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Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 7:30 am
by Cap'n Grumpy
UlsterAreBrill wrote:
Sue Dename wrote:
Dharper wrote:McPhillips I believe is coming to the end of a 2yr deal, I am unaware of a new deal, and he has hardly played this season. This may be a replacement, rather than any reflection of Lowry. ML is clearly a 10, but any first team exposure at this point is great development for him.
McPhillips is gone at the end of the season.
They also have the nod to bring in an IQ scrum half as back up to Cooney.
Any names?
Only pseudonyms. >EW

(or possibly pseudenames)

Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 2:31 pm
by Rooster
UlsterNo9 wrote:The young scrum half Craig Casey at Munster was exceptional for Ireland U20 this year. Speed of thought and decision making incredible for his age. May he be drunk off Munster have decided to bring in McCarthy from Leinster and extend Alby Mattewsons contract.

Young lads at other provinces may be looking at the amount of opportunities afforded to youth by McFarland this season in big games and are thinking they may get a faster route to establishing themselves as pros here.

WeeD has had a good season this year, he has improved greatly but you do need three strong choices in every position these days.
Alby is just contracted to after RWC/ November

Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 3:49 pm
by UlsterNo9
Rooster wrote:
UlsterNo9 wrote:The young scrum half Craig Casey at Munster was exceptional for Ireland U20 this year. Speed of thought and decision making incredible for his age. May he be drunk off Munster have decided to bring in McCarthy from Leinster and extend Alby Mattewsons contract.

Young lads at other provinces may be looking at the amount of opportunities afforded to youth by McFarland this season in big games and are thinking they may get a faster route to establishing themselves as pros here.

WeeD has had a good season this year, he has improved greatly but you do need three strong choices in every position these days.
Alby is just contracted to after RWC/ November
Sorry Rooster I didn't articulate my point very well.

Re Matthewson
As a young Munster academy scrum half would you not be eyeing up your opportunity for game time when Connor Murray (Irish International) is away at the world cup? Instead Munster show no faith in you or present you with no opportunity by extending Matthewsons contract.

Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 8:14 pm
by Snipe Watson
Gary wrote:Snipe, apart from disagreeing that playing someone out of position is a good way to prepare him for playing in his proper position, I have to point out yet again that Lowry is OLDER than Jackson was when he played in a Heiny Cup Final and became a first team regular. Now, help me out here ...how many games did Jackson play at 15?
I'll help you Gary. None that I can recall.
Lowry may well be older than Paddy was, but there are a number of things making that close to irrelevant. Firstly Lowry isn't Jackson, maybe the current coaches feel that he needs to be eased into the team. Different player, different team, different head coach.
Secondly I seem to recall at the time McGlock was very reluctant to throw PJ into the ten shirt, but his hand was forced by lack of alternatives and the fact that we were in great form and needed a flyhalf to complete the picture.
Thirdly Jonny Wilkinson was played at 12 by England before he was moved into the key position, precisely for the reason I state and that turned out reasonably well.
Fourthly this season was about building for the future, the competitiveness of the team has been a bonus. Lowry is no short term fix. I expect him to be at the centre of the Ulster team for the next decade. There is no rush to burden him with the responsibility of the most pressured role in the team.
Finally for now, when playing 15 everything happens in front of you. You'll learn more playing there than anywhere else. The kid can use his prodigious talents under less pressure and with more time to think. It's a no brainer.

Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 9:49 pm
by therealspratt
Snipe Watson wrote:
Gary wrote:Snipe, apart from disagreeing that playing someone out of position is a good way to prepare him for playing in his proper position, I have to point out yet again that Lowry is OLDER than Jackson was when he played in a Heiny Cup Final and became a first team regular. Now, help me out here ...how many games did Jackson play at 15?
I'll help you Gary. None that I can recall.
Lowry may well be older than Paddy was, but there are a number of things making that close to irrelevant. Firstly Lowry isn't Jackson, maybe the current coaches feel that he needs to be eased into the team. Different player, different team, different head coach.
Secondly I seem to recall at the time McGlock was very reluctant to throw PJ into the ten shirt, but his hand was forced by lack of alternatives and the fact that we were in great form and needed a flyhalf to complete the picture.
Thirdly Jonny Wilkinson was played at 12 by England before he was moved into the key position, precisely for the reason I state and that turned out reasonably well.
Fourthly this season was about building for the future, the competitiveness of the team has been a bonus. Lowry is no short term fix. I expect him to be at the centre of the Ulster team for the next decade. There is no rush to burden him with the responsibility of the most pressured role in the team.
Finally for now, when playing 15 everything happens in front of you. You'll learn more playing there than anywhere else. The kid can use his prodigious talents under less pressure and with more time to think. It's a no brainer.
Agreed Snipe.

Anyways on Casey, he's signed a new contract with Munster.

Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 10:25 pm
by Rooster
See your point there but also reckon one of them will be on bench and getting increased time at that stage to take over plus a second will then hit the bench as Murray will be restricted to mostly Euro matches and Iteland.

Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 7:59 am
by kingofthehill
Whenever Ludik, Addison, L Marshall, Faddes and Gilroy are all available you then then see Lowry play 10.

Burns hasn’t had competition from Lowry based on the fact that Lowry has been required to play 15.

Next year I expect Burns to be ousted.


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Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 10:01 am
by Big-al
Lowry was shipped into 10 during the 2nd half of a game earlier this season. He struggle to adjust I thought.

I'm still not sure whether or not Lowry is being viewed as a 10 or one of those slippery wee full backs??

Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 10:10 am
by UlsterNo9
Burns has played full back and is competent there, would query when a game is won why Burns hasn't slipped back to there and let Lowry finish out the game at stand off. If Lowry at 10 was the long term plan.

Mind you I'm struggling to think of games when this could have happened.

Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 10:18 am
by Snipe Watson
kingofthehill wrote:Whenever Ludik, Addison, L Marshall, Faddes and Gilroy are all available you then then see Lowry play 10.

Burns hasn’t had competition from Lowry based on the fact that Lowry has been required to play 15.

Next year I expect Burns to be ousted.


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I would think so.
It would be a natural progression for him to move to 10 when he is surrounded by senior players. He's had a season in and around the team with a few cameos at 10. Next season, fresh start and time to move him up.

Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 10:20 am
by Amiga500
Lowry played at 10 in the game against Ospreys.

(Came off fairly late in the 2nd half after shipping one heavy collision too many).

Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 10:27 am
by UlsterNo9
Bill Johnston will push hard for a starting berth if our Munster brethren are to be believed.

Bill Johnston

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 10:47 am
by rumncoke
Snipe the unfortunate truth is at 10 Lowry is not just a target — his size and talent make him — “ THE TARGET “.

You can’t play professional sport as —“ THE TARGET”. It alters the way a team performs especially in rugby players start to play protection ( defensively minded) .

You can’t put a flyweight in the ring with a heavyweight . Even the best professional flyweight will lose in the end to the average heavy weight because he can only survive by keeping out of reach . Lowry is a flyweight .

Imagine Lowry being Tackled by Ferris or Coetzee 3 -4 times a half . When your “THE TARGET “
the word late ceases to exist in the mind of the tackler.



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Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 11:07 am
by kingofthehill
rumncoke wrote:Snipe the unfortunate truth is at 10 Lowry is not just a target — his size and talent make him — “ THE TARGET “.

You can’t play professional sport as —“ THE TARGET”. It alters the way a team performs especially in rugby players start to play protection ( defensively minded) .

You can’t put a flyweight in the ring with a heavyweight . Even the best professional flyweight will lose in the end to the average heavy weight because he can only survive by keeping out of reach . Lowry is a flyweight .

Imagine Lowry being Tackled by Ferris or Coetzee 3 -4 times a half . When your “THE TARGET “
the word late ceases to exist in the mind of the tackler.



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Lowry had been told repeatedly through the ulster underage set up that he is too small. He was cut from the elite players programme at u16 level by a certain ulster coach for ‘being too small’.

Quite frankly I’m sick of people referring to his size. He has proven people wrong time and time again that he is capable of professional rugby.

Don’t be another fool thinking that size will hold him back.




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Re: Bill Johnston

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 11:19 am
by therealspratt
Just ignore that stupid old ganch KoTH, he's nothing of worth whatsoever to contribute.