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

Glasgow scored more maul tries than any other team in the URC this season (13).

Looks like we're already aping them.

Our phase play has been a shambles this season, agreed.

The question is, do we need new coaching staff to get that, though.

Agree 100%. I don't think Munster have better players overall, but the quality of their coaching has shot through the roof. A really good attack coach and we'd be right back in the mix.

I would have a very similar take, actually, although if he is back as he was I'd have Addison followed by Lowry at FB, and Hodnett I would not rate higher than Timoney. I'd have Treadwell ahead of Kleyn as well. And some other quibbles - but I think we're agreed that it's the coaching. And possibly the OH position - that might be a player quality issue. Would Munster have done what they've done with Carbery?

They should announce it then. What are they waiting for? I know the players are away sunning themselves but the admin folks are probably beavering away like the rest of us. Or maybe they're waiting for Hendy to come back from whereever he is so they can do all the promo stuff.

Keeping Henderson is important, not because he plays a lot, he really doesn't, but because he is the captain and probably our best known player. Losing him would have sent out a terrible signal.

I wouldn't be surprised if he starts to feature for Ireland less and less, which might mean that he lines out at Ravenhill a bit more.

While not disagreeing on Ulster, that point about Munster is pure marketing fluff, in my humble opinion.

I didn't think they'd do it by hook or by crook last season when they came up to Ravenhill and were made to look p1sh-poor, or even when we beat them in Europe way back when in Thomond. They've had a remarkable, enviable resurgence this season, but they've spent years decidedly not getting it done by hook or by crook.

I'm surprised he wasn't released. His injury profile is awful.

Let's be honest here. Munster have been coached brilliantly and turned the season around in remarkable fashion. Dan McFarland has failed to get the best out of Ulster when it really matters.

Also Munster have best supporter base in Europe and as mentioned much better OHs than Ulster.

Another aspect in relation to Munster is the quality of players coming through the academy. Especially the forwards. Kendellen and Hodnett are both fantastic players. They both will probably be Ireland internationals. McAnn is the only Ulster back row that's come through recently and he's not as good.

Munster have serious prospects coming through in Quinn and Edogbo. Ulster seem to struggle with producing forwards. That said, I reckon Wilson will be a good player. Sheridan should be good and McNabney looks a find.

It's strange that. James Humphreys is in the academy. I don't know how he's doing. Then there's Madigan and Flannery who rarely play?

There's always decent to very good backs. One is retiring at 26 years old.

Petrie isn't really doing much better than the last administrators. I don't see the Vermuellen signing as a win. An aged 8 with a ton of miles under the belt and probably on a good salary. Also Carter, certainly not much quality regardless of being an Oz international.

Would Conor Fitz be a better option than Madigan? Or Flannery? He'd be fairly cheap.

Ive never been that impressed by Conor Fitzgerald.

But the point is why do we need to rely on a 4th choice out half from another province (Flannery) or a reject from Munster (French)?! Why aren't we producing players ourselves. We've been talking about this for 20 years...

I thought Johnny McPhillips was a good player. It surprised me when he was let go - if indeed he was let go instead of deciding to move on himself.

I wonder how Stewart Moore would get on at outhalf. He's a very gifted player.