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

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Petsonally, I'd go:

McGrath
Herring
Moore
Carter
O'Connor
Tea
Murphy
Coetzee
Cooney
Burns
Stockdale
McCloskey
Marshall
Baloucoune
Lowry

O'Sullivan
MaChinery
O'Toole
Treadwell
Trust
Mathewson
Madigan
Faddes

Treadwell is more athletic, and good to have on fresh in the last twenty. For me, O'Connor is better at the nitty gritty, still.

I do think Lowry's good enough at FB against Connacht. Madigan covers 10, 12 and 15, so we want someone who can cover wing (and Faddes has also played 13).

I wouldn't be surprised to see Ludik at fifteen or on the wing, though. I could well imagine Stockdale starting at 15 and Louis on the left wing. McFarland clearly rates his consistency - and it has been very important for us in the past.

The wild card is Milasinovich - but this is a crunch game, and we know O'Toole can deliver.

Definitely keep an eye out for Tea and MaChinery. Two very exciting upcoming Oyster players...

https://www.facebook.com/ulsterrugby/photos/a.153382031407571/3243214235757653/?type=3&theater

Not long now...

Players are dropping like flies at every province now.

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1295689001282809856?s=19

Disappointed for the Cat, but a good choice of back-ups; Lyttle, Faddes, Gilroy. Thought he was going to see international game time this autumn - hope he still does; he deserves it.

launish116 wrote: »

Or will Rea jnr jump the queue

That's what I'd hope for, in all honesty.

Is Aaron Sexton back with Ulster or is he still with the 7’s?

ionadnapokot wrote: »

It would have been great to see him given a run.
Hate seeing speedsters getting Hamstring surgery. Esp. so young. Fingers crossed.

It sounds like a bad one too...hopefully not POCesque in 2015.

ionadnapokot wrote: »

& for a winger. not good. hope he gets back up to speed so to speak.

After surgery, the patient will need to keep weight off of the affected leg to protect the repair. In addition to using crutches, he may need a brace that keeps the hamstring in a relaxed position. How long he will need these aids will depend on the location of the injury. The physical therapy program will begin with gentle stretches to improve flexibility and range of motion. Strengthening exercises will gradually be added to the plan.
Rehabilitation for a proximal (the pelvis attachment) hamstring reattachment typically takes at least 6 months, due to the severity of the injury. Distal (shin) hamstring reattachments require approximately 3 months of rehabilitation before returning to athletic activities. Realistically for Baloucoune it will be towards Easter next year for a full return to play.

RuPi wrote: »

Viewed as a 9 going forward.

Good news if Stewart isn't actually about after all.

Ulster team to play Connacht, Guinness PRO14 Round 14, Sunday 23 August at Aviva Stadium (kick-off 4.30pm, live on Premier Sports & TG4):

(15-9) Jacob Stockdale, Craig Gilroy, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns (Capt.), John Cooney;
(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, Jordi Murphy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Sam Carter, Matthew Rea, Alby Mathewson, Ian Madigan, Michael Lowry.

Would've loved to see Baloucoune push on but not meant to be I guess. Stockdale at 15 is interesting, not much experimenting going on or young players being given minutes which is to be expected as the team has to get sorted before asap. Hume was looking tidy before his injury, hopefully he can hit the ground running.

bilston wrote: »

So Glasgow losing to Edinburgh means we've qualified.

And as Munster are 5 points behind and have 2 less wins you will be away to Edinburgh in that match. Tough fixture but definitely winnable for Ulster. Also effectively have 2 warm up games for it now

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Problem is playing in a silent stadium with nary a member of the public to be seen is second nature to Edinburgh.

Harsh but true.

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

So. Poor performance, poor result.

Need to get back into the swing of things sharpish. The word i'd use for that game, honestly, is "lackadaisical".

Lineout was atrocious, and it wasn't just McBurney - there was one lift on Treadwell and I think they got him a foot and a half off the ground as the ball arced above him. And I thought we missed Baloucoune, actually.

Any positives?

No injuries to key players. All fit to fight another day.
Treadwell worked hard and rolled his sleeves up.
Good to see Eric O'Sullivan get a full half, and I thought our back up front row looked good in the scrums.

Positives
- O’Sullivan & O’Toole went very well. Was expecting O’Toole to struggle against Buckley.
- Mathewson is keen and looked very good
- much needed game time for the players
- Good to see Carter & Rea back
- Agreed on Treadwell, was hungry

Negatives
- Moore and McGrath need some serious conditioning, shown up by replacements
- Lineout, completely agreed that the lifting was dire and causing issues, note soley the throwing
- optional defending
- stand start Crash ball so predictable and one of runners getting stopped on game line.
- Timoney is not a 6/8, albeit he did very well of the back of the scrum for his try

It looked like Moore had been on the Ben Tamifuna training plan. I know he was never lean but my memory of him when he was at Leinster was that he was mobile. I didn't see much of him at Wasps. Was he injured a lot?