Positive and Negatives: Ulster vs Munster

[FNMilk]

Positives
No negative postings on I Boss being too slow

In another thread some fans have intimated the possibility that our scrum halfs tactical play has been the product of deliberate strategy. Do you think that what we witnessed on Saturday night was a continuation of policy, only in a reversal of roles? It seemed to me that Boss was a lot quicker than he had been previously and that Willis was a lot slower.

[Rooster]

After watching a recording of the game one thing that really stood out last night was the understanding of Cave and Pollock in each others moves, if Pollock had the ball Cave went looking and when Cave was on the run Pollock was on his tail to take the heat when he went to ground, once the rest of the backline get the same understanding we will go places.

Id like to think they have an understanding, they've both been playing in the same Ulster and Ireland age group sides since 16/17 years old!

I knew that fuzzy but up to last night they semed to have lost it a bit

[Cap'n Grumpy]

The only way is up!

Not that it actually means much, but Ulster have gone up 8 places on the "Eurotable" from 37 to 29.

Munster have dropped from top spot to number 2.

Ulster also named as "Team of the Week"

[Big-al]

The only way is up!

Not that it actually means much, but Ulster have gone up 8 places on the "Eurotable" from 37 to 29.

Munster have dropped from top spot to number 2.

Ulster also named as "Team of the Week"

Where did you get this info from?

[fuzzylogic]

I knew that fuzzy but up to last night they semed to have lost it a bit

Most likley because those two guys were part of that awesome irish under 20 side that won the grandslam for the first time in god knows how many years. A team that played alot with the ball going forwards, then got thrown into an Ulster side were they are very much junior players trying to fit into a team with a different game plan and a team this is losing and constantly going backwards . . . untill last night!!!!

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Big al:

The man wot composes the table sent me a carrier pigeon

(http://www.eurorugby.com/index.php)

[Neil F]

RHH; I noticed Pollock's leadership last night on a few occasions as well. He was the one that took charge at the lineout when Court came on but he was also always on hand to offer a slap on the back or a bit of encouragement. The guy is a natural leader and it would be no surprise if he went on to captain Ireland, as well as Ulster.

[ColinS]

RHH, Danielli was up and running last week and Ulster are hoping for him to be fit for either the Connaght game or the week after.

[Windeos]

Im looking forward to Nagusa and Danielli on our wings, two natural wingers with pace

[mikerob]

It may take a while for Danielli to get up to speed again, so to speak.

PW and Cave seem to be developing a good partnership, so MW may not want to break that up.. so will it be perm 2 from Trimble/Danielli/Nagusa on the wings?

[ColinM]

It may take a while for Danielli to get up to speed again, so to speak.

PW and Cave seem to be developing a good partnership, so MW may not want to break that up.. so will it be perm 2 from Trimble/Danielli/Nagusa on the wings?

Dont think it will be so clear cut as that Mike. MW has shown that where he has options, he likes to rotate. At the minute that is only really LHP, 2nd Row, and 7 (to a lesser degree).

I think with Danielli and Schifty fit, we'll see certain players earning a little rest every few weeks. Further, if we lose Paddy and Trimble to the Ireland squad, we'll look a bit light in the centres with only really Dewey to come in provided he doesnt get picked for Scotland.

[Snipe Watson]

It may take a while for Danielli to get up to speed again, so to speak.

PW and Cave seem to be developing a good partnership, so MW may not want to break that up.. so will it be perm 2 from Trimble/Danielli/Nagusa on the wings?

Trimble will always be on the starting sheet, but it's a good problem to have.

[darkside lightside]

After watching a recording of the game one thing that really stood out last night was the understanding of Cave and Pollock in each others moves, if Pollock had the ball Cave went looking and when Cave was on the run Pollock was on his tail to take the heat when he went to ground, once the rest of the backline get the same understanding we will go places.

see colinh's photos for good example of this! the leadership point is important too - i still maintain that our problem is a kind of cyclical perfect-storm loss of form, rather than lack of talent, and what we need desperately (and were lacking most of last year) were leaders with the bottle to drag us back to our feet and make the right calls in tight situations. Pollock seems to have found his feet, and has a strong track record as a captain and leader - I've also seen Diack on several occasions doing some troop-rallying, BJ and Carlo good leaders from the front as well as Besty. Behind the scrum I think Paddy's been playing with real composure at 12 - out-half is probably where we need our guys to up their games a bit to stamp a bit more authority on games.

[Skyhawk]

[quote="againstthehead"]
- Humph. I thought he and PW marshalled the game very well in the 2nd 40. Pegged munster back time and time again. I tihnk he shoud get a run of games now.
- The backline, in general, looked good defensively and going forward. The scrum halfs both offer something, PW had confidence tonight and Cave is improving game by game.
- Both wingers had very good games going forward. Timmy comes off his man a bit too much in defence but is coming along.
- Bryn was sound in defence.
- cracking atmosphere - just like the good old days.

Negatives
- Probably should have claimed a bonus point.
- Missed a couple of goal kicks that we should have got
- Lack precision in the final third - but the backs are beginning to hit the lines at pace - big improvement.

[quote]

There was indeed a cracking atmosphere, that SUFTU song is still ringing in my head.

At least your team made the correction decision and tried for the BP towards the end of the match when the opted for a couple of LOs instead of goal kicks. And if it weren't for the ELVs, you would have mauled over.

[Big-al]

Does anybody feel Del fava may leave us next season, great player he is but he hasn't impressed me this season and seems to perform a lot better for Italy. If anyone is going to leave from our current 22 it'll probably be him.

Anyway how many foriegn players will we be aloud next season, because we'll need to sign a couple more players next season weather it be someone like Brian Thouy (the winger who played for Ireland 'A' in the churchill cup) to add depth outwide. We definatly need more top squad players