Ulster Thread 2012-13

[Donny B.]

Rugby: New Ulster coach Mark Anscombe has given Niall O’Connor the number 10 jersey at Ravenhill for the first time since his short term spell in Galway last season and will be looking to take charge of a young and energetic backline against the Leicester Tigers at Ravenhill tomorrow (2.30).
Luke Marshall and Chris Farrell form a new centre partnership which promises to add creative opportunities for speedsters Craig Gilroy and Michael Allen on the wings. Meanwhile Jared Payne looks forward to making an impact at fullback after a successful return from a long term injury in Bayonne last week.

New Zealander and former Munster number eight Nick Williams is named in the Ulster team for the first time Declan Fitzpatrick will pack down in the front row, along side Nigel Brady and Callum Black.

It will be Fitzpatrick’s first match for Ulster since making his debut for Ireland in June against New Zealand and he will be keen to put in a good performance and stay on the radar of the Irish selectors ahead of the November tests.

Ulster: J Payne; C Gilroy, C Farrell, L Marshall, M Allen; N O’Connor, M Heaney; C Black, N Brady, D Fitzpatrick; J Muller (capt), L Stevenson; R Diack, A Birch, N Williams. Replacements: R Lutton, R Herring, N Annett, J Afoa, A Macklin, N McComb, M McComish, S Doyle, B McIlroy, P Jackson, C Cochrane, S Olding, R Andrews, P Nelson.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Interesting that Farrell starts again, are we going to be seeing a lot of him this season?

[cormac]

How come Declan Fitzpatrick can feature for Ulster in pre-season games while all other squad members from the Summer tour have to wait until September?

[tackle-bag]

How come Declan Fitzpatrick can feature for Ulster in pre-season games while all other squad members from the Summer tour have to wait until September?

Presume it's because he saw bugger all rugby until Afoa got himself suspended last season.

[Munsterboy]

How come Declan Fitzpatrick can feature for Ulster in pre-season games while all other squad members from the Summer tour have to wait until September?

Presume it's because he saw bugger all rugby until Afoa got himself suspended last season.

Yeah, they tend to do it on a case by case basis. Not all the internationals will come back together. The older lads and the ones who took more punishment last season will be given more time than the rest.

[cormac]

How come Declan Fitzpatrick can feature for Ulster in pre-season games while all other squad members from the Summer tour have to wait until September?

Presume it's because he saw bugger all rugby until Afoa got himself suspended last season.

Assume so, but it's a little strange as he's surely only after 4 weeks of pre-season.

[Ulster's Best]

It wasn't just not getting action til Afoa got injured - he was sidelined for months himself with injury. I guess they just want him to get all the pitch-time he can.

[ceemec]

Most interesting call is NOC getting a start ahead of PJ. If NOC is genuinely in the running for the starting berth ahead of PJ, Ulster are in trouble. To be very kind, he's an extremely mediocre player. Hopefully it's just Anscombe giving all his resources a good run over the course of pre-season and PJ will be back in the starting berth against Newcastle.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

It wasn't just not getting action til Afoa got injured - he was sidelined for months himself with injury. I guess they just want him to get all the pitch-time he can.

Yeah, he'll barely play once the season starts anyway so may as well get him games now.

[Donny B.]

Finished up level. 14 points a piece. Cochrane and a penalty try.

[Aird]

Leprous if you had the choice of Afoa orDeclan who would you start with?
It's not as if Leinster have a record of going with local players rather than overseas players.
BradThorne v DevonToner.
Record anyway Decaan only played about 30 minutes anyway.
Black, Macklin and Lutton allgot a run out.
Cole and Castro turned out to be abit of a non event as there second rows didn't seem to turn up at the scrums.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Leprous if you had the choice of Afoa orDeclan who would you start with?
It's not as if Leinster have a record of going with local players rather than overseas players.
BradThorne v DevonToner.
Record anyway Decaan only played about 30 minutes anyway.
Black, Macklin and Lutton allgot a run out.
Cole and Castro turned out to be abit of a non event as there second rows didn't seem to turn up at the scrums.

I've no idea why you took my point up that way, I have absolutely no issue with Afoa being at Ulster/ahead of Fitzpatrick.

I was simply saying that he's not a guy who needs rest because he won't be playing much this season and therefore won't be flogged by the end of it.

For the record, as much as I loved Thorn playing for us, I was against him being picked ahead of Toner.

[Aird]

Sorry I took you up wrong . For the record I know that Ruane gets all the publicity, but Johan Mueller and Big John Afoa have both been terrific signings and are really top guys off the field too.
having said that we have promising crop of young forwards coming through just look at the starting team for last Saturday with only Mueller from the starting team against Leicester away last year

[rooster]

Black looking pretty solid at loosehead and around the pitch, our new hooker Herring is also looking decent, good straight fast thrower and lively on the ground as well, pick of the new backs is Farrell,just 1 season out of school but working very well in the center with good passing and speed plus he is a pretty big unit as well. Fat Nick Williams while still a bit on the podgy side is a real threat near the line and also has a magnificent passing ability for a big forward, the sort of stuff that would put many backs to shame.

[Donny B.]

Ulster 24 Newcastle 20: ULSTER COMPLETED their three-game pre-season friendly programme unbeaten after two wins and a draw with a useful but yellow-card strewn outing against English Championship opposition prior to next Friday’s PRO12 opener against Glasgow Warriors.

Ulster – who held on with 13 men for the last 10 minutes – were out of the blocks early and impressive new signing Nick Williams barged over after only 11 minutes after the home side’s pack launched themselves at the Falcons’ line for several close-in phases following a lineout.

The Falcons did bring something to the party when just after the half hour Alex Tait scrambled over in the right corner after the visitors opted for a scrum from a penalty under Ulster’s posts.

ULSTER: Tries: N Williams 2, M Allen, J Payne. Cons: P Jackson 2

[rooster]

Ref: Leo Cullen
Didn't know Leo did ref as well as lock
Anyway he managed to dish out 4 yellow cards during the match last night 2 to each side, one was for a shoulder charge another for a tackle in the air and most people were confused what the others were actually for
Typical scrappy preseason mess to be honest about it

[Donny B.]

Ref: Leo Cullen
Didn't know Leo did ref as well as lock
Anyway he managed to dish out 4 yellow cards during the match last night 2 to each side, one was for a shoulder charge another for a tackle in the air and most people were confused what the others were actually for
Typical scrappy preseason mess to be honest about it

As he did in his playing days, Leo don't take no messin'!!

[ceemec]

Fat Nick Williams while still a bit on the podgy side is a real threat near the line and also has a magnificent passing ability for a big forward, the sort of stuff that would put many backs to shame.

Despite the sniggering at his signing, he's a very talented player but has never had the fitness to back it up. It Anscombe can keep him relatively sharp, he will be a very useful Pro12 player for them and should be able to make an impact against Saints, Glasgow and Castres even if it might only be for 40 minutes. He'll give Ulster instant go forward off a good scrum. If Afoa and Court ctan provide a solid platform when they pack down in opposition 22, he'll do real damage. A tight, organised game will negate him but that's for Anscombe to figure out how to best utilise him.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Still think his signing makes no sense given that Wilson won't be involved with Ireland. He could well be useful but they should have signed someone who was more versatile imo.

[ceemec]

Still think his signing makes no sense given that Wilson won't be involved with Ireland. He could well be useful but they should have signed someone who was more versatile imo.

Tend to agree. In terms of personnel, it's an odd one given that Wilson, Diack, Ferris, Henry and McComish can all cover 6 and 8. Wouldn't be surprised to see Williams squeeze into the 6 jersey for a few games as he has done in the past. Can only assume they wanted to use their last spot in an area that wouldn't hinder the young talent they have coming through and would be cheap.