Ulster Team Talk Thread III: Les Miserables SEE MOD WARNING POST #1924 + #2755

18-05-2018 08:19AM

It's abundantly clear at this point that Logan has to go I think.

What Gibbes is doing is really poor form but it just puts an emphasis on how badly things must have deteriorated in the overall setup there.

There's no reason for Ulster to be in this position. There's a good player base and a huge fan base there, a quality stadium, etc.

awec · 18-05-2018 08:21AM

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/104011946/doubts-raised-over-jono-gibbes-coaching-waikato-rugby

Waikato sound surprised. Seems he was in France yesterday, but that’s probably Ulster’s fault too.

bilston · 18-05-2018 08:22AM

Clegg wrote: »

That pack...

Jordi save yourself!

I know. It really isn't inspiring.

I suppose the positive is that Jordi, Hendy, Coetzee, Deysel and the ever improving Rea will be added to it next season, plus there are some decent youngsters. But for Sunday it looks pretty weak.

bilston · 18-05-2018 08:24AM

awec wrote: »

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/104011946/doubts-raised-over-jono-gibbes-coaching-waikato-rugby

Waikato sound surprised. Seems he was in France yesterday, but that’s probably Ulster’s fault too.

Pretty bad form to be in France three days for the Ospreys game. Ok, it may have been a quieter day training wise, I assume the captains run is today or tomorrow, but at best it shows he isn't fully focused on Sunday.

But hey, what can Ulster do? Gibbes is finished with us in 48 hours time.

awec · 18-05-2018 08:32AM

Hadassah CoolS Backside wrote: »

It's abundantly clear at this point that Logan has to go I think.

What Gibbes is doing is really poor form but it just puts an emphasis on how badly things must have deteriorated in the overall setup there.

There's no reason for Ulster to be in this position. There's a good player base and a huge fan base there, a quality stadium, etc.

Actually, when you think about it it’s not that surprising.

In the past two years:

A fan favourite player was forced out after very publicly stating he wanted to stay.

Another two fan favourite players missed an entire season after being dragged through the courts, being acquitted but then being forced out anyway

Inept performances by the team on the pitch all season long, on the back of inept performances in previous seasons under Les Kiss

The crash out of Europe away to Wasps. Gutless.

A head coach who was making it up as he went along, who lasted far longer than he ever should have. A coach who many didn’t even want in the first place.

A CEO who went into hiding when things got rough

Uncertainty around next season, we don’t even know when our new head coach will arrive. We don’t know who is joining him on the coaching team.

A lack of signings. Some problematic areas have been addressed but it’s nowhere near enough.

I’m sure there’s more I’ve forgotten. It’s not surprising to see people get fed up with the nonsense. When people say Ulster can not afford another rubbish season they really mean it.

molloyjh · 18-05-2018 08:35AM

bilston wrote: »

Pretty bad form to be in France three days for the Ospreys game. Ok, it may have been a quieter day training wise, I assume the captains run is today or tomorrow, but at best it shows he isn't fully focused on Sunday.

But hey, what can Ulster do? Gibbes is finished with us in 48 hours time.

If yesterday was a down day training wise (which that article suggests) then a trip over could easily have zero impact on the prep for Sunday.

It wouldn't be great form from Gibbs, from an Ulster or Waikato perspective, but we don't know the circumstances so it's impossible to call it. As I said, he could be doing a Honey Badger on it and accepting a big offer to help with the family situation at home. If it were something like that then I don't think anyone could hold that over him really. Who knows though.

Buer · 18-05-2018 08:44AM

molloyjh wrote: »

If yesterday was a down day training wise (which that article suggests) then a trip over could easily have zero impact on the prep for Sunday.

It's a few days before a massive game which will define the immediate future of Ulster Rugby. It's very poor form to be going. The players may not be training if it's a down day but there's no coaching team in the Pro14 that wouldn't be working on preparation for the game.

No reason he couldn't fly over on Sunday evening or Monday morning.

molloyjh · 18-05-2018 08:47AM

awec wrote: »

A head coach who was making it up as he went along, who lasted far longer than he ever should have. A coach who many didn’t even want in the first place.

Just on this one, Kiss joined Ulster in 2014 didn't he? And was with Ireland up to the RWC so didn't really link up with Ulster full-time until midway through the 2015-16 season? In his first full season in charge (2016-17) he wasn't working with a coaching team of his own choosing. And if I recall correctly Doak and Clarke were getting absolutely hammered by a lot of Ulster fans. This season was the first season where Kiss actually had full control over the set-up, and he only lasted half the season.

I'm not really sure who didn't want Kiss in the first place either, or why. The guy had a bloody good record with Ireland from the previous 5-6 years and had been interim head coach between Kidney leaving and Joe taking over. Was there really anything to suggest he was going to be a bad appointment?

molloyjh · 18-05-2018 08:49AM

Buer wrote: »

It's a few days before a massive game which will define the immediate future of Ulster Rugby. It's very poor form to be going. The players may not be training if it's a down day but there's no coaching team in the Pro14 that wouldn't be working on preparation for the game.

No reason he couldn't fly over on Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Ulster haven't played a game in 3 weeks. They've had plenty of time to prep for this to the point that if they still needed yesterday then I'd question what they've been at for the last 3 weeks. They should have been well and truly ready for this one by the start of the week.

awec · 18-05-2018 08:52AM

molloyjh wrote: »

Ulster haven't played a game in 3 weeks. They've had plenty of time to prep for this to the point that if they still needed yesterday then I'd question what they've been at for the last 3 weeks. They should have been well and truly ready for this one by the start of the week.

Please stop making excuses for it!

molloyjh · 18-05-2018 08:55AM

awec wrote: »

Please stop making excuses for it!

I'm not making excuses? I'm just saying that it could well have no effect. And given that Ulster have had 3 weeks prep, it really shouldn't have any effect at all. If it does then I'd be far more worried about what they spent the previous 2 1/2 weeks doing.

He shouldn't have gone over any more than Joe should have been talking to Joey in the lead up to the Champions Cup SF. But if we're talking about pros here then it shouldn't impact their prep for the game really. Especially with such a long lead in time.

18-05-2018 09:27AM

The optics are terrible. It won't impact prep but it will impact the players. More off the field bull**** and dishonesty. It's a really poor decision if true, even if the reasons for going over are good for Gibbs, the optics are bad for the players and if he cared at all this would have been in the news next week not this week.

Just my 2c based on what had been reported. Maybe he's spoken to the team and it's fine.

Buer · 18-05-2018 09:28AM

molloyjh wrote: »

Ulster haven't played a game in 3 weeks. They've had plenty of time to prep for this to the point that if they still needed yesterday then I'd question what they've been at for the last 3 weeks. They should have been well and truly ready for this one by the start of the week.

It doesn't really matter. It's 3 days before their biggest game of the season which has a massive on next year. There are injury concerns around players. There are conditions to be considered. This all impacts on planning and preparation right up to the final few days.

Regardless, it simply is brutal PR for Gibbes and Ulster for the visit to take place. He's entitled to do what he wants but we'd be spitting blood if Lancaster had gone to speak to Harlequins at some point last week despite Leinster having had 3 weeks to prepare.

18-05-2018 09:31AM

If the players think the coach has mentally checked out that's clearly going to have an impact.

awec · 18-05-2018 09:36AM

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/jono-gibbes-will-not-accept-job-as-la-rochelle-coach-36919250.html

Confirmed by the BelTel that talks took place yesterday, but he's not taking the job.

This makes no sense at all though:

"With Ulster hosting Ospreys in a do-or-die Champions Cup play-off on Sunday, the timing of the confusion could hardly have been worse but it is understood that Gibbes took the meeting as something of a courtesy and still fully intends to return home in the coming weeks."

Spin spin spin.

18-05-2018 09:42AM

awec wrote: »

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/jono-gibbes-will-not-accept-job-as-la-rochelle-coach-36919250.html

Confirmed by the BelTel that talks took place yesterday, but he's not taking the job.

This makes no sense at all though:

"With Ulster hosting Ospreys in a do-or-die Champions Cup play-off on Sunday, the timing of the confusion could hardly have been worse but it is understood that Gibbes took the meeting as something of a courtesy and still fully intends to return home in the coming weeks."

Spin spin spin.

Not unheard of in some circles. I've seen this exact thing happen before though I doubt he had zero interest going over, probably just polite curiosity at best.

Regardless, completely wrong week to do it.

molloyjh · 18-05-2018 09:43AM

Buer wrote: »

It doesn't really matter. It's 3 days before their biggest game of the season which has a massive on next year. There are injury concerns around players. There are conditions to be considered. This all impacts on planning and preparation right up to the final few days.

Regardless, it simply is brutal PR for Gibbes and Ulster for the visit to take place. He's entitled to do what he wants but we'd be spitting blood if Lancaster had gone to speak to Harlequins at some point last week despite Leinster having had 3 weeks to prepare.

On a point of sheer pedantry, we didn't have 3 weeks to prep for the final last week. We had a Pro14 game in between that the coaches had to work on. But either way I'm not sure I would be spitting blood in that scenario. I'd like to think that pro coaches are professional enough to know when they are ready and when they aren't. If they feel it won't impact the prep for the game then I honestly don't really see the harm. It's a little bit like the Joey Carbery thing. Not ideal that Joe was talking to him in the build up to a massive game, but not the end of the world either. Remember, Gibbs was always leaving after this game. So where he was going to was largely irrelevant.

Still, if he never intended taking the position I've no idea why he'd have gone over at all. That just seems odd tbh. He's only making a rod to beat his own back with there, which seems silly.

sydthebeat · 18-05-2018 09:44AM

its shows either total confidence in his team and his game plan........ or a total disregard to the play off game and the importance of the outcome.

i cant see any reason why the meeting couldnt take place next week.

Collazo only quit a week ago, so if Gibbs was on the La Rochelle shortlist and they contacted him, a request to have the meeting 4 days later couldnt possibly have been an issue.

awec · 18-05-2018 10:00AM

In other news someone on UAFC said Ulster have sold about 3500 season tickets which is a very low number.

molloyjh · 18-05-2018 10:19AM

awec wrote: »

In other news someone on UAFC said Ulster have sold about 3500 season tickets which is a very low number.

Wow, that's appalling if true. Are they a trusted source? Would that be the nail in the coffin for Logan do you think?

You'd think that a win on Sunday might give that number a bit of a boost though too. Maybe some people are hanging on to see if there will be Champions Cup rugby next season?

awec · 18-05-2018 10:21AM

molloyjh wrote: »

Wow, that's appalling if true. Are they a trusted source? Would that be the nail in the coffin for Logan do you think?

You'd think that a win on Sunday might give that number a bit of a boost though too. Maybe some people are hanging on to see if there will be Champions Cup rugby next season?

I don't recognise the name, so it comes with a pinch of salt.

But given Ulster have had to extend the deadline by a month, and are apparently offering significant discounts, it seems likely that sales are pretty slow.

irishbucsfan · 18-05-2018 10:35AM

It’s absolutely shocking to leave your team to do what is basically a job interview with another during preparations for the most important game of the season. Regardless of whether or not he should be free to do it.

Absolutely shocking. If I was an Ulster fan I’d be infuriateted.

irishbucsfan · 18-05-2018 10:37AM

awec wrote: »

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/jono-gibbes-will-not-accept-job-as-la-rochelle-coach-36919250.html

Confirmed by the BelTel that talks took place yesterday, but he's not taking the job.

This makes no sense at all though:

"With Ulster hosting Ospreys in a do-or-die Champions Cup play-off on Sunday, the timing of the confusion could hardly have been worse but it is understood that Gibbes took the meeting as something of a courtesy and still fully intends to return home in the coming weeks."

Spin spin spin.

BelTel journalist laughed at the idea, think they’re just trying to save face now

thomond2006 · 18-05-2018 10:41AM

https://twitter.com/Best6Analysis/status/997412121661980672?s=19

Former Former · 18-05-2018 10:45AM

A courtesy to La Rochelle?? A club he has no connection with and no obligations to? That's mad.

And La Rochelle's season is over, why the rush for Gibbes to go there? Why not wait four days until Ulster's season is over too?

All very odd.

stephen_n · 18-05-2018 10:57AM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

.

Absolutely shocking. If I was an Ulster fan I’d be infuriateted.

Is that not the default mode for Ulster fans these days?

Not disagreeing at all, no matter what way you look at this it was very poor by Gibbes. There is not one valid reason as to why this couldn’t have waited till Monday.

Former Former · 18-05-2018 11:07AM

Ulster Rugby team to play Ospreys, Champions Cup play-off, Sunday 20th May, Kingspan Stadium (3.05pm):

(15-9): C Piutau; L Ludik, L Marshall, S McCloskey, J Stockdale, J McPhillips, J Cooney;
(1-8): C Black, R Herring (captain), R Kane, A O'Connor, K Treadwell, R Diack, S Reidy, N Timoney;
Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, A Warwick, T O'Toole, J Regan, C Henry, D Shanahan, D Cave, C Gilroy.

launish116 · 18-05-2018 11:25AM

Ospreys have a strong team out! Jones, Tipuric, lydiate, Biggar.

What has Browne done to piss management of that much they’d rather pick an academy player with no senior experience in such a big game!

molloyjh · 18-05-2018 11:32AM

Folks, I've figured out how we can blame this on Ulster. They sent Gibbs over to La Rochelle in order to create an excuse in case they lose on Sunday. Think about it. It makes perfect sense. Why would Gibbs deliberately put himself in that position. He wouldn't, clearly. It'd just be properly daft. Seriously, are there no depths that Ulster Rugby won't sink to!? Logan Out!

Paul Smeenus · 18-05-2018 11:58AM

Rumour Ryan Constable to replace Logan?

Ulster Team Talk Thread III: Les Miserables SEE MOD WARNING POST #1924 + #2755

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