Ulster Thread 2012-13

[slum]

He penalised Ulster on the basis of the TJ recommendation. Strangely, those in red are convinced they were robbed by a bad call at the scrum despite the fact Horan was driving across and Archer was backpedalling like Sean Gallagher in a debate.

Not just that incident. In talking more a about how quickly he'd call ruck when Munster brought the ball In (ie, no hands allowed) but would allow Munster hands while off their feet when ulster brought it in. Even smaller intangible things like how quickly he'd tell ulster to use the ball compared to Munster...

[slum]

Think PJ should get some praise for his showing. He's very good considering he only turned 20 this year. Great touch finder to pin Munster back when others lost 30m of ground. Thumper of a pen to win and showed some great feet to run the ball from his own line when Marshall was sluggish getting the kick away. Controlled things nicely from hand in the second half too when his pack (and Williams in particular) stopped flinging the ball away and just went through the phases. Payne was classy but PJ was the big winner on the night from an Irish selection perspective. Give him a year of developing and he could/should be in the mix for an Irish call up.

I was actually a wee bit disappointed with PJ's game mgt. they were guilty of going wide too early on far too many occasions with little or no variation when Munster were down to 14. Especially considering they were missing their openside.

[Donny B.]

In fairness Jackson showed some stones tonight to make that winning penalty!

[Ulster's Best]

Relieved to get the win last night. One of several pleasing things was the feeling we are maybe developing a bit of depth. I know Munster were missing plenty of players too but here's a useful 23 Ulster could field of players not involved last night -

D'Arcy, Bowe, Spence, Wallace, Cochrane, O'Connor, Pienaar, McAllister, Best, Macklin, Tuohy, Henderson, Diack, Henry, Wilson. Subs - Annett, Lutton, McCall, Joyce, Birch, McIlroy, Olding, Farrell.

Ok maybe bench not great (hard to get down to 46 players) though Farrell is a good prospect and Annett has promise. Birch a little as well.

[TerenureJim]

It'll be interesting to see this game in a season of two when we have Hanrahan V Jackson. It's great to see some real numbers starting to come through all academies and filtering into senior sides. Puts more pressure on Kidney.

[Logorrhea]

Puts more pressure on Kidney.

Please god he wont be there in 1 year, never mind 2

[ronk]

Messy match, but entertaining. Both teams progressing well.

It was interesting to see Ulster hold out, they did it well and they knew what they had to do. They pulled out of shape to block the drop-goal and then scrambled when O'Gara switched.

[ronk]

Puts more pressure on Kidney.

Please god he wont be there in 1 year, never mind 2

In Kidney-logic this is a reason to give him more time, especially if he hires a new assistant coach.

Sorry

[Danthefan]

It'll be interesting to see this game in a season of two when we have Hanrahan V Jackson. It's great to see some real numbers starting to come through all academies and filtering into senior sides. Puts more pressure on Kidney.

He'll just stay aloof of the whole situation by sticking with ROG.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

This guy is Mark's son isn't he? Potentially a better option than NOC? Have to admit that I've never seen him play though so he may well be useless.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 56,00.html

[Lar]

Didn't know John Kirwan had been knighted (not that I care at all, just observing).

[hugonaut]

Chris Farrell tore his ACL in the U20 game against Connacht and will be out for the guts of the season. Very, very disappointing for a massive talent. He'll be a huge loss for the U20 Six Nations, hopefully he'll make it back in time for JWC2013.

[ronk]

Chris Farrell tore his ACL in the U20 game against Connacht and will be out for the guts of the season. Very, very disappointing for a massive talent. He'll be a huge loss for the U20 Six Nations, hopefully he'll make it back in time for JWC2013.

Ah nuts. More bad news for Ulster at centre.

[Donny B.]

Chris Farrell tore his ACL in the U20 game against Connacht and will be out for the guts of the season. Very, very disappointing for a massive talent. He'll be a huge loss for the U20 Six Nations, hopefully he'll make it back in time for JWC2013.

Shite!

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Poor guy. This looked like being a really big season for him and it's over before it's even begun.

Looks a real talent so fingers crossed he comes back bigger and stronger, wish him all the best.

Ulster suddenly look very short of depth but I suppose that's the least of their worries.

[Donny B.]

Rugby - Pro12 team news: Tommy Bowe’s second coming for Ulster will officially start tomorrow night when the Ireland winger lines out for the province against Cardiff at the Arms Park. Bowe, who re-joined Ulster from the Ospreys during the summer, has been named on the right wing by coach Mark Anscombe.

Bowe, who spent three years with the Ospreys, missed the start of the season through injury but comes straight into the side with Andrew Trimble shifting to the left flank. In all, Anscombe has made five changes from the side that defeated Munster a fortnight ago – Ulster did not play last weekend due to the tragic death of Nevin Spence – but match winner Jared Payne is retained at fullback.

Ulster captain Johann Muller misses out through injury with Ireland’s Dan Tuohy making his first start of the campaign in a new-look secondrow partnership alongside Neil McComb. Fellow international Chris Henry will also play for the first time this season and will captain the side from openside flanker in the absence of Muller.

Iain Henderson, who took part in Ireland’s training camp in Co Kildare earlier this week, comes into the back row in place of Stephen Ferris.

Ulster (v Cardiff, 7.05pm): J Payne; T Bowe, M Allen, D Cave, A Trimble; P Jackson, P Marshall; T Court, N Brady, J Afoa; N McComb, D Tuohy; I Henderson, C Henry (c), N Williams. Replacements: R Herring, C Black, A Macklin, L Stevenson , M McComish, M Heaney, P Wallace, C Gilroy.

Interesting to see how Payne, Bowe and Trimble go together.

[Big-alster]

Ulster has an impressive injuryed/rested list of players.
- Johann Muller
- Ruan Pienaar
- Rory Best
- Stephen Ferris
- Paddy McAllister
- Declan Fitzpatrick
- Luke Marshall
- Roger Wilson
- Robbie Diack

[TerenureJim]

Ulster has an impressive injuryed/rested list of players.
- Johann Muller
- Ruan Pienaar
- Rory Best
- Stephen Ferris
- Paddy McAllister
- Declan Fitzpatrick
- Luke Marshall
- Roger Wilson
- Robbie Diack

Impressive strength in developing up North, great to see, and with Munster seemingly getting their act together under Penny it's looking like potentially halcyon days for Irish rugby (well the provinces at least ahem)

[mikerob]

I think Ulster's "unavailable" list is broken down as follows:

Long term injury - probably not available this season:
Paddy McAllister
Chris Farrell

Short term injury - should be available soon (I hope...):
Johann Muller
Robbie Diack
Declan Fitzpatrick

IRFU player management:
Rory Best
Stephen Ferris - I'm guessing this is the case as I haven't heard any reports of injury.

On international duty:
Ruan Pienaar

Recovering from injury... I haven't heard an ETA:
Roger Wilson

[jezzer]

When's the last time Cave played 12? Any good there?