Page 1 of 3

New Scrum Half?

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 11:59 pm
by Bart S
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/spor ... 82848.html

Already on the Rumours thread i know, but for the benefit of those who don’t go on that part of the forum.

I would be delighted with this :red:

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 10:06 am
by TopPoster
Simple Q - why would Ulster be allowed to sign him, but not Ruan again?

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 10:21 am
by UlsterNo9
TopPoster wrote: Mon Feb 24, 2020 10:06 am Simple Q - why would Ulster be allowed to sign him, but not Ruan again?
Ruans personal circumstances have changed. As I understand it he is back playing for his hometown team to be near his family circle.

No shock there putting his family ahead of playing aspirations such is the calibre of the man.

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 10:42 am
by big mervyn
UlsterNo9 wrote: Mon Feb 24, 2020 10:21 am
TopPoster wrote: Mon Feb 24, 2020 10:06 am Simple Q - why would Ulster be allowed to sign him, but not Ruan again?
Ruans personal circumstances have changed. As I understand it he is back playing for his hometown team to be near his family circle.

No shock there putting his family ahead of playing aspirations such is the calibre of the man.
... and he has indicated that he may be hanging up the boots at the end of the season.

He's not far off 400 senior games in his pro career which is phenomenal.

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 11:32 am
by SparkyClarky
I just ask do I prefer Alby starting to Shanners.......hell yeah so plugs a year to develope or find a scrummie who doesn’t have us all wetting ourselves when Conneys not available.

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 3:53 pm
by Tender
SparkyClarky wrote: Mon Feb 24, 2020 11:32 am I just ask do I prefer Alby starting to Shanners.......hell yeah so plugs a year to develope or find a scrummie who doesn’t have us all wetting ourselves when Conneys not available.
Eggsackerly

I‘m often awakened in the middle of the night in a panic stricken cold sweat by the memory of WeeD and his Home European debut.

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 6:29 pm
by Amiga500
With Lewis Finlay going so well with the U20s... why would the IRFU sanction that now?

I suppose the question is - will Ulster be brave enough to stick him on the bench from next month till end of season?

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 7:39 pm
by Silverstu
Amiga500 wrote: Mon Feb 24, 2020 6:29 pm With Lewis Finlay going so well with the U20s... why would the IRFU sanction that now?

I suppose the question is - will Ulster be brave enough to stick him on the bench from next month till end of season?
I think signing him gives Finlay and/or Doak space to develop with a decent mentor when Cooney is away provided Shanahan doesn't get gametime. Should be Cooney with Finlay/Doak benching or Alby with Finlay/Doak benching with Cooney/Alby for the big European games.

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 7:52 pm
by UlsterNo9
Graham Curtis selected for Ireland 7s squad in the next round of the world series.

Had forgotten about him, I take it he is not going to be an answer for us.

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 11:55 am
by Amiga500
Silverstu wrote: Mon Feb 24, 2020 7:39 pm
Amiga500 wrote: Mon Feb 24, 2020 6:29 pm With Lewis Finlay going so well with the U20s... why would the IRFU sanction that now?

I suppose the question is - will Ulster be brave enough to stick him on the bench from next month till end of season?
I think signing him gives Finlay and/or Doak space to develop with a decent mentor when Cooney is away provided Shanahan doesn't get gametime. Should be Cooney with Finlay/Doak benching or Alby with Finlay/Doak benching with Cooney/Alby for the big European games.
Have to admit, I'm not a great believer in that philosophy.

If they are good enough, they are the bench 9 when Cooney is there. When Cooney is away, if they aren't good enough to start then you have a problem.

Antoine Dupont is 23. He has already played (at least) 95... yes, ninety five... games for Castres and Toulouse.

If he was here - would he have half that?

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 12:13 pm
by rumncoke
amigo -- there are very few players in any professional league with that many caps at 23 he is an exception not the rule.

It is not really a question of good enough it is a question of being mature enough to survive -- a young inexperienced player only needs to be hit Badly once to possibly ruin his confidence or be badly injured .

Finlay has some way to go in my book to face before he faces a nasty black arts welsh pack. a few months in the gym with Tyson Fury would work wonders.

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 12:31 pm
by therealspratt
UlsterNo9 wrote: Mon Feb 24, 2020 7:52 pm Graham Curtis selected for Ireland 7s squad in the next round of the world series.

Had forgotten about him, I take it he is not going to be an answer for us.
He seems to me another of these scrumhalves that Ulster tends to sign whose best position isn't scrumhalf.

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 1:19 pm
by Evil Kiwi
This is Nucifora finally admitting he was wrong.

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 2:46 pm
by Amiga500
rumncoke wrote: Tue Feb 25, 2020 12:13 pmIt is not really a question of good enough it is a question of being mature enough to survive -- a young inexperienced player only needs to be hit Badly once to possibly ruin his confidence or be badly injured .
That's a load of fúckin bullshit man.


You learn from having less space, less time and bigger tackles. You focus on the basics quickly and then build your game from there.

Re: New Scrum Half?

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 3:30 pm
by Amiga500
Regardless of what I think - the signing is confirmed.

I can only assume it means both Shanners and Stewart are out the door - and Finlay's the youngster who'll be 3rd choice.