exile-fer-now wrote: Luke speaking out about the Ruan situation, it seems as if the players have had their gagging orders finally removed -
What are you referring to here, Exile? You got a link?
Ulster centre Luke Marshall has revealed not even his fellow players can understand the decision to force Ruan Pienaar out of Irish rugby.
The Kingspan hero played his last game for the province in Saturday's victory over Leinster and will move to France this summer after the IRFU blocked an attempt to give the South African World Cup winner one last contract extension to allow him and his young family to see out his career in Belfast.
And while Pienaar's tearful farewell weekend will have made for rather uncomfortable viewing for some of the game's decision makers, Marshall told how the Ulster dressing room still find their team-mate's exit mystifying.
"As players we're annoyed," he said.
"We don't understand the decision to be honest. I suppose we can't air our frustrations too much against our employers but I can totally understand the supporters' feelings."
I haven't been Luke's biggest fan over the last 3/4 months but I'd never accuse him of not trying, and neither he nor any player has let me down. If they have a feeling that they've let themselves down then I'll not disagree, they need to be better, they need to use the coming changes to get better, hopefully in a less toxic atmosphere, despite the main numpty still being there.
You do wonder how wise it is for players to speak out, I know there have been several who have been saying things not to be attributed to them. We know what happened and has happened with Cave's "face not fitting" and perhaps Luke sees with the beatification of you Ringpiece that he'll only have a peripheral acquaintance with team Joe so fair play boy. Pity your immediate bosses hadn't been publicly vocal at several times during the year, whether Ruan's fate was sealed or not.
NEVER MOVE ON. Years on, I cannot ever watch Ireland with anything but indifference, I continue to wish for the imminent death of Donal Spring, the FIRFUC's executioner of Wee Paddy & Wee Stu, and I hate the FIRFUCs with undiminished passion.
I just re-watched the SDC match against Toulose from last year. I have to say Luke Marshall and Stuart McCloskey were excellent. The defence was very good. That's the night we nilled them. The linespeed was terrific from the pack, this allowed Stu and Luke to take man and ball.
Trimble was magnificent, as was Henry. Now I could be cherry picking one of the best performances from last season but a good few players seemed to have declined. Some due to age perhaps. When the system is working our players can flourish. There definitely too many flaws in our approach this year. When does Jonno get here?
exile-fer-now wrote: Luke speaking out about the Ruan situation, it seems as if the players have had their gagging orders finally removed -
What are you referring to here, Exile? You got a link?
Ulster centre Luke Marshall has revealed not even his fellow players can understand the decision to force Ruan Pienaar out of Irish rugby.
The Kingspan hero played his last game for the province in Saturday's victory over Leinster and will move to France this summer after the IRFU blocked an attempt to give the South African World Cup winner one last contract extension to allow him and his young family to see out his career in Belfast.
And while Pienaar's tearful farewell weekend will have made for rather uncomfortable viewing for some of the game's decision makers, Marshall told how the Ulster dressing room still find their team-mate's exit mystifying.
"As players we're annoyed," he said.
"We don't understand the decision to be honest. I suppose we can't air our frustrations too much against our employers but I can totally understand the supporters' feelings."
