Ulster Rugby 2017-2018 Part 2

by Hazel Sapling Wed 04 Apr 2018, 13:02

First topic message reminder :

Ulster Rugby

Final Table
GP Points
Leinster 21 70
Scarlets 21 70
Edinburgh 21 68
Ulster 21 62
Benetton 21 55
Dragons 21 20
Kings 21 11

Season Outcome: Playoff for Champions Cup Spot

Ulster are in the Champions Cup

by marty2086 Fri 27 Apr 2018, 15:08

I'm torn on him, statistics can lie. There are times we look great and other times we look rudderless.

The Ospreys game when we dominated and only sealed it at the death summed up our attack I think, we lacked composure and a big part of that comes down to coaching for me. Listening to some Leinster players prise Lancaster this week and how he trains them to deal with chaos and in game situations, we need a bit of that

by carpet baboon Fri 27 Apr 2018, 15:36

marty2086 wrote:I'm torn on him, statistics can lie. There are times we look great and other times we look rudderless.

The Ospreys game when we dominated and only sealed it at the death summed up our attack I think, we lacked composure and a big part of that comes down to coaching for me. Listening to some Leinster players prise Lancaster this week and how he trains them to deal with chaos and in game situations, we need a bit of that

True but how many Lancaster's are doing the rounds? England getting rid of him has been a huge mistake. Also Dempsey should be getting huge praise for Leinster's attack. He's the creative one. Lancaster the calm one. They seem to work very very well together

Anyway I'm hoping that ospreys game was a blip, and a lot of individual error's and shaking the last of kiss' coaching out if there system,

by Don Alfonso Sat 28 Apr 2018, 11:34

Davidson back?

by eirebilly Sat 28 Apr 2018, 17:41

Very clever from Copeland there and great awareness from Williams and Munster lead 7 - 0 after 2 mins.

by eirebilly Sat 28 Apr 2018, 18:03

Henderson off for Ulster, not good for them.

by clivemcl Sat 28 Apr 2018, 18:33

Here I am at half time watching on a £7.99 Sky Pass when I realise BBC NI are showing it too. Whats that about?

by clivemcl Sat 28 Apr 2018, 19:09

The arm around Luke Marshalls throat would have been penalised in open play, but in the midst of the handbags it's ignored...

by clivemcl Sat 28 Apr 2018, 19:11

When did those tackle in the airs stop being yellow cards??

by clivemcl Sat 28 Apr 2018, 19:32

Welcome to the summer break guys.

That was absolutely shocking.

by The Great Aukster Sat 28 Apr 2018, 20:28

All in all a fitting end to the season for Ulster. They don't deserve anything from this season and the lack of team spirit is right down there with the 07/08 season. It was unfair that Best got booed when he was subbed but he showed no more leadership than the coaches at halftime so it would have made more sense for the Munster fans to cheer him! Very few came out of that game with any credit other than Copeland on the pitch and van Graan off it.

by Kingshu Sat 28 Apr 2018, 21:37

If the new head coach Simon Easterby?

by Sin é Sun 29 Apr 2018, 14:52

The Great Aukster wrote:All in all a fitting end to the season for Ulster. They don't deserve anything from this season and the lack of team spirit is right down there with the 07/08 season. It was unfair that Best got booed when he was subbed but he showed no more leadership than the coaches at halftime so it would have made more sense for the Munster fans to cheer him! Very few came out of that game with any credit other than Copeland on the pitch and van Graan off it.

Best wasn't booed. Think you are mixing it up for the cheer for Tommy Bowe (a favourite in Thomond Park) coming on.

by Redman Sun 29 Apr 2018, 15:25

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43942096

by Kingshu Sun 29 Apr 2018, 16:29

Has Ulsters season really been that bad?

Munster have had a good season and won 13 Drew 1 and lost 7
Ulster who had had a terrible season Won 12 Drew 2 and lost 7

Ok when we have been bad we have been terrible, but overall it shows we are not actually to far off the pace.

Attack is close to the top teams, points conceded is where we let ourselves down.

There isn't big big job to be done to get Ulster competitive, just getting the fine margins correct

by clivemcl Sun 29 Apr 2018, 19:59

So apparently new coach has been sealed, but can't be announced for a few weeks. When asked why, Bryn indicated it was a courtesy because the person in question is already employed somewhere and it's not the right time for them to announce their leaving. OK, I'm probably paraphrasing and taking liberties.... but if it was somebody currently employed in an ongoings eason, who does that match out of the rumoured names?

http://www.the42.ie/ulster-head-coach-signed-sealed-cunningham-3984624-Apr2018/

by Redman Sun 29 Apr 2018, 20:57

If that's the case then it can't be Mallinder. What's the point?

Moore is contracted until the end of 2019 so might be in the frame. I can't see us buying out of his contract so maybe a get out clause to manage a top club side?

by marty2086 Sun 29 Apr 2018, 20:58

The Great Aukster wrote:All in all a fitting end to the season for Ulster. They don't deserve anything from this season and the lack of team spirit is right down there with the 07/08 season. It was unfair that Best got booed when he was subbed but he showed no more leadership than the coaches at halftime so it would have made more sense for the Munster fans to cheer him! Very few came out of that game with any credit other than Copeland on the pitch and van Graan off it.

Lack of team spirit? Seriously?

by Pot Hale Sun 29 Apr 2018, 22:51

Not able to announce it for potentially another few weeks.
Someone who hasn’t been mentioned/reported up to now.

So someone currently working at a club that’s still involved in knockout/playoffs over next few weeks? Either PRO14 or Premiership? Or Top14? So if Pau don’t make the Barrage stage next weekend, would it be someone like Simon Mannix?

by The Great Aukster Mon 30 Apr 2018, 09:07

Sin é wrote:
The Great Aukster wrote:All in all a fitting end to the season for Ulster. They don't deserve anything from this season and the lack of team spirit is right down there with the 07/08 season. It was unfair that Best got booed when he was subbed but he showed no more leadership than the coaches at halftime so it would have made more sense for the Munster fans to cheer him! Very few came out of that game with any credit other than Copeland on the pitch and van Graan off it.

Best wasn't booed. Think you are mixing it up for the cheer for Tommy Bowe (a favourite in Thomond Park) coming on.

Fair enough maybe the booing was aimed at Gilroy?

by The Great Aukster Mon 30 Apr 2018, 09:13

marty2086 wrote:
The Great Aukster wrote:All in all a fitting end to the season for Ulster. They don't deserve anything from this season and the lack of team spirit is right down there with the 07/08 season. It was unfair that Best got booed when he was subbed but he showed no more leadership than the coaches at halftime so it would have made more sense for the Munster fans to cheer him! Very few came out of that game with any credit other than Copeland on the pitch and van Graan off it.

Lack of team spirit? Seriously?

Over the season yes, not so much the last three games. One of the reasons Ulster's defence has been so porous was an apathetic approach to tackling, and then an unwillingness by others to cover missed tackles.

by marty2086 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 09:25

I think Ulsters all around situational awareness is short of where is should be, there were too many times on Saturday that players were isolated is attack and defence, not just being isolated but making the right decision. Luke Marshall in recent times looks like he's trying to hard to get a pass away and Ross when he got the ball out wide with Gilroy on the overlap, it's a long term problem at Ulster

by **rodders** Mon 30 Apr 2018, 10:28

Guy's what is going on with Trimble?

I cannot believe a half fit Trimble wouldn't have added to what is a really average back 3- Stockdale excepted obviously.

Overall a good performance but a weaker bench than Munster probably told in the end.

by clivemcl Mon 30 Apr 2018, 12:02

A few papers now saying Dan McFarland who I believe is assistant coach of Scotland.

by marty2086 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 12:41

clivemcl wrote:A few papers now saying Dan McFarland who I believe is assistant coach of Scotland.

If the IRFU had their input then it might make sense given he has coached the Wolfhounds, U20s and Emerging Ireland would indicate he's held in high regards in Dublin

by Redman Mon 30 Apr 2018, 13:10

Suggestive of a Head Coach role at most though. You can't think he'd step into a DoR position. Which means it's probably Bryn as DoR and coaching responsibility handled by McFarland.

I'm taking this with a pinch of salt anyway. Bryn said the last time he was very disappointed with the number of leaks, so they were putting out false information to put people off the scent.

by marty2086 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 13:25

So Dan McFarland has been confirmed as leaving his Scotland post, he'll be leaving in MID-JANUARY picard

by Pete330v2 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 13:50

So McFarland was the number one choice that we've landed. Who was second choice? Eddie O'Sullivan's Uncle?
If it's true then it's out with one coach who the IRFU held in high regard and in with a coach who the IRFU hold in high regard. You couldn't write this stuff.
"Scottish Rugby have announced that he will leave his role as Assistant Coach with the national side in mid-January "to take on a Head Coach opportunity".
This sounds all to familiar.

Well if Scotland's recent form is anything to go by we could well improve but our away form would still stink.

by Redman Mon 30 Apr 2018, 14:00

Ugh. Another season wasted. Peel to acting Head Coach? It means we literally have no one coaching the forwards once Gibbs leaves in May/June

by The Great Aukster Mon 30 Apr 2018, 14:11

Supposedly Baldrick now has full responsibility for the recruitment of coaches, and deserves some time to prove himself.

However Gibbes is gone and if this is true McFarland doesn't come until halfway through the season (just after a rudderless Ulster fail to get out of their Challenge Cup pool!). Disruption central.

Were there lead pipes installed for the drinking water at the Pan?

by marty2086 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 14:36

Scotland Assistant Coach Dan McFarland will leave the national team set-up mid-January to take on a Head Coach opportunity.

McFarland, who joined the Scotland coaching team from Glasgow Warriors in 2017, will remain in post for a nine-month notice period as the recruitment process for his replacement gets underway.

Former Scotland back-row and current Worcester Warriors Head Coach, Carl Hogg, has been added to the national team coaching set-up on an interim basis.

He will share forwards-coaching duties with McFarland on the 2018 Summer Tour to Canada, USA and Argentina.

The SRU are playing hard ball just, he'll probably come in sooner but Ulster or the IRFU just need to stump up the cash to buy out his notice.

by marty2086 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 14:39

Joe met with Joey again over the weekend....seems it's him or no one at 10 next season

by Pot Hale Mon 30 Apr 2018, 14:42

Who the hell takes up a post mid-January? It's long after the November internationals and just before the Six Nations starts.

Edit: Oh I see it's a 9-month notice period

by Maine man Mon 30 Apr 2018, 14:48

The word farce springs to mind if this is the case. Just a simple question, do fellow ulster fans think Cunningham is up to the job? I'm not so sure.

by Redman Mon 30 Apr 2018, 14:52

This is probably the real reason why Ulster haven't announced it. Deal is done but notice period still to be negotiated. No disrespect to Scotland but his contract won't be Piutau levels. If it cost £100,000 to get him out of the contract early we really should find that money.

Him actually going in January 2019 would be madness. We'd need someone in to coach the forwards temporarily in that scenario and that would cost us some cash anyway.

by Pete330v2 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 14:57

How often does Baldrick and his band of merry men plan on bending over and taking it from the IRFU before growing a pair and actually fighting for what's best for Ulster. Granted McFarland, if it is indeed him, might well be a huge success but it had the hallmarks of the IRFU forcing another one of their options upon us even if we have to wait rudderless, for the pleasure. That being said, the last time we were rudderless the addition of Kiss didn't exactly add any rudder.

by marty2086 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 15:02

I love the fact that the details aren't yet known but the criticism is already flying, some people are only happy when they are unhappy Rolling Eyes

by marty2086 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 15:06

And with that

Ulster Rugby can confirm that Dan McFarland will take the reins as Head Coach next season on a three-year contract.

The highly-rated Englishman is currently working with the Scottish national team as Assistant Coach to Gregor Townsend.

He made a seamless transition from playing to coaching at Connacht in 2006, taking up the Forwards Coach role before becoming their Assistant Coach in 2010.

During his time with Connacht he also held Head Coach positions with Emerging Ireland and the Ireland Wolfhounds.

McFarland took over as Assistant Coach at Glasgow Warriors in 2015 and he worked alongside Townsend before the pair took up posts with the national side in May 2017.

Commenting on his move to Belfast, Dan said:

"I am really excited that I will be taking on the Ulster Head Coach role. I know firsthand from my years visiting with Connacht and Glasgow the passion and fervour that makes playing in front of Ulster fans so special.

"It's a club with a great history and I welcome the challenge of being a part of their future."

Commenting on the appointment, Bryn Cunningham, Ulster Rugby's Operations Director said:

"Dan was our number one candidate so we're obviously very happy to have secured his services for the next three years. Dan's CV is hugely impressive and he commands great respect within the game.

"He enjoyed successful spells with Connacht and Glasgow, and the fact that Gregor brought him into the Scotland set-up speaks volumes for how highly he rates him.

"Our priority in this process was to identify and recruit the best possible candidate first and foremost. With the confirmation of Dan's appointment, we will be announcing at least one further addition to the coaching team in the near future to ensure that we have a strong unit in place in advance of pre-season."

Shane Logan, Ulster's Chief Executive, added:

"I'd like to congratulate Bryn and our Professional Game Board for conducting such a thorough process that has led to this appointment.

"We have worked closely with the IRFU and are very pleased with the outcome."

by Redman Mon 30 Apr 2018, 15:10

I'm fairly happy with the appointment Marty, but people are right to panic if January 2019 is true.

by marty2086 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 15:14

To be fair Ulster have mentioned he'll be in for next season and that they want the coaching unit in place for pre-season, SRU have said he'll be on their summer tour and nothing beyond that. So doesn't seem he'll be coaching into next season for them

by **BigGee** Mon 30 Apr 2018, 15:20

As has already been said, I am sure there is some hard ball being played here. Why should Scotland let him go early without any compensation.

They are already taking another forward coach, Carl Hogg on the summer tour and this would likely be the transition period for the forwards coaches. If Ulster are willing to pay, then they will likely get him in for the start of the season.

by EST Mon 30 Apr 2018, 15:27

McFarland has been absolutely brilliant for both Glasgow and Scotland's forwards - i'm gutted to lose him before the end of this WC cycle.

by marty2086 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 15:28

See some ex Connacht guys on social media praising him and saying how great an appointment it is

by Pete330v2 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 15:54

Here's hoping it is and here's hoping the January date is just the SRU's hardball because to be left with an interim head coach again is completely unacceptable. We need him in post for preseason in order to benefit both the squad and himself.

by clivemcl Mon 30 Apr 2018, 16:22

Whatever about the coach, I'm just fed up with the media and public front of UR.
Bryn said only a day or two ago that they wouldn't announce for a few weeks.

It's just got to the point that you may as well not read anything that UR releases because it's unlikely to be genuine or real, and at best they are just plucking answers out of thin air...

No idea if this is a good signing though.

Would this encourage any overseas signings who are in two minds? I doubt it.

by marty2086 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 16:34

Or maybe you could read things properly?

Unfortunately, we’ll not be in a position to announce that for potentially another few weeks

by clivemcl Mon 30 Apr 2018, 16:38

Alright smarty Marty!

But yea, my point is, most organisations just say 'we are not currently ready to announce that'. Why even hint at weeks.

by thebandwagonsociety Mon 30 Apr 2018, 16:42

Redman wrote:I'm fairly happy with the appointment Marty, but people are right to panic if January 2019 is true.

I think it could be a good signing. Connacht back in his time there had a good pack rampaging around the park and Glasgow/Scotland is similar.

On the negotiating with the SRU, I think they should keep him for the 9 months. I wouldn't mind having an Ulster coach with in depth knowledge of every aspect of the Scottish forwards (and maybe further tactics) being available to Schmidt literally months prior to the RWC pool games!

SRU looking for money before they let him walk out the door. Smart.
SRU giving McFarland 9 months more knowledge of Scotland in the run up to crucial RWC pool fixture. Foolish.

by marty2086 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 16:43

What happens then?

They get attacked for not saying when or why, damned if he does...

by marty2086 Mon 30 Apr 2018, 16:44

thebandwagonsociety wrote:
SRU giving McFarland 9 months more knowledge of Scotland in the run up to crucial RWC pool fixture. Foolish.

They're not though, he's on the summer tour to work with Carl Hogg who then takes over on an interim basis until a full time coach is appointed

by **BigGee** Mon 30 Apr 2018, 16:48

marty2086 wrote:
thebandwagonsociety wrote:
SRU giving McFarland 9 months more knowledge of Scotland in the run up to crucial RWC pool fixture. Foolish.

They're not though, he's on the summer tour to work with Carl Hogg who then takes over on an interim basis until a full time coach is appointed

easy enough to put him on gardening leave for 6 months. Just because he is contracted, does not mean you have to use him as a coach. Ulster would be much smarter to cough up!

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