Babbling 'brook

I think almost all of the 900k loss is supposed to be down to that frozen pitch debacle against La Rochelle. They said they expected that to cost them something like 750k. You could consider it just an unlucky year, but now Ulster have crashed out of EPCR they'll have another hole in the revenue for...

Zebo not on the punditry team for 6N. Does that mean he is expected to be busy elsewhere?

Really don't agree. Lowry really should make it as an international he is a classy footballer. Part of his problem has been like carberry. He wants to play 10 but I don't think that's his position. He is good at 15 and at a pinch maybe 14. He steps well off both legs that right footed thing is just ...

:green clap: I see zebo on the 42 discussing his chances at a call up. If he has a good run this weekend I think he will get the call. He'd be exposed faster than a flasher if he was I mean, I've been pretty clear he wouldn't be my favoured choice but I can absolutely see how he would get a squad sp...

I see zebo on the 42 discussing his chances at a call up. If he has a good run this weekend I think he will get the call.

I heard a rumour that Ulster had offered senior contracts to prendergast and/or tector but neither were interested. Very much doubt Frawley would be interested although the idea of two tall red haired guys lining up at 9 and 10 has a big appeal.

Its a tough call. I'm pretty sure AF likes Stockdale so I'd expect him to be fairly certain to get a call. In fairness to Stockdale he has a lot of credit in the bank and is returning to form albeit not quite the heights he previously reached (NB I think the heights he previously reached had a lot t...

jezzer wrote: ↑April 14th, 2023, 10:26 am
Private schools? Are there no rugby playing private schools in Ulster/England/Scotland/S Africa? Weird, I was sure they were littered with them.

Can't speak to the others but can say there isn't a single one in Ulster.

. That Ulster bench to me is a big weakness. Front three on the bench is good, but Sheridan & Rea are big steps down imo and if an Ulster second row goes down we should be looking to monster them in the scrum. . Don't agree with that. Sheridan is new but has been really really good in his recen...

Not many non Leinster players in the team or even bench. Did it involve 2 backs? Yeah dosen't leave to many contenders, are we allowed to speculate? Would assume that :- a) Crowley and Stockdale aren't the punch up in pub types b) Murray would have more sense at his age. So pick 2 from Aki, Casey, ...

The 42 reporting now that mccloskey and healy trained but separate to the team, while ringrose and Lowe sat it out entirely.

Bit harsh on Aki in my view. He's a very good player (a Lion) who was out of position and hasn't had the game time he should have with Connacht. In my view he took one for the team. If there's criticism it should probably be levelled at the coaches for not picking a 13 - admittedly Osborn and O'Bri...

McCloskey's defending was well short of international standard. Mad to see mccloskey (14 tackles missed one,topped the tackle chart in first half) singled out for defensive criticism rather than aki (missed 5 I think?). Fair enough it wasn't mcccloskeys best outing, but it wasn't casey or byrnes ei...

Murray was superb however and Casey and Kilĥcoyne performed very well when the came on and i think that will eventually filter through on the analysis over the week. I don't think Murray had one of his better games to be honest. I'm not suggesting he was a bad selection, or that I'd change it. It w...

Aki on the bench with Ross Byrne means means no outside 3 cover. Ringrose isn't a viable option as we've almost no evidence he's a winger at this level. Larmour is more of a viable option at 13 than ringrose 11 n 14 And the evidence for Larmour (who has never started a professional game of rugby at...

Saying 'you can't bench larmour because then you've no centre cover in the subs' doesn't make any sense. Aki was the 23 at the weekend and we had no winger cover in the subs. It makes perfect sense? There was wing cover against Wales. Ringrose to wing and aki to 13 was the plan if there was a wing ...

Would also start Aki and bench Larmour. I think if we’re to beat France we’ll need all the power we can muster in the first 60 and then hit them with a few punches in the last 20. I don't think replacing 17st mccloskey with 16st aki brings any increase in power. Aki is certainly more aggressive in ...

What a great turn of events from the point of view of IRFU/provincial finances. Leinster v Ulster will probably be close to a sell out in the Aviva with the prospect of several other big games possibly big enough to use the Aviva, culminating in a final in the Aviva (with a good chance there will be...

My guess is that it will be played at RDS. The pitch must have still been unplayable as of last nights update. Temps in Belfast were pretty low again last night so I can't imagine it will have improved greatly overnight. It will be interesting to see what they do with tickets. I feel like the leinst...

[quote=LeinsterLeader post_id=815979 time=1669991112 user_id=4957 You do all know that the mocker Gods were listening and now he's gonna score a hat-trick :D [/quote] I hope so, that would be class but given he has 13 tries for ulster to his name a hat trick might be a bit much!! I wonder if any loc...