I think I'd have him ahead of all you mention there, even SHL.
I think Conan is the one blocking his path. As soon as Conan slows up or retires I expect to see him in the 23. Problem is Doris is the starting 8 most of the time and he's not getting in ahead of him.
7 games to go and not one is impossible in my eye. And no matter what happens an incredible improvement from the Wilkins era.
More to the point it's an incredible achievement in such a short time by Lancaster
Looking forward to Lancaster leading the Irish team to victory in 2031
Hang on, I'm looking forward to him leading us to our fourth Champions cup win in 2036.
Ulster Rugby vs Connacht Rugby Friday 20th March, 19:45 @ Affidea Stadium
Number/Name/Caps 15. Sean Naughton (10) 14. Shane Jennings (30) 13. Cathal Forde (66) 12. Bundee Aki (159) 11. Finn Treacy (17) 10. Jack Carty (230) 9. Colm Reilly (31) 1. Billy Bohan (6) 2. Dave Heffernan (228) 3. Finlay Bealham (226) 4. Joe Joyce (50) 5. Darragh Murray (51) 6. Josh Murphy (54) 7. Cian Prendergast (97) (C) 8. Sean Jansen (39)
16. Matthew Victory (3) 17. Peter Dooley (59) 18. Sam Illo (41) 19. Niall Murray (91) 20. Paul Boyle (129) 21. Ben Murphy (29) 22. Josh Ioane (26) 23. John Devine (2)
Unavailable: Caolin Blade, Shayne Bolton, Denis Buckley, Oisín Dowling, Sam Gilbert, Hugh Gavin, David Hawkshaw, Mack Hansen, Temi Lasisi, Byron Ralston, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Harry West.
Gilbert out is a loss, but mitigated somewhat by the quality of Naughton's goalkicking.
Colm Reilly definitely looks to have had a bit of a career revival under Lancaster, or maybe they're just thinking it's not worth giving minutes to Matt Devine when he's bailed out at the end of the season. Reilly is the guy who'll be there so more value in giving the minutes to him.
You put your best players on the pitch regardless of where they are going.
Colm Reilly, who is 26, had barely featured for Connacht. He has 32 career games, 7 starts (including this weekend) for 874 mins. He had played exactly once this season (11 mins off the bench in December) before it was announced in Feb that Devine was leaving.
Now he's been in the last two match squads despite there being no mention of Devine being on the injury list.
It's possible they've just decided Reilly is the better player, but given how vocally frustrated they were with Devine opting to leave, it certainly looks like they've decided to back the guy who's staying instead (and I don't have a problem with that).
Devine was injured and unavailable last week, but this week he could have played.
He had been going around with a brace on his knee for the last while so I suspect just not back fit enough to feature yet, same for the likes of SHL who is back training but not involved yet
Not always. You need to look at the long term picture too. It's not straightforward.
We totally banished Ultan Dillane when it was announced he was leaving, which I hated from a fans perspective.
Yet, we're playing Joe Joyce without issue, despite him leaving at the end of the season
Trust is important too. If you dont believe players will give it their all, as they are leaving, then there is no point in playing them.
Or if there is very little between the player leaving, and a player staying, giving the time to the player staying will help them develop
There's a balance to be struck for sure - as you said, if there's a similar quality player who is staying, then pick them, but if the departing player is better and the game is important, that's a different matter. In the case of Devine, I get the sense there has been a falling out, but we'll probably never know the ins and outs.
Yeah, I think there are different ways certain players move on. A lot of the time the club is fine with the player moving on, but that definitely isn't the case with Devine at all.
Lancaster said himself this week Reilly was injured when he arrived, has had to wait for his chance but he felt he played very well last week. I'd say it's just a case of he played well and they're rewarding him for that.
I like the selection for tomorrow. First off it doesn't include Denis. Second Bundee has a point to prove. Third I think Jack is a better selection to Josh. Reason I say that is that Josh can break through lines but the Ulster line is hard to break. So Jack plays positional play which is what is required against Ulster.
So I am of the belief it is the best selection for the game in front of us
I wonder that B.Murphy doesn't start as SH. Is he in the short time slump? Or peak out of his ability? I think it is the latter.
Ben and Josh are a known good unit. So perfect for the bench
Apparently Ulster are 13 point favourites with the bookies - that surprised me, as I feel we have a decent shot at winning. Hopeful of at least a losing bonus. Bundee and Cathal haven't made a great pairing in the past, but I'd love to see the two of them running over/through their opposite numbers tonight.
I don't think we'll run through the Ulster centres. We should however be challenging Stockdale's decision making as much as possible; send late runners on his outside, overload his channel, etc. Defending at 13 is hard (which makes Harry West's performances this year so impressive to me) and Jacob hasn't done it for almost 10 years now. His only career start at 13 was at home against Zebre.
hmm, bookies aren’t stupid, but I’m not sure they’ve realised the quantity of injuries/absentees Ulster have to their 1st XV.
I honestly think we are up to taking the win tonight.
They are missing a fair few players tonight. Izuchukwu, Irvine and Sheridan which means their second row is decimated.
They are also missing Hume and Postlethwaite, I've no idea whose going to play 13 for them.
So I'd expect to see us going up the middle a lot tonight.
There's no mystery, they've named their team. Jacob Stockdale is at 13.
Big selection for him, his only prior start there as a pro was against Zebre 9 years ago.
ulsters 4 best centres are absent.
Moore/mccloskey/postlewaithe/hume.
im worried about ulsters 10/12 channel in defence.
mushy is a very poor tackler and Carson will have a tough evening up against Aki.
I think if we get parity up front, and Reilly and Carty perform at half back, we could sneak this. Ulster have dropped silly points in recent games in Wales and our form has been improving. The top 6 are probably out of sight, although Cardiff and Ulster themselves could still slide, and we need an absolute minimum of three wins and bonus points to sneak into the top 8. A minimum of 46pts, and likely 47/48 will be required to qualify. Our best chance of wins are Ospreys and Munster at home, and tonight. We could pick up a point or two in South Africa and whatever happens if we can go into the last game away in Embra with something to play for we'll have done well.
I think we will need an average of at least 1BP from each of the last 6 games if we are to finish top 8 with 8 wins.
Honestly I wonder if we're better off in the Challenge Cup for another season.
Have to think Connacht have the edge at Centre and Lock.
Away in Ravenhill, awful record in the inter-pros, Ulster are still favorites.
If Connacht can stay in the game by the time Ioane and Murphy come off the bench they could get the win.
Jansen THE inform Irish player not involved in Test squad?
Ulster:
Michael Lowry; Werner Kok, Jacob Stockdale, Ben Carson, Zac Ward; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Angus Bell, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson; Iain Henderson (capt), Joe Hopes; David McCann, Marcus Rea, Juarno Augustus
Replacements: Rob Herring, Sam Crean, Tom O'Toole, Matthew Dalton, Bryn Ward, Conor McKee, Jonny Scott, Ethan McIlroy
Ulster have 9 Players with significant mins over the last 2 rounds. With Carson and McKee also having played mins in the last 2 rounds.
With TOT (TH!!!), Stewart, Doak & Stockdale returning from 6N squad.
Connacht:
Seán Naughton; Shane Jennings, Cathal Forde, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy; Jack Carty, Colm Reilly; Billy Bohan, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray; Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast (capt), Sean Jansen
Replacements: Matthew Victory, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Niall Murray, Paul Boyle, Ben Murphy, Josh Ioane, John Devine`
Connacht have 7 Players with significant mins over the last 2 rounds.
With Bundee, DMurrAy, Finlay and Prendergast returning from 6N squad.
Ulster in Belfast is a different beast though. Even if Ulster have a poor 60 minutes, they can still put up and score a couple of quick scores.
time will tell though, should be a good competitive game though
Is it being shown on any channels?
premier sport
That's my take also eagle eye. I know Carty and Reilly isn't terribly exciting. But if Connacht hang in there for the first hour I think Murphy and Ioane can do some damage. I also see from the 23 there is cover for Bundee should he blow up which I think is a smart move.
As a team selection it is exactly what I would do. If it fails well my argument falls with it.
It's nice that after 9 years that Connacht supporters can dream again
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