Ulster Bank League 2015-2016 Talk/Gossip/Rumours

The Lost Sheep

Clontarf win 28-25

MrJones2013

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Clontarf win 28-25

I know one boards poster who'll enjoy his day off tomorrow!

Congratulations to 'Tarf, best side over the season, deserved winners.

Stainalert

Congrats Tarf1234 & Bamboozle. Enjoy the celebrations

ArmchairQB

Well done Tarf, they deserved the win. Thought the ref was poor and Tarfs try before halftime should have been called back due to knock on, he missed a few knock ons not helped by his assistants. Carberry and Darcy were excellent and thought their decision to kick for the corner rather than go for goal near the end was crazy. Fanning cost Con with some very poor kicks in the wrong areas. Entertaining game could have went either way at the end.

Buer

ArmchairQB wrote: »

Carberry and Darcy were excellent and thought their decision to kick for the corner rather than go for goal near the end was crazy..

That was lunacy of the highest order. At worst, Con were going to kick the ball back to Clontarf who would still be ahead. At best, Con would need a 7 pointer with 4 minutes left.

KingBrian2

Congrats Clontarf. Up the Bulls.:cool:

.ak

Cracking game, awesome weather, bag of cans in the stands and delighted with a Tarf win. Great day (and night..)

Couldn't help but think the AIL final would suit RDS much better. As loud as the crowd was the atmosphere would be so much better in the rds.

The Lost Sheep

.ak wrote: »

Cracking game, awesome weather, bag of cans in the stands and delighted with a Tarf win. Great day (and night..)

Couldn't help but think the AIL final would suit RDS much better. As loud as the crowd was the atmosphere would be so much better in the rds.

No no no. AIL final should be in the national stadium. Ideally all the divisions should have finals and the 5 finals, the all Ireland junior cup and the under 16/18 youths finals should all be played in the Aviva over 2 weekends.

Stainalert

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

No no no. AIL final should be in the national stadium. Ideally all the divisions should have finals and the 5 finals, the all Ireland junior cup and the under 16/18 youths finals should all be played in the Aviva over 2 weekends.

Agree with you but the IRFU & stadium company are way too precious of the pitch to let that happen

.ak

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

No no no. AIL final should be in the national stadium. Ideally all the divisions should have finals and the 5 finals, the all Ireland junior cup and the under 16/18 youths finals should all be played in the Aviva over 2 weekends.

Why?

Like aside from the players saying they got a run out the event itself isn't that appealing to a casual fan who's wondering why it's being played in an empty stadium.

The Lost Sheep

.ak wrote: »

Why?

Like aside from the players saying they got a run out the event itself isn't that appealing to a casual fan who's wondering why it's being played in an empty stadium.

These games are the premier games of the club season. The crowd would still be relatively empty in the RDS as well so your point about it appealing to casual fan is null and void.
The finals of competitions should be played in the provincial grounds and then all Irelands in Lansdowne road.
Just like Leinster finals should be in Donnybrook. Munster finals in Thomond/Musgrave etc
Since Thomond Park got redeveloped there has been f** all domestic games played on the main pitch. That is wrong.
We need to utilise our national rugby stadium. We need to have our best club and underage players get their time to highlight their competitions and get the shot to play on the national ground.

phog

Clear knockon in the lead up to the 3rd try for Clontarf but missed by the ref and AR. No TMO available either. Bit of a joke from the IRFU to have the final televised but no TMO.

FrannoFan

phog wrote: »

Clear knockon in the lead up to the 3rd try for Clontarf but missed by the ref and AR. No TMO available either. Bit of a joke from the IRFU to have the final televised but no TMO.

Don't know if it was "clear" seemed to bobble off a con player coming back on side or off a foot. where the player received the ball in relation to the passer suggests it went back.

GavMan

phog wrote: »

Clear knockon in the lead up to the 3rd try for Clontarf but missed by the ref and AR. No TMO available either. Bit of a joke from the IRFU to have the final televised but no TMO.

No TMO all year so stick with that I say. If a team missed out on making the final, say, because of a decision that a TMO might have given differently, then it is unfair that a team in the final should then be able to benefit from having a TMO.

Leave it and stick with consistency

Tarf1234

Great weekend, thought it was a great game. I thought the Tarf backs were exceptional. Con set piece was impressive. 7 tries in a final which was won by 3 points couldn't ask for more then that.

Struggling to get back to reality!

Stainalert

Very good analysis of the final from Murray Kinsella

http://www.the42.ie/analysis-clontarf-cork-con-ail-final-2767189-May2016/

.ak

Stainalert wrote: »

Very good analysis of the final from Murray Kinsella

http://www.the42.ie/analysis-clontarf-cork-con-ail-final-2767189-May2016/

Was just gonna post that. Great to see... Must watch the game again, always miss things when watching at the grounds.

I'll just leave this here...

Tarf1234

Ye really enjoyed that. So glad it was such a great final in terms of standard of rugby with all the eyes on AIL at the moment when compared to recent years.

Stainalert

Shortlist Revealed For Ulster Bank League Awards

http://www.irishrugby.ie/club/ulsterbankleagueandcup/37454.php#.VzW-I_krLGg

Stainalert

.ak wrote: »

Was just gonna post that. Great to see... Must watch the game again, always miss things when watching at the grounds.

I'll just leave this here...

Great try

Con 10 needed to cover across for the inside ball

Tarf1234

Stainalert wrote: »

Shortlist Revealed For Ulster Bank League Awards

http://www.irishrugby.ie/club/ulsterbankleagueandcup/37454.php#.VzW-I_krLGg

Can't disagree with much on that. Surprise Quinlan got no mention in young player, I think he finished top points scorer. I find the rumours of him being released very odd.

For 1A player and young player I'd go McGrath and Carbery who have both been exceptional. Ger Sla and Timmons would be my 2nd choices who have been so crucial for their clubs

1A coach I'd love to see woody get it and think it would be well deserved but couldn't argue if Corkery got it after his season changing impact. McNamarra would be a good bit behind the 2 of them for me but still think he did a very good job for UCD

Not really qualified to comment on the rest as I haven't seen anything really.

For PRO old Wesley seem to do a great job and deserve it in my eyes.

Stainalert

Tarf1234 wrote: »

Can't disagree with much on that. Surprise Quinlan got no mention in young player, I think he finished top points scorer. I find the rumours of him being released very odd.

For 1A player and young player I'd go McGrath and Carbery who have both been exceptional. Ger Sla and Timmons would be my 2nd choices who have been so crucial for their clubs

1A coach I'd love to see woody get it and think it would be well deserved but couldn't argue if Corkery got it after his season changing impact. McNamarra would be a good bit behind the 2 of them for me but still think he did a very good job for UCD

Not really qualified to comment on the rest as I haven't seen anything really.

For PRO old Wesley seem to do a great job and deserve it in my eyes.

Can't really disagree with any of that. Corkery and Woods decision is a very close one.

I think they do top points scorer based on the regular season and not play-offs and think Scott Deasy (170) may have snuck ahead of Quinlan (163) on that time frame.

Hearing Angus Lloyd going to Ulster next year.

.ak

Tarf1234 wrote: »

Can't disagree with much on that. Surprise Quinlan got no mention in young player, I think he finished top points scorer. I find the rumours of him being released very odd.

For 1A player and young player I'd go McGrath and Carbery who have both been exceptional. Ger Sla and Timmons would be my 2nd choices who have been so crucial for their clubs

1A coach I'd love to see woody get it and think it would be well deserved but couldn't argue if Corkery got it after his season changing impact. McNamarra would be a good bit behind the 2 of them for me but still think he did a very good job for UCD

Not really qualified to comment on the rest as I haven't seen anything really.

For PRO old Wesley seem to do a great job and deserve it in my eyes.

Really not sure how Darcy isn't on the shortlist. So much of what Tarf does goes through him. For me he was motm in the final.

Stainalert

.ak wrote: »

Really not sure how Darcy isn't on the shortlist. So much of what Tarf does goes through him. For me he was motm in the final.

Agree

Tarf1234

Stainalert wrote: »

Tarf1234 wrote: »

Can't disagree with much on that. Surprise Quinlan got no mention in young player, I think he finished top points scorer. I find the rumours of him being released very odd.

For 1A player and young player I'd go McGrath and Carbery who have both been exceptional. Ger Sla and Timmons would be my 2nd choices who have been so crucial for their clubs

1A coach I'd love to see woody get it and think it would be well deserved but couldn't argue if Corkery got it after his season changing impact. McNamarra would be a good bit behind the 2 of them for me but still think he did a very good job for UCD

Not really qualified to comment on the rest as I haven't seen anything really.

For PRO old Wesley seem to do a great job and deserve it in my eyes.

Can't really disagree with any of that. Corkery and Woods decision is a very close one.

I think they do top points scorer based on the regular season and not play-offs and think Scott Deasy (170) may have snuck ahead of Quinlan (163) on that time frame.

Hearing Angus Lloyd going to Ulster next year.

Probably the fairest way to do it. Deasy is a seriously class act.

Angus Lloyd is a good baller was always surprised he never moved to 1A. Wouldn't be a bad move from Ulster but not sure if he would get anything out of it. He'll never get past Marshall or Pienaar and himself and Shanahan would be left battle it out for the game time left over after them.

Tarf1234

.ak wrote: »

Tarf1234 wrote: »

Can't disagree with much on that. Surprise Quinlan got no mention in young player, I think he finished top points scorer. I find the rumours of him being released very odd.

For 1A player and young player I'd go McGrath and Carbery who have both been exceptional. Ger Sla and Timmons would be my 2nd choices who have been so crucial for their clubs

1A coach I'd love to see woody get it and think it would be well deserved but couldn't argue if Corkery got it after his season changing impact. McNamarra would be a good bit behind the 2 of them for me but still think he did a very good job for UCD

Not really qualified to comment on the rest as I haven't seen anything really.

For PRO old Wesley seem to do a great job and deserve it in my eyes.

Really not sure how Darcy isn't on the shortlist. So much of what Tarf does goes through him. For me he was motm in the final.

Have heard a few people saying that. I thought he was exceptional and was 50/50 between himself and Carbery for MOTM.

For me he is probably the best ball playing midfielder in the AIL, certainly the most dangerous.

The Lost Sheep

Con won Munster senior cup beating Munsters today.
Interesting comments by Cookies coach David Corkery about player availability .....
http://www.munsterrugby.ie/domestic/news/22602.php#.VzfEY4-cHIV

ArmchairQB

Totally agree with Corkery happening more and more throughout the season now

phog

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Con won Munster senior cup beating Munsters today.
Interesting comments by Cookies coach David Corkery about player availability .....
http://www.munsterrugby.ie/domestic/news/22602.php#.VzfEY4-cHIV

ArmchairQB wrote: »

Totally agree with Corkery happening more and more throughout the season now

Corkery said the lads were called up for a training camp for the 7s tournament.

It’s a f**king disgrace, for players for have missed this game for a f**king Irish 7s training camp, after what we have gone through all year, a f**king disgrace, and you can quote me on that 100 per cent.

The IRFU need to a have a serious look at themselves in the mirror. They pulled some of the Cons boys for a Under-20s practice game so if that’s how they treat the Munster Senior Cup, with 100 years history then they need to seriously ****ing look at themselves.

Stainalert

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Con won Munster senior cup beating Munsters today.
Interesting comments by Cookies coach David Corkery about player availability .....
http://www.munsterrugby.ie/domestic/news/22602.php#.VzfEY4-cHIV

Did Munster rugby edit this? Saw the comments in the Irish Times this morning. Completely agree with him. This has been happening to loads of different clubs all season.

phog

Stainalert wrote: »

Did Munster rugby edit this? Saw the comments in the Irish Times this morning. Completely agree with him. This has been happening to loads of different clubs all season.

In what way? Corkery's comments? He was interviewed after the game by Aofie Danagher for the IT. MR did a match report as is the norm.

Stainalert

phog wrote: »

In what way? Corkery's comments? He was interviewed after the game by Aofie Danagher for the IT. MR did a match report as is the norm.

I don't see any quotes from Corkery in the links provided above.

thomond2006

Stainalert wrote: »

Did Munster rugby edit this? Saw the comments in the Irish Times this morning. Completely agree with him. This has been happening to loads of different clubs all season.

Stainalert wrote: »

I don't see any quotes from Corkery in the links provided above.

David Corkery's comments were never on that link. It's just a match report.

Stainalert

thomond2006 wrote: »

David Corkery's comments were never on that link. It's just a match report.

Okay my mistake - Lost Sheep commented on Corkery's quotes and provided a link to the match report and I obviously came to the wrong assumption

thomond2006

Stainalert wrote: »

Okay my mistake - Lost Sheep commented on Corkery's quotes and provided a link to the match report and I obviously came to the wrong assumption

I made the same mistake the first time!

RuPi

Much change happening at other provines player or coach wise? Had heard MacNamarra had got offered a post with Leinster. Is Corkery likely to stay with Young Munster? He has done a really good job.

In Ulster, Malone have a new head coach and have brought Mark McCrea in from Jersey which you would imagine will make a difference on the pitch in 2A.
City of Derry may look for a new coach as Terry McMaster said he would only take it on for a year as a stop gap but given how well they did this season, he may be convinced to keep it on.
Rainey are apparently looking a new coach and Harlequins have appointed a new coaching team.

Player wise some academy players were assigned and the rest were offered to all 1B and 2A clubs, players had to make their choice by last weekend.

MrJones2013

RuPi wrote: »

Much change happening at other provines player or coach wise? Had heard MacNamarra had got offered a post with Leinster. Is Corkery likely to stay with Young Munster? He has done a really good job.

In Ulster, Malone have a new head coach and have brought Mark McCrea in from Jersey which you would imagine will make a difference on the pitch in 2A.
City of Derry may look for a new coach as Terry McMaster said he would only take it on for a year as a stop gap but given how well they did this season, he may be convinced to keep it on.
Rainey are apparently looking a new coach and Harlequins have appointed a new coaching team.

Player wise some academy players were assigned and the rest were offered to all 1B and 2A clubs, players had to make their choice by last weekend.

I think Corkery is due to finish up with YM, he's done a really good job there since coming in but I'd say he'll go back to Con or look for something in Cork. Don't know who YM have lined up to replace him though.

Tarf1234

RuPi wrote: »

Much change happening at other provines player or coach wise? Had heard MacNamarra had got offered a post with Leinster. Is Corkery likely to stay with Young Munster? He has done a really good job.

In Ulster, Malone have a new head coach and have brought Mark McCrea in from Jersey which you would imagine will make a difference on the pitch in 2A.
City of Derry may look for a new coach as Terry McMaster said he would only take it on for a year as a stop gap but given how well they did this season, he may be convinced to keep it on.
Rainey are apparently looking a new coach and Harlequins have appointed a new coaching team.

Player wise some academy players were assigned and the rest were offered to all 1B and 2A clubs, players had to make their choice by last weekend.

Players were offered to clubs? Is this a new system? Haven't heard of it before. Very interesting.

Is the player movement deadline 1st or 30th June? I'd imagine a lot of the work is done behind the scenes. I really wish people announced player transfers it takes so long to find out.

Wouldn't foresee a huge amount of change in coaches in 1A.

What is the rumour in relation to McNamara? Academy role?

Stainalert

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/gerry-thornley-rant-by-david-corkery-makes-valid-points-1.2649899

The Lost Sheep

Tarf1234 wrote: »

Players were offered to clubs? Is this a new system? Haven't heard of it before. Very interesting.

Is the player movement deadline 1st or 30th June? I'd imagine a lot of the work is done behind the scenes. I really wish people announced player transfers it takes so long to find out.

Wouldn't foresee a huge amount of change in coaches in 1A.

What is the rumour in relation to McNamara? Academy role?

Players have been 'offered' to clubs in Ulster for before. Same with other provinces. In Munster players have been told which clubs to go to
Some are assigned to clubs....

CatFromHue

Interesting comments from Fanning in that link.

Could the provinces scrap the B&I and just enter teams into the AIL?

Or would they be too good for the league?

Tarf1234

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Tarf1234 wrote: »

Players were offered to clubs? Is this a new system? Haven't heard of it before. Very interesting.

Is the player movement deadline 1st or 30th June? I'd imagine a lot of the work is done behind the scenes. I really wish people announced player transfers it takes so long to find out.

Wouldn't foresee a huge amount of change in coaches in 1A.

What is the rumour in relation to McNamara? Academy role?

Players have been 'offered' to clubs in Ulster for before. Same with other provinces. In Munster players have been told which clubs to go to
Some are assigned to clubs....

Officially? I now academy/development coaches point certain players in the direction of clubs but the above sounds like a draft type situation.

The Lost Sheep

CatFromHue wrote: »

Interesting comments from Fanning in that link.

Could the provinces scrap the B&I and just enter teams into the AIL?

Or would they be too good for the league?

The provinces wouldnt be scrapping the B&I and just withdrawing and i dont see why clubs would want to have academy/provincial teams competing in the AIL against them
UCD have had lots of academy players yet never been 'too good for the league' but i dont see full academy teams wanted by clubs.

Tarf1234 wrote: »

Officially? I now academy/development coaches point certain players in the direction of clubs but the above sounds like a draft type situation.

I could be wrong or getting mixed up with scottish sides or others but fairly sure there is some sort of draft system in Ulster.

CatFromHue

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

The provinces wouldnt be scrapping the B&I and just withdrawing and i dont see why clubs would want to have academy/provincial teams competing in the AIL against them
UCD have had lots of academy players yet never been 'too good for the league' but i dont see full academy teams wanted by clubs.

Yeah I could see the clubs not wanting it but it could work out better attendance wise for them if it did happen.

As far as I know the B&I Cup is there so the provinces can have an A side but it seems to be creating as many problems as solutions for the A side players. That's why I was thinking of creating a provincial A sides that would play in the AIL and not the B&I. Then they could get plenty of game time in a set team environment and there'd be no players left in limbo between the club and academy set up.

The Lost Sheep

CatFromHue wrote: »

Yeah I could see the clubs not wanting it but it could work out better attendance wise for them if it did happen.

As far as I know the B&I Cup is there so the provinces can have an A side but it seems to be creating as many problems as solutions for the A side players. That's why I was thinking of creating a provincial A sides that would play in the AIL and not the B&I. Then they could get plenty of game time in a set team environment and there'd be no players left in limbo between the club and academy set up.

Would it result in better attendances for the clubs and why would clubs want to lose out on significant players to teams competing against them?
Some in clubs dont like the B&I set up but how does having provincial teams compete in AIL help the clubs? They would instead lose players for whole season instead of 1 off games.
Clubs already feel disenfranchised with losing players regularly to A games etc.
Having full time provincial teams in league against clubs makes this even worse. Having the A teams in current format gives more games for players. They can get regular rugby with their club in AIL, and move up to provincial A games. Yes there is clashes but there's only limited number of weekends.

Tarf1234

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Would it result in better attendances for the clubs and why would clubs want to lose out on significant players to teams competing against them?
Some in clubs dont like the B&I set up but how does having provincial teams compete in AIL help the clubs? They would instead lose players for whole season instead of 1 off games.
Clubs already feel disenfranchised with losing players regularly to A games etc.
Having full time provincial teams in league against clubs makes this even worse. Having the A teams in current format gives more games for players. They can get regular rugby with their club in AIL, and move up to provincial A games. Yes there is clashes but there's only limited number of weekends.

Agree with most of that. Would prefer to see short A team burst. i.e. at the start of the season during Leinster League and during the anticipated Dec/Jan shut down of the AIL in an inter pro type format. B&I doesn't work, I was interested to read the Thornley article where he eluded to Fannings comments which I hadn't seen previously. It backs up a lot of what I have heard from other players in regards to them not seeing the value in B&I.

A teams in the AIL wouldn't work. They would need 35 - 50 players and have nowhere near enough in the academies for that. They already supplement the B&I squads with clubs players. So A teams in the AIL would just reduce the quality of the clubs.

Stainalert

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/37482.php#.Vz2lLvkrLGg

Tarf1234

Stainalert wrote: »

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/37482.php#.Vz2lLvkrLGg

Great to see players being recognized. Hard to disagree with any of that. Delighted for Woody, Mick and Joey.

Was there not a club of the year award? I had heard rumours it was going to Mary's which I found very odd.

Stainalert

Tarf1234 wrote: »

Great to see players being recognized. Hard to disagree with any of that. Delighted for Woody, Mick and Joey.

Was there not a club of the year award? I had heard rumours it was going to Mary's which I found very odd.

Don't think they have a club of the year award but Marys won the Leinster club of the year award which seems to have a very odd selection process!

12 clubs spread across all the rewards which is a pretty good spread

Decent result for Deasy to get the top points award given Lansdowne didn't make top 4

Tarf1234

Stainalert wrote: »

Don't think they have a club of the year award but Marys won the Leinster club of the year award which seems to have a very odd selection process!

12 clubs spread across all the rewards which is a pretty good spread

Decent result for Deasy to get the top points award given Lansdowne didn't make top 4

That's obviously what I am mixing it up with. Mary's are a great club but hardly a great year for them overall.

Agree on the spread, some clubs and players really are doing great things at the moment and great to see recognition given to that. I have to say Ulster Bank have really done a great job over the last few years as well.

In fairness, Deasy is easily the most experienced OH in the league and the most composed/best kicker. I think any club would bite your hand off if you offered him to them (not that you would!!).