Ulster Team Talk Thread III: Les Miserables SEE MOD WARNING POST #1924 + #2755

Scythica

BelTel has an article on McPhillips saying he won't give up the 10 jersey without a fight.

Suggests there may be some competition next season?

MJohnston

Scythica wrote: »

BelTel has an article on McPhillips saying he won't give up the 10 jersey without a fight.

Suggests there may be some competition next season?

At the very least suggests that the rumours of him leaving aren't true, which is great news.

launish116

Think he had said on insta a few weeks back couldn’t wait till the new season with the team and challenges ahead! Great news all the same!

bilston

MJohnston wrote: »

At the very least suggests that the rumours of him leaving aren't true, which is great news.

He confirmed a while back that he was staying

bilston

11th June folks and still only 1 out half and 3 wingers for next season

awec

bilston wrote: »

11th June folks and still only 1 out half and 3 wingers for next season

And no head coach for half the season.

launish116

Danny Wilson has been rumoured with a Scotland coaching role instead of Wasps forwards coach! Could this be McFarland about to be released?

irishbucsfan

This is, I think, of dubious relevance to this thread now but L'Equipe are claiming that Gibbes could still be Rochelle's next Director of Rugby, but they will wait until after the ITM Cup so he can fulfill his commitments in NZ

https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/La-rochelle-jono-gibbes-finalement-la-en-novembre/910285

Squidgy Black

irishbucsfan wrote: »

This is, I think, of dubious relevance to this thread now but L'Equipe are claiming that Gibbes could still be Rochelle's next Director of Rugby, but they will wait until after the ITM Cup so he can fulfill his commitments in NZ

https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/La-rochelle-jono-gibbes-finalement-la-en-novembre/910285

NOT AN ULSTER COACH, NOT RELEVANT.

sorry.

MJohnston

Gibbes seems like someone we're best off without. He doesn't seem to be an...organised kind of chap.

launish116

MJohnston wrote: »

Gibbes seems like someone we're best off without. He doesn't seem to be an...organised kind of chap.

Time to forget him look to our fresh start/season and embrace for future **** ups!

bilston

It's a bit worrying that the one year we have decent representation on the Ireland U20s they turn out to be s***.

That said at least O'Toole, Curtis and Lowry can absolve themselves of blame. And before anyone says Lowry didn't even picked for then I'd point out he was playing 10 the day Ireland beat Scotland, scoring 50 points in the process pre tournament. Irrespective of the strength of that Scottish team I wonder if the 20s made a complete balls of their selections at out half?

launish116

bilston wrote: »

It's a bit worrying that the one year we have decent representation on the Ireland U20s they turn out to be s***.

That said at least O'Toole, Curtis and Lowry can absolve themselves of blame. And before anyone says Lowry didn't even picked for then I'd point out he was playing 10 the day Ireland beat Scotland, scoring 50 points in the process pre tournament. Irrespective of the strength of that Scottish team I wonder if the 20s made a complete balls of their selections at out half?

Family connections in the IRFU supposely ****ed Lowry over!

On another note McFarland could be here for preseason https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby/door-open-for-new-ulster-coach-dan-mcfarland-could-arrive-in-the-summer-1-8531723

molloyjh

bilston wrote: »

It's a bit worrying that the one year we have decent representation on the Ireland U20s they turn out to be s***.

That said at least O'Toole, Curtis and Lowry can absolve themselves of blame. And before anyone says Lowry didn't even picked for then I'd point out he was playing 10 the day Ireland beat Scotland, scoring 50 points in the process pre tournament. Irrespective of the strength of that Scottish team I wonder if the 20s made a complete balls of their selections at out half?

Didn't both POC and Tierney step down from their roles just before the RWC as well?

irishbucsfan

molloyjh wrote: »

Didn't both POC and Tierney step down from their roles just before the RWC as well?

Yes. Out of their depths in reality.

launish116

irishbucsfan wrote: »

molloyjh wrote: »

Didn't both POC and Tierney step down from their roles just before the RWC as well?

Yes.  Out of their depths in reality.

They needed a defence coach and a backline!

bilston

molloyjh wrote: »

bilston wrote: »

It's a bit worrying that the one year we have decent representation on the Ireland U20s they turn out to be s***.

That said at least O'Toole, Curtis and Lowry can absolve themselves of blame. And before anyone says Lowry didn't even picked for then I'd point out he was playing 10 the day Ireland beat Scotland, scoring 50 points in the process pre tournament. Irrespective of the strength of that Scottish team I wonder if the 20s made a complete balls of their selections at out half?

Didn't both POC and Tierney step down from their roles just before the RWC as well?

Tierney yes...I hadn't heard about POC though.

I saw a lot to be positive about in the France game. We really went at them on a couple of occasions and showed great continuity in possession and ability to go wide. The French u20's look very impressive and many of them look physically ready for senior rugby.

At this age level the group moral can drop and standards can slip, these are kids - not pro's and when heads go down it can be hard to pick yourself back up.

I look at the performance level that they reached and I'm happy enough - even if they dropped off in consistency when the tournament was effectively over.

If we had found a 3 pointer from somewhere against France it could have been a completely different tournament.

stephen_n

That’s fairly positive about McFarland, hopefully it works out. Having him there for preseason could make a phenomenal difference to Ulsters season. Hope the Scots don’t insist on a gardening leave if Wilson does take the job.

launish116

stephen_n wrote: »

That’s fairly positive about McFarland, hopefully it works out. Having him there for preseason could make a phenomenal difference to Ulsters season. Hope the Scots don’t insist on a gardening leave if Wilson does take the job.

Would definitely put us in a good starting position, allowing him to sound out players, academy and have everyone hitting the ground running rather than playing catch up.

Bridge93

So Gibbes is off to La Rochelle in November

launish116

Bridge93 wrote: »

So Gibbes is off to La Rochelle in November

Couldn’t really careless! Rather have someone here who wants to be here!

MJohnston

To be a fly on the wall and know why exactly Gibbes wanted away from Ulster so desperately. Maybe he'll write an autobiography some day...

Shefwedfan

Bridge93 wrote: »

So Gibbes is off to La Rochelle in November

That is a huge shock :p

bilston

I really don't care. He didn't want to be here so goodbye and good luck. He could have handled his departure better but we will never know what was going on there.

jacothelad

Bridge93 wrote: »

So Gibbes is off to La Rochelle in November

No! Who'd ever have thought it considering the 'family' needs back in N.Z. I'm glad that has all been resolved. What a stroke of luck for him finding a vacancy suddenly open up......;);););););)..


In answer to a question about the move he said, "Don't mention the war...I think I got away with it." " Family crisis...what fam?......Oh! Yes. All sorted. Apparently the dog ate it."

irishbucsfan

Jaysus lads, you never know what could be going on back home for him. It could well be something that will be sorted by November or even could be dealt with from Rochelle after some time at home.

There's many things that could be going on there, some of them could be pretty tragic, maybe not much to be gained by being so quick to judge on this one.

Squidgy Black

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Jaysus lads, you never know what could be going on back home for him. It could well be something that will be sorted by November or even could be dealt with from Rochelle after some time at home.

There's many things that could be going on there, some of them could be pretty tragic, maybe not much to be gained by being so quick to judge on this one.

As much as I hate to admit it, I think you're right there. Another point as well, this could have been discussed with Ulster also who agreed it'd be best for them to replace him rather than wait until November to return.

We'll never get an outstraight explanation for it.

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Jaysus lads, you never know what could be going on back home for him. It could well be something that will be sorted by November or even could be dealt with from Rochelle after some time at home.

There's many things that could be going on there, some of them could be pretty tragic, maybe not much to be gained by being so quick to judge on this one.

If it was something like that with a specific time frame I'd imagine Ulster would have temporarily released him if they knew he would be back by November (they were prepared to wait until January for MacFarland).

What you write might be true but is it the most likely? I don't believe so.

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

If it was something like that with a specific time frame I'd imagine Ulster would have temporarily released him if they knew he would be back by November (they were prepared to wait until January for MacFarland).

What you write might be true but is it the most likely? I don't believe so.

Right. By the same token, if he just wanted to go to La Rochelle, he would have just gone to La Rochelle.

The least likely scenario, imo, is one where he's lied to Ulster for no reason at all to manufacture this move. And that's what he's being accused of.