Ulster Rugby 2017-2018 Part 2

First topic message reminder :

Carberry is 22, McPhillips is 21. Is this talk about sticking with McPhillips and hoping he turns out to be a gem maybe a tad naive? Carberry at a year older is being talked about as though he was the second coming and all this despite Sexton and Byrne and a whole backline of stellar players potentially blocking him. By contrast, it's almost as if we only know the name of McPhillips because we had no choice. A year ago the thinking was Jackson and Nelson. We then were saying Cooney can play 10 a bit. Then we signed Lealifano. Surely if McPhillips was the hot prospect, the coaches would have featured him more before Lealifano left.
In fact during Leanlifano's time here wasn't Nelson the preferred bench 10, and indeed started 3 games at 10 before Christmas, but then got injured?

Not meaning to be super negative, I hope I'm wrong. Cooney is a perfect example of a player suddenly shining from nowhere. I guess Ulster coaches know better than me if he's a real prospect worth thrusting into the limelight or not.

Don Alfonso wrote:Is "Snap!" big on the international scene?

Sleight of hand, dexterity, fast reflexes, anticipation, being not afraid to speak out - all essential to reach the highest levels.

I'm in.

Maybe BBC NI will show it in lieu of the rugby.

Don Alfonso wrote:Maybe BBC NI will show it in lieu of the rugby.

They could maybe get some interest by showcasing a snapping turtle...


...oh wait they already have that - it's called the Nolan Show.

Apparently Henry Speight went off injured yesterday, seems some things never change at Ulster

I think there's a direct link to "being signed by Ulster" and that evil, black, granite, sarcophagus they've just uncovered in Egypt.

Hopefully Bryn grabs his hat and bullwhip, and goes in to defeat the curse once and for all

Ulster "senior" players with less than 25 caps?
Fifteen.
Over a third of the squad.

15 of the 44 are on Development contracts - I think you have identified who they are

Article from RugbyPass on Billy Burns

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/stats-say-billy-burns-player-ulster-hands

marty2086 wrote:Article from RugbyPass on Billy Burns

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/stats-say-billy-burns-player-ulster-hands

Encouraging. Exciting, even?

With stats like that, try assist defenders beaten etc it is a lot like Cooneys. They have the potentional to be a very exciting half back pairing. Both happy to run, pass or kick it could create confusion in opposition defences.

McGrath/Sexton
Murray/Carbery
Cooney/Burns
Marimon/Howitz
Which will be best by seasons end?

Munster 47 Full and Development contracts, N/a Academy contracts
Leinster 47 Full and Development contracts, 20 Academy contracts
Ulster 29 Full, 15 Development contracts, 11 Academy (no names) contracts

So we aren't far behind in terms of numbers in the squad though the balance and experience is the problem

20 in the Munster Academy.

2018/19 Greencore Munster Rugby Academy

Year 3: Gavin Coombes (Backrow/Young Munster), Shane Daly (Centre/Cork Con), Sean O’Connor (Lock/Garryowen).

Year 2: Craig Casey (Scrumhalf/Shannon), Liam Coombes (Back three/Garryowen), Keynon Knox (Prop/UL Bohs), James McCarthy (Fullback/UL Bohs), Alex McHenry (Centre/Cork Con), Matt More (Centre/Garryowen), Jack O’Sullivan (Back Row/UCC), Jack Stafford (Scrumhalf/Shannon), Alan Tynan (Full-back/Young Munster).

Year 1: Thomas Ahern (Lock/Waterpark), Diarmuid Barron (Hooker/Garryowen), Jack Daly (Back-row/Garryowen), Ben Healy (Out-half/Glenstal), James French (Prop/UCC), Sean French (Centre/PBC), Eoghan Clarke (Hooker/Wanderers), Jonathan Wren (Back three/PBC).

Thanks for that

Given the rumours are Ulster have two more players to come in - a Utility Back and a Forward (probably a Lock) near as damn it our squad will be the same size

I'm beginning to think Alex Thompson and Henry Speight are the two players being referred to as our final signings.
That would make 46 on Full or Development contracts.

Confirmed Academy for 2018/2019 season - ages as of start of the season - Sept 1st approx.

Prop
Jack Aungier(Year 2/19 years old/Tighthead/St.Marys/Suttonians RFC) - 9 under-20 caps
Michael Milne(Year 1/18-19 years old/Tighthead/CC Roscrea) 

Hooker
Ronan Kelleher(Year 2/20 years old/Landowne/St. Michaels) - 11 under-20 caps

Lock
Oisin Dowling(Year 2/21 years old/Lansdowne/St. Michaels) - 9 under-20 caps
Jack Dunne(Year 1/19 years old/DUFC/St. Michaels) - 10 under-20 caps
Ryan Baird(Year 1/18-19 years old/St. Michaels)

Backrow
Scott Penny(Year 1/18-19 years old/St. Michaels)

Scrumhalf
Hugh O'Sullivan(Year 2/20 years old/Clontarf/Belvedere) - 10 under-20 caps
Patrick Patterson(Year 1/19-20 years old/UCD/Blackrock) - 1 under-20 cap

Outhalf
Ciaran Frawley(Year 2/20 years old/UCD/Skerries RFC) - 10 under-20 caps
Harry Byrne(Year 1/19 years old/UCD/St. Michaels) - 10 under-20 caps, still eligible

Centre
Conor O'Brien(Year 3/22 years old/Clontarf/Mullingar RFC) - 9 under-20 caps
Jimmy O'Brien(Year 3/21 years old/UCD/Newbridge) - 8 under-20 caps
Gavin Mullin(Year 2/20 years old/UCD/Blackrock) - 7 under-20 caps
Tommy O'Brien(Year 2/20 years old/UCD/Blackrock) - 15 under-20 caps

Back Three
Hugo Keenan(Year 3/22 years old/UCD/Blackrock) - 10 under-20 caps, irish 7's player
Jack Kelly(Year 3/20 years old/DUFC/St. Michaels) - 5 under-20 caps
Michaels Silvester(Year 1/20 years old/DUFC/Clongowes) - 14 under-20 caps
Aaron O'Sullivan(Year 1/18 years old/Exile)

From leinsterfans

geoff999rugby wrote:I'm beginning to think Alex Thompson and Henry Speight are the two players being referred to as our final signings.
That would make 46 on Full or Development contracts.

Did you say before Thompson was on an Academy contract too?

He did 3 years in the Ulster academy then a year in Dublin working in sherry fitz and playing for terenure

Thompson was on an Academy contract but he will be coming back on a Development contract.

You're right Leinster Academy is 19 not 20 - I cant count

geoff999rugby wrote:You're right Leinster Academy is 19  not 20 - I cant count

I didn't even notice that

KOTH reckons McFarland will be here next week - I've heard by the start of the season

geoff999rugby wrote:KOTH reckons McFarland will be here next week - I've heard by the start of the season

Has Easterby been in yet?

If he hasn't already he will definitely be there this week

Sure Easterby has nothing else to do this time of year. He shoild have been there as soon as the players were.

Is there any point in Easterby arriving before McFarland if he's only coming up to pick Dan's brain about Scottish forwards?

geoff999rugby wrote:If he hasn't already he will definitely be there this week

Think Easterby went straight from the Australian tour to Belfast.

Kingshu wrote:Sure Easterby has nothing else to do this time of year. He shoild have been there as soon as the players were.

Holidays? He still lives in Wales as well, so it is a bit of an incovenience for him and his family.

He has plenty of time between 6nations and summer internations for hoildays and seeing family. Last game was 23rd June so even then to this week is a 3 week break. How much hoilday does he need

Kingshu wrote:He has plenty of time between 6nations and summer internations for hoildays and seeing family. Last game was 23rd June so even then to this week is a 3 week break. How much hoilday does he need

In fairness, he spent a month away from his family on the other side of the world. He's also only helping Ulster out and would require more time away from home. That's a lot to ask

I have a strange feeling about this season.
I in no way whatsoever believe we will win any silverware, but I can see us having a season to be extremely proud of, with a few young lads showing serious intent.

We have a better CEO, a better coaching set up, a better squad (albeit with gaps) and a better atmosphere in the club

Sounds like a good basis for a better set of results

Who is our CEO?

At the minute we don't have one Don which is better than Logan tbh but I think Geoff is saying that the new CEO will be better. Rumors are heavy that it is Constable

Yeah, Constable was the name I heard, then it all went quiet. And then I thought I heard something about someone from down South?

My take on the CEO is simple

Anyone is better than Logan
No one is better than Logan
That's not joke I actually believe it to be true
All I've been told by the grapevine is it is an ex top level player

How's Allan Clarke going to manage being DoR at Ospreys and CEO at Ulster simultaneously?

marty2086 wrote:

Kingshu wrote:He has plenty of time between 6nations and summer internations for hoildays and seeing family. Last game was 23rd June so even then to this week is a 3 week break. How much hoilday does he need

In fairness, he spent a month away from his family on the other side of the world. He's also only helping Ulster out and would require more time away from home. That's a lot to ask

I know it sounds like I am being cold hearted, the easterly delay may be a good sing McFarland is coming soon, and they don't want a head coach for a week then new ideas.

But if there is a chance McFarland will be later Easterby should be starting pre season with the rest of the squad and getting things in order from the get go, we need things to go as smoothly as possible and having Peel and co run things, then Easterby then McFarland, is too cooks to many changes.
We should either have Dwayne Peel then Macfarland or Easterby then Macfarland. Don't put in a third step.

I also do not see any reason he couldn't be there for the start, say after Irelands last test there was a week to review etc that still leaves a 2 week break, between the 6 nations and summer tests there is plenty of time for holidays, when McFarland comes in there will be holiday time before the autumn internationals, and after them more holiday time until the 6 nations.
How much holiday time is needed. He is employed by the IRFU and the role needs him to help to Ulster the best way to to his is be there from the start of Preseason, or not be there at all.

geoff999rugby wrote:My take on the CEO is simple

Anyone is better than Logan
No one is better than Logan
That's not joke I actually believe it to be true
All I've been told by the grapevine is it is an ex top level player

BOD is coming in to sort out the basketcase, that explains the 12th an all, getting familiar with norn iron, lay of the land and all that.

To be clear, as Sin e implies, he may well have gone direct to Belfast from Australia.
Because of being away myself I am only certain he is here this week, he could have been here earlier.

Seems he was in the first week of preseason

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/golf/helping-ulster-out-simon-easterby-comes-in-to-help-with-coaching-1-8554466

marty2086 wrote:Seems he was in the first week of preseason

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/golf/helping-ulster-out-simon-easterby-comes-in-to-help-with-coaching-1-8554466

Thats the ticket, just though if he wasn't Peel would be in charge, then Easterby and then McFarland, 3 different heads means it would take longer to develop a style.
also with Peel and Co being uncharge fo ra while would it have made it harder for Dan to exert this authoritah?

What it to be as smooth as possible for Dan and Ulster, I want this season to be a great building block season and everything that can be done to smooth it out to be done.

Easterby was never being brought in to be in charge though, he was coming in to be forwards coach. Why Dundon couldn't step up though is a strange one but from everything I've seen or heard from players, coaches and I think geoff too it seems to be everyone is working off McFarlands blueprint and it should hopefully be a seamless transition when he does arrive

Marty is right Peel is the nominal head until McFarland arrives

Kingshu wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Kingshu wrote:He has plenty of time between 6nations and summer internations for hoildays and seeing family. Last game was 23rd June so even then to this week is a 3 week break. How much hoilday does he need

In fairness, he spent a month away from his family on the other side of the world. He's also only helping Ulster out and would require more time away from home. That's a lot to ask

I know it sounds like I am being cold hearted, the easterly delay may be a good sing McFarland is coming soon, and they don't want a head coach for a week then new ideas.

Bear in mind that his kids are out of school now and his wife is also on holiday. I read that he was in for Ulster's preseason.

Which fits with what I am being told.

Peel oversees pre season training, Easterby supplies the specialist forward coaching up and until McFarland arrives.
Which should be before the season commences.

Don Alfonso wrote:Yeah, Constable was the name I heard, then it all went quiet. And then I thought I heard something about someone from down South?

A top level ex-player from the South? Surely you mean the East... ?

So Peel oversees while McFarland overseas?

Not a problem McFarland is in ultimate charge but Peel is the man ensuring the master plan is progressed until the boss arrives