Ulster squad additions

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All things relating to Ulster squad changes

Henry, then Diack, then Joyce or McCormish

We might be seeing a lot of Henry, Wilson, NIE next year

Shame to see PW go, has been a great addition to the team, just look at his performances in the Hcup.

I wonder who it will be? Is Kaino still an option? All this talk about him not taking a NZRU contract and moving to Japan is interesting.

Who's knows. We may even see the return of Neil Best!

Kaino ..too expensive

Neil Best...hell will freeze over first

John Barclay being mentioned elsewhere

Barclay I'd be pretty happy with.

In other news, I see Chris Cochrane and Iain Henderson have been added to our HEC squad. But not Luke Marshall?

Very surprising.

Obviously the view is Whitten and Spence will get picked at 12 before Marshall in a big game at Thormond, Aviva or Twickenham

Marshall has zip gametime and we have whitten, spence, cave, Wallace for centre first. Makes sense.

I would welcome someone like john barclay and I wonder could we get some money from the sru regarding his wage, or would we want it.

H ave faith in humph to do the job but will miss Pedrie

Could be a blessing in disguise, I think what we need is a guy who is really good on the deck and at link play. A, sigh, genuine openside!

We have three guys who can play number 8 in the squad (Henry, Diack, Wilson) but only one guy who has much experience at 7 in Chris Henry and he's a converted 8. Ali Birch is promising but untested.

John Barclay would be an outstanding signing; is he coming out of contract?

Notch - he is, but I think that's the sole reason his name has cropped up. "D'you know who'd be good? Barclay."

Haven't seen any posts anywhere with any substance about his intentions.

Is there ANY liklihood of an IQ backrower being tempted from Munster or Leinster? And using the NIQ to replace iHumph?

I think we need to strengthen the weakest link.

Fairly certain we've tried to tempt the southerners up here on several occasions with no success. I also can't see the IRFU going along with our first choice 9/10 players being NIE.

Of even NIQ

Yea your probably right, well if they dont want to give us a backrower, we will just have to accept Madigan then...

Don is quite right Barclay is pure specualtion.

He is definitely free , Ulster need a backrower with a 7 being the best fit - so its a case of adding 2+2

I hate to see Pedrie going but for me, with Wilson coming in, keep Faloon and bring in NIQ 10 for me.

Faloon is pretty much definitely gone. I would hate to see an NIQ 10 in. 9 and 10 are specialist positions, of crucial importance to the national team, and the thought of one of the leading three provinces starting with two NIQ halfbacks is worrying. That's the spine of the team along with 8 (who will be IQ next year).

If Humphreys isn't going to cut it, invest time in younger players. Ok they won't be worldbeaters right away but thats the provincial system, thats what we must do. It's our job to develop Irish talent.

Ulster have provided the Ireland U20s outhalf for the past three seasons so the talent is there, lets see what it can do.

Pienaar-Jackson-wallace as our axis next season hopefully

Barclay is a 7 and a great player but he would be unavailable during International windows.
It could be argued that openside is the only position in the team where Ireland have no options - at least at tight head they have Mike Ross. So none of the provinces should be allowed to sign any NIQ there.

Nonsense. O'Brien, Henry, Jennings, O'Mahony?

I personally believe O'Mahony will become established as first choice openside for Munster and Ireland. He's very capable of playing that position.

Capable yes but three of those guys primary positions are elsewhere in the backrow. It comes down to what you think will work in a seven - a ball carrier (O'Brien), a pest (Jennings) or a link man (Faloon). I think if you have Ferris smashing the opposition and both he, Best, Tuohy and Henry (and Tirmble) such willing and effective ball carriers, Ulster can afford to have a link man like Faloon floating around and creating openings. But hey, Ulster's loss is Connacht's gain. Hope he does better than the three guys who went down to Galway last year.

An interesting update on Jared Payne's injury... He told Jerome Kaino that he's now running so fast he tweaked his hamstring. I'm glad to hear he's running - perhaps he'll run off the bench for us before the season is out!

Great news! Keep in the cotton wool and unleash him next year. Terblanche will keep the shirt warm until then.

I assume that Payne will not be allowed to play again until Terblanche's contract ends?

Surely once the contract is signed Ulster can play ST whenever they want?

Terblanche was injury cover. if both were available we would exceed the quota. There must either be a clause in Terblanches contract saying when paynes fit your gone, or else payne will not be 'available' until Terblanches contract is finished fit or not.

How can a contract be dependent on a fitness call? Who makes that call? Does it have to be witnessed by player's agents, or the IRFU... sorry but that would be a totally unworkable arrangement.

If a player signs a legal contract to play rugby for a few months that cannot be dependent on someone else's unfitness. However it would make a player's rehab interesting ensuring the two players didn't train together!

AFAIK the NIQ quotas have zero legal basis and are only imposed and accepted by the provinces because the IRFU control the purse strings. The IRFU gave Ulster dispensation to break the quota because of the circumstances in the same way they did for Leinster. The contract is between the province and the player so once the IRFU have agreed it they can play Terblanche as much as they like.

If the IRFU put pressure on Ulster to not play Terblance will they also put pressure on Leinster to not play Thorne? Wasn't he signed to cover Cullen's injury?

The Great Aukster wrote:How can a contract be dependent on a fitness call? Who makes that call? Does it have to be witnessed by player's agents, or the IRFU... sorry but that would be a totally unworkable arrangement.

If a player signs a legal contract to play rugby for a few months that cannot be dependent on someone else's unfitness. However it would make a player's rehab interesting ensuring the two players didn't train together!

AFAIK the NIQ quotas have zero legal basis and are only imposed and accepted by the provinces because the IRFU control the purse strings. The IRFU gave Ulster dispensation to break the quota because of the circumstances in the same way they did for Leinster. The contract is between the province and the player so once the IRFU have agreed it they can play Terblanche as much as they like.

If the IRFU put pressure on Ulster to not play Terblance will they also put pressure on Leinster to not play Thorne? Wasn't he signed to cover Cullen's injury?

No. Signed to cover Sykes going back to sa.

Well, look - it's the C21st. Someone Tweet Barclay and sound him out. Tell him the fickle 606 Ulsterfans approve, and if he fancies it, he should get his agent to phone Hunph. Job's a good 'un.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:No. Signed to cover Sykes going back to sa.

So what happened his three year contract - has that been rescinded already?

The Great Aukster wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:No. Signed to cover Sykes going back to sa.

So what happened his three year contract - has that been rescinded already?

yep. He was released. He's playing s15 with the sharks again.
3year deal seems to be a curse for 2nd row. First ed od now Sykes.

Payne could play if fit.

Their no is no stipulation that you can only have 6 NIE players on the pitch.
The only constraint is no more than 5+1, soon to be 4+1 players can have long term contracts.

I dont think Payne will even be considered though

Irish Independant confirming that Faloon to Connacht is a done deal

Pleased for Willie. Not happy that he's gone but I think it was inevitable.

Tell me this, though! WTF are we paying a wage to McComish for? If it's to play for the Ravens then we should ditch him and give games to guys from the AIL clubs.

geoff998rugby wrote:Irish Independant confirming that Faloon to Connacht is a done deal

Bollix. Sorry to see Faloon go. I genuinely think he's a super talent and a big loss to the squad. He may not have Henry's consistancy,fitness and physicality but he has that genuine openside brain,pace and footballing ability that so few players in Ireland have right now.

Good luck to him I think he'll be a great player for Connacht and the expansive game they are trying to play will really suit him.

Rava wrote:Pleased for Willie. Not happy that he's gone but I think it was inevitable.

Tell me this, though! WTF are we paying a wage to McComish for? If it's to play for the Ravens then we should ditch him and give games to guys from the AIL clubs.

Totally agree I would much sooner give Joyce, Birch, Faloon jr, Gallagher anybody rather McCormish a contract.
For the record I beleive McCormish will be ditched when his current contract is up.

It is a hugh worry that kids apart our backrow next year is effectively Ferris, Wilson, Henry with Diack on the bench.
We have to get someone in otherwise Joyce and Birch will be getting a lot of game time very early in their careers.

There has to be someone coming in really. I have no idea who that could be and for what money and who is even available but there must be someone. We would be massively weak in the backrow if it is left as is.

Geoff is it true the IRFU are pushing for Henry to get gametime at 8 rather than 7 as back up for Heaslip?

Surely we must be bringing someone else in. We've lost 2 backrowers and only really gained one.

For what it is worth I think there is someone on the way. It may not be a super star though.

Remember Wannenberg was not on top wages due to his recreational activities, before joining us. In many ways Ulster have rebuilt his career.

Was that 'Henry to 8' rumour not just Crozier?

Why move him after the season he has had?

IQ or NIQ Geoff?

Still gutted about Pedre leaving. Faloon is a double wammy.

Both are better than Wilson imo.

Realistically though (with the current Irish set up) is he going to get a look in at 7 ahead of SOB and POM. For what it's worth I think he's too small for an 8, but it was pointed out to me besides Heaslip we don't really have anyone.

Crozier talks through his backside - ignore.

Rodders - NIQ I would think but seen no white smoke yet.

Even if the new guy is a 7 Henry will still play more games at 7 or 6 than 8 because of Wilson and Diack.

I think Wilson is a better player than when he left, his attitude is certaintly better.
The club are convinced Birch is Faloon's equal.

How long is Diaks contract? I thought there was talk of him leaving soon enough?

This will sound very harsh but I think Henrys lack of pace was exposed against Clermont (away).

I don't think he has the pace at 7 against the very top sides.

Rodders, I have watched a lot of Wilson over the past two seasons. He is an excellent player and probably slightly better than Pedrie. Not top class but I don't remember him having a really bad game. He picks up a good few MOM's and was Saint's player of the year a couple of seasons ago. That's not a bad pedigree.

I think the Henry to 8 was just a Crozier thing and wouldn't read into it too much. At this minute in time I think Henry will continue to be our first choice 7.
Unless there is a surprise signing

I'm at Ravenhill later today for a meeting. I'll see if I can get any info

Here's an interesting Stat.

Ferris and Best have only played three Rabo League games this season. They both have played more times for Ireland than Ulster since the Summer Internationals.

Being reported on one of the supprter sites

' there is still some uncertainty over the suggested departure of Niall Annett to Bristol with latest reports suggesting that the ex Ireland U20′s Captain will infact be staying with Ulster following the, unconfirmed, retirement of Nigel Brady at the end of the season. '

Diack's contract is til l2014. He was mentioend as a possible departure because the strong rumour was that 2 backrowers were going - Wannenberg and 1 other. There was speculation he might be hope sick/his wife wanted to go back to SA. What we didn't realize then was the 2nd backrower was infact Faloon.

The Annett thing doesn't really surprise me. If one of Best, Andy or Brady got injured we'd have no cover. Any word on Cronin?

Rava wrote:Rodders, I have watched a lot of Wilson over the past two seasons. He is an excellent player and probably slightly better than Pedrie. Not top class but I don't remember him having a really bad game. He picks up a good few MOM's and was Saint's player of the year a couple of seasons ago. That's not a bad pedigree.

Fair enough Rava, I haven't watched that much of him other than the HEC mainly.

In my opinion he's not a patch on Pedrie. He's solid,strong and has a good workrate but the AP is a pretty slow league. He's also playing off a very dominant Saints scrum and he's just coming to the end of his prime.

I'll put it to people that a backrow which has Henry at 7 and Wilson at 8 is too slow to compete against the very best teams and we will be too reliant in Ferris to secure ball at the breakdown. If Ferris is out we will be knackered unless we sign someone with a bit of gas or Birch can cut the mustard.

Nope - him and Barker are the biggest of the unknown

There's speculation about Barker as well? Blimey we really are throwing our weight about.