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

Dubinusa

I think Murphy can get that team into a good place. Ulster looked different and hungry. A very interesting end to the season coming.

It was refreshing to see Ulster trying to open up their game and use their backs again. Most of the games I've watched so far this season have involved scores via hard work through the middle. Otherwise there's been a reliance on Burns identifying space for kick passes or skip passes to wings who weren't getting into the game.

Tighten up the maul defense and cut out a few errors and last night's scoreline would have been a lot better.

Ardillaun

Will playing sevens affect Baloucoune’s Ulster appearances?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121846790#Comment_121846790

There are three SVNS tournaments left in Hong Kong, Singapore and Madrid prior to Paris. Between training camps and tournaments I can see him being away from Belfast a lot if he's serious about making the Olympic squad.

Maybe he'll change his mind now that he's no longer a wing ornament for Dan. 😁

Paul Smeenus

Contract extensions:

Hume and O'Toole until 2007

Reffell until 2006

Digifriendly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121856578#Comment_121856578

Slight typos there I think. Need to add 20 years. 😲

Burkie1203

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121856578#Comment_121856578

Back to the future contracts

Paul Smeenus

I'm an old man, leave me alone.

Paul Smeenus

Werner Kok confirmed.

Scythica

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121887762#Comment_121887762

Odd, but great signing imo. Plays with purpose. Hopefully a ludik type signing

Paul Smeenus

I'm not sure how odd it is actually.

Lyttle was away at the end of last season, Addison is apparently away at the end of this, Shea O'Brien didn't seem to come to much .. if Stockdale or Baloucoune is making Irish squads, we don't have riches in the back three. McElroy still in situ, Moxham and Sexton next off rank, and have they kicked on at all this season?

He is a really good player, which is at the end of the day the primary thing you want. I think i'd prefer a lock but you can't get dispensation for whatever you want and possibly none availabke.

Paul Smeenus

We do need a proper ten much more urgently, but we're not getting an NIQ one.

Clegg

Werner Kok is a good player. Hits like a train in contact and will run up and down the pitch, on either side of the ball, for the entire 80 minutes. Very similar to Fergus McFadden actually. One of my favourite Leinster players.

Scythica

Agreed. Would love more signings like him, very ludikesque dare I say.

Watching super rugby id love us to throw money at hoskins sotutu and probably one of the young 10s at the reds like lynagh and see what Murphy can do

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121889194#Comment_121889194

Are we getting an IQ 10?

Paul Smeenus

Who knows? Seemingly not.

Paul Smeenus

Half the starting pack for the U20s Ulster players and another on the bench. No backs. When was the last time that happened?

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121891236#Comment_121891236

We could probably do with producing a couple of backs again soon.

Paul Smeenus

We could do with 23 new talented lads.

We had a really good back in this u20s in Kenny but he got badly injured.

Paul Smeenus

Like not-full-recovery injured?

Paul Smeenus

Squad for SA:

Forwards: Steven Kitshoff, Andrew Warwick, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Scott Wilson, Tom Stewart, John Andrew, Rob Herring, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson, Harry Sheridan, Cormac Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, David McCann, Nick Timoney, Marcus Rea, Sean Reffell

Backs: John Cooney, Dave Shanahan, Nathan Doak, Billy Burns, Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Stewart Moore, Mike Lowry, Ethan McIlroy, Robert Baloucoune, Will Addison.

No AOC or Stockdale (partners about to give birth apparently), no Marty Moore (excited to see what Scott Wilson does out there), Dave Ewers or Luke Marshall. A great opportunity to earn some points, so although I'd love to see the youngfellas, fully locked and loaded, I'd imagine.

awec

John Fogarty travelling too.

Paul Smeenus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121912668#Comment_121912668

Saw that. Interesting. I did wonder if that might mean we see O'Toole at LH but we literally only have him and Wilson with us for TH.

Scythica

Burns confirmed to Munster.

Lot of faith into our other 10s unless there's a big signing in the works..

launish116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121913556#Comment_121913556

Ulster have a lot of problems in multiple positions on the horizon.

RichieRich_89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121913081#Comment_121913081

Have the Ireland set-up been talking about O'Toole to loosehead?

Paul Smeenus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121913753#Comment_121913753

Yeah. There's mention of it in recent interviews.

Paul Smeenus

Here we go.

Ulster v Hollywoodbets Sharks, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Round 12, BKT United Rugby Championship, Saturday 23 March, KO 1pm UK/Ireland time

(15-9) Will Addison, Ethan McIlroy, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Mike Lowry, Billy Burns, John Cooney;

(1-8) Steven Kitshoff, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson (C), Harry Sheridan, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Scott Wilson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, Nathan Doak, Jude Postlethwaite, Sean Reffell.

Like the look of that team, although what is up with Baloucoune I have no idea. Few youngsters in there as well. Murphy seemed to be a fan of Sheridan at U20s.