Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

irishbucsfan

Pretty sure Lam didn't implicate him. I think it's just the media hoping there'll be a big story here.

It's absolutely ridiculous though for someone at that level to be involved in.

WeeBushy

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Pretty sure Lam didn't implicate him. I think it's just the media hoping there'll be a big story here.

It's absolutely ridiculous though for someone at that level to be involved in.

I'd say it's really embarrassing for him to be involved in this. He didn't do anything wrong except have friends with questionable humour. I'd say he's raging with whoever it was.

thomond2006

pretty embarrassing for Anscombe, I wouldn't like to be his "friend"!

bilston

thomond2006 wrote: »

pretty embarrassing for Anscombe, I wouldn't like to be his "friend"!

The problem here is that this could become a major story whether it was anything to do with him or not. The only way he can absolutely clear his name is by revealing the identity of the person who sent the text. This could threaten his career with Ulster, he'll need to think long and hard as to whether his "friend" is worth protecting. I wonder if we're all thinking the same thing here.

Podge_irl

I dunno about you guys but I certainly have a few friends dumb enough to do something like that after a few jars (and without knowing the content of the text its pure guesswork as to how bad it was. It could have been nothing but offensive or clearly a very bad attempt at a shock joke). I'd be unlikely to hang them out to dry either. This is really the sort of thing that should be dealt with quietly between Law and Anscombe and not through the press.

danthefan

Podge_irl wrote: »

I dunno about you guys but I certainly have a few friends dumb enough to do something like that after a few jars (and without knowing the content of the text its pure guesswork as to how bad it was. It could have been nothing but offensive or clearly a very bad attempt at a shock joke). I'd be unlikely to hang them out to dry either. This is really the sort of thing that should be dealt with quietly between Law and Anscombe and not through the press.

It contained an extremely offensive and all too common word used to describe black people in a derogatory manner. I'm sure you can work it out from there.

bilston

Apparently it was sent about a month ago...around about the time Pat Lam broke down over racist abuse online...Ulster won't comment now and I'm sure they will keep their counsel until after the final but there is a chance this story may get quite big next week.

Birdster

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post but if there are any Ulster fans not going to the match and live in Dublin, what pub is best to watch it in? Cheers

CIARAN_BOYLE

Does todays performance change any opinions about the situation at halfback for next season.

Jackson wasn't great at 10 by any strech of the imagination. Consensus seems to be that Marshall is best as an impact sub.

Porter McKinney and Humprhies leaving will surely leave the team thin at 9/10 in terms of debt.

Has NOC's return been anounced yet?

Redsock

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Does todays performance change any opinions about the situation at halfback for next season.

Jackson wasn't great at 10 by any strech of the imagination. Consensus seems to be that Marshall is best as an impact sub.

Porter McKinney and Humprhies leaving will surely leave the team thin at 9/10 in terms of debt.

Has NOC's return been anounced yet?

Jackson will come good, it's just a matter of giving him time.

thomond2006

Jackson had one bad game against probably the best side he'll ever face in an Ulster jersey.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Redsock wrote: »

Jackson will come good, it's just a matter of giving him time.

Oh I know he will, while he has impressed me so far he doesn't strike me as being ready to be the number next year. Might be just a reaction to today.

I see him as a player with brilliant potential, he could very well end as a ROG that can tackle :rolleyes: but does it mean Ulster are giving up on next season as I don't think he is there yet.

CatFromHue

I'm not sure how much Jackson was picked for Humpreys being bad or Jackson being good.

I'm not having a go at Jackson but McLaughlins hand may have been forced by Humphreys poor from.

He had a shocker away to Cardiff, really bad, and then didn't start the next two games with Pienaar being 10 instead.

He then came back for the two games before the Munster game but was poor against Munster. Then there was the loss to Connacht a week later which I didn't see so can't comment on.

I think the Ulster management lost faith in him after the Munster game though.

Jackson came in for the Leinster and then the Edinburgh game and was solid in both and pretty good from what I remember of the Leinster game.

I think given the option of an out of form Humphreys or a solid to good Jackson I'd have gone for Jackson.

I'd be surprised if some one else doesn't come in for next season to help cover 10. It's a fairly big jump of faith to have a 20/21 year old with only 9 senior starts to his name.

Blackheath

Jackson will have learned a valuable lesson yesterday which will stand him in good stead in the future.

Benny Cake

Early days for Jackson yet, he'll have an entire season as Ulsters first choice ten next year to prove himself...

Fishooks12

I nearly got lynched for suggesting Jackson wasn't much more than a passenger in the semi but I felt it was way to early for him

Heaps of potential but I think the dice should have been rolled with iHumph yday

bilston

Jackson made two or three bad errors, the DG was a bad option and poorly executed the kick which went into touch with about 10 metres to spare was a sign of nerves, it was disapointing but in saying he started the game well, fizzing the ball out to the backs and I thought we looked very dangerous then. A full season of Pro 12 rugby and HEC rugby under his belt will make him a much better player. There has been an obvious improvement in the last 12 months and hopefully the same will happen next season.

Podge_irl

Think the DG was a fine option, Ulster didn't much look like breaking the tryline. It was just woeful execution.

He's certainly a better option then Humphreys, who was inconsistent and pathetic in defence at times. May have to endure some difficulties with him next season though.

Fishooks12

Barnes seemed to take some glee in Jacksons mistakes at the weekend

Sickened me tbh

Tox56

Fishooks12 wrote: »

Barnes seemed to take some glee in Jacksons mistakes at the weekend

Sickened me tbh

I thought they were very understanding, saying he will come back better, it was a valuable experience etc.

profitius

Jackson has talent but in the U20 six nations he didn't play well at all.

It didn't effect the final outcome of the match anyhow. Jackson will need a few seasons but he'll improve.

shuffol

profitius wrote: »

Jackson has talent but in the U20 six nations he didn't play well at all.

It didn't effect the final outcome of the match anyhow. Jackson will need a few seasons but he'll improve.

Not true, he'd a very competent 6N, his passing was excellent and his probing kicks always kept defences guessing, his goalkicking was below par though.

profitius

shuffol wrote: »

Not true, he'd a very competent 6N, his passing was excellent and his probing kicks always kept defences guessing, his goalkicking was below par though.

Not from what I can remember.

Hagz

I agree, I thought he was fairly average in the U20 6 nations tournament. I know I'm in the minority with that opinion though.

liam12989

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18162690

Jeremy Staunton unsure over life after Leicester Tigers


Ulster should be all over this...surely he would be cheap enough considering how late it is...

thomond2006

Staunton would be a better signing than NOC.

Also, if I'm correct Ulster have a NIQ slot free for next season? Afoa, Muller, Pienaar are the NIQs while Payne is a 'project player'. That's only 3+1, or am I forgetting something?

CIARAN_BOYLE

thomond2006 wrote: »

Staunton would be a better signing than NOC.

Also, if I'm correct Ulster have a NIQ slot free for next season? Afoa, Muller, Pienaar are the NIQs while Payne is a 'project player'. That's only 3+1, or am I forgetting something?

Yeah, rumours say that Ulster are looking at a backrow forward. While they have Wilson Henry and Ferris after that its Diack and Birch in terms of cover. They need a backrow forward if they can't get an IQ then it has to be a NIQ

But yeah I think Staunton would be a good option for Ulster.

thomond2006

Rugby Transfers Blogspot has Nick Williams as an Ulster transfer rumour, after how he did (or didn't!) at Munster I'd be stunned if Ulster signed him. That being said, he was excellent for Aironi, he had a great try scoring record IIRC.

Staunton would be ideal. Absolutely ideal.

Not going to "steal" time from Paddy Jackson as he steers himself into an Ireland Jersey over the next 3 years, but an able enough replacement to rotate with him to give him breaks as well as being senior enough to be trusted with some good gametime in HEC games.

I don't think there's a better candidate as a guiding force.

CatFromHue

For where Ulster want to go I don't think Staunton or NOC are the right fit.

NOC didn't work out the last time he was up there and has shown no reason why he would again.

Staunton to me is very like Humphreys and unfortunately I have to say most of the times I've seen him play he's been more miss than hit. He's effectively a journeyman player in that since he left Munster he's had two seasons with Harlequins, one with London Irish, two with Wasps, and I think three now with Leicester and to the best of my knowledge never setting the world alight in any of these clubs.

Jackson is a young guy who's shown a lot of promise but in my ideal squad I'd have him as second choice behind a more established outhalf. The ideal player they should sign is Sexton (obviously this isn't going to happen) because Sexton would be able to bring that quality needed to the team for the big games but then wouldn't be around all season leaving Jackson with plenty of games to develop.

A problem with Ulster at the moment is that their first 15 is excellent but they don't have enough quality beyond this 15. NOC or Staunton wouldn't improve this but having Jackson behind a top class outhalf you would.

For Ulster to push on with their improvement they need a top class outhalf.

Fishooks12

Can someone rationalize the resigning of NOC for me

I just can't see the sense in it

trackguy

NOC is not an option, plain and simple but there's a dearth of others too.

I'd hold out hope for Jackson to keep the jersey next year with IH as back-up.

He had a shocker in the biggest game of his career so far but he's only a kid. He looked pretty composed in most of the games I've seen him in this year.

Pienaar is great player to have alongside him too as he takes alot of the pressure off. He can also operate at 10 obviously.

Fishooks12

trackguy wrote: »

NOC is not an option, plain and simple but there's a dearth of others too.

I'd hold out hope for Jackson to keep the jersey next year with IH as back-up.

He had a shocker in the biggest game of his career so far but he's only a kid. He looked pretty composed in most of the games I've seen him in this year.

Pienaar is great player to have alongside him too as he takes alot of the pressure off. He can also operate at 10 obviously.

NOC is already signed and IH is on the way to London Irish

trackguy

Fishooks12 wrote: »

NOC is already signed and IH is on the way to London Irish

Jaysus - guess I should have read back further in the thread.

So NOC is the back-up as opposed to IH. Surely they are looking at Jackson as 1st choice?

Fireball07

There's always Pienaar too if they don't have faith in Jackson to control the big matches? Though I think it looks like they are going to thrust the full responsibility of OH on him next season.

irishbucsfan

Fishooks12 wrote: »

Can someone rationalize the resigning of NOC for me

I just can't see the sense in it

Because Ulsters 10s for next season are Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding. 20 and 19 respectively.

shuffol

Ulster want Jackson to rest for the summer and not travel to SA with the u-20s.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0523/1224316551134.html

ugh, so torn on this.

Really want him to go play the WC, but also think that that's not a terrible idea.

bilston

profitius wrote: »

Jackson has talent but in the U20 six nations he didn't play well at all.

It didn't effect the final outcome of the match anyhow. Jackson will need a few seasons but he'll improve.

You've said this before, Jackson played perfectly well in the 6Ns, his goalkicking wasn't great at the beginning but his general play was fine. He's easily the most competent age grade out half we've had in years. His problem is that he was hyped beyond sense by some Ulster fans and therefore people were expecting him to win games on his own at U20 level.

bilston

Deleted User wrote: »

ugh, so torn on this.

Really want him to go play the WC, but also think that that's not a terrible idea.

I'd have thought it would be better for him to get back on the horse asap.

However from an Ireland point of view it's probably better to give Marsh a chance with Olding as back up and of course JJ as well. Jackson has already played in a JWC and appears now to be Ulster's first choice 10 so will he learn anything new in SA? Everyday is a learning day of course but from a player development point of view his spot might be better used on others.

Fishooks12

I think it would be a slap in the face from Ulster to the Irish 20's squad to keep Jackson at home

he's there captain and I can bet Jackson himself wants to go

profitius

bilston wrote: »

You've said this before, Jackson played perfectly well in the 6Ns, his goalkicking wasn't great at the beginning but his general play was fine. He's easily the most competent age grade out half we've had in years. His problem is that he was hyped beyond sense by some Ulster fans and therefore people were expecting him to win games on his own at U20 level.

He made alot of errors besides his goal kicking and Cathal Marsh improved things when he came on.

Maybe I've been unlucky but from what I have seen of Jackson so far he hasn't impressed me much to be honest. I'm not writing him off he could come good yet but I remember years ago at that level Jeremy Staunton was rated higher than ROG.

CatFromHue

shuffol wrote: »

Ulster want Jackson to rest for the summer and not travel to SA with the u-20s.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0523/1224316551134.html

There was talk last year of teams pulling out of the competition altogether as the U20 players were ending up getting no or a very small off season. The competition runs up until the 22 June which is the same weekend as the last of the senior international tour games. The U20's will be expected back in training alot sooner than the seniors though.

What else was interesting about that article was Pienaar saying he wanted to play 9:

"the versatile Springbok has made it clear he signed for Ulster until 2014 to play scrumhalf.

“I really enjoy playing more at nine and that is what I came over here for, back home one week I was playing nine and the next week I was playing 10 then 15 and I didn’t really enjoy it, playing at scrumhalf every week has been good for me,” Pienaar said."

The NOC signing is bizarre as between him and Jackson Ulster will end up with two second choice outhalves but no first choice if you get what I mean!

bilston

profitius wrote: »

He made alot of errors besides his goal kicking and Cathal Marsh improved things when he came on.

Maybe I've been unlucky but from what I have seen of Jackson so far he hasn't impressed me much to be honest. I'm not writing him off he could come good yet but I remember years ago at that level Jeremy Staunton was rated higher than ROG.

Your opinion, fair enough, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

CIARAN_BOYLE

CatFromHue wrote: »

The NOC signing is bizarre as between him and Jackson Ulster will end up with two second choice outhalves but no first choice if you get what I mean!

I'm hearing rumours that NOC won't happen.

I know that a few weeks ago Connacht gave Ulster permission to talk to NOC despite NOC still being in contract. Apparently Ulster are offering a contract and NOC are demanding a longer one. He sees Ulster needing a cover 10 and being desperate due to IQ slots and this is his chance to extend his professional career.

Staunton is in the picture instead of him now.

padser

Looks like McLaughlin is not actually taking charge of Ulster academy but actually taking a position under the new guy taking charge of the academy.....

It seems a HEC Final following on from a HEC QF and Pro12 Semi Final the year before really doesn't count for much these days.

bilston

padser wrote: »

Looks like McLaughlin is not actually taking charge of Ulster academy but actually taking a position under the new guy taking charge of the academy.....

It seems a HEC Final following on from a HEC QF and Pro12 Semi Final the year before really doesn't count for much these days.

Maybe the role he is being given in the Academy is the role he wants?

Brian knew all of this was going to happen when he signed his 1 year contract last year. Maybe he felt that good results this year would change that but the problem is that when it was made public that he was being replaced Ulster hadn't reached the HEC final or even the semi final. Evidently that has all come too late.

ambid

bilston wrote: »

Maybe the role he is being given in the Academy is the role he wants?

Brian knew all of this was going to happen when he signed his 1 year contract last year. Maybe he felt that good results this year would change that but the problem is that when it was made public that he was being replaced Ulster hadn't reached the HEC final or even the semi final. Evidently that has all come too late.

I would hope this is true and that McLaughlin would have a lot of input in shaping his job description. Based on his performance this year, the significant outpouring of public respect toward him recently, and the relatively poor PR for Ulster in making this move then Ulster really need to keep him happy in the short term.

Maybe he wants a little distance from the main training environment. It wouold surely be tough watching someone else coach your team. It would also be better the new coach to not have the old coach hanging around. Maybe this is the job he wanted.

thomond2006

Ruan Pienaar has been included in the Springbok squad for their June tests.

If he is selected for the subsequent Rugby Championship then he won't be available to Ulster till the end of October. Then there will be the Autumn Internationals in November, if selected in November too Pienaar might only be available for 5-6 Ulster fixtures before the New Year.

This issue has seen Argentinian players struggle to get good contracts in Europe, with clubs reluctant to pay good money to players that will miss a significant part of the season.

Taco Corp

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ruan Pienaar has been included in the Springbok squad for their June tests.

If he is selected for the subsequent Rugby Championship then he won't be available to Ulster till the end of October. Then there will be the Autumn Internationals in November, if selected in November too Pienaar might only be available for 5-6 Ulster fixtures before the New Year.

This issue has seen Argentinian players struggle to get good contracts in Europe, with clubs reluctant to pay good money to players that will miss a significant part of the season.

With Frans Steyn moving back to SA, is Pienaar the only non SA based player in the squad? I thought they had a policy of selecting home based players only?