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

Humphreys is doing the right thing in aiming high with that application, I mean they can only say no

If NIQ is an option, we could do worse that a two year contract to Adam Jones as we see how McAllister progresses. He is free to a good home by all accounts. Has Ulster ever signed a welsh player before?

I think Jones has suffered immensely from the new interpretations. Between that and getting older I wouldn't take him. If he is only applying now does that mean he hasn't started negotiating with anyone. I thought things would be a bit more advanced

I believe that South Africa and New Zealand are more likely locations.

There is absolutely no chance we would be interested in a guy who will be 33 1/2 at the start of next year.

Also been told, although no surprise, that a big factor in Tom Courts decision was he has basically given up on Ireland and is not exactly impressed by how he has been treated.

clivemcl wrote:Not meaning to be downbeat but… I can’t believe we scored 7 tries against a team and probably came away with the least impressive of the four province wins at the weekend.
Obviously, I’d be much more upbeat by the weekend if the team we had beaten was Toulouse, Northampton or Perpignan.
Thats said, did the other provinces have as many first teamers missing as us?
I think we need  these few weeks though and whilst we may not ‘shine’ through these games, its a vital time to gather momentum and get players back up to speed.
I do dream of a day where we can do something good without Leinster doing likewise with so much ease…

I don't think it matters Clive. Performance wise we were better than Munster I thought but you can't compare either with how Leinster and Connacht performed.

In terms of qualification, which is all that matters at this stage - only Leinster look nailed on, with ourselves looking very good for a QF but some big hurdles to win the group. Munster lose next week they are in trouble and Connacht could well make it through. Barring a big slip up we should be going into the final pool round in a very strong position.

At this stage we could have only 1 province in the QF but could feasibly have 4 with the most likely being 2 including us.

geoff998rugby wrote:Also been told, although no surprise, that a big factor in Tom Courts decision was he has basically given up on Ireland and is not exactly  impressed by how he has been treated.

Yeah I can see why he would be. He's been a bit unlucky though with the strength at LH vs TH. Callum Black seems to be really pushing for a starting spot too. Disappointed to see Court go but good luck to him at LI.

Just checking the pool tables there.

Leinster have conceded 23 points in 3 games, Ulster have conceded 24. By far the two best defenses in Europe so far this year.

I think ulster have the best defence in the Rabo too. Haven't scored as much as Leinster or Munster but conceded a lot less

Standulstermen wrote:I think ulster have the best defence in the Rabo too. Haven't scored as much as Leinster or Munster but conceded a lot less

Same as Glasgow 122 points conceded. Nearly 50 more points scored though.

I heard that Gloucester are going to pay John Afoa £500k a year making them the highest paid player in the Aviva Premiership.

I’m sure Hibbard must be getting a sizeable chunk too. Like somebody said elsewhere, theres bound to be a fair amount of deadweight cut loose in order to afford that. Hope it pays off for them!

Artful_Dodger wrote:I heard that Gloucester are going to pay John Afoa £500k a year making them the highest paid player in the Aviva Premiership.

That'll pay for a few return flights home

Walkinshaw has previously run his mouth about the salary cap being broken. Looks like its a case of 'if You can't beat 'em'

I think they are getting rid of Cowan and reducing thei squad size.

Also there is something about each club being allowed a Marquee signing outside the salary cap.

Artful_Dodger wrote:I heard that Gloucester are going to pay John Afoa £500k a year making them the highest paid player in the Aviva Premiership.

Flip I'd even lineout at TH for that!

rodders wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:I heard that Gloucester are going to pay John Afoa £500k a year making them the highest paid player in the Aviva Premiership.

Flip I'd even lineout at TH for that!

rodders would you fancy going up against Angry Tom?

Means though we could well see Afoa in the scrum against Court at some point next season

marty2086 wrote:

rodders wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:I heard that Gloucester are going to pay John Afoa £500k a year making them the highest paid player in the Aviva Premiership.

Flip I'd even lineout at TH for that!

rodders would you fancy going up against Angry Tom?

Preferably not if he was angry of course, but then 500k would cover a fair bit of medical treatment!

Could anyone tell me the best way to go about getting tickets for the Ulster vs Leicester game in January? I'm a Belfast lad living in Birmingham and me and my mate have decided to pop along to the game if possible. I'd prefer to be in the Ulster end but I'm unsure how to get tickets. Cheers.

Season ticket holders have priority booking until 8am on Tuesday 17th they should go on general sale on the ulster site or ticketmaster.ie from 8am that day. So unless you know a season ticket holder the 17th it is then, you should be OK though.

Any word on coaches contracts too? I see the interview with Anscombe and I confess I am a fan. Talks straight and expects level of consistency. I rated Brian McLaughlin but I think Anscombe has moved us on. A couple of more years would please me.

theshanker wrote:Season ticket holders have priority booking until 8am on Tuesday 17th they should go on general sale on the ulster site or ticketmaster.ie from 8am that day. So unless you know a season ticket holder the 17th it is then, you should be OK though.

Thanks for that. Much appreciated.

Standulstermen wrote:Any word on coaches contracts too? I see the interview with Anscombe and I confess I am a fan. Talks straight and expects level of consistency. I rated Brian McLaughlin but I think Anscombe has moved us on. A couple of more years would please me.

Agree 100% stand.

I believe an extension for Anscombe is most likely but not, as yet, certain

Home QF??

Which eejit organised the Ireland U19s v Australia Schools at Ravenhill for the same time as our HEC game?

I see they released extra tickets for the promenade for both the zebre and Munster games. Munster ones went within a few hours. Should have capacity of over 13000 for the next two home games.

I'd be seriously impressed if we got 13,000 for the Zebre game

Apologies not sure if zebre was announced a sell out. Mate of mine called me looking a ticket for it yesterday. I told him to phone the ticket office and he said they had said they were all gone. I since got an email saying the west terrace had 'extra' tickets available.

MrsP wrote:Which eejit organised the Ireland U19s v Australia Schools at Ravenhill for the same time as our HEC game?

It's ok Leinster u19s softened them up last night.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/se%C3%A1n-kearns-steers-leinster-schools-to-10-point-victory-over-australia-schools-1.1624934

That doesn't really help us poor Ulster fans who would have liked the chance to go along and still be able to watch the HEC game. Sensible option might have been to have the U19s play immediately before the Ulster game and then show the HEC match in the bar or something?

Tricky with an early kick off though.

Shame. I'd say it could be an imteresting match.

Jenny, surely most of the A team would not have played against your lot and then turned out against Ireland U19s less than 3 days later?

Ulster Ravens playing Ayr tomorrow at Ravenhill

Lutton captain - Wallace playing again

I reckon Paddy will play some part in the Zebre game next week

Give Luke a well earned rest

I would like to see Wallace start against Zebre too. With Olding out now we have to look after Luke Marshall. He's got international duty to come through too and we can't afford to lose him for the run-in.

CJ Stander to Ulster? Penny doesn't seem to rate him at all for whatever reason and I imagine the IRFU will want him to stay in Ireland.

Wouldn't be a bad signing for us tbh.

Depends on whether or not Doyle is re-signed I suspect. Stander is a 6/8, two positions in which we have the most cover. 

Have heard Munster have offered Stander a new contract but I just can't see him staying given he doesn't seem to be rated. As Geoff and Hook were mentioning Connacht might be getting pillaged I said I would be looking to nab the young lad Heenan if that's the way things were going. Wouldn't feel good about it though.............  

Ye I really hope Connacht can hold onto Marmion, Henshaw, and Heenan.

If Schmidt decides to pick non-Leinster players that would surely be an incentive for Henshaw and Marmion to stay. Can't see Heenan leaving after 1 season thought, seems like a loyal lad, and he may not start for Ulster.

Hope some money can be pumped into Connacht rugby for some more Clarke esque signings and to keep players. Better their team gets, more interest in the game, better academy, can only be good for Irish rugby.

I think Hook and Geoff hinted that with all the Uncertainty the IRFU might be considering it. To be honest I think Geoff mentioned front rows as regards to Connacht, not backrows. I'm just saying if we were to take a player in Ireland, Heenan would fit the bill. I don't see it either. He's doing well out wet

Yep my impression is we are looking for a NIQ backrower and IQ or Project types for front row.

Having said that only the Lock is set in stone as a NIQ the rest is negotiable
I know it has come up before but Worcester relegated - John Andress?
Time to bury the hatchet?

gleesonisgod wrote:Ye I really hope Connacht can hold onto Marmion, Henshaw, and Heenan.

If Schmidt decides to pick non-Leinster players that would surely be an incentive for Henshaw and Marmion to stay.

I suspect that this nonsense goes on already but it shouldn't. Its not Schmidt's job to pick players from a particular province to encourage them to stay - his job is to pick the best players and select the best team regardless of what team they play for.

Players should want to play for Connacht, not be encouraged to against there will. If Marmion feels he can do better elsewhere then good luck to him. If the IRFU have a job, its to ensure the grassroots and academy in Connacht can provide sufficient depth so that when players do leave that good players come in to replace them.

Back on topic Stander would be a great signing for us, but is he a bit of a luxury with the likes of Diack, Williams, Wilson already covering 6-8?

I would not say so - Williams should not be considered for 6 - he is poor there.

Assuming Ferris is only lightly played and Hendo plays a lot at Lock we have only the 3 players you mentioned for 6 and 8 we need more than that.

We will be signing a backrower. My suspicion is it will be a 6/7 Saffer

To be honest, I’d have this seasons Diack ahead of Stander - and if his reason for leaving Munster is lack of game time , I wouldn’t imagine his fortunes would improve at Ulster in that respect.

Back to a point I made the other day, and considering the northern media have only just gotten wind of the NIQ prop argument for Ulster - is it not logical that if we prove to the IRFU, that we have made very reasonable efforts to sign IQ options - would they not open the door to NIQ buying if they are satisfied we tried our best.

It is not in the IRFU’s interest to force a club to play a player who isn’t and may never be international class.

I do think that could be a conversation we will have.

Having said that I do not believe we have any realistic prospect of getting both a LH and a TH where neither is IQ now. Cant really argue with that to be honest.

Montpellier have only gone and changed 11 odd players. No Trinh-Duc, Ranger, Nagusa etc. Looks like they've thrown in the towel.

Notch wrote:Montpellier have only gone and changed 11 odd players. No Trinh-Duc, Ranger, Nagusa etc. Looks like they've thrown in the towel.

Thats a poor show from them, if it is a case of giving up!
Well... I suppose a defeat tommorow will mean the towel will most definatly be thrown in for our fixture against them in January.

Only the French.

Just checked their team notch and I wondered how strong it was. Tuitivake isn't a bad replacement for Ranger given how bad the centres were at welford road. It's disappointing but hopefully some of their fringe guys have a point to prove. If they can hold Leicester to 4 and we can sneak 5 it would be a good return from the weekend looking at things.

We have to get 5 in each of the next two matches if Montpelier have thrown in the towel.

23 points would be a near certainty for a runners up place.
Then we can be to Welford Road and just give it a go, confident a defeat is not the end of the world

Done the maths 2- 2 points is guaranteed QF's, 21 almost certainly unless their are some truly bizarre results.

I am convinced Leicester win this weekend and 2 teams will qualify from our group.
If Leicester do win though we will have to go there and get a result to have a home tie.