Ulster 2014/2015, Part 3

First topic message reminder :

Continue to discuss Ulsters lack of back row options and season in general

Sin will protest I'm sure but you can't argue with fate.

Haha thanks guys lol It's all in the name really even Sin can't argue with that. It's ok Sin w ewill give you big MCcComb as a trade

The Irish independant are claiming we are trying to sign Faloon back of the westies, it's probably pure speculation, sure didn't he sign a new contract with them recently?

Faloon would be a good foil for Stander so I'm all for it. Besides who'd want to stay in Galway if they had the choice, all it does is rain.

neilthom7 wrote:

rodders wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:

rodders wrote:Whats Niall Ronan at this weather?

Still convinced CJ Stander is an Ulsterman in waiting.

Personally I heard he is only called that until he gets to Ulster and then he will be called CJ Standerupfortheulstermen  

No? I'll see myself out.

Tough crowd.

I know clearly I misjudged the audience, I thought we all had sophomoric humor, clearly it's just me lol

Nah it certainly gave me a laugh.

BelfastDickVet wrote:The Irish independant are claiming we are trying to sign Faloon back of the westies, it's probably pure speculation, sure didn't he sign a new contract with them recently?

He has a year left on his contract, so we'd probably have to pay compensation or something.

I agree rodders I liked him a lot when was with us and he has really impressed me while at Connacht too, but he is a big fish in a small pond down there, he often captains the side etc, if everyone is healthy with us he would be on the bench, right? Would he make the move knowing it could possibly mean less rugby?

Interesting piece from the Indo today with the father of Ben Robinson, they bring up Luke Marshall and medical officer from Tralee Rugby Club, a GP, who stated on Newstalk

If he was a patient of mine, I would tell him immediately to stop playing,

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/other-rugby/i-made-myself-sick-looking-at-the-video-of-my-sons-death-on-rugby-pitch-peter-robinson-30949573.html

The word on t'other forum is that Faloon is returning to the Ulster fold and some other 'great news' to be released very soon.

Faloon and Butler?

Read somewhere that Doughall and Butler were both off to Pau.

There are rumours that Ulster, Connacht and London Irish, are trying to sign Butler, but maybe Pau are also after him. Pau have signed Dougall, and I would have thought that if Pau were signing Butler they would have announced it along with Dougall?

Hopefully we get some official announcements this week.

'The other forum' is going a bit mad just because there guy in the know said  there was 'great news soon'. They all seem happy to ignore the fact we have no NIQ slots.

Whats the likelihood of us shipping a player before his contract ends? Does it really happen often? The only instance I can think of was iHumph when he left.

I'm not crying out to get rid of Williams - I always enjoyed him. I'd be happy to see him dumped, but only if it was for a gamechanger of a signing...

We've not really had a top top level signing yet. Afoa, Muller and Pienaar (at the time) all got occasional starts for their countries but weren't nailed on. (I'm prepared to be corrected!)

Besides - 2011 was a fair while ago now. By all accounts we have the money, lets break the bank on somebody. If not this year, next.

Yer man on t'other forum is right on the money nine times out of ten but the great news he's referring to could be someone like Trimble resigning etc so it may not be the big news everyone has been used to in the past.

I'm not hoping for much more than a good IQ backrow being signed. Whatever the 'great news' is, it isn't Trimble re-signing, although that in itself would be great news.

I'm with you on that one Munchkin, Richie McCaw would receive a warm welcome

can we please not use the terms "re-signing" and "resigning" interchangably when we are discussing key personel please!

rodders wrote:can we please not use the terms "re-signing" and "resigning" interchangably when we are discussing key personel please!

Certainly though, the resigning of Nick Williams would be great news re. signing an NIQ which would go down well along with the re-signing of Trimble...

Did anyone buy tickets for the Pro12 final? Anyone buying some tomorrow?

Jaysus - will one of ye set up an Italy-Ireland match thread already?

Yours cordially,
Everyone

Don Alfonso wrote:Did anyone buy tickets for the Pro12 final? Anyone buying some tomorrow?

Yes! I'm resolved to go an enjoy the day regardless of whether or not Ulster are involved.

Ah- I probably will set one up tomorrow

Some bloke on the other forum claiming we are close to signing lock Michael Fitzgerald from The Chiefs. He came to Super rugby late on. He's 28 and only played three super rugby seasons. The name suggests perhaps IQ? Also suggests Hendo is seen as a definite backrower.


But then again, who the hell know what to believe over on that place. It doesn't sound like it would be news 'yer man' would have said was 'Great News'. Who knows.

Maybe we are signing Marmion as backup for Ruan???

The same voices on t'other forum are claiming that both Allen Clarke and Nick Williams are being axed mind you. If any of these unsubstantiated rumours are true it must be the Kiss man clearing out and feathering his nest in preparation for his arrival.

The first rule of knowing something/pretending to know something on the internet is to exaggerate the importance of what you know/pretend to know, therefore exaggerating your own importance by proxy.

Allen Clarkes contract expires at the end of the season, so its not impossible he will be moving on.

Notch wrote:The first rule of knowing something/pretending to know something on the internet is to exaggerate the importance of what you know/pretend to know, therefore exaggerating your own importance by proxy.

Allen Clarkes contract expires at the end of the season, so its not impossible he will be moving on.

He'll be off to Kingsholm then?

Notch wrote:The first rule of knowing something/pretending to know something on the internet is to exaggerate the importance of what you know/pretend to know, therefore exaggerating your own importance by proxy.

Allen Clarkes contract expires at the end of the season, so its not impossible he will be moving on.

Well then surely to claim something as relatively insignifcant and uninteresting as Clarke or williams leaving, would have to be true or else it's a double bluff - or is that rule 2 of pretending to know something on the internet?

rodders wrote:

Notch wrote:The first rule of knowing something/pretending to know something on the internet is to exaggerate the importance of what you know/pretend to know, therefore exaggerating your own importance by proxy.

Allen Clarkes contract expires at the end of the season, so its not impossible he will be moving on.

Well then surely to claim something as relatively insignifcant and uninteresting as Clarke or williams leaving, would have to be true or else it's a double bluff - or is that rule 2 of pretending to know something on the internet?

That's rule 3 mate, Rule 2 is you don't talk about the internet no maybe that's fight club? I dunno anymore, carry on with your days

Nothing has been said by the insider on t'other forum about Williams or Clarke so it could simply be the work of those who stir the pot.

I think the guy who said Clarke and Williams were leaving was spoofing, and I think for those who know the guy, it's obvious. On that forum, you're an outsider if you are NOT a WUM...

It's kind of their 'thing'.

The only two comments that appear to be serious comments are

A) The imminence of some 'Great News'
B) The 'near done deal' of Mike Fitzgerald.

But, those posters being genuine does not mean they are correct...

I'd be surprised if Williams retired. So if he's leaving, it will cost us. We have the cash by all accounts though...
Leaves a bad taste though, that kind of thing. But I guess that's just how professional sport works. I've said before. If we dump Williams, I hope its for a known name NIQ.

Even if we let/made Williams go, we won’t be able to get anyone else in. The NIQ numbers are going down to four NIQ, and we have dispensation to have an extra because they are already contracted. We have Williams, Pienaar, Ludik, Van der Merwe and Herbst as our project player. So if Williams is off, he won’t be replaced.

Don Alfonso wrote:Even if we let/made Williams go, we won’t be able to get anyone else in. The NIQ numbers are going down to four NIQ, and we have dispensation to have an extra because they are already contracted. We have Williams, Pienaar, Ludik, Van der Merwe and Herbst as our project player. So if Williams is off, he won’t be replaced.

Don, how strict is the implementation of those rules though? Sure all injury cover signings are meant to be IQ and Ulster have 2 that don't fit that criteria and Munster had Pat Howard

marty2086 wrote:

Don Alfonso wrote:Even if we let/made Williams go, we won’t be able to get anyone else in. The NIQ numbers are going down to four NIQ, and we have dispensation to have an extra because they are already contracted. We have Williams, Pienaar, Ludik, Van der Merwe and Herbst as our project player. So if Williams is off, he won’t be replaced.

Don, how strict is the implementation of those rules though? Sure all injury cover signings are meant to be IQ and Ulster have 2 that don't fit that criteria and Munster had Pat Howard

Don't think injury cover has to be IQ at all. Brad Thorn, Paul Emerick etc

Pete330v2 wrote:I'm with you on that one Munchkin, Richie McCaw would receive a warm welcome

He was in Ireland recently, which can only mean that he is signing up with Ulster. No complaints from me. I think he would make decent cover for McComish

The paradox is the more you need an NIQ player, the less likely you are to provide a player in their position to the Ireland squad. If you had international quality options in that position you wouldn't need the NIQ player. I think the idea of having hard and fast rules is misguided.

If we were to sign another NIQ back row, would we really be damaging Irelands options? Because Clive Ross or Roger Wilson might miss out on game time? They should look at the quality of players who will be displaced and make a judgment on that basis, case by case.

Don Alfonso wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Don Alfonso wrote:Even if we let/made Williams go, we won’t be able to get anyone else in. The NIQ numbers are going down to four NIQ, and we have dispensation to have an extra because they are already contracted. We have Williams, Pienaar, Ludik, Van der Merwe and Herbst as our project player. So if Williams is off, he won’t be replaced.

Don, how strict is the implementation of those rules though? Sure all injury cover signings are meant to be IQ and Ulster have 2 that don't fit that criteria and Munster had Pat Howard

Don't think injury cover has to be IQ at all. Brad Thorn, Paul Emerick etc

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16289724

From the 2013-14 season onwards all future provincial injury replacement players will have to be eligible for selection for Ireland.

Are the new NIQ rules already in place? If not, then maybe Ulster can sign another NIQ to replace Williams, if Williams signs for another team before the end of season?

It is incredible that the IRFU would preside over another season where Ulster struggles with a substandard backrow, because of their arbitrary rules.
How is it in Ireland's interest to harm a provincial team that doesn't have the resources in their Academy and can't recruit?

So, Faloon returning. No big shock really. Should probably never have been let go. Good acquisition for squad depth. Does he think he will get much gametime though compared with Connacht?

One yr deal is strange.

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/willie-faloon-to-return-to-ulster-rugby/#ConnachtNews

The one year deal is straneg indeed. Lam talks about him getting "first team rugby" at Ulster - presumably when Henry is away?

Don Alfonso wrote:http://www.connachtrugby.ie/willie-faloon-to-return-to-ulster-rugby/#ConnachtNews

The one year deal is straneg indeed. Lam talks about him getting "first team rugby" at Ulster - presumably when Henry is away?

True, might not see World Cup boys play until January...

Maybe when you think of it, last years signings may have been very forward planning. Kind of glad we have Ludik when you think Payne will be away for so long. Hopefully some of Olding/Marshall/McCloskey/Gilroy stay behind too and stay injury free.

But goodness, how much will the lack of Pienaar for three months hurt us!

So Ulster have just committed to taking over the remainder of Faloons Connacht contract. Makes sense. Just a pity it wasn't sooner

Willie should never have been sent off to the Westies so I am very glad to see him make his return. He always showed great promise as an out and out 7 but has been dogged by injuries etc. I'd be willing to bet that he'll make a great addition to the squad. I'll even bet real money

Welcome home Mad Willie

When are McCloskey, Olding, Jackson, Trimble, or Henry expected back? Presume Henry is expected to make a return to professional rugby?

Faloon would have been behind Heenan at Connacht anyway so will probably see more game time at Ulster with Henrys international commitments.

Golden wrote:When are McCloskey, Olding, Jackson, Trimble, or Henry expected back?  Presume Henry is expected to make a return to professional rugby?

Faloon would have been behind Heenan at Connacht anyway so will probably see more game time at Ulster with Henrys international commitments.

Jackson and Olding are both out until after the 6Ns, McCloskey and Trimble I don't think their return has been publically timetabled yet and Chris Henrys back training. He did a Twitter Q&A on Monday night with BBC so that'll probably be on at half time on Friday night so maybe some indication then of when he'll be back

I think Trimble could be back for Edinburgh.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/les-kiss-will-be-worth-the-wait-says-ulster-rugbys-shane-logan-30982001.html

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-way-is-better-than-toulon-shane-logan-30982004.html


Couple of interesting interviews with Shane Logan in the Belly Tele over the last few days.

Also, just now - team's up! Good side. McCloskey back!

Ulster team & replacements to play Benetton Treviso, Guinness PRO12, Kingspan Stadium, Friday 13th February (19:35 kick off): (15-9): L Ludik; C Gilroy, D Cave, L Marshall, M Allen, I Humphreys, R Pienaar; (1-8): C Black, R Herring, W Herbst, L Stevenson, F Van der Merwe, R Wilson (Captain), M McComish, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, A Warwick, B Ross, R Diack, C Ross, P Marshall, S McCloskey, P Nelson.

McComish starting again.

If that team doesn't get a bonus point win I'll be fuming!

Scrummy, I though McComish was one of our in form players?

It's nice to see McCloskey's name on a match day squad at long last.
Anything other than a bonus point win would be unthinkable.

It's a full on weekend of rugby this week