What the Papers Say 2012/2013

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Mac
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What the Papers Say 2012/2013

Post by Mac »

New season so a new thread for a one stop shop
as to what's in the days papers for the season.
All daily input regarding Ulster welcome and input
from whomever is up first each morning. :sleeping:

29th August 2012
INDO

Good article on Robbie D's "I Have A Dream"
Ref todays thread to by Browner - -
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14974

Times
Couple of pieces by Gerry Thornley today looking towards the new season.
His thoughts on our chances - 5th.
Ref todays thread by Browner - -
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14973
also
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 79466.html

INDO
A little news on when to expect our big guns back.
Could be a good one against the >TB
Meanwhile, Ulster coach Mark Anscombe has played down his concerns at being forced to start the season without several key players.

With only Tom Court, Paul Marshall and Darren Cave of their internationals being made available for Friday's Pro12 opener against Glasgow at Ravenhill, Anscombe will again have to rely youth.

"I'm not worried about it," he said. "You can let it get to you and be frustrated, but it is what it is and it is out of our control. It's part of the game so we just have to get on with it.

Tommy Bowe and Stephen Ferris, both of whom underwent surgery during the summer, may play next month. Paddy Wallace, Rory Best and Dan Tuohy are unlikely to feature until October.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/o ... 14190.html

TELE
Black and Heaney to seize their chance.
Step up - Stand up.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 03347.html

Examiner
Anscombe too excited to fret about negatives
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugb ... 05684.html

And thus far no sign anywhere of we all know who :cheers:
Last edited by Mac on Fri May 31, 2013 6:04 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

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Excellent idea aul han ... excellent!
Always ask yourself, "What would Big Rodney do"... And every time the answer is... "Eat It"
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

Post by BR »

Mac wrote:And thus far no sign anywhere of we all know who :cheers:

:scratch:
Black and Heaney to seize Ulster chance
By Niall Crozier
;)
Can I come out from behind the sofa yet?
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

Post by Cornerfleg »

What does Hugh do now anyway ... I heard he was short listed for a bell boy job at the Mtwazi Lodge in the Hluhluwe national park!
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

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Thursday 30th Aug 2012

INDO
Glasgow News for Friday
GLASGOW WARRIORS have plumped for Henry Pyrgos and Duncan Weir to form their half-back combination for tomorrow's Pro 12 opener in Ravenhill against Ulster.

Graeme Morrison and returning winger Sean Lamont provide experience in the three-quarters line. With Stuart Hogg nursing an ankle injury, Peter Murchie gets the nod at full-back, while Tommy Seymour starts at the home of his former club.

Up front, Gordon Reid, Finlay Gillies and Michael Cusack team up in the front-row, with the back-row seeing a welcome return of the breakaway unit of Robert Harley, Chris Fusaro and Ryan Wilson that served the Warriors so well for much of last season.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/p ... 14961.html
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

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Published on Thursday 30 August 2012 00:00

GLASGOW’S new head coach Gregor Townsend has shown faith in the squad he inherited from Sean Lineen by leaving nearly all his summer signings out of the squad for the opening RaboDirect PRO12 match at Ulster.

The Warriors head to Ravenhill tomorrow night on the back of a run of five wins in their final six games last season, the last match having been a play-off defeat away to Leinster. Ulster still have fresh memories of their Heineken Cup final appearance – also a loss to Leinster.

The men from Belfast will be without most of their Ireland internationalists and star Springbok Ruan Pienaar, due to summer Test duty, but Townsend has recalled skipper Al Kellock, Duncan Weir, Tom Ryder and Rob Harley to the starting line-up, and hands Sean Lamont his first start back at Glasgow, while Scotland tour winners Ryan Grant, John Barclay and Chris Cusiter all return to the bench.

That means there is no place yet for All Black Angus Macdonald, Byron McGuigan or Taylor Paris while Viliami Ma’afu (ankle) and Tim Swinson (face) are injured and Fijian scrum-half Nikola Matawalu is still to arrive in Scotland. There is no place yet either for Canadian wing DTH van der Merwe.

So Townsend sticks by the core of the squad that propelled the team to the league play-offs last season, which means a start for the young Scots back row of Harley, Chris Fusaro and Ryan Wilson, as well as props Gordon Reid and Mike Cusack, and the coach insisted that it was up to the players picked to grab hold of the jerseys.

Asked specifically about whether Duncan Weir would be his first choice at stand-off, Townsend said enigmatically: “It’s Duncan’s jersey until it’s someone else’s. I was really pleased with Duncan last week and he’s looking fit.

“This is the best available team and we have put this team out to win this game, with players that are on form and who can play the game we want to play against Ulster, relevant to how they defend and our strengths. It’s slightly different for those two [Cusiter and Barclay]. Chris hasn’t played any rugby yet so we can’t make judgments on what they’re doing until we see them playing.

“But we know that, over the season, we’re going to have to play between 40 and 50 players, so everyone will have an opportunity, and if you play well you’ll have a good chance of holding on to that jersey. All three tens have had game-time in pre-season and I’m looking at a real fight between all three. That [Jackson preferred to Scott Wight on the bench] was a really close decision and, again, relevant to what Ulster propose as a defensive team, and Ruaridh’s strengths.”

The growing strength in the Warriors squad is underlined by the names on the bench, and Townsend said that the selection there was also made with a view to tactical changes against the Ulstermen. “It’s a strong bench and one looking at a different way of playing,” he said. “Cus, Ruaridh and Peter [Horne] is a different make-up to the starting team so, if we do need to change the game, these guys can make that change.”

With very few Ireland caps playing this weekend after their summer tour in New Zealand, there is an opportunity for the Scottish sides, both of whom are pushing most of their capped men back in this weekend, to steal a march on rivals.

Ulster have still to confirm their starting line-up, but they are without Springbok Ruan Pieenar and Irish Test players Tommy Bowe, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble, Rory Best, Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry and Roger Wilson.

They have named internationalists Paul Marshall, Darren Cave, Tom Court, Declan Fitpatrick, Paddy Jackson and Craig Gilroy, who made his Ireland debut against the Barbarians, in the 26-man squad. New signings Sean Doyle, Nick Williams and Michael Heaney will play. All Black John Afoa and Springboks Johann Muller and Robbie Diack are also involved. There is enough quality there for Townsend to warn against taking Ulster lightly.

“They have carried on their form into pre-season, without their seasoned internationalists, Pienaar and the Irish guys,” he noted, “drawing with Leicester and beating Newcastle [they also defeated Bayonne], so they’ve got confidence. We know that the players playing just now are quality. They’ve shown that in pre-season. The young players coming through are not necessarily that far away from their internationalists. They are always a really tough team to play against, especially at home. I thought they were the form team in a three-month period between February and April in Europe last season.”

Townsend added that all players not in the matchday 23 and fit have been released to their draft club sides, insisting that it was important that they play every week and keep match fitness, and that coaches would be seeking information on their displays for the clubs in determining future selections.

With a first-team selection of strong, proven Warriors talent, Townsend has set the bar of competition high from day one.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/top ... -1-2495646
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

Post by browner »

From the Scotsman again...


GLASGOW’S former Ulster winger Tommy Seymour admitted that he watched his old club rise to the European heights with envy last season, but insisted that he can see the same success on the horizon at his new one.

The 24-year-old, brought up in Northern Ireland, left Ravenhill for Glasgow over a year ago and watched as his former team-mates drove on past Edinburgh and into the Heineken Cup final to underline their credentials as a new force in Irish rugby. Having opted out and moved to the Scottish game, did Seymour have regrets?

“Leaving a club like Ulster and watching them do so well obviously has got some envy and jealousy to it,” he said, “because that’s something every player wants to do.

“But the great thing was that we had our own goals and we had a massive season last year in the league so there was so much buzz here that I wasn’t looking back with any regrets or jealousy in a malicious way.

“Ulster a few years ago were going through the same redevelopment stage, bringing a few players in, improving their ground and re-funding everything, and Glasgow started doing that last year.

“With the players of the quality we’ve brought in, and the talent that we’re producing here and now starting to put out on the top stage, like Rob Harley, Stuart Hogg and Alex Dunbar, then the Lamont brothers back, Glasgow are now looking like a side that can keep real talent here and attract talent from all over the globe.”

“Angus Macdonald, the former All Black, has come halfway across the world to be part of the Warriors and that’s the biggest statement you can have about what Glasgow want to do in the RaboDirect and Heineken Cup.”
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

Post by Aird »

Interesting to contrast the approaches and slants from the Indo and the Examiner on the Anscombe story, good to see that Wee Hugh lives on at least in spirit.
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

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Friday 30th Aug

Tele
Louis Stevenson - season aims
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 04366.html

Five things Mark Anscombe must do to be a Ravenhill success
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 04369.html

Indo
Heaney desperate to make mark with Ulster
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/h ... 15680.html

Times
Ulster give youth its fling on opening night
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 81636.html

:red:
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

Post by promsandwich »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 81636.html

I see the Irish Times has Glasgow to win. Ah well, they also thought Cork would beat Donegal! :salut: :red: :salut:
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

Post by Setanta »

Good God, even Gerry Thornley can get it wrong!
From the rolling glens of Antrim through the hills of Donegal we will stand and shout for Ulster as we win both scrum and maul from the lovely lakes of Fermanagh tae the shores of ould Lough Gall we will scream and shout for Ulster as we beat them one and all!
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

Post by Mac »

Saturday 1st Aug 2012

Ulster 18 Glasgow Warriors 10

Attendance - 8,108

TELE
Match report - Perfect start for MA.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 05199.html

Times
Match report - Williams inspires Ulster
THERE HAD been considerable concern in the Ravenhill air that Mark Anscombe’s callow side just might not have what was required for their first PRO12 outing, but these fears proved unfounded as they produced an impressive effort to bag a valuable opening win for their new coach.
Nick Williams was again immense
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 61625.html

Indo
Match report -
A robust start by the Warriors found a response in Ulster's tackling -- the experienced John Afoa, in particular, showing his all-round capabilities. When they finally calmed Glasgow's early onslaught, Ulster got their drills working with some great rucking and clearing out,
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/R ... 16545.html

Examiner
Match report - Ulster strike early.
Ulster coach Mark Anscombe watched with a broad smile as his new charges brought in the new RaboDirect Pro12 campaign with well-deserved victory over a strong Glasgow squad at Ravenhill last night.
With 14 squad members sidelined for one reason or another, Anscombe’s promise to give youngsters an opportunity proved worthwhile.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugb ... 06103.html

THE FLIP SIDE

Herald Scotland
Match Report - Townsend sees positives
The most disappointing aspects were the malfunction of the Warriors' set-piece and Ulster's dominance in terms of relentless physical prowess up front
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/rug ... y.18746923

The Scotsman
Match report - Glasgow stall at starting line as Ulster accept gifts.
O’Connor’s woes in front of goal continued as he missed another penalty, although it was from a difficult angle.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/top ... -1-2500964
Last edited by Mac on Sat Sep 01, 2012 9:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

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Ulster 18 Glasgow Warruirs 10: Opening-night defeat but Townsend sees positives in display

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/rug ... y.18746923


Ulster 18 - 10 Glasgow: Glasgow stall at starting line as Ulster accept gifts

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/top ... -1-2500964
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

Post by browner »

Anscombe's New Model Army?
Everyone is either a Roundhead or a Cavalier at heart, at least according to a recent BBC television programme. Essentially the narrator suggested that you are either dour, stodgy, cautious and considered or you are a flamboyant show-off who loves taking risks.

Australia are obviously Cavaliers and South Africa are self-evidently Roundheads while the All Blacks display the best of both, which is why they are several streets ahead of the rest of world rugby at the moment.

Closer to home Edinburgh are the dictionary definition of Cavalier, at least they were last season, and Glasgow are profoundly Roundhead in attitude and outlook. Gregor Townsend spent much of his playing life as a Cavalier but the very first Glasgow team hand-picked by him was Cromwellian in appearance. It boasted two natural inside centres in the midfield, big blokes in Graeme Morrison and Alex Dunbar, largely because the club doesn’t have a proven 13. Peter Murchie (Roundhead) is a defensive full-back, replacing the injured Stuart Hogg (Cavalier) and Townsend picked a breakaway trio that is more destructive than constructive.

It is the Glasgow way but they were unfortunate that they came up against another Roundhead side in Ulster who play in a similar style, only better. Ulster were missing several key internationals (Ruan Pienaar, Stephen Ferris, Tommy Bowe etc) but still Glasgow could not cope with their urgency at the breakdown, the speed of their defensive line and their priceless ability to score at crucial times in the game.

Glasgow might argue that they were unlucky to lose to a yellow card and an interception try but that would be missing several points. Admittedly Ulster’s twin wingers both scored when Tommy Seymour was in the sin bin, Mike Allen crossing the line where the winger should have been, but Townsend knows that you make your own luck in rugby. If Seymour’s yellow card was a little harsh, it only came about because of an accumulation of appalling indiscipline from the team as a whole that wore out the referee’s patience.

Furthermore, the try was preventable because someone – it looked like Mike Cusack – defended an Ulsterman that Ryan Wilson already had covered. Had the prop pushed out instead of in, there would have been no overlap and even tightheads need to make good defensive decisions.

In addition Ulster left 11 points on the table on the night – replacement stand-off Niall O’Conner fluffed three simple penalties and one tricky conversion – and the home side should have scored a third try. The giant Kiwi No.8 Nick Williams barrelled his way over the Glasgow line, only for Tom Ryder to strip the ball off him. It was a gamble – if Ryder doesn’t dislodge the ball then Williams scores – but one that came off.

Glasgow did make things easier than they needed to be for Ulster, firstly with the chronic indiscipline and secondly with myriad mistakes. This was the first match of the season but ring rusty barely covers it. Ryan Wilson fired a pass two metres over Duncan Weir’s head. Weir missed touch from a penalty and threw an interception pass. Ruaridh Jackson’s drop goal attempt was charged down, while the forwards were given a roasting at the breakdown.

It wasn’t just the players who made mistakes. Al Kellock was substituted off the field with an injury after 30 minutes, to be replaced by blindside specialist James Eddie. Townsend gambled with his bench, choosing three front row forwards with two breakaways covering the back five. He lost.

Eddie spent 50 minutes in the second row and it hurt Glasgow. The set scrum wobbled when Gordon Reid had Eddie and the diminutive Chris Fusaro behind him in a series of punishing scrums five metres from the line. Former All Black prop John Afoa enjoyed the whip hand until Ryan Grant came on in the second half and put him back in his box.

With Kellock gone Glasgow lost their leader and their lineout because, in the absence of Richie Gray, the skipper is the go-to guy. On the night Glasgow lost at least four throws, which is about as many as they lost all last season.

Where were the second row substitutes? Well, Tim Swinson, the new signing from Newcastle, is injured and that’s it. Glasgow don’t have any other locks in the squad, just the three. Nick Campbell is still on an apprentice contract but he was to be found sitting on Ayr’s bench yesterday afternoon which is hardly a ringing endorsement from his Glasgow coaches.

Townsend admitted in an interview broadcast on BBC Alba at half time that he had been coaching for the last five years but only now is he being held to account. He also stated the club’s priority was first and foremost being tough to beat but his Glasgow team fell short of that Roundhead goal on the opening weekend.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/top ... -1-2502070
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Re: What the Papers Say 2012-13

Post by Lurgan Lad »

Interesting read, at least a bit of an opinion rather than just stating facts. He is right though there were so many more points we could have and should have scored.
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