Ulster Team Talk Thread IV... Go On My Henderson...

Paul Smeenus

The Deegan penalty shouldn't have stood - he let go not long after Murphy called it.

Edit - I mean, Murphy said leave it and he did. Of course, he could have just penalised him - you know, for cheating. But if you're going to warn someone rather than penalise them, you need to give them time to stop, and I thought Deegan did.

Locke_Lamora

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118253966#Comment_118253966

Was wondering why that one wasn't looked at. I don't think they showed a replay on the feed I was watching, so just assumed there wasn't much in it.

Locke_Lamora

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118254262#Comment_118254262

Doak's main point of difference seems to be his box kicking and how settled he seems for someone his age.

I'm a huge fan of Harry Byrne, but things went from bad to worse after he started forcing things a little too much. I still think he's comfortably the best 10 prospect in the country, he just needs to keep fit and get some game time under his belt.

shaungil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118254301#Comment_118254301

I don't recall one TMO intervention in the game.

Paul Smeenus

Yeah, I'm not saying that he was particularly harsh on Ulster at all, but the idea that he didn't also do Leinster some serious favours is wide of the mark

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118254165#Comment_118254165

Saw this at the time when watching.

launish116

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Robert Baloucoune, Angus Curtis, Stuart McCloskey, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney;

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Bradley Roberts, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Sean Reidy, Nick Timoney, David McCann.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Mick Kearney, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore, Craig Gilroy.

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118262431#Comment_118262431

Pretty handy props to spring from the bench in the second half. The Ulster Bomb Squad....err maybe that won't stick...

Curtis at 13 is an interesting call. Dont think we've seen him there before.

Finally far be it from me to question Dan's selections but might have been nice for Gilly to start his 200th cap rather than be on the bench. Team comes first of course.

launish116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118262521#Comment_118262521

Indeed, looking forward to seeing McGrath back and some of Stewart!

What has happened Andrew? is he injured?

Paul Smeenus

He got the first half of the A game the other week. Bradley will be knocking his pan in to impress the Welsh lads, though - shrewd from Dan.

Rotation already a factor. Disappointed to see Lowry back at FB. Very excited to see McGrath back.

Dubinusa

Is Luke Marshall injured? Haven't seen him in ages. Hopefully Ulster continue on from last week. Any updates on Kearney? His short term deal must be almost over?

launish116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118263505#Comment_118263505

No word on Kearney but I’d be very keen to keep him!

Locke_Lamora

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118263807#Comment_118263807

I'd be keen to buy one of those massive south african's like everyone else does, but we'll take what we can get I suppose.

b.gud

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118264208#Comment_118264208

Locke_Lamora

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118264236#Comment_118264236

Four more of those for christmas and we'll be on our way.

Paul Smeenus

Postlethwaite looked very handy for the 7s.

In here:

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2021/12/03/watch-hsbc-world-rugby-sevens-series-dubai-day-1-2/

Locke_Lamora

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118264599#Comment_118264599

He has really soft hands for someone his size. Wonder if playing 7's will impact playing for the u20's this season.

launish116

Some crisp play from Ulster so far, will they regret not making more of their possession!

lawrencesummers

One out runners, slow ruck ball and a ten that wont come remotely near the line and if he does he gets turned over

The inability to convert in the 22 is very costly, but Ulster look here a team very easy to defend against because the lack of imagination is stark.

A lot of people rave about balacoune and maybe he is that good, but this team and espically this 10 isnt giving him the opportunity to show it.

Ospreys eating it up all day and making ulster Make a mistake in possession.

Clegg

Ulster really needed to follow up that Leinster victory with another win. But that was just a dismal performance against an Ospreys side that were hammered by Connacht last week.

Locke_Lamora

Ref had a couple of impactful decisions, but we were horrible. Forwards got minced in the scrum, couldn't make hard yards, our maul went nowhere and our attack was so simple to defend against.

What was Doak doing at the end there? Turnover ball in their 22 with 90 seconds left and he boots it. Disgusting decision.

launish116

Positives

• McCann was everywhere, starting to see some power and footwork
• Stewart looked eager and not completely out of place
• Rea starting to show his worth as an open side, has some dog
• McIlroy just does the basics perfectly
• Mcgrath back and gaining game time
• handling/offloading was crisp but no reward

Negatives

• Scrum demolished, we lack a tighthead 2nd row
• no go forward, no hard yards
• injuries to Roberts & Stewart, Andrew awol? Do we have 2 hookers for next week?
• Moore HIA? potentially missing next week
• Imagine the carnage if McCloskey wasn't playing

awec

Last week for nothing.

ionadnapóca

Where is Madigan these days?

launish116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118269998#Comment_118269998

And Andrew?

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118269998#Comment_118269998

He normally only goes missing on the field, has he added a new string to his bow?

Jump_In_Jack

Moore's HIA is concerning ahead of the Heineken Cup, is Milasinovich available?, for a huge man he never seems to be in the 23.

launish116

Milasinovich appears to get injured every time he plays! Moore missing is a big concern! Also no backup hooker could be an issues also.

launish116

Injury update

Bradley Roberts (ankle), Marty Moore (concussion) and Tom Stewart (foot) sustained injuries during Saturday's defeat to Ospreys in Round 7 of the United Rugby Championship. All three players are unavailable for selection for this weekend's match. 

They join Jacob Stockdale (ankle), Luke Marshall (knee), Will Addison (lower leg), Iain Henderson (hamstring), Cormac Izuchukwu (knee) and Jordi Murphy (knee) on the current injury list. 

Duane Vermeulen is completing his graduated return to training programme following his recent COVID-19 diagnosis. He remains well, and his fitness to play this weekend will be monitored through the remainder of the week.

Big blow losing Moore

bilston

There's a few question marks around the starting XV?

Who starts at LH? McGrath or O'Sullivan

Herring and O'Toole presumably make up the rest of the front row.

O'Connor and Carter should be the second row

Does Vermuelen play? Who is 6? Rea or Reidy? Might McCann move to 6 to accommodate Vermuelen or does he drop to the bench. There's a load of different combinations possible. The only constant being Nick Timoney.

9, 10, 12 and 13 and 14 are locked in, but who is left wing? Gilroy, McIlroy or Lyttle

Who is full back? Lowry or McIlroy

My own view

1 O'Sullivan 2 Herring 3 O'Toole

4 O'Connor 5 Carter

6 Rea 7 Timoney 8 McCann

9 Cooney 10 Burns

11 Gilroy 12 McCloskey 13 Hume 14 Baloucoune

15 McIlroy

16 Andrew, 17 McGrath, 18 Kane, 19 Kearney, 20 Vermuelen, 21 Doak, 22 Lowry, 23 Lyttle

McGrath doesn't have enough miles in the legs and Vermuelen hasn't trained with the squad, Reidy v Rea at 6 is a toss of the coin. Rea gets the edge because of the line-out.

I've just gone for experience on the left wing with Gilroy, it could easily be Lyttle, and as big a fan of Lowry as I am I think McIlroy just offers a bit more solidity at the back.

That said it might be a case of throwing the kitchen sink at Clermont to try and nab a BP or two so all out attack might be the order of the day which would call for Lowry and Lyttle in the back three over McIlroy and Gilroy!

It will be an interesting selection anyway.