Richie Murphy - right man for the job?

[Jetstream]

It is rumoured that scrum coach John Fogarty is with the squad to assess whether TOT can be switched to loose head. To cover this experiment Andy Warwick will be switched to the tight head side.
Is it fair that in what are important league matches for Ulster, Farrell and FIRFU are using us as an experiment?

[CIMANFOREVER]

No especially not against the Saffers. Andys a criminally underrated scrummager at LH but this would be ridiculous to swap him to TH especially when we need results and to give Murphy a fair go.

[Jetstream]

No especially not against the Saffers. Andys a criminally underrated scrummager at LH but this would be ridiculous to swap him to TH especially when we need results and to give Murphy a fair go.

We are officially an experiment by the look of things. I see Jackman has said that Burns has improved his chances of playing for Ireland by moving to Munster. What sort of a message does that send out!

[justinr73]

Did he say why?

Showing he can still kick it off the tee would certainly help.

[Jetstream]

Did he say why?

Showing he can still kick it off the tee would certainly help.

Better coaching

[justinr73]

Did he say why?

Showing he can still kick it off the tee would certainly help.

Better coaching

Prendergast is Jackman’s mate but, on the face of it, a pretty good coach tbf.

[Neill_M]

It is rumoured that scrum coach John Fogarty is with the squad to assess whether TOT can be switched to loose head. To cover this experiment Andy Warwick will be switched to the tight head side.
Is it fair that in what are important league matches for Ulster, Farrell and FIRFU are using us as an experiment?

That's an interesting theory.....

Warwick is probably covering both sides as only TOT and Wilson travelled as specialist THPs. Fogarty is flying out on Thursday and reviewing the Sharks game and then helping out with Sharks review/Stormers prep before heading North again on the Wednesday.

Also useful research for Ireland tour in Summer, one of the tests is in Durban.

[justinr73]

As you say Neill, Warwick is effectively on TH standby anyway and not for the first time this season.

Let’s save our bleating until we see TOT running out at number 1 on Saturday eh….?

[Bobbievee]

Who will rid me of this troublesome prop talk?

[jean valjean]

It is rumoured that scrum coach John Fogarty is with the squad to assess whether TOT can be switched to loose head. To cover this experiment Andy Warwick will be switched to the tight head side.
Is it fair that in what are important league matches for Ulster, Farrell and FIRFU are using us as an experiment?

Has this rumour surfaced anywhere other than the leinster fan forum who are speculating about irelands relative strength at tight head as opposed to loose? In my view fogarty is with us as we don't have a scrum coach anymore since Dan left.

[Dharper]

I think it’ll be fascinating how the coaching dynamic will work. Murphy has already thrown his hat in the ring for the job permanently, and mentioned looking for houses in Belfast….not just a diplomatic “let’s see where we are end of the season” and lots of stakeholders involved in the process stuff Blah blah blah.

Fogarty has been pulled in for support from Irfu…..There’s been none of this before.

You may have Soper for example wanting to go for the head job….how will that play out rest of season? Will there be post season coaching tkt changes if Murphy gets the gig?

Murphy (my interpretation could be wrong) has not really mentioned the rugby, more so the environment changes he’ll be implementing. It’ll be interesting what the inside chatter will be like at the end of the season.

Personally I like TOT, but I don’t think he’ll be a solid scrummaging TH at Int level, certainly not against the big boys. Also I’d say his time to prove he is solid is coming to an end. There is every danger Jäger will leap frog him (appreciate he’s injured). Tot needs a big 2 games with the summer tour coming up.

[CIMANFOREVER]

It is rumoured that scrum coach John Fogarty is with the squad to assess whether TOT can be switched to loose head. To cover this experiment Andy Warwick will be switched to the tight head side.
Is it fair that in what are important league matches for Ulster, Farrell and FIRFU are using us as an experiment?

That's an interesting theory.....

Warwick is probably covering both sides as only TOT and Wilson travelled as specialist THPs. Fogarty is flying out on Thursday and reviewing the Sharks game and then helping out with Sharks review/Stormers prep before heading North again on the Wednesday.

Also useful research for Ireland tour in Summer, one of the tests is in Durban.

Andys break glass injury cover only imo, not a social experiment for FIRFU

[rumncoke]

Jackman is a stirrer and sitting behind Crawley won't improve his chances neither would the fact it is a one year contract.

The damage in his remark is that it may dissuade players to come to Ulster although the fact remains Burns ,when he signed for Ulster was promised ? an Irish Cap which he got, that he messed his chance ,was his fault not the IRFU .

My angle of the move by Burns is either the IRFU want Doak to have a prolonged exposure at out half or they wish to provide game opportunities to the excess of out halfs available in Leinster , which depends on who Leo is willing to free ,which of course means Ulster being landed with a Leinster discard rather than a possible contender and a backline frustrated on a possible second rate service.

In many ways the D4 attitude to Ulster has a lot to answer for the fact that even tackle bag holders are Leinster players for the last 4 -5 years sends out bad vibes and reduces the incentive to improve and maintain a we must win attitude . In my honest opinion the deciding factor between players is often just attitude and enthusiasm -- the great backslapping exercises exhibited by Leinster players which at times comes across as a serious lack of sportsmanship tbh eg 'we haven't half fool this ref " when awarded a penalty.

[promenader 2]

Jackman is a stirrer and sitting behind Crawley won't improve his chances neither would the fact it is a one year contract.

The damage in his remark is that it may dissuade players to come to Ulster although the fact remains Burns ,when he signed for Ulster was promised ? an Irish Cap which he got, that he messed his chance ,was his fault not the IRFU .

My angle of the move by Burns is either the IRFU want Doak to have a prolonged exposure at out half or they wish to provide game opportunities to the excess of out halfs available in Leinster , which depends on who Leo is willing to free ,which of course means Ulster being landed with a Leinster discard rather than a possible contender and a backline frustrated on a possible second rate service.

In many ways the D4 attitude to Ulster has a lot to answer for the fact that even tackle bag holders are Leinster players for the last 4 -5 years sends out bad vibes and reduces the incentive to improve and maintain a we must win attitude . In my honest opinion the deciding factor between players is often just attitude and enthusiasm -- the great backslapping exercises exhibited by Leinster players which at times comes across as a serious lack of sportsmanship tbh eg 'we haven't half fool this ref " when awarded a penalty.

'which of course means Ulster being landed with a Leinster discard rather than a possible contender and a backline frustrated on a possible second rate service.'
The solution to the 'we only get Leinster discards' problem is for Ulster to develop better players and more of them. If we're saying that we can't do that, then we can't really complain if the other provinces choose to hang on to their best prospects. (And let's not forget either, some of our best and most committed performers in recent seasons have come from Leinster.)

[horslips]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrTpKwmnVq4

I like the sound of what his focus is going to be moving forward. Given all that we know, or at least believe we know, it would seem that his arrival must be huge gust of fresh air.
I take it that was John Fogarty on the training pitch