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Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.
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Banbridgeman wrote: »I really think Ulster will beat Munster comprehensively in the QF. I just think we're a stronger team in nearly every area of the pitch. Our front row is better, our second row is ahead with POC and Ryan injured, out backrow is much better, Pienaar is streets ahead of Murray and Wallace is playing better than O'Gara. I think Cave is a better 13 than Earls as well. Munster edge probably edge it in the back 3 though. I know it's in Thomond but this is a poor Munster team compared to previous years
Fetch the nurse.
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Digifriendly wrote: »If this game were at Ravenhill I might just tip Ulster but I think Munster at Thomond in the HEC are a pretty tough nut to crack and I think it'll be a season or two yet before Ulster hit their prime so Munster by 7-10 points.
That's spot on. Much as I'd love to think Ban'man's prediction was accurate, he's way off the mark. Maybe playing for Rory's club has skewed his critical faculties a bit. Beating Saints away and scoring 51 points - Yeah. A poor team my hoop.
Looking at the units.
Front rows: Botha is the best, most aggressive prop of the main 4 and most observers would suggest that Du Preez is possibly shading it over Court. That one is hard to judge but Afoa is a decent tight head even if he isn't as destructive as B.J. There isn't much in the hooker battle but Best would be a better all round player than the under-rated Varley. On balance I would suggest that Munster will, at the very least, shade the front row battle. If however Botha/Afoa has to leave the field all bets are off as I think Court/Du Preez would flatten Archer/ Macklin unless the subs have one of their best ever displays.
Munster +1
Second Rows.
POC and Ryan have it over Muller and Tuohy. I would hope it would be close. Tuohy is a real brute when he has a good game. He's 6'5" and 18 stone and faster around the field, a better carrier and more a more skilful player than the others. One thing he may lack in comparison is sheer aggression. POC and Ryan have it in spades.
Munster +1
Back Rows. Ferris, Wannenberg and Henry have been a good unit all season. To balance that Coughlin has been the most impressive and consistent 8 of all the sides this season and Wally may well be back and POM is a star in the making. Close. Hard to separate. I'm going with Ulster on this one because of Ferris and Wannenberg has been Ulster's 'Coughlin' all season.
Ulster +1
Half Backs. I suppose it depends on a number of factors. Pienaar is superior at 9 to TOL and Murray. Some would also claim that Marshall is also better. He certainly has a great energy and can increase the tempo of a game. If he leaves the headless chicken in the dressing room that is.
At 10 most sane fans would give the bouquet to ROG. As I haven't taken my pills this morning I'm thinking that:
a) Humphreys likes the big stage as much as ROG,
b) He can knock over really long range kicks (while missing from in front of the sticks - hence Pienaar kicking easier ones)
c) If it's sunny, dry and Ulster can win any decent fast ball he is a good runner and creator. He also is one of the quickest players in the league.
d) I think that he owes us a good game and he knows it.
e)
ROG and he can cancel each other out in the tackling stakes.
On the basis of the above I'm going to give it to Ulster - as much in hope as expectation but I think Pienaar and Humphreys can be very good in a fast paced game. I'm not one of those who endlessly knocks TOL but while he hasn't been playing well he is an outstanding athlete and should not be dismissed as easily as some do. Murray is in my opinion over promoted. He's o.k., he may well be Munster's best 9 but he isn't the best in Ireland.
I'm going to give this one to Ulster.
Ulster +1
Outside backs. This is always difficult to predict as a bounce of a ball often separates a motm peformance from a kick in the jacksie. It is also where the balance of a game tips.
Zebo is in my view clearly a better player than Gilroy. +1M
Wallace over Mafi. He's more creative and can pass. +1U Just.
Cave / Earls. On pace Keet clearly has it, on other aspects of the game I think Darren is more accomplished at 13. I'd call it even between them. =
Trimble v. Hurley /O'Dea/ Murphy. Trimble. +1U
Jones v. Terblanche. Jones has it as an attacker. Faster and more likely to join the line at speed. Terblanche has a great all round game and has surprised everyone at how he has seemed to get better with age. Why, he's even older than ROG. Jones +1M
So not much in it.
Home Advantage +1M
The extra factors are of course Munster are at home which is worth at least 10 points and ......
Team Work +1M
One of Ulster's greatest problems and in my view the reason for Mclaughlin's sideways move is the fact that they frequently look as if they have never been coached as a team. It is a frequent occurrence that the team seems to lose shape and fail to remain calm in attack and defence. Ulster score a lot of tries but also leak a lot - 43 / 31 in the league against 35 /21 for Munster. These are things that Munster do really well. McGahan has often been criticised by Munster fans but looking in as it were, we see a team that works as a unit and knows what to do in every given situation.0 -
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jacothelad wrote: »That's spot on. Much as I'd love to think Ban'man's prediction was accurate, he's way off the mark. Maybe playing for Rory's club has skewed his critical faculties a bit. Beating Saints away and scoring 51 points - Yeah. A poor team my hoop.
Looking at the units.
Front rows: Botha is the best, most aggressive prop of the main 4 and most observers would suggest that Du Preez is possibly shading it over Court. That one is hard to judge but Afoa is a decent tight head even if he isn't as destructive as B.J. There isn't much in the hooker battle but Best would be a better all round player than the under-rated Varley. On balance I would suggest that Munster will, at the very least, shade the front row battle. If however Botha/Afoa has to leave the field all bets are off as I think Court/Du Preez would flatten Archer/ Macklin unless the subs have one of their best ever displays.
Munster +1
Second Rows.
POC and Ryan have it over Muller and Tuohy. I would hope it would be close. Tuohy is a real brute when he has a good game. He's 6'5" and 18 stone and faster around the field, a better carrier and more a more skilful player than the others. One thing he may lack in comparison is sheer aggression. POC and Ryan have it in spades.
Munster +1
Back Rows. Ferris, Wannenberg and Henry have been a good unit all season. To balance that Coughlin has been the most impressive and consistent 8 of all the sides this season and Wally may well be back and POM is a star in the making. Close. Hard to separate. I'm going with Ulster on this one because of Ferris and Wannenberg has been Ulster's 'Coughlin' all season.
Ulster +1
Half Backs. I suppose it depends on a number of factors. Pienaar is superior at 9 to TOL and Murray. Some would also claim that Marshall is also better. He certainly has a great energy and can increase the tempo of a game. If he leaves the headless chicken in the dressing room that is.
At 10 most sane fans would give the bouquet to ROG. As I haven't taken my pills this morning I'm thinking that:
a) Humphreys likes the big stage as much as ROG,
b) He can knock over really long range kicks (while missing from in front of the sticks - hence Pienaar kicking easier ones)
c) If it's sunny, dry and Ulster can win any decent fast ball he is a good runner and creator. He also is one of the quickest players in the league.
d) I think that he owes us a good game and he knows it.
e)ROG and he can cancel each other out in the tackling stakes.
On the basis of the above I'm going to give it to Ulster - as much in hope as expectation but I think Pienaar and Humphreys can be very good in a fast paced game. I'm not one of those who endlessly knocks TOL but while he hasn't been playing well he is an outstanding athlete and should not be dismissed as easily as some do. Murray is in my opinion over promoted. He's o.k., he may well be Munster's best 9 but he isn't the best in Ireland.
I'm going to give this one to Ulster.
Ulster +1
Outside backs. This is always difficult to predict as a bounce of a ball often separates a motm peformance from a kick in the jacksie. It is also where the balance of a game tips.
Zebo is in my view clearly a better player than Gilroy. +1M
Wallace over Mafi. He's more creative and can pass. +1U Just.
Cave / Earls. On pace Keet clearly has it, on other aspects of the game I think Darren is more accomplished at 13. I'd call it even between them. =
Trimble v. Hurley /O'Dea/ Murphy. Trimble. +1U
Jones v. Terblanche. Jones has it as an attacker. Faster and more likely to join the line at speed. Terblanche has a great all round game and has surprised everyone at how he has seemed to get better with age. Why, he's even older than ROG. Jones +1M
So not much in it.
Home Advantage +1M
The extra factors are of course Munster are at home which is worth at least 10 points and ......
Team Work +1M
One of Ulster's greatest problems and in my view the reason for Mclaughlin's sideways move is the fact that they frequently look as if they have never been coached as a team. It is a frequent occurrence that the team seems to lose shape and fail to remain calm in attack and defence. Ulster score a lot of tries but also leak a lot - 43 / 31 in the league against 35 /21 for Munster. These are things that Munster do really well. McGahan has often been criticised by Munster fans but looking in as it were, we see a team that works as a unit and knows what to do in every given situation.
I don't know if I agree or disagree about some of the points but this post certainly makes me nervous, seems so tight and it's knockout rugby, hate games like these but then that's what rugby is all about.0 -
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