The UAFC

Big-al wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 5:45 pm

Lurgan Lad wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 5:36 pm I would have Moore instead of Lowry, Wilson instead of O'Toole, and Izzy instead of AOC as others have said but Murphy will probably think differently.

Moore was probably our most effective back last weekend and probably along with a McCloskey the only back you could trust to make the correct decision under pressure.

He is criminally underused at Ulster.

He’s got 62 caps over the last four seasons, including this one, despite his injuries.

The bone thing he mentioned last week is an unfortunate situation. Hope it doesn’t keep recurring.

So It Is wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 5:37 pm Ewers (if he can be arsed)

On a Montpellier scrum under their own posts last week, when the back row should be ready to put pressure on, he lumbered off slowly overshot and was easily stepped back on his inside. Especially weird given he was "fresh" and Ulster had the dominant scrum. He looked like he'd phoned it in

Just one example but it was stark

Maybe he's been told his time is up like the debacle before Connacht QF last season

Ewers did get stepped easily, but he carried hard and rarely gets put on the flat of his back unlike others. As mentioned above, kitscoff, hendo and ewers are the only pack members who rarely get knocked backwards which is a prerequisite when playing in France. Murphy reckoned hendo would be ok as it was a toe issue, unless it got worse in the following days. Sheridan needs used earlier and should start alongside hendo.

Sent from my SM-A155F using Tapatalk

CIMANFOREVER wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 8:49 pm Maybe he's been told his time is up like the debacle before Connacht QF last season

The story goes that those leaving were told in January.

Some would argue that’s being fair to the players but…

6293.

ASM Clermont Auvergne v Ulster Rugby, Stade Marcel-Michelin, Saturday 13 April, 12 30pm (UK/IRL time), Challenge Cup Quarter-Final (Live on TNT Sports).

(15-9) Stewart Moore, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Mike Lowry, Nathan Doak, John Cooney;

(1-8) Steven Kitshoff, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson (C), Harry Sheridan, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Andy Warwick, Scott Wilson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Dave Ewers, Jake Flannery, Ethan McIlroy, Marcus Rea.

As strong as we can be given injuries. Really thought we'd start Izzy tho.

Clermont with some big names still there. Will be tough but if we can get ahead then their motivation may drop. Can't be giving them easy points early to get confidence up.

Sent from my SM-A155F using Tapatalk

Best team available, great selection but is the Clermont team the best available ? I am not that queued up on the top 14.

AOC again is the only thing that surprises me there. Hopefully he'll be fresh enough after last week.

Thought Stockdale would have been involved.

damianmcr wrote: ↑Fri Apr 12, 2024 3:55 pm Thought Stockdale would have been involved.

Interesting one.

He can’t have trained too much under Murphy.

Good thing Lavanini is starting for Clermont.
Playing against 14 players should give us a marginally better chance.