The IRISH RUGBY thread

[seafoid]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/pat-lam-reveals-how-being-bullied-made-him-stronger-in-compelling-interview-35665063.html

[Owen Brannigan]

At last Ospreys put Ulster out of their misery for this year.  A poor display with so many basic error has been the misery of watching Ulster this year.

Looking at the squad while it is behind those of Leinster and Munster to a lesser extent it is by far not the worst in the Pro 12 but the results are so inconsistent over the season.  The brilliance of the game against Clermont in Belfast was eclipsed by the flakiness of closing out games against much poorer opposition.  The additions to the 2016-17 squad have done little to improve the fortunes.  Rodney Ah You is a liability when he comes on and leaks penalties along with a journey man attitude. Marcell Coetzee has been unfortunate.  Stockdale has been good but his inexperience was shown by playing him out of position as full back against Munster for far too long.  Injuries have been an issue with Payne out for so long, McCluskey injured and then Olding with a serious injury after a couple of minutes of coming on.  There is no clear replacement for Jackson capable of playing the position.  Tommy Bowe has been wrecked by injuries and him and Trimble are in the twilight of their careers when injuries take a greater toll.

Hopefully the new coaches replacing the Ulster old boys will bring a step up but there are questions about Les Kiss.  The loss of Ruan Pienaar will be catastrophic, the team deflated when he went off on Saturday and Marshall is no replacement and the new No.9 from Connacht will take time to develop.  There is a feeling not enough effort was made to keep Pienaar to work alongside the Irish No.9 to develop a Murray understudy.  Similarly, would Kiss be at Ulster if not for the financial power of IRFU to impose its will on the provincial sides with the aim of developing the players for the national side?

With just a scrum half from Connacht and another backrow from South Africa to supplement the squad so far the outlook is far from satisfactory yet the faithful have bought out all of the Grandstand season tickets and a relatively small number are available for other parts of the ground.

[Owen Brannigan]

Article from Tony Ward:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/tony-ward-jonno-gibbes-arrival-cant-come-quickly-enough-why-its-gone-grim-for-ulsters-underachievers-35671788.html

[Walter Cronc]

Article from Tony Ward:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/tony-ward-jonno-gibbes-arrival-cant-come-quickly-enough-why-its-gone-grim-for-ulsters-underachievers-35671788.html

Everything is too comfy in the little Ulster bubble. Jobs for the boys, no accountability and over-inflated egos - McCloskey the prime example!

Gibbs can't come quick enough as Tony Ward aludes to.

[screenexile]

I don't think the Pienaar thing has helped Ulster either still can't fathom why they are forcing him to leave!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/neil-francis-getting-rid-of-ruan-pienaar-a-gamble-that-shouldnt-have-been-taken-35678796.html

[Walter Cronc]

I don't think the Pienaar thing has helped Ulster either still can't fathom why they are forcing him to leave!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/neil-francis-getting-rid-of-ruan-pienaar-a-gamble-that-shouldnt-have-been-taken-35678796.html

Yeah but SE they've had years to find/develop a number 9. The squad is littered with in-balances.

They need to work harder like Leinster to find gems like Furlong/O'Brien outside the traditional schools system.

Plenty of potential in Ulster, just need to work harder!

[screenexile]

I don't think the Pienaar thing has helped Ulster either still can't fathom why they are forcing him to leave!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/neil-francis-getting-rid-of-ruan-pienaar-a-gamble-that-shouldnt-have-been-taken-35678796.html

Yeah but SE they've had years to find/develop a number 9. The squad is littered with in-balances.

They need to work harder like Leinster to find gems like Furlong/O'Brien outside the traditional schools system.

Plenty of potential in Ulster, just need to work harder!

If Ulster had everyone fit they should be a force in Europe but it's very rarely happened in the last few seasons. Olding/Bowe/Henderson/Trimble/Henry have all had their issues at one time or another.

Either way there seems to be a malaise that has crept in and you would hope Gibbs and Peel can come in and reinvigorate the setup. The loss of Humphries has been huge I think and the fact the Kiss is untested as a head coach hasn't helped things this season. There is talent there if Ulster can learn how to get the best out of them!

[Owen Brannigan]

I don't think the Pienaar thing has helped Ulster either still can't fathom why they are forcing him to leave!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/neil-francis-getting-rid-of-ruan-pienaar-a-gamble-that-shouldnt-have-been-taken-35678796.html

IRFU wants to force a new Irish No.9 to the fore given the shelf life of Murray and the lack of many replacements.  Ulster didn't do enough to retain Pienaar, Kiss is too much in thrall to Nucifora for his position. None of the other provinces would have given in, looks at Munster holding on the players brought in to cover injuries earlier in the year and the bringing back of Nacewa instead of developing its young wingers.

[Owen Brannigan]

I don't think the Pienaar thing has helped Ulster either still can't fathom why they are forcing him to leave!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/neil-francis-getting-rid-of-ruan-pienaar-a-gamble-that-shouldnt-have-been-taken-35678796.html

Yeah but SE they've had years to find/develop a number 9. The squad is littered with in-balances.

They need to work harder like Leinster to find gems like Furlong/O'Brien outside the traditional schools system.

Plenty of potential in Ulster, just need to work harder!

If Ulster had everyone fit they should be a force in Europe but it's very rarely happened in the last few seasons. Olding/Bowe/Henderson/Trimble/Henry have all had their issues at one time or another.

Either way there seems to be a malaise that has crept in and you would hope Gibbs and Peel can come in and reinvigorate the setup. The loss of Humphries has been huge I think and the fact the Kiss is untested as a head coach hasn't helped things this season. There is talent there if Ulster can learn how to get the best out of them!

Kiss should have walked with his assistant coaches but instead he will have another wasted season claiming he has only now got coaches of his choice.

[Walter Cronc]

Ulster deserve everything they get over the treatment of Brian McLaughlin. Got an average side to a European final and then got pumped by a serious Leinster side.

Humphreys stabbed McLaughlin in the back. Glad to see him failing at Gloucester.

Gibbs will be very good. I've every confidence.

[Owen Brannigan]

Ulster deserve everything they get over the treatment of Brian McLaughlin. Got an average side to a European final and then got pumped by a serious Leinster side.

Humphreys stabbed McLaughlin in the back. Glad to see him failing at Gloucester.

Gibbs will be very good. I've every confidence.

+1

[Owen Brannigan]

Ulster could do worse than having this man as a backup/senior scrum half who would bring on two inexperienced scrum half who have a long way to go.  He is still in terrific shape and has made a good contribution to Sale:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/other-rugby/sale-sharks-confirm-peter-stringer-will-leave-the-club-at-the-end-of-the-season-35681210.html

[Owen Brannigan]

2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12 DREAM TEAM:

15 Tiernan O'Halloran (Connacht Rugby)
14 Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors)
13 Jaco Taute (Munster Rugby)
12 Rory Scannell (Munster Rugby)
11 Charles Piutau (Ulster Rugby)
10 Tyler Bleyendaal (Munster Rugby)
9 Ruan Pienaar (Ulster Rugby)
8 Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby)
7 James Davies (Scarlets)
6 Dan Leavy (Leinster Rugby)
5 Billy Holland (Munster Rugby)
4 Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby)
3 John Ryan (Munster Rugby)
2 Ken Owens (Scarlets)
1 Dave Kilcoyne (Munster Rugby)

Dream Team Eligibility:
- At least 10 appearances in this season's Guinness PRO12 Championship

[Walter Cronc]

Wouldnt have Piatau in there. Jacob Stockdale has been more impressive from an Ulster point of view.

Surely Adam Byrne or Darren Sweetnam could have been considered.

[Estimator]

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B. New Zealand South Africa Italy
C. England France Argentina
D. Australia Wales Georgia