Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

bilston

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

You need a good backrow signing imo, if this guy is just to take ross, reidy or the other amateur backrow forward you signed this year contract ghen all well and good but if this is it for the year then its just underwhelming

You would hope it's the former. Good luck to him anyway.

shuffol

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

You need a good backrow signing imo, if this guy is just to take ross, reidy or the other amateur backrow forward you signed this year contract ghen all well and good but if this is it for the year then its just underwhelming

He's a lock though, an odd signing as it is an area where Ulster have a fair bit of depth with Van der Merve, Tuohy, Henderson, AOC all quality as well as there been a few others. Perhaps the plan is to ensure Henderson won't be needed in the 2nd row.

CIARAN_BOYLE

I was told that he is being signed as a 6/8 more than anything else but research is showing that he primarily plays lock.

bilston

Sounds more like a Neil McComb type player. Not sure if McComb is off or not but maybe he is his replacement, ie a squad player.

awec

4 weeks for McCloskey.

What absolute bollocks.

Also he actually misses 5 weekends going by the dates they've given, no idea how they count their weeks in the Pro12.

.ak

That's a joke tbh.

awec

Also, they banned for 4 weeks and then added a week on and took a week off!

So really if he hadn't turned up in a nice suit he'd be out for 5 weeks (which they'd probably turn in to 6 or 7 weekends or something).

Ridiculous.

Beery Eyed

Deleted User wrote: »

Ulster likely RWC tourists list
Very Likely Possibles Maybes
Best Herring Fitzpatrick
Henderson Tuohy Henry?
Pienaar Diack Cave
Jackson Marshall
Payne Olding
Trimble Gilroy
Bowe



Currently contracted players. Bold for 'not in above table' and so almost certainly available.

LH - Black, Warwick, Murphy
HK - Best, Herring, Andrew
TH - Herbst, Fitzpatrick, Lutton,
SR - Tuohy, Van Der Merwe, Stevenson, O'Connor
BS - Henderson, Diack, McComb, McCormish,
OS - Henry, Faloon, Ross, Reidy
8 - Wilson, Williams
SH - Pienaar, Marshall, Heaney
FH - Jackson, iHumph,
LW - Gilroy
IS - Olding, Marshall, McCloskey
OS - Cave, Payne, Allen
RW - Bowe, Trimble
FB - Ludik, Nelson, Andrew

Any idea how Rory Scholes is getting on at the moment? Is he back playing at club level yet?

I thought he looked very promising in his few appearances for the senior team & at U20's. Hopefully he'll come back strong from his injury & get some more gametime in the back three early next season.

total former

McCloskey got the "entry point" suspension which is something I suppose.

awec

total former wrote: »

McCloskey got the "entry point" suspension which is something I suppose.

Entry point plus one (for deterrent), minus one (for his record and choice of suit).

All seems a bit contrived to me.

I also don't see how a 4 week ban results in someone being out until March 29th, which is clearly 5 weekends.

total former

awec wrote: »

Entry point plus one (for deterrent), minus one (for his record and choice of suit).

All seems a bit contrived to me.

I also don't see how a 4 week ban results in someone being out until March 29th, which is clearly 5 weekends.

They don't count weekends when the player is not due to play though, that's standard enough.

awec

Also, Dylan Hartley got three weeks for elbowing someone in the bake!

Dylan Hartley. Hartley. Dylan Hartley. Three weeks. Elbow. Face. THREE weeks. Dylan fecking Hartley!

thomond2006

awec wrote: »

Also, Dylan Hartley got three weeks for elbowing someone in the bake!

Dylan Hartley. Hartley. Dylan Hartley. Three weeks. Elbow. Face. THREE weeks. Dylan fecking Hartley!

Where's the bake?

awec

thomond2006 wrote: »

Where's the bake?

mfceiling

awec wrote: »

Yeah that looks like a rap on the bake alright. Could also be argued that a bang on the snatterbox like that is seriously dangerous. I wouldn't like a rap on the chops like that myself. Fierce sore on the delf i'd imagine.

bilston

awec wrote: »

4 weeks for McCloskey.

What absolute bollocks.

Also he actually misses 5 weekends going by the dates they've given, no idea how they count their weeks in the Pro12.

WTF?

.ak

Considering he's back stupidly quick after a big injury and was playing well it's an absolute kick in the teeth.

blackdog1

Hear Roger wilson is called into irish squad due to injury to diack and odonnel 's concussion so you'll be down 2 back rows...

shuffol

awec wrote: »

Also, Dylan Hartley got three weeks for elbowing someone in the bake!

Dylan Hartley. Hartley. Dylan Hartley. Three weeks. Elbow. Face. THREE weeks. Dylan fecking Hartley!

That's the inevitable consequence of having an all English panel dishing out punishment to an England starter with the 6N round the corner, same thing happened with Tuilagi's punch on Ashton a few seasons ago.

irishbucsfan

shuffol wrote: »

That's the inevitable consequence of having an all English panel dishing out punishment to an England starter with the 6N round the corner, same thing happened with Tuilagi's punch on Ashton a few seasons ago.

Same thing happened to Irish players in the past in the Pro 12 as well to be fair.

bilston

blackdog1 wrote: »

Hear Roger wilson is called into irish squad due to injury to diack and odonnel 's concussion so you'll be down 2 back rows...

He will probably be released, if not we will more than likely see Boys, Reidy or Ross start.

I've lost track of all the short term contracts we have dished out this year.

Raymaakers
Ross
Reidy
Boys
Stanley

Anyone else?

English Lurker

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Browne_(rugby_union)

Anyone know anything about this guy. Rumour is that you are signing him

4/5/6/8

He is IQ

Was well thought of at Quins as a back-up player. I wouldn't measure him by what's happening to London Welsh, everything has gone wrong there and there's surely not a single player playing to his potential there.

Tox56

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Same thing happened to Irish players in the past in the Pro 12 as well to be fair.

I don't think he's implying it hasn't. Which doesn't make either of them better but it's not going to change so what can you do

RobbieRuns

bilston wrote: »

He will probably be released, if not we will more than likely see Boys, Reidy or Ross start.

I've lost track of all the short term contracts we have dished out this year.

Raymaakers
Ross
Reidy
Boys
Stanley

Anyone else?

They are strange signings alright, very short term. But necessary due to injuries I suppose.

Ross and Reidy would not be in the same bracket as the others. They were more of a punt from the AIL and are with you for a year at least. Dave Ryan and Butterworth would fall into the same category. They are just players who are IQ and worth a go. I feel a bit for them as they are not the level of signings that the Ulster faithful want or expect. Hard when you have players like Ferris and sadly this season Henry to replace.

Raymaakers and Boys are just strange signings, they just add to the frustration of low quality signings and does not show much faith in the Irish qualified lads on a years deal. Stanley I would presume was a panic deal as there is precious little cover at 10 with PJ out for so long and iHumph a bit erratic. The whole thing smacks of a lack of forward planning, but in all honesty Ulster have been totally set back with injuries in key positions and strangely enough they are still in the hunt for the Pro12 play offs and if they could get a home semi final.......... with a home final to follow. It could be a very good year yet, you just never know.

CIARAN_BOYLE

RobbieRuns wrote: »

They are strange signings alright, very short term. But necessary due to injuries I suppose.

Ross and Reidy would not be in the same bracket as the others. They were more of a punt from the AIL and are with you for a year at least. Dave Ryan and Butterworth would fall into the same category. They are just players who are IQ and worth a go. I feel a bit for them as they are not the level of signings that the Ulster faithful want or expect. Hard when you have players like Ferris and sadly this season Henry to replace.

Raymaakers and Boys are just strange signings, they just add to the frustration of low quality signings and does not show much faith in the Irish qualified lads on a years deal. Stanley I would presume was a panic deal as there is precious little cover at 10 with PJ out for so long and iHumph a bit erratic. The whole thing smacks of a lack of forward planning, but in all honesty Ulster have been totally set back with injuries in key positions and strangely enough they are still in the hunt for the Pro12 play offs and if they could get a home semi final.......... with a home final to follow. It could be a very good year yet, you just never know.

Olding is considered 3rd choice at 10 so with him out Stanley is being brought in. Very few teams can cope without 1st and 3rd choice at many positions.

bradders90

Ireland u18 Clubs played Jake Byrne has signed for Ulster for the 2015/16 season (unsure whether it is sub acad or full acad) from the Northampton Saints junior academy (the non pro schoolboy (u18) academy).

total former

Tuohy back!

Ulster team & replacements to play Scarlets, Guinness PRO12, Kingspan Stadium, Friday 27th February (19:35 kick off):
(15-9): L Ludik; C Gilroy, D Cave, L Marshall, M Allen, I Humphreys, R Pienaar; (1-8): C Black, R Herring, W Herbst, D Tuohy, F Van der Merwe, R Wilson (captain), C Ross, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, A Warwick, B Ross, L Stevenson, M McComish, P Marshall, M Stanley, R Scholes.

jacothelad

total former wrote: »

Tuohy back!

Ulster team & replacements to play Scarlets, Guinness PRO12, Kingspan Stadium, Friday 27th February (19:35 kick off):
(15-9): L Ludik; C Gilroy, D Cave, L Marshall, M Allen, I Humphreys, R Pienaar; (1-8): C Black, R Herring, W Herbst, D Tuohy, F Van der Merwe, R Wilson (captain), C Ross, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, A Warwick, B Ross, L Stevenson, M McComish, P Marshall, M Stanley, R Scholes.

...and Scholes

blackdog1

total former wrote: »

Tuohy back!

Ulster team & replacements to play Scarlets, Guinness PRO12, Kingspan Stadium, Friday 27th February (19:35 kick off):
(15-9): L Ludik; C Gilroy, D Cave, L Marshall, M Allen, I Humphreys, R Pienaar; (1-8): C Black, R Herring, W Herbst, D Tuohy, F Van der Merwe, R Wilson (captain), C Ross, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, A Warwick, B Ross, L Stevenson, M McComish, P Marshall, M Stanley, R Scholes.

Think it's a big ask for Ross to play 7 against Barclay and Davies. He's a natural 6. Would also like see him tried in the 2nd row. I thought his scrummaging was excellent when ulster were down to 13 men and he is 6 foot 5 or so. Touhy back is huge for ulster he was the form 2nd row this year hopefully he stays fit. Think ulster should talk to the guy who found Herbst for them when they're looking for replacement players not the guy who got Reidy,Boys and Raymakers. ...

wp_rathead

This letter got lost in the mail and was sent to the wrong address

awec

Fear not. 5 pointer for Ulster tonight.

bilston

blackdog1 wrote: »

Think it's a big ask for Ross to play 7 against Barclay and Davies. He's a natural 6. Would also like see him tried in the 2nd row.

I've said it before but I think some of the criticism of Ross has been unfair. He is being asked to perform a role that wouldn't have been on the job spec when he was signed.

awec

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/News/LatestNews/TabId/149/ArtMID/793/ArticleID/3338/Squad-Update-.aspx

Tim Boys out for the season. Ridiculous.

blackdog1

awec wrote: »

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/News/LatestNews/TabId/149/ArtMID/793/ArticleID/3338/Squad-Update-.aspx

Tim Boys out for the season. Ridiculous.

Think ulster made a mistake of not signing conor Gilsenan. Faloon is good but constantly broken. Gilsenan is younger and a natural 7 aswell.

As I said before whoever is Ulster's scout in nz is having a laugh.

Ferris Curse?

bilston

Sounds positive on Paddy Jackson though. When is the next Pro 12 break? It would be great to have him back for the last 4 games with Connacht, Munster, Leinster and Glasgow.

bilston

blackdog1 wrote: »

Think ulster made a mistake of not signing conor Gilsenan. Faloon is good but constantly broken. Gilsenan is younger and a natural 7 aswell.

As I said before whoever is Ulster's scout in nz is having a laugh.

Wasn't Raymaakers injured before he got here?

Boys just seems bad luck.

thomond2006

Are Dave Ryan or Ruaidhri Murphy even still at the club?

awec

thomond2006 wrote: »

Are Dave Ryan or Ruaidhri Murphy even still at the club?

Yea I think so.

Paul Smeenus

Latest word is Jackson, Olding and Henry all potentials for Cardiff.

Quite the turnaround in injuries. Could be going into that difficult run of the last four games only missing Trimble from our best 23.

Paul Smeenus

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Latest word is Jackson, Olding and Henry all potentials for Cardiff.

Quite the turnaround in injuries. Could be going into that difficult run of the last four games only missing Trimble from our best 23.

Would be fantastic to see them all back, but Henry in particular I thought might never re-appear.

Paul Smeenus

Deleted User wrote: »

Would be fantastic to see them all back, but Henry in particular I thought might never re-appear.

Yeah. Given Pollock and Ferris' career difficulties, it's hard to to wince when an Ulster back-rower starts to have health - never mind straightforward injury - issues.

ssaye2

A new two-year IRFU contract for @andrew_trimble to stay at @UlsterRugby

vienne86

ssaye2 wrote: »

A new two-year IRFU contract for @andrew_trimble to stay at @UlsterRugby

Excellent news for Ulster and for Ireland. Is he due back from injury anytime soon?

bilston

vienne86 wrote: »

Excellent news for Ulster and for Ireland. Is he due back from injury anytime soon?

Hopefully in time for the WC warm ups but not before.

bilston

Marshall and Wilson both cited after the Scarlets game.

FFS.

George Hook

bilston wrote: »

Marshall and Wilson both cited after the Scarlets game.

FFS.

Huh, what on earth for?

iamjenko

Marshall's got 5 weeks for that kick to the head

S12b

iamjenko wrote: »

Marshall's got 5 weeks for that kick to the head

Is there any footage of his or Wilson's acts? I saw neither

ssaye2

"Ulster inside centre Luke Marshall has been given a five-week suspension after being found guilty of kicking an opposing player in the head last week.

He appeared before an independent PRO12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee on Thursday, with the ugly incident having taken place against the Scarlets.

"The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Pamela Woodman, sitting with Bill Dunlop and Roddy Dunlop (all Scotland), having listened to representations by and on behalf of the player, and viewed TV footage of the incident, found that Luke Marshall had committed an act of foul play which would have warranted a red card and considered it to be at the mid-range of World Rugby's sanctions for this type of offence, which carries an entry-point of 8 weeks," read a statement.

"The Committee found that there were no aggravating factors, and after taking into account various mitigating factors including the player's unblemished playing record, the Committee reduced the entry point by three weeks and imposed a five-week suspension.

"The player is suspended from playing until midnight on Sunday 12 April 2015, taking into account one 'down' week and has the right of appeal.""