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

Rugbyf565

what is this status of Robert baloucoune? Is he going to retire?

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123261804#Comment_123261804

Back training with the team and yes he will retire some day.

Paul Smeenus

Interview with Hugh, CEO, on YouTube for Season Ticket Holders.

Main points of interest:

After posting a deficit last year of 2.5 - 3 million, plan is on target to reduce that this year to under 1 million. The year after, less than half a million. After that, break-even. There'll be an announcement in the next couple of weeks about a new front-of-shirt sponsor.

Lots of talk about building for the future, as you'd imagine. Did specifically mention how do we get new props through.

He thought (as I did, to be honest) that folk missed the significance of Soper's new role. He'll be crafting an improvement plan for every player at Ravenhill and smoothing the transition of our academy players into the senior team.

Bryn is now in an NFL-style "general manager" role, making sure we hit all out three-year-plan objectives.

There have been reviews of the talent pathway and Ulster age grade. Next year resources are going to be allocated based on their findings. We need to improve our 11-15 age bracket.

There will hopefully be more signings.

Ravenhill have been able to host double the amount of games on the new pitch.

They got flak for the way the Reds game was organised, and would do it differently now, particularly around ticket pricing. The Reds costs that Ulster had to cover were approx 4,000 full cost tickets' worth.

The cost of hosting a game has gone up 20% in two years.

They're reviewing ticket prices.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123263414#Comment_123263414

More signings sounds good but hopefully impactful signings and not jersey fillers.

Paul Smeenus

Also, Ulster A takeaway on Connacht at three.

Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles, Friday 14th March, 3pm, Creggs RFC

1. Jack Boal

2. James McCormick

3. Bryan O’Connor

4. Harry Sheridan (Capt)

5. Charlie Irvine

6. Tom Brigg

7. Reuben Crothers

8. Lorcan McLoughlin

David Shanahan

10. Aidan Morgan

11. Zac Ward

12. Ben Carson

13. Wilhelm De Klerk

14. Lukas Kenny

15. Rory Telfer

Replacements:

16. Zac Solomon, 17. Tyrese Abolarin, 18. Cameron Doak, 19. Joe Hopes, 20. Josh Stevens, 21. Conor McKee, 22. James Humphreys, 23. Jonny Scott, 24. Ethan Graham, 25. Ben McFarlane.

Connacht A are going quite heavy, although familiar Ulster names Adam McBurbey and David O'Connor are playing.

bilston

Ulster won 22 21.

mogwai81

How did Zak Ward & Lukas Kenny play?

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123268556#Comment_123268556

I watched it, but more from a Connacht perspective. I thought Ulster's attacking shape was non-existent for most of the game, they were consistently shut down behind the gainline in wide areas and their handling was poor. Ward made one powerful burst down the wing which was called back for a forward pass and scored a try from 5m out. Didn't really notice Kenny at all.

After an hour Humphreys replaced Morgan and Connacht seemed to run out of steam, which resulted in Ulster finally playing some rugby and nicking it at the death through a try by a sub winger wearing no number. Jonny Scott scored an nice intercept try too.

Tom Brigg impressed me, looks to have a serious engine and was very involved throughout. He played most of the game at 8 after an injury to McLoughlin. Irvine has the size and seems to have a bit about him. Abolarin is a very impressive athlete for a an u19, he scrummaged very aggressively against Fiachna Barrett and won some contacts in the loose.

Utah_Saint

Your comment about Ulster's attacking shape is nail on head for the whole season.

I have zero clue what our plan or style is. It's just 15 players running around hoping something works

Utah_Saint

Cooney confirmed to Brive

Paul Smeenus

Ballicks. Anyway, very enjoyable Schools Cup Final. Think we should see some fo those kids coming through soon enough.

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123273041#Comment_123273041

Cracking final, the first half in particular was a high standard. Both sides played some great stuff. Really if some of those Wallace forwards, two in particular, don't make it with Ulster then it will be a missed opportunity.

Zeugnis

Rory McGuire on his way from Leinster. Highly rated in Dublin, a second high potential TH for Ulster.

Paul Smeenus

Very happily take him.

Richie Murphy is in the Telegraph, talking about lessons he's learned. Said he'd broken down the season into blocks of games, and he now thinks that was the wrong way to go - he needs to just take every game as it comes. A reminder that this is the first season of professional rugby he's coached.

Apparently Baloucoune trained fully last week and this week.

Locke_Lamora

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123278523#Comment_123278523

Quite happy with that - big guy and was ahead of Wilson at u20 level, although the main caveat is that we are in desperate need of proven players. I do wonder why he left though, most of Leinster's prop prospects seem to be loosehead while Furlong is injured a lot and Slimani has a year left.

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123279239#Comment_123279239

Not that highly rated which is reflected by his game time to date.

Niall Smyth coming up behind him.

Clegg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123279239#Comment_123279239

McGuire has found himself squeezed out at Leinster. He's fourth choice behind Furlong, Slimani and Clarkson.

But the big issue he has is Niall Smyth. He's only 19, but it looks like Leinster are betting everything on him. He's probably the most hyped prospect at prop since Porter. Went into the academy straight out of school when almost every other player goes into the sub-academy. Then was offered a full professional contract after one year. That's even rarer. Rumour is that the other provinces and clubs abroad were courting him.

McGuire is in a similar position to Michael Milne, who is also also leaving. Too many quality players ahead of him, and younger prospects nipping at his heels. It doesn't mean that he's a bad player, but rather he's making a sensible choice for his own career.

Locke_Lamora

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123279271#Comment_123279271

I completely forgot about Clarkson, that makes more sense. Some players just need game time so he's probably just trying to get a jump on a move that might happen down the line anyway, hope it works well for him up here.

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3

Has a younger brother who is a lock too.. will almost certainly start for 20s next season

big-al

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123278889#Comment_123278889

Baloucoune back, committed and in decent form is a huge boost to Ulster. His power and pace will be massive.

He was struggling for form prior to the hamstring injury, but here is hoping he has a strong end to the season.

Paul Smeenus

Dragons RFC v Ulster Rugby, Saturday 22nd March, 5.15pm, BKT United Rugby Championship Round 13, Rodney Parade (Live on Premier Sports)

1. Callum Reid (23)

2. Rob Herring (247)

3. Tom O’Toole (117)

4. Alan O’Connor (Capt) (206)

5. Matthew Dalton (11)

6. David McCann (61)

7. Nick Timoney (160)

8. James McNabney (13)

 

9. Nathan Doak (82)

10. Jack Murphy (6)

11. Jacob Stockdale (127)

12. Stuart McCloskey (198)

13. James Hume (97)

14. Michael Lowry (118)

15. Stewart Moore (77)

 

Replacements:

16. John Andrew (132), 17. Sam Crean (1), 18. Scott Wilson (28), 19. Kieran Treadwell (173), 20. Reuben Crothers (7) 21. John Cooney (150), 22. Aidan Morgan (12), 23. Zac Ward (4).

Should be enough to beat the Dragons, surely. Interesting that Dalton's a TH second row. Good to see Crothers on the bench.

jacothelad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123284143#Comment_123284143

No Sheridan……..again. He's a brute and we need that type of player.

Paul Smeenus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123284167#Comment_123284167

He captained the A team against Connacht. I just don't get it.

RichieRich_89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123284321#Comment_123284321

You'd think a journo would ask the question what's the situation with Sheridan at a press conference. Seems to be one of the issues fans are most curious about.

Utah_Saint

Bad start for Ulster.

However this ref looks out of his depth. Quite a few mistakes so far

bilston

Hopefully this referee improves. Two shockers already

bilston

Great start by Hume to this game

bilston

Far too easy for the Dragons there, Ulster have to defend their line better than that.

Utah_Saint

Ulster making the Dragons look world class.

Really struggling to see what Murphy has brought to Ulster, other than losses

bilston

Harsh enough yellow on the Dragons.

Lineout and maul working well for Ulster.

Nice to see a bit of pace from Jack Murphy in the earlier play.