Are we headed for dark times??

[Eggs]

I can not be the the only person feeling like this. Where are Ulster heading?! I have the same feeling about the squad as I did before the dark times post 1999. We have no back row to speak of, our 'strength in depth' is literally a joke,we look hopeless away from home, and the one big signing we have coming is a winger, when we already have tommy, Craig and trimble giving us a dilemma!

These terrible away performances are not going to be fixed by the return of our world cup players. I really don't see us as anything better than a mid table team, and Im not sure whats going to happen to change that.

[damianmcr]

That's a handy dilemma to have though.

[kingofthehill]

Charles plays 15 as well.

2 big signings sealed already so don't worry.

[LegsLikeSausages]

Charles plays 15 as well.

2 big signings sealed already so don't worry.

In addition to Piutau?

[damianmcr]

Plus he's young. Bowe will be 32 when Charlie arrives. Plus with the the injuries we rarely see all three you mentioned in the same squad unfortunately.

[damianmcr]

Charles plays 15 as well.

2 big signings sealed already so don't worry.

Bryn hard at work?

[BaggyTrousers]

Eggs you need to keep your reading up to date ould haun' , I posted my distress a month or two back, highlighting the age profile of more or less all of our top players and the dearth of quality coming through. Of the "better" players on Gilroy could be said to be young, then a gap to Cave at 28, then nothing under 30. Scary, eh?

Do yourselves a favour and look on the Ulster website at the squad profiles, maybe a wee trip to Tesco and get a wheen of bog roll in first.

Like Koth I've heard two impressive names mentioned (usual suspects, no PMS I'm saying nothing based on rumour) but top top class if true.

[damianmcr]

Not even my PM?

[BaggyTrousers]

Sadly not Damo, sorry, when I believe I'll not be tight mouthed.

Oh, but if KOTH reckons there are two gooduns, chances are there'll be two gooduns?

[Kofi Annan]

Am I getting this right, we have two good signings, so all will be okay

[Rooster]

Am I getting this right, we have two good signings, so all will be okay

Nah but we will be a bit better than at present

[scrum5]

In answer to the original question, No.....we are already there

[LegsLikeSausages]

Am I getting this right, we have two good signings, so all will be okay

And therein lies the problem.

With a NIQ quota of 4 players plus a project, the remaining 30+ players in the squad need to be either home grown or IQ foreigners (seems very rare to find decent quality IQ foreigners). In times of need, Leinster and Munster have both pilfered from Connacht, but we don't seem to have that ability.

Assuming a playing career of 8-10 years, that means that the Academy needs to produce 3-4 first team players per year of which one needs to be international quality. Furthermore, we need to produce these players across all positions, not just produce a load of wingers for 3 years, then a load of centres for the next 3. Clearly we desperately need back row forwards coming through now but can anyone remember the last truly international quality scrum half produced by an Ulster school? I'm scratching my head to think of anyone more recent than Colin Patterson (with an honourable mention to Andy Matchett).

So when is this much lauded academy going to start delivering the goods?

[rumncoke]

The fact remains Ulster don't need "any old "signings Ulster need specific signings for specific positions

Such as back row first and foremost because the players who make the major difference are those between the front five and 12 and after the back row a world class scrum half to replace Ruan when he decides to go back to SA .





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[BaggyTrousers]

Am I getting this right, we have two good signings, so all will be okay

Away outta that with you, it'll be a good sticking plaster and no more, the problems maybe be slightly delayed until I emigrate and then we are going to be fighting it out for a SDC place.