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

I think that was more of a step forward than the Dragons win. That said the Stormers were really poor in the first half, perhaps partially down to a fast start from Ulster. But Libbok in particular wasn't at the races at all.

Timoney, Sheridan and McCann were all very good, although McCann's yellow was very costly, not sure I'd describe it as brain dead but it wasn't worth the risk IMO. The backs looked very dangerous in the first half but didn't get much ball in the second half.

But I'd be more optimistic about the run in now than I was before KO today. So green shoots, but there's a hell of a long way to go.

Doak was a mixed bag, and maybe there is something to work with there with consistent minutes, but I still believe strongly we need to bring someone else in at 10.

Honestly, he's been underwhelming. We need a decent LH if he goes but I wonder could we then get a good NIQ ten?

George Saunderson and Callum Reid appear to be busts. There's only Warrick if SK returns to S.A. O'Toole should be left where he is, imo. He's probably Ireland's future th.

They are trying to put a positive spin on a change that looks more like a stop-gap we've implemented at the last-minute to cover a massive whole in our squad, much like the O'Toole switch. Neither Doak nor Flannery have impressed at 10 and although Jack Murphy looked decent at u20 level, he didn't stand out to me as a certain starter quality flyhalf. I reckon he'll remain with Leinster anyway. I'm also not really sure what Andy Farrell approving the move means - does he actually think highly of Doak's prospects at 10, or was he just not in his plans at all at 9 so he didn't particularly care?

And what's our plans for scrumhalf now? Cooney is not getting any younger and if Doak's future really lies at flyhalf then we will be doing this same dance in another pivotal position a season or two from now. I haven't watched Michael McDonalds loan at connacht so I have no idea how he's progressing, but presumably he'll return to back up Cooney next season?

Gerry Thornley is now also reporting that Kitschoff will return to South Africa at the end of the season.

Makes sense I suppose. Looking at the extended Ireland u18 and 19 squads, we have very few outside backs coming through and only Josh Gibson and Johnny Scott made the final cut. No idea about upcoming prospects below that.

Leinster have Osbourne who is pushing for higher honours, Brownlee who is quite highly rated, and two small but strong centres in Turner and Cooney, so they might not be all-in on De Klerk or Berman. Whether they want to come here is another matter.

Played last year as an u19 but was injured this year. I wasn't terribly impressed tbh but he is quite small so playing a year early was always a tough ask. Going by the leinster forum he seems to be going ok in AIL

Some players thrive outside the bubble in which they come up; they can really bring something of themself outside their comfort zone. Kitschoff has not notably been out-performing Andy Warwick. I'd rather get the money back.

I think we Ulster fans have a pretty distorted view of the leadership that SA players can bring, because we think back to Pienaar, Muller and Stefan Terblanche. Kitschoff showed markedly less determination and passion than Louis Ludik, who was a fraction as good a player as Spicy Plum is/was.

Coetzee put in some fantastic performances, but never seemed a leader. Vermeulen was alright, but didn't bring any amazing leadership either. I think we need to look at our assumption that our SA imports with be the roll-up-your-sleeves, do-or-die inspirations that we might hope.

We need someone with Bundee Aki's depth of character and passion.

I read somewhere that he was pretty homesick and went through something similar at Bordeaux, the coach thing could be the prefect excuse.

3 year contract for James McNabney, 2 years for Scott Wilson and Lorcan McLaughlin.

They appear to be development contracts which is odd as far as Scott Wilson is concerned. By my reckoning if O'Toole moves to LH, Wilson will be first choice Tight Head next season which should really merit more than a Development contract.

One year development deal last Spring, as far as I'm aware.

I want to see more of Crothers. I like him, I think he has real potential, some say he is a bit small, he's probably in direct competition with Marcus Rea. But like the other two you mention a year of S&C is no bad thing, but he must be 21 by now so time is ticking.

Fantastic prospect! Really like Bryn Ward too! A no doubters for the academy.