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

bilston · 23-03-2019 09:27PM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Whats up with Addison?

Back injury I think

Shefwedfan · 23-03-2019 09:49PM

bilston wrote: »

Back injury I think

From throwing bread to the ducks?

bilston · 23-03-2019 11:09PM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

From throwing bread to the ducks?

You've whooshed me there!

Squidgy Black · 23-03-2019 11:37PM

bilston wrote: »

You've whooshed me there!

Long story short, there's an Instagram account called "willaddisonfeedsducks", consists of photoshops of him feeding ducks etc. They reckon it's one of the lads on the team doing it, Stockdale was the main culprit for a while.

jacothelad · 24-03-2019 10:17AM

Rob Lyttle is a smashing player. Top rate goal kicker, fast, elusive wing, good tackler and defender, looks like a good passer and reader of what is going on around him. The only thing missing is size but feck he can score. Ulster are well supplied with wings in Lyttle, Stockdale, Baloucoune, Gilroy, Kernohan and waiting in the 'wings' though obviously unproven is a real speedster schoolboy. I think he would easily be the fastest Ulster player since the 1950s...:D

launish116 · 24-03-2019 10:19AM

jacothelad wrote: »

Rob Lyttle is a smashing player. Top rate goal kicker, fast, elusive wing, good tackler and defender, looks like a good passer and reader of what is going on around him. The only thing missing is size but feck he can score. Ulster are well supplied with wings in Lyttle, Stockdale, Baloucoune, Gilroy, Kernohan and waiting in the 'wings' though obviously unproven is a real speedster schoolboy. I think he would easily be the fastest Ulster player since the 1950s...:D

If I was Gilroy id be worried! Great competition for places starting.

Wonder will any of them try and lock down fullback.

stephen_n · 24-03-2019 10:53AM

launish116 wrote: »

If I was Gilroy id be worried! Great competition for places starting.

Wonder will any of them try and lock down fullback.

Didn’t realize Gilroy was only 28, thought he was older. He’d be to most obvious one to go to full back? What’s the story with his injury?

launish116 · 24-03-2019 10:57AM

stephen_n wrote: »

Didn’t realize Gilroy was only 28, thought he was older. He’d be to most obvious one to go to full back? What’s the story with his injury?

Has a back issue, supposedly rehabbing for it and then asked for a second opinion to find he had a small stress fracture I believe. But on the mend now.

Be intrigued to see Balocoune given a shot at full back, he really has been another great find this season.

bilston · 24-03-2019 11:50AM

It could be hard to get a backline out next week.

Ludik looks certain to be out, Cave went off injured, Marshall may or may not be ready, but certainly isn't match fit, Hume is out for the season and Addison is injured.

Who plays 13?

The only player I can think of is Stockdale. But then who plays wing? Gilroy is injured, Lyttle isn't registered and I assume Kernohan isn't either.

Lowry to 15, Balacoune to one wing and the only other outfield back I can think of is Nelson.

That's before we even come to the bench!

Hopefully Cave was just taken off as a precaution.

Edit - according to the EPCR website Kernohan is in the squad, as is Stewart Moore (although you can't throw a 19 year old kid in for his debut in a European Q/F).

stephen_n · 24-03-2019 12:39PM

What three players did Ulster add to the squad recently?

The Lost Sheep · 24-03-2019 12:42PM

stephen_n wrote: »

What three players did Ulster add to the squad recently?

James Hume, Luke Marshall, Tommy O’Hagan

launish116 · 24-03-2019 01:22PM

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

James Hume, Luke Marshall, Tommy O’Hagan

Ironically none are fit, bar Marshall who is nearing full fitness but lacking any game time.

Locke_Lamora · 24-03-2019 01:56PM

launish116 wrote: »

If I was Gilroy id be worried! Great competition for places starting.

Wonder will any of them try and lock down fullback.

Lyttle looks the most obvious candidate for fullback imo. He's got a nice running game, is surprisingly hard to put down, he's coordinated under the high ball, and he's a great kicker. The only problem is his height when he comes up against fullbacks that are good in the air, but the coaches seem to have to problem putting Lowry there.

Gilroy has filled in there before, and I know he's improved, but I still cringe when he kicks. Lyttle I think would be more natural at 15. Long term, Nelson shouldn't really be an option anywhere.

Dubinusa · 24-03-2019 03:33PM

Ulster certainly churn out back line talent!
Unreal talent! Gilroy could do the job at fb, imo. So could Stockdale!
Marshall returning is huge too! McCloskey has been flogged this year.
Hume is really progressing nicely, but I hope Cave is retained for another year.
Great article in the42 today about Mike Allen.
A good read.

Locke_Lamora · 24-03-2019 04:49PM

Dubinusa wrote: »

Ulster certainly churn out back line talent!
Unreal talent! Gilroy could do the job at fb, imo. So could Stockdale!
Marshall returning is huge too! McCloskey has been flogged this year.
Hume is really progressing nicely, but I hope Cave is retained for another year.
Great article in the42 today about Mike Allen.
A good read.

Forgot about Allen, he was a fantastic talent in school and played a big role in an very good methody side. Always wanted him to make it.

I think we will see Gilroy playing 15 a bit, but I'd rather keep Stockdale on the wing where he's doing damage.

thomond2006 · 24-03-2019 06:00PM

Rory Scholes too. He looked like a potential international before he left Ulster.

stephen_n · 24-03-2019 06:09PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Rory Scholes too. He looked like a potential international before he left Ulster.

But then subsequently bombed at Edinburgh after a good start, then Connacht. Which is probably why a rich vein of form shouldn’t be regarded as the be all and end all for international selection.

Buer · 24-03-2019 08:34PM

The article on Allen is interesting. Doesn't reflect well on Edinburgh. Essentially strung him along until March before telling him they weren't going to retain him which hugely hindered his chances of finding a contract at another top flight team.

He's a real lost talent, for me. He looked like he had a lengthy Ulster career ahead of him after his initial breakthrough.

Dubinusa · 25-03-2019 02:02AM

Just watched Ulster A beat the Freejacks.
Very entertaining match.
Owen's was superb for Ulster. Houston was also.
Some superb tries.
Freejacks looked the bigger pack. But Ulster were too strong.

Ardillaun · 25-03-2019 02:56AM

bilston wrote: »

The hit on Balacoune was very naughty and deserved a red.

It looked awful in slo-mo. What a relief to see him in reasonable nick afterwards.

launish116 · 25-03-2019 09:16AM

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/promising-cub-relishes-lions-arrival-37944826.html

Great article on O'Sullivan

Dubinusa · 25-03-2019 03:10PM

Still nothing on McGrath to Ulster?
E.O.S has been a gem. What a find!
I think he's going to be in the mix for international duty!
His athleticism is freakish. It's like having VDF play lh.

launish116 · 25-03-2019 03:35PM

Dubinusa wrote: »

Still nothing on McGrath to Ulster?
E.O.S has been a gem. What a find!
I think he's going to be in the mix for international duty!
His athleticism is freakish. It's like having VDF play lh.

Backrow turned prop! He has been unreal and can only get better.

If Mcgrath is happening, announce after our two games against leinster?

launish116 · 26-03-2019 12:11PM

Squad update:

Louis Ludik sustained a knee injury in the weekend win over Isuzu Southern Kings and he will continue to be assessed this week.

Marty Moore sustained a concussion in the same match and will follow the return to play protocols. (From twitter he is training just not with squad)

James Hume suffered a right ankle fracture in training last week, which has required surgery. He is expected to return in time for pre-season.

Craig Gilroy and Will Addison remain unavailable for selection this week because of ongoing back injuries.

No mention of Henderson....

awec · 26-03-2019 12:22PM

I know I've said it before, but if we are without Moore and without Henderson we can honestly forget about this game.

It will be very frustrating if we have to go into this match with vital players missing given how much of an effort it will be to win even with a first choice 23.

launish116 · 26-03-2019 12:25PM

awec wrote: »

I know I've said it before, but if we are without Moore and without Henderson we can honestly forget about this game.

It will be very frustrating if we have to go into this match with vital players missing given how much of an effort it will be to win even with a first choice 23.

Agreed, big shame think we'd all love to see two first choice teams going at it!

On Moore's HIA, is it common for players to return for the following week?

Locke_Lamora · 26-03-2019 01:11PM

Decided to play detective with the Ulster A game. Despite what the team sheet and match report says, I'm fairly certain Stewart Moore didn't play, so I'm wondering if he's being held back for Leinster just in case? In the highlights Jack Owens started at 13 and Iwan Huges moved to 15, and I can't see Moore on the field.

bilston · 26-03-2019 06:36PM

Locke_Lamora wrote: »

Decided to play detective with the Ulster A game. Despite what the team sheet and match report says, I'm fairly certain Stewart Moore didn't play, so I'm wondering if he's being held back for Leinster just in case? In the highlights Jack Owens started at 13 and Iwan Huges moved to 15, and I can't see Moore on the field.

It literally could be a choice between Moore or Stockdale at 13. Risking Marshall after such a serious injury in a game of this intensity would be brave. Obviously if Cave is fit then great. He wasn't mentioned in that injury update so the assumption has to be that he is ok?

Locke_Lamora · 26-03-2019 06:46PM

bilston wrote: »

It literally could be a choice between Moore or Stockdale at 13. Risking Marshall after such a serious injury in a game of this intensity would be brave. Obviously if Cave is fit then great. He wasn't mentioned in that injury update so the assumption has to be that he is ok?

I would’ve expected them to say he’s good to go in the injury report considering he had to be brought off. So Hume and Addison are out, as Ludik, Cave and Marshall are all in doubt. I can’t find Moore even in any of the post match photos of the final A game, so the pessimist in me is saying he’s gotten an early flight.

If all of them are actually out, what backline and bench do we go with?

bilston · 26-03-2019 08:17PM

Locke_Lamora wrote: »

I would’ve expected them to say he’s good to go in the injury report considering he had to be brought off. So Hume and Addison are out, as Ludik, Cave and Marshall are all in doubt. I can’t find Moore even in any of the post match photos of the final A game, so the pessimist in me is saying he’s gotten an early flight.

If all of them are actually out, what backline and bench do we go with?

9 Cooney
10 Burns
11 Nelson
12 McCloskey
13 Stockdale
14 Balacoune
15 Lowry

Bench
Shanahan
Stewart
McPhillips

Three half backs in the bench, but at least McPhillips covers 15. Nelson has played 13 at age grade level so could potentially go in in an emergency. Maybe we are better going with a 6-2 split than having 2 scrum halves, but then Cooney can cover 10.

It's a bit of a mess. I suppose Moore could in theory come onto the bench, but you can't put him up against Ringrose in a Champions Cup Quarter final in his first ever competitive game for Ulster...although in saying that, they did stick Lowry in out of position in a European game for his first start (he did come off the bench the week before I think).

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

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