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

awec wrote: »

What do you mean?

His kids were born in Belfast (even the most recent one that was born after he left Ulster) and I think they were pretty involved in the community. As far as I know he still has his house in Belfast etc, when it was said last year that he really didn't want to leave it was legitimate. Pienaar is quite unique as a NIQ in that he bought into it all off the field as much as he did on the field.

Also they're real god squadders and Belfast loves the god squad.

Honestly, your sense of humour seems to have fallen off a cliff. Belfast >>> Montpellier is funny n itself.

If it's another Montpellier centre moving to Ireland I would have thought it would be the much reported Tomane move to Leinster rather than Steyn to Ulster?

prawnsambo wrote: »

No. There's no debate here. You'd have to have your sanity questioned to prefer Belfast. No slight on Belfast, there are few places that could compare.

Listen, people prefer the northside, there’s no accounting for taste.


Joking aside, clearly they settled in Belfast, moving young kids would always be difficult.

thomond2006 wrote: »

Pienaar and Steyn have acquired a house together in Belfast for their families.
It doesn't necessarily read as 'bought' to me, perhaps it could be just renting a house.

Edit: Now if Pienaar still owns his house in Belfast, the above reads strange but perhaps the website isn't aware of that.

The implication to me was that Pienaar had bought a house in France for him and Steyn, not in Belfast.

Yeah my understanding of Altrad's comments is that their families are off to Ireland, while the two lads are moving in together in France.

Deleted User wrote: »

Pienaar and Steyn up a tree - P. R. A. Y. I. N. G.

Really is a long shot, seems more so the family have returned and left them to share a house together. Keep praying!

Seems to be a lot of up roar from the Top 14 final. Club isn’t over happily either! Does seem odd for the family to move on the day of the final! Pienaar had bad game, in perspective he’s a family man and looks like his mind was else where!

So I am hearing about interim head coach to fill the gap until DMcF arrives.

Has to be a local person I would say to just take a 5-6 month role?

Maybe Eddie? (Hopefully not though)

prawnsambo wrote: »

I get the impression that Scotland don't want money. The only thing that will have them release McFarland eaarly will be getting a replacement in. And then some money. :rolleyes:

It’s a game of chicken. Ulster will hurt their season if he’s not in soon but Scotland won’t want McFarland until the end if his 9 month release clause. If he did leave then it would be a few weeks before the 6nations and a few months before the WC - not a good time to hire and start a new defence coach. They are unlikely to want to pay for 2 defence coaches at the same time and won’t want the new guy putting his ideas in place only for McF to report to Ireland where I’m sure his superior Schmidt will want as much info as possible on Irelands WC group opponents.

I don't think Ulster have great expectations for next season, so they may take the hit of doing without McFarland until January. But to be honest how we could possibly make the same mistake again is beyond ridiculous.

I reckon the aim for next year is to qualify for the Champions Cup the following season and to blood a bunch of youngsters. Anything else will be a bonus.

Then come 2019/20 we will have very few players at the WC and we will hopefully get a headstart on everyone else a la Connacht in 15/16.

Neil Best on twitter showing a French newspaper article that says Jackson signing for Perpignan should be confirmed by the end of the week.

https://twitter.com/Best6Analysis/status/1004274920317042688