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

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122571978#Comment_122571978

If O'Toole moves to LH foes that just leave us with Wilson and Moore? Have I forgotten someone?

Edit - just remembered Warwick can cover there

Paul Smeenus

Ulster Schools U18s won their interpro competition. Serious talent in the team, apparently.

pickarooney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122572966#Comment_122572966

Any decent tight heads?

Paul Smeenus

Sounds like we might get see Zac Ward on Saturday night, and we've close to a fully fit squad.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2024/09/04/ulster-looks-toward-youth-as-province-rebuilds-with-an-eye-to-the-future/

Locke_Lamora

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122580363#Comment_122580363

The article specifically mentions him as a winger. I don’t think the forward to back switch really works too well but I’m interested to see how it goes nonetheless.

arsebiscuits1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122580398#Comment_122580398

The forward to back conversions haven't gone tremendously well with some examples alright.

Jordan Coughlan and Harrison Brewer were both tried to be converted from back rows to 12s and neither cut it at pro level. Indeed both have been plying their trade back in the pack in the AIL for the better part of a decade.

I do think the Sevens development is an important point of difference for Zac though.

He possesses a strong passing game and a good IQ of identifying space. He'd also be used to defending large portions of the field.

Some of the more nuanced facets of back 3 play such as back field covering etc might be a more foreign concept to him but Richie Murphy is a top coach.

Hopefully he gets the best out of Ward.

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3

Ulster Rugby v Benetton Rugby, Saturday 7 September, Bank of Ireland Pre-Season Friendly, Kingspan Stadium (streamed on Ulster Rugby Live)

(15-9) Mike Lowry (C), Rory Telfer, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Aaron Sexton, Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak;

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, John Andrew, Corrie Barrett*, Harry Sheridan, Kieran Treadwell, James McNabney, Sean Reffell, David McCann .

Replacements:

Forwards

James McCormick, Henry Walker, Callum Reid, Scott Wilson, Charlie Irvine, James McKillop, Alan O’Connor, Tom Brigg, Marcus Rea.

Backs

David Shanahan, Conor McKee, Zac Ward, James Humphreys, Ben Carson, Jack Murphy.

Paul Smeenus

Just beat me to it. No idea who Corrie Barrett is, although the website says "the 26-year-old has previously been involved in Ulster age-grade teams and spent last season playing for Doncaster Knights in the RFU Championship."

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122588502#Comment_122588502

fairly sure he went to RBAI. 26 years old. didnt make academy and has made a career of it playing in lower levels in england.

Was due to play AIL his season afaik

launish116

looking to see more of McNabney this season

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122588461#Comment_122588461

Very light on back replacements, with 6 players named and 4 of them are half backs.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122588530#Comment_122588530

Had been in new Zealand and trained with munster for a period as well

Still playing ail this season as that's where he'll play most of his rugby I'd day

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3

Ulster Development

15 Rory Telfer(U22)(Coleraine)(Academy)
14 Ben McFarlane(U21)(Methody)(Academy)
13 Sam Berman(U21)(St. Michaels)(Academy)
12 Johnny Scott(U20)(Dromore)(Academy)
11 Ethan Graham(U21)(Monaghan RFC)(Academy)
10 Jack Murphy(U21)(Pres Bray)(Academy)
9 Conor McKee(Sullivan)(Senior)
1 Callum Reid(RBAI)(Senior)
2 Zac Solomon(U21)(Campbell)(Academy)
3 Tom McAllister(U20)(Ballyclare)
4 Callum Johns(U19)(Wallace)
5 Charlie Irvine(U22) – Captain(Wallace)(Academy)
6 James McKillop(U21)(Foyle)(Academy)
7 Billy Allen(U20)(Rainey)
8 Tom Brigg(U21)(Blackrock)(Academy)

Replacements
16 Conor Magee(U19)(Banbridge)
17 Tyrese Abolarin(U19)(Methody)
18 Jack Boal(U22)(Campbell)
19 Adam McNamee(U22)(Methody)
20 Scott Gray(U19)(Campbell)
21 Clarke Logan(U20)(Coleraine)(Academy)
22 Matthew Heasley(U19)(Dromore)
23 Daniel Green(U19)(IQ Rugby)
24 Josh Gibson(U19)(RBAI)
25 Fraser Cunningham(U19)(RBAI)

FtD v2

Is Callum Johns in the second row a son of Paddy Johns?

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122608114#Comment_122608114

nephew

Paul Smeenus

(15-9) Ethan McIlroy, Zac Ward*, Jude Postlethwaite, Ben Carson, Aaron Sexton, Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak;

(1-8) Andrew Warwick, James McCormick, Corrie Barrett*, Alan O’Connor (C), Kieran Treadwell, Matty Rea, Marcus Rea, James McNabney.

Replacements:

John Andrew, Eric O’Sullivan, Scott Wilson, Henry Walker, Harry Sheridan, Reuben Crothers, David McCann, Nick Timoney Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Mike Lowry, Stewart Moore, Werner Kok, Ben Moxham

*Trialist with Ulster Rugby’s Senior Men’s squad.

What is the crack with Baloucoune? Thought Carson looked busy against Bennetton, hopefully he can kick on a bit.

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122611706#Comment_122611706

How did the two triallists go in last weekend's game?

Paul Smeenus

Barrett seemed okay; unremarkable. Don't think Ward had enough time on the pitch to really tell. For Ward, though, it's got to be just the start of a process of him learning wing in 15s.

Scythica

Was at the Chiefs game. Soreline flattered chiefs (31-15).

With the amount of subs we have things became a bit disjointed but for the most part our defence was solid. Got caught on them going wide quickly for 3 tries, 2 linebreaks lead to the others. We missed all conversions and didn't kick 3 at any stage (pre season obv)

- Carson and sexton came off injured. Carson seemed to have a bit about him prior. Moore and moxham came on. Subs were hard to track. Sheridan started for AOC.

• Morgan is v attacking minded, with Stu outside him that'll be fun
• Mcnabney carried hard all game
• Scrum was solid all game and lineouts nearly 100%
• Kok was violent in his efforts albeit didn't get much ball.
• Lot of ulster fans there!

Didn't see the Benetton game so don't know if sounds similar.

Paul Smeenus

Ulster Rugby v Glasgow Warriors, Saturday 21 September, 7.45pm, United Rugby Championship, Round 1, Kingspan Stadium (Live on Premier Sports, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Ulster).

(15-9) Ethan McIlroy, Mike Lowry, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak;

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, John Andrew, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson (C), Kieran Treadwell, James McNabney, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: James McCormick, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Harry Sheridan, Cormac Izuchukwu, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Werner Kok.

Paul Smeenus

And Glasgow are coming fully loaded - will be tough.

Glasgow Warriors team to face Ulster at Kingspan Stadium, Saturday 21 September, kick-off 7.45pm.

1 Jamie Bhatti (106), 2 Johnny Matthews (73), 3 Sam Talakai (0), 4 Max Williamson (19), 5 Richie Gray (115), 6 Matt Fagerson (111), 7 Rory Darge (48), 8 Henco Venter (22), 9 Jamie Dobie (68), 10 Tom Jordan (50), 11 Kyle Steyn (C) (77), 12 Sione Tuipulotu (55), 13 Stafford McDowall (78), 14 Sebastian Cancelliere (38), 15 Josh McKay (49)

16 Gregor Hiddleston (9), 17 Nathan McBeth (42), 18 Zander Fagerson (149), 19 Alex Samuel (15), 20 Gregor Brown (20), 21 Euan Ferrie (20), 22 Ben Afshar (8), 23 Adam Hastings (53)

Unavailable for selection: Facundo Cordero (ankle), Scott Cummings (foot), Allan Dell (arm), Jack Dempsey (back), Huw Jones (calf), Ally Miller (calf), JP du Preez (knee), Ollie Smith (knee), Rory Sutherland (groin), Sione Vailanu (knee), Murphy Walker (neck)

ionadnapóca

Nice to see Doak back where he belongs. Will he be kicking or Morgan?

Who gets an Ireland cap 1st: Morgan or Doak?

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122636424#Comment_122636424

Neither

bilston

Powerful bench with O'Toole, Sheridan, Izzy and Kok likely to have good impacts. I've heard good things about McCormick as well.

Will be tough, but should be a decent watch.

Clegg

Ulster doing very well to be only two points behind. Feels like they're getting munched in contact.

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122640974#Comment_122640974

Glasgow very much flattering to deceive too though.

That looked dirty that hit on Moore and could be a yellow.

Finding the “banter” between Mark Robson, Stephen Ferris and Ryan Wilson unbelievably annoying here. Wilson in particular is painful to listen to.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122640974#Comment_122640974

Yeah they've been quite poor, really lacking shape in possession. Hanging in there nevertheless. Glasgow must be a horrible team to play against, they don't give any quarter.

Morgan looks like a good player but hard to judge him as a ten thus far.

FtD v2

Ulster have looked sharper since bringing in Shanahan, he’s looking to get the ball wide. Doak seemed to be getting sucked into rucks constantly.

Clegg

Ulster have butchered that.

They've eked enough penalties and yellows from Glasgow that they'll eventually capitalise, but they're playing brain-dead stuff.

realhorrorshow

TAKE THE THREE TAKE THE THREE TAKE THE THREE