Treviso v Ulster

[rocky]

With Pienaar at 9 and McKinney (yes) at 10, I believe we would have got the bonus point with ease.

With ease?? Is this more 'irony'?

I think that's really stretching things a bit tbh. If memory serves me right the only bonus point wins we have had against Treviso in recent times was in the HEC with a full squad at our disposal.

We never win with a bonus point away to Treviso, not in recent years anyway. They have pushed a lot of big teams at home this season and have even managed a few scalps (Munster anyone?).

I'm kind of glad it's Treviso we play during 6 Nations times and not some of the other teams.

WW, that Treviso squad had players from their domestic league in it and a good AIL side would have given them a very competitive match yesterday. When a coach uses words like "appalling" to describe how his team played, I think that's saying a lot. Our back line, in theory, should have been able to unlock their defence with consummate ease. Instead, we got error after error, bad decisions, poor passing (or no passing) , poor catching, falling over, etc. etc. It was shockingly bad and it almost all stemmed from our halfbacks. Every time I see Pienaar at 10 on the team sheet, my heart sinks because I now know what will happen - as it did yesterday. That was a seriously bad Treviso side and I remain convinced we would have scored four tries and more has Ruan been at 10.
Bazzaj, I did say the Dragons would beat us IF we played as badly as yesterday. With PJ back and Ruan at 10, I expect us to be much better. However, if we still do not have BBJ and FNW our pack will struggle. This is another must-win match (they all are from now on, really) if we are to stay in contention.

[Wee Woman]

I don't disagree with what you say there Rocky, I just don't think McKinney could have done any better (or worse) a job at 10 than Pienaar did.

[Scranner]

With PJ back and Ruan at 10, I expect us to be much better.

Don't you mean Ruan at 9??

[BR]

If memory serves me right the only bonus point wins we have had against Treviso in recent times was in the HEC with a full squad at our disposal.
... They have pushed a lot of big teams at home this season and have even managed a few scalps (Munster anyone?).

I'm kind of glad it's Treviso we play during 6 Nations times and not some of the other teams.

As I said, we had 11 of our HEC team out yestetday. They had 3. As you say, it's just as well we get them when they're so depleted by the 6Ns.

[BaggyTrousers]

With PJ back and Ruan at 10, I expect us to be much better.

Don't you mean Ruan at 9??

That is exactly what Rocky intended & WW, though Rocky can speak for himself, I'm pretty sure he is of the opinion that why weaken 2 positions significantly when you only need to weaken one.

I am quickly reaching the stage where I believe that there is at least the same performance difference in Ruan at 10 rather than 9 to Payne at 13 rather than 15. Both are hugely better in their true position, neither are better than the usual suspects in the 10 & 13 shirts.

Much as find little or no credibility in Sugar (I use hermasitas myself) I believe that we are now better off with Ruan 9 Sugar 10 than p9 & Ruan 10. p is truly a waste of space, having dramatically gone backwards since his excellent start to last season when he appeared to have learned something from the master.

Thanks be to Jebus there is no such decision to be made this week.

Finally, with the gloom about being weakened in TH & 2nd row options next season I have this to say.

Too often in the league this season TC has not turned up, at his best he will be missed but I'm thinking end of useful shelf-life except the odd big game where he rouses himself. BBJ, well clearly whatever happens we are likely to be weakened, however in a years time or maybe two, is BBJ worth matching Glows 4 year deal? I think not. Johann still game as a badger, still good enough at his best but I'm afraid its clear the very vest days are gone.

Against that, so far we only have Dave in the "In Tray" but lets assume we sign someone who has the ability to play a position or two amongst them 10 & lets assume that the guy is not an international call up candidate. Lets assume that Doc Dave isn't dumb & will have a TH somewhere up his sleeve, let's assume also that he has some substantial Saffer coming to replace Johann, perhaps a boyo with international credentials.

All of a sudden its swings n' roonaboots, the shocking 10 deficit addressed and all in all, maybe we don;t go backwards overall.

Just saying like. Frankly I can't wait until the end of April to find out who these possibilities may be.

And again, I wonder how long it will be until John Plumtree wants to be top man again? End of next 6Ns maybe? Just saying like. 3 year coaching cycles, JP's turn next? Kiwi by birth, Saffer by a lot of his playing & coaching career, wow, great combo. Ah well sure

[Windeos]

With PJ back and Ruan at 10, I expect us to be much better.

Don't you mean Ruan at 9??

That is exactly what Rocky intended & WW, though Rocky can speak for himself, I'm pretty sure he is of the opinion that why weaken 2 positions significantly when you only need to weaken one.

I am quickly reaching the stage where I believe that there is at least the same performance difference in Ruan at 10 rather than 9 to Payne at 13 rather than 15. Both are hugely better in their true position, neither are better than the usual suspects in the 10 & 13 shirts.

Much as find little or no credibility in Sugar (I use hermasitas myself) I believe that we are now better off with Ruan 9 Sugar 10 than p9 & Ruan 10. p is truly a waste of space, having dramatically gone backwards since his excellent start to last season when he appeared to have learned something from the master.

Thanks be to Jebus there is no such decision to be made this week.

Finally, with the gloom about being weakened in TH & 2nd row options next season I have this to say.

Too often in the league this season TC has not turned up, at his best he will be missed but I'm thinking end of useful shelf-life except the odd big game where he rouses himself. BBJ, well clearly whatever happens we are likely to be weakened, however in a years time or maybe two, is BBJ worth matching Glows 4 year deal? I think not. Johann still game as a badger, still good enough at his best but I'm afraid its clear the very vest days are gone.

Against that, so far we only have Dave in the "In Tray" but lets assume we sign someone who has the ability to play a position or two amongst them 10 & lets assume that the guy is not an international call up candidate. Lets assume that Doc Dave isn't dumb & will have a TH somewhere up his sleeve, let's assume also that he has some substantial Saffer coming to replace Johann, perhaps a boyo with international credentials.

All of a sudden its swings n' roonaboots, the shocking 10 deficit addressed and all in all, maybe we don;t go backwards overall.

Just saying like. Frankly I can't wait until the end of April to find out who these possibilities may be.

And again, I wonder how long it will be until John Plumtree wants to be top man again? End of next 6Ns maybe? Just saying like. 3 year coaching cycles, JP's turn next? Kiwi by birth, Saffer by a lot of his playing & coaching career, wow, great combo. Ah well sure

Agree with everything you just said.

Who the good Dr recruits for the team next season is going to have a huge say in how the team perform next season.

I don't think we have the depth that management thought we have but is that down to coaching, youngsters & squad players not being good enough or what reason is it?

Plumtree is a superb coach.

[breakdown]

Were we not interested in Plumtree after McGlocks?

[CIMANFOREVER]

Agree with everything you just said.

Who the good Dr recruits for the team next season is going to have a huge say in how the team perform next season.

I don't think we have the depth that management thought we have but is that down to coaching, youngsters & squad players not being good enough or what reason is it?

Plumtree is a superb coach.

Coaching imo. Our young players do well at Schools, U20 JRWC etc., but don't seem to develop on like the Ladyboi's overall, or even in Munster, as far as forwards are concerned. (altho concerning this year we've only 1-2 on the U20's )
McGlocks influence will take 2-3 years to start filtering through (but I remain to be convinced tbh), but MA and UR have been lucky with the recent rash of good prospects, not of their making. But who's coming behind?
Where is the next Rory? Fez, Henry, even Hendo? etc.

And we've p*shed some good talent up the wall- Nelson, Farrell (altho injured..) Macklin, Annett, no second rows worth talking about- yet Donnan was excellent/ starting for the U20's last year.
Wonder will Scholes and Olding be next for mediocrity? Would they develop faster in Dubleen or Limerick?
Other guys aren't pushing on/ going backwards- Gilroy, even M. Allen seems low on confidence. WTF?

Props like Ross Kane are starting for the Binmen I believe? Chris Taylor on Hinch Bench? What are we doing with them to bring them through fast track- something's working in D4 that isn't working here.

Bad outlook when the soft as shyte D4 crowd are bringing through forwards like a conveyor belt, and we are getting 1 or 2 Maybe's a season. Not good enough.

Just sayin loike...

[Wee Woman]

That is exactly what Rocky intended & WW, though Rocky can speak for himself, I'm pretty sure he is of the opinion that why weaken 2 positions significantly when you only need to weaken one.

I am quickly reaching the stage where I believe that there is at least the same performance difference in Ruan at 10 rather than 9 to Payne at 13 rather than 15. Both are hugely better in their true position, neither are better than the usual suspects in the 10 & 13 shirts.

Much as find little or no credibility in Sugar (I use hermasitas myself) I believe that we are now better off with Ruan 9 Sugar 10 than p9 & Ruan 10. p is truly a waste of space, having dramatically gone backwards since his excellent start to last season when he appeared to have learned something from the master.

Thanks be to Jebus there is no such decision to be made this week.

I get that, but I'm sure you all recall Sugar's last performance with Ruan at 9 versus Ospreys.

He had a mare and it appeared to me that Ruan didn't feel at all confident in his ability to run the game, nevermind know what to do with the ball when he got it.

We just scraped a win in that game too.

[Russ]

So, LM at 10 it is

[rocky]

With PJ back and Ruan at 10, I expect us to be much better.

Don't you mean Ruan at 9??

Sorry, Scranner, I do mean Pienaar at nine, not ten.

[BaggyTrousers]

Were we not interested in Plumtree after McGlocks?

We may well have been BD, however he was yet to be shafted by Sharks.

[againstthehead]

'Much as find little or no credibility in Sugar (I use hermasitas myself) I believe that we are now better off with Ruan 9 Sugar 10 than p9 & Ruan 10. p is truly a waste of space, having dramatically gone backwards since his excellent start to last season when he appeared to have learned something from the master'

lol, did that not start WW3 a couple of weeks ago...

In the league it's grand to mess around with beagle and Sugar but you really have to wonder what is the option come HEC if GP was unavailable. I have truely no idea. With a full compliment of players, it may have to be Marshall to 10, Cave to 12 and either Bowe or Jared to 13.

With Bowe available I reckon we have 1 HEC quality back on the bench - either Gilroy or Trimble. beagle is okay as an impact sub and Allen is solid enough. Scholes looks to have potential. Would like to see him get some decent gametime.

We have effectively 1 su

[breakdown]

Were we not interested in Plumtree after McGlocks?

We may well have been BD, however he was yet to be shafted by Sharks.

Plumtree would be a fantastic coach, obviously we wont be needed a new coach till the end of next year, not sure Plumtree would want to play second fiddle to Joe either forever