We need a ten, but we don't seem to know it.

[Dave]

BB mystically had his opportunity in a green shirt as well. Cant say his Ulster form ever waranted it but he had his chance nonetheless. Given his Ulsterness he will never be forgiven for the missed touch penalty though

Unfortunately it will be his legacy.
Fecking up a match winning score in the European Cup will be Freddie's.

At least they can compare brain farts round the table at Xmas.

[StandUp]

But, but he’s a very smart player who is good with the kids….

[UlsterNo9]

What's wrong with a five year project player?

[Cap'n Grumpy]

We need Paddy.

Paddy Wallace was a better 12 than a 10.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

The rumour I read was a contract offer from UR. Not a rumour he's leaving or intending to accept. He would be mad to do so with Sexton retiring.

Is there a link to this?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I hear we have offered Sam Prendergast (the Leinster Ireland U20s 10) a senior contract.

You're a bad man Dave.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

BB mystically had his opportunity in a green shirt as well. Cant say his Ulster form ever waranted it but he had his chance nonetheless. Given his Ulsterness he will never be forgiven for the missed touch penalty though

Unfortunately it will be his legacy.
Fecking up a match winning score in the European Cup will be Freddie's.

At least the latter was funny.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

But, but he’s a very smart player who is good with the kids….

GOATs before they grew up to be GOATs?

[big mervyn]

BB mystically had his opportunity in a green shirt as well. Cant say his Ulster form ever waranted it but he had his chance nonetheless. Given his Ulsterness he will never be forgiven for the missed touch penalty though

Unfortunately it will be his legacy.
Fecking up a match winning score in the European Cup will be Freddie's.

At least the latter was funny.

It's one of my "go tos" if I'm feeling a bit glum

[So It Is]

Ulster have bigger, and more pressing selection issues than Billy Boy.

There, I said it.

We need:

-A new TH or need to get Jeff to sign on for next year.
-A decent lock to cover for the 6 months that Hendy will be on the physio table. Treaders and AOC are fine for most URC games, but will get found out against top sides.
-Scott Penny or Will Connors to come north instead of being content with being 7th or whatever on Leinster's backrow depth chart

Fix the pack first, then go shopping for a 10.

[Big-al]

Ulster have bigger, and more pressing selection issues than Billy Boy.

There, I said it.

We need:

-A new TH or need to get Jeff to sign on for next year.
-A decent lock to cover for the 6 months that Hendy will be on the physio table. Treaders and AOC are fine for most URC games, but will get found out against top sides.
-Scott Penny or Will Connors to come north instead of being content with being 7th or whatever on Leinster's backrow depth chart

Fix the pack first, then go shopping for a 10.

Nope, the biggest single issue in this Ulster side is flyhalf, not a 3rd choice prop, or likewise. The Ulster pack generally holds its own.

Our flyhalf can't kick, can't manage his backline, usually doesn't last 80 minutes in tight games. He's a Welsh regional level player.

[So It Is]

Ulster have bigger, and more pressing selection issues than Billy Boy.

There, I said it.

We need:

-A new TH or need to get Jeff to sign on for next year.
-A decent lock to cover for the 6 months that Hendy will be on the physio table. Treaders and AOC are fine for most URC games, but will get found out against top sides.
-Scott Penny or Will Connors to come north instead of being content with being 7th or whatever on Leinster's backrow depth chart

Fix the pack first, then go shopping for a 10.

Nope, the biggest single issue in this Ulster side is flyhalf, not a 3rd choice prop, or likewise. The Ulster pack generally holds its own.

Our flyhalf can't kick, can't manage his backline, usually doesn't last 80 minutes in tight games. He's a Welsh regional level player.

Well if you are content with coming 2nd in the league every year, then yes, the currently Ulster pack is fine.

Holding their own is not the same as smashing the opposition and providing quality quick ball to the backs, as well as disrupting the opposition attack by making turnovers.

This is what Ulster need more than a new 10. Billy isn't great but he's not the reason why we can't beat big teams, despite what you may think.

[rumncoke]

Yes and No
Ulster struggle without possession and fail to maximise the benefit of the possession they have. The first is down to the pack, a fine unit against average opposition but lack the wherewithal when faced by pure power .The second is down to having average out half .

In order to play the territorial kicking game you don't kick for touch outside your own 22 you kick the ball as far as possible down field hopefully behind the double full backs and towards the weakest of the two -- ( he who poses the least threat running the ball back and has the weakest kick ) in the hope that they kick for touch.

Inside the 22 you require a player with a very long kick clearing the ball to the halfway and beyond --eg Lowe for leinster. Such a player available discourages teams from playing kick tennis --basically because you tend to lose both territory and possession if you try to play kick tennis ( assuming wind is absent as an assist )

I sense Cullen has been instructed by D4 he is going to have to lose at least 1 or 2 outhalfs -- as well as losing Sexton after the world cup hence Prendergast --given a runout in SA -- to look at his options --- because when it comes to who will be available -- it will be Cullen who will have first option.

Much as I miss The Ginger Prince he is now 5 years older than he left and might only have 2-3 seasons of top form left -- lets be honest about Sexton he is 3 years basically beyond his sell by date , existing behind cotton wool , protected by his scrum half , playing 2 metres further back from the pack to enable him to use his skill and experience and occasionally now bypassed as a 1st receiver .

Every player has sell by date -- and without a pack would Paddy improve Ulster soon enough .

[justinr73]

I’m guessing this is the first thread that started off with “Like (sic) Fitzgerald put it well”.

[BaggyTrousers]

If I saw Liz Hurley I’d ask her out…..doubt she’d say yes mind.

When you say you'd ask her out, I assume you are not talking about a fight?

Anyway, careful about the rush to sign all things Mexicana.

The following "great signings" turned out to be more or less muck, though this is harsh on one maybe 2:

Jack McGrath
Nordi Murphy
The Great Shinnerboots

All quality players in their day, just not at Ulster in the round.

The signing of Marty Moore was quality, but of course he was a Wassup, a rare breed these days, Cooney of course had long since left Mexico before becoming an Ulsterman and a great one at that.

More successful has been the garnering of lads with Mexican Blood but who were not wanted by Mexico
Al O'Connor
EOS
Nick Timoney

3 of the best

I admit to bias but wouldn't thank you for a Byrne, I'd live with Billy before those planks.

Billy may be a reformed Brit but he has heart & soul, the Nigel Brady of 10s, perhaps not the greatest you will see but you get 100% of what he has every time. I like that in a player & I like Billy.

Having seen with a degree of astonishment, the young Flannery getting 3 more years I sincerely hope that somebody knows WTF they are talking about, when his non-tackle @Sharks happened, I was reminded of the awful night when Humphreys Jnr became a turnstile in Cardiff, I almost shat my breeks, though admittedly Humph Jnr did many good things over the years.

[BaggyTrousers]

I’m guessing this is the first thread that started off with “Like (sic) Fitzgerald put it well”.

Lionel, I chortled, It seems hellish incongruous

A small step up from Fanning as indeed he was on the pitch but amongst players who got 30 caps or more, probably only Roger Baird had a worse strike rate.