The UAFC

To have won this we needed to play a possession game, quick ruck after quick ruck, side to side, challenge their fitness. Instead we played a box kicking game with not great chase and I think playing for position.

A rare try by cooney in the corner follwing a Lowry cross field kick

Lurgan Lad wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 1:55 pm Balacoune and Lyttle are probably our best wingers

Nah Cooney

conversion missed
Toulouse 36 - 8 Ulster

TopPoster wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 2:07 pm This is getting painful to watch. Do we have all the forwards on the field because none seem to make it to the breakdown.

Since the restart what seems like a choice not to contest the vast majority of breakdowns is infuriating. Other teams cause havoc with our ball and often get rewarded with penalties by scrapping at every breakdown but when we are defending it’s a case of allowing endless opportunities for clean opposition ball.

Faddes is crap IMO, total waste of NIQ spot.

Last kicked summed it up for Ulster

thecrouch wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 2:22 pm Faddes is crap IMO, total waste of NIQ spot.

Channel 4 love him.

thecrouch wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 2:22 pm Faddes is crap IMO, total waste of NIQ spot.

Could the same be said of Carter? I know his stay has been disrupted by injury but when he has played there’s nothing to suggest he’s a big upgrade on Ian Nagle.

richardt84 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 2:30 pm

thecrouch wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 2:22 pm Faddes is crap IMO, total waste of NIQ spot.

Could the same be said of Carter? I know his stay has been disrupted by injury but when he has played there’s nothing to suggest he’s a big upgrade on Ian Nagle.

Yes Carter is rubbish too.

I bet Gilroy enjoyed that game.

It may not feel like it, but 19/20 was Ulster's 6th most successful season in 25 years of professional rugby.

In 400 minutes of post lockdown knock out rugby, Ulster has led for exactly zero minutes, that’s not good!

As Rory Best would say "ach look"...overall a Pro14 final and Euro QF represent a very decent season so let's take it.

The big negatives were :-

- well beaten in both knockout games : not even close
- performances post restart have been poor
- difficult to see how ulster kicks on from here with current personnel.

Prop depth beyond the matchday 4 is worrying. Scrum looked fine until Kane and Andrew came on.

Tredwell needs to kick on. He's a good impact player but we need that starting. AOC is pro14 standard. We desperately need Carter to bring more to the party. I'd give him the coming season before judging him but he needs to step up.

Backrow without Coetzee is meh. The others are ok with Marcell around them but without him we are screwed.

Would like to see Lowry get a run at 10. He did ok today albeit got turned over too easily. None of the others are required top level from what I have seen.

Overall we need more ball carrying threat and game breakers. We Addoson adds a lot to the backline.

Lowry just thrown in at 10, let’s just hope he gets a run there to cement a place. A few turnovers but I would argue that we were so slow at ruck.
With regards to NIQs I don’t think we should waste our money and instead offer the likes of Deegan, Penny etc more money (I know that provinces aren’t allowed to offer more money to homegrown players but I feel it’s the only way you will get these guys from wasting their career). To think Deegan hasn’t been in a squad in the last 3 matches,that’s just crazy!