Ulster Pre-Season

First topic message reminder :

Because we need a new thread to succeed the Ulster Signings one.

There was more encouragement for Ulster last weekend as they held a near full-strength Leicester Tigers to a draw in a sun-drenched Ravenhill. The team was considerably more callow than their opponents but they acquited themselves admirably; with the majority of Ulsters Irish internationals not expected to be involved until the third round of the Pro12, Mark Anscombe is happy to give the same group of players a run again in the final pre-season game against Newcastle. The only changes to the team that started against Leicester are the additions of Mike McComish at openside, Craig Gilroy on the wing, Paddy Jackson at outhalf and Rob Herring at hooker.

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/10710.php

Ulster (15-9):J Payne, M Allen, C Farrell, L Marshall, C Gilroy, P Jackson, M Heaney (1-8): C Black, R Herring, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller (c), L Stevenson, R Diack, M McComish, N Williams;
Replacements: N Annett, N Brady, R Lutton, J Afoa, A Macklin, N McComb, A Birch, S Doyle, B McIlroy, N O’Connor, P Nelson, C Cochrane

Match report from Bayonne;

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/rugby/10692.php

Match report from Leicester;

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/rugby/10701.php

Notch wrote:Yeah, me too. Maybe McComish will surprise us. I expect he will get 40 minutes anyway.

Not really. I assume they are either still injured or Anscombe wants them to earn their jersey back the hard way. After all, this group of players has done fairly well.

Paul Marshall, Nevin Spence, Adam D'Arcy, Roger Wilson and Paddy Wallace are the guys who are injured right now, as far as I know. And McAllister, of course, but he won't be back for a relatively long time.

You can add Henderson, Bowe, D'Arcy and Ferris to that list Notch.

Someone mentioned lack of depth at LH. If Black was unfit next week Afoa would be LH and Fitzpatrick TH. It is one of the reasons we signed Afoa.

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So how is everybody. Been trying to decide when to return.
I have realized that just because I can across an obnoxious Kiwi, was called a liar and was trying to be logical with an obtuse Munsterman all in one day I should just put it down to a bad day at the office and come back. Been away on hols a fair bit too so decided to wait till they were over.
I managed to persuade my wife that we could leave Connemara late afternoon last Friday rather than the following morning to come home - can't believe I pulled that one off

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For those of you who use the supporters site whoever 'KingoftheHill' is really close to events. He is worth following

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Anyway the place is absolutely buzzing in a way I have never experienced. The talk of a clean slate and everyone with a chance is believed and understood through out the squad. The thing is even last years regulars are loving it. Spoke to Dan Tuohy last week and usually he is not the worlds best conversationalist but he was buzzing and more than happy to talk. Sounds like he and Rory will will not be back for a few weeks yet - he said the training in NZ was as hard as he has experienced (didn't do us much good though )
We should see Trimble, Cave and Henry a bit earlier though - 2 on the bench for next week perhaps.

As for the injuries we are taking no chances, the belief is the guys out there are good enough to get results and everyone, bar poor Paddy has a big part to play this year.

My personnal circumstances have changed in that I will be getting a lot more contact with the players this year. Great for me but I realized I will have to be careful what I make public. Will try and divulge anything I hear if at all possible.

Welcome back Geoff

Seconded. Great to see you back Geoff .

Welcome back indeed Geoff, tis great to see you've returned and I do hope you will be staying around this time.

Delighted to have you back, Geoff.

Welcome back Geoff, far too many Ulster lads on here now though. More for me to anger I guess.


Paddy Wallace is shoite........

If we can pull off a few early season results think of this team:

McAllister, Best, TH, Tuohy, Henderson, Ferris, Wilson, Henry, Marshall, Pienaer, Trimble, Wallace, Cave/Spence, Bowe, D'Arcy

They are the guys not available !

Welcome back Geoff.

Welcome back Geoff

I haven't been on here all summer but timed my return well - great the see you back Geoff!

good to see you back Geoff

Good to see you Geoff.

BelfastNI, not to leave you out, welcome back also!

Unfortunately i won't make the game tonight, hopefully BBC will do their highlights again. Who is progressing well? Who are we all keeping an eye on?

I hope Nelson gets a full half at least.

Anyone puzzled why Cochrane is on bench again and Allen starts? Does Anscombe rate him?

How does everyone feel Luke Marshall did last weekend? Did Farrell outshine him?

Also, for anyone who is interested, but doesn't know, theres a Rabo fantasy league on the go. Thread is:
https://www.606v2.com/t12854p100-fantasy-rabodirect-pro-12

OP is from last summer, the new league details is somewhere on Page2 I think!

Looks like I won't make the game tonight.
If anyone wants the use of two season tickets give me a PM. They will have to be picked up in Ballymoney mind.

Rava, why do you do this to me?? lol, I have prior arrangements, but living in Coleraine I could have easily taken those tickets! wasn't meant to be!

Sorry, Clive. I'm sure there will be other opportunities throughout the season.

Some Summer snippets:

Did anyone notice the svelte like Declan Fitzpatrick. He has doing some serious weights and has trimmed down a lot. I would say the fittest he has ever been.
He loved the Irish experience by all accounts and wants more.

Lewis Stevenson got married last week. The funny thing was he broke his nose in training the week before - the wife was seriously not impressed e.g photos

Spoke to Gary Longwell and it seems we will have as big a coaching staff for the under age kids as the first team - we really are taking player development very seriously.
It looks like Gary will be the Ravens team manager/organiser
Allan Clarke will be the team coach and Brian McLaughlan will have responsibility for identifying a new talent and developing it through the age specific sides. Recently we played an aged side with 8/9 Methody players - now no harm to them as a school but that simply cant be right. Part of his remit will be trying to identify those hidden talents in Derry, Downpatrick, Dungiven etc.

Also from what Gary Longwell said the Aquinas development will be started first (before the Memorial end) and will be sooner rather than later. Maybe Rava knows specifics ?

clivemcl wrote:
How does everyone feel Luke Marshall did last weekend? Did Farrell outshine him?

I though he played very well, looking forward to seeing a bit more of him. Looked physically strong and as with Farrell did very well at shackling Tuilagi, who's probably the most explosive back in the NH right now.

Bollix would love to go tonight but don't think I can make it down there for 7.30 tonight. Good man yourself Rava .

The contract will require both the Memorial Stand and the Aquinas Stand to be completed and commissioned before the start of next season. (The old stand has to be demolished and the Promenade reconfigured during the off season). The project is still out to Tender but it won't be on site until November at the very least and most likely the beginning of December. It will be down to the successful Contractor to programme the work in such a way so as to meet his contractual responsibilities.

Rava do we have a planned completion date for the New old Stand (if you get what I mean). Basically what will that side look like between August and December 2013 ?

The Promenade (slightly reduced) will be back in play for August 2013. The construction of the new stand will take place during the season with a view to opening at the start of the 2014 season.

Both the promenade and the terrace at the Premium stand are being reconfigured to have the spectators right down at the front without the walkways.

Cheers Rava - didn't know about the changes to the Terrace

Are their any plans in place for temporary stands when.... er... I mean if Ulster get a home HEC QF this year?

No. There will be provision at each end for temporary terracing and the demolition would obviously be delayed to allow the use of the old stand. It's unlikely either of the new stands would be completed in time for them to be used.

If we get a home QF it will be played in Landsdowne

Rava just read somewhere that the Terrace reconfiguration would require some changes to the Stand above.

a) Is that true ?
b) If true what are the changes ?
c) Any date as to when ?

Many thanks

Anyone got updates for the Ulster vs Newcastle Falons game?

Dodger,

They are posting updates on Twitter.

http://twitter.com/ulsterrugby

Great to see Nick Williams score two try's, he has a reputation for getting a lot of try's as a No.8.

Williams is pretty hard to stop especially close to the line. He could have had a couple more tries tonight.
Losing the two men to the sin bin in the last ten minutes put us under a lot of pressure and took a bit of the gloss off the win.

Whatever about his faults (overweight at times for Munste) and sometimes lazy around the park and doesn't put in the work tackling or breakdown, he is great for scoring tries and is a great ball carrier, he is a great backup to have, will help Ulster a lot over the season

For a guy his size and shape he has a great knack of nearly always being available at the breakdown. OK he isn't going to be foraging in a maul or ruck but he will carry for you all day long.
That in itself will take a great deal of pressure off a team at times.

Young Birch also had a sore head when he went off was dizzy and what not but he will be fine with a bit of rest.

Birch had a complete brainfart for his yellow. Was foolish.

It was a pretty flat performance, didn't look after the ball well enough. Too many knock-ons and turnovers. Not yet clinical enough... we will need to improve for next week. Confident that we can though.

Who stood out for you Notch?

Nick Williams is pretty unstoppable close to the line. There were times he was just blasting through rucks. If he keeps up that level of motivation he'll do well for us, though he faded after half-time. Can he do 80 minutes is still the concern. Diack has a new hard edge, which bodes well and he's adapting well to playing blindside. Paddy Jackson looks cool and assured but the backline isn't clicking. Too many handling errors. Callum Black continues to impress.

Really we let ourselves down a bit this week with discipline not what it should have been, too many cheap turnovers given away and sloppy handling. Scored four good tries though.

Do you think Diack is seen as the back up to Ferris at 6 then?

He's been used a lot at 6, but also 8. He seems to be being used more at 6, but he's fulfilling the 8 brief at lineouts still, whilst Big Nick loiters in the backs.

Williams is a much less rounded player than Wannenburg for sure, but on the whole our backrow looks stronger this year.

My opinion for what it's worth.
Calum Black was excellent again. I think his confidence is rising and that shows. He made a few very good carries.
Herring threw well. Quite mobile around the pitch.
Fitzpatrick. Fitter already although took a couple of knocks. Scrummaging was very good.
Afoa. Came on and was as effective as always.
Second row was adequate. Won all their lineout and Stevenson spoiled a couple of theirs.
I have always been a big Diack fan and he has pleased me in both games. He will see a lot of game time this season. Looks fit and eager.
Williams I have already posted about above.
McComish was largely anonymous. I kept looking out for him but couldn't see anything of note. He'll spend a lot of time with the Ravens this season.
McCombe and Doyle put themselves about a bit on the second half. Birch will be remembered only for his yellow.
Heaney I like. He wasn't as good as Saturday but he was left unprotected at times. Newcastle have a reputation for playing well at the breakdown and that showed.
Jackson does look calm and assured but we didn't see one flash of brilliance from him. The backs were so predictable.
Marshall is about to explode on the game. He will make huge strides this year. Very strong in defence and showed a glimpse of his pace a couple of times.
Chris Farrell must be doing something great in training. He is sound but unspectacular. Young I know and will improve but I want Cave back at 13 as soon as possible.
I am liking Michael Allen. He has a good bit of pace. Gilroy looked every bit the International in waiting. Took most of the restarts and is seriously strong. Would love to have seen him get the ball that Allen did.
Jared Payne continues to play himself back into form and fitness. He is a class act.
The other backs who came on did nothing to influence the game.

In all it wasn't as good a performance as last weekend but I think the two late yellows took the shine off it a bit.

I can't see too many changes for the Glasgow game. I'd start Doule at seven and leave the rest as is.

I pretty much agree with all of that Rava.

I like Allen but he's a straight line runner. Contrast him with Gilroy who has that ability to change pace and direction to flummox a defender. Allen got the ball in space a good bit but is pretty predictable; whilst he's fast he doesn't seem to have the facility to beat a man one on one. Quick though, and a solid player. Did very well for the Payne try and gook his well.

Next week I'd like to see Marshall and Cave together.

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby/victory-but-anscombe-far-from-a-happy-camper-1-4201103

I pretty much agree with Anscombe's analysis.

“I was disappointed. We were flat in our warm up and we took that into the game.

“I felt for the whole time that while we had little bursts overall it was a flat performance.

“We did not look after possession; we turned it over 19 times in the games. There were numerous penalties, the discipline was poor and we finished the last 10 minutes with 13 guys.

“All those little things added up and I think it summed up the day to be honest.”

Big training week coming up now; we can't afford to play like that against Glasgow.

Absolutely agree. Too much of the performance was like last year at times. I might put it down to trying too hard at times.
It maybe wasn't as bad as that but I respect the coach for coming out and saying what he feels.
Next week will be interesting. Glasgow come here on the back of a poor Pre-season but it would be a big mistake to ignore the quality they had last season and think it is going to be easy. I will be anything but and if we give up possession as easy as we did last night they will hurt us.

What was the verdict on newcastle guys? How was our physicality. Thats something I want to see us up this season...and in preseason games its looked better. Nd how was our lineout....Vickers throwing is woeful..

Vickers did alright actually, better than the Leicester guy last week.

Newcastle were notably physical. A lot of big hits flying in. That was the main thing they brought to the game. They didn't look as fit as Ulster but they were very combative in defence and the breakdown.

Here are some highlights;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19381514

Nice to hear notch...whilst i want to see creativity coming through...i want us to be a tough team...so a trip to the North East for a physcial battle on a cold friday night is not thought of as an easy few points anymore....

I did mean to add that Niall O'Connor had the sort of performance that fashioned his earlier reputation with Ulster. If that is him coming back a better player we are doomed.

Yeah, he was certainly better last week. A lot depends on Jackson.

The backline has disappointed me so far. I know we have a LOT of talent to come back into it, but still. Hasn't sparked so far. Butchered a couple of good chances last night which was worrying.

Actuall after watching the highlights I have to say Farrells contribution for two of the tries was excellent. There was a lovely offload for the second one and his one handed pass for Paynes was class.

Interesting that Bryn and Maurice seem to think the 10 shirt is entirely up for grabs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19290141?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

I know we want to be positive, but for all the positivity, I can't help but think if pundits are tipping O'Connor to potentially be our no.1 out half we are still short of being a team on a par with Munster and Leinster.