe not the top class quality.

There are a few decent IQ ones about if have to go down that route.

SH with Cooney leaving is Armstrong at Exeter Chiefs worth looking at, be nice if could lure up Murphy from Connacht, but I would really like that.

OH jake Murphy showed a lot of promise in brief apperance in EI tour, be nive to see more of him.

by carpet baboon Wed 18 Dec - 20:08

Jeremy Davidson looking for a job next year. Can we afford him? Would he come as defence/forwards coach and not the top job?

by geoff999rugby Thu 19 Dec - 12:20

Morgan and Kok have made it afterall.

Jack Murphy on the bench

Ulster v Munster, Friday 20 December, 7.35pm, BKT United Rugby Championship, Round 8, Kingspan Stadium (Live on Premier Sports, TG4 and BBC Sounds)
15. Michael Lowry (112)
14. Werner Kok (9)
13. Jude Postlethwaite (19)
12. Stuart McCloskey (195)
11. Zac Ward (1)
10. Aidan Morgan (9)
9. John Cooney (146)

1. Andrew Warwick (203)
2. Rob Herring (243)
3. Tom O’Toole (114)
4. Alan O’Connor (C) (202)
5. Kieran Treadwell (166)
6. James McNabney (8)
7. Marcus Rea (53)
8. David McCann (54)

Replacements:
16. John Andrew (126)
17. Eric O’Sullivan (123)
18. Scott Wilson (21)
19. Harry Sheridan (34)
20. Matty Rea (103)
21. Dave Shanahan (96)
22. Jack Murphy (0)
23. Rory Telfer (1)

by carpet baboon Thu 19 Dec - 12:45

Really want to see Jack get a decent run out.
Still would have Sheridan starting.
Is Crothers injured?

by clivemcl Thu 19 Dec - 13:48

Any chance Toomaga-Allen might juts stay when Les Kiss returns with his Queensland Reds in February?

But yes, what's this fixture all about?
And will we put out a decent side or an opportunity for Murphy, De Klerk and the likes?

by Pete330v2 Thu 19 Dec - 14:54

Munster:
Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Paddy Patterson; John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Dave Kilcoyne, Oli Jager, Evan O’Connell, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Rory Scannell, Brian Gleeson.

Where exactly is this so called Munster injury crisis when they can sent up a squad like that ?

I think it's going to be a tough night in the trenches for our lads. Munster look to be the stronger by 8 or 9 points. If I'm wrong I'll celebrate like it's Xmas.

by geoff999rugby Thu 19 Dec - 15:00

Agreed they are stronger in the back three, 10 and the backrow.

Where are we stronger? - Scrum half + ???

If it was away it would be a certain loss.
We have a chance because we are at home

by Maine man Thu 19 Dec - 23:11

Just seen Peter Nelson at 12 for the A team. Is that a new Peter Nelson or has the old one come back from Canada?

by Don Alfonso Fri 20 Dec - 8:16

Presume it's a new Nelson, although we do have Matty Dalton back in the A team. So maybe...? I notice that James McCormick and Crothers are also in the A team - I thought McCormick had passed Andrew at least.

Unusually, I think we're stronger in the front row, and possibly centre.

by Pete330v2 Fri 20 Dec - 9:32

Don Alfonso wrote:Presume it's a new Nelson, although we do have Matty Dalton back in the A team. So maybe...? I notice that James McCormick and Crothers are also in the A team - I thought McCormick had passed Andrew at least.

Unusually, I think we're stronger in the front row, and possibly centre.

It's as good as our front row gets although O'Toole is no scrummager. John Ryan at LH for them may be a weakness seeing as he's played the vast majority of his career at TH but our front row isn't strong enough to exploit any weakness however slight. As far as centres go I'd say we're stronger at 12 but 13 would be about even, Farrell's good but Postlethwaite should be able to contain him. It's hard to be optimistic but fingers crossed it'll be a cracking game.

by geoff999rugby Fri 20 Dec - 10:04

Its the old Peter Nelson.

He now plays for Dungannon.

Basically we are so short of backs we have asked him to fill in.
He is 32

by geoff999rugby Fri 20 Dec - 10:06

Pete330v2 wrote:

It's as good as our front row gets although O'Toole is no scrummager. John Ryan at LH for them may be a weakness seeing as he's played the vast majority of his career at TH but our front row isn't strong enough to exploit any weakness however slight. As far as centres go I'd say we're stronger at 12 but 13 would be about even, Farrell's good but Postlethwaite should be able to contain him. It's hard to be optimistic but fingers crossed it'll be a cracking game.

Basically two very poor front rows up against each other Whistle

Just emphasises the chasm below Furlong, Porter and Bealham

by geoff999rugby Fri 20 Dec - 10:08

Crothers playing for the 'A's so he is fit.

15. Ben McFarlane

14. Lukas Kenny

13. Wilhelm De Klerk

12. Peter Nelson

11. Ethan Graham

10. Dan Green

9. Conor McKee

8. Bryn Ward

7. Reuben Crothers

6. Tom Brigg

5. Joe Hopes

4. Matty Dalton

3. Bryan O'Connor

2. James McCormick (C)

1. Jacob Boyd

Replacements: Jack Boal, Cameron Doak, Flynn Longstaff, James McKillop, Josh Stevens, Michael McDonald, Fraser Cunningham, Josh Gibson, Conor Rankin and Jack Harte.

by geoff999rugby Fri 20 Dec - 10:25

Redman wrote:

Do we usually play Leinster and Munster home and and away? That feels new.

We have always played Leinster and Munster home and away regardless of the of the league structure.

by Pete330v2 Fri 20 Dec - 11:59

geoff999rugby wrote:
Pete330v2 wrote:

It's as good as our front row gets although O'Toole is no scrummager. John Ryan at LH for them may be a weakness seeing as he's played the vast majority of his career at TH but our front row isn't strong enough to exploit any weakness however slight. As far as centres go I'd say we're stronger at 12 but 13 would be about even, Farrell's good but Postlethwaite should be able to contain him. It's hard to be optimistic but fingers crossed it'll be a cracking game.

Basically two very poor front rows up against each other

Just emphasises the chasm below Furlong, Porter and Bealham

The IRFU have mismanaged LH & TH options from the wider Ireland perspective. From an Ulster perspective we have O'Toole, O'Sullivan who have never kicked on since their initial appearances for Ireland but lately have looked like deck chairs at scrum time. If they HAD the ability it's in there somewhere so I can only assume it's a coaching issue. Duffy might be forwards coach but it doesn't mean he's a scrum man.......or a maul man for that matter ?

Ah stuff it, fingers crossed for tonight. I hope Murphy Jr. gets a decent cameo, I think he could be as good as anything else we have.

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