I was thinking the same as this Herring guy is in for a year to see how good he is and then I would assume if he can hack it at this level will get Bradys contract next year, if not then search out someone else.breakdown wrote:We had 4 hookers last year, same for this year, only thing is two are young guys, is it a surprise really we signed someone Herring and have Annett since we are seemingly planning for the future
Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
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Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
“That made me feel very special and underlined to me that Ulster is more than a team, it is a community and a rugby family"
Rory Best
Rory Best
Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
cables wrote:Connacht games for NOC in 2011/2012
03/09/2011 Pro12 Benetton Treviso ( R )
10/09/2011 Pro12 Scarlets ( R )
16/09/2011 Pro12 Edinburgh Rugby ( R )
23/09/2011 Pro12 Newport Gwent Dragons ( S )
30/09/2011 Pro12 Ospreys ( S )
08/10/2011 Pro12 Leinster Rugby ( S )
29/10/2011 Pro12 Cardiff Blues ( S )
05/11/2011 Pro12 Ulster Rugby ( R )
11/11/2011 HC Harlequins ( R )
19/11/2011 HC Toulouse ( NU )
26/11/2011 Pro12 Ospreys ( R )
02/12/2011 Pro12 Benetton Treviso ( S )
10/12/2011 HC Gloucester Rugby ( S )
17/12/2011 HC Gloucester Rugby ( S )
26/12/2011 Pro12 Munster Rugby ( S )
01/01/2012 Pro12 Leinster Rugby ( - )
07/01/2012 Pro12 Aironi Rugby ( R )
14/01/2012 HC Toulouse ( S )
20/01/2012 HC Harlequins ( S )
10/02/2012 Pro12 Cardiff Blues ( S )
18/02/2012 Pro12 Glasgow Warriors ( S )
24/02/2012 Pro12 Edinburgh Rugby ( S )
02/03/2012 Pro12 Scarlets ( - )
24/03/2012 Pro12 Munster Rugby ( - )
30/03/2012 Pro12 Newport Gwent Dragons ( - )
14/04/2012 Pro12 Ulster Rugby ( - )
21/04/2012 Pro12 Aironi Rugby ( - )
05/05/2012 Pro12 Glasgow Warriors ( - )
Connacht Total games = 28 (22 + 6)
NOC starts = 13 (9 + 4)
NOC replacement = 7 (6 + 1)
NOC bench (not used) = 1 (0 +1)
NOC (not named) = 7 (7 + 0)
What happened in March/April/May?
- Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
Injured (head injury - reported but as far as I'm aware never confirmed, as a fractured skull).ColinM wrote:What happened in March/April/May?
I think cables' stats show that NOC HAD established himself at Connacht prior to that.
I'm not arguing -
I'm just explaining why I'm right
I'm just explaining why I'm right
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Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
During Rory's international duty and enforced rest periods we'll be down to 3 - that's one injury away from having no choice in who gets selected for the match day squad.ColinM wrote:I dont think we need 4 hookers but i do thinkwl we will see Brady being phased out of the selections, post 6Ns anyway. Herring and Annett will have a good scrap to get his place
If we don't have 4 hookers, we're one injury away from not even being able to select a squad hooker for the bench - that's no way to run a squad like Ulster.
We DO need 4 hookers.
I'm not arguing -
I'm just explaining why I'm right
I'm just explaining why I'm right
Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
You could say the same about loosehead, if Court is away on international duty we will have no choice but to pick PaddyMac and Black. If one of them is injured we will have to look outside the squad.Cap'n Grumpy wrote:During Rory's international duty and enforced rest periods we'll be down to 3 - that's one injury away from having no choice in who gets selected for the match day squad.ColinM wrote:I dont think we need 4 hookers but i do thinkwl we will see Brady being phased out of the selections, post 6Ns anyway. Herring and Annett will have a good scrap to get his place
If we don't have 4 hookers, we're one injury away from not even being able to select a squad hooker for the bench - that's no way to run a squad like Ulster.
We DO need 4 hookers.
Scrum half; if Ruan goes to play for SA, and p is in an ireland squad what are our options? McIlroy and ...
I could go on, but hooker is the best catered for position in the Ulster squad. Is it the most specialist? I'll bet a THP could fill in there as well as they could potentially fill in at loosehead.
Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
I heard Herring is on a sort of trial deal similar to D'Arcy which would lead me to think a pretty cheap option for Ulster and at the same time is a pretty good deal for Herring playing for a HEC finalist, if he can prove himself it's not a bad one to have on your cv plus if he can get ahead of Nigel to the bench spot when Rory is playing that is a real boost for him, not many young hookers out there can say they are backup to one of the best in the world at present, he will also push Annett on as without Herring he is sure of time at least from the bench.
NOC seems to be a 1 year deal also so it will be up to him to prove he is worth another deal next year.
NOC seems to be a 1 year deal also so it will be up to him to prove he is worth another deal next year.
“That made me feel very special and underlined to me that Ulster is more than a team, it is a community and a rugby family"
Rory Best
Rory Best
Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
When did NOC get this injury - in a match or training?
I think Herring is a good signing as he's completely unproven in the NH. If he sucks, oh well, bad signing, but that's OK cause we didn't know who he was. If he's the next Rory Best then fantastic, we've uncovered a gem!
NOC I'm getting mixed feelings about. Part of me thinks, "Really? We got him back again?" and the other part thinks, "Well, he's been in Galway for the last year - who knows what he might be like next season." I'm going with the second part because I think it's only fair we give him another chance, he can only have improved and will prove to be a decent back-up in my opinion.
I think Herring is a good signing as he's completely unproven in the NH. If he sucks, oh well, bad signing, but that's OK cause we didn't know who he was. If he's the next Rory Best then fantastic, we've uncovered a gem!
NOC I'm getting mixed feelings about. Part of me thinks, "Really? We got him back again?" and the other part thinks, "Well, he's been in Galway for the last year - who knows what he might be like next season." I'm going with the second part because I think it's only fair we give him another chance, he can only have improved and will prove to be a decent back-up in my opinion.
You haven't seen me at my best yet. Let's be honest, you probably never will.
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Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
I'd like to think he was better but even if he is, he's staring from a low base. Why would he get any better playing for a poorer team than the 4 years he had with Ulster? Nice guy. Hope it works but experience tells me that it can't.ruckover wrote:When did NOC get this injury - in a match or training?
I think Herring is a good signing as he's completely unproven in the NH. If he sucks, oh well, bad signing, but that's OK cause we didn't know who he was. If he's the next Rory Best then fantastic, we've uncovered a gem!
NOC I'm getting mixed feelings about. Part of me thinks, "Really? We got him back again?" and the other part thinks, "Well, he's been in Galway for the last year - who knows what he might be like next season." I'm going with the second part because I think it's only fair we give him another chance, he can only have improved and will prove to be a decent back-up in my opinion.
Smear me in chocolate and throw me to the Lesbians.
Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
Opportunity NOC's.
Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
I believe he took a knock in the Edinburgh game and was replaced on 55 mins.ruckover wrote:When did NOC get this injury - in a match or training?
After that, it is a little unclear as it has been reported that he just missed a return for the Dragons game leaving the next game (Ulster) more probable. In early April (before the Ulster game) Elwood confirmed that his season was over due to a head injury.
Illegitimi Non Carborundum
Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
Would sound like a fairly serious injury. Genuinely hope he is fully recovered in terms of both his rugby and his general well being.
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Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
I think Bowe and Wilson coming back, Henderson, Farrell, Nelson et al coming through, and Herring/ NOC signed could be termed improving the team in fairness Trewbear?trewbear wrote:Two seasons ago we beat bath away and just missed out on quarter final qualification.
we then improved the team
one season ago we reached HC quarter final
we then improved the team
last season we got to the HC final
While I will always support the boys in white I think (unless something dramatic happens) we have not improved this summer and we will not qualify for HC quarter finals next season with an inexperienced/average no 10.
Herring replacing Andy K looks fine by me. Only Q mark is NOC to replace IH and McKinney. I'd've kept McKinney tbh, but if he leaves for gametime, then no quibbles, as long as he returns to us..
Exterminate all rational thought
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Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
Think Annett should be ready to dogfight for no.2/3 hooker, depending on how Brady goes this year. Thought he looked good from what I've seen with Ireland U20's and the rare cameos this year.
Would love to see Annett coming through. Different animal to Rory though, build-wise. More Flannery- esque in physique. Time to fill out and get his spine compressed. Rory was once 6ft.4...
Would love to see Annett coming through. Different animal to Rory though, build-wise. More Flannery- esque in physique. Time to fill out and get his spine compressed. Rory was once 6ft.4...
Exterminate all rational thought
Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
Spot on cables in your research, I heard from a pretty reliable dog on the street that he had a fractured skull and have no reason to doubt that at all.cables wrote:I believe he took a knock in the Edinburgh game and was replaced on 55 mins.ruckover wrote:When did NOC get this injury - in a match or training?
After that, it is a little unclear as it has been reported that he just missed a return for the Dragons game leaving the next game (Ulster) more probable. In early April (before the Ulster game) Elwood confirmed that his season was over due to a head injury.
He should be fine as there was no word on severe concussion or anything like that.
“That made me feel very special and underlined to me that Ulster is more than a team, it is a community and a rugby family"
Rory Best
Rory Best
Re: Signings: O'Connor & Herring Confimed
Cap'n Grumpy wrote:Injured (head injury - reported but as far as I'm aware never confirmed, as a fractured skull).ColinM wrote:What happened in March/April/May?
I think cables' stats show that NOC HAD established himself at Connacht prior to that.
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