Ulster 2013/2014

First topic message reminder :

It had to come eventually.

Squad

HOOKER
Rory Best, Rob Herring, Niall Annett
PROP
Tom Court, Callum Black, Paddy McAllister, Declan Fitzpatrick, John Afoa, Bronson Ross, Adam Macklin, Ricky Lutton
LOCK
Johann Muller (c), Dan Tuohy, Neil McComb, Lewis Stevenson
BACKROW
Iain Henderson, Stephen Ferris, Mike McComish, Sean Doyle, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack, Roger Wilson, Nick Williams
SCRUM-HALF
Ruan Pienaar, Michael Heaney, Paul Marshall
OUTHALF
Paddy Jackson, James McKinney
CENTRES
Stuart Olding, Luke Marshall, Paddy Wallace, Darren Cave, Michael Allen
WING
Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Craig Gilroy, Chris Cochrane
FULL BACK
Jared Payne, Peter Nelson, David McIlwaine

Confirmed Pre-Season Games
Ulster Rugby vs Leinster Rugby, 23rd August
Leicester Tigers vs Ulster Rugby, 31st August

Heineken Cup Pool 5
Ulster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Montpellier, Treviso

Ulster Rugby vs Leicester Tigers, 11th October
Montpellier vs Ulster Rugby, 19th October
Ulster Rugby vs Treviso, 7th December
Treviso vs Ulster Rugby, 14th December
Ulster Rugby vs Montpellier, 10th-12th January
Leicester Tigers vs Ulster Rugby, 17th-19th January

RaboDirectPro12

First five games starting on the 6th September;

Newport Gwent Dragons vs Ulster Rugby    
Ulster Rugby vs Glasgow Warriors            
Connacht Rugby vs Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby vs Benetton Treviso
Ospreys vs Ulster Rugby

Full fixtures at http://www.ulsterrugby.com/rugby/results_1stxv.php

Notch wrote:I find in guys and girls my own age from the South who live in Belfast have some preconceptions about it before they come but when they get here those preconceptions blown out of the water and they enjoy it very much.

Yep, I've heard the same from Southerners I've met at University.

I've been enough Southerners' first mate/ boyfriend / family member from the North to know that there are still issues in how it's perceived. Having moved away from Belfast, though, and moved back, I think it's a fantastic place to live. I only wish the city was like it is now when I was growing up. It's unrecognisable.

To be fair Don, Tommy Bowe didn't have a problem coming North of the border  

Tommy is different though as he went to school here and is an Ulsterman.

I think the others were talking more about players coming from the other 3 Provinces.

Tommy went to school in Northern Ireland from when he was of secondary school age, it's a bit different.

geoff999rugby wrote:I knew I'd missed 1 - Ronan McCormack as well

Although to be fair we have never signed an established player from Munster or Leinster.

Cronin came from AIM
MCormack from Connaught
Willis was lanquishing in Leinster 3rd (I know I know) and going nowhere fast.

We have never signed an established player who seriously challenges for a 1st XV spot

You've missed more than one, specifically the multi-capped Irish international (and Lion) from Leinster.

Eric Miller

My original post said in the professional era - hence why I did not include.

Professionalism had hardly got going in Ireland when Miller joined

The professional era is normally dated after the 1995 RWC.

Ireland were certainly slow off the mark but according to the UR website: "Harry Williams was Ulster's first coach in the professional era" - Miller played for Williams ergo he was in the professional era

Seamus Mallon lived in Donegal does that count?

Donegal is in Ulster  

Seriously though his school rugby was played in Derry

Ah sure I know... I made him look good on many a Saturday morning...

rodders wrote:Ah sure I know... I made him look good on many a Saturday morning...

Now I know why his career stalled - the quality of the opposition didn't test him enough   

Never mind the opposition Geoff, it was the quality of his teammates that was the problem   ....

That's why he had worries scared for life look  

Edinburgh fixture SOLD OUT 10 days prior to kick off during the AI window!!!!

Wow!!!!

"I think we are gonna need a bigger barn lads!"

We're building it we're building it !!

And who ever said that televising the Ulster matches would negatively hit tickets sales.

Anything in the Court to London Irish rumours?

Just saw that Golden. If I recall right Geoff mentioned we might be looking a LH which would fit I suppose

My thoughts exactly - it would explain why we are looking for a LH.
I was a bit baffled when I heard it

As I also mentioned we need to tie up a few of our props soon - Callum cant do it on his own  

He must think with McGrath starting against Samoa his Ireland time is up. Which it probably already was.

But even so hes going from the starting Loosehead of a team aspiring to win the league and HC to a team fighting to avoid regulation. Doesnt make much sense to me. Presume its not a case of Ulster not wanting him?

At a guess a 3/4 year contract as opposed to a 2 year one.

His final pay packet before returning to Australia perhaps?

Can't find it but somebody lacking facts on another thread talked about the Pro12 not developing players through their academies.

Did a quick check - 32 out of Ulster's 42 full professionals came through the academy

geoff998rugby wrote:At a guess a 3/4 year contract as opposed to a 2 year one.

His final pay packet before returning to Australia perhaps?

Thats what it looks like. We need McAllister to get fit or else we will have to go for a good LH as opposed to a squad filler

Wouldn't begrudge Court a final payday, he's been a great servant to Ulster and an unsung guy for Ireland too in an era were we were threadbare for props.

He seems to be struggling a bit this season with the scrum engagement changes. Best of luck to him whatever he decides.

Calum Black is really coming into his own scrummaging wise.

Does Paddy McAllister still have injury problems?  Why aren't we seeing him this season?  He was looking so good before that long term injury.

I didn't see that one coming. LI must have given him a nice contract.

As I say the length of the contract is the key point here.
Also to be clear it remains a rumour at this stage

As to Paddy Mac - did make a come back for the Ravens.
Minor set back but will be fine in a couple of weeks

Being reported that the new LH will be a player to ultimately qualify through residency (the old Project system)

The more I think about it - the TH could well be very similar
That leaves marquee signings for second and back row.


Interesting times

Now confirmed on the Ulster website geoff, only says he going to an AP club not who

Surely we would need at least one top signing in the front row. I would almost put Mcallister in the ferris bracket in injury terms. We need one of Lutton, Macklin or McCall to seriously step up imo

If Paddy McAllister can get fit we're grand.

God I hope he can get fit!

Standulstermen wrote: I would almost put Mcallister in the ferris bracket in injury terms.

I wouldn't.

He had a bad injury and now has had a minor set back.
Long term the prognosis is good

That's good Geoff. As notch said we seriously need him fit and firing

Is this Court move set to make way for another SA player, that some people here were saying Penaar was alluding to in an interview a while back?

I think we will see at least 2 new saffers  

Not saying LH will be one of them though

As I reported earlier the word is a LH, TH, Lock, 6/7, 10 coming in
Some IQ, some NIQ, some potential IQ - not sure of the mix though

Shouldn't be allowed a NIQ lock and TH. Ireland still doesn't have too many good options there.

What about getting Denis Buckley at LH? He was near getting an Irish call up only 18 months ago but has fallen out with the coach and is now playing AIL.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Shouldn't be allowed a NIQ lock and TH. Ireland still doesn't have too many good options there.

What about getting Denis Buckley at LH? He was near getting an Irish call up only 18 months ago but has fallen out with the coach and is now playing AIL.

Can he speak Afrikaans?

Just kidding around Ulster fans

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Shouldn't be allowed a NIQ lock and TH. Ireland still doesn't have too many good options there.

What about getting Denis Buckley at LH? He was near getting an Irish call up only 18 months ago but has fallen out with the coach and is now playing AIL.

Yea Ireland are so short at lock that they are able to leave Tuohy out in the cold. Aye dead on.

Denis Buckleys career trajectory thus far doesn't suggest that any of the major provinces should be interested.

McAllister and Black, plus one.

clivemcl wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Shouldn't be allowed a NIQ lock and TH. Ireland still doesn't have too many good options there.

What about getting Denis Buckley at LH? He was near getting an Irish call up only 18 months ago but has fallen out with the coach and is now playing AIL.

Yea Ireland are so short at lock that they are able to leave Tuohy out in the cold. Aye dead on.

He isn't out in the cold...Ireland camp have nice centrally heated rooms I hear

This weather we're all out in the cold unfortunately.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Shouldn't be allowed a NIQ lock and TH. Ireland still doesn't have too many good options there.

What about getting Denis Buckley at LH? He was near getting an Irish call up only 18 months ago but has fallen out with the coach and is now playing AIL.

As I said the players will be a mix - I would be surprised if more than 2 of the 5 are NIQ.

As to lock well as stated about Tuohy not being utilized there are rumours Ireland seem prepared to let Donnacha Ryan leave Munster for foreign climes, so how real is the concenr.
Our problem is not to many NIQ locks it is the quality of the IQ ones

Forcing provinces to play the likes of Stevenson, Nagle, Cullen etc isn't going to help.

I'd heard Ulster were inquiring about a NIQ tighthead to replace Afoa and and IQ loosehead to replace Court.

It's all well and good saying Ulster shouldn't be allowed to sign an NIQ TH, but there just aren't the alternatives available. Scouring the planet for the Clint Newlands, Peter Borlases and Michael Bents hasn't proved a roaring success.

Ulster will play 22 x P12 games + 6 x HEC games (minimum). Props are almost always replaced during games so that's 56 appearance opportunities. Declan Fitzpatrick's injury record might mean he only makes 12 of these, Lutton is a relative novice but could maybe handle another 20, so where can Ulster find a suitable quality TH for the 24 remaining game slots?

Bronson Ross supposedly has good technique but is lacking fitness - that's something that can be worked on with the odd bench appearance.

Adam Macklin had some promising games then got injured and has disappeared off the radar.

Its done, 3 year contract for Court at London Irish.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24925978

clivemcl wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Shouldn't be allowed a NIQ lock and TH. Ireland still doesn't have too many good options there.

What about getting Denis Buckley at LH? He was near getting an Irish call up only 18 months ago but has fallen out with the coach and is now playing AIL.

Yea Ireland are so short at lock that they are able to leave Tuohy out in the cold. Aye dead on.

So you think Ireland have got good dept at lock?? You must be the only one.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

clivemcl wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Shouldn't be allowed a NIQ lock and TH. Ireland still doesn't have too many good options there.

What about getting Denis Buckley at LH? He was near getting an Irish call up only 18 months ago but has fallen out with the coach and is now playing AIL.

Yea Ireland are so short at lock that they are able to leave Tuohy out in the cold. Aye dead on.

So you think Ireland have got good dept at lock?? You must be the only one.

I think from a club POV, we maybe could do with more, but we don't feel the pressure because we don't lose too many to the irish setup.

We have Muller, Stevenson, McComb, Diack who are probably always going to be available to us all year round (unlike Tuohy and Henderson). So why would we worry? If ireland decided to start calling up a few of these then maybe then we would worry.

Or... are you suggesting that the likes of Muller is preventing the likes of McComb from getting gametime is letting down the Ireland side???

Or that our academy doesn't bother coaching that position as much because we expect to continue signing NIQ locks?

This is all getting a bit absurd...

A lot depends on who we bring in. In fairness Tuohy has been our best player (or top 3 at least) this season and is considered at least 5th choice (including Ryan). If we need to bring someone in that can help develop Donnan and Henderson for a couple of years it will benefit ireland in the medium to long term. It's all ifs and buts at the minute though. As has been mentioned with the impending changes in European competition the IRFU will need to make sure the top three provinces remain competitive a all costs aswell