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

Ulster spent the last 20 minutes trying not to lose when it was there to be won.

There was a moment about midway through the 2nd half where the game turned, Libbok lobbed an aimless up and under from good field position into the Ulster 22, you could see the Stormers beginning to run out of ideas and the crowd getting frustrated. McIlroy claimed it and returned an even poorer kick into the middle of the field, a phase or 2 later the Stormers kicked again and McIlroy ran straight under the ball and the Stormers reclaimed in Ulster's 22. You could sense the belief coming back into the Stormers players as if they knew that Ulster were struggling even more than them, from then on it was an onslaught.

The fact Leinster lost means they get jumped over by the Bulls for European seeding for next season.

This means Ulster drop down to 4th seed which means tier 2 team, and a much tougher draw probably.

If Ulster had won they’d have jumped up to tier 1.

I thought the Ulster forwards ran out of gas more than anything else at the end. Must say I was pleasantly surprised how resilient Ulster were after conceding two tries. Any word on Baloucoune? Again he showed how lethal he is against top opposition.

I think Marty was missed. He's a he'll of a good player. O'Toole was great though! Ulster have had a good season and are going to be a major player next season.

I don't think there's too much depth, so injury could be an issue. If Izzy kicks on and McAnn too, they will be in a good place. They have a talented nucleus and some good coaching!

Sure Ulster were No.1 seeds after the pool stage this season and still had to play Toulouse.

I really yearn for the days of 4 team pools with everyone playing each other home and away.

I didn't mind the two legs this year for the last 16, but they've even done away with those now. I swear the EPCR are deliberately sabotaging the competition these days.

So in my view a lack of depth cost us yesterday. Dan McFarland didn't seem to trust the bench, which I can understand to be fair, and ultimately we just ran out of puff. Now we should have put the game to bed early in the second half and that's down to us not being clinical enough.

But as far as depth goes, the question is, will we better off next season?

Squad changes

OUT

Jack McGrath Prop

Ross Kane Prop

Bradley Roberts Hooker

Mick Kearney Second row

David O'Connor Second Row

Sean Reidy Back Row

IN

Jeffrey Toomaga Allen Prop

Declan Moore Hooker

Frank Bradshaw Ryan Second Row

Sean Reffell Back Row

Jake Flannery Out Half

Jude Postlewaite Centre/Wing

Shea O'Brien Full Back

I honestly have no idea if those signings make us stronger or not, I really rate Postelwaite and while I havent seen O'Brien play I've heard positive reports, but I think the key will be as much the development of the likes of Callum Reid, Tom Stewart, David McCann and Cormac Izuchwuchu as the players coming in. If those lads step up we will be in a healthier place IMO. Fingers crossed.

Yeah Flannery is an interesting one. As I said last week I had high hopes for Bill Johnston, Flannery is a similar sort of signing. But he probably has more chance of getting ahead of Madigan than Johnston had.

Toomaga-Allen has to be way ahead Milanovisch, after yesterday I can only see O'Toole being more heavily involved with Ireland moving forward so this should be a good signing.

No idea about Refell. Has he been featuring much for Saracens this season?

I think it's a mistake that they're not looking at McCann more as a six. Supposedly they've told him to work on his carrying, but there'd be less need for him to be a big carrier if he was at 6 rather than at 8. I think he's ready for this level. He was excellent against Leinster earlier in the season.

Would he have offered more than Matty Rea coming off the bench on Saturday? I think so.

Greg Jones has been preferred as well, but he's injured currently.

So humour me for a moment and suppose that we have a full squad of backs to choose from for say Clermont at home in the Champions Cup next season, what is your backline?

The half backs are fairly easy to pick in Cooney and Burns, although Doak will hopefully keep applying pressure on Cooney.

Noo debate over the centres.

So we come to the back 3.

Baloucoune is a no brainer on the right wing and I'm hoping we aren't going to continue the Stockdale experiment at 15.

Left wing is Stockdale or McIlroy and full back is Lowry, Moore or Addison.

Maybe the left wing is an easy enough pick if Stockdale is at his best, but if he isn't then McIlroy comes into the debate.

Full Back is tough. Moore has done really well, but I wouldn't put him in the same bracket as Lowry and Addison yet. So Lowry or Addison at 15? Addison is such a classy player, but it's not that long ago that Lowry was pretty much the best player in Europe. I think Lowry can get to a level Addison can't so I'm going with him, but it's a close call.

So

15 Michael Lowry

14 Robert Baloucoune

13 James Hume

12 Stuart McCloskey

11 Jacob Stockdale

10 Billy Burns

9 John Cooney

That's a pretty exciting backline.

Would anyone go with McIlroy and Addison, or someone else?

22 Today I think. Part of me thinks he was ready for defensive side of the game, but lacked the power for offensive side. Read somewhere Dan told him to improve his carrying. Rea Snr took 2 seasons or so before he looked fully ready for the physicality so he has time on his side.

Really not a fan of this just dropping players never to be seen again. Quite a few have gone awol this season predominately in the forwards, Reid, McCann, Andrew & Moore. This is exactly why our depth sucks players parachuted in as last resort.

Also read today Vermuelen wasn't left out of the South African squad, he has a knee niggle and supposedly going for surgery to clean it out.

Reffell was playing for Sarries up until it was announced he signed for Ulster then tended to drop out of the 23. They have of course unearthed Theo McFarland who took up most of his minutes in the back row alongside Earl and Billy V.

Reffell is 5'11 and around 15 stone, assume he's a 7 with a huge work-rate, he could be a direct replacement for Seán Reidy.

He would be a different type of player to the likes of Timoney or Murphy. Might be useful to have a range of different options depending on the opposition, horses for courses so to speak.

Good work there! I think he could do a job with the international team.