Do we have a problem??

Eggs · Post by **Eggs** » Sun May 20, 2012 10:38 am

Before I get slaughtered by some on here, I really do think Jackson may be a star of the future, and in 2-3 years may be one of our biggest assets, but..... sadly he showed yesterday that he is not ready yet.

So I feel worried, have we a massive potential problem? We have to pray that PJ has even a tiny bit of confidence left, iHumph is gone, we need Pienaar at 9, so it looks like we may be genuinely planning on using NOC more than many posters on here would like to believe.

I now think we need to bring in an experienced 10, more than we need back row depth, PJ needs a mentor, and isn't ready to be given the reigns. I even feel (tho many would disagree) that someone like Dan Parks would have been almost ideal, masses of experience to pass on, whilst PJ and him could have a proper tussle for the starting jersey

Got to ask the question tho, at the most important position on the pitch, are we in trouble?

breakdown · Post by **breakdown** » Sun May 20, 2012 10:53 am

The more PJ plays the more confidence he will regain.

Windeos · Post by **Windeos** » Sun May 20, 2012 11:01 am

breakdown wrote:The more PJ plays the more confidence he will regain.

This, he is our future and our present. We're 100% committed to Jackson for the future and a long as he works at his game he could benefit Ulster rugby for 10 plus years.

This season has been a steep learning curve for the lad and I have no doubt he will be a better play with a full pre season as well.

Snipe Watson · Post by **Snipe Watson** » Sun May 20, 2012 11:08 am

No we do not.

PJ was thrown in far too late in the season. A young guy who is only finding his feet in the team was a rabbit in the headlights yesterday. He is young, talented, brave and he will move on. The senior players and coaches will be inside his head already in prep for August. It was just too steep a curve that's all.

Bostonteax_50 · Post by **Bostonteax_50** » Sun May 20, 2012 11:22 am

I now think we need to bring in an experienced 10, more than we need back row depth, PJ needs a mentor, and isn't ready to be given the reigns. I even feel (tho many would disagree) that someone like Dan Parks would have been almost ideal, masses of experience to pass on, whilst PJ and him could have a proper tussle for the starting jersey

Got to ask the question tho, at the most important position on the pitch, are we in trouble?[/quote]

I agree with this assessment completely. We need a world class 10 to bring PJ on. Sadly there is little chance of that I suspect.

Windeos · Post by **Windeos** » Sun May 20, 2012 11:29 am

Again I disagree completely. Jackson is way ahead of the bell curve for a 20 year old out half.

Yesterday will help be the making of him. Why bring in someone to relegate Jackson to the bench when we can give him confidence and let him grow, hopefully into a star.

Sexton wasn't really starting for Leinster till he was 22/23 so give Jackson the 10 jersey and let the kid run with it.

In the long run it will pay off for us big time as a international class Irish out half (in a few years) would push our team to another level.

It frustrates me that people talk about giving youth a chance and as soon as they play a poor game there are calls to pull the youngster out of the firing line. When in reality the young guys learn the quickest the hard way.

I can't remember too many 20 year old 10's that have started a heineken cup final. We've got a gem in Jackson, he needs support, confidence that he'll be our 10 and let him develop as he plays. It'll make Ulster a far better team in the long term.

Cockatrice · Post by **Cockatrice** » Sun May 20, 2012 11:37 am

To answer the question ... YES

ColinM · Post by **ColinM** » Sun May 20, 2012 1:26 pm

Well we didnt have a problem until we let iHumph go a year early. A full season of PJ and IH genuinely sharing the duties would have been more likely to leave PJ ready to take over fully in 2013-2014

Snipe Watson · Post by **Snipe Watson** » Sun May 20, 2012 1:49 pm

Bostonteax_50 wrote:I now think we need ....... an experienced 10....... PJ needs a mentor

We have an experienced 10 RP. not only will he mentor PJ, but he will play inside him every week. Perfect.

mikkii6 · Post by **mikkii6** » Sun May 20, 2012 1:55 pm

I think the idea of bringing someone in for a season to introduce competition for the jersey and to develop Jackson's talents is a great idea. Jackson has 10 to 12 odd years left to develop, it would be a shame to put too much pressure on him at this stage.

RP is a decent FH but I still reckon his talents really shine at SH and if we're looking to develop a specialist and future Ireland FH we'd be advised to have a specialist on the pitch. IH didn't have a great season but he will be missed.

bigchiefally · Post by **bigchiefally** » Sun May 20, 2012 2:01 pm

Unlike many I havent seen anything from PJ to make me think he is a star in the making. Lets hope I am very wrong there.

The thing is Humph has been pretty poor for large chunks of this season, so I am not sure we will have that much more of a problem than we did this year.

Snipe Watson · Post by **Snipe Watson** » Sun May 20, 2012 2:17 pm

mikkii6 wrote: RP is a decent FH but I still reckon his talents really shine at SH and if we're looking to develop a specialist and future Ireland FH we'd be advised to have a specialist on the pitch. IH didn't have a great season but he will be missed.

You are damning RP with faint praise there Mikkii6. RP is a world class 9 and nearly as good at 10. He is a far better 10 than anyone we could bring in and we have the advantage that he will also be on the pitch playing with PJ.
This notion peddled by some that RP is a passable 10 is total horse manure. If he played there week in week out he would be world class there as well.
I still think there are many posters on here who have yet to catch on to the supreme talent we have at our disposal.

mikkii6 · Post by **mikkii6** » Sun May 20, 2012 2:41 pm

I don't think I said he was a "passable 10", the rationale for having a specialist FH on the squad was threefold:

a) Introduce competition for the shirt.
b) develop Jackson's skills/talents.
c) provide cover for the position.

RP is a very good FH he is however the best SH in the world, hence in an ideal world he would be playing SH. If we have to we're lucky that we have him as a back-up FH. So snipe I don't think I'm quite guilty of the charges levelled by your good self. It is good to see RP attracting such stong support that any possible implication of criticism by way of assessment is jumped on vociferously, it might be an idea to perhaps tread a little more lightly before clearing up the proverbial "total horse manure" as there might not actually be any there to scrape up.

Snipe Watson · Post by **Snipe Watson** » Sun May 20, 2012 3:00 pm

mikkii6 wrote:I don't think I said he was a "passable 10", the rationale for having a specialist FH on the squad was threefold:

I can confirm you didn't say that

RP is a very good FH he is however the best SH in the world

That's an improvement on "decent". Not sure he's the best 9 in the world.

hence in an ideal world he would be playing SH.

He will be because if he plays 10 PJ can't and that'll not help him develop.

So snipe I don't think I'm quite guilty of the charges levelled by your good self.

I accused you of damning RP with faint praise, you called him a decent FH, he's much better than decent. So you are guilty as charged.

The "total horse manure" charge was not levelled at you. If it had been I would have said peddled by you, but I didn't I said "peddled by some". It doesn't all have to be about you........You're not Grumpy in disguise are you?????????

When you're around here for another few seasons, you will realise that there is an abundance of horse manure posted here.......very regularly.

Bart S · Post by **Bart S** » Sun May 20, 2012 3:23 pm

On PJ, as I said numerous times before yesterday he has earned the chance to have a run of games to try to show he can deliver at this level and should get that chance next season.

However, the jury is stil out for me (as it would be for any player who is unproven yet at this level) and yes, IF he does not deliver then we do have a problem.

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