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Ulster Team Talk Thread III: Les Miserables SEE MOD WARNING POST #1924 + #2755

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    bilston wrote: »
    Yeah, you'd rather he was broken in gentley rather than thrown in at the deep end.

    If we end up with Cooney at 10 I will be furious.
    I've a feeling that happened at Connacht when they had broken all their out halfs a year or so ago. But it was very short term, if it happened at all.

    Hard to see where a short term joker could come from. I suppose the PTB are scouring the world for just such a beast.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    jacothelad wrote: »
    So, not above international standard? Now who has ever claied such stardom?
    :D

    They have strange notions in Cork.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,920 ✭✭✭✭stephen_n


    awec wrote: »
    Come off it stephen.

    Every man, woman, dog and goldfish could see that McCall and Ah You were not fit and absolutely annihilated in the first half against Munster which contributed massively to one of the most embarrassing and poor performances Ulster have put in in many, many years. Johnno Gibbes also deserves some flak for this but ultimately Kiss is Gibbes' boss, Kiss is the DoR and Kiss is the one ultimately responsible for team selection.

    There are not enough straws in the universe for us to grasp at to try and make up excuses about Kiss and his stupid selections.

    I wouldn’t attempt to defend kiss’s selections, I think Ulster fans have every reason to be bemused and upset by that. There is plenty of reason to give out about him there. Then again the fact is those players inclusion also underline the problems of not being able to replace under performing players, because that’s what’s next in line.

    Ultimately the lack of attempt to blood young players is the part I really don’t understand and maybe is the reason he might go.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,585 ✭✭✭irishfan9


    bilston wrote: »
    Aye I saw a piece with your favourite Ulster 10 Michael Lowry today

    seen that myself.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    stephen_n wrote: »
    I wouldn’t attempt to defend kiss’s selections, I think Ulster fans have every reason to be bemused and upset by that. There is plenty of reason to give out about him there. Then again the fact is those players inclusion also underline the problems of not being able to replace under performing players, because that’s what’s next in line.

    Ultimately the lack of attempt to blood young players is the part I really don’t understand and maybe is the reason he might go.
    I wouldn't attempt to defend them, but I would attempt to understand them.

    For example, starting the players returning from injury instead of benching them. That's a common selection decision because you can't risk your returning player getting crocked, having come off the bench. Better that they get crocked when you've somebody to replace them.

    Also, five of the academy lads were capped so far this season. Sixteen caps between them so far.


  • Administrators Posts: 54,091 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Black
    Best
    Ah you
    Browne
    Henderson
    Reidy
    Rea
    Deysel
    Stewart
    Lealiffano
    Stockdale
    Mccloskey
    Cave
    Trimble
    Piutau

    From the in-the-know on UAFC. That team selection makes me want to tear my hair out if it's true.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    awec wrote: »
    Black
    Best
    Ah you
    Browne
    Henderson
    Reidy
    Rea
    Deysel
    Stewart
    Lealiffano
    Stockdale
    Mccloskey
    Cave
    Trimble
    Piutau

    From the in-the-know on UAFC. That team selection makes me want to tear my hair out if it's true.
    Genuine question. What's wrong with that selection? Cooney clearly needs a break and Black was good off the bench. Pete Browne is the only surprise there for me. Been gone for ages afair.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,814 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    awec wrote: »
    Black
    Best
    Ah you
    Browne
    Henderson
    Reidy
    Rea
    Deysel
    Stewart
    Lealiffano
    Stockdale
    Mccloskey
    Cave
    Trimble
    Piutau

    From the in-the-know on UAFC. That team selection makes me want to tear my hair out if it's true.

    To be honest I'm pretty happy with that. While I would definitely have played Cooney, he was never playing 3 games in a row. I'd rather see Stewart start than Marshall or Shannahan.

    I don't know why Treadwell/O'Connor and Herbst aren't playing though. That baffles me. I can only assume they are injured.


  • Administrators Posts: 54,091 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    prawnsambo wrote: »
    Genuine question. What's wrong with that selection? Cooney clearly needs a break and Black was good off the bench. Pete Browne is the only surprise there for me. Been gone for ages afair.
    Pete Browne hasn't played a game since September but is jettisoned in to start against Leinster?

    Stewart appears out of nowhere to start a game.

    Ah You retained despite being crap.

    Deysel retained despite being crap.

    Trimble brought in over Lyttle.


    Maybe injuries will explain this when it's actually announced (if this is indeed true), otherwise it's pretty frustrating at face value right now.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    awec wrote: »
    Pete Browne hasn't played a game since September but is jettisoned in to start against Leinster?

    Stewart appears out of nowhere to start a game.

    Ah You retained despite being crap.

    Deysel retained despite being crap.

    Trimble brought in over Lyttle.

    Maybe injuries will explain this when it's actually announced (if this is indeed true), otherwise it's pretty frustrating at face value right now.
    Pete Browne may have been doing work ons with the As. I was woindering was he gone forever, but obviously he's back in consideration.

    Guys returning from long injury layoffs are always rusty. You don't get rid of rust on the training piitch. Deysel is hardly crap as a baseline.

    Somebody needs to deputise for Cooney. He's played seven games on the trot.

    Lyttle probably injured himself with that swan dive. ;)

    Edit: Treadwell has started 11 games this season and benched 2, O'Connor 12. Out of 16. Somebody else has to step up. Those guys will break.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,498 ✭✭✭Paul Smeenus


    Apparently Lyttle might be injured. Ah You and Browne are astonishing choices though.

    Stewart out of nowhere is frankly bewildering. His first start an interpro in Dublin?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    Apparently Lyttle might be injured. Ah You and Browne are astonishing choices though.

    Stewart out of nowhere is frankly bewildering. His first start an interpro in Dublin?
    His first bench start was an interpro. Against Leinster. :D

    He diodn't look out of place iirc.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,498 ✭✭✭Paul Smeenus


    Well, given we were clearly writing off the Connacht game, he should have started that.

    Diack is better than Browne.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    Well, given we were clearly writing off the Connacht game, he should have started that.

    Diack is better than Browne.
    Is that not hindsight though? Connacht had been having a wobbly start to the season, it was just bad fortune that they got their mojo back for that game on the back of some European success. They'd been mugged in Italy in their last league game.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,498 ✭✭✭Paul Smeenus


    Maybe. I didn't think we'd win, though, looking at the team. I suppose it would have been pointless to start Stewart and Nelson.

    You could also make a case for Gilroy over Trimble.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,814 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    Why the negativity over Stewart?

    I think it's great he might get a start.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,722 ✭✭✭✭Squidgy Black


    prawnsambo wrote: »
    I've a feeling that happened at Connacht when they had broken all their out halfs a year or so ago. But it was very short term, if it happened at all.

    Hard to see where a short term joker could come from. I suppose the PTB are scouring the world for just such a beast.

    Cooney played 10 for a couple games for Connacht when they were riddled with injuries, Lam's son had left and they had no 10s in the academy. They had no choice.

    When is CL's contract up with Ulster?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    Cooney played 10 for a couple games for Connacht when they were riddled with injuries, Lam's son had left and they had no 10s in the academy. They had no choice.

    When is CL's contract up with Ulster?
    Around about now.


  • Administrators Posts: 54,091 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    bilston wrote: »
    Why the negativity over Stewart?

    I think it's great he might get a start.
    I think it's great he might get a start but I find it bemusing his start comes away to Leinster and having not been involved whatsoever in any matches recently.

    These random starts from nowhere are nonsense. How is he expected to come in and do a job in a fixture like this when Ulster will probably spend 80 minutes on the back foot?

    If we wanted to start Stewart this week why was Marshall on the bench against Connacht and Munster? It makes no sense.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,814 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    awec wrote: »
    bilston wrote: »
    Why the negativity over Stewart?

    I think it's great he might get a start.
    I think it's great he might get a start but I find it bemusing his start comes away to Leinster and having not been involved whatsoever in any matches recently.

    These random starts from nowhere are nonsense. How is he expected to come in and do a job in a fixture like this when Ulster will probably spend 80 minutes on the back foot?

    If we wanted to start Stewart this week why was Marshall on the bench against Connacht and Munster? It makes no sense.

    I guess Paul may be unavailable.

    Cooney presumably can't play all 3 games
    So it's a choice between Stewart, Shannahan and Cairns.

    The real issue is the Connacht selection. Stewart maybe should have started that, or at least Cooney shouldn't so he could have played against Leinster.


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  • Administrators Posts: 54,091 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    bilston wrote: »
    I guess Paul may be unavailable.

    Cooney presumably can't play all 3 games
    So it's a choice between Stewart, Shannahan and Cairns.

    The real issue is the Connacht selection. Stewart maybe should have started that, or at least Cooney shouldn't so he could have played against Leinster.
    I think Wee P's unavailability is something Ulster need to be more proactive about. He has very tough personal circumstances and may be unavailable on very short notice on any given week, so there's no need to pick him on the bench every match.

    If Stewart is the chosen one he should have been more involved this season.

    Of course, the rumoured team could be totally wrong and this could all be for nothing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,599 ✭✭✭✭CIARAN_BOYLE


    Cooney played 10 for a couple games for Connacht when they were riddled with injuries, Lam's son had left and they had no 10s in the academy. They had no choice.

    When is CL's contract up with Ulster?

    After the European games afaik.


  • Registered Users Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    awec wrote: »
    Pete Browne hasn't played a game since September but is jettisoned in to start against Leinster?

    Stewart appears out of nowhere to start a game.

    Ah You retained despite being crap.

    Deysel retained despite being crap.

    Trimble brought in over Lyttle.


    Maybe injuries will explain this when it's actually announced (if this is indeed true), otherwise it's pretty frustrating at face value right now.

    I'd also be concerned about playing CL in this one too tbh. Didn't he apparently take a knock to the ribs on Monday? He's a guy you can't be without in the last 2 European games. It doesn't make sense to play him twice in the same week while he has a rib problem. If he picks up an injury then you can simply forget about Europe. You're 8 points clear of Edinburgh at the moment and they have a bloody tough run in from here (Leinster, Ulster home & away, Munster, Scarlets and Glasgow all to come). They'll struggle to overtake you in the conference even if you lose tomorrow. So there isn't a burning need to go out and win this one.


  • Registered Users Posts: 24,258 ✭✭✭✭Buer


    I see Arno Botha has signed for London Irish. He will join up with them immediately. It will be interesting to see how he goes but no doubt Ulster were correct to walk away at the time.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Buer wrote: »
    I see Arno Botha has signed for London Irish. He will join up with them immediately. It will be interesting to see how he goes but no doubt Ulster were correct to walk away at the time.

    I agree. London Irish are desperate and if that's the best team Botha could join...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,814 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    We were right walk away from Botha but in saying that its not as if Deysel has played many games for us either.


  • Registered Users Posts: 24,258 ✭✭✭✭Buer


    bilston wrote: »
    We were right walk away from Botha but in saying that its not as if Deysel has played many games for us either.

    I have to say I was rather underwhelmed with Deysel as a signing. Big bloke but I don't see him ever establishing himself and his best is behind him. Just a guy in the right place at the right time. He's almost 33 now and is on a 2 year deal so he'll be taking up a NIQ spot for another season after this.

    They were in a bit of a tricky spot though with the collapse of the Botha deal so I'm not sure they could have done much better.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    Buer wrote: »
    I have to say I was rather underwhelmed with Deysel as a signing. Big bloke but I don't see him ever establishing himself and his best is behind him. Just a guy in the right place at the right time. He's almost 33 now and is on a 2 year deal so he'll be taking up a NIQ spot for another season after this.

    They were in a bit of a tricky spot though with the collapse of the Botha deal so I'm not sure they could have done much better.
    In the context of Ulster's current shortage of back row forwards, he's still a valuable commodity. Injuries have robbed him of continuity, but he's still had seven starts this season which is decent enough in the circumstances.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 181 ✭✭torqtorq


    Best back to lead Ulster

    Rory Best will return to captain Ulster in Saturday's Guinness PRO14 game versus Leinster (RDS Arena, 5.35pm).
    Best, who has recovered from an ankle skin infection, has not featured since the game against Dragons at the start of December.

    Abbey Insurance Academy scrumhalf Johnny Stewart has earned a first senior start for the Province, having made his debut off the bench against the same opposition earlier in the season.

    Best will start at hooker and will be joined in the front row by Callum Black and Rodney Ah You. Pete Browne will play for the first time since September after being named in the second row alongside Iain Henderson.

    Matty Rea, Sean Reidy and Jean Deysel will combine in the back row.

    Stewart will be partnered at half back by Christian Lealiifano, while Stuart McCloskey and Darren Cave, who scored a try and made an assist in Monday's win versus Munster, are retained in midfield.

    Ireland international wingers Andrew Trimble and Jacob Stockdale are joined in the back three by All Black fullback Charles Piutau.

    Rob Herring, Kyle McCall and Wiehahn Herbst are the front row replacements, with Alan O'Connor and Nick Timoney providing additional forward cover. John Cooney, Johnny McPhillips and Tommy Bowe are the backline options on the bench.

    There will be live TV coverage on Sky Sports and BBC2 NI.


    Ulster Rugby team to play Leinster, Guinness PRO14, Saturday 6th January, RDS Arena, kick-off 5.35pm:

    (15-9): C Piutau; A Trimble, D Cave, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; C Lealiifano, J Stewart;

    (1-8): C Black, R Best (captain), R Ah You, P Browne, I Henderson, M Rea, S Reidy, J Deysel;

    Replacements (16-23): R Herring, K McCall, W Herbst, A O'Connor, N Timoney, J Cooney, J McPhillips, T Bowe.

    Unavailable due to injury/illness:
    Marcell Coetzee, Matthew Dalton, Robbie Diack, Craig Gilroy, Chris Henry, Brett Herron, Rob Lyttle, Luke Marshall, Paul Marshall, Adam McMurney, Jared Payne, Johnny Simpson, Kieran Treadwell.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,599 ✭✭✭✭CIARAN_BOYLE


    Its worth noting that Rory Best has not won in an Ulster jersey since December 2016.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,816 ✭✭✭Utah_Saint


    lyttle is made of paper-mache.  He'll do well at ulster.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    Utah_Saint wrote: »
    lyttle is made of paper-mache. He'll do well at ulster.
    That'll teach him not to do swan dives. ;)


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,498 ✭✭✭Paul Smeenus


    Well, in fairness to Kiss, given that list of players injured, there's not a lot of options.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    Well, in fairness to Kiss, given that list of players injured, there's not a lot of options.
    A bit like herding chickens. You get three back and lose another three. :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,814 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    Well, in fairness to Kiss, given that list of players injured, there's not a lot of options.

    Not a lot of options but you have to ask why Herbst and AOC aren't starting. It may be tactical with Herbst but I can't see any reason to be starting Browne over AOC for this match.

    Even scrum half is odd. I'm happy to see Stewart get a shot but if Cooney is fit for the bench, he is fit for a start. So yes good to see Stewart, but maybe play him in a less high pressure game than an Inter Pro against Leinster in Dublin. I suppose in a way it's the quality of the pack Stewart is playing behind which is more significant than the opposition.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,933 ✭✭✭jacothelad


    Its worth noting that Rory Best has not won in an Ulster jersey since December 2016.
    I think he has played / started once (v. Leinster) at Ravenspan since last April so it's not really surprising. He only played about 2 home games from Christmas 2016 onwards. Ireland games, injuries, Lions rest.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,920 ✭✭✭✭stephen_n


    bilston wrote: »
    Not a lot of options but you have to ask why Herbst and AOC aren't starting. It may be tactical with Herbst but I can't see any reason to be starting Browne over AOC for this match.

    Even scrum half is odd. I'm happy to see Stewart get a shot but if Cooney is fit for the bench, he is fit for a start. So yes good to see Stewart, but maybe play him in a less high pressure game than an Inter Pro against Leinster in Dublin. I suppose in a way it's the quality of the pack Stewart is playing behind which is more significant than the opposition.

    Cooney's played a lot of rugby though and with two European games coming up probably needs a rest. You'd assume Marshal would have been starting if available.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    What's the story with Pete Browne? Was he injured? He played for the As in early December iirc.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,816 ✭✭✭Utah_Saint


    prawnsambo wrote: »
    What's the story with Pete Browne? Was he injured? He played for the As in early December iirc.

    Another one of the selection mysteries at Ulster.

    On a more positive note an announcement is due soon regarding a new 10


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,814 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    prawnsambo wrote: »
    What's the story with Pete Browne? Was he injured? He played for the As in early December iirc.

    Not sure. It's an odd selection (surprise surprise).

    I'm obviously not as anti Kiss as some but he really doesn't help himself sometimes...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    Just updated the table of players from the latest squad announcement and have added some new information on injuries etc.

    S = Start, B = Bench, U = Unavailable, (a) = Academy player.
    Bold = Home, Red = Loss, Green = Draw.

    Player|Pos|01/09|09/09|15/09|22/09|30/09|06/10|13/10|22/10|28/10|04/11|24/11|01/12|10/12|15/12|23/12|01/01|06/01
    Opp||Che|Ben|Sca|Dra|Zeb|Con|Was|LaR|Lei|Kin|Ben|Dra|Har|Har|Con|Mun|Lei
    Ah You|P|B|B|B|S|S|B|B|B|S|U|U|U|U|U|U|S|S
    Andrew|H|B|B|B|B|S|B|B|||S|S|S|B|B|S|U|
    Best|H|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|B|S|U|U|B|U|U|S|U|S
    Black|P|B|S|||S||B|S|S|B|S|B|S|S||B|S
    Bowe|W|S|S|B|S||S|B|S|S|B|S|S|S|U|U|U|B
    Browne|L||B|||S|||U|||||||||S
    Busby|W|||||||||||||||||
    Cairns|SH|||||||||S||||||||
    Cave|C|B|||S|S|||S||S|B||||S|S|S
    Coetzee|No. 8|S|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U
    Cooney|SH|S|S|S||S|S|S|B|U|S|S|B|S|S|S|S|B
    Dalton (a)|L|||||||||||B|B|U|U|U|U|U
    Deysel|F|S|S|U|U|S|S|S|U|S|U|U|U|U|U|U|S|S
    Diack|L|S|S|B|S||B|S|B|B|B|U|U|U|U|S|B|U
    Gilroy|W|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|S|S|S|S|S|S|S|U
    Hall (a)|F|||||||||||S||||||
    Henderson|L||||B|S|S|S|S|S|U|U||S|S|S|U|S
    Henry|F|S|B|S|S||S||S|S|S|U|B|B|S|U|U|U
    Herbst|P|S|S|S|B|B|S|S|S|U|S|U|U|S|S|S|B|B
    Herring|H|S|S|S|S||S|S|S|B||B||S|S|U|S|B
    Herron|OH||||B|||||||||||||U
    Jackson|OH|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U
    Jones (a)|F|||||||||||B|S|||S|S|
    Kane|P|||||||||B|B|S|S|B|B|B||
    Leali'fano|OH|S|S|S||S|S|S|S|S|S|S|S|S|S||S|S
    Ludik|W|S|S|S||S|B|S||B|S|S|S|B|S|S|U|U
    Lyttle|C||||B|B||||||||||B|S|U
    Luke Marshall|C||B|S||S|S|S|B|S|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U
    Paul Marshall|SH|||B|S||B|B|S|U||B|S|B|B|B|B|U
    McBurney|H|||||B|||||B|||||S|B|U
    McCall|P|S||S|S||S|S|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|S|B
    McCloskey|C|S|S|S|S||S|S|S|S|U|U|S|S|S||S|S
    McPhillips|OH|||||||||||||||B|B|B
    Nelson|W|B|B|B|S|B|B|B||B|B|S|B|B|B|S||
    O'Connor|L|S||S|S||S||S|S|S|S|S|S|S||S|B
    O'Hagan|P|||||||||||||||||
    Olding|C|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U
    Owens|W|||||||||U||||||||
    Patterson|C|||||||||||||||||
    Payne|FB|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U
    Piutau|FB|S|||S|S|S|S|S|S|S|S|S|S|S||S|S
    Rea|L|B|S|S|B|S||B|B||S|||B|B|B|B|S
    Reidy|F|B|S|S||S|B|S|S|S|S||S|S|B|S|U|S
    Ross|F|||B|S|||B|||B|S||||S||
    Shanahan|SH|B|B||B|B||||U||||||||
    Simpson|P|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U
    Stewart (a)|SH|||||||||B|B|||||||S
    Stockdale|W||S|S|S||S|S|B|S|U|U||S|S|S|U|S
    Timoney (a)|No. 8||||S|B||||U||S|S|S|S||S|B
    Treadwell|L||S|S||B|S|S|S|B|S|S|S|S|S||S|U
    Trimble|W|S|S|S||S|||S||S|B|B||B|S|B|S
    Van der Merwe|P|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|U|B|S|||B||
    Warwick|P||B|B|B|B|B||B|B|S|B|B|B|B|S||


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,498 ✭✭✭Paul Smeenus


    bilston wrote: »
    prawnsambo wrote: »
    What's the story with Pete Browne? Was he injured? He played for the As in early December iirc.

    Not sure. It's an odd selection (surprise surprise).

    I'm obviously not as anti Kiss as some but he really doesn't help himself sometimes...

    Whether or not our defence woes are attributable to him, its hard to argue his selection hasn't been all over the shop.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,308 ✭✭✭✭.ak


    prawnsambo wrote: »
    Just updated the table of players from the latest squad announcement and have added some new information on injuries etc.
    ...


    math-calculations-zoom-beautiful-mind.gif?w=685


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    .ak wrote: »
    math-calculations-zoom-beautiful-mind.gif?w=685

    18-hoffman-rainman.jpg?1384968217


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    Whether or not our defence woes are attributable to him, its hard to argue his selection hasn't been all over the shop.
    Well if you cared to look at my table... ahem... ;) you'd see that he's got no choice. Treadwell, Dalton and Diack are all unavailable leaving just the three that were selected.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,814 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    prawnsambo wrote: »
    Whether or not our defence woes are attributable to him, its hard to argue his selection hasn't been all over the shop.
    Well if you cared to look at my table... ahem... ;) you'd see that he's got no choice. Treadwell, Dalton and Diack are all unavailable leaving just the three that were selected.

    Didn't realise Treadwell was unavailable.

    Why couldn't O'Connor play though? Why can't Herbst start? Why did he not start Stewart against Connacht and keep Cooney back for this game? To be fair Herbst may not be ready for 50 mins yet so I can accept he is better from the bench at the moment. But I don't get Browne getting the nod over AOC at all.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    bilston wrote: »
    Didn't realise Treadwell was unavailable.

    Why couldn't O'Connor play though? Why can't Herbst start? Why did he not start Stewart against Connacht and keep Cooney back for this game? To be fair Herbst may not be ready for 50 mins yet so I can accept he is better from the bench at the moment. But I don't get Browne getting the nod over AOC at all.
    O'Connor is on the bench?

    I suspect same reasoning as an injury return. If Browne stinks up the place, he can be subbed off. If he comes on from the bench and stinks up the place...


  • Administrators Posts: 54,091 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    I hear McPhillips has been added to the euro squad.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,375 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    awec wrote: »
    I hear McPhillips has been added to the euro squad.
    If that's the case, it casts some doubt on getting a short term signing for the rest of the season.


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,790 ✭✭✭✭Burkie1203


    prawnsambo wrote: »
    If that's the case, it casts some doubt on getting a short term signing for the rest of the season.

    Realistically who is available who would be on a par with Lealiifano.

    This is the sort of scenario Ulster faced with Pienaar for his last contract. A season long injury for Pienaar would have been a disaster because there was no viable quality alternative within the setup. But it was the IRFU/Nucifora's fault. Now its Kiss getting the blame.

    The people Ulster fans need to vent their anger at are not the ones involved in the senior side of the set up. The faults get exposed there but the real issue is everything before that doesnt seem to functioning.


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