Ulster 2016/2017

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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.

Rory_Gallagher wrote: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.

McCloskey and Marshall seemed to b starting to click a bit better in those 10 mins

Yeah. Looks like a break for Olding. Only seen 1 full speed replay but lower leg looks at a very unnatural angle.

Well, of course you break up the partnership when it begins to click.

Redman wrote:Yeah. Looks like a break for Olding. Only seen 1 full speed replay but lower leg looks at a very unnatural angle.

He won't be featuring for Ireland this summer anyway, that's for sure.

Hendy doesn't even look fit.

No support for Marshall there.

No clear release from Habberfield

Timoney made a very important tackle there. Well timed.

Dreadful play by Gilroy there. Cut across the attacking line and killed any space for Trimble. That's coaching, or the complete lack thereof, that does that. At 25 someone needs to say to him that sometimes you need to keep it simple and create space for the team.

Stockdale is just fantastic. Real shame about the final pass but at least he actually beat a defender (or 3).

Wonderful from Stockdale. Unlucky with the offload.

Ah, Stockdale! That would have been a great try, but he should have passed sooner.

He will need to sign for Leinster before we ruin him.

Munchkin wrote:Ah, Stockdale! That would have been a great try, but he should have passed sooner.

He thought he could break away from Matavasi but Gilroy was in space and clean through if he offloaded earlier

marty2086 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Ah, Stockdale! That would have been a great try, but he should have passed sooner.

He thought he could break away from Matavasi but Gilroy was in space and clean through if he offloaded earlier

Exactly. He was a wee bit selfish.

Bad luck, Stockdale.

Stockdale has ridiculous pace - you really wouldn't think it until you see him running alongside someone.

Stockdale is fast, but he doesn't look fast.

You beat me to it, Rory.

Munchkin wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Ah, Stockdale! That would have been a great try, but he should have passed sooner.

He thought he could break away from Matavasi but Gilroy was in space and clean through if he offloaded earlier

Exactly. He was a wee bit selfish.

Which is why he would be better moving to a team which will coach him properly. The raw materials are all there - he just needs a coach who can refine his skills and improve his confidence as a player.

Timoney has been looking pretty busy but he looks nervy. Again, a coach could do a lot there.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Ah, Stockdale! That would have been a great try, but he should have passed sooner.

He thought he could break away from Matavasi but Gilroy was in space and clean through if he offloaded earlier

Exactly. He was a wee bit selfish.

Which is why he would be better moving to a team which will coach him properly. The raw materials are all there - he just needs a coach who can refine his skills and improve his confidence as a player.

Timoney has been looking pretty busy but he looks nervy. Again, a coach could do a lot there.

If we were to stick with the same coaching team I would agree, although I would hate to see it. Hoping for big things next season with Clarke and Doak out of the way. It can only get better.

One player who does deserve a lot of praise from an Ulster perspective is Reidy. He has been consistently excellent, always offering himself as a carrier and making his tackles. Not quite the threat at the breakdown as the likes of a Tipuric but he is very busy around the park.

And there's another try for the Ospreys. We are just shocking.

Classy

With proper coaching Stockdale will be some player.

Dire stuff from both teams.

Pretty much wraps up the regular season.

Hopefully Scarlets can provide a Welsh revival and get into the final. And maybe even win it.

Ugh. Dreadful.

Well done Ospreys. I fear the joke may be in you though. Because one of the men responsible the shambling wreck you see before you is soon to be your forwards coach. Enjoy.

Well that's the season over. We're not going to beat Leinster.

Onwards and upwards for next season.

Would anyone argue with Stockdale starting ahead of any other winger next season?

Should have had a hat trick

We seriously need backrowers who know they need to hit breakdowns and support players

Exactly, and being an Ireland fan first and Ulster fan second, I would be happy to see him go to Leinster and get the proper coaching he deserves.

I have watched far too many special players at Ulster stagnate - Henderson, Olding, Marshall, McCloskey, Gilroy and I'm sure I've missed others. With a track record like that, why should I trust that it will be any different with Stockdale?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Exactly, and being an Ireland fan first and Ulster fan second, I would be happy to see him go to Leinster and get the proper coaching he deserves.

I have watched far too many special players at Ulster stagnate - Henderson, Olding, Marshall, McCloskey, Gilroy and I'm sure I've missed others. With a track record like that, why should I trust that it will be any different with Stockdale?

Yeah none of the backs seem to be living up to their potential. Its a bit of a shambles alright but Gibbes will improve things and Peel surely can do something with the attack. I think Kiss is out of his depth too but a DOR role might suit him best.

Pathetic.
Is there no pride left in that squad?
Has Doak and Clarke already left the building?
How are Best and Henderson going on the Lions tour?
Why would I even bother watching the final game of the season?
Is Ruan quietly glad to be getting out?

Well..... Pretty underwhelming
My hope is that the talk coming by out of Bristol about Peels coaching is true and with Gibbs's getting the forwards in shape he can take the talent we have in the backs and give it the structure it needs.

Unbelievably poor from Ulster today, really poor.

Handling and composure almost non existent. Hard for the Ulster fans to take...

When Paul Marshall is Ulster's best player it's a safe bet something is seriously wrong. Well done to Ospreys they deserve to be in the playoffs and have shown they will be competitive especially if Alum is back.

Stockdale is now Ulster's best 13 and needs to get all the experience he can there. Ferris kept saying how much Ulster were missing Coetzee, but the Os had Tipuric, Underhill and King/Baker against Reidy - deeper issues.

Boys, that is some player Stockdale is going to be, but in a way he cost you a LBP and even a draw, by not passing when he had made the initial breaks and not passing when players had a run in.

Good support from your travelling fans, some really good banter, all in a good spirit. I thought some of our players needed a good game, and they duly obliged, one player in particular who has had very little game time this season through injury really showed how we have missed him. Tyler Ardron played in the second row but was about the field like a flanker took at least 2 lineouts against the throw, and was on hand to dap down after excellent play from initially Dan Evans, he also was superb again, what a player Sam Underhill is going to be as well, the only pity is it will be with Bath and England, it is really intriguing why he wanted to play for us when he left the West Country to study in Cardiff.

2 players in particular Baldwin and Webb really improved on recent displays, and they needed to, special praise has to be given to our diminutive wingers, I was particularly worried about Giles being able to handle Piatau, even though Keelan was peppered and he was ran at on a number of occasions he mostly handled the pressure very well and so did Habbers against Trimble. So judging by the responses on here you don't think Clarke is going to be an asset for us then?

Ulster have two coaches leaving - Doak and Clarke. Doak is going to a 2nd division side in Ireland and AC to the Os. Doak is the better coach by a mile!

The Great Aukster wrote:Ulster have two coaches leaving - Doak and Clarke. Doak is going to a 2nd division side in Ireland and AC to the Os. Doak is the better coach by a mile!

GA we have a record of fetching in crap coaches, so why stop the habit of a lifetime now. Gibbes our latest, has on very few occasions organised a decent maul, and repelled one or two, I don't see Clarke being much worse to be honest, I said to him as he was running to his position at the start of the 2nd half and told him at least you'll have decent forwards under your control next season, he just smiled.

A good team would have battered us today.  40-50 points battered.  No disrespect to Ospreys but they weren't even that good .... just far too good for us.

wayne wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:Ulster have two coaches leaving - Doak and Clarke. Doak is going to a 2nd division side in Ireland and AC to the Os. Doak is the better coach by a mile!

GA we have a record of fetching in crap coaches, so why stop the habit of a lifetime now. Gibbes our latest, has on very few occasions organised a decent maul, and repelled one or two, I don't see Clarke being much worse to be honest, I said to him as he was running to his position at the start of the 2nd half and told him at least you'll have decent forwards under your control next season, he just smiled.

I feel sorry for you Clarke is toxic and a nasty piece of work.

He lives on stats and has a poor feel for the game

I wonder how bad Olding's injury is. He just can't catch a break. Pretty awful year for him really, most of it his own doing.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I wonder how bad Olding's injury is. He just can't catch a break. Pretty awful year for him really, most of it his own doing.

No pun intended!

Lol, indeed. Perhaps it is not a break.

Let's hope so. Did look worrying.

For me it's now about who will be going onto the summer tour. I've totally lost interest in what happens against Leinster. I suspect they'll send a kids team and even then we won't beat them.

I was dreading yesterdays game and I couldn't care less about the Leinster match. I think the players currently have the same attitude.

The Great Aukster wrote:
Stockdale is now Ulster's best 13 and needs to get all the experience he can there. .

No he is not Payne is and Cave is as good as well.

I do agree he is better than Marshall who has actually been playing there.
Then again Marshall is only a 13 in Kiss's deluded mind

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I wonder how bad Olding's injury is.

At least it is not an ACL.

Take 4 months off and be ready for the start of next year

Rumour doing the rounds that Kiss may retire.

Andy Ward, without naming names, gave it to him with both barrels on Radio - effectively saying the worst coach since Mark Williams and by some distance

Redman wrote:Let's hope so.  Did look worrying.  

For me it's now about who will be going onto the summer tour.  I've totally lost interest in what happens against Leinster.  I suspect they'll send a kids team and even then we won't beat them.  

There will be a few old hands in with the kids - Healy, Toner, Heaslip come to mind but agreed largely kids.

The more you analysis the more Kiss has been a joke.

Take just one aspect - 2 captains what a load of nonsense

1 doesn't even make the first XV and the other is a winger

Utter crap - and as an aside both are useless as captain - one just gets in a flap and cant handle the pressure and the other doesn't say boo to a goose on the rare occasion he talks to a ref

You couldn't make it up

geoff999rugby wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:
Stockdale is now Ulster's best 13 and needs to get all the experience he can there. .

No he is not Payne is and Cave is as good as well.

I do agree he is better than Marshall who has actually been playing there.
Then again Marshall is only a 13 in Kiss's deluded mind

It's arguable about Payne but I'd much rather have him at Fullback and have someone with pace at 13. The times when Stockdale has played Outside Centre he has been at his best and it is his preferred position.

Cave is no more than a break glass option at 13, and even then I'd be tempted to have Piutau/ Ludik/ Trimble start there before him in an emergency.

Marshall is quicker than Cave and makes more tackles but still doesn't look comfortable at 13. He is a classy 12 though and would be first choice there for me.

Olding is shipping too many knocks in midfield and maybe needs a re-evaluation of his future position.