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

Watched the supporters' Q&A with Richie, Bryn, Hendo and Hugh.

Quick salient points:

There were actually a few flyhalf options. Aidan was brought in as something other than a sticking plaster that would do for a year, leaving us in the same position further down the road.

Jimmy Duffy is going to work with the forwards alongside Roddy.

There has been investment in the academy and there's a pathway review ongoing. Reading between the lines, they are prioritising more physical robustness in young forwards coming through.

There's 8-10 schools in Leinster that have as big a budget for rugby as our academy. We cannot replicate their pathways.

Hugh wants greater transparency. Some of what comes from the pathway review will be made public.

There has been a loss of trust and confidence in Ulster as a result of the instability this season - for the IRFU, supporters and sponsors.

However, the cost-cutting has been done.

There's a "missing generation" of Ulster players between Hendy and O'Toole/Stewart that Ulster let slip. This 19-24 generation is the best since Ferris/Bowe etc.

Hendy - it's a much better place to be than a year ago. Players were despondent after the early season wins against Leinster, Munster and Connacht - it's not just about winning.

Ulster kicked the ball 12 times more than Leinster in the Ravenhill game , and no-one seems to have noticed. But it was a key part of exerting pressure. Were not just going to offload like eejits

Ulster have just signed the best kit deal they've ever had. The stuff in Balls.ie and subsequently the Bele Tele was simply wrong. Hugh very emphatic and raging about the story.

Kingspan sponsorship runs out in summer '25 and they need a replacement by February '25. They have three agencies looking for sponsors, nationally and internationally. The TV viewership of the URC went from 34 million last season to 54 million this year, so it's reasonably enticing for sponsors.

There'll be a whole series of events next season for the centenary of Ravenhill. They really want to improve engagement with fans.

There were four or five games which got smaller crowds than expected - the biggest disparity was one crowd that was three and a half thousand less than expected. Part of that was the way that the team was performing - another issue was when we had four home games over six weeks before Christmas, and non-season ticket holders would pick and choose a couple to go to. The biggest deciding factor is what happens on the pitch, but they're looking for other elements to improve game nights.

Was quite a spiky audience in places - one woman said she had not renewed her season ticket for the first time, people railed against having a blue alternate kit and so on.

Agreed, there's a touch of "why, these youngsters right here now are the best ever!" about bigging up the current crop, but the honesty about missing a generation of talent was a mea culpa I was glad to hear.

I like Richie and Hugh. We have a patchy squad, but Richie's desire to have the players enjoy themselves is a direct opposite to Dan.

There was also a load of flannel that I didn't bother summarising

Wow. Defensive much?

Leinster's pathway is the envy of pretty much every other club rugby team in the world. The Ulster CEO was explaining that there are structural reasons Ulster can't replicate that pathway, so we have to find our own way to excel. Ulster needs to work out what's best for our own situation and strengths.

Is that alright? Do you approve? What address would you prefer the Ulster CEO wrote to you at, to ask your permission to mention your beloved Leinster, Random Internet Guy?

Well, Fettes College in Edinburgh is £14,700 per semester for boarders so £44,100 per academic year. 51,800 Euro. Gordonstoun, near me is £53,115 per year for boarding students. My drinking buddy has 2 children there. 62,400 Euro.

Perhaps whoever made the remark was assuming the fees would be similar. I understand that private fees in Ireland at places like St Columba's, Clongowes Woods, Glenstall are about half these sums.

Ulster should volunteer to have youngsters play as their community service. Bound to uncover some rough diamonds.

on the kit deal, I understand from someone in Leinster that Castore gave a ridiculously good deal way more than anyone else was offering so I would say it’s safe enough to assume Ulster got a good deal off them too.

(15-9) Ethan McIlroy, Mike Lowry, Will Addison, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney;

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor (C), Cormac Izuchukwu, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Andy Warwick, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Matty Rea, Nathan Doak, Jude Postlethwaite, Stewart Moore.

Good team. There's some weaknesses in the Munster team - centres, hooker - but home advantage will be massive. Think we should come away with an lbp for being within seven.

Yeah, those figures are nonsense. I went to Inst and didn't have to pay fees, as I got the 11+. A friend's son is at Methody, and they don't have fees.

Except for Campbell, that figure might be right.

So what I wonder is, what number of lads at Inst (RBAI) passed their 11+ and don't pay fees.