The UAFC

Columbo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 2:51 pm

CIMANFOREVER wrote:

justinr73 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:45 am Things never tend to end well and I guess it’s frequently six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Until the last few games, I’d always got the impression that the players were still giving it 100% on the park and when it looked like that had changed then the IRFU seem to have acted decisively.

If some of the players had moved as quickly against Toulouse as they did to get to the pub afterwards then we may not have shipped nearly fifty points.

They looked a lot less disappointed than me.

There is no doubt it appears some of our players lack a Professional attitude- whilst there's the commercial aspect of signings autographs, interviews etc I got the impression some hammerings were greeted with fleeting disappointment in some quarters, and a metaphorical shrug of the shoulders as if they are impervious to shouldering some of the blame. The smiley stuff really galls me if I'm honest- especially in these straightened times supporters are paying good money home and away to have the Cr#p that's been served up whilst players give the impression they're untouchable and in sinecures.
I may be being unfair...

I honestly think that is unfair on the players - and believe me in the current conditions, there isn’t a player in Ireland (or anywhere else for that matter) who thinks of their contracts as guaranteed or cosy… things are absolutely brutal, there will be more net reductions in senior squad sizes across all 4 provinces again this season, and more pressure on contract re-signing amounts.

Most of us, certainly for most of my career, are FT employees on permanent contracts I would guess - when you talk to players, rugby is actually a pretty grim career in many ways by comparison. A series of short-term fixed contracts, constant injury risk, brutal renegotiations unless you’re seriously in demand..

And I also don’t think it’s the case that players don’t care about getting hammered, of course they do not least because their employment is so precarious, but poor morale is a killer and when there’s a sense of being set up to fail it’s corrosive.

It’ll be interesting to see if there’s any signs of the shackles being lifted in how we play in the rest of the season.

Ultimately bringing players along with you, which means creating ways for them to have their say and input in a constructive way, is a key skill for a head coach in any sport. And this was Dan’s big failing. He was always ‘my way or the highway’ and was so stubborn he would literally cut off his nose to spite his face.

Deraless wrote:I wonder would Aki, JGP, Hansen and Lowe et al have flourished under recent Ulster coaching tickets had they had this misfortune to end up here? They landed on these shores essentially as glorified journeymen and have been improved. Compare and contrast our mob who, at best, get a sympathy cap for the middle Autumn International. Would Stockdale Hume or McCloskey have faired better in Dublin? Can anyone honestly say they wouldn't have?

I

Dave wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 8:44 pm

Deraless wrote:I wonder would Aki, JGP, Hansen and Lowe et al have flourished under recent Ulster coaching tickets had they had this misfortune to end up here? They landed on these shores essentially as glorified journeymen and have been improved. Compare and contrast our mob who, at best, get a sympathy cap for the middle Autumn International. Would Stockdale Hume or McCloskey have faired better in Dublin? Can anyone honestly say they wouldn't have?

I

We wouldn't have identified the talent in the first place. Case in point when Bealham landed in Belfast trying to secure a trial or something to that effect.

big mervyn wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 9:16 pm

Dave wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 8:44 pm

Deraless wrote:I wonder would Aki, JGP, Hansen and Lowe et al have flourished under recent Ulster coaching tickets had they had this misfortune to end up here? They landed on these shores essentially as glorified journeymen and have been improved. Compare and contrast our mob who, at best, get a sympathy cap for the middle Autumn International. Would Stockdale Hume or McCloskey have faired better in Dublin? Can anyone honestly say they wouldn't have?

I

We wouldn't have identified the talent in the first place. Case in point when Bealham landed in Belfast trying to secure a trial or something to that effect.

Bealham was the closest thing to an Ulsterman in France. I believe he qualified through a Fermanagh granny. Wonder why he isn't in the 23 for Wales?

big mervyn wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 9:16 pm

Dave wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 8:44 pm

Deraless wrote:I wonder would Aki, JGP, Hansen and Lowe et al have flourished under recent Ulster coaching tickets had they had this misfortune to end up here? They landed on these shores essentially as glorified journeymen and have been improved. Compare and contrast our mob who, at best, get a sympathy cap for the middle Autumn International. Would Stockdale Hume or McCloskey have faired better in Dublin? Can anyone honestly say they wouldn't have?

I

We wouldn't have identified the talent in the first place. Case in point when Bealham landed in Belfast trying to secure a trial or something to that effect.

Bealham was the closest thing to an Ulsterman in France. I believe he qualified through a Fermanagh granny. Wonder why he isn't in the 23 for Wales?

justinr73 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:54 pm Jamie George’s mum snuffed it and he’s not wimped out.

big mervyn wrote: ↑Fri Feb 23, 2024 12:08 am

justinr73 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:54 pm Jamie George’s mum snuffed it and he’s not wimped out.

Old school

The Bealhams had the ba 2 wks ago ffs and reported it was fit and healthy. I suppose with Furlong restored Andy is happy enough to give Jager a run-out as an other option for the last 2 back to back games

So It Is wrote: ↑Fri Feb 23, 2024 11:41 am Anyone with a the42.ie sub that can post up the following article?

https://www.the42.ie/ulster-head-coach-6306120-Feb2024/

Just the lads we already know that are rumoured to be leaving or any new names?