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

Paul Smeenus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123223259#Comment_123223259

I was at the game and wanted to watch it back before I commited any of my Big Insightful Thoughts to the Interwebz.

Firstly, they know their backs are against the wall. Everyone interviewed after the game - AOC, McNabney, Timoney - made a big deal of thanking the supporters and the crowd.

The resilience to win that is new. Or at least, rarely seen this season. Ulster are so temperamental, and their heads go down after mistakes, that seeing a bit of belief and real determination is a joy. It would have been much more typically Ulster to have folded after that against-the-run-of-play third Scarlets try.

McKee was worth his start. Crisp, fast service and decent box-kicking. Happy to see more of him. It's also noticeable how much faster Doak's service is when he feels pressured by another scrumhalf's performance.

Jack Murphy is our best ten. Good boot, fast, good distributor. We've four young flyhalves, so hopefully all will improve, but he is instinctively a better lynchpin than Morgan.

I remember Dalton from the first time round, and he looks to have screwed his head on. Thought he was industrious and physical.

Stockdale is really asserting himself in the team, being involved in so much. Would like to see him get a run out in the Six Nations. He's taking a lot of responsibility for Ulster at the minute.

Hume looks a bit rusty, with flashes of what he's capable of. Unsurprising after so long out.

McNabney is a monster. Not just in his carrying, but in his tackling.

Speaking of which, I thought our defence was markedly better - not better organised, but there was much more commitment. And less ridiculous penalties.

I think a tough, gritty battle like that will ultimately be more valuable than winning at a canter. This team's issues are leadership and the top two inches. Coming out on top through some tough games is exactly what they need.

I do think Murphy is focusing on experimentation this season, and getting to grips with his squad. Seems like everyone is getting a shot to impress or show what they can bring. I'd expect a more settled team selection next season.

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224669#Comment_123224669

It took McKee 20 minutes to settle down, but he's definitely someone who we should see a lot more of. Totally agree about Murphy being our best 10. He has a to lot work as well, but that's good, he's only 21, he could be a good player.

Also agree Hume was rusty, although he had some nice moments. But I thought Jude really imposed himself when he got on, especially in defence. It's a tight call between those two at the moment, to be honest I'd probably be veering towards starting Postlethwaite.

I love wee Mike, but I was thinking last night that a big right winger would be a nice asset to have in the team.

The league is stacked from 6th to 15th we're 4 points of 6th place, only the Dragons are adrift. Its essential we beat them.

bilston

Also meant to say, Callum Reid had a good game and the new guy looked decent too.

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123223118#Comment_123223118

He might be the best Ulster born forward since Hendy. Him and Izzy in the same team going forward is an exciting prospect.

HanShotFirst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224669#Comment_123224669

Murphy has no choice but to experiment!!
Ulster issues are many not just the lack of leaders and brains.

Plain and simple they lack quality and toughness.

Stockdale is really asserting himself in the team, being involved in so much. Would like to see him get a run out in the Six Nations. He's taking a lot of responsibility for Ulster at the minute.

Yes Stockdale is looking better with the ball. Still weak in the tackle, exposed twice in defence, slow when turning and is just not good enough when trying to claim a high ball. He would be a liability if he were to get a run out in the Six Nations. Which he won’t.

Positives are definitely the young 9&10. McNabney was brilliant off the base of the scrum. Coming back from 12 Nil the biggest positive of all.

Scarlets are appalling away from home and we’re without Ellis Mee, Kemsley Mathias, Tom Rogers, Blair Murray, Eddie James and Henry Thomas who all stayed with the Welsh squad with 6 more out injured.

A vitally important win for Murphy because they will probably only win 1 more game this season. Next week against an even more dreadful team than the Scarlets.

Paul Smeenus

If the Irish defensive system can incorporate Janes Lowe missing more tackles than he made against Wales, it can deal with Stockdale's defence.

HanShotFirst

The only thing Stockdale offers over Lowe at Test level is speed.

He is inferior in every single other aspect of the game right the way down to workrate and mindset.
Lowe is a Test match animal.

Stockdale nowadays is URC level who can carry and gets exposed against teams like the Scarlets and Benetton.

Paul Smeenus

Sure thing.

HanShotFirst

Truth hurts

The 2018 Stockdale is gone. I’d love him to come back because Ireland needs it.

Paul Smeenus

"Truth hurts."

Thanks, David Brent.

Stockdale doesn't need to be 2018 Stockdale to be on the team. We'll just have to have a difference of opinion.

big-al

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224669#Comment_123224669

dalton was okay but he still basically gifted the opposition 10 points via an intercept and a ridiculous penalty in the 41st minute.

big-al

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123225187#Comment_123225187

that is Jacob’s biggest problem. People with an agenda keep comparing him to his 2018 version when he by a distance the best winger in the NH.

when he is compared to the other Irish wings currently he has nothing to be ashamed about.

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123225198#Comment_123225198

That intercept was unlucky. I wouldn't hold that against him. He is quite abrasive. I still think Sheridan is being hard done by.

Scythica

Nice to see (or hear on radio..) that we showed some grit to win that one.

Interesting to see who our best backrow will be next year. There's no way Augustus doesn't start at 8, genuinely predict him to be URC player of the season.

Perhaps McNabney to 6 and Timoney 7 will be the one. Leads Izzy into the 2nd row though.

Mix in a big lump of a lock or prop and we have the makings of a good forward pack there.

Glad to hear McKee went alright, seemed lively at the Reds game. If it fires a rocket up Doak that's even better as Cooney is all but confirmed gone.

Paul Smeenus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123226312#Comment_123226312

It was a bit foolish, just scooping it up and firing it back, but he's getting a second shot at Ulster and wanted to impress - I'd file it under "forgivable".

Utah_Saint

I really hope we can put the time and effort into developing McNabney further. He has soo much potential. Especially for someone who came late to rugby.

pickarooney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123226645#Comment_123226645

Is McCann the forgotten man already?

Rea, Sheridan, McCann, McNabney... it seems like there's a new back row star every season but they fade away as quick as they arrive.

Paul Smeenus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123227123#Comment_123227123

No - just not as good as Izzy at six or Timoney at seven and we're bringing in an NIQ at eight. Sheridan's second row now. Where McNabney ends up playing, we'll have to wait and see. McCann hasn't faded away (albeit he is suffering from the same team-wide performance issues as everyone else, and hasn't been as good). Izzy has pushed on to the fringes of the Ireland squad, and McNabney has made a big splash. That's all. I'd still take him over Deegan, Hodnett etc.

We have markedly improved in terms of our Academy-produced backrowers.

Locke_Lamora

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123226645#Comment_123226645

Izzy's standout games have all come at 6 for me so I'm enthused about moving him to the row but the needs of the squad come first. The tactic of just getting your best players on the pitch doesn't always work but might be the way forward here - Henderson is a sick note, Treadwell leaving, AOC and Dalton are what they are, Sheridan small/not trusted, academy lads not ready yet.

Can Izzy do the dirty/unseen work? Is his lineout up to scratch? No idea if I'm honest but I'm up for finding out.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123228668#Comment_123228668

Agree with this. Izuchukwu's strength is his athleticism on the ball, he is a back row IMO.

I don't think he's particularly effective in the second row, he isn't that huge of a unit and as I said, his strength is being dynamic with his size, not just smashing into rucks and doing 2 metre carries all day.

bigmac86

It's going to be a "problem" next season. As was said above it might be a case of getting our best players on the pitch because in seasons past the players on the pitch haven't been of the required standard. At 6 izzy definitely gets a license to roam and do damage but when he's been at lock he's still had his moments, could be wrong but I think his recent hat trick was at lock? Happy to be corrected! Part of the problem has been who hes paired with. When you have an athletic lock you need a workhorse grunt beside them. Stats (6ft 7 118kg) make him bigger than Beirne who is a world class lock but who thrives with a worker (Ryan) or unit (McCarthy) next to him. Without Hendy, and we usually are, Ulster don't have someone like that. If we can add a proper heavy lock to smash rucks I think Izzy would thrive in the row with McNabney 6, Augustus 8 and Timoney/Other giving serious power and pace in the pack. Then it's just the issue of our front row 🙃🙃🙃

bilston

Izzy will probably have to play in the row just because McNabney is almost already a must pick and this new guy seems to be an out and out 8. Timoney to 7 and McCann probably benches. To be fair if we could get one season out of Hendy where he stays fit that would actually have the makings of a more than decent pack, throw in Herring with Stewart as back up and O'Toole/Wilson and we should be pretty competitive. But man do we need to find a loosehead from somewhere.

Of course being Ulster half of them will end up on the treatment table for most of the season so it's a pointless debate.

Paul Smeenus

I noticed that Dalton packed down at TH second row. And the scrums seemed alright-ish. Maybe he's being groomed for that abrasive, heavy role. Then Izzy/Sheridan at 4.

Utah_Saint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123229603#Comment_123229603

he looks like he has those attributes. I was reading he was quite the athlete at schools level. Hoping he was a later bloomer and can really push on.

awec

I think we'd have been better off signing a brute of a second row rather than Augustus tbh.

I'm still a bit baffled by this decision, we are relatively strong in the back row.

bigmac86

Could see that from his attempted hack through on the right wing, if it had bounced kindly he could have been away

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123229890#Comment_123229890

It sums our recruitment policy up. Augustus himself looks a good player and be could be a very good No.8, but you're right, if our budget is tight then we should be spending in areas of need. Maybe they didn't expect McNabney to come through as he has done, but then I've known about McNabney since he was playing Ireland U19s 3 years ago so they'd be seriously incompetent if they didn't think he was going to be a good player.

Or, perhaps the plan, for both Ulster and Ireland is for Izzy to be a lock. Beirne and Henderson don't have that long left, and I suppose there is a bigger gap in the second row below the top players than there is in the back row.

Paul Smeenus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123230203#Comment_123230203

Hard to say. I suspect that Izzy becomes a lock. The Ireland team are currently better stocked at blindside than lock - even when POM goes, there's Baird, Doris if Conan comes in at eight, Prendergast, and Ahern bubbling under. Having said that, Izzy's sole cap has come at six.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123230203#Comment_123230203

Yea but we have Sheridan too, and I don't see both Sheridan and Izzy ending up in the row.

A big brute of a lock or a loosehead would have been better than signing an 8. FFS it is the most Ulster thing to do, sign a player who plays the same position as your most promising young talent.

launish116

Still don't get the hype with Izzy, he's athletic yes but doesn't get as involved as some other players