Ulster v Connacht Saturday September 17 7.35pm UK Time Premier Sports / BBC2NI / TG4

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Moore again showing up big time at 15. Great to see

Moore was a candidate for MotM in my view, but Tom Stewart was a worthy winner of that accolade. John Andrew upped his game when he came on as he must have seen that Stewart had put on a terrific performance. Good competition between these two pushing Rob Herring, and maybe in Stewart, we have seen the future.

One swally doesn't make a summer though, but is welcome nonetheless.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Not much mention of Stu in the post-match post-mortem. It says a lot that he played so well, yet doesn't get a mention, such are the expectations of him these days. Rarely has a poor performance, and always expected to have a good one - which he did last night.

Interesting little cameo by Doak at 10 near the end - didn't look out of place, albeit Connacht were a busted flush by then.

[Big-al]

Very impressed with the pack, on paper I thought they'd do well to gain parity with a strong Connacht pack, but they completely dominated them. Probably needed a proper hard carrier in the backrow, but McCann the pick of the 3 of them, just a solid game in the tight, he's probably shown again why he'll be a 6, instead of an 8. Just not strong enough carrying the ball for me. Marty Moore and AOC had their usual solid game, they are the cornerstone of a successful Ulster maul and Tom Stewart looks to the manner born.

[skiboo]

Coming into the match I thought the Connacht pack would. be a lot for Ulster to handle and I had set myself up for a mugging similar to what we got from them last year when Ulster were intimidated particularly at the Avila.Any nonsense this year was snuffed out quickly and to be fair the ref played his part protecting players in fact he had a good game.
What impressed me most was none of the players last night looked out of place in the team no one was carried and we won well.
It is early in the season but already the URC is looking more competitive and it will be a good team that will win it and with Ulsters Strength in depth beginning to show with young forwards this year might just be special.

[rumncoke]

Unfortunately Connaught weren't at their best . Their scrum ( front row) was under pressure having only two options Break upwards and continue backwards or drop and stop -- they frequently choose the latter .Their line out functioned by virtue of a blind eye being given to crooked throws .

The lack of game time showed for the first 20 minutes they being filled with errors by both sides and thus a very disjointed period of play .

After that Ulster ground out a lead and win bringing on the subs when the game was beyond Connaught and I felt sorry for Sexton who only got 5 minutes and no time to show any potential -- but there is no doubt that both Stockdale and Baloucoune need game time after being out through Injury.

McCann seems like BuSi Issie seems to have filled out a bit and both look promising -- Moore is a player i consider was under rated until his inclusion in the E Ireland squad -- has i quick eye for a gap - a bit of pace ,and times his passes well

[Jetstream]

The TMO was not used on a single occasion last night. Fair play to the referee.
It is nice to see a referee with the liathróidí to make his own decisions.

[solidarity]

Luke looks faster than he did before.

This is some squad we have now although I’d swap Carter for 2MP any day of the week.

Luke had a fantastic game - looked like the Luke of old.

Agree re carter, but tbf he did put in a very workman-like performance - nothing special, but did his job. For a foreign player though he shouldn't be in the squad though. Any player taking up an NIQ slot should be a nailed on starter and he's no where near that. And to be clear, while I think carter had a decent game last night, 2MP would have been equally capable of doing the same but on a more consistent basis.

Izzy already looks better than both though. Hoping for an injury-free run now, and we have at least decent set of locks for when Hendo is missing.

If I'm not mistaken, Carter made up to two yards on a charge, just after half time. Is this a sign if things to come?

[StandUp]

Correct. Carter did indeed make a couple of yards, which is exactly double what he made in the entirety of last year. On that basis, he should be Ulsters most improved player. However, I suspect it was just new seasons hubris and he will be back to his reversing self shortly.
BB actually made a couple of tackles in this match. Someone needs to tell him to wise up, or else we will be expecting him to tackle every week.

[justinr73]

The TMO was not used on a single occasion last night. Fair play to the referee.
It is nice to see a referee with the liathróidí to make his own decisions.

True but also credit to the players who I think, from my less than ideal vantage point, generally got their tackle heights right etc.

[Aird]

A bit harsh Stand Up on Billy Burns I will admit as I suspect Billy would too that he is not a crash tackle specialist but he does try and whilst he may not bring them down he normally manages to hang on to his opponent enough to slow them down and let someone else to finish it off.
I thought he played well on Friday night.He commands the backline well and passes and kicks effectively.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

BB actually made a couple of tackles in this match. Someone needs to tell him to wise up, or else we will be expecting him to tackle every week.

I do expect him to make tackles every week, and he doesn't often disappoint. Certainly a step up from both Humphreys brothers as far as tackling goes, albeit no Paddy Jackson. Then again, a 10 isn't there primarily for his tackling, but he must still execute it when required and BB isn't afraid to do so.

[UlsterNo9]

Ah 1st game in, win 36-10 at home and the Billy bashing has commenced. Whatever about Billys all round game (which I think is good, not consistently international level but capable on a purple patch) defence has never been an issue, pound for pound he's up there defensively with the best and definately punches above his weight. He runs the defensive line or at least was last season, whether Bell coming back has chanced that I don't know. Several players over the course of last season made mention to how good Burns has been running said defensive line. I remember Hume giving full credit to Burns for his intercept try down in the RDS which sealed our victory and for good reason, Burns made a great defensive read forcing the intercepted pass. Great point made above on the turnstyle brothers, for all their attacking skill, Burns is streets ahead in defence.

Incidently the stats say Billy had six tackles to make on Saturday and was successful in all six. Appreciate it's not always a marker as a missed tackle can be something as simple as shooting out of the line to force attacking player back into defensive traffic.

For me Burns had a very solid game in attack and defence on Saturday night, his performances are always much better when Cooney is not on the park. With Cooney on the pitch everything goes through him.

Burns most likely would be the 1st to admit he had a dip during the middle of last season but he did finish strongly. If Billy performs to the standard he did on Saturday as a base standard this season he'll do for me.

[Dave]

The turnstyle bros

[big mervyn]

Correct. Carter did indeed make a couple of yards, which is exactly double what he made in the entirety of last year. On that basis, he should be Ulsters most improved player. However, I suspect it was just new seasons hubris and he will be back to his reversing self shortly.
BB actually made a couple of tackles in this match. Someone needs to tell him to wise up, or else we will be expecting him to tackle every week.

I wish you were doing the HT analysis with Winker

[Dave]

I think all this Willy bashing needs to stop though.