Ulster 2016/2017

First topic message reminder :

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.

Niall O'Connor was the other lad who played for Jersey who I couldn't remember.

Mark McCrea I'm pretty sure...

Ok, so we're basically a feeding club for Jersey then.

Yea we will use 'interim coaches' for a season - don't worry it will be worth it - Kiss is coming
Yea but Kiss is joining us half way through season - it will be grand then
Yea but Kiss deserves a chance with a full pre-season to start off from
Yea but Kiss deserves a chance with a team he chose himself
yea but...

clivemcl wrote:Yea we will use 'interim coaches' for a season - don't worry it will be worth it - Kiss is coming
Yea but Kiss is joining us half way through season - it will be grand then
Yea but Kiss deserves a chance with a full pre-season to start off from
Yea but Kiss deserves a chance with a team he chose himself
yea but...

Yeah but the IRFU will force their plant to stay

clivemcl wrote:Yea we will use 'interim coaches' for a season - don't worry it will be worth it - Kiss is coming
Yea but Kiss is joining us half way through season - it will be grand then
Yea but Kiss deserves a chance with a full pre-season to start off from
Yea but Kiss deserves a chance with a team he chose himself
yea but...

clive have we not been saying the same since McCall left?

My mate has 4x stand tickets for the "sold out Ruan Pienaar's last stand" game on Saturday if anyone is interested PM me.

Thanks

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:My mate has 4x stand tickets for the "sold out Ruan Pienaar's last stand" game on Saturday if anyone is interested PM me.

Thanks

Well fook me look what the cat dragged in...what about ye Jen?

Awight Wodders. Still alive and visiting on Saturday.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:My mate has 4x stand tickets for the "sold out Ruan Pienaar's last stand" game on Saturday if anyone is interested PM me.

Thanks

Already have mine

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:My mate has 4x stand tickets for the "sold out Ruan Pienaar's last stand" game on Saturday if anyone is interested PM me.

Thanks

Jen, Ulster have a resale facility through Ticketmaster

Hi Jen McL. Next thing Notch'll make a show.

Onto other matters. T'other forum reporting that Michael Allen has quite rugby for a job in the financial sector. Is this true folks? Is banking more attractive than rugby? I've heard there are lots of bankers in Ulster's coaching staff. At least I think that's what they said.

marty2086 wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:My mate has 4x stand tickets for the "sold out Ruan Pienaar's last stand" game on Saturday if anyone is interested PM me.

Thanks

Jen, Ulster have a resale facility through Ticketmaster

Feck that they charge a fortune. I want to get all the cash in for my mate. They have enough money. Looks like 2 gone now. I'll post here if they all sell.

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:My mate has 4x stand tickets for the "sold out Ruan Pienaar's last stand" game on Saturday if anyone is interested PM me.

Thanks

Already have mine

Might see you there then.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:My mate has 4x stand tickets for the "sold out Ruan Pienaar's last stand" game on Saturday if anyone is interested PM me.

Thanks

Already have mine

Might see you there then.  

Paul Marshall will be getting a new contract

Any word on how long geoff?

I dont think its a bad idea giving him an extra year and working from there but anything longer would be crazy

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? I mean if Gibbes is supposed to be turning our team around, we may as well expect Marshall to improve along with the rest...

I'm glad to hear it. It'll offer at least some modicum of continuity in the 9 shirt. He has his major brainfarts but he can do some things really well. If he can impart at least something of what he learned from Ruan onto Cooney it'll be useful.

marty2086 wrote:Any word on how long geoff?

I dont think its a bad idea giving him an extra year and working from there but anything longer would be crazy

I suspect 2 years but it might be only 1

Pete330v2 wrote:I'm glad to hear it. It'll offer at least some modicum of continuity in the 9 shirt. He has his major brainfarts but he can do some things really well. If he can impart at least something of what he learned from Ruan onto Cooney it'll be useful.

I hope Cooney listens to Peel not Marshall.

With the best will in the world Marshall is not the best as a teacher of skills

Saw Roger Wilson doing his thing at yesterdays press conference and talking about his leaving, apparently moving to the States later in the year, but the whole things a little strange. Your most capped player is retiring and until yesterday very little said or done about it publically by Wilson or Ulster

Jim Hamilton tweet was Andy Goode writing it on their podcast. Bit of a shame though, Keith Wood on Off the Ball was saying the successful teams always have a 'dog' in the second row - mentioning POC at Munster, Brad Thorn and Nathan Hines at Leinster.

Even during our most recent 'successful period' Johann Muller took that role. Coetzee looked to be doing that in his 3 games this year, giving the pack the hairdryer treatment.

I know we have a few second rows, but Hendy will be away a lot and Treadwell looks the only other to have top level potential. We should really be looking at a top level second row when Piatau is off. I think Leinster and Munster may have dibs on NIQ 'locks' though with Fardy and Chisolm/Deysel/Kleyn

Treadwell looks to have a bit of "dog". He looks fairly aggressive and if there has been a mini bust up he is always straight in. Great to see.

http://www.the42.ie/andrew-trimble-ulster-3373135-May2017/?utm_source=facebook_short

Team are being kept back from holiday to keep working and training until the June Barbarians match. Interesting.

Just saw on FB that Muller is back in Belfast for Pienaar's last Ulster game.

I think we should have statues of those boys in the city centre.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/guinness-pro12/andrew-trimble-delivers-a-brutally-honest-assessment-of-ulsters-depressing-season-35682404.html

" "Last year it was 14 lads looking at Rory asking what we do. Just 14 muppets saying 'Tell us what to do here, you know what's best'," Trimble smiles. "

Wow.

Teams are up... Mid table Rabo team against HEC semi team. I think we will get our ballix knocked in

Don Alfonso wrote:http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/guinness-pro12/andrew-trimble-delivers-a-brutally-honest-assessment-of-ulsters-depressing-season-35682404.html

" "Last year it was 14 lads looking at Rory asking what we do. Just 14 muppets saying 'Tell us what to do here, you know what's best'," Trimble smiles. "

Wow.

That's...disconcerting to say the least.

(15-9): C Gilroy, A Trimble (Capt), L Marshall, S McCloskey, C Piutau, P Jackson, R Pienaar;
(1-8): A Warwick, R Herring, R Ah You, K Treadwell, A O'Connor, R Diack, S Reidy, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, K McCall, W Herbst, C Henry, N Timoney, P Marshall, P Nelson, J Stockdale

15. Isa Nacewa, 14. Adam Byrne, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Noel Reid, 11. Fergus McFadden, 10. Joey Carbery,
9. Luke McGrath; 1. Jack McGrath, 2. James Tracy, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Devin Toner, 5. Hayden Triggs, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Jack Conan

16. Richardt Strauss, 17. Cian Healy, 18. Andrew Porter, 19. Ross Molony, 20. Dan Leavy, 21. Jamison Gibson-Park, 22. Ross Byrne, 23. Rory O’Loughlin

Well...Kyle McCall is back, at least. Good to see him back.

Can understand Wilson starting and the sentiment there but would have much preferred to see Tmoney ahead of Diack, at least it looks like they are blooding him for next season

Sorry Marty but sentiment isn't going to get us anywhere. Waste of time playing Wilson... We know what we'll get and we know it isn't good enough

So you think the 73 points swing we need is possible tom?

We have been playing Wilson out of sentiment for about 2 seasons so why stop now lol

Gutted to hear Marshall will be getting another contract.

That backrow will get mashed. It's not fair on Reidy.

Ulster Lions + Sexton aren't being risked. Quite sensible.

Trimble interview isn't as hard hitting as I thought when I saw the caption.

No second row replacement on the bench. 1 of Treadwell, O'Connor or Diack will be playing the full 80.

Has there been any further updates on Olding? Last I saw Ulster were assessing it as a "very serious ankle injury".

Tom said it best. Our ballix will end up well knocked in like a sunbather in Botanic gardens.

That Leinster side wouldn't look out of place with the best in a European Cup semi final

If last year was 14 muppets asking Rory what to do I can't imagine who they'll ask tomorrow.

All that being said, a decent performance to see the season out would be all I ask. Sod the playoffs, sod the silverware. A wee bit of feel good would be a great tonic to end on.

Redman wrote:Has there been any further updates on Olding?  Last I saw Ulster were assessing it as a "very serious ankle injury".

8-12 weeks out, needs surgery.

http://www.the42.ie/ulster-injury-olding-lions-henderson-best-3372596-May2017/

If Marshall is getting a one year contract on less money than his last one then I'd say that's not a bad idea if he's there as 3rd choice to push Shanahan and fill until someone like Stewart has developed a bit further

Olding is having surgery today

Redman wrote:Has there been any further updates on Olding?  Last I saw Ulster were assessing it as a "very serious ankle injury".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39791580

Ah ignore me. BBC are saying he had surgery on the ankle and is out of the summer tour. Doesn't have elaborate on the nature of the injury or length of time out. I'm guessing it'll be significant.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Redman wrote:Has there been any further updates on Olding?  Last I saw Ulster were assessing it as a "very serious ankle injury".

8-12 weeks out, needs surgery.

http://www.the42.ie/ulster-injury-olding-lions-henderson-best-3372596-May2017/

Ah thanks Rory.

Isn't there any chance we could just keep Johann hear and not let him go back to South Africa?

One advantage we have in this game is the physicality of the midfield. McCloskey/Marshall up against Reid and Ringrose.

Muller and Pienaar giving a few words in the changing rooms could see our best performance of the season though. No?
Its not a pointless match. A Leinster derby is never pointless.

neilthom7 wrote:Isn't there any chance we could just keep Johann hear and not let him go back to South Africa?

If we phone in a few of the traditional Northern Irish threats to all Irish airports for the forseeable future it could be doable. Mind you the IRFU would find a way to get them off the island

clivemcl wrote:Muller and Pienaar giving a few words in the changing rooms could see our best performance of the season though. No?
Its not a pointless match. A Leinster derby is never pointless.

As long as they don't inspire them to a win or a loss of 3 points or less and bust my accumulator

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:My mate has 4x stand tickets for the "sold out Ruan Pienaar's last stand" game on Saturday if anyone is interested PM me.

Thanks

Already have mine

Might see you there then.  

I hear we are in the same hotel Pete. Drink will defo be taken.

Hi to Marty and (Other)Pete and all the rest of you from back in the day.

Never thanked you for the tip on ticketmaster Marty. You were just trying to be helpful and unaware that I hate giving TicketBa$tard money.

Anyway. I still have 4 tickets and will be bringing them north tomorrow. If anyone knows someone who wants to see the Wuan and Woger show.

Enjoy

Crikey would love to go, it's a 5 o'clock Kick off?

rodders wrote:Crikey would love to go, it's a 5 o'clock Kick off?

quarter past