Ulster 2021/22

[sunshiner1]

by Oldschoolsocks

when you say Murphy hasn't done enough at Connacht to warrant a place do you mean he's not done enough to warrant a place with Connacht?
please forgive my ignorance on this one, I don't really watch the either 3 provinces unless they're playing us or its a big match

What I mean is Murphy's been solid if unspectacular but with Heffernan not involved with Ireland and Delahunt such an asset he doesn't get much gametime. Adding to that Tierney- Martin is coming up and can slot in as third place hooker means that Murphy will probably be the odd man out. Connacht will invest in Tierney-Martin who has the higher ceiling. Not a slight on the man at all it's just Connacht won't be able to afford 4 hookers.

[Oldschoolsocks]

by Oldschoolsocks

when you say Murphy hasn't done enough at Connacht to warrant a place do you mean he's not done enough to warrant a place with Connacht?
please forgive my ignorance on this one, I don't really watch the either 3 provinces unless they're playing us or its a big match

What I mean is Murphy's been solid if unspectacular but with Heffernan not involved with Ireland and Delahunt such an asset he doesn't get much gametime. Adding to that Tierney- Martin is coming up and can slot in as third place hooker means that Murphy will probably be the odd man out. Connacht will invest in Tierney-Martin who has the higher ceiling. Not a slight on the man at all it's just Connacht won't be able to afford 4 hookers.

cheers

[paddyor]

McGuigan or Byrne would be great signings. What they need is someone good enough to bench in Europe but not harm the development of Stewart.

Albeit if McGuigan wanted to move to Ireland he probably would've done so by now.

Don't think Newcastle ever spent up to the Cap when it was 6.4m but wages will be squeezed down across the board you'd think.

[blockhead]

Gilroys high tackle. OMFG!!! yer mans head went backs so far, I didn't think a human could survive such a thing. Yellow card was the call but Scarlet (Tom Rodgers) failed his HIA, dya think? 10-10 HT

[IanD]

Gilroys high tackle. OMFG!!! yer mans head went backs so far, I didn't think a human could survive such a thing. Yellow card was the call but Scarlet (Tom Rodgers) failed his HIA, dya think? 10-10 HT

He has failed the HIA.

Personally I think it was a Red Card. His left arm is not lifted to make a tackle.

[cormac]

If refs can mitigate that down to a yellow then the laws need to be changed. Gilroy leads with the shoulder and probably would have clocked him high even if Rogers hadn't dipped.

[blockhead]

It's absolutely sickening. But if you look close, Rodgers drops about a foot in the last 1/2 second. If he hadn't Gilroy would have made a good tackle. No way could Gilroy adjust in time, it's not possible, he's low as it is.
I hope that lad is alright.

[cormac]

It's absolutely sickening. But if you look close, Rodgers drops about a foot in the last 1/2 second. If he hadn't Gilroy would have made a good tackle. No way could Gilroy adjust in time, it's not possible, he's low as it is.
I hope that lad is alright.

Gilroy makes no attempt to make a legal tackle.

[JohnB]

I don’t understand why that wasn’t a red card? Gilroy led with his shoulder indicating clear intent imo. I’ll be very surprised if he is not cited for that.

[berliner]

Contact looks to have been around the temple. I don't think his falling (under pressure from an Ulster player with a grip on his jersey) can be seen as mitigation for the level of recklessness involved. Nobody doubts this was an extraordinarily dangerous incident, surely Gilroy gets a ban.

[sunshiner1]

by JohnB

I don’t understand why that wasn’t a red card? Gilroy led with his shoulder indicating clear intent imo. I’ll be very surprised if he is not cited for that.

The referee is Jaco Peyper. You could kill a man on the pitch and he still wouldn't send you off.

[JohnB]

That’s true sunshiner1. I recall the thuggery he allowed the Kiwis to indulge in at Lansdowne Road in 2016 after their defeat in Chicago.

[dropkick]

If refs can mitigate that down to a yellow then the laws need to be changed. Gilroy leads with the shoulder and probably would have clocked him high even if Rogers hadn't dipped.

Yup it was very wreckless.


Rogers was getting tackled at the time AND was running at speed so a big hit (with shoulder) always had the possibility of going wrong.

[riocard911]

That’s true sunshiner1. I recall the thuggery he allowed the Kiwis to indulge in at Lansdowne Road in 2016 after their defeat in Chicago.

Don't forget the time France beat us up in Paris under his watch to the extent that Rory Best was threatening to lead the Irish team from the field. Mike McCarthy was left KO on his back at one stage, if I remember correctly. Peyper had totally lost control of that match. It was the worst performance by a ref I can recall.

[Ruckedtobits]

Disappointed not to see Aaron Sexton get a longer shift off the bench last night when he just got the last five mins. Even then he almost had a breakaway on half-way where a one-handed jersey grab stopped his progress. If he had used his leg speed & strength as well as McElroy did throughout the game he could have scored from 40m.

I'd love to see Leinster pick him up and add real pace to our attacking skills. Larmour & Lowe can beat players with footwork but neither is a 40-60m sprinter like Sexton.

[Dexter]

That’s true sunshiner1. I recall the thuggery he allowed the Kiwis to indulge in at Lansdowne Road in 2016 after their defeat in Chicago.

Don't forget the time France beat us up in Paris under his watch to the extent that Rory Best was threatening to lead the Irish team from the field. Mike McCarthy was left KO on his back at one stage, if I remember correctly. Peyper had totally lost control of that match. It was the worst performance by a ref I can recall.

Peyper is so lenient on dangerous play that he nearly encourages it.

[sunshiner1]

by Ruckedtobits


If he had used his leg speed & strength as well as McElroy did throughout the game he could have scored from 40m.

How do people rate McElroy? He still seems young to me but is closing down on 50 games for Ulster and yet is nowhere near the first team. For a guy who was hyped up and talked about as a future Irish international that seems bog standard to me.

[dropkick]

by Ruckedtobits


If he had used his leg speed & strength as well as McElroy did throughout the game he could have scored from 40m.

How do people rate McElroy? He still seems young to me but is closing down on 50 games for Ulster and yet is nowhere near the first team. For a guy who was hyped up and talked about as a future Irish international that seems bog standard to me.

He looks a quality player but doesn't seem to have much top end pace. He can step alright. He reminds me of Liam Williams a bit.

[ronk]

The hype train is a bit full in Ulster with guys like Lowry, Balloucoune and Sexton who really stand out. That's not to say he isn't good, he's just more normal.

I have him at 28 games though https://all.rugby/player/ethan-mcilroy

[hugonaut]

by Ruckedtobits


If he had used his leg speed & strength as well as McElroy did throughout the game he could have scored from 40m.

How do people rate McElroy? He still seems young to me but is closing down on 50 games for Ulster and yet is nowhere near the first team. For a guy who was hyped up and talked about as a future Irish international that seems bog standard to me.

He looks a quality player but doesn't seem to have much top end pace. He can step alright. He reminds me of Liam Williams a bit.

Yeah, I think he is good – he's only 21 years old, so he's doing well to get as many games as he has played in. He is a little bit raw, but very brave and committed.

Ulster are really building up a glut of young backs from their academy with Stockdale [b.1996], Baloucoune and Lytle [b.1997], Lowry, Hume and Curtis [b.1998], Moore [b.1999], McIlroy and Sexton [b.2000], Doak and Moxham [2001].

Obviously some are further along than others – Stockdale and Moxham are as far as the full five years apart in terms of experience as well as age – but it is really positive for Ulster and Irish rugby.

Leinster should obviously be looking to contract Aaron Sexton, although Ulster would hit the roof if we made an offer. And after we've propped them up for the last four years!