And in a gesture of goodwill, I'll agree with you that there have been some good signs, but they have not been consistent which is the problem. Notably, there have been none away from home, unless you point out Cave at least having the brains to take a quick dropkick conversion.
Two away games, that we always seem to make a meal of, have been appalling but it should be recorded that the only ever previous defeat in Italy before this came when Fat Deccie got himself red carded after 5 minutes or so.
So this genuinely marks a new low because it is stretching credulity to say we deserved anything more than we got, notwithstanding the obvious issues in at least 2 of their tries and the outrage of Patterson's adjudication for the rolling maul.
Saturday's Zebre team would have beaten last year's Edinburgh side.
We lost on Saturday, because Zebre played better than us.
We lost last year because we played even more shïte than Edinburgh.
Saturday was lost by the players IMHO. Players who, had they played to their previously demonstrated abilities, would have won the game using the same tactics.
In November, we had the wrong players, the wrong tactics, the wrong approach, ...
And in a gesture of goodwill, I'll agree with you that there have been some good signs, but they have not been consistent which is the problem. Notably, there have been none away from home, unless you point out Cave at least having the brains to take a quick dropkick conversion.
Two away games, that we always seem to make a meal of, have been appalling but it should be recorded that the only ever previous defeat in Italy before this came when Fat Deccie got himself red carded after 5 minutes or so.
So this genuinely marks a new low because it is stretching credulity to say we deserved anything more than we got, notwithstanding the obvious issues in at least 2 of their tries and the outrage of Patterson's adjudication for the rolling maul.
Saturday's Zebre team would have beaten last year's Edinburgh side.Doubtful, INternational window & they very rarely win away
We lost on Saturday, because Zebre played better than us. Absloutely
We lost last year because we played even more shïte than Edinburgh. Debateable, we were awful but once the correct players were in the correct positions we were by far the better team & were beaten finally by an outrageous TMO decision - anybody notice how we rarely appear to come out on top in those? Saturday was not the first classic in Italy.
Saturday was lost by the players IMHO. Players who, had they played to their previously demonstrated abilities, would have won the game using the same tactics. I had no issue with the selection, it should have been good enough. I do wonder about how they were prepared and sent out to play but that we will never know. It was the most error-ridden performance I can recall, Zebre just had to wait for us to make another handling error. I don;t think anyone was faultless but I give the prize of arch-chube to No Hands Luke on the day - then again, I was very very drunk, others may have been worse.
In November, we had the wrong players, the wrong tactics, the wrong approach, ... Undoubtedly and on the thread of that game, I made a call for the changes that were eventually made after 25 minutes, FOLK made the most important of them 20 minutes later. By all means, blame the players for this one, but tell me how you explain the substitution of probably our best player on the day & goal kicker. I was baffled. FOLK.
Meanwhile, Leali'ifano was having no influence at all on the game, yet on & on he stayed.
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.
Who'd have 'thunk' to compare Ulster to the All Blacks? But heh, now you've started...
The All Blacks seldom stare at each other looking for help. They don't lack belief or motivation. They know if they're aggressive for the first 60mins, they'll hurt a team badly enough to take the game in the last 20mins. It's not Gentlemanly or the Ulster way, but sure it's much better to win friends, than all that pesky silverware which needs polishing.
New carpet again this year in Spanner's trophy room...
Support the Team, not the regime Guinness is Good For You.
Tender wrote:Who'd have 'thunk' to compare Ulster to the All Blacks? But heh, now you've started...
The All Blacks seldom stare at each other looking for help. They don't lack belief or motivation. They know if they're aggressive for the first 60mins, they'll hurt a team badly enough to take the game in the last 20mins. It's not Gentlemanly or the Ulster way, but sure it's much better to win friends, than all that pesky silverware which needs polishing.
New carpet again this year in Spanner's trophy room...
If you're gonna pick on a stat, pick on one worth picking on. Most teams, even when winning, cough it up pushing 20 times a game.
And Dave, I know Pete isn't called Darren and wasn't born in South Africa and must therefore be subject to criticism, but precisely what has Treadwater done to avoid your wrath? Or does some handbags in his first few games buy immunity for a couple of seasons?
Treadwell has been poor and practically a passenger since he's returned from the summer tour but at least I haven't been scared everytime someone has ran at him like Pete.
Tender wrote:Who'd have 'thunk' to compare Ulster to the All Blacks? But heh, now you've started...
The All Blacks seldom stare at each other looking for help. They don't lack belief or motivation. They know if they're aggressive for the first 60mins, they'll hurt a team badly enough to take the game in the last 20mins. It's not Gentlemanly or the Ulster way, but sure it's much better to win friends, than all that pesky silverware which needs polishing.
New carpet again this year in Spanner's trophy room...
If you're gonna pick on a stat, pick on one worth picking on. Most teams, even when winning, cough it up pushing 20 times a game.
And Dave, I know Pete isn't called Darren and wasn't born in South Africa and must therefore be subject to criticism, but precisely what has Treadwater done to avoid your wrath? Or does some handbags in his first few games buy immunity for a couple of seasons?
It wasn't really 'my wrath' was it? I'm a fan of 2MP but you can't say that was an acceptable performance. I'm not the only one with a critical comment even if mine was a jokey one. Call out some other guys too. Come on play fair.
Treadwell was poor by his own standard but much better than Peter.
Cockatrice wrote:ahhh ..... if only our players could open defences like they can open coffee shops.
Well as long as the boys were able to bring back a couple of new types of coffee bean for Guilt Trip, then the Italian weekend was a success for them...
