Ulster 2016/2017

Well the danger is always that life happens and he might refocus his entire life after two years in France.... were he to go.

geoff999rugby wrote:Something to depress you - we may well contest Pienaer going but lets be honest I cant see us winning this battle I suspect we will cave in.

Also a Frenchmen has posted elsewhere that Pienaer told him he is going to Montpelier
I cant believe Pienaer would tell a total stranger that so take with a kilo of salt.
However a thought has occurred to me what if his residency application has already been successful - 2 years in France would be ok he would just come back afterwards.  

I read the Clermont supporters post. I think he's genuine.

So the news on Wednesday could be:

"Bad news. Pienaar is leaving for Montpellier"

"Good news. We are replacing Clarke with immediate effect"

If the announcement is "Pienaar has signed for....", then I lead the call for whoever said 'Ulster are still fighting to keep Pienaar' to be castrated!

Seriously though, how did we manage to get both faces of the coin as separate rumours all in about a ten hour period??

It is fairly obvious the News Conference is an attempt to expose geoff999 now that Ulster Rugby have Cyril's email.

I can just see it - one player will stand up and proclaim "I'm geoff" only for the next one to say "No I'm geoff.." and so on.

Personally I think geoff is Pienaar. Think about it - has geoff ever posted during a game when Pienaar has been playing?

Can we stick to one rumour please. I am sad and confused now

clivemcl wrote:If the announcement is "Pienaar has signed for....", then I lead the call for whoever said 'Ulster are still fighting to keep Pienaar' to be castrated!

Seriously though, how did we manage to get both faces of the coin as separate rumours all in about a ten hour period??

No contradiction Ulster have been trying everything they can to keep Pienaer which includes the nuclear option of considering legal action.
In all honesty I don't think it is much of a secret that Ulster have expressed a desire to keep Pienaer and that sharp words have been exchanged between the IRFU and the branch.

IF, big IF the conference is to declare he is leaving it would merely be an admission that the campaign has failed, it doesn't mean it wasn't happening behind the scenes - it was.

And in other news Munster have apparently been told they can keep Taute until the end of the season to help aid the development of their young Irish centres by keeping them out of the team

marty2086 wrote:And in other news Munster have apparently been told they can keep Taute until the end of the season to help aid the development of their young Irish centres by keeping them out of the team

Once again it's one rule for them and another for us more northernly folk. I really can't see how the IRFU and Nazifora can legitimize their actions. Surely employment legislation has an element to put a stop to employing staff based on their nationality

There is EU legislation that applies to EU citizens and those of countries that have signed EU association Agreements that includes SA, that applies to restrictions on EU related quotas though, it would all take years to go through the courts too

In geoffs bad news scenario, Hanrahan is apparently heading back to Munster meaning Saints are going to be upping their chase for a fly half and their number 1 target is Jackson

That horrible thought has crossed my mind this morning - Saints will definitely be signing a top 10 for next year

Can we hold out hope that leaving will hurt his international prospects and even more so if Hanrahan is coming back

Hanrahan isn't in the frame - he needs at least a year of solid reliable performances to get anywhere near the Ireland team.
Sexton, Jackson, Carbery and Bleydaal (sp) (from next year) are all in front of him.

Sadly Jackson would be an exception ala Murphy, Bowe, Easterby, Sexton.

If Jackson doesn't have the risk of losing his Ireland chances, then why would he stay?

Saints are a sleeping giant and Jackson will have far more exposure in England than with Ulster. A different set-up will increase his IRFU and media profile. Guys like Toland for example might start to rate him. Bowe had to leave to be appreciated in Ireland and Jackson may have to do the same.

Than there's the small matter of doubling his contract value - not to be sniffed at either.

... maybe there is a good reason to be recruiting Angus Curtis after all

Jackson is getting plenty of exposure with Ireland, and I would guess that's only going to improve.

If Saints can offer double the wage Jackson is getting here, then Ulster Rugby are at fault. Jackson is far more important to us than Piutau.

Anywho, I don't believe Jackson is going anywhere.

The Great Aukster wrote:If Jackson doesn't have the risk of losing his Ireland chances, then why would he stay?

Saints are a sleeping giant and Jackson will have far more exposure in England than with Ulster. A different set-up will increase his IRFU and media profile. Guys like Toland for example might start to rate him. Bowe had to leave to be appreciated in Ireland and Jackson may have to do the same.

Than there's the small matter of doubling his contract value - not to be sniffed at either.

Why worry about Journalists?  Joe obviously doesn't listen to them.  I think it's clear Jackson is rated by Joe - and by fans that want Ireland to still be a threat even when Sexton is sidelined.

However, having said all that - Ireland set up is similar to New Zealand in that Provincial success is seen as part of the parcel of success that then spreads up to International.  If you move away for personal gain (nothing wrong with it) you are setting yourself up as rival to the success of the Provinces and you should expect to take the consequences - no selection for Ireland.
I didn't like when Sexton was doing it and I'm still against 'normalising' the idea that Irish players help foreign Clubs make progress at the expense of Irish Provinces and then whistle themselves home a few times every year to 'help' us construct an International side.  I say all players should be free to go but should accept the consequences of taking themselves out of the Irish linked-in system.

So what time is the press conference to announce Coetzee has made an earlier than expected recovery?? With a sub-announcement that we've signed Jordi Murphy??

Bowe's leaving was under different circumstances. He was Ireland's best winger at the time yet Geordan Murphy was being selected at 14 ahead of him for reasons only known to the insane. Jackson is well rated by the Irish setup which unfortunately means he could well leave and still get into the Irish shirt. If we are to lose both Jackson and Pienaar we may forget next season folks.
Please tell me some great news somebody

Bowe left because players and coaches didn't get on and the non playing structure was completely different....completely different

................................then again

I said way back my odds were 85% certain he will stay - I'll stick to that figure.
Probably but not certain.

The veracity of off field events will be key

If Hanaran is swapping with Jacko maybe we're getting Tyler Bleyendaal?

Roll up roll up ...............................

Place your bets is Wednesday about Coetzee, Pienaer, Jackson, Clarke, Doak, Piatau

then again maybe it is just Sam Windsor is leaving...........

My bet is a whopper of announcement. Murphy is getting a contract extension!

rodders wrote:If Hanaran is swapping with Jacko maybe we're getting Tyler Bleyendaal?

Or Keatley

It's obvious if you think about it, clearly its a new signing called puan rienaar, scrumhalf irish qualified. Looks a lot like Ruan Pienaar actually but with a pretty awesome moustache

geoff999rugby wrote:Roll up roll up ...............................

Place your bets is Wednesday about Coetzee, Pienaer, Jackson, Clarke, Doak, Piatau

then again maybe it is just Sam Windsor is leaving...........

Or none of the above

I say it's about a new defense coach.

neilthom7 wrote:It's obvious if you think about it, clearly its a new signing called puan rienaar, scrumhalf irish qualified.  Looks a lot like Ruan Pienaar actually but with a pretty awesome moustache

And a very strange Ulster accent.

It's spelt Rhuahn O'Phiannor...
He came up through the youth system at Donegal Town RFC. Converted over from hurling.

You know those Donegal folks, accent sounds alot like South African

marty2086 wrote:

rodders wrote:If Hanaran is swapping with Jacko maybe we're getting Tyler Bleyendaal?

Or Keatley

Yikes!

My guess we will be announcing a defence coach, a scrum half and backrow all signed for next season.

Or Les has had enough of looking after the kids and hes off and Doaks taking over

Let's lighten up her folks, the announcement will be that Ruan is staying as player/coach, Johann is returning as forwards coach and we've poached a top defence coach from super rugby, Marcel has recovered sooner than thought and will be available to play and lastly Doak and Clarke will leave with immediate effect.

The good news will be that Ruan is Staying as player, coach and lifestyle guru.

The bad news is that the IRFU have agreed to let the Ulster branch pay the WRU the entire 20% of all profits that the IRFU intend making from the proposed World Cup.

It's a small price to pay and all other Provinces agree to the deal.

Maybe Ferris snapped and cleared out Clarke and Doak and is taking over as a coach/player? He was there today, they say he was interviewing Henderson but i reckon he was tell Nucifora hands off Pienaar

Anybody know what time the 'press conference' is at?

marty2086 wrote:Anybody know what time the 'press conference' is at?

I would also like to know so I can set aside 20 mins of my day for wild celebration or a shrug of the shoulders followed by a "meh"

With Pienaar in mind this is an interesting summation from Gordon D'Arcy in the Irish Times. The last half of the article being the pertinent section.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/gordon-d-arcy-all-seems-well-but-jaco-taute-call-will-tell-a-lot-1.2904507

Interesting that he says that Nucifora wants to ensure Erasmus succeeds, does that mean he would make decisions to hamper other provinces to get his own people in place?

marty2086 wrote:Interesting that he says that Nucifora wants to ensure Erasmus succeeds, does that mean he would make decisions to hamper other provinces to get his own people in place?

Maybe but the most obvious thing is the inconsistency shown. The rules are unbending when dealing with Ulster it seems. Even with exactly the same argument being used to retain the player.

Pete330v2 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Interesting that he says that Nucifora wants to ensure Erasmus succeeds, does that mean he would make decisions to hamper other provinces to get his own people in place?

Maybe but the most obvious thing is the inconsistency shown. The rules are unbending when dealing with Ulster it seems. Even with exactly the same argument being used to retain the player.

It all depends on what Munster are asking for, if they get Taute for a few years and Saili leaves in the summer that wouldn't be a bad idea for me especially if Taute is doing better work with the young guys but if they keep both for longer then its the same argument or worse because there are actually players there ready to come through which isn't the case with Pienaar as yet

So what about this big news? Hoax?

Ulster in crisis!

"Ulster not in crises" would be the big news

Windsor gone?

Doak out?
Clarke out ?

Cloak out?

marty2086 wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Interesting that he says that Nucifora wants to ensure Erasmus succeeds, does that mean he would make decisions to hamper other provinces to get his own people in place?

Maybe but the most obvious thing is the inconsistency shown. The rules are unbending when dealing with Ulster it seems. Even with exactly the same argument being used to retain the player.

It all depends on what Munster are asking for, if they get Taute for a few years and Saili leaves in the summer that wouldn't be a bad idea for me especially if Taute is doing better work with the young guys but if they keep both for longer then its the same argument or worse because there are actually players there ready to come through which isn't the case with Pienaar as yet

Have Munster not had a NIQ center as long as Ulster have had Pienaar, or is it longer?

Casey Laulala etc,

If they are allowed Taute, or to sign him or someone else after Sali leaves and we are not allowed Pienaar, it does smack of double standards.

Kingshu wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Interesting that he says that Nucifora wants to ensure Erasmus succeeds, does that mean he would make decisions to hamper other provinces to get his own people in place?

Maybe but the most obvious thing is the inconsistency shown. The rules are unbending when dealing with Ulster it seems. Even with exactly the same argument being used to retain the player.

It all depends on what Munster are asking for, if they get Taute for a few years and Saili leaves in the summer that wouldn't be a bad idea for me especially if Taute is doing better work with the young guys but if they keep both for longer then its the same argument or worse because there are actually players there ready to come through which isn't the case with Pienaar as yet

Have Munster not had a NIQ center as long as Ulster have had Pienaar, or is it longer?

Casey Laulala etc,

If they are allowed Taute, or to sign him or someone else after Sali leaves and we are not allowed Pienaar, it does smack of double standards.

They've usually had a NIQ going back over a decade but at the same time there have been plenty of IQ centres to keep the IRFU happy so as not to worry about the NIQ numbers over the years

Scrum half is a problem position across the sport but what should be pointed out is that Munster were allowed to let O'Leary go and had to bring in a Kiwi injury replacement along with Angus Lloyd at scrum half instead of going into the academy

Leinster are allowed 2 NIQ back three players which forces good players to leave
Munster have had 1 NIQ centre, at least, for as long as I can remember
Pienaer not allowed to stay when he is blocking nobody - go figure

I see a pic on twitter of Tommy Bowe at the press conference. Does this mean it's happening as we speak? Any info anyone?