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

Shehal · 04-05-2023 4:05pm

Tbh Toomaga Allan is the only one I'm really disappointed leave. Sam Carter just isnt a good enough player to warrant holding down a NIQ spot, it needs to be someone that will make a difference like RG Snyman for instance. Vermeulen has been good but I would have preferred someone in their prime, he's a quality player regardless but he wasn't exactly the Vermeulen that won the RWC was he? Not to set the bar too high but some like Pieter Steph du Toit would be a perfect sort of replacement (not a N08 ofcourse but a quality BR nonetheless).

Dubinusa · 04-05-2023 4:12pm

Ewersn is coming in. He's a good player that will help Ulster. Along with Timoney and McAnn, that's a good start! Then there's Lorcan Mc and McNabney who hopefully make inroads soon. Marcus Rea is a decent player too. There's also a chance that Ulster can sign someone from Leinster?

04-05-2023 4:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120553410#Comment_120553410

It is a big clear out, but when you put the ages of some of the players at the start of next season alongside them, a lot of it quickly becomes more understandable:

Craig Gilroy (32)

Rob Lyttle (26)

Jordi Murphy (32)

Sam Carter (34)

Duane Vermeulen (37)

Gareth Milasinovich (30)

Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (32)

Rory Sutherland (31)

Declan Moore (27)

Frank Bradshaw-Ryan (28)

Michael McDonald should be on the list (as Declan Moore is) as he is going on a year long loan to Connacht.

I think the exits of Gilroy, Murphy, Carter, Vermeulen are understandable based on age / production.

Milasinovich and Bradshaw Ryan just aren't good enough, and don't improve the squad.

Sutherland was only ever a short term signing, and they have Kitshoff coming in that position.

The ones harder to understand for me are Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Rob Lyttle. You also have Dave Ewers coming in as the de facto Duane Vermeulen replacement.

Locke_Lamora · 04-05-2023 4:28pm

Vermuelen will be sorely missed imo, and I haven’t watched enough of Exeter to have an educated guess at how well we’ve replaced him. He may have been passed his prime but he saved our asses so many times with huge tackles and crucial turnovers. Carries as well as just about anyone else in our squad as well.

I like playing young players as well as anyone but I would’ve liked McCann and Sheridan to get more time in a balanced back row while vermuelen was still here. They’ve only really come along at the end of the season and they almost exclusively have played 6 - where I’m pretty sure is Dave Ewers main position.

Quin_Dub · 04-05-2023 5:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120554994#Comment_120554994

Ewers is that very typical "Big South African" (I know he's Zimbabwean) that they seem to love in the Premiership.

Solid , dependable and will always offer himself up for work, but he is not a game changer in his own right at all.

When Exeter were in their pomp 3/4 years ago he was a great balance to Sam Simmons in their back-row as Simmons does little to none of the grunt work that you'd normally expect from an 8 and Ewers picked up the slack in terms of ruck clear outs and close in defence.

ulsteru20s · 04-05-2023 6:54pm

JTA is an NIQ so its not always completely up to the province but i’d like to keep him.

Psteve232 · 04-05-2023 7:11pm

Rob Lyttle joining Banbridge as a player coach. Seems a shame.

https://twitter.com/banbridgerugby/status/1654012756343783424?s=46&t=bQGd2aIZHA0WKFfnUZ5dqA

launish116 · 04-05-2023 8:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120554994#Comment_120554994

My thoughts also, really think Sheridan should be focusing on blindside and that is primarily Ewers position.

Big hopes for Crothers, McNabney & McLaughlin. Though expect they might need another season yet.

Dubinusa · 04-05-2023 8:13pm

Crothers is so undersized. He is very good. I'd worry about the size, mind.

04-05-2023 8:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120555870#Comment_120555870

Crothers?

He's 6ft 2 and listed at anything from 95kg to 100kg. That's broadly similar size dimensions to Josh van der Flier, Penny, Hodnett, Kendellen etc. He's a little lighter but taller than Penny or Hodnett, and will add bulk as he progresses through the academy.

bilston · 04-05-2023 8:55pm

If Moore doesn't recovered in time and O'Toole is at the World Cup, have we any Tight Head props at all to start next season?

Kitshoff will be at the world cup as well, as will Herring.

This is a big problem.

launish116 · 04-05-2023 10:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120556085#Comment_120556085

Next season has been on the books for a long time.

Lack of home grown talent and reluctance to give academy players game time is going to be really evident! Our hand is going to be forced a lot next year. The leavers age profiles weren't flattering, but that is a serious amount of experience to lose. Combined with less flattering games were we'll be forced to parachute players in with same expectation.

It does worry me & with that how fans react to what is potentially a season of rebuilding.

awec · 04-05-2023 10:49pm

Letting JTA go is absolutely stupid. Whoever made that decision hasn't got a clue.

ulsteru20s · 04-05-2023 11:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120556686#Comment_120556686

He’s NIQ. Probably not all Ulster’s decision.

bilston · 04-05-2023 11:48pm

There has to be a Plan B here. We're told there will be no further signings.

Am I forgetting someone because if I'm not we face the possibility of having no senior contracted Tighthead props available come the start of next season.

Scott Wilson may be getting a baptism of fire next season.

bilston · 04-05-2023 11:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120556658#Comment_120556658

I think if guys like McCann, Sheridan, McNabney etc are getting regular game time then most fans will understand there is a plan in place.

Plus Kitshoff and Ewers will add a lot to the pack as well.

But the situation at prop is just mental.

These are our props for next season

Steven Kitshoff (World Cup)

Eric O'Sullivan

Andrew Warwick

Callum Reid

Tom O'Toole (World Cup)

Marty Moore (Recovering from ACL tear)

Academy

Scott Wilson

George Saunderson

ulsteru20s · 05-05-2023 12:26am

Definitely need at least one prop probably 2. We will have james french i think.

Paul Smeenus · 05-05-2023 10:20am

Game day. Let's us rock.

Jump_In_Jack · 05-05-2023 11:06am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120556942#Comment_120556942

Was there any announcement about James French when he left Munster other than it saying "leaving to pursue a playing opportunity"?

I'd assumed it was to go travelling to the southern hemisphere.

awec · 05-05-2023 11:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120556942#Comment_120556942

Yea but we're literally an injury away from James French having to play in every game, which is insane. And our first choice prop is 32 and has a serious injury, so it's not unlikely!

Letting JTA go is one of the worst decisions I've seen. If this was the IRFU they've chosen their ridiculous IQ dogma over common sense yet again and we'll pay the price for it. If it was Ulster, we have learnt nothing.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 05-05-2023 11:09am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120557871#Comment_120557871

No announcement. One of the papers (I want to say the independent) had a one line about playing schute shield in Australia before returning to Ireland to play for Ulster.

AccidentallyOnside · 05-05-2023 11:43am

Hello fine ulster folk, quick question about parking for tonight's game: will the met college parking be available and what time would it normally fill at?

Paul Smeenus · 05-05-2023 12:13pm

It's mentioned in the online Match Day Guide for tonight.

stephen_n · 05-05-2023 1:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120557874#Comment_120557874

Maybe just outbid. I’m sure Kitshoff is eating up the budget. So maybe they couldn’t match what JTA was getting offered. I doubt IQ came into it, with Vermulen, Carter and Milasinovich leaving too.