The UAFC

Re. Tommy. Maybe money wasn't the be all and end all in his decision. After all, it can't have been much fun playing on the wing for Ulster this season......

Maybe the Glasow game was chosen to allow Humph to have his own personal send off, with the Cardiff game being reserved for saying goodbye to Bowe, Harrison, Wilson, N Best, McMillen, plus possibly Bart, webb and anyone else rumoured to be leaving! As an aside, I think it would be nice to see Simon ...

Can't believe Gavin Mairs would have run this story without some kind of reliable confirmation, given that this involves his own local team. If these guys don't sign, his credibility in local rugby circles is ruined.

Williams is obviously placing a lot of faith in NOC by not even having a recognised back up 10 in the squad for Cardiff (ie 80 mins guaranteed barring injury). Whilst I think his policy of giving young players a chance (particulalry in some of the away games) is a good one, I'd like to have seen the...

[quote="Red Hand Hero"]I think we need to get real with ourselves here... NOC is a great young prospect but that is it. Nobody here can accurately predict how he is going to turn out in the end and in the same breath we should remember we are now in the professional age and results play a ...

Fantastic performance by Munster and what intensity. Tipoki was both outstanding in defence and offered a dangerous attacking threat. As if we didn't know already, it shows just how far off the pace Ulster are these days. Great to see the smug grin wiped off Ryan Lamb's face. didn't we nearly beat ...

Fantastic performance by Munster and what intensity. Tipoki was both outstanding in defence and offered a dangerous attacking threat.

As if we didn't know already, it shows just how far off the pace Ulster are these days.

Great to see the smug grin wiped off Ryan Lamb's face.

Bogboy - Not sure I remember seeing too much of the "free running backline" you mention over the past few years, especially in the Heineken Cup. Indeed most of our wins against the big teams have come by playing something closer to the "low risk rugby" style you referrred to.

Agree with Mikerob that mid table CL and a couple of home wins in the Heiny is probably going to be the aim for next season, along with bringing through players like NOC, Pollock, McCrea and possibly others such as Cave and Henry. It will be interesting to see whether Ulster do sign an experienced o...

Agree with Neil F here. Think Ulster do really need another outhalf for a year or 2 (particularly in the 1st year) to help NOC develop. However, the cash constraints and to an extent IRFU reluctance to finance an import at 10 may mean that Ulster won't be able to do this. So where does that leave Ul...

NOC is a decent young prospect who COULD end up being a good player for Ulster and who knows; even Ireland. However (and I've said this before last night) we're either a) taking a huge risk by having him as our no. 1 outhalf with no real quality back up next season or b)accepting that next season is...

Would like to see aquality out)half brought in; given the i,portance of the position. Look at some of the great Heiny wins at home and there's no doubt Humph played a key role. Dare I say it, having a quality 10 can help average teams sometimes win games they wouldn't normally be expected to. I thin...

Bogboy - Was/Is David Humphreys also a "journeyman" outhalf? You laud Cirpriani after 1 good performance (best forget his little cameo in Rome where he put the Italians back in the game) , yet demean Wilkinson after all he's done with a "journeyman" tag. Mind you, I think a lot o...

Wasn't there a guy called Mike McGuire or something like that??

Thanks Gary. Have re-read your post and can assume that you are advocating Mark stays until the end of the season and replaced at that time. Problem I have with this is that there are 6 months left of the season and the guy cannot be expected to perform for so long in a job where he knows he's out o...