jean valjean wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2024 12:17 pm
Bit of a risk throwing izzy in at 6 but hopefully he will continue to show the upward trajectory he's been on. Don't expect us to win this easily given the fanfare the scarlets are making about players leaving and a decent set of half backs on show.
A risk worth taking, I think. Looks like part of a plan to blood a lot of young lads now. Much better to do it now than at the start of next season.
7 homegrown starting and 6 on the bench is as good a mix as we've had for a while. With most of the others being pretty much adopted Ulstermen, I'm happy to give it a lash.
jean valjean wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2024 12:17 pm
Bit of a risk throwing izzy in at 6 but hopefully he will continue to show the upward trajectory he's been on. Don't expect us to win this easily given the fanfare the scarlets are making about players leaving and a decent set of half backs on show.
A risk worth taking, I think. Looks like part of a plan to blood a lot of young lads now. Much better to do it now than at the start of next season.
7 homegrown starting and 6 on the bench is as good a mix as we've had for a while. With most of the others being pretty much adopted Ulstermen, I'm happy to give it a lash.
I think Izzy was picked at 6 to combat their lineout turnover threat.
As it turns out, a hamstring injury has already sorted this.
It's an interesting selection which suggests O Connor is basically seen as a 60 minute pack leader and the game seen as one were forward domination is necessary
My only query is the continued selection of McIlroy on the wing which indicates a dire lack of wings at present . would have preferred Lowry on the wing and McIlroy at full back as the latter has an inability to score trys when on the wing.
Unfortunately Stochdale has lost pace since his injury and as a result I think he could come infield and play as an outside centre , where his inability to turn when applying the Irish wing defence which requires the wing to mark the inside centre would be less exposed because he does appear to have natural ability to time a pass something which has been missing this year when Hume has played again the latter appears to have become a ball hugging centre with an inclination to run across field rather than straight pulling the defence across field and leaving his wings no space in which to beat that defence.
I know this will annoy those with tunnel vision who have an inflexible approach to players positions
but selection is the attempt to maximise the combined abilities of the players to achieve a winning combination not just an exercise in slotting players week by week into the same positions for similar results especially when the results are inconsistent.
Within this carapace of skepticism there lives an optimist
Ref adaptability Ulster have more than enough cover in Moore and Addison, who can play basically across the back 5. Marshall can play 12 or 13. Hume and Posthelthwaite seem to be following Stu in specialising in one position.
The obvious concern is longevity and injury profile. We’ve rarely had them available all at once. Marshall at least is gone in 2/3 games sadly. What a feckin waste.
Agreed CI Man Marshall is a major loss regrettably his injury record has gone against him and didnt seem to be flavour of the month for our ecently departed head Coach.
Some of the selections over his last 18 months were bizarre.
