Ulster 2016/2017

by marty2086 Mon 13 Feb 2017, 9:43 am

First topic message reminder :

And it's been confirmed

Ulster Rugby has today announced that Jono Gibbes will join the Province as Head Coach ahead of the 2017/18 season, having signed a two-year contract.

The former New Zealand player is currently Forwards Coach at French giants ASM Clermont Auvergne and he previously held a similar position at Leinster Rugby.

Gibbes joined Leinster in 2008, helping the squad to win three Heineken Cup titles during a six-year spell in Dublin. The first of those successes came under the stewardship of Michael Cheika in 2009, before he assisted Joe Schmidt in the 2011 and 2012 triumphs.

He moved to France in 2014 and was part of a coaching set-up that guided Clermont to the Top 14 and Champions Cup finals in his debut season.

In addition to his expertise in forward play, the 40-year-old has also gained valuable experience in coaching other aspects of the game, such as attack, during his stints at Leinster and Clermont.

Gibbes said that there were many contributing factors in his move back to Ireland:

"The respect that I have for Les (Kiss), as a coach and as a person, was one of my main reasons for making this decision. He really sold his vision of where he wants to take Ulster over the next few years.

"Ulster is a team that I know well, having come up against them on a number of occasions. The Clermont-Ulster games this season gave me an insight into the strengths of the squad and it's exciting to think that I'll be part of that environment from next season.

"With 6 years at Leinster and 3 years at Clermont in the Top 14, I've been afforded many different experiences, working with some very talented coaches and players. I hope to apply what I've learned to the role at Ulster and my family and I are looking forward to integrating into a strong community in Belfast."

Welcoming the news, Director of Rugby Les Kiss, added:

"Jono's CV speaks for itself and I know that he's looking forward to joining Ulster and working with the team. Jono has vast experience on both the playing and coaching fronts, having worked in many different environments such as Super Rugby, PRO12, the French Top 14 and European competitions.

"Since his retirement from playing, Jono has had an integral role in the coaching teams of two of European rugby's most successful sides. He was a key part of the Leinster set-up that won three Heineken Cups in four years and he has continued to be hugely successful during his time in France.

"Jono's expertise as a Forwards Coach is obvious, however his wealth of knowledge in other areas of the game will be really important for us."

"A review of the coaching structure is ongoing ahead of next season and the appointment of Jono as Head Coach is the first part of that process. A further announcement will be made in the coming weeks, which will focus on getting the right balance in our coaching team."

by Kingshu Fri 24 Mar 2017, 1:57 pm

I'm not sure about Ringrose as Irelands center, he has been getting a lot of praise and while I think he's done well, I don't think he has moved that far ahead of, L Marshall, or Olding.
I also don't think he's in much of a different position to the way Jackson was. He came in and has done well, but it still feels like Payne will take the shirt back, the same way that Sexton did to Jackson.
Thats not to say I think Ringrose hasn't down well, I just don't think he is head and shoulders above the others, and a nailed on starter the way the media make out.

by clivemcl Fri 24 Mar 2017, 6:52 pm

So what other fixtures do we need to go out way this weekend??

by marty2086 Fri 24 Mar 2017, 7:14 pm

Zebre beating Munster would be a big help Shocked

But Connacht beating Glasgow and Edinburgh beating Scarlets would make things easier for Ulster going forward

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 8:26 pm

Terrible first half from us. Just don't seem to care sometimes. Some silly errors costing us as well. Need a much better 2nd half.

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 8:43 pm

The ref is a clown. Cards Gilroy for a deliberate knock-on, when it's obvious it wasn't. Now Dragons score a try from the penalty...

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 24 Mar 2017, 8:48 pm

It was a pretty dreadful and costly decision.

by marty2086 Fri 24 Mar 2017, 8:51 pm

Munchkin wrote:The ref is a clown. Cards Gilroy for a deliberate knock-on, when it's obvious it wasn't. Now Dragons score a try from the penalty...

Is it just me or did the Dragons SH knock on at the breakdown just before the try too?

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 8:59 pm

I didn't notice, marty, but the ref calling that deliberate is stupid. It's a shame because he's had an otherwise good game.

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:00 pm

We really need a bonus point win from this game. Scarlets have just picked up 5 points from their game.

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:01 pm

Pienaar took a boot to the head there.

by marty2086 Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:04 pm

He looked to have a few goes at trying to get the ball out of the ruck

Think the refs been hit and miss, think the Payne try could easily have been ruled out and theres been a few other incidents of crossing hes missed

Herrings had a poor game at the lineout

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:08 pm

Yep, Herring hasn't been great.

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:17 pm

Big Rodney seems to woken up. Really good in the 2nd half.

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:20 pm

And then Rodney lets me down. Stupid boy.

by clivemcl Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:20 pm

Does Pyrdie not just run into Ah You???

by clivemcl Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:21 pm

Ah you didn't slow his run or move towards him. I don't even think it's yellow

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:21 pm

Ah You Idiot.

by clivemcl Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:22 pm

He believed the dummy and his eyes were on the next man

by marty2086 Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:22 pm

Rodney bought the dummy and over ran Prydie and it ended up being a collision

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:22 pm

I think it was deliberate from Ah You.

by marty2086 Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:24 pm

Munchkin wrote:I think it was deliberate from Ah You.

Think the skip does him no favours, seems to be trying to take the contact but you could be right

Just seems to be looking beyond Prydie and realise hes made a mistake

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:25 pm

marty2086 wrote:
Munchkin wrote:I think it was deliberate from Ah You.

Think the skip does him no favours, seems to be trying to take the contact but you could be right

Just seems to be looking beyond Prydie and realise hes made a mistake

He was caught out, but he put the shoulder in once he realised.

by clivemcl Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:25 pm

Sure intent is irrelevant. 15 ran into Ah You. Ah You didn't run into him. Didn't slow his run either. He just got ran into. And he's much bigger. That is all.

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:27 pm

Well we won anyway.

Fair play to the Dragons. Made a real game of it.

Not picking up that bonus point may cost us a top 4 place.

by marty2086 Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:29 pm

Munchkin wrote:
marty2086 wrote:
Munchkin wrote:I think it was deliberate from Ah You.

Think the skip does him no favours, seems to be trying to take the contact but you could be right

Just seems to be looking beyond Prydie and realise hes made a mistake

He was caught out, but he put the shoulder in once he realised.

You're right on that, think thats instinct which probably screws us going forward now especially if Herbst is injured

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:30 pm

marty2086 wrote:
Munchkin wrote:
marty2086 wrote:
Munchkin wrote:I think it was deliberate from Ah You.

Think the skip does him no favours, seems to be trying to take the contact but you could be right

Just seems to be looking beyond Prydie and realise hes made a mistake

He was caught out, but he put the shoulder in once he realised.

You're right on that, think thats instinct which probably screws us going forward now especially if Herbst is injured

What's happening with Kane?

by marty2086 Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:30 pm

Can we just sign Landman as a project player? He always seems to play well against us

by clivemcl Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:32 pm

Whatever about Paul Marshall or Ah Yous red, our big names failed miserably long before that. It's a win, but realistically our last game we could be confidential about and probably our last game we could likely get 5 rather than 4.
You have to wonder can that team get anything out of remaining fixtures.

by clivemcl Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:33 pm

Wait... Forgot Cardiff...

by marty2086 Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:35 pm

Munchkin wrote:
marty2086 wrote:
Munchkin wrote:
marty2086 wrote:
Munchkin wrote:I think it was deliberate from Ah You.

Think the skip does him no favours, seems to be trying to take the contact but you could be right

Just seems to be looking beyond Prydie and realise hes made a mistake

He was caught out, but he put the shoulder in once he realised.

You're right on that, think thats instinct which probably screws us going forward now especially if Herbst is injured

What's happening with Kane?

Was on the bench for the B&I Cup game against Munster and injured his thumb, not sure how badly

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:36 pm

I think a bonus point win against Cardiff in our next game is doable, but Scarlets are now a point closer to us (3 points I think).

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:37 pm

Pretty scathing criticism from Morris on Rodney Ah You. Flip me, I've never heard a pundit make comments like that.

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:37 pm

marty2086 wrote:
Munchkin wrote:
marty2086 wrote:
Munchkin wrote:
marty2086 wrote:
Munchkin wrote:I think it was deliberate from Ah You.

Think the skip does him no favours, seems to be trying to take the contact but you could be right

Just seems to be looking beyond Prydie and realise hes made a mistake

He was caught out, but he put the shoulder in once he realised.

You're right on that, think thats instinct which probably screws us going forward now especially if Herbst is injured

What's happening with Kane?

Was on the bench for the B&I Cup game against Munster and injured his thumb, not sure how badly

Thanks, marty. Hopefully he's ready to return because AhYou won't be with us for next weeks game.

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:38 pm

He's pretty accurate though. He's maybe played well once for Ulster, otherwise he is a liability.

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:40 pm

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Pretty scathing criticism from Morris on Rodney Ah You. Flip me, I've never heard a pundit make comments like that.

I'm surprised by that. Ah You actually had a good 2nd half, until that massive blunder, and was trying his best. Think it's undeserved, but maybe they know something we don't. Probably his attitude in training or something like that.

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:42 pm

It did sound pretty vitriolic. He has had some shambolic performances, but I haven't heard criticism like that before in the public sphere. Maybe there is more to it than meets the eye with regards to training or something.

Even when he walked off, the rest of the team didn't seem that bothered.

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:46 pm

Rory_Gallagher wrote:It did sound pretty vitriolic. He has had some shambolic performances, but I haven't heard criticism like that before in the public sphere. Maybe there is more to it than meets the eye with regards to training or something.

Even when he walked off, the rest of the team didn't seem that bothered.

I think there must be some issue's, because that level of criticism is unusual. Probably very lazy about doing the gym work, and on field training. That's the impression I got anyway.

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:49 pm

On a positive note; great to see Jackson back. Made a real difference when he came on.

by marty2086 Fri 24 Mar 2017, 9:58 pm

Think Treadwell had yet another good game for us, he has a bit of everything about him and was almost like watching Big Stevie when he made that break from the ruck

by Guest Fri 24 Mar 2017, 10:07 pm

Treadwell is very good, and seems to improve the more games he gets. Could be a star. It wasn't that long ago that lock was an area of concern for us, although we will be losing Van der Merwe. Still not too bad with Henderson, Treadwell, O'Connor and Brown.

by The Great Aukster Fri 24 Mar 2017, 10:32 pm

Maurice Field has yet to demonstrate a working knowledge of rugby and that hasn't changed since he was playing.

Ulster had too many passengers (including champagne Charlie) to ever realistically think an extra point was on the cards. If they make the top four they will have one extra game but their goal was purely to make the top six which looks secure so can't be over critical - job done.

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 24 Mar 2017, 11:17 pm

Munchkin wrote:On a positive note; great to see Jackson back. Made a real difference when he came on.

Agreed - Jackson has much better game management than Olding. I think Olding has more ability to open up defences and that is why he is better suited to 12 while Jackson is the clear incumbent 10.

by Don Alfonso Sat 25 Mar 2017, 8:56 am

Thoroughly depressing and disheartening win.

by marty2086 Sat 25 Mar 2017, 1:16 pm

One thing is clear from recent games, we really are lacking intelligence and communication in our forwards.

We are too routine in our maul from lineouts, when teams don't do what we expect of them of end up shooting ourselves in the foot, when Treviso stopped our maul we broke off conceded penalties, when Dragons didn't engage we still put the ball to the back instead of holding on to it and rumbling forward. Against Treviso it cost us a bonus point and it probably did last night too

by carpet baboon Sat 25 Mar 2017, 7:39 pm

Right reading on one of the other threads, apparently Conan didn't even make the bench this week as they seem to rate the younger degan higher, and he still won't come North? What is wrong with the youth of today

by The Great Aukster Sat 25 Mar 2017, 8:44 pm

Comparing Jackson's game management to Olding's is ridiculous considering the gulf in experience playing 10 at that level. If Jackson wasn't superior there would be something seriously wrong - Olding has shown enough to get a lot more time at outhalf, and does offer a different type of game should the coach want it.

Ulster fielded a pack that was not better than the Dragons so they were never dictating the game.

by Guest Sat 25 Mar 2017, 8:59 pm

After Glasgow's result today we are certain of a top 6 place. Feel bad for Connacht, but they can bounce up again.

Cardiff were pretty good today. Bit nervous for next weeks game.

by marty2086 Sat 25 Mar 2017, 9:41 pm

Munchkin wrote:After Glasgow's result today we are certain of a top 6 place. Feel bad for Connacht, but they can bounce up again.

Cardiff were pretty good today. Bit nervous for next weeks game.

We've two weeks to wait for Cardiff, they've Gloucester in the ERCC next week so hopefully Humphs will beat them up a bit for us

Glasgow have turned into a properly dirty side and Connacht were unlucky with some of the decisions. Cartys yellow was harsh especially when you compare it with some of Glasgows tackles, Connacht were constantly seeing their players taking shoulders to the temple and had Marmion and Adeolokun both go off for HIAs at at different points

by Guest Sat 25 Mar 2017, 10:27 pm

marty2086 wrote:
Munchkin wrote:After Glasgow's result today we are certain of a top 6 place. Feel bad for Connacht, but they can bounce up again.

Cardiff were pretty good today. Bit nervous for next weeks game.

We've two weeks to wait for Cardiff, they've Gloucester in the ERCC next week so hopefully Humphs will beat them up a bit for us

Glasgow have turned into a properly dirty side and Connacht were unlucky with some of the decisions. Cartys yellow was harsh especially when you compare it with some of Glasgows tackles, Connacht were constantly seeing their players taking shoulders to the temple and had Marmion and Adeolokun both go off for HIAs at at different points

Oh, in a fortnight then Smile

I think one of Glasgow's player's should have seen a yellow for the tackle on Adeolokun, if the ref had been consistent. Might have missed the Marmion one, as I missed the first half. Glasgow have developed into a niggly side who like to play on the edge. Ulster could learn a thing or two from them.

The Glasgow crowd are even beating us at the Booing mad

We must up our game.

Still a good game to watch though, as was the Leinster game.

by Geen sport voor watjes Sat 25 Mar 2017, 10:43 pm

Enough of the booing. Next thing is we will all start speaking with Welsh accents

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