Ulster v Ospreys match thread

awec

Season opener and no idea what to expect. Will watch Nelson at 10 with interest, he can't be any worse than the revolving door that is iHumph.

Need a win.

mfceiling

Ahhhh....bbc 2 show ferris smashing his opponent on his comeback....I miss that man

phog

Tonight?

What channel?

awec

phog wrote: »

Tonight?

What channel?

BBC 2 NI, kick off in 1 minute.

awec

TRY! Herring.

Nelson can pass anyway!

case885

Unbelievable try from McCloskey, powerhouse.

awec

Holy crap.

What a score by McCloskey. Absolute tank.

Gets the ball on the 22, two hand offs and then gets over the line with two Ospreys players hanging off him.

duckysauce

class try

case885

And he's a good boot on him too, cave will have a job getting back in the team after the wc.

Scythica

Had absolutely no right to score that try, love it!!

postitnote

Nelson played alright so far. He's put in more tackles than ihumph did all last season. McCloskey having a stormer. He's thrown a couple of nice passes as well as his try and touch line conversion.

molloyjh

case885 wrote: »

And he's a good boot on him too, cave will have a job getting back in the team after the wc.

Never knew McCloskey kicked. He's been really impressive already, that just adds to it.

awec

Herbst is having a nightmare in the scrum.

awec

McCloskey with another line break. Boy has skills.

Scythica

awec wrote: »

McCloskey with another line break. Boy has skills.

Probably a stupid point to raise but the lad can place kick, silky skills and to be honest is better for ball carrying than most of our forwards. Reckon there's a chance we could have him at 10 during the WC period which would allow the likes of Olding to get into 12? (Perhaps Olding at 10 would make more sense, meh!)

awec

Don't think Olding will be fit for a while. The Nelson / McCloskey 10/12 axis has done well so far.

awec

TRY! Herbst with his first ever Ulster try.

Scythica

Ah fair enough I thought he was nearly fit but no idea where I heard that. Yeah it's doing well so far, although I'm flicking between this and the Rugbyaid match as well, both good fun at the min

awec

That's absolutely balls. No way that's a yellow card. Harsh on the Ospreys.

awec

Shanahan still looks about 12.

postitnote

4 hookers on the pitch now

Hagz

Think the referee just hit puberty there with that bind call.

awec

YES!!!

Bonus point try from Marshall.

The Rape of Lucretia

Super super try.

awec

John Andrew has good gas for a hooker.

vienne86

How did Nelson go at fly half?

Ceadog

vienne86 wrote: »

How did Nelson go at fly half?

Surprisingly well. Put in a decent shift in defense and passed well. McCloskey was place-kicking until the last half hour or so and that probably took a lot of pressure off of him.

mfceiling

Still have to watch the 2nd half...fcuk you tubridy!!

Jesus McCloskey is an animal. His power is unreal. Could be a hell of a quandary trying to get him, Olding, Marshall, Payne, Cave and maybe even Stockdale into 2 places!!

bilston

McCloskey is some pup. He can run, he can knock people out of his way, he can pass, he can offload and he can goal kick. I thought he was outstanding tonight. The Ospreys just couldn't handle him in any way shape or form.

As for Nelson, I was happy, it's only one game and I haven't seen Windsor play yet, but I'd almost be inclined to stick with him ahead of Humphreys. The problem is that whatever else you think about Humphreys inconsistencies, the one thing he is is a very good goal kicker and that is probably why he'll stay ahead of Nelson.

Anyway, that was a good win, the BP added a bit of gloss and the scrum was poor, but still the Ospreys are one of the better sides in the league so to beat them 5-0 is encouraging.

I'm feeling very happy about the sporting world right now!!!

bilston

mfceiling wrote: »

Still have to watch the 2nd half...fcuk you tubridy!!

Jesus McCloskey is an animal. His power is unreal. Could be a hell of a quandary trying to get him, Olding, Marshall, Payne, Cave and maybe even Stockdale into 2 places!!

And you've got Arnold as well who is a great young prospect.

I know he has come good at 13 for both us and Ireland but given all that talent you have to ask why the feck Jared isn't playing FB!

irishbucsfan

mfceiling wrote: »

Still have to watch the 2nd half...fcuk you tubridy!!

Jesus McCloskey is an animal. His power is unreal. Could be a hell of a quandary trying to get him, Olding, Marshall, Payne, Cave and maybe even Stockdale into 2 places!!

Don't forget Henshaw! (you're talking about the Irish midfield right?)

awec

I am coming around to the notion that we need McCloskey in the team. We have a real lack of ball carrying and grunt in our pack without our World Cup players, so we need someone who is capable of taking the very direct route.

awec

bilston wrote: »

And you've got Arnold as well who is a great young prospect.

I know he has come good at 13 for both us and Ireland but given all that talent you have to ask why the feck Jared isn't playing FB!

It's incredibly frustrating bilston. We are a much stronger prospect with him at 15.

mfceiling

awec wrote: »

It's incredibly frustrating bilston. We are a much stronger prospect with him at 15.

Just this 100%

Payne is wasted at 13. The amount of time he seems to have on the ball at 15 and his lines of running are top drawer. He's genuinely wasted at 13 in my opinion.

awec

Absolutely, I don't even think it's debatable any more.

bilston

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Don't forget Henshaw! (you're talking about the Irish midfield right?)

Ha, he might as well be!

bilston

awec wrote: »

Absolutely, I don't even think it's debatable any more.

Well the only thing that I would debate is that I don't think Payne is necessarily wasted at 13, it's more that Ulster are wasting their resources.

Two other players I would mention tonight. Nick Williams, yes the odd bad moment (the pass over his head to Herring's feet being particularly annoying) but in that sort of form he is very good, and Luke Marshall, he seems to be getting his mojo back. Great to see.

Oh and Clive Ross wasn't terrible. Everyone has to start somewhere!

jacothelad

awec wrote: »

Don't think Olding will be fit for a while. The Nelson / McCloskey 10/12 axis has done well so far.

January at the earliest. He is doing gym work and some running.

awec wrote: »

That's absolutely balls. No way that's a yellow card. Harsh on the Ospreys.

Never. You could see at the end Luke Marshall going over to Bearman and it was clear that he sympathising and saying it was never a card.

I have to say that I got it wrong. When I saw the 2 respective teams I thought Ulster would lose, having been fragmented and patchy in the warm-ups. Williams was very, very good. That eejit of a ref penalised him for holding Delve by the head when he was nowhere near it after Delve took him out off the ball. Tuohy was very effective too. Some enormous hits and great recycling from crap ball a la POC. Herring was his usual storming self. It won't be long before he overtakes Best.

Nelson was terrific. Great clearance kicks from narrow angles - better than Jackson. Put in some great tackles....and of course is the fastest player in the squad. Almost nailed a touchline conversion.

McCloskey was immense.

BUT... WHAT THE EFF HAS HAPPENED TO HERBST? It looks as if the team haven't had any scrummaging sessions at all. Normally they would have blown that O's front row away.

John Andrew and Sam Arnold were very good indeed. Kudos to Andrew. Looked like a back. Arnold looks like another star in the making.

Olding. Cave. Marshall. McCloskey. Payne. Arnold. Stockdale. Feck me but that is some impressive set of centres.

Feck.

bilston

jacothelad wrote: »

January at the earliest. He is doing gym work and some running.


Never. You could see at the end Luke Marshall going over to Bearman and it was clear that he sympathising and saying it was never a card.

I have to say that I got it wrong. When I saw the 2 respective teams I thought Ulster would lose, having been fragmented and patchy in the warm-ups. Williams was very, very good. That eejit of a ref penalised him for holding Delve by the head when he was nowhere near it after Delve took him out off the ball. Tuohy was very effective too. Some enormous hits and great recycling from crap ball a la POC. Herring was his usual storming self. It won't be long before he overtakes Best.

Nelson was terrific. Great clearance kicks from narrow angles - better than Jackson. Put in some great tackles....and of course is the fastest player in the squad. Almost nailed a touchline conversion.

McCloskey was immense.

BUT... WHAT THE EFF HAS HAPPENED TO HERBST? It looks as if the team haven't had any scrummaging sessions at all. Normally they would have blown that O's front row away.

John Andrew and Sam Arnold were very good indeed. Kudos to Andrew. Looked like a back. Arnold looks like another star in the making.

Olding. Cave. Marshall. McCloskey. Payne. Arnold. Stockdale. Feck me but that is some impressive set of centres.

Feck.

Spot on about Nelson's kicking from hand. It was impressive. I can think of one garryowen he undercooked, other than that his kicking was very good.

lucky_luke

I would really like to see Payne go to Connacht From an Irish perspective it makes sense, it means him and henshaw can really work up their partnership.

It also means there's more space for McCloskey and oulding with Cave and Marshall as back ups. Otherwise Ulster just have too many good centres and not all of them can get game time.

blackdog1

jacothelad wrote: »

January at the earliest. He is doing gym work and some running.


Never. You could see at the end Luke Marshall going over to Bearman and it was clear that he sympathising and saying it was never a card.

I have to say that I got it wrong. When I saw the 2 respective teams I thought Ulster would lose, having been fragmented and patchy in the warm-ups. Williams was very, very good. That eejit of a ref penalised him for holding Delve by the head when he was nowhere near it after Delve took him out off the ball. Tuohy was very effective too. Some enormous hits and great recycling from crap ball a la POC. Herring was his usual storming self. It won't be long before he overtakes Best.

Nelson was terrific. Great clearance kicks from narrow angles - better than Jackson. Put in some great tackles....and of course is the fastest player in the squad. Almost nailed a touchline conversion.

McCloskey was immense.

BUT... WHAT THE EFF HAS HAPPENED TO HERBST? It looks as if the team haven't had any scrummaging sessions at all. Normally they would have blown that O's front row away.

John Andrew and Sam Arnold were very good indeed. Kudos to Andrew. Looked like a back. Arnold looks like another star in the making.

Olding. Cave. Marshall. McCloskey. Payne. Arnold. Stockdale. Feck me but that is some impressive set of centres.

Feck.

That lh constantly hinged on Herbst. If you watch him he's not straight and steady where Herbst is dead straight. Really nothing you can do about it unless you take the loosehead up which Lutton did . Ref was poor in the scrum. On a side note I love watching Williams. Such a tank when on form and has great acceleration for a big man.

bilston

blackdog1 wrote: »

That lh constantly hinged on Herbst. If you watch him he's not straight and steady where Herbst is dead straight. Really nothing you can do about it unless you take the loosehead up which Lutton did . Ref was poor in the scrum. On a side note I love watching Williams. Such a tank when on form and has great acceleration for a big man.

I just hope that Williams plays like that all season.

mfceiling

bilston wrote: »

I just hope that Williams plays like that all season.

If he can stay fit and keep his temper checked he might get back to the form he had in his first season.

Fair play to Nelson...really stepped up to the mark last night.

pickarooney

Will we ever see McCloskey and Henderson paired in the centre?

blackdog1

mfceiling wrote: »

If he can stay fit and keep his temper checked he might get back to the form he had in his first season.

Fair play to Nelson...really stepped up to the mark last night.

Think Nelson should be kept myself. It was the first time I have seen ulster so solid down the 10 channel and it was telling with the great defensive effort. No one had to cover for another man like they do with Humphreys

The Elk

Was very impressed with how strong Nelson was in the tackle area and I had no idea McCloskey could kick.


Other than the Emerging Ireland side, does anyone know if McCloskey has had much/any involvement in Ireland training camps? I'd be hopeful that as long as he keeps playing well he'll get a run out for Ireland in the 6N.