The UAFC

Thought this topic deserved its own thread. Mainly because I would love to look back at it in 12 months time to see where we are against now.

In my own mind despite last nights thrashing we are well ahead of our three year rebuild, Dan has yet to have a preseason with his lads, there are new recruits on the way mainly in the form of Roddy Grant who is Dans own chosen man. I feel Roddy is going to completely revolutionize our forward game next season for which I'm looking forward to.

Our playing style is evolving week on week, this will give Dan more tactical options going forward which will make us more difficult for the opposition to study and work out. Dan mentioned pre Christmas that there is only one way we really can play due to our current at the time limitations. I'd like to see our options grow, the ability to change our style / tactics to suit weather conditions, the opposition and what we actually need to get out of a game.

Highlights have to be our two away European group game wins, the win at home to Racing (little Lowrys tackle on the Fijian) and that Quarter Final at Lansdowne.

If we could make a league and euro quarter final next year I would be ecstatic.

I'm already counting down the days to the start of next season, this time last year I'd have been happy never to have seen a rugby ball again.

Dan's problem will be managing expectations for next season.

big mervyn wrote:Dan's problem will be managing expectations for next season.

Agreed. We have lost a serious amount of experience and leadership the past couple of seasons, that cannot be easily replaced. There aren't a huge amount of people that you would consider for the captaincy and expect that they would do a great job of it. Realistically if we if we did something similar next year to this year you couldn't really label it a disappointment.

Lurgan Lad wrote:

big mervyn wrote:Dan's problem will be managing expectations for next season.

Agreed. We have lost a serious amount of experience and leadership the past couple of seasons, that cannot be easily replaced. There aren't a huge amount of people that you would consider for the captaincy and expect that they would do a great job of it. Realistically if we if we did something similar next year to this year you couldn't really label it a disappointment.

Who are we thinking for captain? Hendo?

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As others have said, weak link at 10 needs to be addressed.

King, any further recruitment?

Herring will probably be made club captain.

That was pretty close to our first choice 15 and conceded 50 points. No great expectation from me for next season.

shamalicious wrote:

Lurgan Lad wrote:

big mervyn wrote:Dan's problem will be managing expectations for next season.

Agreed. We have lost a serious amount of experience and leadership the past couple of seasons, that cannot be easily replaced. There aren't a huge amount of people that you would consider for the captaincy and expect that they would do a great job of it. Realistically if we if we did something similar next year to this year you couldn't really label it a disappointment.

Who are we thinking for captain? Hendo?

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I guess if he is away with Ireland a good bit probably wouldn't go for him. Coetzee would be my choice as barring injury should be free for every match, leads by example, great position on the pitch to influence the ref.

Luke Marshall would be a decent choice also.

Posted this on the wrong thread obviously. Doh!!

Anyhow, end of terms report:
Front Row - Good- improvement of EOS and Kane. Bad - Rory retiring, not sure if Herring is good enough to be our first choice hooker. Hopes- McBurney to develop quickly?
Second Row - Good- Treadwell has improved. Bad - our lineout stinks. Hopes - Carter will be an enforcer and leader?
Back row - Good - Marcel & Nordi look good. Timoney as well. Bad - lack of turnovers and lineout options. Hopes - another signing (unlikely)
Scrum Half - Good-Shanahan has improved. Bad - Ireland have wrecked Cooney. Hopes - see back row hopes.
Out Half - Good - hard to think of any! Bad - Burns is not good enough. Hopes - Obvious=bring back Paddy.
Centres - Good - big Stu has played well. Bad - as committed as he is Luke hinders fluent back play with his poor passing skills. Hopes - Dan finds a couple of good combinations to give us options.
Back 3- Good - Young wingers have looked good. Bad - Injuries and strange selections at times. Hopes - again settled combinations to give us consistent options.

Well thats it folks. My wisdom has been shared lol.

Expectations for next year would see us stagnate as a team who will win at home and will have the occasional storming performance. But again likely to be trophy less. Hopes would be that the Ulster spirit of old would return where we can be proud of who we are and what we represent. That we get a bit of grit back into the side and into the organisation and stop dancing to our sponsor's tunes. But hey I'll not hold my breath.

All things being considered it was a productive season. Marcell's recovery being a major plus. The blooding of some Academy players has been a very positive exercise. Some very good results and performances. Dan seems to have a clear philosophy and I think the players are buying into it. A long way to go. I don't have any expectations in terms of achieving a certain goal but I do in terms of performance. Friday's performance was unacceptable on many levels. The defeat was always going to happen but to capitulate like that after all the hardwork in getting there was a bitter pill to swallow.

Next season, we have the makings of a very good pack and backline. Unfortunately massive issues, created by the IRFU, remain at 9 and 10 remain.

Results wise, we won the most of the games we should have won and lost most of the games we were expected to lose. A few notable exceptions obviously. As to progress next year, I'd like to see us be a bit more convincing in the former and be competing for LBPs in the latter.

Someone has to be the optimist! I think we will win silverware next year. The five new guys look good and with the injuries back - Moore, Addison and Gilroy we will have a squad. I do strongly feel Lowry is a fly-half and too small to be a full-back. For some reason he has not been tried at 10 ?!?! The critical mass will be how the Academy develops; we need depth at centre and back-row from it.

Better season than we could have hoped for, but expectations were low.
We still have problems at 9 & 10, so unless something changes in that department during the summer I expect a similar outcome next season.
On a positive note, my new seating position in the Mem Stand was an improvement on previous season’s.

All in all a great more positives than negatives:
Addison and moore have been great additions.
Treaders is starting to fulfil his promise.
Marcel is killing dead things.
Some youngsters have shown they will thrive in the pro game.
Deadwood cut plus the new signings will add to squad depth & quality.

As mentioned before we need more depth at 9 & 10 and consistency of performance is still a worry, but I say in Dan we trust!!
ST bought again and roll on the new season.


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If Burns remains in the team / squad we will win nothing
He's beyond useless - I've given him a year and he's worse at the end of the season than he was at the start. If Dan can't see that then there's little hope for the future!!!!

The problem for Dan is that we are stuck with him. Hopefully Lowry is given more of a chance with more options at full back next season.