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

Would be nice to see that combination in green in the summer series. Has potential for RWC 2027....

I'm a Munster fan lurking in this thread so I'll take your word for it that Hume & McCloskey is a better combo.

I'm happy to see 2 Irish provinces in the European finals, hopefully both will win and it will cap the season off on a high note for Irish rugby.

Hopefully then Munster win the URC 🤣

I said here before the 6N that McCloskey and JP should be Ireland's 12 + 13. They bring such power and aggression while also having the subtly to go with it. I think if Ireland had backed JP, he would be their 13 at the WC, probably too late now. JP has his flaws at 13 but not more than Ringrose has and it should be possible to iron some of them out of JP.

JP may end up as a 12 longer term but with the right coaching, I think he could be a very good 13 now. It's something that really frustrates me about Ireland, they rarely seem to take on a guy with the raw materials and invest in moulding him into the player they want, just stick with the incumbent in the hope he'll refind his best form. It seems to be by accident that they discovered that McCloskey is a baller.

I don't mean just before the 6N. I'd have to dig back (and check which thread) to see when but it was well before that. My point is that Ireland seem to have a habit of of looking to the past rather than looking to the future in their selections. JP is one and Doak is another that I've argued before that look to me to have the ability to step up to international level with a bit of investment from the national coaches.

Bell starts for Ulster against Stormers

At the game I thought Piardi was well and truly against us last night, it turns the officiating team got the big calls right.

While it was disappointing not to win in the circumstances it was still one hell of an effort from the lads given the injuries. Kok, Doak and Augustus were outstanding. Augustus got some standing ovation coming off the pitch. I don't think Vermuelen or Coetzeee ever put in a performance like that in their time at Ulster.

3 points isn't a terrible outcome, but it looks like we will need a BP win next week. I'm very much a Munster fan today!

One final thought, SFM is unplayable at times. What a player! I'd be shocked if he doesn't need up in the Top 14 very soon.

Which incidents were these?

There was plenty of comms with the TMO who said no need to review incidents

TMO cleared that one - not sure I agree with it, but can't blame Piardi for jt

I don't think it was formally reviewed. Commentators said the ref would have seen the reply on the big screen but wasn't interested.

The other one the crowd weren't happy about was SFM's tackle on Timoney. I thought that was okay at the time but it looks a bit different in the context of giving a PT for the Doak tackle.

Again I was at the match so don't have the benefit of analysis, but it seemed to me that there was a high tackle on an Ulster player moments before Hendy's Croc roll. Also surely there was a strong argument for a yellow to the Stormers for killing the ball after Doak's quick tap and Ulster's 70 or 80 metre break up field. Obviously that isn't one the TMO is going to get involved in, but it felt like it should have been yellow to me. I assume the TMO and officials were right to not sanction the hit on Murphy, obviously Jack was falling to the ground so there was clear mitigation, but I thought I saw one angle on the big screen which seemed to suggest a swinging arm.

Anyway, the Henderson and Doak incidents were correct, but at the ground it felt like all those calls were going against us, but you obviously get a different perspective on TV.

The only injured players I can see coming back anytime soon are Hume and possibly Balacoune. I'd wager the rest are gone for the season. That said those two would be important additions.

The other thing is Timoney and Izzy were running on empty on Friday night and getting a bit of treatment as the game went on. We definitely can't afford to lose those two.

I'd be surprised if Cardiff beat the Stormers on Friday so we need to better their result. I'd expect Connacht to beat Edinburgh and as bad as Munster were the other night, they should beat the Lions.