Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

jacothelad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIw2UQpNanM

awec

Looks the business!

jacothelad

awec wrote: »

Looks the business!

We just need the team to match it now. Plenty of home grown backs but not so many to do te heavy lifting a year or two down the line. At the end of next season we lose Afoa, Pienaar and Muller. Without a tight head - apart from Deccie ' I've hurt my leg again' Fitz that is - and a decent lineout boss and iconic leader - we are up the creek sans paddle.

awec

jacothelad wrote: »

We just need the team to match it now. Plenty of home grown backs but not so many to do te heavy lifting a year or two down the line. At the end of next season we lose Afoa, Pienaar and Muller. Without a tight head - apart from Deccie ' I've hurt my leg again' Fitz that is - and a decent lineout boss and iconic leader - we are up the creek sans paddle.

Henderson has a big future and will become a key part of our team.

TH is worrying, there's a bit of an epidemic in Ireland at the moment. Wouldn't be surprised to see us land another NIQ TH.

Pienaar, well, how do you replace that man?

bilston

Forwards mature later than backs.

As a fun exercise here is an Under 30 Ulster side minus NIQs.

15 Craig Gilroy 21
14 Tommy Bowe 29
13 Darren Cave 25
12 Luke Marshall 22
11 Andrew Trimble 28
10 Paddy Jackson 21
9 Paul Marshall 28
1 Paddy McAlistair 23
2 Rory Best 30
3 Declan Fitzpatrick 28
4 Iain Henderson 21
5 Dan Tuohy 27
6 Stephen Ferris 27
7 Chris Henry 28
8 Robbie Diack 26

That team plus a few NIQs could keep us going for a while yet. We could do with a top No.8 coming through.

awec

bilston wrote: »

Forwards mature later than backs.

As a fun exercise here is an Under 30 Ulster side minus NIQs.

15 Craig Gilroy 21
14 Tommy Bowe 29
13 Darren Cave 25
12 Luke Marshall 22
11 Andrew Trimble 28
10 Paddy Jackson 21
9 Paul Marshall 28
1 Paddy McAlistair 23
2 Rory Best 30
3 Declan Fitzpatrick 28
4 Iain Henderson 21
5 Dan Tuohy 27
6 Stephen Ferris 27
7 Chris Henry 28
8 Robbie Diack 26

That team plus a few NIQs could keep us going for a while yet. We could do with a top No.8 coming through.

But what does the bench look like?

jacothelad

awec wrote: »

Henderson has a big future and will become a key part of our team.

TH is worrying, there's a bit of an epidemic in Ireland at the moment. Wouldn't be surprised to see us land another NIQ TH.

Pienaar, well, how do you replace that man?

Yes, Henderson is a star in the ascendant. There is a 19 y.o guy at Ballyclare called Blair who is 6'9" and apparently looking very good. As you say we really need a fearsome wrecking ball of a tight head but unless we kidnap a 20 stone, 5'8" Georgian teenager we are scuppered. It will be interesting to see how some of the U20s pan out. We do have a few in the mix but they haven't set the world on fire as yet. Also there may be a surplus at Leinster by the way things look. In the interests of Irish rugby Tadgh Furlong should really come up here.......:D:D:D:D:D:D

The trouble is that the brain dead accountant who dreamed up the new NIQ regulations precludes Ulster from getting a new NIE /Q tight head. Paddy McAllister is apparently going to give it a go when he is fit. I fear the worst. Props have gone successfully from tight to loose but rarely the other way. The Claw for example became a great l/h after being a good t/h.

jacothelad

awec wrote: »

But what does the bench look like?

Wooden and mostly flat with a divot worn in it by Deccie Fitz's dressings.........................................I'll get my coat

Podge_irl

Moving Paddy Mac to TH would be stupid - if the guy stays fit he will overtake Court and become Ulster's Healy sooner rather than later. Smacks of trying to get the best players on the pitch with no regard for the position they are playing.

Is Macklin a LH or TH?

awec

jacothelad wrote: »

Yes, Henderson is a star in the ascendant. There is a 19 y.o guy at Ballyclare called Blair who is 6'9" and apparently looking very good. As you say we really need a fearsome wrecking ball of a tight head but unless we kidnap a 20 stone, 5'8" Georgian teenager we are scuppered. It will be interesting to see how some of the U20s pan out. We do have a few in the mix but they haven't set the world on fire as yet. Also there may be a surplus at Leinster by the way things look. In the interests of Irish rugby Tadgh Furlong should really come up here.......:D:D:D:D:D:D

The trouble is that the brain dead accountant who dreamed up the new NIQ regulations precludes Ulster from getting a new NIE /Q tight head. Paddy McAllister is apparently going to give it a go when he is fit. I fear the worst. Props have gone successfully from tight to loose but rarely the other way. The Claw for example became a great l/h after being a good t/h.

So the NIQ rules don't let you re-sign a NIQ rule for the same position?

What about the project player scheme? I wonder if this is an option for us?

I presume for the 6'9" bloke you were referring to lock and not tight head? :pac:

Podge_irl

awec wrote: »

So the NIQ rules don't let you re-sign a NIQ rule for the same position?

No. Though they also wouldn't have let Munster re-sign Botha so who the **** really knows.

CIARAN_BOYLE

jacothelad wrote: »

We just need the team to match it now. Plenty of home grown backs but not so many to do te heavy lifting a year or two down the line. At the end of next season we lose Afoa, Pienaar and Muller. Without a tight head - apart from Deccie ' I've hurt my leg again' Fitz that is - and a decent lineout boss and iconic leader - we are up the creek sans paddle.

awec wrote: »

But what does the bench look like?

Rob Herring Callum Black Adam Macklin Lewis Stevenson Sean Doyle Rob Herring Stuart Olding Adam Darcy

bilston

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Rob Herring Callum Black Adam Macklin Lewis Stevenson Sean Doyle Rob Herring Stuart Olding Adam Darcy

I believe D'Arcy may be heading to sunnier climes where they eat weird stuff like Snails and Frogs Legs.

awec

bilston wrote: »

I believe D'Arcy may be heading to sunnier climes where they eat weird stuff like Snails and Frogs Legs.

Limerick?

CIARAN_BOYLE

bilston wrote: »

I believe D'Arcy may be heading to sunnier climes where they eat weird stuff like Snails and Frogs Legs.

Ricky Andrew or Chris Cochrane then probably

Would make sense if he was to leave, he hasn't struck me as connected to Ulster, he is an Aussie that came here on trial, he turned down a wolfhounds call up in his first season, and he wasn't trusted as first choice FB with Payne and Terblanche brought in ahead of him.

leonard7

Podge_irl wrote: »

Moving Paddy Mac to TH would be stupid - if the guy stays fit he will overtake Court and become Ulster's Healy sooner rather than later. Smacks of trying to get the best players on the pitch with no regard for the position they are playing.

Is Macklin a LH or TH?[/QUOTE]

macklins a TH

ormond lad

jacothelad wrote: »

Yes, Henderson is a star in the ascendant. There is a 19 y.o guy at Ballyclare called Blair who is 6'9" and apparently looking very good. As you say we really need a fearsome wrecking ball of a tight head but unless we kidnap a 20 stone, 5'8" Georgian teenager we are scuppered. It will be interesting to see how some of the U20s pan out. We do have a few in the mix but they haven't set the world on fire as yet. Also there may be a surplus at Leinster by the way things look. In the interests of Irish rugby Tadgh Furlong should really come up here.......:D:D:D:D:D:D

The trouble is that the brain dead accountant who dreamed up the new NIQ regulations precludes Ulster from getting a new NIE /Q tight head. Paddy McAllister is apparently going to give it a go when he is fit. I fear the worst. Props have gone successfully from tight to loose but rarely the other way. The Claw for example became a great l/h after being a good t/h.

Russell Blair. seen him play a few times between Ulster Youths and Irish Youths. Very good player. Is he involved with Irish 19s this year and is he playing more than u19 rugby with Ballymoney or he is playing much adult rugby?

jacothelad

Podge_irl wrote: »

Moving Paddy Mac to TH would be stupid - if the guy stays fit he will overtake Court and become Ulster's Healy sooner rather than later. Smacks of trying to get the best players on the pitch with no regard for the position they are playing.

Is Macklin a LH or TH?

It's Paddy's own decision apparently. All that lazing around with his feet up has addled his brain maybe.......:D Perhaps Afoa has convinced him. Paddy Mac is big enough.............but..........

ormond lad wrote: »

Russell Blair. seen him play a few times between Ulster Youths and Irish Youths. Very good player. Is he involved with Irish 19s this year and is he playing more than u19 rugby with Ballymoney or he is playing much adult rugby?

He is recovering from a broken leg at the moment. I think back in training.

opinionatedfan

jacothelad wrote: »

He is recovering from a broken leg at the moment. I think back in training.

Injury bug really going around up there huh?

jacothelad

opinionatedfan wrote: »

Injury bug really going around up there huh?

It must be the water...... I never drink the stuff as I know what fish do in it.

irishbucsfan

jacothelad wrote: »

It must be the water...... I never drink the stuff as I know what fish do in it.

Straight from the fish, right into the bushmills. Full of omega 3

jacothelad

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Straight from the fish, right into the bushmills. Full of omega 3

Ah but it has been evaporated off. Alcohol evaporates at about 70C. Fish pish at 100C. :D:D

thomond2006

James McKinney back to Ulster: http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/james-mckinney-set-for-ulster-return-1-4875769

I assume that means NOC will be let go.

Fooker

Between Jackson, Olding and now McKinney, Ulster will be well stocked with good young and IRISH OHs..

Also has there been any talk of a new contract for Wallace, could be he might not be offered another one?

Sinbad_NI

Good to see some backup at 10 coming in.

thomond2006

Fooker wrote: »

Also has there been any talk of a new contract for Wallace, could be he might not be offered another one?

Contract talks won't happen until the recovery period is more clear probably.

irishbucsfan

Certainly not upset to see McKinney coming back to Ulster, but maybe he could've done with another year abroad?

bilston

I'd heard he was coming back and then that he was going to France but glad to see him come back. I guess Ulster think Jackson will be No.22 for Ireland next season which means he will miss a few games. Obviously Pienaar will miss a few games due to SA commitments and we know he doesn't like playing 10 so McKinney will get lots of games. I'd love to know where Ulster see Olding's future.

overshoot

Yea id love to see him nailed down to a main position... Versatility is good but that lad will be a right proposition if he settles somewhere (I mean at international level too nevermind provincial)

MolBee

bilston wrote: »

I'd love to know where Ulster see Olding's future.

Me too. It's early days but he's definitely looked best at inside centre to me. Which I have to admit I find a tiny wee bit annoying given that other freshfaced blondie haired player who's spent the season making that shirt his. If Marshall wasn't around I'd be keen to see Olding starting in the Rabo games at 12 and further developing his skills ASAP. Feel he may be shunted around a few different positions for a while...

bilston

MolBee wrote: »

Me too. It's early days but he's definitely looked best at inside centre to me. Which I have to admit I find a tiny wee bit annoying given that other freshfaced blondie haired player who's spent the season making that shirt his. If Marshall wasn't around I'd be keen to see Olding starting in the Rabo games at 12 and further developing his skills ASAP. Feel he may be shunted around a few different positions for a while...

I could see him at 13 but thebmn Farrell is coming through too and Cave is only 25 or 26 himself.

Sinbad_NI

So much talent coming through in the backs at the moment, very promising for the next few years.

Hopefully a few forwards in the pipeline soon other than just IH.

Always been impressed with McKinney. Solid solid player.

the_doctor199

Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris is considering a possible move to a Japanese club at the end of the season.
The injury-plagued forward's IRFU contract expires on 30 June and a number of oversees clubs are interested in signing the Ireland player.
This includes an unnamed club from Japan, but Ferris has had no formal negotiations with any party to date.
Meanwhile, Andrew Trimble is expected to a sign a new two-year contract this week which will keep him at Ulster.
Ferris has struggled with injury in recent years and the 27-year-old will miss the rest of the season after having a second operation on an ankle problem.
He was selected for the 2009 British and Irish Lions squad but, after making a brilliant early impression in South Africa, suffered a knee injury which ended his tour.
He also missed the 2011 Six Nations campaign and last November's internationals because of injury.

BBC

The idea of Ferris playing on a pitch where the average physique is that of Shane Williams' is positively hilarious.

Takeshi's Castle levels of bizarreness.

trouttrout

Watching SBW playing in Japan was bizarre enough. Ferris would be like some sort of unstoppable rampaging bull

CIARAN_BOYLE

Deleted User wrote: »

The idea of Ferris playing on a pitch where the average physique is that of Shane Williams' is positively hilarious.

Takeshi's Castle levels of bizarreness.

Softer rugby lower injury risk. He may also be able to slim a little since a cause of his injuries may (and I'm no expert) be that he has carrying too much weight for his structure

durkadurka

Presumably IRFU not offering much given his injury problems. Perhaps he suspects he only has a couple of years left.

As in the Johnny Sexton case, now is pretty much the best possible chance Ferris has to get away and get some money / recovery time and still be able to come back for the next World Cup.

.ak

Deleted User wrote: »

The idea of Ferris playing on a pitch where the average physique is that of Shane Williams' is positively hilarious.

Takeshi's Castle levels of bizarreness.

Fezilla.

ssaye

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEJm0uIVwUc

awec

Say it ain't so!

ionadnapokot

Would playing in Japan rule him out of 6N?

thomond2006

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Would playing in Japan rule him out of 6N?

yes

ionadnapokot

checked out the Jap "Top League" and the games seem to be played Sep-Jan. With playoffs last season in Feb

Teferi

Fez moving would obviously be bad for Ulster but it may do him some good in the long run - a year contract playing relatively low-level rugby and a small amount of games might do his body some good and possibly get back to full fitness. It may mean we get a few more miles out of him when he does come back.

awec

But it's Ferris!

After the HEC quarter final last year I think thomond described us as "14 men and a demon".

Henderson looks like he could be the second coming of Ferris, hopefully demonic possession included. :pac:

Larbre34

Teferi wrote: »

Fez moving would obviously be bad for Ulster but it may do him some good in the long run - a year contract playing relatively low-level rugby and a small amount of games might do his body some good and possibly get back to full fitness. It may mean we get a few more miles out of him when he does come back.

He'll not be back. If hes in Asia he'll have more interaction with the ANZAC brigade and if he gets a sniff of a pension tour option down south, he'll be away till he hangs up the boots.....

Its a shame to happen, we never saw the best of Ferris due to his long layoffs, and now there are conveyors of No.6s in his image looking for the shirt at both Ulster and Ireland, although not yet at his level.....

Fooker

I wonder how long this has been known and if it influenced the surprising decision to sign up O'Mahony..

thomond2006

Fooker wrote: »

I wonder how long this has been known and if it influenced the surprising decision to sign up O'Mahony..

whatever about the merits or otherwise of POM getting a national contract, I think offering Ferris the same terms as before would be a mistake. Obviously Ferris and his representatives aren't happy with a reduced IRFU offer.