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.

(15-9) Stewart Moore, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Mike Lowry, Nathan Doak, John Cooney;

(1-8) Steven Kitshoff, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson (C), Harry Sheridan, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Andy Warwick, Scott Wilson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Dave Ewers, Jake Flannery, Ethan McIlroy, Marcus Rea

So Henderson and Kitshoff both start. Sheridan at 6 and 6/2 bench again.
Lowrey on the wing with Moore at fullback.

Really surprised AOC playing - he wasn’t at the races last week

geoff999rugby wrote:Really surprised AOC playing - he wasn’t at the races last week

Yeah personally I wouldn't have even had him on the bench. But may be he has one last big performance in him

Thought Stockdale was available?

Baby sitting....

In all seriousness he need to serious refocus on his rugby if he has any pretensions to get back to his old form

geoff999rugby wrote:Baby sitting....

In all seriousness he need to serious refocus on his rugby if he has any pretensions to get back to his old form

Longest paternity leave ever!

I suspect he has been largely absent and that Murphy doesn't pick players he doesn't see train.

If so I approve

Maine man wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:Baby sitting....

In all seriousness he need to serious refocus on his rugby if he has any pretensions to get back to his old form

Longest paternity leave ever!

We don't know full story, could be complications, who knows

carpet baboon wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:Really surprised AOC playing - he wasn’t at the races last week

Yeah personally I wouldn't have even had him on the bench. But may be he has one last big performance in him

Better to start him and if done, can replace him, that sub him on and be stuck with him.

Kingshu wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:Really surprised AOC playing - he wasn’t at the races last week

Yeah personally I wouldn't have even had him on the bench. But may be he has one last big performance in him

Better to start him and if done, can replace him, that sub him on and be stuck with him.

That's why I would have started Izzy and had Hopes on the bench.

But I'm not the coach, and I think Richie might know a bit more than me

I honestly think Hopes simply isn’t ready.

Need to go for a few meals with Marty Moore to fill out

Hopes needs to get on the Joe McCarthy diet.

6 points down at half time. Not playing too bad.
But we need to score first in the second half.
Got to feel bad for stu Moore not having any luck with injuries, which unfortunately seems to happen to a lot of our players

Clermont running riot now.

Pick the bones out of that then.
33 unanswered points in the 2nd half. And this isn't a good Clermont team either.

Well not too bothered about missing the second half now

Did we fall apart or did Clermont turn up?

Tom Stewart is seriously inferior to Herring in both the scrummaging and throwing departments.
Until he improves he has no international future.

AOC is patently physically finished.
Been a great servant over the years.
Hopefully he agrees and retires this summer with his head held high.

Doak at 10 is squandering what few chances they create. He is not the future. He's at best an OK 9. Tom Stewart's actually Tom Kite and not just because of the height of his dart throws. Who taught him that weird technique? Very odd.
Anyway a half decent opening 20, a fortuitous finish to the half and it was downhill from there.

We need an outhalf, I know I keep saying it but even a passable 10 would be so much better.

Stevie Ferris will be livid, or has he given up being annoyed by Ulster's continuing travails?
Any ideas who is likely to be the new head honcho?
Seems like a lot of promising players have been treading water, or floundering, for the last few seasons.

Maine man wrote:Pick the bones out of that then.
33 unanswered points in the 2nd half. And this isn't a good Clermont team either.

Clermont have been inconsistent this year, but capable of scoring good tries when they manage to put it together.

Their front 5 aren't as dominant as the past but the backs can cause most teams problems.

Always thought Tom Stewart was the most overhyped player in Ulster. I actually think right now, John Andrew is a better option off the bench.
AOC is done too. Great servant to Ulster. Good captain too I thought.

Agreed the tries from the back of the maul gained him a profile he hasn’t earned.
I think John Andrew is showing signs of decline now though - he is 31.
Thankfully plenty coming through at hooker
McCormick, Walker and Solomon

So it's back to the bread and butter league. I guess one positive from the European efforts is that nobody can complain about game rustiness. I grasp at straws often but when a home game v Cardiff worries me these days any straws will do.

I saw Ferris and McCloskey got into it a bit at the weekend. Seems all about nothing really.

And I do think Ulster players probably should be staying away from media at the moment because to say Ulster are not playing well at the moment in a understatement. That won't help them pick up their confidence and a lot of those guys seem to be short on that at the moment.

Ferris was a great player

As a person he is a thick jerk

If you aren't going to say something positive then sometimes it's better to say nothing at all. Ferris could do well do think about how he berates his former employers. We're all frustrated as fans and I'm sure being an ex player exacerbates the frustration but bit the tongue or keypad Stevie, be nice. The current players could do without being reminded of where they are as a team right now.

In his defence what he did wasn't that bad. Something of nothing really.

Also it's not like all fans complain about their sides when they are bad. As a Dragons fan I've been in that space for 10+ years

To be fair I think anyone is entitled to their opinion. As a sportsman you probably should stay off media when things are not going well. You won't change anyone's opinion and I doubt it helps pick up your confidence either or improve your current situation.

Welshmushroom wrote:In his defence what he did wasn't that bad.  Something of nothing really.

Also it's not like all fans complain about their sides when they are bad.  As a Dragons fan I've been in that space for 10+ years  

To be fair I think anyone is entitled to their opinion.  As a sportsman you probably should stay off media when things are not going well.  You won't change anyone's opinion and I doubt it helps pick up your confidence either or improve your current situation.

If I was a young lad with sporting talent enough to have success with club or country I know I'd be staying well away from any social media. It's not in the makeup of young'uns these days though but there's always ways to limit the amount of confidence sapping commentary you're exposed to. I'm no spring chicken these days but I do frequent Twitter or X if that's what Elon wants to call it. I have blocked out most of the negative stuff about anything political in Ireland so surely the like of Stu McCloskey etc. can block out the "non-helpful" commentary relating to Ulster Rugby.

I made a comment on Twitter about Dave Ewers regarding his possible leaving and how little a loss I thought he would be because his best years were behind him. He liked the comment and followed me. I blocked him before he got any clues on how to find me.

Now not to be a Debbie Downer, but that team in 2014 won the exact same amount of trophies as this year's team has.
So it's a bit of a pointless willy swinging exercise.

Ferris has being spouting buillsh!t ever since he retired - maybe McCloskey had just had enough of it.

Pundit, ex-player, picks fight with current player when team isn't doing well. Well who'd have thought it. Have I been misinformed about what bears do in the woods?

The most disturbing thing recently on this thread is the statement that John Andrew is 31, he really doesn't seem to have around that long.

Leinster have signed Jordi Barrett for nest season.
Great signing for them, and I think it furthers my theory that Frawley is moving North.

Already mentioned that I think BB didn't get a contract to guarentee Frawley time at OH, and this seams to be a cushion for Leinster in replacing a utility back, for a season, to dampen the blow?

I'll add that I don't believe its Ulsters finances are the reason Ulster didn't sign Burns as first choice OH and Munster could afford the contract as a back up OH. Not when Munster have made a financial loss all but one season from 2012, and still are not yet at break even, whereas Ulster have just posted one loss in the same period. I can't see then how Munster could afford him as a back up and Ulster can't as 1st choice.

Kingshu wrote:Leinster have signed Jordi Barrett for nest season.
Great signing for them, and I think it furthers my theory that Frawley is moving North.

Already mentioned that I think BB didn't get a contract to guarentee Frawley time at OH, and this seams to be a cushion for Leinster in replacing a utility back, for a season, to dampen the blow?

I do so hope your right. But as normal it's the hope that kills, especially when what your saying makes perfect sense

Beat me to it Kingshu. Surely we are getting Frawley. And perhaps only on a one year deal matching up with Barrett's short term deal. Maybe Leinster have agreed to let him go as a loan/trial. Their way of agreeing to potentially IRFU's wishes without fully cutting ties just right now?

Then after a year hopefully either Frawley proves himself as a great 10 at Ulster, or returns to Leinster if they feel he is still a necessary addition to their squad as utility.

We can but hope. But this signing for sure makes the possibility a little more likely.

Hope you guys are right BUT

- Frawley has only played 4 games at 10 in 3 years
- It is a big assumption Barrett is even coming to play fly half - his All Black appearances are
Fullback : 89 times ( Fullback 61% )
Center : 45 times ( Inside Centre 25%, Outside Centre 5% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 7%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )

I think rotating 15 with Hansen and playing in the centre are far more likely - both Henshaw and Ringrose miss a fair number ogames
- hes only coming for 6 months

Exactly Geoff. He’s being brought in as a utility back, which is the exact role Frawley fills in their squad currently

If Ulster are so desperate for a 10 they'd consider a short term deal or a loan why don't Leinster send Pendergast up for a year? Get him a full season of rugby as the starting 10 then bring him back to Dublin to see if he can become the new golden boy at 10. Or am I missing some chat about Frawley being unhappy with how he's viewed at Leinster?

A loan wouldnt solve the issues at OH, would be better giving the time to Doak/Flannery and seeing how they develop rather than bring someone on for Leinster.

With Frawley I don't think hes unhappy, but has mentioned a number of times over last few years, that see's himself as an OH and wants to play OH. At Leinster he's a utility back. With the number of OHs at Leinster he isnt going to get games at OH as Geoff mentioned 4 games in last 3 years. With Burns gone he's near guarenteed to be that starting OH. If wanting to play OH there will not be a better opportunity for him (or anybother Leinster 10, looking games).

But for me Frawley has to decide if he wants to play OH for Ulster or be a utility back for Leinster.

AT the very least Frawley must surely see the signing of Barrett as him getting less gamete next year, which can only add to the appeal of Ulster. Hopefully IRFU and Ulster are trying to persuade him. Or one of the tens.

Nathan, if you're reading this (lol), it's not that we think you're useless, we just think you should stick to 9!

As the IRFU can use central contracts to influence things you've got to assume they'll apply some pressure as having three or four potential international 10s all playing at the same club whilst two of your four clubs don't have a viable international option doesn't work (Carty surely isn't getting another cap now).

Ulster offered a contract to Prendergast he turned it down.
Which is actually encouraging in so far as it suggests Ulster do at least recognise the need for a 10.

Harry Bryne, Ross Bryne, Prendergast and Frawley are not in the frame for Central Contracts so that lever is not in play with respect to any of them changing Province.

Essentially does Frawley have any pretentions to seriously be considered as a 10.
If he stays at Leinster ignore anything he says on the matter it meaningless hot air.

Farrell likes having the option of Frawley as a well practiced utility back competent at 10, 12 and 15. That would lean towards Frawley remaining at Leinster in his current role as per IRFU preferences. That's until the announcement of Barrett popping over for 6 months next season which would probably see Frawley's gametime as the main utility back being severely compromised with Leinster not wanting to waste a moment of Barrett's time in Ireland. Frawley's chances of pulling on a 10 shirt, already unlikely won't have improved any either so therefore I will assume he's going to move up north.
False optimism is rife in me but at least I'll back it up with some kind of logic, however misguided.

Doak and Flannery could learn a lot even from Frawley's limited time playing 10. He's a much more accomplished player in the position than either of them have shown.

Iain Henderson (toe), Rob Herring (hamstring), Steven Kitshoff (knee), Nick Timoney (toe) and Stewart Moore (hamstring) all sustained injuries in the match and as a result are unavailable for selection this week.

Hmm will make selection interesting in a game we really have to win

If we assume Marty Moore, Kieran Treadwell, Callum Reid remain unavailable

I would assume forwards largely pick themselves:
Warwick, Stewart, O'Toole, Izzy, Sheridan, Ewers, Matty Rea, McCann
Bench: (Academy player), Andrews, Wilson, O'Connor, Marcus Rea

Squeaky bum time

Any news on the rumours that we signed DeKlerk, Brennan and Murphy? Or is it still just rumour?

Pete330v2 wrote:

Welshmushroom wrote:In his defence what he did wasn't that bad.  Something of nothing really.

Also it's not like all fans complain about their sides when they are bad.  As a Dragons fan I've been in that space for 10+ years  

To be fair I think anyone is entitled to their opinion.  As a sportsman you probably should stay off media when things are not going well.  You won't change anyone's opinion and I doubt it helps pick up your confidence either or improve your current situation.

If I was a young lad with sporting talent enough to have success with club or country I know I'd be staying well away from any social media. It's not in the makeup of young'uns these days though but there's always ways to limit the amount of confidence sapping commentary you're exposed to. I'm no spring chicken these days but I do frequent Twitter or X if that's what Elon wants to call it. I have blocked out most of the negative stuff about anything political in Ireland so surely the like of Stu McCloskey etc. can block out the "non-helpful" commentary relating to Ulster Rugby.

I made a comment on Twitter about Dave Ewers regarding his possible leaving and how little a loss I thought he would be because his best years were behind him. He liked the comment and followed me. I blocked him before he got any clues on how to find me.

Wise choice, Ewers looks like he could eat most people. It was a signing that probably wasn't great though, as he seemed maybe a bit passed his best. The signing of Kitshoff should have worked out better, but it was probably wiser to invest in two good players with more availability for that much money. All this and the mid-season sacking of the coach, I can't help but think Ulster are turning into a Welsh Region. Welcome to the bottom lads!

carpet baboon wrote:Any news on the rumours that we signed DeKlerk, Brennan and Murphy? Or is it still just rumour?

What we know is:

De Klerk and Berman failed to get academy offers from Leinster.
Murphy did get one, but his dad is here.

Fissler is reporting we are "looking" at Aaron Cruden. ,