I hate to seem like I'm playing devil's advocate here but there are some subtle difference between Ulster and Munster and Leinster. Munster specifically, actually; Elsom was probably the difference between Leinster winning and not winning their first Heineken Cup. Leinster and Munster were already good sides before the guys they've signed came in. Ulster were seriously struggling before the arrival of Muller, Pienaar and Wannenberg. Leinster and Munster have complemented their already talented squads with a few choice additions in positions of weakness. Ulster have looked to foreigners to almost completely reverse our fortunes.
That, of course, doesn't appear to be the point of the article in question but it is a pertinent point. Ulster haven't improved the squad with a few choice foreigners, they have built a squad around these foreigners. The same doesn't hold for Leinster and Munster. I think Ulster need to be very careful to ensure that the next generation of leader is produced in the province, not brought in from elsewhere.
Never written 'foreigners' so many times in one post. Almost feel like a xenophobe
Red Hand Hero wrote:It's disappointing that Ireland's most promising (only?) option at 7 is 5th choice at his province because his coach cannot/will not see the benefits of playing a proper 7.
RHH; I was pretty much with you up until this point but this loses me a little bit. You're not the only person on this forum with this view, so I apologise for singling your post out to make this point, of course!
It might not be a popular thing to say on this forum but I think Faloon is the most singularly overrated player by Ulster fans. He is very effective in short bursts but he is not an 80 minute player and has been marginalised because he disappears out of games too often. Compare the impact Faloon has had compared to Pollock or McMillan when they first burst onto the scene, for example. He's a fair bit behind those two. Faloon has a lot to prove before he should be the automatic choice people here have him. I don't think it's that McLaughlin cannot see the benefits of playing a 'proper' 7; it's that Faloon isn't consistently good enough to make more of an impact on a game than Henry in the 7 shirt.
For the record, I like a good 'traditional' openside, by the way and I'm glad to see the emergence of some seriously good competitors (Pocock, Warburton) in this role in recent seasons. For a while, it almost seemed like it was dying out but these guys have really shown the value of the mould. I want Faloon in the team but he isn't good enough to be an automatic selection for Ulster at the moment. He has the chance because he has the mental know-how and the physical attributes but for some reason, he just doesn't do the damage consistently enough. On that basis, I'd rather see a workhorse like Henry on the park. Over 80 minutes, Henry will be more effective.
My argument would be that on recent form, Henry should be in the 8 shirt, which would allow Faloon a shot at 7. Wannenberg isn't in good form but on his day, he is a very effective player and we can hope he recovers some of what he showed last year. If all were on form, Ferris, Henry and Wannenberg would be Ulster's strongest back row, if you ask me.
