Ulster 2015/2016 Part 2

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Paddy Jackson, you are a star. What a game from him... AGAIN...

marty2086 wrote:

Engine#4 wrote:I must have a gap in my rugby rules knowledge because I can't see much difference from what Fitz just did and Marshall tackling Nacewa early in the first half when he was on track to collect a pass and canter through a large gap.  Can anyone educate me?

Nacewa ran into Marshall so was a collision not a tackle

Odd rule/interpretation. Nacewa didn't really 'run into' Marshall. He was running to collect the pass from his outhalf. Marshall was marking Nacewa. He was looking directly at Nacewa, had him lined up and therefore he was really the one who caused the contact.

Doesn't matter anyway, congrats lads. Ulster battered Leinster, much better in most areas and should have had 4

Engine#4 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Engine#4 wrote:I must have a gap in my rugby rules knowledge because I can't see much difference from what Fitz just did and Marshall tackling Nacewa early in the first half when he was on track to collect a pass and canter through a large gap.  Can anyone educate me?

Nacewa ran into Marshall so was a collision not a tackle

Odd rule/interpretation.  Nacewa didn't really 'run into' Marshall.  He was running to collect the pass from his outhalf.  Marshall was marking Nacewa.  He was looking directly at Nacewa, had him lined up and therefore he was really the one who caused the contact.

Doesn't matter anyway, congrats lads.  Ulster battered Leinster, much better in most areas and should have had 4

You can't expect a defender to mover out of the way to allow an attacker through, to be honest I think Nacewa was looking for it a bit he was a liability for Leinster I thought just too fired up and nigglely when he didn't need to be

A lot of deserved credit to the whole backline, but how good was Reidy from No.8? Could be a real find for next season now that we've seen him there.

Big statement leaving Reidy on as well and taking Henry off who had maybe his best game this season

Thank you Ulster.

Good win Ulster. As for Leinster, are you lot going to criticise Cullen the way you did MOC, or are Ladyboys exempt from criticism? This is the worst I've seen Leinster in over 10 years, and the team's record under MOC eclipses it.

As outrageous as the backline was today. Just think about it next season - albeit a shame that we are losing Scholes.

We have so many combinations, where we are now this is the starting backline I'd most like to see.

15 - Payne
14 - Bowe
13 - Marshall
12 - McCloskey
11 - Piutau
10 - Jackson
9 - Pienaar

Thats leaving out Trimble and Gilroy, but we just can't fit them all in. There are so many other combinations which are probably just as good as the above. Piutau is going to be huge for us in international windows covering all across the back 3 when Payne and some of the wingers are called up.

Artful_Dodger wrote:As outrageous as the backline was today.  Just think about it next season - albeit a shame that we are losing Scholes.

We have so many combinations, where we are now this is the starting backline I'd most like to see.

15 - Payne
14 - Bowe
13 - Marshall
12 - McCloskey
11 - Piutau
10 - Jackson
9 - Pienaar

Thats leaving out Trimble and Gilroy, but we just can't fit them all in.  There are so many other combinations which are probably just as good as the above.  Piutau is going to be huge for us in international windows covering all across the back 3 when Payne and some of the wingers are called up.

On current form, Gilroy and Trimble would be in there for me with Piutau at 15 and Bowe and Payne missing out. Whatever backline you pick though its going to be lethal

mikey_dragon wrote:Good win Ulster. As for Leinster, are you lot going to criticise Cullen the way you did MOC, or are Ladyboys exempt from criticism? This is the worst I've seen Leinster in over 10 years, and the team's record under MOC eclipses it.

Err Mikey this is the Ulster thread. Why would we critique Leinster's coach?

Delighted!

I definitely thought we were going to lose at half time, just giving away so many penalties. We sorted it out though!

Fair play to guys like Peter Browne and Sean Reidy who are coming in and making the most of their ability, Reidy outplayed some much more feted opponents. I'm particularly happy with his progress.

That was the best game Pienaar has played in months and the back line is very, very dangerous. A fantastic team performance in the second half in defence and attack, and great balance in our game- not so much running from everywhere and the skill levels and cohesion have gone up a level.

Thought Rob Herring made a very mature decision when we were awarded a penalty, you could here everyone saying go for the corner. But in my eyes that was an excellent decision. Agree with what everyone else was saying about Reidy he played very well considering he was playing out of position. Thought we would have taken a bit more of a hammering in the scrum than we did, but really secured up when Warick and McCall came on.

mikey_dragon wrote:Good wiGooddn Ulster. As for Leinster, are you lot going to criticise Cullen the way you did MOC, or are Ladyboys exempt from criticism? This is the worst I've seen Leinster in over 10 years, and the team's record under MOC eclipses it.

As a Leinster fan I 'm disappointed with the result but overall we are a much better side this year. It took MOC 2 years to turn us into a crap side, Cullen has done well considering the disruption at the beginning of the season. He wouldn't have been my first choice but it's absolutely unarguable that he has us improving whereas MOC oversaw decline that accelerated the longer he was in charge.

carpet baboon wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Good win Ulster. As for Leinster, are you lot going to criticise Cullen the way you did MOC, or are Ladyboys exempt from criticism? This is the worst I've seen Leinster in over 10 years, and the team's record under MOC eclipses it.

Err Mikey this is the Ulster thread. Why would we critique Leinster's coach?

There was no Leinster thread where I could do it. I'm interested to hear what you think though?

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Good wiGooddn Ulster. As for Leinster, are you lot going to criticise Cullen the way you did MOC, or are Ladyboys exempt from criticism? This is the worst I've seen Leinster in over 10 years, and the team's record under MOC eclipses it.

As a Leinster fan I 'm disappointed with the result but overall we are a much better side this year. It took MOC 2 years to turn us into a crap side, Cullen has done well considering the disruption at the beginning of the season. He wouldn't have been my first choice but it's absolutely unarguable that he has us improving whereas MOC oversaw decline that accelerated the longer he was in charge.

This is what I'm talking about tbh, it just seems like delusion. If I remember rightly Leinster were on the wane in Schmidt's final season. They were still a good team however, and didn't look as if much had changed from that when MOC came in. Leinster won silverware in his first season, sacking him the second season seemed both rash and unjust. I also felt that the fans online were criticising him because he wasn't Irish - it's also been aimed at the non-Irish players when the team sustained losses this year. Anyone who thinks Cullen has done better so far is delusional - a Pro12 win might show that he's a decent coach i guess but time will tell.

I was overly harsh on Leinster in the beginning there, they're still a good team. It was certainly their worst European cup run in 10 years though...

8Studs wrote:Thought Rob Herring made a very mature decision when we were awarded a penalty, you could here everyone saying go for the corner.  But in my eyes that was an excellent decision.  Agree with what everyone else was saying about Reidy he played very well considering he was playing out of position.  Thought we would have taken a bit more of a hammering in the scrum than we did, but really secured up when Warick and McCall came on.

Ulster were playing well in good conditions, 14 points in front with under 10 minutes on the clock. If Herring wanted to make the game ultra safe that was an incredibly negative message to the team. Maybe his rationale for going for the posts was to stop any chance of Leinster getting a LBP from a converted try - pointless as the top two spots had already gone. A true Championship contender wouldn't have gone for the posts, but them maybe Herring realised that Ulster had already reached their goal of Europe for next year?

Also agree on Reidy, who has shown his versatility and had a good game (one ridiculous penalty aside). Really pleased with Browne this season. It has been proven ridiculous that he missed out to Diack as a starter at lock earlier in the season. One passage of play summed up his contribution - he counter rucked then got over the ball and slowed it then put in a massive tackle and immediately got up to compete for the ball and the referee awarded a penalty to Ulster - hope he's OK.

McGrath was totally gone with about 20 to go so Lutton has to take a lot of credit for that. I couldn't understand why Healy wasn't coming on until Dooley finally came on - haven't seen a programme be so wrong in a long time!

Thought it was the right decision to copper fasten the four points before going after the bonus point. As you say the top two spots are gone- a bonus point almost certainly wouldn't change our position on the final table, but a draw would. A three-score game is much more comfortable than a two-score game and being right in front of the posts, would have been foolish not to take it.

I think going for the 3 points was absolutely the correct decision. By going 17 points in front, it seemed to deflate the Leinster players and gave Ulster a boost.

Leinster who had been behind all game needed two converted tries to draw, Ulster needed two tries for a TBP. Protecting their advantage belied a lack of confidence in their ability that has admittedly been fragile all season. I doubt Glasgow or Connacht would have taken the points in the same circumstances.

On the same theme it was disappointing that Paul Marshall seemed to be the only one with the nous to realise the clock was against them for the TBP chance. He often gets accused pf being headless but he was almost the only one who wasn't in that situation.

Yes Leinster were behind for the whole game but they were looking very dangerous. The 3 points (IMO) took away their belief of getting something out of the game by going 3 scores clear and as a result, their heads dropped.

Leinster are a very dangerous side so when the opportunity for points arrive, take them I say.

eirebilly wrote:I think going for the 3 points was absolutely the correct decision. By going 17 points in front, it seemed to deflate the Leinster players and gave Ulster a boost.

EB,

Think that was Herrings rational behind the 3 Pts. Hence why I believe that was a mature decision on a set of young shoulders. Think he has really settled into the captains role well when Rory is away.

eirebilly wrote:Yes Leinster were behind for the whole game but they were looking very dangerous. The 3 points (IMO) took away their belief of getting something out of the game by going 3 scores clear and as a result, their heads dropped.

Leinster are a very dangerous side so when the opportunity for points arrive, take them I say.

Aside from the really great move just before half time when Teo made a break, Leinster hadn't shown a whole pile of threat and only scored two penalties to two tries from Ulster, so it wasn't as if there was any evidence to suggest Leinster were on the verge of a comeback.

We'll agree to disagree, but I hope Ulster don't miss out on the fair lady through a faint heart.

My point is Aukster was that the tight 5 from Ulster had put in a hell of a shift and looked to be tiring and I do believe that Leinster were getting stronger. By taking the 3 points to go 17 up, it took all the wind out of the Leinster players sails and gave Ulster the belief and boost.

Agree to disagree on this then

mikey_dragon wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Good wiGooddn Ulster. As for Leinster, are you lot going to criticise Cullen the way you did MOC, or are Ladyboys exempt from criticism? This is the worst I've seen Leinster in over 10 years, and the team's record under MOC eclipses it.

As a Leinster fan I 'm disappointed with the result but overall we are a much better side this year. It took MOC 2 years to turn us into a crap side, Cullen has done well considering the disruption at the beginning of the season. He wouldn't have been my first choice but it's absolutely unarguable that he has us improving whereas MOC oversaw decline that accelerated the longer he was in charge.

This is what I'm talking about tbh, it just seems like delusion. If I remember rightly Leinster were on the wane in Schmidt's final season. They were still a good team however, and didn't look as if much had changed from that when MOC came in. Leinster won silverware in his first season, sacking him the second season seemed both rash and unjust. I also felt that the fans online were criticising him because he wasn't Irish - it's also been aimed at the non-Irish players when the team sustained losses this year. Anyone who thinks Cullen has done better so far is delusional - a Pro12 win might show that he's a decent coach i guess but time will tell.

I was overly harsh on Leinster in the beginning there, they're still a good team. It was certainly their worst European cup run in 10 years though...

You don't seem to have any appreciation for the starting point each coach had. MOC took over a very good side and oversaw the decline into a shambles.
Cullen has taken over a shambles and had the massive disruption of the WC to contend with and the terrible seeding that MOC's incompetence gave us in Europe. He has turned us into a decent side again and we are getting better. It's not happening quickly but it is happening, under MOC we were only getting worse.
It shows what a poor job MOC was doing that a complete novice can come in and totally improve nearly every aspect of the team.

Shut up that Leinster talk! This is the God's Own Country thread.

Didn't get to watch the game when it was on - watched it twice today.
My observations:

1) Leinster are not great.
2) Paddy Jackson, across the club season, has been the best 10 in Ireland.
3) Henderson is still not at the races. Bit (read: very) worried about him.
4) Browne has stepped up. Reidy has just kept on improving and improving. One of the reasons we are in as good a position as we are at the end of the season.
5) It is awful that we're losing Scholes at the end of the season.
6) Te'o is great. I know what the hype machine says, but if he were staying and Henshaw headed to Dublin, that's a seriously good partnership, and Ringrose would be riding the pine.
7) McCall and Warwick at TH = a front row that will at least compete, at best win penalties.
8)  Luke Marshall.

Don Alfonso wrote:Shut up that Leinster talk! This is the God's Own Country thread.

Didn't get to watch the game when it was on - watched it twice today.
My observations:

1) Leinster are not great.
2) Paddy Jackson, across the club season, has been the best 10 in Ireland.
3) Henderson is still not at the races. Bit (read: very) worried about him.
4) Browne has stepped up. Reidy has just kept on improving and improving. One of the reasons we are in as good a position as we are at the end of the season.
5) It is awful that we're losing Scholes at the end of the season.
6) Te'o is great. I know what the hype machine says, but if he were staying and Henshaw headed to Dublin, that's a seriously good partnership, and Ringrose would be riding the pine.
7) McCall and Warwick at TH = a front row that will at least compete, at best win penalties.
8)  Luke Marshall.

Agree with most of that Don.

Henderson looks to me as though he's had a bit of a wake up call, in that he now realises his career could be over in a flash, and he needs to build up his playing confidence again.

Scholes should have been preferred to Ludik (blame Bryn), but at least he will get far more experience at Edinburgh than he would at Ulster and be ready to replace Trimble/Bowe if the right offer is made when his contract is up.

Warwick looks a more natural TH than a LH, but will he get the coaching to make him great? Lutton managed McGrath pretty well when he was on too.

I would also add the Ulster backline is sooo much better when Payne has 15 on his back.

Well, that was a game to lift the spirits

Thought Jackson was superb, although all our backs had a great game. Jacksons little look inside, which bamboozled three Leinster players to set up Paynes Try, was a delight, as was Jackson driving Madigan into the dirt

Henderson still isn't at his best, and think maybe he is still working on a full recovery.

It's disappointing we are losing Scholes, but think it's the right decision for himself, and Ulster, although keeping him rather than Ludik is a fair point.

At a time of genuine concern about our backrow, Reidy's continued improvement is a real blessing. He's a bit shaky at the base of the scrum, which you can hardly fault him for, but he had a very good game at 8, and will take some of the sting out of Williams departure.
Wilson also had a good game when he came on. He even looked like a ball carrier   We still need to bring in injury cover though, but that is something that Ulster Rugby are pushing for, and hopefully hear some good news on that front, soon.

With the extra €1m the IRFU are giving us, over two seasons, will we be allowed to buy in an NIQ prop? and will have Phil a wee breakdown at the news? Hopefully a positive answer to both. I doubt the IRFU will budge on the former.

Hopefully we can put Ospreys to the sword and, with a bit of luck, will be away to either Leinster or Connacht in the Semi's. Not that either will be easy.

"Cullen's men should be able to make Ulster faithful sit back in awe of them"

CostelloGetsItBadlyWrong

The Great Aukster wrote:
Scholes should have been preferred to Ludik (blame Bryn), but at least he will get far more experience at Edinburgh than he would at Ulster and be ready to replace Trimble/Bowe if the right offer is made when his contract is up

Don't think he wants to replace them, I have a feeling he wants to nail down a 15 Jersey, so maybe once Piatau and Payne have gone he'll be looking at coming back

Munchkin wrote:
"Cullen's men should be able to make Ulster faithful sit back in awe of them"  

CostelloGetsItBadlyWrong

Flip me. Playing up there is no problem? The natives will sit back in awe?

Can't wait for his next column!

Exciting news; Barbarians game to be held at Ravenhill

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/14888.php#.VysbmlKksqw

Hopefully some of our players are involved!

Notch wrote:Exciting news; Barbarians game to be held at Ravenhill

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/14888.php#.VysbmlKksqw

Hopefully some of our players are involved!

This should be a cracking game and atmosphere, just hope the weather is there for both teams to play the game how they want to

Bowe and Ludik out for the rest of the season then, Bowe will not play again due to a recurrence of his knee issue and Ludik with have groin surgery on thursday

marty2086 wrote:

Notch wrote:Exciting news; Barbarians game to be held at Ravenhill

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/14888.php#.VysbmlKksqw

Hopefully some of our players are involved!

This should be a cracking game and atmosphere, just hope the weather is there for both teams to play the game how they want to

I've got my tickets, not every day you get a fixture like that on your doorstep

Notch wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Notch wrote:Exciting news; Barbarians game to be held at Ravenhill

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/14888.php#.VysbmlKksqw

Hopefully some of our players are involved!

This should be a cracking game and atmosphere, just hope the weather is there for both teams to play the game how they want to

I've got my tickets, not every day you get a fixture like that on your doorstep

Me too. Though what Fiji will make of Ravenhill in near-mid November, I don't know.

Extra tickets went on sale for the Pro 12 SF this morning too

Can't get down because of work. Big House for me, I think.

Don Alfonso wrote:Can't get down because of work. Big House for me, I think.

Lucky you, Arlene and Martin invite you?

marty2086 wrote:

Don Alfonso wrote:Can't get down because of work. Big House for me, I think.

Lucky you, Arlene and Martin invite you?

Yes. I'm a smug, selfish, vile human being whose only interests in life are self-promotion and causing societal misery and division. And writing execrable poetry about fishing.

They said I should fit right in. In fact,they couldn't believe I hadn't popped my head in before to watch a game with them.

Don Alfonso wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Don Alfonso wrote:Can't get down because of work. Big House for me, I think.

Lucky you, Arlene and Martin invite you?

Yes. I'm a smug, selfish, vile human being whose only interests in life are self-promotion and causing societal misery and division. And writing execrable poetry about fishing.

They said I should fit right in. In fact,they couldn't believe I hadn't popped my head in before to watch a game with them.

You've been holding that in for a while Don?

Does good to let it all out.

Also, my real name is Marshall Kilgore.

Wasps sign Kurtley Beale, which should put to bed any possibility of them trying to buy us out of Piutaus contract.

Notch I think the only place it was possible was in a few fans heads

You never know though. We said the same about Xavier Rush

Piutau seemed genuine early in the season saying he was coming to Ulster and Ulster seemed sue of it, plus Wasps were trying to sign the likes of Halfpenny

McCloskey has signed an extension to 2019.

rodders wrote:McCloskey has signed an extension to 2019.

No a central contract for the big man since they don't seem intent on using him

To be fair I don't know what centres should get central contracts?
Even if 2 of them got central 2 year deals they may not be first choice in a years time never mind the 2nd year

We have
Payne, Henshaw, McCloskey, Marshall, soon to add Aki then theres Olding and Ringrose and Scannell all adding to their games, not forgetting Earls either.

Payne, Henshaw and Earls are all on central contracts

I was more making a point that McCloskey seems to be one of those faces that doesn't seem to fit into the Irish setup though tomorrow will provide some clearer insight into that