Andress to replace Botha

[Ulsterscall]

From what I have heard it seems Andress is likely to follow Stevenson very shortly in rejoining the Ulster fold as a direct replacement for BJ - anyone else heard anything on this?

[cables]

Who knows?

I would however not agree that he could be considered as a 'direct replacement' for BJ if he moves on.

I can see no way that our first choice prop would be directly replaced by Andress. If it happens, I would see him as a replacement 'by substitution'.

[Ardglass2]

John Andress has been given a firm offer by Ulster - he is seriously considering that offer

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

maybe so.
well and good.

but a direct replacement for BJ

seems to be overstating the worth of Andress a bit, non?
is he as good a player on the pitch? is he as good a leader on it? will he provide the same level of developmental assistance to the rest of Ulster's front row brigade?

might be a case of one in one out.

but if ferris were to leave and we were to bring neil best back, would that be a direct replacement?

[Ardglass2]

Obviously not a direct replacement as not as good.

Does suggest that Ulster wish to employ the vacant NIQ slot elsewhere - presumably the back three

[thewaterboy]

Andress has signed. Botha has not renewed his contract. Andress is a direct replacement. NIQ place will be allocated elsewhere in the team

[Cornerfleg]

That's a bit like replacing Leonardo de Vinci with Rolf Harris!

[GMAC]

Can you tell what it is yet??

[Ardglass2]

Andress has signed. Botha has not renewed his contract. Andress is a direct replacement. NIQ place will be allocated elsewhere in the team

When did he sign because as of Thursday he had not.

I will not see my dog till this Thursday to verify

[backawaygoonahead]

Guys you are dealing in semantics here. If Botha is out and Andress is in, then Andress is Botha's replacement one way or t'other -what word you chose to assign to this is immaterial - I cling to the hope that it is not true but the hope appears forlorn.

Words more appropriate are DISASTER, OH FECK ME HOW COULD THEY LET THAT HAPPEN or the more traditional, WE ARE FECKED NOW.

Irrespective of where BJ heads to I wish him nothing but well, he has been superb for Ulster and until we see the Ulster scrum without him for a prolonged period, I suggest that we will only then begin to realise what a huge loss he will be.

Stevenson for Caldwell was squad player for squad player, Andress for Botha is squad player for frontline hero.

Lets hope they have pulled a major rabbit out of the hat to soften the blow

giant wabbit.jpg (13.53 KiB) Viewed 1498 times

No ordinary wabbit will do

[Cornerfleg]

To be honest I'd rather have the rabbit in the front row than Andress!

[ColinM]

But we need to do as the IRFU request to keep on getting as much funding as possible.

They say play IQ props and Fly halves, thats what we do.

Munster can afford to buy their own because of their successful recent past, great big stadium and large number of players on central contracts. In 3-4 yrs time, they'll still have a big stadium, but the other two might change

[notj]

Botha was always going to leave a big, big gap when he left. Time for some of the local lads to step up

[Ardglass2]

But we need to do as the IRFU request to keep on getting as much funding as possible.

They say play IQ props and Fly halves, thats what we do.

Munster can afford to buy their own because of their successful recent past, great big stadium and large number of players on central contracts. In 3-4 yrs time, they'll still have a big stadium, but the other two might change

They do say play Irish fly halves but I was not aware that the same had been said about props and given the number of NIQ props in the provinces it doesn't seem they have made such a directive.

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

direct implies like for like.
my point is that the word direct is grossly misused in this case.

like for like implies more than players who share the same shirt number; it implies that the guy who comes in will completely fill the boots of he who departs



no insult to andress, but he's no BJ