Ulster 2023/2024 Season

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For the good, the bad and the ugly of Ulster rugby this season. Lets hope mostly good.

No Marty Moore
Is he going to retire - maybe ?

John Fogarty has joined up with the Ulster coaching staff for the trip to South Africa

I have little hope of getting much from the games in SA, but will be very pleasantly surprised if we can manage more than a LBP from both the games. Hopefully the coaching changes will start a process of improving performances, but fully expect it to a long road back, especially given the suggested leavers and lack of new faces for next season.

carpet baboon wrote:John Fogarty has joined up with the Ulster coaching staff for the trip to South Africa

That's an unexpected but very welcome addition.

Looks like Murphy wants the job on a permanent basis

Pete330v2 wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:John Fogarty has joined up with the Ulster coaching staff for the trip to South Africa

That's an unexpected but very welcome addition.

I hope he can rejuvenate EOS and step up Wilson's development..

It does look like the IRFU have realised the coaching ticket needs serious help.

Do we know who is paying Murphy and Fogarty Ulster branch or the IRFU?

geoff999rugby wrote:Looks like Murphy wants the job on a permanent basis

Which can only be a good thing

And Burns confirmed to Munster

carpet baboon wrote:And Burns confirmed to Munster

For one year only.

Pete330v2 wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:And Burns confirmed to Munster

For one year only.

Which seems an odd choice as he's 29. Have Munster got a young 10 coming through the academy?
You would think he may have got a longer offer from somewhere

Munster only have Tony Butler
Joey Carbery is off

Maybe Burns still fancies his chances at Ireland caps? Desperate to stay in Ireland system?

I'd say Burns is on a one year contract to see how he goes in the Munster system as backup to Crowley. If he works out perhaps he'll be offered a longer stay. It's a shame to see him go, he's been a mixed bag but better than what we're left with.

Ulster look a bit light at Fly Half now though going into next season. They must have to recruit but if they have to cut spends its hard to see if they actually have any money available.

Welshmushroom wrote:Ulster look a bit light at Fly Half now though going into next season.  They must have to recruit but if they have to cut spends its hard to see if they actually have any money available.

With Ireland winning the 6N the IRFU picks up the £5m prize pot and apparently they, along with England, France and Wales budget for coming 3rd which has a prize of £2.5m. With that in mind the IRFU now has and extra £2.5m so maybe they'll share. Hardly likely mid you.

Welshmushroom wrote:Ulster look a bit light at Fly Half now though going into next season.  They must have to recruit but if they have to cut spends its hard to see if they actually have any money available.

No recruitment only a number of people leaving.

The possible exception is Leinster squad players coming north but no one seems interested

Next years 10's are Doak and Flannery with Lowry as back up

So as far as 10s go, Leinster have both Byrne's, with Prendergast, Tector and Murphy as young lads coming through, oh and Frawley.
So that's 6 flyhalfs, and not one of them fancy coming to Ulster to get more than 4 or five games a season?

If Frawley stays he will end up being seen as the backup 10,12 and 15, but come North and he will start every important game at 10.

At least one Byrne, Prendergast and Frawley will be in Ireland camps and being "managed" in terms of game time so I suppose the rest fancy their chances with the rest of games. And we did so well in managing Flannery when he came up ....

Hopefully changes in coaching and (I hope) the rest of the organisation may eventually persuade somebody to move North. Or perhaps we just need to get a suitable cross border crisp trade going

carpet baboon wrote:So as far as 10s go, Leinster have both Byrne's, with Prendergast, Tector and Murphy as young lads coming through, oh and Frawley.
So that's 6 flyhalfs, and not one of them fancy coming to Ulster to get more than 4 or five games a season?

If Frawley stays he will end up being seen as the backup 10,12 and 15, but come North and he will start every important game at 10.

0

Realistically Murphy and Tector will only get the odd game next year.
Throw in at least one injury
Throw in 1, maybe 2, with Ireland and there will be reasonable game time for the Bryne's and Prendergast.

I also suspect Frawley has missed the boat for 10
He has started only 4 games at fly half in 4 years and only 12 in his entire career.
Like Lowry he may have started out as a fly half but hardly any recent exposure.

If you don't use it, you lose it

I understand all of the above but deep down I'm a dreamer.
Murphy is going to rejuvenate some of our waining elder players, and inspire our young players to up step up a lever or 3.

He will fix Addison's injuries with some Mr Miyagi style action, and we will get 3 seasons of uninterrupted Will. He will magically make Marty a test prop again.

Stockdale will  be scoring for fun
Rob B will be roaming the pitch cutting fantastic lines.
Hume will once again be anointed as the chosen one.
Sheridan And McCann will be totemic figures inspiring everyone.

And all the players down south will be desperate to move to join the Richie revolution.

The other forum is reporting that we have Fogarty with us to see if TOT can be switched to loose head.
Think the IRFU will be sending us a new tight head to compensate ?

Toomunga-Allen problem solved.

Probably the solution is Warwick switching back to TH

carpet baboon wrote:I understand all of the above but deep down I'm a dreamer.
Murphy is going to rejuvenate some of our waining elder players, and inspire our young players to up step up a lever or 3.

He will fix Addison's injuries with some Mr Miyagi style action, and we will get 3 seasons of uninterrupted Will. He will magically make Marty a test prop again.

Stockdale will  be scoring for fun
Rob B will be roaming the pitch cutting fantastic lines.
Hume will once again be anointed as the chosen one.
Sheridan And McCann will be totemic figures inspiring everyone.

And all the players down south will be desperate to move to join the Richie revolution.

And there will 6 consecutive days in Belfast without rain

Unclear wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:I understand all of the above but deep down I'm a dreamer.
Murphy is going to rejuvenate some of our waining elder players, and inspire our young players to up step up a lever or 3.

He will fix Addison's injuries with some Mr Miyagi style action, and we will get 3 seasons of uninterrupted Will. He will magically make Marty a test prop again.

Stockdale will  be scoring for fun
Rob B will be roaming the pitch cutting fantastic lines.
Hume will once again be anointed as the chosen one.
Sheridan And McCann will be totemic figures inspiring everyone.

And all the players down south will be desperate to move to join the Richie revolution.

And there will 6 consecutive days in Belfast without rain

Come on now, that's a little unrealistic

It looks like Mcloskey missed out to Manu Tuilagi as Bayonne’s pick.

Hopefully he refocuses under the new coaching and continues being the rock of Ulster’s back line.

clivemcl wrote:It looks like Mcloskey missed out to Manu Tuilagi as Bayonne’s pick.

Hopefully he refocuses under the new coaching and continues being the rock of Ulster’s back line.

I can't help but think that Stu's inclusion under Farrell has been the catalyst that has sent Aki's performance level to the stratosphere. If Stu is allowed to leave Ireland after next season who's going to replace him to keep the standards as high as they are? If his mind is fixed on a payday then hopefully that'll spur him on to raise levels this season under Murphy to raise his stock value bot to the French market and the IRFU.

On another note, where Ewers? He's not listed as injured unless I've missed him on that list but we certainly aren't getting much out of the investment in him. We're light on backrow options for the SA games, an injury or 2 could be damaging to even the most delusional of hopes for this mini tour.

Ulster squad for the Shark fishing expedition.

(15-9) Will Addison, Ethan McIlroy, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Mike Lowry, Billy Burns, John Cooney;

(1-8) Steven Kitshoff, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson (C), Harry Sheridan, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Scott Wilson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, Nathan Doak, Jude Postlethwaite, Sean Reffell.

A strong selection that makes sense, who'd have thought it.

6 - 2 split on the bench is an interesting decision given the poor injury record of some of our backs

True but given that Doak, Postlewaite, Lowry, Addison, Cooney and McIlroy can all play in one of more positions not that surprising.

Interesting article on the beeb about 3G pitches since Ulster have gone down that route.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crg69wrp9y8o
I remember a similar article a few years ago in the Telegraph about 3G pitches in the Netherlands

Bit scrappy so far but Sheridan and McCann looking good. Addison showing signs his form is returning.

Well I know it's hot but Addison looks absolutely done after les than 30 minutes

To be honest half the team look f**ked at half time. Second half could be painful

A few of those Ulster boys were breathing through their a$$es at half time

That's as clear a knock on as you'll ever see. Ball angle clearly deflects of his hand. If Whitehouse is blind then fair enough but the TMO must have some mental deficiencies if he can't see it.

Pete330v2 wrote:That's as clear a knock on as you'll ever see. Ball angle clearly deflects of his hand. If Whitehouse is blind then fair enough but the TMO must have some mental deficiencies if he can't see it.

I thought so too. Also ref seemed pretty determined to disallow Ulsters most recent try.

That's fair, one TMO F-up deserves another.

Jeez thats a soft yellow for Henderson.

Is it me but when Henderson was pinged for the high tackle, Treadwell also went in with a no arm tackle?

Plus this referee is woeful

Maine man wrote:Plus this referee is woeful

Think the TMO isnt helping him and is worse.

But that doesnt really have a baring on this game at the moment. Ulster look unfit and no confidence. No creativity either.

Something is going very wrong at Ulster. Can't believe I'm watching the same team from the last 2 seasons.

Some really odd calls from this ref, calling a maul as a tackle!

Nice bit of play by Ulster - then a guy doesnt know where the touch line is on attack.....really poor in the end for what looked like some promising play.

In the end sharks win. Ulster won't place top 8 if they keep playing like this.

Story of the season to be honest, decent effort but lots and lots of silly mistakes.

Some positives. McCann, Sheridan and Wilson. That's about it for me

carpet baboon wrote:Story of the season to be honest, decent effort but lots and lots of silly mistakes.

I just can't understand how quickly from one season to another, how things have collapsed.

It is clear confidence and pressure are playing a big part. But that simply can't be the only thing. Coaching quality will need to come through. If they change coaches they will need to attract good ones which I'm not so sure will be tempted by this post.

carpet baboon wrote:Some positives. McCann, Sheridan and Wilson. That's about it for me

McCann was really good today. Really seemed to have great energy and determination.

Welshmushroom wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:Story of the season to be honest, decent effort but lots and lots of silly mistakes.

I just can't understand how quickly from one season to another, how things have collapsed.  

It is clear confidence and pressure are playing a big part.  But that simply can't be the only thing.  Coaching quality will need to come through.  If they change coaches they will need to attract good ones which I'm not so sure will be tempted by this post.

Look back some of us were doom and gloom in August for a reason.
This collapse has been on the card since our surrender to Connacht, at home, May 5th last year - there was clearly something rotten at that stage.
I happen to think the rot set in before that and was evident when I had the misfortune to bump into McFarland in April 2022 after the Toulouse defeat at home.

As to Ben Whitehouse - one the worst, if not the worse referee in the league - clueless
Don't blame him for the defeat though

carpet baboon wrote:Some positives. McCann, Sheridan and Wilson. That's about it for me

Agreed

Have to agree with this observation

'Amazing by Wilson. We’ve saw Ox mince tightheads at international level and had TOT nearly bent in two. Wilson was rock solid - some effort by that young man!'

Also McCann only missed out on the 6N due to injury - he simply has to go to South Africa.
A player who absolutely looks ready for International rugby

If that is Richie Murphy’s ‘back yourself, express yourself’ style, then no thanks.

Maybe some of these players need to come to terms with the fact they can’t do things they used to.

Some ridiculous decision making, daft passes, backs no yourself down a blind alley…

My observations:
Half that team wouldn’t even be third choice at Leinster. Woeful.

Scott Wilson looked great at start of season, and looked decent again tonight. Any reason we’ve seen so little of him in between? Injury?

If we don’t have a secret ten lined up to come in next season, we will be battling it out at the bottom of the league.