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

That is why I think the national team coaches should take on a development role for guys like Doak. Guys with a lot of potential but might not reach it due to deficiencies at provincial level. It's all well and good saying lads have to prove themselves good enough to make international squads but that basically means it is very difficult for anyone outside Leinster to get in.

Ward is another guy who may struggle to progress to the required level if left at Ulster but exposure to international camps could possibly bring him a long way in a relatively short period of time.

McNabney being rewarded with another start.

Good to see Hendo back.

Give it our best shot.

Agree - think Murphy's just trying to get the best players on the pitch. Presumably Izzy goes to six when Sheridan comes on, and Treadwell replaces Hendo.

Interesting that McCann's at eight and Timoney's at seven.

Presumably Telfer's on the bench because Moore still isn't ready.

Still a great deal of youth/inexperience. Telfer, Murphy, McNabney, McCormick, Ward and Carson all 10 or less competitive club caps, Wilson and Postelthwaite on early twenties.

I like the pack from 4 to 8.

Honestly, and I understand why he isn't, but I think I'd have started Murphy.

Good to have McIlroy back.

I can't see us winning, but a LBP and a big win next week and we might get into the Parker Pen or whatever it's called this weather.

That looked horrible

Reffell wins a turnover penalty with both knees on the ground, straight in front of the referee.

We have zero backs moves - presumably we're waiting for Sexton's playbook to come up from the West

Doak ffs

Ulster scrum on the Leicester 22m line and he gets penalised for not putting the ball in quick enough. A few phases later Leicester march down to score a try.

experience?

The errors from Murphy, Ward, Kok and Telfer was down to simply not being good enough.

Gulf in quality, not experience. Ward is a number 8, not a winger and last night showed.

Kok is not a complete player, but holy f**k if the rest of the team played with the same passion and drive that he did last night then we'd be a completely different team.

He had some massive tackle sets defending on our line and was constantly trying to communicate with others. He even had a try saving tackle on the other wing which he'd worked away across for!

Give me more of that anyday

Right on cue, two more years announced for Reid and three for McCormick.

Delighted but sceptical re: McNabney as Development Player for the international squad.