Cooney staying?

[paddybrown]

Good news: according to the Belfast Telegraph, John Cooney's about to sign a new contract with Ulster.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/spor ... 08952.html

[Bart S]

Would indeed be great news. A class act all round.

In fact he is so good that I think any new player signed who significantly surpasses our expectations of them should be referred to as "a John"

[Cracker]

Brilliant if true. An all round great guy and scrum half. An inspiration in all that he does both in rugby and the community.

[Bogbunny]

Hopefully He'll get a look in with Ireland, form permitting, when Sexton croaks

[Dave]

Hopefully He'll get a look in with Ireland, form permitting, when Sexton croaks

Sexton might not die that soon.

[jean valjean]

Wonder if farrell had a word to say with sexton going, you are back in the mix next season.

[Dave]

Scenes if Leinster sign PJ.

[Dharper]

I’d imagine the JC Scottish WC dream is over. No doubt it’d pi$h the jock 9s off (decent selection) but JC would be an asset.

What a waste of a player, delighted he feels he has a future at UR. He’s been a real gent by all accounts and a hell of a player on the pitch.

[Cockatrice]

So touted himself as being available for Scotland with the RWC arriving fast … talks to get into the Scottish side even for 6N all meaning he would jump ship from Ulster and play in Scotland .. except they didn’t want him so he’s back … welcome home John

[solidarity]

Any idea why he's not starting for Ulster? Surely they can't be saying Doak is better.

[paddybrown]

It seems fairly obvious to me that Dan has a definite policy of keeping strong finishers on the bench to remedy our regular problem of collapsing in the last ten minutes, Cooney's one of those, and it's been working. Didn't work today, but I'm not sure what would have done.

[justinr73]

Any idea why he's not starting for Ulster? Surely they can't be saying Doak is better.

As stated previously, he’s nursing an injury.

We should have started him today though.

[jean valjean]

Any idea why he's not starting for Ulster? Surely they can't be saying Doak is better.

As stated previously, he’s nursing an injury.

We should have started him today though.

I don't get this nursing an injury line. I understand that overall fitness may be lacking if you haven't trained properly but in that case you start them and take them off when gassed. If doak pulled up after 5 mins would we not have had to play cooney for 75?
To me if anyone is fit to be on the bench they should be fit to play 79 minutes. His injury doesn't appear to stop him kicking or passing.

[big mervyn]

Any idea why he's not starting for Ulster? Surely they can't be saying Doak is better.

As stated previously, he’s nursing an injury.

We should have started him today though.

I don't get this nursing an injury line. I understand that overall fitness may be lacking if you haven't trained properly but in that case you start them and take them off when gassed. If doak pulled up after 5 mins would we not have had to play cooney for 75?
To me if anyone is fit to be on the bench they should be fit to play 79 minutes. His injury doesn't appear to stop him kicking or passing.

Agreed.

Billy has been "nursing" one for as long as I can remember but still starts nearly every game.

[StandUp]

Any idea why he's not starting for Ulster? Surely they can't be saying Doak is better.

As stated previously, he’s nursing an injury.

We should have started him today though.

I don't get this nursing an injury line. I understand that overall fitness may be lacking if you haven't trained properly but in that case you start them and take them off when gassed. If doak pulled up after 5 mins would we not have had to play cooney for 75?
To me if anyone is fit to be on the bench they should be fit to play 79 minutes. His injury doesn't appear to stop him kicking or passing.

Agreed.

Billy has been "nursing" one for as long as I can remember but still starts nearly every game.