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

Hands Like Flippers

bilston wrote: »

Johnston is definitely an upgrade on McPhillips, who to be fair had his moments, particularly the tail end of the horrendous 2017/18 season. He is very vocal and not afraid to get stuck in either. Give it a couple of years and he could turn out to be our best signing this year."

Not sure about that. BJ did well but Scarlets were pants. Leinster would have put 50 on them.



What to make of Faddes? I suppose he didn't do anything wrong last night, which itself is an improvement, he seems.tonhave a nose for the line. He still has some way to go but last night was better from him.

His best game so far but still not convinced he was worth bringing over from NZ.

Shefwedfan

Hands Like Flippers wrote: »

His best game so far but still not convinced he was worth bringing over from NZ.

How many games has he played?

damianmcr

7 appearances and 4 tries.

I think he needs to be given a chance to settle. How many of our other players have 4 tries.

kingofthekong

Bill Johnston has some very good handling and passing, some lovely distribution and perfect timing on his pass - this makes attacking the line hundred times easier when the ball is infront of everyone running onto it

Hands Like Flippers

Just watched St Pats in the schools cup v Carrick. They had the Ulster u18 Clubs 10 and a bunch of boys keen to run. Tackled pretty well. Ran fast. Not interested in mauling lol. Super stuff.

The Lost Sheep

Hands Like Flippers wrote: »

Just watched St Pats in the schools cup v Carrick. They had the Ulster u18 Clubs 10 and a bunch of boys keen to run. Tackled pretty well. Ran fast. Not interested in mauling lol. Super stuff.

format change been good success then? Seen fair few games in all provinces bar Ulster so far. Having interpro player will hugely help them.
Hope schools thread can open and not be ruined this year.

thomond2006

I hope Bill Johnston works out for Ulster. He showed talent in flashes at Munster and injuries slowed his development. Given Ben Healy's performance on Friday night it was a great move for Johnston.

Hands Like Flippers

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

format change been good success then? Seen fair few games in all provinces bar Ulster so far. Having interpro player will hugely help them.
Hope schools thread can open and not be ruined this year.

Yip, definitely been a success. Weaker schools and even teir 2 teams loving it - getting a chance to play 3 competitive cup matches without being knocked out and then entering the appropriate stage of the cup competition. Every coach I have asked thinks its great.

Teir 1 teams don't join until February.

Surely the school thread could open and any plonker who posts silly stuff about his old school etc can be banned rather than the thread closed down for everyone else. It was just a few Leinster dads causing the problems last time out.

RBAI were well beaten by Kings 1xv at Shawsbridge this pm as well. Kings had a couple of cracking centres and ran the ball really well.

Hands Like Flippers

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2019/12/04/ireland-u18-squads-named-for-festive-season-training-camps/

Thought there would have been a few more Ulster players in the mix especially given how close they ran Leinster in the competition.

mogwai81

15. Jacob Stockdale
14. Louis Ludik
13. Luke Marshall
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Craig Gilroy
10. Billy Burns
9. John Cooney
1. Eric O’Sullivan
2. Rob Herring
3. Marty Moore
4. Alan O’Connor
5. Iain Henderson (captain)
6. Sean Reidy
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Marcell Coetzee
Replacements:
16. Adam McBurney
17. Andrew Warwick
18. Tom O’Toole
19. Kieran Treadwell
20. Matthew Rea
21. David Shanahan
22. Bill Johnston
23. Matt Faddes

mogwai81

Baloucoune unlucky to miss out entirely after last weeks performance.

mogwai81

Harlequins:
15. Ross Chisholm
14. Travis Ismaiel
13. Michele Campagnaro
12. James Lang
11. Gabriel Ibitoye
10. Marcus Smith
9. Danny Care
1. Joe Marler
2. Elia Elia
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Stephan Lewies
5. Tevita Cavubati
6. Semi Kunatani
7. Chris Robshaw (captain)
8. Alex Dombrandt
Replacements:
16. Jack Musk
17. Nick Auterac
18. Simon Kerrod
19. Dino Lamb
20. Tom Lawday
21. Martin Landajo
22. Francis Saili
23. Vereniki Goneva

arsebiscuits1

Timoney injured or not picked? I love watching him play I think he's super

Dubinusa

Any type of win would be great. Next weekend will be tough. Win this week and Ulster are in the driving seat.

Locke_Lamora

I'm most worried about the scrum. Sinckler will be looking forward to having a go at O'Sullivan I reckon, even if he has improved this year. Apart from that they aren't a side to be scared of but Smith, Ibitoye and Dombrandt can all cause a lot of bother if our defence isn't switched on.

Paul Smeenus

Think Baloucoune would be a starter for me. Like Timoney, but not disappointed a local lad has leapfrogged him, and do think that Rea has earned the bench spot. Faddes is there for versatility, I presume, covering 13, wings and FB

Bath Clermont double header looks like it's going to be a home win a piece.

bilston

Disappointed Balacoune doesn't get a look in, but he doesn't have a lot of rugby behind him this season.

Timoney, Rea, Reidy is horses for courses so no complaints there.

O'Connor over Treadwell is interesting, but I'm a big fan of both so don't mind.

A bit early to be calling this game in favour of Bath Venjur. Don't know why they didn't take an easy 3 points there!

Paul Smeenus

There's been some cracker interviews with Rory Gallagher n the last week or so.

jacothelad

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

There's been some cracker interviews with Rory Gallagher n the last week or so.

By Seance?:D

Paul Smeenus

What on earth... That's the most random phone autocorrect ever. I've never even texted or messaged his name...

Obviously I meant Mr R. Best.

Harlequins about to get properly humped imp.

Ferris has become a very good pundit. Took him a few seasons to remember to turn off his inner Ulster fan but he's great to listen too.

razorblunt

Did the ref just ignore a penalty for Quins at that scrum only for Quins to knock it on after 2 passes? Bit harsh.

razorblunt

Robshaw is properly rattled whatever is wrong with him.

Marler is such a shíthouse, playing peacemaker but leaving a little on ludik and Murphy

Squidgy Black

Lovely stuff from Marshall and then McCloskey finishing it off, you forget sometimes how good Marshall is as a distributor.

Side note, I absolutely hate the whole players sliding in on carriers like Lang did there, he didn't make contact luckily but it's such a stupid thing to do.

McCloskey has to be in contention for Ireland. Still has errors to his game but he's relentless here and central to Ulsters lead.

Brilliant from Ludik there, kept it in field and released the ball perfectly as support came in.

ongarite

Thats is bad bad from Ulster.
In total control at 2M out and then intercept and conceed for a try.

Squidgy Black

ongarite wrote: »

Thats is bad bad from Ulster.
In total control at 2M out and then intercept and conceed for a try.

Superb stuff from Dombrant in fairness, Ulster just left scrambling to try and get back.