Ulster 2016/2017

Redman wrote:

clivemcl wrote:Any inside info on Dom Ryan yet? 27 and the only IQ backrower not tied up for next year. Where do you put his out of interest in a pecking order? Better or worse than Clive Ross? My hunch is better, but I've not really ever watched him closely.

Has to be better.  I looked him up before and he has something like 100 or so caps for Leinster.  Ross has about 50 for us, and it's got to be tougher to get a cap for Leinster than it is for Ulster in the backrow - even allowing for international call ups.  

Dryan ®, as he shall be known if he signs, also has 20 or so U20 caps.  

That said, I haven't seen him play.

Farrell at CCB was the archetypal big lawd who is actively coached NOT to pass the ball - might explain why he missed overlaps a few times in the senior shirt. He was exceptionally green in his stint at Ulster and didn't seem to have the brightest rugby brain. His time in France and now Munster will be a far better finishing school to fulfil his potential than Ulster.

So we've a game this weekend....

As posted elsewhere the outstanding contracts are

Ricky Lutton
Paul Marshall
Pete Nelson
Andrew Trimble

Trimble should be a formality right?
Nelson would do well to re-sign for us and work to stay fit and healthy.  
I'd not resign Marshall in a month of Sunday's, but I suspect we will.
Lutton I'm indifferent to.  Shows up occasionally and looks not bad, then disappears for months on end.  Fairly injury prone as well.  Rabo standard on his good days.

Dominic Ryan would almost certainly start for us if he moved up here. Probably at 6.

Trimble is a cert just a transfer from a central contract to a provincial one I suspect

Be amazed if Nelson not re signed

The other two are 50/50 calls

Best of luck today Ulster lads. Hope ye get the win and finish top 4

Slim chance, but I still cling desperately to hope.

I think you will win myself, Ospreys seem a little unbalanced to me.

What on earth is that music?

Piatau looks up for it today...

Lacey's ego getting in the way there - Hendy totally legal there. He still should have listened to Lacey though.

So early doors and Lacey makes it clear you cannot contest the breakdown.

Aaaaand as per usual Ulster let in the early score.

Yeah, Gilroy is not a very attacking 15 is he

Where the hell were our players? Our support play is just abysmal.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Lacey's ego getting in the way there - Hendy totally legal there. He still should have listened to Lacey though.

He did listen though, he won the ball well and was told it was a ruck and let go then cleared it out the ruck so should have been allowed to pick the ball up

Treadwell has been so physical in this game. He really is turning out to be a phenomenal prospect.

Lineout is a shambles.

What happened to Ruan? I missed it.

What is Lacey smoking? Ospreys seal the ball off and he penalises Ulster?

The beautiful chants of "cheat" as always ringing from our wonderful Welsh neighbours.

Christ.
I am off out. I'll catch the score later. This is unwatchable

Classy from the Welsh support. Hate to hear the 'cheat' chant, but I've come to expect from Regions support.

Agree, not at the game but watching it at work, the cheat chant makes me cringe. Some of our fans sometimes...

We probably won't win the game - but will we win a line-out?

Lacey - what the hell was that. The guy was quite clearly tackled.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Lacey - what the hell was that. The guy was quite clearly tackled.

He released the ball and got back up

Lacey really is a poor referee.

Ulster are their own worst enemy.

Breadvan wrote:Agree, not at the game but watching it at work, the cheat chant makes me cringe. Some of our fans sometimes...

It's a stupid thing to do because it's not going to influence the ref in a good way, and it reflects poorly on the Regions.

eirebilly wrote:Lacey really is a poor referee.

Ulster are their own worst enemy.

Story of our season.

eirebilly wrote:Lacey really is a poor referee.

Ulster are their own worst enemy.

Think hes trying to give the team confidence so they can blame him rather than themselves when Ospreys win

Rory_Gallagher wrote:We probably won't win the game - but will we win a line-out?

Yep but not on your own throw

Beautiful try

Poor composure with the line begging by the Os. Standard...

Nice try, Ospreys, but cr@p from Ulster.

The number of missed tackles is a joke

Goodbye 2016/17 season and good riddance.

What a depressing half of rugby for Ulater. It's not as if the Ospreys are out-playing them either.

Timoney and Stockdale on at halftime. I said after Cardiff they should give up and play the kids. As is we've wasted 2 useful development games which the youngsters could have gained valuable experience in. There's nothing galant in trying desperately, failing and wasting your own time failing.

Even if we won this game and maybe fluked a win against Leinster. We'd get destroyed in a playoff against a Munster/Leinster that were up for it.

Utter crap.

I have told my mate if no improvement next year I will not be buying a season ticket for 18-19

Cant take any more of this dross

Wow, we a defence coach .... desperately need a defence coach. Our line is a jagged mess.

geoff999rugby wrote:Utter crap.

I have told my mate if no improvement next year I will not be buying a season ticket for 18-19

Cant take any more of this dross

Why would you? It isn't as if they are giving it their best - the players don't even look interested.

Incredible low exit kick from Biggar

This is painful to watch.

Still no Timoney. Still no Stockdale.

My eyes are bleeding at the moment.

Ulster in a nutshell. Great break followed by panic and a mindless attempt at an offload.

Is that Olding with an ankle injury?

Take off our McCloskey on his first start for ages at the 50 minute mark, when he actually has been decent and one of the few players making any ground...bring on Olding, immediately gets injured...holding his leg.

It's his ankle. Thankfully.

EDIT: And obviously, I mean that it is a real shame he is injured but at least it isn't his knee (which could end his career at this point).

Treadwell with some monster carries in that phase.