Ulster Squad 2019/20

Talk about the men in white, and everything Ulster!!

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nonplussed
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by nonplussed »

If he wasnt able to shift Shanners, he's not up to it!
rumncoke
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by rumncoke »

His kicking was a liability he couldn't box kick consistently to prone to being charged down --he kicked flat instead of up to often to be a confident choice in the 23.
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therealspratt
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by therealspratt »

He was an outstanding talent as a schoolboy but for whatever reason from u20s onwards he never looked like delivering on that potential.
Dharper
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by Dharper »

Could the option of retaining Alby for a second season be a possibility? Perhaps Shanahan May leave end of next season, and push on the youngsters? Personally I don’t think Cooney will have a particularly long Ire career maybe 12/18months. I think he is a quality professional, brilliant for us, but maybe just not backed overly by the snr side. Maybe have Alby til the Ire involvement is over and hopefully the youngsters will be ready to push on and be viable Cooney back up.
jean valjean
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by jean valjean »

Are alby and Madigan available for Europe when it resumes? Would assume not for alby as he featured for munster but are there any gaps in the European squad from those who are leaving? Some of the bigger French clubs night have significant gaps with contracts ending so wondering if any changes are afoot.
Cockatrice
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by Cockatrice »

Is Burns leaving?
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damianmcr
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by damianmcr »

What makes you ask that?
Payet27
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by Payet27 »

Waste of his 2020/21 Shandon Park golf membership if he is!
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UlsterNo9
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by UlsterNo9 »

https://www.the42.ie/ulster-depth-chart ... 7-Jul2020/
By Murray Kinsella
The Ulster depth chart: Madigan and Mathewson add experience

FOLLOWING OUR STUDY of the 43-man Connacht squad and Leinster’s 48-player group, today we turn our attention towards Ulster.

Dan McFarland confirmed his 43-man senior squad back in May and will be looking towards the return of rugby next month with some excitement.

Depth will be more important than ever for the provinces as they get set to finish the 2019/20 campaign before launching almost immediately into the 2020/21 season.

Included in brackets after each player’s name is their age and number of Ulster caps in the format [age, caps]. Players have been listed by number of caps.

Loosehead prop

Andrew Warwick [29, 123]
Kyle McCall [28, 60]
Eric O’Sullivan [24, 40]
Jack McGrath [30, 11]

Former Lions loosehead Jack McGrath found form after his move from Leinster last summer, rebounding from a thumb injury in November to regain a place in the Ireland squad for the 2020 Six Nations.

The skillful Eric O’Sullivan continues to improve and will hope to apply more pressure on McGrath this season, while the experienced Andrew Warwick and Kyle McCall provide two homegrown Ulster options.

Hooker

Rob Herring [30, 180]
John Andrew [27, 63]
Adam McBurney [23, 24]

The retirement of Rory Best last year saw Rob Herring move into the first-choice hooker role with both Ireland and Ulster, for whom he has been an influential leader in recent years.

Herring is relishing the starting opportunities for province and country, though his international involvement will mean Ulster’s depth will be tested at hooker.

27-year-old John Andrew got just one start last season and will be battling with the abrasive 23-year-old Adam McBurney for minutes in the number two shirt if and when Herring is away.

Ulster’s academy includes two hookers in Ireland U20s prospect Tom Stewart and the goal-kicking James McCormick.

Tighthead prop

Ross Kane [25, 46]
Tom O’Toole [21, 41]
Marty Moore [29, 31]
Gareth Milasinovich [27, 0]

10-times capped Ireland international Marty Moore has been atop the tighthead pecking order since his move from Wasps in 2018 and will be hoping to impress national team boss Andy Farrell.

Farrell included 21-year-old prospect Tom O’Toole in his Six Nations squad this year, providing the athletic Drogheda native with early exposure to international training standards. Scrum specialist McFarland will be important in O’Toole’s ongoing development.

Ross Kane didn’t get a start at tighthead last season but has shown his dynamism in the past, while it will be fascinating to see how Gareth Milasinovich fares after his first season with the province was ended before it even started due to an ACL injury. Formerly of Worcester Warriors, the 130kg South Africa native is Irish-qualified.

Second row

Iain Henderson [28, 112]
Alan O’Connor [27, 106]
Kieran Treadwell [24, 87]
David O’Connor [25, 6]
Sam Carter [30, 7]

Having moved into the role of Ulster captain last season, 28-year-old Iain Henderson is more important than ever to the province and will hope ongoing strong form in the white jersey can see him continue to add to his 55 Ireland caps.

Experienced Aussie Sam Carter was signed from the Brumbies last summer and suffered a shoulder injury in November just as he was getting going. Himself and Henderson would provide a strong second row pairing when fit and available.

Having reached the 100-cap milestone with Ulster last season, Alan O’Connor has become a central member of the set-up and showed up very well in 2019/20 as his handling and decision-making skills improved to go along with his aggression.

Younger brother David was a relative latecomer to professional rugby after impressing in the AIL and will be aiming to add to his seven Ulster caps.

Meanwhile, Ireland-capped Kieran Treadwell is still only 24 and possesses the kind of dynamism that other locks would love to have. Ulster will challenge him to deliver more consistently and nail down the nuts-and-bolts of lock play to match that athleticism around the pitch.

Back row

Sean Reidy [31, 122]
Nick Timoney [24, 60]
Matty Rea [26, 42]
Marcell Coetzee [29, 41]
Jordi Murphy [29, 27]
Greg Jones [24, 16]
Marcus Rea [22, 2]

Marcell Coetzee has been a sensation in the back row for Ulster over the last two seasons, largely putting his injury nightmares behind him and showing the quality that the northern province had been sure he could deliver.

That said, he was unlucky to miss last year’s World Cup after a badly-timed injury, while Ulster will be hoping the reformatted Rugby Championship this November and December doesn’t deprive them of Coetzee’s services at a crucial juncture.

Jordi Murphy has become a key player since joining from Leinster in 2018 and he will head into this season determined to force his way back into the Ireland squad. Coetzee and Murphy are obvious starters for the biggest Ulster games.

31-year-old Sean Reidy, the hard-nosed stalwart of the back row, has adapted to the blindside flank well since Murphy’s arrival but others will be eyeing that spot. The challenge for Matty Rea is to be consistent after getting his second Champions Cup start last season.

The quietly effective and skillful Greg Jones covers the blindside and number eight, while the hard-running and hard-working Nick Timoney can play across the three back row positions. 22-year-old Marcus Rea, the younger brother of Matty, will be hoping for his first senior start in the season ahead.

Scrum-half

John Cooney [30, 60]
David Shanahan [27, 58]
Johnny Stewart [22, 14]
Alby Mathewson [34,0]

John Cooney’s form with Ulster over the last couple of seasons has truly outstanding and he pushed Conor Murray close for Ireland starts during this year’s Six Nations.

With the 30-year-old set to be away on Ireland duty plenty during the upcoming campaign, the signing of the highly-experienced and still-very-fit Alby Mathewson seems a clever bit of business. As he showed at Munster, where he also pushed Murray for starts, Mathewson still has plenty of good rugby left in him.

David Shanahan’s superb support running make him a constant try-scoring threat when he’s on the pitch, while former Ireland U20 scrum-half Johnny Stewart provides another option.

Out-half

Billy Burns [26, 36]
Bill Johnston [23, 11]
Ian Madigan [31, 0]

26-year-old Billy Burns has quietly gone about becoming an important player for Ulster since joining from Gloucester in 2018, with his attacking kicking a clear strength in his game and his management of the team improving all the time.

He worked his way into the Ireland squad for this year’s Six Nations but McFarland will hope to see 23-year-old Bill Johnston and the experienced Ian Madigan apply pressure for the number 10 shirt in the new season.

Madigan’s return to Irish rugby from Bristol will be intriguing and his ability to play at out-half, inside centre, and fullback is potentially very useful. McFarland will hope he and Mathewson are good mentors for younger players too.

Ex-Munster man Johnston grew into his first season with Ulster in 2019/20, improving with game time and earning his first two Champions Cup caps, while midfielder Angus Curtis is another option for the province at out-half.

Similarly, fullback Michael Lowry can also play at number 10 and is certainly in the Damian McKenzie mould of providing game-breaking quality from either position.

Centre

Luke Marshall [29, 140]
Stuart McCloskey [27, 120]
James Hume [21, 16]
Angus Curtis [22, 13]
Stewart Moore [20, 2]

Stuart McCloskey is a crucial figure for McFarland’s side, with his power, offloading and passing skills, choke-tackling and jackaling making him a threat on both sides of the ball.

The experienced and intelligent Luke Marshall is an underrated midfield partner for McCloskey and provides ever-growing leadership in the Ulster squad.

There is real potential in the crop of young midfielders behind the established pair. Curtis is a clever playmaker who covers out-half too, while the powerful James Hume picks excellent lines and has sharp offloading skills.

Academy graduate Stewart Moore is one for Irish rugby to watch. He looks like a potentially complete centre who could offer a genuine run/pass/kick triple threat. A daring, classy offload on his debut against Leinster last December hints at the 20-year-old being comfortable with stepping up.

Back three

Craig Gilroy [29, 182]
Louis Ludik [33, 105]
Jacob Stockdale [24, 63]
Rob Lyttle [23, 29]
Michael Lowry [21, 20]
Will Addison [27, 19]
Robert Baloucoune [22, 21]
Matt Faddes [28, 12]

The versatile Will Addison is the obvious starter at fullback if he can stay fit and Ireland boss Farrell will also be hoping that’s the case when rugby returns.

The aforementioned Lowry is another exciting option in the number 15 shirt with his ability to break defences and create opportunities for others. Matt Faddes is versatile and very quick when fully fit, covering fullback, 13, and the wings. The dependable and tough Louis Ludik has major experience across the back three but primarily featured on the wing last season.

Addison’s fellow international, Jacob Stockdale, is the clear first-choice on the left wing and will only continue to improve, while he can play 15 too. The battle for the third spot in Ulster’s frontline back three will be interesting.

Robert Baloucoune makes strong defensive reads, has explosive athletic qualities, and trained with Ireland last year – a recognition of his ability – and McFarland will certainly hope to see the ever-improving Enniskillen man move onto a new level this season.

23-year-old Rob Lyttle is a creative finisher and regularly beats defenders but will be working hard on his consistency and decision-making in defence. Ludik ended up starting three Champions Cup games out wide last season and is excellent in the air and in contact.

The most-capped Ulster player of the back three contingent is Craig Gilroy, who has undoubted finishing prowess and searing pace but has been learning the ropes of Ulster’s refreshed defensive system in recent seasons.

Academy

Ulster’s academy includes a handful of players who have already made senior debuts for the province in out-half Bruce Houston, number eight Azur Allison, and wing/fullback Ethan McIlroy.

Back row Dave McCann, this year’s Ireland U20s captain, will be hoping to get Pro14 exposure, while there are big hopes for the likes of lightning-quick Year 2 wing Aaron Sexton and dynamic centre Hayden Hyde, among others.

An interesting new crop of Year 1 players includes promising scrum-half Nathan Doak, son of former Ulster coach Neil, and 20-year-old Ireland 7s international Cormac Izuchukwu, a lock or blindside flanker in 15s rugby.

Year 1:

Ben Carson [centre]
Reuben Crothers [back row]
Nathan Doak [scrum-half/out-half]
Lewis Finlay [scrum-half]
Cormac Izuchukwu [lock/back row]
James McCormick [hooker]

Year 2:

Hayden Hyde [centre]
Conor Rankin [back three]
Aaron Sexton [back three]
Tom Stewart [hooker]
Ethan McIlroy [back three]
Callum Reid [loosehead prop]

Year 3:

Azur Allison [back row]
Bruce Houston [out-half]
Dave McCann [back row].
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Lurgan Lad
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by Lurgan Lad »

Very good read, and certainly a few guys in the academy that should step up. Can't believe between Warwick and McCall they have 183 Ulster caps, hopefully Reid displaces one of them shortly.
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solidarity
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by solidarity »

I've just had a look at the other squads and I fear that Ulster look third best. Leinster have their usual production line squad and Munster have a couple of very strong looking Saffers to bolster them. As every year, international call-ups and injuries will be important but I doubt that they will actually decide things.
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Setanta
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by Setanta »

Arewe allowed to disagree? I think this squad will win our first silverware since 2006. As well as the new signings Milasonavic, Carter and a fit McGrath, Moore and Murphy will seem like new signings. We shall see :lol: :fleg:
From the rolling glens of Antrim through the hills of Donegal we will stand and shout for Ulster as we win both scrum and maul from the lovely lakes of Fermanagh tae the shores of ould Lough Gall we will scream and shout for Ulster as we beat them one and all!
justinr73
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by justinr73 »

No reason why not!
rumncoke
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by rumncoke »

Munster have a strong pack especially in the front 5 their back row is now starting to age a bit which may lessen its effectiveness.
They have added a bit of bite to their backline but in my opinion the back three lacks real depth.

Leinster have a strong pack and real depth in the back row and with exception of Marcel I would nearly pick any of them before one of Ulsters back row forwards. Their backline gets mucked about by International call ups and injuries which makes any assessment difficult but there is no doubt when the forwards have the game won their backs can exploit any demoralised side.

Ulster are a bit of an if only side at the moment the front five are not as dominant as either Leinster or Munster and the back row seldom have the same options as either Leinster or Munster but the backline is full of potential if only the forwards would dominate.
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Neill_M
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Re: Ulster Squad 2019/20

Post by Neill_M »

There is a lot of International rugby in the 2020/21 season with the 2020 6N finishing in October and then this 8 team tournament in Nov/Dec and then the 2021 6N.

It is a season for not getting a lot of players called up to Ireland/South Africa squads etc
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