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

Positives

• Thought Rea jnr was industrious again! just doesn't give up. Just shows continued games can make big difference. No idea why he only got one year.
• What I would do to have a 30 year old Vermeulen, he looked like he was enjoying himself last night. He's definitely managing his game a bit but just does the basics perfectly and puts his fingers all over the game. There was one ruck someone was holding on to him he slapped them and you could see the fear in the scarlet player he even apologised lol!
• Curtis also had another good game, we really are blessed at centre
• Doak being Doak, that kick for Gilroy's try.
• Scarlets handling, that was a get out of jail game last night

Negatives

• Carter can't ball carry to save his life, some of the players need to take note of the angle Vermuelen takes when carrying!
• Milasinovich scored yes, but his ruck defence on our try line was shocking. He needs game time/match fitness and we're probably lucky Moore returned
• Breaking the game line. There was one carry from the scrum by Vermuelen that made at least 10 metres and we pretty much lost all that momentum being forced back immediately in following phases.
• We have no solution for a ignore the ruck fan out defence

Thought Marcus Rea was excellent, he was definitely was my player of the match.

Vermuelen put in a shift as well and these are exactly the games where he needs to do it.

Definitely more a game for the forwards but we did see some nice touches from some of the backs.

I'm liking Curtis, I doubted him a few weeks ago, so nice to see him get a couple of games in a row under his belt. Hopefully he gets a decent run over the 6Ns period as he is a nice second five eighth option in the midfield.

Shame Sexton couldn't just break free at the end, as a try there would have given him some boost.

Sometimes I’m glad the non Irish teams are average!

We really need a plan B when teams just fan out and defend ignoring most break downs!

Really please Rea is showing his worth now. Hopefully Allison & Stewart can get some game time now over 6 nations!

Vermeulen said it best post match, we need consistency before we want anything else!

On another note Josh Murphy off to Connacht he would of been a great signing for us. Talk on premiere sports Leinster intend to make some cuts to their squad this season due to less games.

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/01/29/clogher-valleys-late-surge-secures-all-ireland-junior-cup/

Clogher are good side. Good to see Ulster sides at this level as this has been dominated by Leinster clubs for most of the competitions history and its same with promotion to senior by and large.

It will be themselves or Inst who will win league.

Jones is just in a position were no one can lock it down, in a pack were no-one can ball carry and people look to there 6/8 for that.

He's alright, he puts in the odd decent carry...it's just that some of us feel that McCann is better.

I’m sure they are. He seems like a good guy from what I’ve seen him on social media. I think he’s mature enough to know he’s not every one’s cup of tea.

He’s getting paid to watch rugby, ultimately he’s winning.

Some more squad news

Shanahan signed until 2024

Postlewaite 1 year development, followed by 3 year senior

Moxham 1 year development, followed by 1 senior (interesting compared to Postlewaite)

Declan Moore 2 year deal, little underwhelmed by this to say the least only played 10mins for Munster. Dan must of seen something during his loan period though, will wait and see potentially 4th choice hooker.

They must seriously rate Postlewaite!

That's basically a 4 year contract for someone who has never played a competitive match for Ulster!

Glad wee Dave got another 2 years, he is very much 3rd choice but he is hard not to like.

Happy for Moxham, give him time and see what he becomes but as Launish says its interesting to compare his contract to Postlewaites.

Nothing to say on Moore. I just hope he does well and doesn't blunt the progress of Stewart and McCormick.

It is indeed, when you consider he's never had a senior game let alone u20s?

Then you have Moxham with 11 appearances (119 minutes senior rugby). Wonder has someone been sniffing.

All the same it's good to see Ulster backing our youth going forward.

Does that leave Finlay, Allison & Rankin the only 3rd years left with no contracts?

Yeah, the Postlethwaite contract is extraordinary.

Moore is completely out of left-field. Is he better than Andrew? I'd say those two, Herring and Stewart are our senior four hookers next season. I assuem the point of Moore is that he isn't going to hold Stewart back - he'll maybe be like Mathewson providing a bridge as Doak was eased in.

Quite possibly. Put in some great performances for the 7s - had maybe come onto other sides' radars.