Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Benny Cake

Tough on Ferris but in fairness its the correct decision from the IRFU. We cant affoard to tie up too much money in a guy with such a poor history of repeat injuries.
Shame we will proabably never see him fully deliver on the potential he showed....

CIARAN_BOYLE

Supposedly its a one year deal he is looking at over there so he could be back for the RWC in 2015

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/japan-bound-ferris-set-to-leave-ulster-1.1324280

bilston

Fooker wrote: »

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

Ferris's injuries are more likely to have played a part than any possible move away from Ireland on Ferris's part.

macslash

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Supposedly its a one year deal he is looking at over there so he could be back for the RWC in 2015

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/japan-bound-ferris-set-to-leave-ulster-1.1324280

Would that be with a view to coming back to Ulster I wonder?

hardCopy

opinionatedfan

Fooker wrote: »

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

dont make me laugh, Ferris on form even with his bollixed legs is still twice the player O'Mahony is.

irishbucsfan

A year in Japan would be perfect for Ferris. He gets to fully recover from surgery, get a full preseason in, play at a lower level and then build himself back towards recovery.

There are a bunch of Genia-esque physiques down there. He'll love it.

Then he can come back to Ulster and get another full preseason in for 14/15 which will give him a full season before RWC 2015 to put himself.

Good man Fez. Lend me some cash.

trouttrout

opinionatedfan wrote: »

dont make me laugh, Ferris on form even with his bollixed legs is still twice the player O'Mahony is.

Nice potshot at POM there.

There's not many 6's in the world who are close to Ferris when fit but for all his class, he's not much worth when he can't play due to injury

Spell in Japan might give him a chance to get a consistent run of games so he could come back and have one more season at home

mfceiling

Poor Japan....just when they thought they were safe from earthquakes...

Quint2010

I don't get the Ferris love in to be honest. The guy is made of glass. He is potentially a great talent but far too injury prone to ever be able to fulfill his potential. Let him off to Japan. Ulster have not missed him this year-Henderson is better player.

mfceiling

Quint2010 wrote: »

I don't get the Ferris love in to be honest. The guy is made of glass. He is potentially a great talent but far too injury prone to ever be able to fulfill his potential. Let him off to Japan. Ulster have not missed him this year-Henderson is better player.

:eek: Did you see him against australia in the World Cup. I agree he gets injured very easily but my god when he is fit he is some machine on a rugby pitch.

opinionatedfan

Henderson is not a better player than Ferris, come on!

Quint2010

mfceiling wrote: »

:eek: Did you see him against australia in the World Cup. I agree he gets injured very easily but my god when he is fit he is some machine on a rugby pitch.

I agree but the problem is he just doesn't play enough in order to get fully up to match fitness and match tightness. He played well in the WC because he had a number of matches under his belt and was relatively injury free. I honestly would not be surprised to see him not making it as far as the next WC.

Podge_irl

Ferris is an amazing player but if you offered me one of Ferris or Henderson I'd take the latter because he's much, much more likely to be fit.

mfceiling

Podge_irl wrote: »

Ferris is an amazing player but if you offered me one of Ferris or Henderson I'd take the latter because he's much, much more likely to be fit.

True...remember reading recently that ferris would have be taught to run around a player rather than through him...

part time punk

Quint2010 wrote: »

I agree but the problem is he just doesn't play enough in order to get fully up to match fitness and match tightness. He played well in the WC because he had a number of matches under his belt and was relatively injury free. I honestly would not be surprised to see him not making it as far as the next WC.

Think he only returned in one of the last warm up games for the world cup though. In terms of fulfilling potential, he does have 35 international caps, won a Grand Slam and played all games, Lions tourist, HCup finalist ... it's not a bad return, one most players wouldn't get, although he does probably deserve more. Hopefully some time in Japan does his body some good.

CGD

part time punk wrote: »

Think he only returned in one of the last warm up games for the world cup though. In terms of fulfilling potential, he does have 35 international caps, won a Grand Slam and played all games, Lions tourist, HCup finalist ... it's not a bad return, one most players wouldn't get, although he does probably deserve more. Hopefully some time in Japan does his body some good.

Could backfire big time if he picks up injuries over there

MolBee

CGD wrote: »

Could backfire big time if he picks up injuries over there

If he acquires another big injury in the short time he's over there, I daresay his body is trying to tell him something and he should probably listen to it.

postitnote

I don't think where it would matter he picks up injuries. What would the kiwis call this? A sabbatical.

At his age he can still maybe come back to be a great player, but he needs to remove himself from intense rugby for a bit.

irishbucsfan

Just had a nice wee biannual chat with my Ulster source. He painted a very bleak picture of Ferris' future career prospects

It'd be such a travesty to lose a guy THAT good.

ssaye

http://instagram.com/p/W4lIhqPZmV/

paddywallace12: Starting line on the road to recovery http://t.co/GqNE0VCG4k

RobbieRuns

Does anyone know about any promotions/leavers or new intakes for the Ulster Academy? Normally start hearing about this time of year.

the_doctor199

Returning players for Friday night and Muller back for Leinster.

Nick Williams, Roger Wilson and Jared Payne are all expected to return to action for Ulster this week, while captain Johann Muller, is due to return a week later.

leonard7

finally some good news

trouttrout

A full strength Ulster can beat a limited Saracens side so good to see the likes of Muller returning

bilston

the_doctor199 wrote: »

Returning players for Friday night and Muller back for Leinster.

Post of the year

thomond2006

Great news, particularly with Henderson's availability being uncertain. A Wilson, Henry, Williams backrow is definitely HEC standard.

bilston

Schools Cup final then today. Inst v Methody. Two good backlines on show I believe, shame that the weather is crap though. MCB favourites but it should be a good game. For those not going or in the South the match is on BBC2 NI at 3pm.

CIARAN_BOYLE

the_doctor199 wrote: »

Returning players for Friday night and Muller back for Leinster.

Good to hear. Ulster will have some strength available come the QF. Anyword yet on henderson??

leonard7

come on Methody!!! haha

awec

Will be watching it indeed. Come on RBAI, just for the sake of variety. :pac:

the_doctor199

Would anyone else agree it's best to rest Luke Marshall on Friday, even if he recovers from the bash to the head? I don't think we can afford to have him miss the Leinster/Sarries game with Wallace injured.

Not sure who would play in his place though, maybe Andrews at 15 and Payne at centre?

bilston

the_doctor199 wrote: »

Would anyone else agree it's best to rest Luke Marshall on Friday, even if he recovers from the bash to the head? I don't think we can afford to have him miss the Leinster/Sarries game with Wallace injured.

Not sure who would play in his place though, maybe Andrews at 15 and Payne at centre?

I dont think the internationals will be available anyway so he would be rested no matter what. Olding to 12 and Payne at 15 for me although maybe Olding will be needed at 10?

By the way Peter Nelson played 10 for Dungannon on Sat and scored 21 points which is good to hear.

bilston

leonard7 wrote: »

come on Methody!!! haha

Inst Inst Ancient and Royal!

the_doctor199

bilston wrote: »

I dont think the internationals will be available anyway so he would be rested no matter what. Olding to 12 and Payne at 15 for me although maybe Olding will be needed at 10?

By the way Peter Nelson played 10 for Dungannon on Sat and scored 21 points which is good to hear.

Totally forgot about Olding, good call.

shuffol

bilston wrote: »

I dont think the internationals will be available anyway so he would be rested no matter what. Olding to 12 and Payne at 15 for me although maybe Olding will be needed at 10?

By the way Peter Nelson played 10 for Dungannon on Sat and scored 21 points which is good to hear.

Seem to remember his kicking being a bit dodge for the u-20s last season, looked much more comfortable at 13 but another center is the last thing Ulster need.

awec

bilston wrote: »

I dont think the internationals will be available anyway so he would be rested no matter what. Olding to 12 and Payne at 15 for me although maybe Olding will be needed at 10?

By the way Peter Nelson played 10 for Dungannon on Sat and scored 21 points which is good to hear.

Does that include the likes of Paul Marshall? Could we see him at 9 and RP at 10?

bilston

awec wrote: »

Does that include the likes of Paul Marshall? Could we see him at 9 and RP at 10?

Usually just the starters so Marshall should be ok to play.

trouttrout

Will Olding start the quarter final now? Looks a serious prospect

awec

trouttrout wrote: »

Will Olding start the quarter final now? Looks a serious prospect

Depends who is fit I would say, don't think he's quite first choice yet.

Great bench option mind!

bilston

trouttrout wrote: »

Will Olding start the quarter final now? Looks a serious prospect

If Marshall is out then yes probably. You're he is a great talent, still only 19.

awec

When is Bowe due back, out of interest?

ScissorPaperRock

bilston wrote: »

If Marshall is out then yes probably. You're he is a great talent, still only 19.

Can he play 13 at all?

bilston

ScissorPaperRoc wrote: »

Can he play 13 at all?

He played there for the 20s last year and did well so why not.

the_doctor199

awec wrote: »

When is Bowe due back, out of interest?

End of April, I think.

Sinbad_NI

Anyone know if this weekend's match is televised. Can't see it anywhere?

Great to hear some big players coming back. Will need as many of them as possible to get a shot at either cup this year.

Taco Corp

Sinbad_NI wrote: »

Anyone know if this weekend's match is televised. Can't see it anywhere?

Great to hear some big players coming back. Will need as many of them as possible to get a shot at either cup this year.

no host broadcaster listed on the rabo fixtures list so probably not going to be on unless there's a last minute change
http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php

the_doctor199

If it's not live, surely it'll be on the red button then?

CIARAN_BOYLE

trouttrout wrote: »

Will Olding start the quarter final now? Looks a serious prospect

If Marshall is out then Olding could well start.

Payne, Trimble and Bowe (will he be back??) can play center but none of them have played 12 and Cave doesn't have much experience there afaik. Jackson can play 12 and Pienaar can play 10 but thats too many positional changes for my thinking.

Of the options available Olding at 12 looks the best to me.

the_doctor199 wrote: »

If it's not live, surely it'll be on the red button then?

Don't think so

jamiedav2011

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

If Marshall is out then Olding could well start.

Payne, Trimble and Bowe (will he be back??) can play center but none of them have played 12 and Cave doesn't have much experience there afaik. Jackson can play 12 and Pienaar can play 10 but thats too many positional changes for my thinking.

Of the options available Olding at 12 looks the best to me.


Don't think so

Olding at 12 would be a bold but warranted move.
He's looked excellent at Rabo level so far, but defending against Barrit would be another step up.

What do Ulster posters see as his long term position?
Challenging Jackson at 10 or further out?