Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Buer · 14-09-2014 03:22PM

chris_d wrote: »

How many games did Cullen miss when Leinster were allowed to sign Thorn? Two was it?

Thorn wasn't signed as a replacement for Cullen. He was signed as a Leinster NIQ player (Sykes) had his contract terminated by mutual consent for personal reasons. Thorn was brought in shortly after to see out the season.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 14-09-2014 03:23PM

chris_d wrote: »

How many games did Cullen miss when Leinster were allowed to sign Thorn? Two was it?

Maybe now when Ulster beat all about them PJ will get his dues from the media commentators.

Thorn was a replacement for Sykes more than anything.

chris_d · 14-09-2014 03:38PM

Way to wreck my buzz lads. Just like Paddy is going to wreck Toulon at Kingers.

former legend · 14-09-2014 03:44PM

chris_d wrote: »

How many games did Cullen miss when Leinster were allowed to sign Thorn? Two was it?

Maybe now when Ulster beat all about them PJ will get his dues from the media commentators.

Just to point out that Ulster got a medical joker that season too...

awec · 15-09-2014 11:37AM

Does anyone know why we are playing Zebre again in 2 weeks?

bilston · 15-09-2014 11:41AM

awec wrote: »

Does anyone know why we are playing Zebre again in 2 weeks?

Coincidence probably.

awec · 15-09-2014 11:42AM

Ah.

Anyway, on the coach front it seems like Doak is going to be the man from reading UAFC.

bilston · 15-09-2014 12:20PM

awec wrote: »

Ah.

Anyway, on the coach front it seems like Doak is going to be the man from reading UAFC.

Well good luck to him if its true. I don't really have an opinion on whether it woukd be the right call or not but obviously I hope it works. It would certainly be a very brave move.

It does beg the question, why bring Kiss in at all? Why not appoint Doak in the first place?

RobbieRuns · 15-09-2014 12:28PM

bilston wrote: »

Well good luck to him if its true. I don't really have an opinion on whether it woukd be the right call or not but obviously I hope it works. It would certainly be a very brave move.

It does beg the question, why bring Kiss in at all? Why not appoint Doak in the first place?

To report to the IRFU that the current structures and coaching staff are good enough, that there is no need to go and recruit another coach. Kiss is a talented coach employed by the IRFU, they probably wanted a review of the staff before making a permanent appointment.

The IRFU will want Irish coaches coming through, I think they will be encouraging it. As long as they are good enough.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 15-09-2014 12:36PM

bilston wrote: »

Well good luck to him if its true. I don't really have an opinion on whether it woukd be the right call or not but obviously I hope it works. It would certainly be a very brave move.

It does beg the question, why bring Kiss in at all? Why not appoint Doak in the first place?

Well Kiss has been DoR while Doak has been doing the head coach stuff over the last while.

What I find more interesting if true is why put off the appointment if it has been decided.

Personally I think someone currently in the ITM cup or Currie cup will be coming north either as head coach or as a more hands on director of rugby than Humphries was.

awec · 15-09-2014 12:49PM

Kiss was brought in apparently because of Doak's delayed return to pre-season as he was away in Georgia with the emerging Ireland side.

mfceiling · 15-09-2014 10:48PM

Depressing if Doak gets the job.

Will he drive the team in the right direction or will we stagnate?

Hopefully it's only to the end of the season.

awec · 15-09-2014 11:03PM

It depends. For the last few years have we been watching a back line playing in the Doak way or a back line playing the Anscombe way.

As someone on UAFC said, Clermont didn't play like Leinster when Schmidt was a coach over there. I don't think many at Leinster expected what they got.

So if it's Doak I'll give him a chance.

jacothelad · 15-09-2014 11:11PM

There is always the possibility that Doak will be a short term deal to allow a higher profile appointment after the RWC.

Tox56 · 15-09-2014 11:16PM

awec wrote: »

As someone on UAFC said, Clermont didn't play like Leinster when Schmidt was a coach over there. I don't think many at Leinster expected what they got.

Did they not? I didn't watch them in the Top 14 at that time so I don't know what their playing style was, but in Schmidt's last two seasons there they finished third in the league both times but scored significantly more tries and significantly more points than anyone else in the league both times.

He is an incredible coach, I can't believe that didn't manifest itself in some way before he came to Leinster, although again I'm happy to be corrected

awec · 15-09-2014 11:19PM

I don't think they played the sexy heads up running rugby like Leinster did after his arrival.

My point really is maybe it's unfair to pigeon hole assistant coaches with their boss.

At least I hope so. I couldn't cope with more MA style rugby.

Hagz · 16-09-2014 12:10AM

I often think Schmidt gets too much credit for the way Leinster played in terms of attractive running rugby. Yes, I'm sure the game-plan and philosophy he employed played a significant role but the majority of credit in my opinion should go to Sexton and players like O'Driscoll and Nacewa.

I'm not sure how Doak will pan out. Ulster have been kind of stuck in terms of hitting the next level in my opinion and I can't really put my finger on what it is. I would back them to make the knockout stages of both competitions, but I wouldn't back them to win silverware.

16-09-2014 09:50AM

Hagz wrote: »

I often think Schmidt gets too much credit for the way Leinster played in terms of attractive running rugby. Yes, I'm sure the game-plan and philosophy he employed played a significant role but the majority of credit in my opinion should go to Sexton and players like O'Driscoll and Nacewa.

I'm not sure how Doak will pan out. Ulster have been kind of stuck in terms of hitting the next level in my opinion and I can't really put my finger on what it is. I would back them to make the knockout stages of both competitions, but I wouldn't back them to win silverware.

The skills ceiling of the players that Schmidt had was very high which made the type of rugby they played possible. But the ceiling was only reached because Schmidt made basic skills a priority and every player who he has coached has commented on how exact he is.

Personally I give all the credit to Schmidt, Sexton himself said that whichever team Schmidt coached in last years six nations would have won.

Buer · 16-09-2014 11:00AM

I think Clermont played very much heads up, attacking rugby but more based on power and direct running with soft offloads rather than intricate passing patterns. Both Leinster and Clermont picked wonderful lines and changed the point of attack.

Watch the highlights from the 2010 T14 final, Schmidt's last game with Clermont.

Watch their back moves off set piece ball, lines of running, moving point of attack, decoys etc. Check out the inside pass from Parra for the try off the ruck. Schmidt's fingerprints are all over the team's attack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buXUKCeHmvI

mfceiling · 16-09-2014 11:20AM

I like the sound of this schmidt fellow....would he be an option for ulster!!

stephen_n · 16-09-2014 01:51PM

One things for sure, uncertainty is never good for any team, so having someone like Doak come in, who knows the squad and that the squad know, would certainly help settle that quickly. Personally as an Irishman I hope he works out, it's good to see homegrown coaches come through.

I am pie · 16-09-2014 03:32PM

Doak to be coach with a dir of rugby coming in after would be my bet. At this stage we need some consistency.

awec · 16-09-2014 04:24PM

4 to 6 weeks for St Ruan is confirmed by UR and SA.

Not the worst. A rest will do him no harm anyway.

molloyjh · 16-09-2014 04:34PM

awec wrote: »

4 to 6 weeks for St Ruan is confirmed by UR and SA.

Not the worst. A rest will do him no harm anyway.

That's a lot better than we were initially hearing...

bilston · 16-09-2014 04:37PM

awec wrote: »

4 to 6 weeks for St Ruan is confirmed by UR and SA.

Not the worst. A rest will do him no harm anyway.

Will take that. I suppose on that basis the Toulon game isn't totally out of the question but probably a long shot.

thomond2006 · 17-09-2014 09:37AM

It's actually surprising Pienaar hasn't got injured before now. The European based Springboks play all year with no long period of rest. At least Argentina is smart enough to rest their key players in June.

.ak · 17-09-2014 10:58AM

Generally speaking SH is probably the safest position in terms of contact injuries. For example, his current injury was a complete fluke.

iownaphone · 17-09-2014 11:36AM

Yes that is very General. As a running Scrummy (former!), I can assure you that it a position with a high attrition rate!

ssaye2 · 18-09-2014 11:55AM

Ulster starting XV & replacements to play Cardiff Blues, Guinness PRO12, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, Friday 19th September, 7.35pm: (15-9): L Ludik A Trimble, D Cave, S Olding, T Bowe; P Jackson, P Marshall; (1-8): A Warwick, R Best (c), W Herbst, D Tuohy, F van der Merwe, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): R Herring, C Black, B Ross, N McComb, R Wilson, M Heaney, I Humphreys, C Gilroy.

thomond2006 · 18-09-2014 11:57AM

That backline has the potential to run riot. Good backrow as well.

I didn't understand this talk before the season of a Cardiff revival at all really. Glasgow filleted them last week.

Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

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