Ulster v Dragons match thread

awec

Match thread here

awec

Great kicking by McPhillips so far

Squidgy Black

Two silly errors from the dragons within the first 5 minutes meaning a turnover in possession.

mangobob

Think he was a tad lucky that was just a penalty tbh

awec

Ulster try, Speight

Squidgy Black

Probably would've been a yellow if that hadn't been scored.

Squidgy Black

Impressed with McPhillips so far, seems to be really up for it

Squidgy Black

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Probably would've been a yellow if that hadn't been scored.

Second slap down in the red zone within 5 minutes so yellow was certainly on the cards. Still is if another infringement in the Dragons 22 any time soon.

awec

Lowry is bloody special

Scythica

Since when did we get hoighty toighty enough for our own match threads?!
Balacoune looks like he's really nervous so far but seems to have a bit of zizz about him.
Noticed Rory has brought out a bit of venom to him today. Some vicious clearouts

Scythica

Deleted User wrote: »

Addison should be called up to the Ireland squad

He has been

awec

So then... Addison is alright

Scythica

Seriously how did Addison never get in the England squad...

Unreal

The difference in Ulsters defensive shape since the start of the season is noticeable, starting to look very organised

Addison should be called up to the Ireland squad

Burkie1203

Class from Addison

mangobob

That was a thing of beauty.

Terrific from Addison

awec

The Dragons are genuinely garbage

thomond2006

awec wrote: »

The Dragons are genuinely garbage

#Buernard

jacothelad

Ulster are pretty woeful. Some good players and Lowry is a star in the making.

awec

Lowry, could watch this guy all day

Squidgy Black

That was some break and offload from Henderson

Locke_Lamora

Only a 'world class' player like Henderson could keep playing after losing a boot.

Burkie1203

Calling it now. Lowry RWC bolter

Synode

That was a fantastic try. Lowry looks the real deal. Beautiful feet

Squidgy Black

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Calling it now. Lowry RWC bolter

I'd take Lowry over Haley to be honest.

OldRio

A couple of things from the first half.
Lowry. A joy to watch.
The Ulster Scrum. Just awful against this Dragons team without their first pick forwards.
The Ulster lineout. What is going on?

Wikidy

There are some players you pay the entrance fee to watch. Lowry and Addison are in that bracket.

awec

Line out is a joke

jacothelad

awec wrote: »

Line out is a joke

Yep...and it's down to Best.

mangobob

Ulster mixing the awful with the sublime.

Former Former

Ah here, what age were those lads drinking the pints??

mangobob

FFS Lowry gone

OldRio

Well you can't blame Best for that one.

mangobob

Im not sure I can remember a worse lineout than Ulsters. It truly is utterly abysmal.

Wikidy

set piece is very poor. not sure if it is a lack of talent or poor coaching

Addison couldn't hold him up there. Stick that in the memory bank for the provincial spats.

Squidgy Black

What the fúck was McCloskey thinking there.

Wikidy

Kick wasn't on, Scarlets had numbers out wide.

awec

Treadwell has been good tonight

Squidgy Black

Stewart was like an animal in defence there, two big tackles to slow things down

Locke_Lamora

I get so frustrated with Treadwell, turns out performances like this every now and again, but will disappear the following week. He's still really young for a lock - only turning 23 next month

stephen_n

Score?

Dog Botherer

stephen_n wrote: »

Score?

36-18 to Ulster, full time.

jacothelad

A half decent team would have stuffed Ulster tonight. Poor scrum and shocking line-out........ as it has been for years.

Lack of cool headed thinking under pressure.

White line fever.
Some excellent individual performances like Addison, Lowry, McPhillips, Stewart and Treadwell.

Individual efforts don't actually make a team.



It's early days in the rebuild I suppose but feck me that was the most disappointing bonus point win for a long time.



I suspect that Best really has to take stock of his l/outs. They once again looked like a big girl's blouse was throwing in. Any l/o can miss a few takes but when the throws are big, slow, loopy, off centre efforts that a one eyed scoliotic gibbon would be proud of then things need to change.



Ulster need a scrum refresher course with Greg Feek.

Clegg

Addison is a lovely runner but seems to have problems with his positioning when in defence. Outside centre is the toughest position to defend from and he has a lot of things to work on.

stephen_n

jacothelad wrote: »

A half decent team would have stuffed Ulster tonight. Poor scrum and shocking line-out........ as it has been for years.

Lack of cool headed thinking under pressure.

White line fever.
Some excellent individual performances like Addison, Lowry, McPhillips, Stewart and Treadwell.

Individual efforts don't actually make a team.



It's early days in the rebuild I suppose but feck me that was the most disappointing bonus point win for a long time.



I suspect that Best really has to take stock of his l/outs. They once again looked like a big girl's blouse was throwing in. Any l/o can miss a few takes but when the throws are big, slow, loopy, off centre efforts that a one eyed scoliotic gibbon would be proud of then things need to change.



Ulster need a scrum refresher course with Greg Feek.

So there’s room for improvement?

jacothelad

Clegg wrote: »

Addison is a lovely runner but seems to have problems with his positioning when in defence. Outside centre is the toughest position to defend though. Might be a better bet for full back.

I would give him a free pass a.t.m. as that back-line had never played together before. Shanahan, McPhillips, Speight, McCloskey, Addison, Balacoune and Lowry will probably never be on the field together again.
Defence structure is partly a collective organisation.

mfceiling

Jesus ulster would frustrate the hell out of you.
Any other team bar the dragons would have beaten them tonight.
The amount of missed tackles is beyond a joke...lads throwing out loose arms like they're trying to get their mates attention in the pub.

Positives.

Lowry...Jesus this cub is good.
Shanahan...starting to grow on me. Nippy little passer and actually gets stuck in to tackle.
Addison...lovely footballer.
McPhillips...picking up nicely from last year.


Negatives

We have no line out....zero.
Scrum is useless.
Fear of the try line...how many times did they cough up possession within metres of the try line.
Discipline.
Missed tackles...this is really going to cost us in the bigger games.

Burkie1203

mfceiling wrote: »

Negatives

We have no line out....zero.
Scrum is useless.
Fear of the try line...how many times did they cough up possession within metres of the try line.
Discipline.
Missed tackles...this is really going to cost us in the bigger games.

Lineout is fixable. I think Ulster need to just go safe for a bit

Scrum is down to largely poor props.

Discipline is something that comes with getting defence right. Once they get used to the defence system it should improve that side of things.