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Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread II

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    #9782
    Dog Botherer
    Registered Users Posts: 1,641 ✭✭✭Dog Botherer


    Dan Carter's moving to Belfast lads.


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    #9783
    Teferi
    Registered Users Posts: 6,320 ✭✭✭Teferi


    Is there an understandable timeline of the Darren Cave issue or is it all just hear-say and second-hand information? Haven't a clue what is going on.


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    #9784
    prawnsambo
    Registered Users Posts: 13,315 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    Teferi wrote: »
    Is there an understandable timeline of the Darren Cave issue or is it all just hear-say and second-hand information? Haven't a clue what is going on.
    He last played on 24th November. Before that he started against La Rochelle a couple of weeks previously. Nothing since. So if there's a time line, it's sometime last month.

    Hard to know with all the rumours flying around. Many of them contradictory.


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    #9785
    CIARAN_BOYLE
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 14,599 Mod ✭✭✭✭CIARAN_BOYLE


    Teferi wrote: »
    Is there an understandable timeline of the Darren Cave issue or is it all just hear-say and second-hand information? Haven't a clue what is going on.

    Not really. Cave has never been kiss's favourite and has always been lower down the pecking order than some Ulster fans would argue his skills deserve.

    Whether this is related to a series of major personal clash between the two (dating back to when Cave was in the Irish set up) or something else we dont know.

    According to rumours there was a major clash between the two earlier in the year. His two appearances since were the la Rochelle start which was with main players rested and the game on 24 November was when Ulster had players in Ireland camp.


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    #9786
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Given Cave's comments to the media previously I'm afraid he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt on this one.

    That said, he is a quality player and I don't like seeing his talent wasted so whatever the issue is I hope it gets resolved in a way that keeps everyone reasonably happy.


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    #9787
    Peregrine
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 26,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭Peregrine


    Looks like Cave will be out of contract in 2018. He'll probably want a fresh start.


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    #9788
    Former Former
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,728 ✭✭✭Former Former


    Peregrine wrote: »
    Looks like Cave will be out of contract in 2018. He'll probably want a fresh start.

    You mean retirement?


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    #9789
    Synode
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,967 ✭✭✭Synode


    Former Former wrote: »
    You mean retirement?

    Why would he retire. He'd still get a decent paying contract at another province


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    #9790
    Former Former
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,728 ✭✭✭Former Former


    Synode wrote: »
    Why would he retire. He'd still get a decent paying contract at another province

    Maybe English championship but I'd be shocked to see him at another province.


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    #9791
    bilston
    Registered Users Posts: 17,761 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    Former Former wrote: »
    Synode wrote: »
    Why would he retire. He'd still get a decent paying contract at another province

    Maybe English championship but I'd be shocked to see him at another province.

    Do you not think he could get a contract with a Premiership team? For example I'd say he's a better centre than Whitten who seems to be starting for Exeter anytime I watch them.


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    #9792
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    Synode wrote: »
    Why would he retire. He'd still get a decent paying contract at another province

    He's already basically semi-retired by some accounts, running a coffee shop


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    #9793
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Synode wrote: »
    Why would he retire. He'd still get a decent paying contract at another province

    Primarily, let's hope him and Les kiss and make up so he can help Ulster on both campaigns for the remainder of the season.

    It's an interesting one though. On the one hand I can't imagine his previous comments have endeared him to the IRFU but then again as a business you need to deal with these things and find the most beneficial result for the provinces regardless.

    I'd have said that Leinster would probably also rule him out given that he named Heaslip as part of his previous little tirade but Leinster would actually really benefit from someone of Cave's quality and I doubt it would bother Heaslip in the slightest so maybe he may go Mexican for a season or two in the sun before he calls it a day.

    Connacht would be another option but it's actually a tough call not knowing who of Aki, Henshaw or Ringrose is going to be called away now that McCloskey and Farrell have entered the equation in a meaningful way.


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    #9794
    Neil3030
    Registered Users Posts: 17,034 ✭✭✭✭Neil3030


    I'd be shocked if Cave wasn't signed by a Premiership team (if, indeed, he wants to continue playing).


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    #9795
    Former Former
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,728 ✭✭✭Former Former


    bilston wrote: »
    Do you not think he could get a contract with a Premiership team? For example I'd say he's a better centre than Whitten who seems to be starting for Exeter anytime I watch them.

    But Whitten has been there for years. Why would you take a punt on a 31 year old Darren Cave who is as slow as a wet week?

    And IF these rumours are true, no other Irish province would touch him.


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    #9796
    CIARAN_BOYLE
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 14,599 Mod ✭✭✭✭CIARAN_BOYLE


    Synode wrote: »
    Why would he retire. He'd still get a decent paying contract at another province

    He has spent more time running his coffee shop in Belfast than he has playing rugby in recent years.people are assuming if his Ulster career is done then he will want to do that full time.


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    #9797
    prawnsambo
    Registered Users Posts: 13,315 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »
    He has spent more time running his coffee shop in Belfast than he has playing rugby in recent years.people are assuming if his Ulster career is done then he will want to do that full time.
    Fairly sure he's friendly with Rory McIlroy. Although Cave's a couple of years older, he came from the same town and went to the same school. I've seen him from time to time in photos with McIlroy.


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    #9798
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    prawnsambo wrote: »
    Fairly sure he's friendly with Rory McIlroy. Although Cave's a couple of years older, he came from the same town and went to the same school. I've seen him from time to time in photos with McIlroy.

    Well sure he's sorted so.


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    #9799
    mfceiling
    Registered Users Posts: 12,789 ✭✭✭✭mfceiling


    Former Former wrote: »
    But Whitten has been there for years. Why would you take a punt on a 31 year old Darren Cave who is as slow as a wet week? .

    I never get people saying he's slow. Name me a seriously speedy 31 year old centre? His support lines are always top drawer and his defensive reading is still right up there. He has a decent try scoring record and as I've said before most of his scores come from running great trail lines of the initial attacker.

    He's not going to set the world on fire at any club but he still has a couple of years to offer yet.


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    #9800
    durthacht
    Registered Users Posts: 703 ✭✭✭durthacht


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Bring Ian home

    Madigan or McKinley?


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    #9801
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Whitten.

    Bring all the Ians home.


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    #9802
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,224 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    Did we ever have Humphreys, McKinley, Madigan and Keatley available at the same time?


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    #9803
    $ausage$
    Registered Users Posts: 691 ✭✭✭$ausage$


    The Hill have listened!

    Cave to start this week and get his 200 cap away in Galway.
    Yikes, bit of a kick in the teeth.


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    #9804
    Buer
    Registered Users Posts: 24,193 ✭✭✭✭Buer


    $ausage$ wrote: »
    The Hill have listened!

    Cave to start this week and get his 200 cap away in Galway.
    Yikes, bit of a kick in the teeth.

    Sending a weakened side I'm guessing in advance of the Leinster match?


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    #9805
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 53,487 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Camp Schmidt on this week I think which will affect things.


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    #9806
    Interested Observer
    Registered Users Posts: 13,023 ✭✭✭✭Interested Observer


    awec wrote: »
    Camp Schmidt on this week I think which will affect things.

    It's a 2 day camp and there's a big gap between games I think, Munster v Leinster isn't for another 7 days, so there should be time to get everyone training in the lead up to it.

    Edit - sorry I assumed there was a full match program on the 26th, I see Ulster play on the 23rd. That obviously changes things.


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    #9807
    stephen_n
    Registered Users Posts: 12,920 ✭✭✭✭stephen_n


    Paul Smeenus wrote: »
    It's almost as if Cave had said declined going to the RWC to hold tackle bags, and instead gone to watch NI in the Euros when Les Kiss was part of the national coaching set-up, and that Les hadn't liked that, and thought less of Darren for doing so.

    But as was excitedly speculated at the time, that was McCloskey, who has, of course, never subsequently played for Ireland... If only there had been someone on Boreds saying all the time it was Cave...

    Jaysus I must have been hallucinating during the Ai's, I thought McCloskey played for Ireland, must have been someone who looked very like him.

    TBH I'd think less of any player who turned down the chance to represent his country, to go watch a soccer tournament. Shows a distinctly poor and self centered attitude.


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    #9808
    MJohnston
    Registered Users Posts: 10,547 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    stephen_n wrote: »
    Jaysus I must have been hallucinating during the Ai's, I thought McCloskey played for Ireland, must have been someone who looked very like him.

    TBH I'd think less of any player who turned down the chance to represent his country, to go watch a soccer tournament. Shows a distinctly poor and self centered attitude.

    I don't remember the exact details, but I don't think Paul is correct - the RWC and the Euros were on in different years, for a start. Perhaps he meant the Euro qualifiers?

    But either way, I believe that he wasn't turning down a squad place, he was just invited to help the actual squad out with training.


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    #9809
    Former Former
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,728 ✭✭✭Former Former


    MJohnston wrote: »
    I don't remember the exact details, but I don't think Paul is correct - the RWC and the Euros were on in different years, for a start. Perhaps he meant the Euro qualifiers?

    But either way, I believe that he wasn't turning down a squad place, he was just invited to help the actual squad out with training.

    Yeah, he's completely confused.

    Cave didn't refuse to join the RWC squad (no-one did) - he was in fact selected and travelled. Except that when the exact circumstances arose that should have seen him picked, i.e. a vacancy at 13, Joe decided to pass on him and picked Earls out of position instead.

    The refusal of a call-up by player unknown happened during the 2016 summer tour to South Africa when Payne (I think) got injured. A call went out to an Ulster player and he declined it. There was much speculation about who it was but it was known that it was not McCloskey (Paul is also wrong in saying everyone on boards thought it was him). It so happened that McCloskey was on hols at the Euros but it was not he who was called up.

    Whoever said player is/was, he signed his own P45 that day. And rugby is a small community, no other province would ever take on such a player and I doubt any big club would do so either.


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    #9810
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 53,487 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    I'd say a big club would be delighted to sign a good player who has no interest in playing test rugby. Sounds like a premiership or top14 managers wet dream.


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    #9811
    Former Former
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,728 ✭✭✭Former Former


    awec wrote: »
    I'd say a big club would be delighted to sign a good player who has no interest in playing test rugby. Sounds like a premiership or top14 managers wet dream.

    Again, and purely hypothetically, if a player was leaving his existing club for disciplinary reasons or bad attitude, he'd want to be a serious player to be taking that gamble on.

    I'm not sure Ulster have anyone who falls into that category.


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