Ulster Team Talk Thread IV... Go On My Henderson...

bilston

Interesting appointment

What is Soper's role next season?

Attack coach?

Paul Smeenus

bilston wrote: »

Interesting appointment

What is Soper's role next season?

Attack coach?

Aye

Paul Smeenus

Apparently Allison might get a fourth year in the Academy, in the same way Hall did a few years ago.

If so, hopefully it comes to more this time around.

launish116

bilston wrote: »

Interesting appointment

What is Soper's role next season?

Attack coach?

Assistant coach/attack coach?

Can’t do any harm to have another capped forward coaching.

Paul Smeenus

Dan McFarland - Head Coach
Roddy Grant - Forwards Coach
Dan Soper - Assistant Coach
Jared Payne - Defence Coach
Craig Newby - Skills Coach

launish116

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Apparently Allison might get a fourth year in the Academy, in the same way Hall did a few years ago.

If so, hopefully it comes to more this time around.

Common sense approach, other than Sheridan? Do we have any other 8/blindsides coming through? at that they’d be years away.

Hopefully it’s a case of they see some potential and are letting him over come his injuries woes.

bayern

launish116 wrote: »

Common sense approach, other than Sheridan? Do we have any other 8/blindsides coming through? at that they’d be years away.

Hopefully it’s a case of they see some potential and are letting him over come his injuries woes.

they had an exile 8 in the sub academy earlier in the season but other than that..

launish116

bayern wrote: »

they had an exile 8 in the sub academy earlier in the season but other than that..

Who was that? Missed that.

bayern

launish116 wrote: »

Who was that? Missed that.

Lorcan McLoughlin. With Queens too afaik

Utah_Saint

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Apparently Allison might get a fourth year in the Academy, in the same way Hall did a few years ago.

If so, hopefully it comes to more this time around.

does 4th year mean last chance to break through? kinda disappointing as it feels like 95% of our back-rows over the past 5-10 years

Squidgy Black

Utah_Saint wrote: »

does 4th year mean last chance to break through? kinda disappointing as it feels like 95% of our back-rows over the past 5-10 years

Yeah full academy's are 4 years max, but usually most players break through in year 3 or so. Development deals aren't much of a jump up in costs (around 18k euro) so if there's a player that's getting senior exposure and looks a talent they usually just sign em up and save the hassle of them getting courted by other teams.

So would be a make or break year for him to get a development deal.

To be honest it sounds a bit like a Lorcan Dow 2.0, great promise at underage but just unable to make the break through at senior level.

Paul Smeenus

Utah_Saint wrote: »

does 4th year mean last chance to break through? kinda disappointing as it feels like 95% of our back-rows over the past 5-10 years

Yeah.

Aaron Hall got a fourth year because injury held him back, and then it proved insurmountable. It's an exceptional arrangement rather than the norm. It means they're giving him every chance - if it is indeed true - haven't had it confirmed.

launish116

Utah_Saint wrote: »

does 4th year mean last chance to break through? kinda disappointing as it feels like 95% of our back-rows over the past 5-10 years

Part of me feels that isn’t solely down to the players coming through but to a full pack under performing. Throw in our reliance of always needing strongest pack available to provide our backs some platform.

Paul Smeenus

It's a vicious circle. Few forwards break through, so there's much more pressure on them when they look like they have it in them. There's not a grizzled enough pack to cosset a youngster - they need to hit the ground running. So if they don't immediately impress, it's hard to justify persisting with them.

launish116

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

It's a vicious circle. Few forwards break through, so there's much more pressure on them when they look like they have it in them. There's not a grizzled enough pack to cosset a youngster - they need to hit the ground running. So if they don't immediately impress, it's hard to justify persisting with them.

Exactly there’s a few packs in the league half as skilful but with some brutes sometimes I wish we had.

RuPi

Newby comes from the same club as Soper in Dunedin so may have been a connection there. Will be interesting to see how it goes, pretty cheap you would imagine and only on a one year deal so if not working can make a change this time next year.

bilston

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Yeah.

Aaron Hall got a fourth year because injury held him back, and then it proved insurmountable. It's an exceptional arrangement rather than the norm. It means they're giving him every chance - if it is indeed true - haven't had it confirmed.

He is maybe being helped by the fact that due to the non existence of schools and youth rugby this season (certainly since early October) it is going to be hard to identify new Academy recruits for next season.

RuPi

bilston wrote: »

He is maybe being helped by the fact that due to the non existence of schools and youth rugby this season (certainly since early October) it is going to be hard to identify new Academy recruits for next season.

The National Talent Squad and Provincial Talent Squad players including schools and youth players have been training with the sub academy three times a week from January. Whilst there has been no matches, I would say they have a good idea of who the academy additions will be.

Yeah_Right

sydthebeat wrote: »

https://www.therugbysite.com/coaching-videos/coaches/craig-newby

some videos by him here.... former highlander and kiwi 7s as well

Yeah started his career in 7s. Was part of a very strong kiwi side for a while. Played at North Harbour for a few seasons but couldn't break into the Blues main team so headed to Otago. Was mainly an openside. Very skilful player with pace. Finished his career at Leicester (when they were good). Think he might have a couple of ABs caps.

bilston

RuPi wrote: »

The National Talent Squad and Provincial Talent Squad players including schools and youth players have been training with the sub academy three times a week from January. Whilst there has been no matches, I would say they have a good idea of who the academy additions will be.

Fair enough

swiwi_

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Yeah started his career in 7s. Was part of a very strong kiwi side for a while. Played at North Harbour for a few seasons but couldn't break into the Blues main team so headed to Otago. Was mainly an openside. Very skilful player with pace. Finished his career at Leicester (when they were good). Think he might have a couple of ABs caps.

No idea if he can coach. But was a more than decent flanker. I’d guess about 5 AB caps.

Looks at wiki: 3 caps.

jacothelad

Just watched P.J. star in another L.I. game. He kicked a 56 m. penalty to win the game in the 77th minute. What a waste.

Paul Smeenus

Coetzee out til Mid-June. Has played our last game for us, then.

arsebiscuits1

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Coetzee out til Mid-June. Has played our last game for us, then.

That's disappointing.

His Ulster time ends with a bit of a whimper.

This season never really got going for him really and the way he left seems to have left a sour taste.

It's a real pity as he had some unbelievable showings

Paul Smeenus

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

That's disappointing.

His Ulster time ends with a bit of a whimper.

This season never really got going for him really and the way he left seems to have left a sour taste.

It's a real pity as he had some unbelievable showings

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/coetzee-eyeing-rainbow-cup-return-as-thigh-injury-rules-out-ulster-back-row-until-mid-june-40195019.html

He was the best eight in the league when he was fit.

I think you're looking at this season with a bit of jaundice. He was demolishing all around him in the autumn and winter. And I don't think anyone begrudges going explicitly so that he can earn a place in the Springboks team.

The issue is, it was announced in quite a smug, gleeful way by the Bulls, which is not how anyone wanted to find out, and then he has had injuries since. The end of this season, with no Pro 14 play-offs, out of the big Euro comp and his time petering out, has definitely been a damp squib.

ionadnapokot

I see Newby won his last cap v Ireland.
Comes on in the 65'
https://youtu.be/Ft7fyIbEiBg?t=5128

arsebiscuits1

McBurney has gone to Edinburgh

https://twitter.com/UlsterRugby/status/1371779849803726848?s=19

awec

That's surprising.

launish116

Robert Bradley being kept on instead?

McBurney hasn’t really progressed, sadly came with a lot of hype.

Paul Smeenus

launish116 wrote: »

Robert Bradley being kept on instead?

McBurney hasn’t really progressed, sadly came with a lot of hype.

Bradley Roberts.

I'm okay with that. Sorry not to see McBurney kick on, but he didn't. Is Scottish qualified, apparently? Tom Stewart moving up through the ranks, and Andrew has looked like a very serious player for us this season.