Ulster 2014/2015, Part 4

First topic message reminder :

God we love the sound of our own voices.

I find it increasingly difficult to tell whose talking shoite on that forum under the guise of some obscure form of banter. But surely you don't announce signings during games do you. That sounds like a steamy bucket of dung to me.

clivemcl wrote:I find it increasingly difficult to tell whose talking shoite on that forum under the guise of some obscure form of banter. But surely you don't announce signings during games do you. That sounds like a steamy bucket of dung to me.

You do if you're part of the NEW EUROPEAN CLUB RUGBY UNION circus that is increasingly becoming more bizarre as the weeks tick by.

Get your Publicity factors right - controlled by your Media Manipulation Spin Department - for best productivity on the marketing front.

clivemcl wrote:I find it increasingly difficult to tell whose talking shoite on that forum under the guise of some obscure form of banter. But surely you don't announce signings during games do you. That sounds like a steamy bucket of dung to me.

You'd do better to consider 99% of what you read on there as dung until proven otherwise. Sometimes rumours that circulate are true, and someone who is postulating something based on second, third, fourth or even fifth hand information is right. But you're never wrong not to get your hopes up based on what's being said. There may be some some nuggets of truth amongst the horse dung but that forum is full of people trying to bluff that they have 'connections' and are therefore somehow important by recycling what the rumour mill is saying, and letting on that they know more than they are saying when really, they probably know as much as you or me.

George Carlin wrote:

Notch wrote:You're thinking of Munster GC! Downey played for Munster and I so desperately wish we had CJ Stander up here to give away!

Oh, I see you mean a signing for Ulster before the Munster match.

In that case, you can have Downey for Gilroy. We'll throw in a job lot of Commonwealth Games mugs and an industrial sized pack of pickled onion Monster Munch.

Pickled onion Monster Munch is best Monster Munch.

What is an industrial sized quantity of Monster Munch though?

If it was say one container stuffed full of 30 bag boxes you'd probably get a couple of thousand in there at say £10 a box that would be £20k value - hmmm I think I'll keep Gilroy.

What about a straight swap for McComish? Forget the mugs and Downey, just a family size 98g bag should cover it?

The Great Aukster wrote:What is an industrial sized quantity of Monster Munch though?

If it was say one container stuffed full of 30 bag boxes you'd probably get a couple of thousand in there at say £10 a box that would be £20k value - hmmm I think I'll keep Gilroy.

What about a straight swap for McComish? Forget the mugs and Downey, just a family size 98g bag should cover it?

McComish back row is worst back row.

Ravens lost to Munster A 27-41, from the sounds of it Munster started fast rushing into a lead before Ravens pulled it back and went into the lead in the middle but Munster retook the lead and pulled away after that.

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/News/LatestNews/TabId/149/ArtMID/793/ArticleID/3553/Ulster-Ravens-27-Munster-A-41-.aspx

Who is this alleged SA backrower?

Just check the 'other forum'.

Apparently they've managed to narrow it down to...
Willem Alberts
Oupa Mohoje
Jean Deysel
Arno Botha
Jacques Potgieter
Francois Louw
Marcel Coetzee
Duane Vermeulen
Heinrich Brussouw
Ryan Kankowski
Pierre Spies
Schalk Burger
Nizaam Carr
Siya Kolisi
Warren Whitely

Such incredible cunning, lets name every SA backrower around and that way if Ulster sign one of them we will have been right!

If I had to pick one from the above though, I'd probably go Brussouw, he can play 6 and 7 can't he?

So, someone has basically named every Saffer back row...

Thats the rugby equivelent of going me asking who and someone responding oh anyone from South Africa lol

neilthom7 wrote:Ravens lost to Munster A 27-41, from the sounds of it Munster started fast rushing into a lead before Ravens pulled it back and went into the lead in the middle but Munster retook the lead and pulled away after that.

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/News/LatestNews/TabId/149/ArtMID/793/ArticleID/3553/Ulster-Ravens-27-Munster-A-41-.aspx

Interesting from that game from a Munster point of view is that there were a couple of Leinster U20 lads (backrowers) looking for spots in the Munster academy.

Also, Tyler Bleyendaal survived his first game for Munster after coming back from a horrific neck injury.

Artful_Dodger wrote:Just check the 'other forum'.

Apparently they've managed to narrow it down to...
Willem Alberts
Oupa Mohoje
Jean Deysel
Arno Botha
Jacques Potgieter
Francois Louw
Marcel Coetzee
Duane Vermeulen
Heinrich Brussouw
Ryan Kankowski
Pierre Spies
Schalk Burger
Nizaam Carr
Siya Kolisi
Warren Whitely

Such incredible cunning, lets name every SA backrower around and that way if Ulster sign one of them we will have been right!

If I had to pick one from the above though, I'd probably go Brussouw, he can play 6 and 7 can't he?

I do feel bad for SANZAR fans though, I hope we have signed someone who isn't involved in the current squads and who isn't a young promising player such as Kolisi who is on the fringes. It is becoming a real problem in rugby, but I guess it was always going to be this way.

Jeez - for all of your verbal diarrhoea, you Ulstermen aren't a fan of creating match threads are you? How is everyone else going to join in with the banter without this?:

https://www.606v2.com/t58823-ulster-rugby-v-munster-rugby-9-may

How very decent of you George. We do love to blether on a bit and perhaps this is where we forget to add match threads

Does "The merits of Swan Vesta over Bo Peep" count as a match thread?

Come on then, let's be having you:
https://www.606v2.com/t58909-glasgow-warriors-v-ulster-rugby-16-may

Rob Herring still does not have a contract sorted for next year.

Is it uncommon for contracts to not get sorted till this time of season? Anything to worry about?

Could be that coffers are running low Clive. Best get yourself a couple of next years season tickets, a new jersey, hoodie and beaney hat just in case....and make sure you only watch games in pubs which have paid there full sky subscription from here in

Henderson will not face ban after red card


"The Ulster player was sent off against Munster at the weekend

Ireland and Ulster star Iain Henderson will not face further sanction after last weeks red card against Munster.

He appeared today before an independent Pro12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee after being sent off.

The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Roger Morris, along with Rhian Williams and Ray Wilton decided that the act did not warrant a red card.

Having viewed the incident in close-up, the Disciplinary Committee concluded that the player's initial contact with his opponent had not in fact been with his head but with his arm.

The Disciplinary Committee imposed no sanction on the player, who is free to resume playing immediately.

Henderson will now be eligible to play in Ulster's final league game of the season along with their play off campaign."

Excellent and surprising news

Things just got interesting.

Have a Pro12 Discplinary Committee ever ruled a referee issuing a red card wrong before? They must have at some stage, presumably.

Tempted to go and bump Chunky's "Red Cards in Belfast that Aren't" thread, out of badness, but the resultant ballix would just exhaust me.

Don Alfonso wrote:Things just got interesting.

Have a Pro12 Discplinary Committee ever ruled a referee issuing a red card wrong before? They must have at some stage, presumably.

Tempted to go and bump Chunky's "Red Cards in Belfast that Aren't" thread, out of badness, but the resultant ballix would just exhaust me.

No doubt he'll start an Irish/Ulster conspiracy one soon after this decision

Think from reading the ruling when they say they slowed it down to watch it, they are say Owens and the TMO can't be blamed in match conditions for going the way they did

I'm going to post immediately on chunky's thread. Anything to stir the pot, even just a little stir.

Pete330v2 wrote:I'm going to post immediately on chunky's thread. Anything to stir the pot, even just a little stir.

Tempting it may be, but in the interests of a quiet life responding in kind is not the way to go. He's clearly been trying to get a rise out of Ulster posters on other threads but any response in kind will just increase his antipathy and make the forum even less readable. Also, Ulster posters baiting him in the same way he's tried to bait Ulster posters will make the forum unreadable for others.

Honestly think it's best to just not engage. Slightly biased by the fact I don't want to have to do any moderating (takes up time and energy) and I can't see it not ending up with that if people try and stir the pot.

Damn it Notch and your logical thinking

Seems we have a new coach for the Academy forwards
http://ulsterrugby.com/News/LatestNews/TabId/149/ArtMID/793/ArticleID/3599/Ex-England-International-Alex-Codling-appointed-Academy-Forwards-Coach-.aspx

Seems a fair enough appointment. Hopefully he will help answer the problem of bringing through talented forwards for Ulster.

Hopefully although there are plenty of biggers things that are needed in that regard.

Yes, some big lumps would help

Ulster used to have about 25 in the Academy and that's where it stopped - now they have more than 250 kids on programmes of physical and skills development. They needed more specialist coaching and scouting at that level because they see that level as being the one that will sustain the team as they become less and less competitive attracting experienced players.

Is Alan Clarke signed up for next year or is that Aussie fella going to take over his duties. Our pack has been impressive at times this year, but I think that is more the legacy of Muller and the exceptional individual talent of the likes of Herbst, Henry, Best and Hendo, rather that Clarkes input, and having watch plenty of matches this year, Best seems instrumental in both on field and sideline preparation. I would be far happier we spent the remaining money we had on a quality forwards coach rather than a fancy backrower. Sure if we signed a decent 6 or 8 he would have to suffer Clarkes gameplan and direction. which would be a bloody waste.

Yet another citing.....


Ulster's Rob Herring facing disciplinary hearing over alleged stamp



HerringCited

Clarke has also been appointed the emerging Ireland Coach! Seriously!

Do you think that might mean Clarke will be moving on?

I hope he is, but I don't think that appointment means much, Doak was assistant coach last year.

Yeah, true enough. Still think that Clarke might be moving on, although with a WC coming up, and Kiss not due in Ulster until after, he might be with us until the end of next season.

I'm not a fan of Tyrion Clarke but it has to be said that Ulster's set piece has been really good this season.

Court, Afoa, Macklin, Muller, Ferris and Doyle all away. Henry, Henderson, Tuohy, Wilson, Williams all missing for extended periods. Raaymakers and Boys signed but immediately got injured. Butterworth, Murphy and Ryan signed and disappeared into a commune outside Poleglass. Reidy initially took the wrong turning for the commune and found himself at the Pan but eventually hitched a ride on a pony racing gig outside St. Georges market...

You could say there has been an element of disruption to the pack this season.

The Great Aukster wrote:I'm not a fan of Tyrion Clarke but it has to be said that Ulster's set piece has been really good this season.

Court, Afoa, Macklin, Muller, Ferris and Doyle all away. Henry, Henderson, Tuohy, Wilson, Williams all missing for extended periods. Raaymakers and Boys signed but immediately got injured. Butterworth, Murphy and Ryan signed and disappeared into a commune outside Poleglass. Reidy initially took the wrong turning for the commune and found himself at the Pan but eventually hitched a ride on a pony racing gig outside St. Georges market...

You could say there has been an element of disruption to the pack this season.

Agree with this.

Frankie Taggart, a player who has never so much as graced the senior Ulster bench, is in the Emerging Ireland squad. Ricky Lutton, who I had assumed had emigrated, and who hasn't been on the bench for months and months, starts against Glasgow when Herbst is ruled out.

Kiss can't come quickly enough. As it were.

Don Alfonso wrote:Frankie Taggart, a player who has never so much as graced the senior Ulster bench, is in the Emerging Ireland squad. Ricky Lutton, who I had assumed had emigrated, and who hasn't been on the bench for months and months, starts against Glasgow when Herbst is ruled out.

Kiss can't come quickly enough. As it were.

Saw that myself Don. Made me wonder if Taggart is better than our coaches think he is? Also in the running for UBL player of the year I see. Were there not times in the season when we were desperate for a flanker or two? Yet he got nowhere near the senior team?

Seems odd.

Clarke seems to take dislikes to people. Could be based on their attitude, or training - I know nothing about it. But why does Lutton suddenly leapfrog Ross after months of twiddling his fingers? And a good last season?

Don Alfonso wrote:Clarke seems to take dislikes to people. Could be based on their attitude, or training - I know nothing about it. But why does Lutton suddenly leapfrog Ross after months of twiddling his fingers? And a good last season?

It could also be based on their attitude to his attitude!

Lutton had to get gametime before Friday, as he will be on the bench. It had the added bonus of resting BRoss and reducing his risk of injury.

Looks like Piutau will be looking for a club next season:

Piutau out of Blues next season?

Interesting. Any chance IRFU will could be persuaded?

Or could we not just pay off Williams? (We've done ok for ourselves since he's been unavailable lately)

He'll probably go for a stint in Japan or something.

Japan's league ends at the start of February I think. Still a big gap till he comes to us.

True, I think he will likely join up somewhere other than Ireland, and very likely Japan. Pity we can't sign him for the year. Would probably work out a good deal.
Unless we bring in someone to replace Williams we are going to really need him during the world cup, and after. Our backrow problems still need solved, as does sorting out decent back-up for Herbst.

Fair point on Japan, Clive. I didn't know that's when they started. Who knows, maybe we will end up playing against him next season