A review of Props at Ulster

[Bayern]

With the news of Tom Court leaving and John Afoa's departure also extremely likely, I thought it would be interesting to look at what Ulster have available to them next year at both LH and TH prop. Ages of the 1st of September 2014.

Loosehead
Callum Black[28] - good, solid player
Paddy MacAllister[25] - seriously talented but has played very little rugby as of late due to injury

Tighthead
Declan Fitzpatrick[31] - good player but quite injury prone
Rickly Lutton[28] - decent player
Bronson Ross[28] - development player
Adam Macklin[25] - missed a large chunk of time recently due to injury

Academy
Adam Warwick[22] - primarily a LH, joined academy this year
Kyle McCall[22] - primarily a LH but has played TH
Chris Taylor[21] - primarily a TH

Other recent props contracted with Ulser:
Jake Caulfield[21] was recently let go by Ulster from the academy and is back in england.
Conor Carey[22] left Ulster last season and is now with Ealing.

[pip14]

I can guarantee Hump has signed a young NIQ SH (early twenties) prop to replace Court. With the hope that by the time he's 26/27 he qualifies for Ireland

[Russ]

Is this a root and branch review? Should we alert the media?

[Cornerfleg]

Crozier will be reporting that Bryan Young is leaving this season!

[Russ]

I can guarantee Hump has signed a young NIQ SH (early twenties) prop to replace Court. With the hope that by the time he's 26/27 he qualifies for Ireland

Being pedantic.

He's a project player, going by your ages Pip, he's 23/24

Presumed Saffa.

Presumed a Shark

Presumed ALLAN DELL

[breakdown]

So hes not a project, but rather NIQ with the aim of becoming IQ?

[ruckover]

Question is, will the new LH be a replacement for Tom or will it be Nugget expected to step up?

[Neil F]

So hes not a project, but rather NIQ with the aim of becoming IQ?

Isn't the second part of this post the definition of a project?

As one not in the know - in a way, given the loosehead options at Leinster and Munster, now, I'm surprised that Ulster aren't looking at an established NIQ loosehead and seeking a decent prospect at tighthead, given the new IRFU "guidelines"...

[ColinM]

Crozier will be reporting that Bryan Young is leaving this season!

He is. He's going to London Irish!

[BaggyTrousers]

Crozier will be reporting that Bryan Young is leaving this season!

................or quite possibly that Bear is coming back.

[BaggyTrousers]

I can guarantee Hump has signed a young NIQ SH (early twenties) prop to replace Court. With the hope that by the time he's 26/27 he qualifies for Ireland

Being pedantic.

He's a project player, going by your ages Pip, he's 23/24

Presumed Saffa.

Presumed a Shark

Presumed ALLAN DELL

Heir to a computer fortune or yin of Wobin Hood's Mewwy Men?

Oh sorry that was Alan-a-Dale.

[big mervyn]

I can guarantee Hump has signed a young NIQ SH (early twenties) prop to replace Court. With the hope that by the time he's 26/27 he qualifies for Ireland

Being pedantic.

He's a project player, going by your ages Pip, he's 23/24

Presumed Saffa.

Presumed a Shark

Presumed ALLAN DELL

Heir to a computer fortune or yin of Wobin Hood's Mewwy Men?

Oh sorry that was Alan-a-Dale.

Robin Hood and Alan a Dale

Come listen to me, you gallants so free
All you that loves mirth for to hear
And I will tell you of a bold outlaw
That lived in Nottinghamshire.

As Robin Hood in the forest stood,
All under the green-wood tree,
There was he ware of a brave young man,
As fine as fine might be.

The youngster was clothed in scarlet red,
In scarlet fine and gay,
And he did frisk it over the plain,
And chanted a roundelay.

Definitely the wrong bloke Baggy. Alan-a-Dale obviously plays for Scaaaaaaaaaalets.,

[ruckover]

Allan Dell is only 21. Too young in my opinion. His team-mate Dale Chadwick seems to be more of a realistic option at the age of 25.

[CIMANFOREVER]

Question is, will the new LH be a replacement for Tom or will it be Nugget expected to step up?

Nugget stepping up would be my primary objective.. Paddy Mac to also step up. Both should be coming to their prime.
If Paddy Mac falls short, then we need to be ruthless.
DF & Lutton are good Rabo Options- if DF was fit and made of steel, I'd have no qualms of him in the HEC.
McCall I disagree- he's a better feckin Tighthead! And should be kept- he is the future.
Haven't seen enough of Taylor or the others. Kane seems a good young Loosehead.
Macklin started playing again I see, and scored for Dungannon last week. Be interesting to see how he goes again.
Always though he offered something, but never got the chance, often due to injury. Never seen him screwed by anyone, either in Rabo or HEC.

Any odds for Andress?.....

So:

L/H: CB, PM, A.N.Other, Academy.

T/Head: DF, RL, K.McC. AM, A.N.Other, B.R

[promsandwich]

Question is, will the new LH be a replacement for Tom or will it be Nugget expected to step up?

Nugget stepping up would be my primary objective.. Paddy Mac to also step up. Both should be coming to their prime.
If Paddy Mac falls short, then we need to be ruthless.
DF & Lutton are good Rabo Options- if DF was fit and made of steel, I'd have no qualms of him in the HEC.
McCall I disagree- he's a better feckin Tighthead! And should be kept- he is the future.
Haven't seen enough of Taylor or the others. Kane seems a good young Loosehead.
Macklin started playing again I see, and scored for Dungannon last week. Be interesting to see how he goes again.
Always though he offered something, but never got the chance, often due to injury. Never seen him screwed by anyone, either in Rabo or HEC.

Any odds for Andress?.....

So:

L/H: CB, PM, A.N.Other, Academy.

T/Head: DF, RL, K.McC. AM, A.N.Other, B.R

I'd love to see Macklin come through and make it but imo we should be asking more from our props than 'never getting screwed' if we want to win things. I like my props to be angry and scary, verging on psychopathic looking, and Adam just looks a bit too nice to me. Hope I'm wrong.