Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

GerM · 01-03-2011 1:26am

GerM wrote: »

Looking forward to the Northampton clash. Whilst they're a good side and have an admirable record at home I don't think they've been significantly tested. They're yet to play any of the Premiership big boys at home this season aside from Leicester who they encountered on the first day of the season and the Tigers had a very sluggish start to the season. Wasps, Sarries, even a resurgent Glos haven't visited Franklin Gardens yet. The only other side to visit there from the top half was Quins and they came away with a win. In the HEC they squeaked past Castres where John Lacey cost Castres the game denying them a couple of tries with bad decisions. They hardly inspired against Cardiff either with a 23-15 win.

So now Northampton have lost 5 on the trot in the Premiership including 3 at home. As I reckoned, once the bigger teams came along, they crumbled. They lost to Glos at the weekend and look like a team short on confidence and ideas. Granted they're missing a few important players to England duty but they're in a rut and Ulster could get them at just the right time.

PhatPiggins · 01-03-2011 2:34am

GerM wrote: »

So now Northampton have lost 5 on the trot in the Premiership including 3 at home. As I reckoned, once the bigger teams came along, they crumbled. They lost to Glos at the weekend and look like a team short on confidence and ideas. Granted they're missing a few important players to England duty but they're in a rut and Ulster could get them at just the right time.

You're joking. Have you looked at the teamsheet they've been putting out the last month? They're in a rut but stick the 8 or so first choicers back in that line up and its a different story. Having said that Ulster seem to be improving with every game, pity it isn't this time next month as the form match ups are perfectly in Ulsters favour. Good few games between now and the quarter though.

GerM · 01-03-2011 11:13am

PhatPiggins wrote: »

You're joking. Have you looked at the teamsheet they've been putting out the last month? They're in a rut but stick the 8 or so first choicers back in that line up and its a different story. Having said that Ulster seem to be improving with every game, pity it isn't this time next month as the form match ups are perfectly in Ulsters favour. Good few games between now and the quarter though.

I said they were missing players so yes, of course I looked at the teamsheet. For the Bath game where they were absolutely hockeyed they had about 10 players available that played in the last HEC match including nearly all their pack. More than enough to be competitive given Bath are missing a couple of players too. They're in terrible form and will need to dig themselves out. Ashdon, Foden, Hartley and Ansboro won't win the game on their own for them.

They also had pretty much full strength sides for the first 2 of the 5 they've lost. Sliding badly and with Ulster hitting form, I'd be optimistic of them giving them a real game over there.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 01-03-2011 9:24pm

Big squad named for the weekend's match with Aironi

ULSTER SQUAD FORWARDS
Jerry Cronin, Declan Fitzpatrick, Paddy McAllister, Bryan Young, Tom Court, Nigel Brady, Andi Kyriacou, Neil McComb, Johann Muller, Tim Barker, Pedrie Wannenburg, TJ Anderson, Willie Faloon, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack.

ULSTER SQUAD BACKS
Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Niall O'Connor, Paddy Wallace, Ian Whitten, Nevin Spence, Luke Marshall, Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble, Simon Danielli, Tommy Seymour, Craig Gilroy, Jamie Smith, Adam D'Arcy.

The team I would pick
1 Court
2 Kyriacou
3 Fitzpatrick
4 Muller
5 Barker
6 Henry
7 Falloon
8 Diack
9 Pienaar
10 Humphries
11 Gilroy
12 Wallace
13 Spence
14 Trimble
15 D'arcy

16 Brady
17 MacAlister
18 Cronin
19 McComb
20 Anderson
21 P Marshall
22 Cave
23 Seymour

To address the controversy that that selection would kick up, Wannenberg may need a rest, he could probably do with one, Wallace needs game time, I'm not sure Cave is ready to come in and start, Seymour did well last week and deserves to stay on the bench.

PhatPiggins · 01-03-2011 9:48pm

Wannenberg is turning out to be a bargain buy. You're spot on though he has played a huge amount of rugby already this season and with all due respect it's only Aironi

damianmcr · 02-03-2011 1:11am

Im looking forward to having Diack back in the sqaud.

borna7 · 02-03-2011 1:48am

My side for Airona
1/ Court
2/ The Greek
3/ Fitzpatrick
4/ Barker
5/ Mueller
6/ Wannenberg
7/ Henry
8/ Diack
9/ Piennar
10/ Humphs
11/ Danielli
12/ Wallace
13/ Cave
14/ Gilroy
15/ D'Arcey

16/Paddy Mac
17/ Brady
18/ Cronin
19/ McCombe
20/ Anderson
21/ P Marshall
22/ L Marshall
23/ Seymour

Irish management will want Court to get game time so Paddy Mac remains on the bench. Good option to have for impact as continues his comeback from injury. In the back row would give Willie Faloon the week off. Last year he got burnt out and this match is an opportunity to give him a rest. Also gives Diack the opportunity to come back in.

In the backs resting Spence as for a young man he has played a lot of rugby recently and with Cave back a chance to do so. Marshall after a promising match last time out Marshall drops to the bench to give way for Wallace returning. Resting Trimble as he is part of Irish management minutes program and would prefer him to have a break now rather than later in the season.

Must win 5 pointer. Ulster have a real chance now to get top 4. I'd now expect them to do that. Exciting times ahead for Ulster dispite the huge news that Botha is defecting to Munster

bamboozle · 02-03-2011 9:55am

how is Faloon doing for Ulster this season, a couple of seasons back he was playing excellant rugby then seemed to disappear, could he be a potential 'traditional' openside for the irish team?

jacothelad · 02-03-2011 12:30pm

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Wannenberg is turning out to be a bargain buy. You're spot on though he has played a huge amount of rugby already this season and with all due respect it's only Aironi

I don't think it will bother him. He played 100 consecutive games in the Super 14.

jacothelad · 02-03-2011 12:32pm

bamboozle wrote: »

how is Faloon doing for Ulster this season, a couple of seasons back he was playing excellant rugby then seemed to disappear, could he be a potential 'traditional' openside for the irish team?

He's playing very well but isn't really a candidate for Ireland. He is a bit on the small side. Is very fast and supports and tackles well but in the modern game he'd be a dwarf at 7.

PhatPiggins · 02-03-2011 1:25pm

jacothelad wrote: »

I don't think it will bother him. He played 100 consecutive games in the Super 14.

He does seem to be very durable, which is an achievement considering his abbrasive style of play. I reckon his intercept try at home to Bath in the HC will end up being the defining moment of Ulster's season.

ongarite · 03-03-2011 10:16pm

Is Ferris finished?
I see its being reported that he will miss the last 2 games and will be going to London for specialist advice/possible surgery.
Is he going to miss the Ulster Heineken Cup game too?

Will he ever make it back to top level rugby again on a consistent basis?

CIARAN_BOYLE · 03-03-2011 11:11pm

ongarite wrote: »

Is Ferris finished?
I see its being reported that he will miss the last 2 games and will being going to London for specialist advice/possible surgery.
Is he going to miss the Ulster Heineken Cup game too?

Will he ever make it back to top level rugby again on a consistent basis?

I don't know if there are any soccer fans here but from I've read Ferris is very similar to Tottenham's King. Cartilidge in one knee is gone, very easy to get injured needs proper management.

I hope if my understanding of Ferris's situation is right I hope he that he is going to London to see the guys that look after King

redknapp wrote:

"There's no cure. There's no cartilage, nothing to operate on. It's just bone on bone. So it's just a question of managing it. It swells up after games and it normally takes seven days to recover but having played on Monday night he's had less time than usual. He rarely trains, he mostly just goes to the gym to keep himself ticking over. But not running or anything like that. But even if he only plays 20 games a season, he's worth having because he's so good we have a much better chance of winning."

I think its probably the same with Ferris and I would expect him to retire from international duty after the world cup and play some sort of limited season with Ulster

That said I hope I'm wrong and he doesn't have the same level of issues.

GerM · 03-03-2011 11:24pm

I've heard similar in relation to Ferris. His knee is completely banjoed at this stage and it will take very careful management to see him through. If it is anything like King's injuries, then he surely couldn't play more than another season or two. Rugby is a far greater strain on the joints and some hard tackles in and around the knee area would be a disaster for him. It's a crying shame if there's truth in it as he could have been one of the all time greats. As it stands, he has already had a massive chunk of his career robbed from him.

profitius · 04-03-2011 12:21am

I know what it feels like to have bad knees. I'd say Ferris will be gone in a few seasons if its true. You never know they might come up with something new in the medical profession but I'd say its years away yet ie stem cells etc.

thomond2006 · 04-03-2011 11:30am

ULSTER:
(15-9) Adam D'Arcy, Andrew Trimble, Nevin Spence, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy; Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall;
(1-8) Paddy McCallister, Nigel Brady, Tom Court, Johann Muller (Captain), Tim Barker, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg

Replacements (16-23): Andi Kyriacou, Declan Fitzpatrick, Jerry Cronin, Neil McComb, Robbie Diack, Luke Marshall, Simon Danielli, Tommy Seymour

Marshall starts at 9 with Pienaar at 10. It's definitely worth a look at. Marshall has been excellent this season.

Haven't seen Ulster in a while, but I hear Pienaar has doing very well at 9 lately?

CIARAN_BOYLE · 04-03-2011 8:34pm

Well ulster are off to a great start, 15-0, two tries from court and gilroy

jacothelad · 04-03-2011 10:11pm

...and were awful thereafter.

04-03-2011 10:35pm

Bizarre stuff, turned off after 15 minutes to watch the Leinster game, safe in the knowledge that Ulster were going to murder the spread.

Check score after 65 minutes and almost spill beer all over the laptop.

All 3 Irish sides made tough work of it tonight.

thomond2006 · 04-03-2011 11:21pm

Wow Gilroy can't stop scoring tries...

CIARAN_BOYLE · 04-03-2011 11:37pm

Deleted User wrote: »

turned off after 15 minutes to watch the Leinster game

Personally I reckon half the ulster players did the same

CouchSmart · 06-03-2011 8:26pm

Rumours going around Ulster are signing Corey Jane for next season. Anyone heard anything on this?

06-03-2011 8:36pm

That would be a bizarre signing!

CIARAN_BOYLE · 06-03-2011 9:16pm

CouchSmart wrote: »

Rumours going around Ulster are signing Corey Jane for next season. Anyone heard anything on this?

I've heard that rumour too, I'm placing it in the same bracket as Muliana, Carr and the 4 different project wingers that I've heard about in the last two months.

It seems that ulster definitely want a back three player and are shopping in a number of places to see who they will sign.

jacothelad · 07-03-2011 11:45am

CouchSmart wrote: »

Rumours going around Ulster are signing Corey Jane for next season. Anyone heard anything on this?

I think that's Mary Jane you've heard about, - to make the half time tea.

Digifriendly · 07-03-2011 1:13pm

News Letter says Mike McComish definitely coming to Ulster next season.

irishbucsfan · 07-03-2011 6:36pm

Planet Rugby reporting that Ulster have signed both Mike McComish and Callum Black.

Callum Black is a prop who is playing for Worcester this season. American who qualifies for Ireland through his granddad.

Was McComish really necessary?

CIARAN_BOYLE · 07-03-2011 6:40pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Was McComish really necessary?

Apparently Anderson is going the other way in that deal

jacothelad · 07-03-2011 9:17pm

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Apparently Anderson is going the other way in that deal

It'll be good for him to get away from the shadow of his dad's career at Ulster.

sock puppet · 08-03-2011 12:45am

Deleted User wrote: »

That would be a bizarre signing!

Why? Another fullback is just what they need.

Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

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