Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

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promsandwich
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by promsandwich »

Wee Woman wrote:I thought McKinney was poor tonight, on more than a few occasions it appeared that he just didn't know what to do with the ball. I was relieved to see him go off to be honest.

Payne was fairly ineffective at 13 tonight, I haven't a baldy why the Irish media think he's going to be Ireland's answer to the BOD question other than basing this on Payne's last season with the Blues 3 years ago and pre the Achilles injury. The better 13 was playing at 12 tonight.

I don't quite get all the negatives about Doyle, he's not and never was going to be another Chad. Like Andrew, I think he does an adequate enough job for us in games like this, nothing spectacular but enough.

Felt a bit sorry for Mikey Allen, the lad is mad keen to make an impression and he had another unfortunate off night tonight. His warning from Owens was unduly harsh.

Finally, all credit to those supporters who stood out in that tonight, particularly those on the Promenade side. Thank god my wet to the knickers days on the Prom are behind me lol.
I agree 100% WW. I thought Doyle actually did alright last night. He certainly put in plenty of tackles and on a few occasions got in a good position to steal the ball at ruck time - while he may not have done so he slowed down their ball. We are blessed with Chad and therefore the support cast are likely to be inferior. I still thought Doyle did a good enough job last night.

The same goes for Andrew. He's never going to be as good as Payne but he has developed into a solid option at 15. His take at the end of the game was exceptional. I think it was Robbie standing under it but Andrew came from behind, called for it and got up well and made sure we secured the possession to end the game. Decent enough cover imo.
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by againstthehead »

promsandwich wrote:
Wee Woman wrote:I thought McKinney was poor tonight, on more than a few occasions it appeared that he just didn't know what to do with the ball. I was relieved to see him go off to be honest.

Payne was fairly ineffective at 13 tonight, I haven't a baldy why the Irish media think he's going to be Ireland's answer to the BOD question other than basing this on Payne's last season with the Blues 3 years ago and pre the Achilles injury. The better 13 was playing at 12 tonight.

I don't quite get all the negatives about Doyle, he's not and never was going to be another Chad. Like Andrew, I think he does an adequate enough job for us in games like this, nothing spectacular but enough.

Felt a bit sorry for Mikey Allen, the lad is mad keen to make an impression and he had another unfortunate off night tonight. His warning from Owens was unduly harsh.

Finally, all credit to those supporters who stood out in that tonight, particularly those on the Promenade side. Thank god my wet to the knickers days on the Prom are behind me lol.
I agree 100% WW. I thought Doyle actually did alright last night. He certainly put in plenty of tackles and on a few occasions got in a good position to steal the ball at ruck time - while he may not have done so he slowed down their ball. We are blessed with Chad and therefore the support cast are likely to be inferior. I still thought Doyle did a good enough job last night.

The same goes for Andrew. He's never going to be as good as Payne but he has developed into a solid option at 15. His take at the end of the game was exceptional. I think it was Robbie standing under it but Andrew came from behind, called for it and got up well and made sure we secured the possession to end the game. Decent enough cover imo.
Aye, fair points. When they have a bit of quality around them, then they tend to do okay which as you say is all you can really ask for. Ospreys had a couple of LV games in the bag so that's why they looked a bit more cohesive that we did. Hopefully next week we can move up a gear.
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by BaggyTrousers »

Snipe Watson wrote:
againstthehead wrote:It was only after I got out of the comfort of the terrace that I fully realized how horrific the conditions were out there tonight. Fair play to both sides for putting in a physical performance with some reasonable handling given the howling wind and driving rain. As usual, a mixed bag of the good, the bad and the ugly....

Positives
- Set-piece was fairly decent and it needed to be in those conditions. Scrum held very firm albeit maybe it wasn't the attacking weopen that the conditions cried out for. I really enjoyed winning the penalty just before half-time - just a shame ruan missed the pot. had a couple of scrums deep in our half towards the end and we dealt with them pretty comfortably - so well done. Likewise we defended their driving maul fairly well at line-out time. Couple of poor darts but generally solid all round.
- Discipline was superb. hardly remember a penalty given away. Partly due to the fact we weren't doing an awful lot at the breakdown but in such a tight game it was imperative to keep the penalty count down.
- Defense was generally pretty good. Withstood some prolonged periods and the cover defense was excellent when the ospreys did make a break or two.
- not too many individual displays to rant about but I thought Wilson was pretty aggressive and henderson made an impact when he came on. Darren took his try well and Ruan added the odd touch of class although did make quite a few errors tonight.

Negatives
- we had a tough night under the high ball at times but given the conditions it's hard to be too harsh. Some of the ospreys kicking was excellent and they chased well at times so fair play to them.
- our kicking game generally left a bit to be desired. Sugar and Caveman hit a couple of nice ones to the corners but generally we were pretty aimless. Their full=back had a bit of a field-day pinging the ball back to us. That said, with the conditions it was all about playing the game in their half and the kicking game was the way to go. So right idea, just poor execution.
- would liked to have seen the pack go through a few more phases at times with a bit more carrying. That was an up-the-jumper night at times and we never quite exerted the required pressure through the pack to force the penalties.
- haven't seen the replays of the disallowed tries on TV but from the big screen it looked like Allen could/should maybe have held onto the 1st one. so maybe we left a few points out there.

Anyway, interesting to see the team play in different conditions to recent weeks. Always nice to see us sneak a win the hard way. Sometimes that says more about a side than a comfortable win if that makes any sense... Important points for the league campaign and sets us up nicely for another homer next week.
How can you possibly write a negatives section that long and not mention how incredibly bad McKinney was?
Hendo was excellent when he came on. Other than that it was a dire match on a dire night
I'm sure you know the answer to that Snipe. Oh well I'll tell you anyway .................... its because Against is what is known as a munted spacker.

Positives:

We won & eventually played the game the only way the conditions allowed

Breaking with tradition, p for at least he had the wit to kick when he came on & kick well. The terrace was protected from the worst of the weather but it was a mingin' night to try to play rugby.

Keeping them scoreless for 70 minutes.

Negatives:

Completely outkicked for most of the game, Ospreys played it much more intelligently from the start while we thought , feck it its a crap night but lets try rugby anyway.

McKinney, sadly he is no player at all, NOC was better, and comfortably better.

The was an utter ballix near me who, when the rain was at its worst, kept moaning "No, don't kick it, run it" Only perfect manners prevented me from swinging my cosh down upon his idiotic cranium.



Important win, we have a wee run of very winnable games right up to the Sarries clash. Thereafter we will know whether he should put all our eggs in wan basket, if we are still cushty in the HC, we have a ballix of a Rabo run in, if not we will still be in with a home semi chance in the Rabo & can go for it.

I expect us to be in the HC semi, but its too early to let the Rabo slide as some have suggested.
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by Cornerfleg »

+ we won

- I don't like Payne at 13 - wasted
I don't like Cave at 12 - ditto
I'm sorry to sound harsh but McKinney is not AIL standard let alone Pro 12. His catching and passing is woeful and he looked like he didn't want to be there or get the ball. It's not a weak link it's a missing link.

Could someone please tell me WHY on restarts we always make a huge 1 meter gain over the 22 thus making sure we can't kick for touch????


Hendo is a beast.

That concludes the voting from the Sweedish jury!
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by promsandwich »

I'm sure you know the answer to that Snipe. Oh well I'll tell you anyway .................... its because Against is what is known as a munted spacker.
You know Baggy I really don't want to reduce myself to your level but I'm going to. You are one spiteful wee slabber. If you don't agree with someone's point of view then fair enough, argue against them. But your persistent abuse of people whose opinions you deign not to be as valid as yours is really tiresome.
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by promenader »

eeyore wrote:Negative - that the score board controller can't even spell the legends' name. Piennar?? Really! Does no-one these things or is it assumed that there's no need?
A few weeks ago we had the embarrassment of the stadium announcer talking about some Munster player called 'Duncha' O'Callaghan. :shock:

Negatives: a totally wretched night on the Prom. We've been quite lucky these past couple of years with the weather, but that was one of the end-of-the -world nights. If we thought the new old stand was going to offer us some protection from the weather, we were roundly disabused of that notion tonight. If we're fortunate enough to have a couple of big matches come May time, my experience and enjoyment of those will be heightened by the memory of having to wring out my underpants after the Ospreys game.

Positives: nothing to add to what's already been said. My own highlight of the night came when a fairly rotund Ospreys replacement ran on to the pitch and someone behind us yelled out: 'Hide the biscuits!' :lol:
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by Deraless »

Positives:
Discipline. Probably had a lot to do with nigel's style and letting things go in the conditions as well.

Big Nick coming on and not spilling the ball at every available opportunity

Ospreys butchering a couple of massive overlaps near the end. Did so many butt clenches it will have worked wonders for my gluteal definition.

Negatives:
McKinney's kicking. Maybe one great touch find all night? First kick of the night set the tone. Straight down their fb's throat. Gave away position and we were on the back foot for first 10 mins. Lead eventually to their try and their gander was well and truly up.

St Ruan's attempt at calming the storm. Trying to kick for touch into the teeth of a gale from near the centre of the park wasnt very smart.
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by ColinM »

Negatives

Andrew, Sugar & Doyle are comfortably worse than Darcy, NOC, Fallon & indeed Birch.
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by Eggs »

Agree with most of the above, with the exception of the criticism of Andrew, he had a good game, in horrendous conditions, and has proven he is Rabo standard.don't understand the negatives about him

Take the win and move on
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by Russ »

Nigel's insistence that FNW couldn't crawl up the pitch was a clear mistake
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by Beattiespastie »

It was a poor performance on a shocking night at Ravenhill. Tackling in midfield and line speed was poor. I don't agree with pointing outl McKinney for special mention as I do not think he was afforded much protection tonight. Game management at Rabo level needs more than the odd start in the midst of a shocking nights weather. The Ospreys kept their kicks low and that proved to be very effective.Not finding touch and kicking back to their 10 and 15 channel was putting us on the back foot all too often. The amount of Times their 10 sold us a dummy was mad!
The positives from this game were the scoreboard at the end and Hendo who looks like he's starting to fill out! I was in the prom last night and I am still drying / thawing out and as I type I am looking out my car window at a rainswept Pirrie park in the throes of a force 8 Gale knowing I face another pasting at the MCB v Limavady schools cup game.... Oh joy!
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by Russ »

That was the night to do enough


End of.

4 points, throw the shirts away and don't damage the turf too much

Move on
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by rorybestsbigbaldnoggin »

Owens had an odd night in general. Particularly when he penalised FNW for crawling, I was reminded of a recent quote of his in an interview - "I haven't looked at the rule book in years."

Olding should become our 2nd fly-half when back - long-term, McKinney isn't a reliable back-up there. (Though we must consider the fact that Olding is good enough to be in and around Carton House quite a lot, eventually.)

Cave's try was a 13 try scored from a 12 position. More proof that Schmidt doesn't know what he's missing.

Payne is a full-back. I'm presuming we were under instruction from Dublin to rest LMarshall as much as possible and that forced the midfield switch.


A win is a win; come the end of the regular season, it will be the ability to win ugly that will make the difference, I'd say. Now to watch Trimble score a hat-trick of tries against/around North and then get sent home by Joe for "not playing a team game."


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Russ
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Re: Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by Russ »

rorybestsbigbaldnoggin wrote:Owens had an odd night in general. Particularly when he penalised FNW for crawling, I was reminded of a recent quote of his in an interview - "I haven't looked at the rule book in years."

Olding should become our 2nd fly-half when back - long-term, McKinney isn't a reliable back-up there. (Though we must consider the fact that Olding is good enough to be in and around Carton House quite a lot, eventually.)

Cave's try was a 13 try scored from a 12 position. More proof that Schmidt doesn't know what he's missing.

Payne is a full-back. I'm presuming we were under instruction from Dublin to rest LMarshall as much as possible and that forced the midfield switch.


A win is a win; come the end of the regular season, it will be the ability to win ugly that will make the difference, I'd say. Now to watch Trimble score a hat-trick of tries against/around North and then get sent home by Joe for "not playing a team game."


:red:
Robinson will be our back up fly half

Woops, off to the rumours thread for me
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Ulster V Ospreys: Positives and negatives

Post by Joe Schmo »

I think Owens thought FNW was tackled, so it would have been ok for him to stay on his feet with a tackler hanging off him or rather than crawl, get back to his feet.
I'm pretty sure if tackled (assuming Owens was thinking this)you have to either release the ball/pass/get back to your feet (not sure about that last option)
Unfortunately crawling along the pitch on all fours isn't an option.

* note * I haven't re watched the incident to see if FNw was tackled or not.
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