Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

CIARAN_BOYLE

bilston wrote: »

Maybe, although i'd be surprised if MA was picking his team with that in mind. Maybe he's doing Trimble a favour! Who knows.

Despite what I said above about Bowe not being as effective on the left in his younger days I don't think it will make much difference to him now as he is a real rover of a winger and pops anywhere and everywhere.

Agreed I was just making the point that we can't read anything into selection for a Rabo match.

Hype710

I think it's a recognition that Trimble is far more effective on right that left, whereas Bowe may only be marginally less effective on the left.

awec

awec

So, do we have any rumoured signings or any craic like that?

thomond2006

awec wrote: »

So, do we have any rumoured signings or any craic like that?

David McIlwaine is confirmed to be leaving Bristol, rumoured to be returning to Ulster.

Hagz

Doncaster were gutted to see him leave to Bristol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfJhB4pVOWg

bilston

awec wrote: »

So, do we have any rumoured signings or any craic like that?

From what I can gather...

Rumoured INs
David McIlwaine - Bristol
James McKinney - Rotherham

Rumoured OUTs
Stephen Ferris - Japan, anywhere that will have him
John Afoa - NZ
Adam D'Arcy - Somewhere in France, can't remember where but Agen rings a bell
Ali Birch - Rotherham (confirmed?)
Niall O'Connor - Jersey (confirmed?)
Chris Cochrane - Connacht
Nigel Brady - Retirement??

Thinks that's about it, to be fair I've put 2 and 2 together with Brady, he was supposedly going to retire last season and was persuaded otherwise so I assume he will retire this year. For what it's worth and for no real logical reason I'm a bit more confident that Afoa will stay now than I was a while ago. Also no news is good news as far as I'm concerned with Ferris but we'll see what happens.

Added to the incoming players I'd say the likes of Olding, Nelson and Joyce will be promoted from the Academy to senior contracts be they development or full.

bilston

Hagz wrote: »

Doncaster were gutted to see him leave to Bristol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfJhB4pVOWg

I've seen that video a few times, it proves that he has either improved a lot or that the Championship is way way way below the level of the Pro 12. It's probably a combination of both, and to be fair to him when he was at Ulster originally he ended up on the wing quite a lot which probably didn't show him in his best light, he seems to be an out and out full back.

awec

TBH I reckon Afoa will go.

ssaye

UlsterRugby Ulster Rugby 1h
This is the view from the top of the new Aquinas stand #redevelopment pic.twitter.com/f3rsTVI4Uk

bilston

From Sky Sports...confirmation on McKinney and McIlwaine's return.

Paddy Wallace has signed a new-one year deal with Ulster.

The centre is Ulster's longest-serving player, having made his senior debut back in 2001 and he has played 188 times, scoring 439 points.

Wallace said: 'I am delighted to have agreed a new deal and I look forward to recovering from injury and playing next season.

"This Ulster squad is the strongest that I have been involved in and I have no doubt that we will be competing for silverware next year. I want to be a part of that and to hopefully to become the first player to make 200 appearances for the Province."

Ulster director of rugby David Humphreys said: 'Paddy Wallace has unrivalled experience and knowledge of the game. It was important for us to keep him, not just for his playing ability, but also for the significant role that he fulfills in mentoring the young players that we have coming through.

Meanwhile back-row forward Mike McComish has signed a two-year contract extension that will see him remain at the club until 2015.

And former Ulster players James McKinney and David McIlwaine have agreed contracts to return to Ulster.

McKinney has spent this season playing for Rotherham Titans whilst McIlwaine, 23, has spent this season at Bristol.

Humpreys said: "Mike McComish has shown a remarkable level of consistency this season and James and David will come back to us having benefitted considerably from their time in England.

"It is now more important than ever to have a strong panel of players to be able to compete in both the league and Europe. These four players will add considerably to our strength in depth for next season."

awec

Not sure about McComish getting a 2 year deal.

iamjenko

Good bit of business by Ulster there! Great to see all these boys back playing for their home province after a year or two getting experience over seas!

thomond2006

iamjenko wrote: »

Good bit of business by Ulster there! Great to see all these boys back playing for their home province after a year or two getting experience over seas!

It could be a model for the future, you'd wonder if someone like Ian Nagle could have benefited with a year in England.

bilston

awec wrote: »

Not sure about McComish getting a 2 year deal.

I think his "ability" to play 7 is probably what earned him a contract. Birch is supposedly going to England and while what we saw of Doyle early in the season was reasonably positive we need a third O/S to back Doyle and Henry up.

I wonder if Conor Joyce could play 7?

opinionatedfan

Joyce is a 6 in my book.

His build and style of play is perfect for it.

the_doctor199

bilston wrote: »

Humpreys said: "Mike McComish has shown a remarkable level of consistency this season..."

That's correct, consistently pisses me off.

justsomebloke

thomond2006 wrote: »

It could be a model for the future, you'd wonder if someone like Ian Nagle could have benefited with a year in England.

It really is something the IRFU should be pushing, there are so many fringe players in Ireland that would benefit massively by spending a couple of seasons abroad.

Hype710

With Jackman and now Prendergast at Grenoble that could be a decent avenue. I'm not sure how the 'Espoirs' system is run in France but it covers players under 23. Birch on Against the Head said they needed a prop as a medical joker and should have been able to get one in Ireland but couldn't.

bilston

So how many Ulstermen are we expecting to make the cut today? Just Tommy and Rory? Could anyone else sneak in? I don't think he will be named today but I wonder if Henderson puts in some big performances in the Rabo play offs could he find himself on standby later in the tour.

Also thinking back we havent provided many Lions recently.

2009 - Ferris (cant count Bowe)
2005 - None
2001 - Howe (controversially)
1997 - Davidson

Mad to think Humphreys didnt make it, I think he'd walk into the 2013 squad with Sexton.

awec

Be surprised to see more than those two.

Digifriendly

No Best, just Bowe in squad. Line out throwing must have been deciding factor. Feel sorry for Rory whose general play around the park is second to none.

.ak

Such a shame Fez isn't fit really. Think Lydiate would've missed the flight because of him tbh.

bilston

Digifriendly wrote: »

No Best, just Bowe in squad. Line out throwing must have been deciding factor. Feel sorry for Rory whose general play around the park is second to none.

I think the throwing issues have been out of proportion to be honest. Irelands lineout has always struggled without POC. It was the same when Flannery was hooker. He hasnt been at the very top of his game but he is still better than the rest IMO. Anyway its done now and I still wouldnt be surprised to see him starting one of the test matches. Its happened before.

thomond2006

Extended Ulster squad to face Cardiff Blues in the RaboDirect PRO12, Friday 3rd May, Ravenhill, 7.45pm;

Forwards (16):
Johann Muller, Callum Black, John Afoa, Robbie Diack, Iain Henderson, Declan Fitzpatrick, Dan Tuohy, Ricky Lutton, Rory Best, Mike McComish, Lewis Stevenson, Chris Henry, Nick Williams, Tom Court, Sean Doyle, Rob Herring;

Backs (11):
Michael Allen, Ruan Pienaar, Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall, Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Peter Nelson, Craig Gilroy, Stuart Olding.

awec

BP win please

shuffol

Doyle's back, Birch makes way for him, must surely be on his way out.

CIARAN_BOYLE

shuffol wrote: »

Doyle's back, Birch makes way for him, must surely be on his way out.

Yeah Birch is going to a championship team in England, I forget who.

damianmcr

Rotherham Titans he is off to.

bilston

I wonder if Marshall will start at 9. With Murray with the Lions and Reddan injured, it's possible that Marshall may be the starting 9 in North America, or at least in the matchday 23.

Anyway as awec says a big win would be nice and there should be plenty of motivation for the Ulster lads. But we'll be lucky enough to scrape a win against this Lions studded Cardiff side.

rchendz92

(15-9) J Payne, A Trimble, D Cave, S Olding, T Bowe, R Pienaar, P Marshall; (1-8) C Black, R Best, J Afoa, J Muller, I Henderson, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): N Brady, T Court, D Fitzpatrick, D Tuohy, S Doyle, P Jackson, M Allen, P Nelson.

Strong enough for the BP easily. Henderson getting more time in 2nd row

Swap Callum Black for Tom Court and that is an absolute monster pack.

All ball carriers

Good to see Fitzpatrick back available

awec

Can't wait for this game after seeing that team. Hoping for a BP win.

What an exciting back line

bilston

Deleted User wrote: »

Swap Callum Black for Tom Court and that is an absolute monster pack.

All ball carriers

Good to see Fitzpatrick back available

Aye, let's just wait and see if Deccie gets onto the pitch without straining his groin. But yes good to see, IF he could stay fit he'd be very good.


Cardiff Blues 15 Dan Fish 14 Alex Cuthbert 13 Gavin Evans (c) 12 Dafydd Hewitt 11 Harry Robinson 10 Rhys Patchell 9 Lewis Jones

1 Taufa'ao Filise 2 Kristian Dacey 3 Scott Andrews 4 Bradley Davies 5 Lou Reed 6 Luke Hamilton 7 Josh Navidi 8 Michael Paterson

16 Marc Breeze 17 Thomas Davies 18 Campese Ma'afu 19 Teofilo Paulo 20 Macauley Cook 21 Liam Davies 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Tom James

No Warburton, Roberts or Halfpenny which is a shame.

There are a couple of good young players there though that we'll need to keep an eye such as Patchell and Robinson, so along with Cuthbert they have some decent firepower in the backs but all things being equal Ulster should be winning this one with a bit to spare.

LeeroyJones

Nice touch Paddy McAllister

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/11439.php

irishbucsfan

Donated. Fair play to him

thomond2006

Any hope for Cardiff died when their Lions were left out, Ulster will top the table. Unless they are injured they really should have been played, they are going to get plenty rest before the Lions Tour anyway. It makes the game a lot less interesting tbh.

Sinbad_NI

Interview on the BBC news tonight with Fez... he wouldn't answer any question about transfers / plans for next year

bilston

Sinbad_NI wrote: »

Interview on the BBC news tonight with Fez... he wouldn't answer any question about transfers / plans for next year

I'd guess there maybe an offer on the table from either Ulster or the IRFU otherwise his agent would be putting more transfer rumours in the media. I'm still hopeful that he might stay.

decisions

I think spending 2 yrs in Japan might be good for him long term. It would give him a chance to get himself right again in a league that seems to be less physically demanding.

opinionatedfan

2 years? nah just the one season.

bilston

Forecast looks pretty dreadful for tonight so that may be a concern for Ulster.

bilston

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/ruan-pienaar-qa

Interview with St Ruan of the Pienaar.

awec

It'll be a sad day when Ruan moves on

bilston

awec wrote: »

It'll be a sad day when Ruan moves on

Yep, it will, but we've done well to get four years out of such a great player, I hope the IRFU see sense and allow us to sign him up for at least another year after 2014 as while it affects Paul Marshall's international chances it benefits everyone else in the squad to have someone of his quality here. Surely it's hardly rocket science to know that Jackson, Marshall, Olding, Henderson and Gilroy will benefit from having Pienaar in the team! This is where the IRFU's new NIQ rules are such bellix.

In saying that reading that interview he says he may need to go back to SA in the build up to 2015 for the WC so we might not have a choice anyway.

Hype710

I hope Rory has an absolute stormer tonight.

awec

If Ferris did get a new contract with Ulster it would be the best news since the announcement that B*witched were reuniting.

Totally awesome.

shuffol

Hype710 wrote: »

I hope Rory has an absolute stormer tonight.

I bet he'll win Motm though wont necessarily be the best player on the pitch.

bilston

shuffol wrote: »

I bet he'll win Motm though wont necessarily be the best player on the pitch.

Unless he has an absolute 'mare or someone else scores a hat trick you can probably just about put your mortgage on it! When times are tough we like to close ranks in Ulster!

Hype710

Luke Marshall named in the Rabo Dream Team.

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/16507.php