NPR

Posted: **Sun Feb 12, 2023 4:48 pm**

CM11 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 4:38 pm
dob wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 4:35 pm
CM11 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 4:19 pm

Yep. Just don't have the forwards anymore and losing Lamaro really didn't help
Negri looks handy.
Their backrowers are handy. They just don't have the bigger guys to absorb England's physicality.

Nor the halfbacks to dig them out of a quagmire. They're both slow as hell. Not helped by ref being played like a kazoo by England at rucktime.

Posted: **Sun Feb 12, 2023 4:55 pm**

Seems to be a lot of buthurt Welsh fans about the Lowe try.
I was amazed that it was given, but can understand it on the basis of the question asked/on-field decision.

It had no impact on the result, and we we done by a bad non-decision ourselves, so meh.

Posted: **Sun Feb 12, 2023 5:00 pm**

I believe the word is 'butthurt'

Posted: **Sun Feb 12, 2023 5:22 pm**

Borthwick has an awful lot of work to do if he wants this gameplan to bear fruit, very workman like win today without doing much apart from the basics, that won't work against France and us.

Posted: **Sun Feb 12, 2023 6:53 pm**

Nols wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 4:55 pm Seems to be a lot of buthurt Welsh fans about the Lowe try.
I was amazed that it was given, but can understand it on the basis of the question asked/on-field decision.

It had no impact on the result, and we we done by a bad non-decision ourselves, so meh.

The Wales situation is a funny one... They genuinely seem pretty distraught at the success Ireland have had over the last number of years. I can only imagine it's been compounded by their recent slide into absolute shite.

Posted: **Sun Feb 12, 2023 6:56 pm**

happytramp wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 6:53 pm
Nols wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 4:55 pm Seems to be a lot of buthurt Welsh fans about the Lowe try.
I was amazed that it was given, but can understand it on the basis of the question asked/on-field decision.

It had no impact on the result, and we we done by a bad non-decision ourselves, so meh.
The Wales situation is a funny one... They genuinely seem pretty distraught at the success Ireland have had over the last number of years. I can only imagine it's been compounded by their recent slide into absolute shite.

If they accept Irish success they would have to accept that the URC has played a role in the progress we have made. They are stuck in a time warp.

Posted: **Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:05 pm**

Just rewatched the 1st half and while "butchering" two tries is maybe harsh, Murray certainly didn't help.

Firstly when Porter was held up, the pass was head height and behind (a far too frequent characteristic of Murray's pass these days) Porter, meaning he had to start off his carry by twisting his body back into a forward facing position. I think it's fair to say that if the pass had been chest height and in front of him Porter would be odds on to score that.

Second was when Hansen was held back by Dupont. Murray took an absolute age to get the ball out of the following ruck and when he did he passed it to the patch of grass in front of James Ryan's feet. Maybe not as clear cut a scoring chance as the Porter one, but it certainly ended any chance we were going to score from that phase.

Posted: **Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:09 pm**

PornDog wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:05 pm Just rewatched the 1st half and while "butchering" two tries is maybe harsh, Murray certainly didn't help.

Firstly when Porter was held up, the pass was head height and behind (a far too frequent characteristic of Murray's pass these days) Porter, meaning he had to start off his carry by twisting his body back into a forward facing position. I think it's fair to say that if the pass had been chest height and in front of him Porter would be odds on to score that.

Second was when Hansen was held back by Dupont. Murray took an absolute age to get the ball out of the following ruck and when he did he passed it to the patch of grass in front of James Ryan's feet. Maybe not as clear cut a scoring chance as the Porter one, but it certainly ended any chance we were going to score from that phase.

We had a lot of ball and attack in that half. Murray doesn't get completely let off but he was an overall positive. The two examples you gave saw us score a try straight after the first and the second probably is on him that we only came away with three rather than 7.

Posted: **Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:09 pm**

PornDog wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:05 pm Just rewatched the 1st half and while "butchering" two tries is maybe harsh, Murray certainly didn't help.

Firstly when Porter was held up, the pass was head height and behind (a far too frequent characteristic of Murray's pass these days) Porter, meaning he had to start off his carry by twisting his body back into a forward facing position. I think it's fair to say that if the pass had been chest height and in front of him Porter would be odds on to score that.

Second was when Hansen was held back by Dupont. Murray took an absolute age to get the ball out of the following ruck and when he did he passed it to the patch of grass in front of James Ryan's feet. Maybe not as clear cut a scoring chance as the Porter one, but it certainly ended any chance we were going to score from that phase.

Ah come on man he gets a pass this week

Posted: **Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:12 pm**

themaddog wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 6:56 pm
happytramp wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 6:53 pm
Nols wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 4:55 pm Seems to be a lot of buthurt Welsh fans about the Lowe try.
I was amazed that it was given, but can understand it on the basis of the question asked/on-field decision.

It had no impact on the result, and we we done by a bad non-decision ourselves, so meh.
The Wales situation is a funny one... They genuinely seem pretty distraught at the success Ireland have had over the last number of years. I can only imagine it's been compounded by their recent slide into absolute shite.
If they accept Irish success they would have to accept that the URC has played a role in the progress we have made. They are stuck in a time warp.

Exactly. They made the decision to actively not get behind the Celtic league and spent all of their energy willing it to fail in the delusional hope that the English would somehow take them in. They backed the wrong horse and it is killing them now to see irrefutable evidence of that. Not all Welsh to be fair but certainly a lot of them.

Posted: **Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:43 pm**

Duff Paddy wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:09 pm
PornDog wrote: ↑Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:05 pm Just rewatched the 1st half and while "butchering" two tries is maybe harsh, Murray certainly didn't help.

Firstly when Porter was held up, the pass was head height and behind (a far too frequent characteristic of Murray's pass these days) Porter, meaning he had to start off his carry by twisting his body back into a forward facing position. I think it's fair to say that if the pass had been chest height and in front of him Porter would be odds on to score that.

Second was when Hansen was held back by Dupont. Murray took an absolute age to get the ball out of the following ruck and when he did he passed it to the patch of grass in front of James Ryan's feet. Maybe not as clear cut a scoring chance as the Porter one, but it certainly ended any chance we were going to score from that phase.
Ah come on man he gets a pass this week

He does, and as Stats said overall I think he was more positive than not. It was good to see him sniping again, even if he did get held up. I'm not calling for his scalp or anything, I think all things considered it was amazing he even played, but I'm also not going to pretend that poor play is somehow good play. His butchering of tries was brought up earlier and I thought I'd weigh in on it as I've just re-watched the first half.

His speed has always been an issue. Recently in fairness he has been much speedier on average, but he still mixes in a handful of really pomnderous rucks to really scupper the impetus which is infuriating. But what's really concerning is the degradation of his passing accuracy, especially the high and behind which is becoming fairly common and especially on shorter passes setting up the one out carries (for whatever reason), which should be bread and butter to him. If we're being all generous forgiving that sort of passing inaccuracy then we may as well be talking about bringing Luke McGrath into the squad (and I'm not arguing for that).

Posted: **Sun Feb 12, 2023 9:05 pm**

Oh yes.....

Posted: **Wed Feb 15, 2023 12:32 pm**

Bump....

Posted: **Sun Mar 12, 2023 5:09 pm**

Well lads.

Posted: **Sun Mar 12, 2023 5:15 pm**

Well done lads and at least my Northern Irish wife is happy. My eldest claims he's half happy

.

Best of luck for the grand slam game.

Posted: **Sun Mar 12, 2023 5:15 pm**

Congrats Ireland, good luck for the GS next week

Posted: **Sun Mar 12, 2023 5:23 pm**

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Mar 12, 2023 5:15 pm Congrats Ireland, good luck for the GS next week

Thank you kind sir.

Strange game for us, we really had our depth tested today.

Posted: **Sun Mar 12, 2023 5:36 pm**

Farrell OUT!

for a nice meal in Edinburgh tonight after a tough win

Posted: **Sun Mar 12, 2023 10:10 pm**

One of our most pleasing wins ever. Nearly everything that could go wrong did bar a red card and we pulled up our socks and kept at it as if nothing had happened.

Almost comical to have won the second half so well with Healy at hooker and VDF throwing in.

Ringrose injury a major dampener though.

Posted: **Mon Mar 13, 2023 2:20 am**

Peaking.

Too.

Early.

Posted: **Mon Mar 13, 2023 4:17 am**

We are peaking late compared to normal. We should be having a shocking championship by this point.

Posted: **Mon Mar 13, 2023 7:53 am**

Jim Lahey wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 4:17 am We are peaking late compared to normal. We should be having a shocking championship by this point.

2015 we were NH champions going into the rwc.

Posted: **Mon Mar 13, 2023 8:44 am**

This is the best Irish side I can remember, yeah there have been your BODs, POCs, Sean O’Briens etc in the recent past, but this team can play the full 80 at the highest intensity and they can do it week after week, no matter the opponent.

If they can keep at that level it will be difficult to see past them for not only the GS, but for the RWC

Posted: **Mon Mar 13, 2023 9:17 am**

Ireland and France have been consistently excellent for the last couple of years. France were sublime yesterday. As a neutral who doesn't think my team has any real chance of advancing beyond the quarters, I'd love to see these two face off in the RWC final.

Posted: **Sat Mar 18, 2023 10:42 pm**

Congrats lads.

Posted: **Sat Mar 18, 2023 10:59 pm**

Big D wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 10:42 pmCongrats lads.

Cheers

Posted: **Sat Mar 18, 2023 11:37 pm**

Well done guys, worthy winners of the Triple Crown, Grand Slam, 6N..........

Posted: **Sun Mar 19, 2023 8:40 am**

I'm going to bulk order the Farrell OUT! badges now while they are cheap. Will make a killing in October.

Posted: **Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:34 am**

EnergiseR2 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:32 am Sexy still limping around like the dad in Frasier. I'd say he is out for ages as limping after 3 or 4 days is a proper doing

Shit. What about Ringrose and Keenan?

I'm hoping the Leinster lads keep their 4 day bender going long into next week. Ulster might have a chance to keep them to within a few scores at the Aviva.

Posted: **Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:43 am**

Sexton rumoured to be out for three months. Hope it heals fully.

Posted: **Fri Mar 24, 2023 9:40 am**

CM11 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:43 am Sexton rumoured to be out for three months. Hope it heals fully.

Ah bollox

Posted: **Fri Mar 24, 2023 9:49 am**

PornDog wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 9:40 am
CM11 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:43 am Sexton rumoured to be out for three months. Hope it heals fully.
Ah bollox

You could see he knew it was bad when it happened. I feared the worst and thought it might even have been career ending and it may yet be.

Groin injury at his age?

Posted: **Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:08 am**

CM11 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 9:49 am
PornDog wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 9:40 am
CM11 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:43 am Sexton rumoured to be out for three months. Hope it heals fully.
Ah bollox
You could see he knew it was bad when it happened. I feared the worst and thought it might even have been career ending and it may yet be.

Groin injury at his age?

Apart from Murray, is there anyone else in the probable starting backline capable of goal kicking? You'd want him on the pitch to run the team obviously but if he's got a strain, we need someone to be keeping the scoreline ticking over without risking damaging Sexton.

Posted: **Fri Mar 24, 2023 11:22 am**

Jim Lahey wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:08 am
CM11 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 9:49 am
PornDog wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 9:40 am

Ah bollox
You could see he knew it was bad when it happened. I feared the worst and thought it might even have been career ending and it may yet be.

Groin injury at his age?
Apart from Murray, is there anyone else in the probable starting backline capable of goal kicking? You'd want him on the pitch to run the team obviously but if he's got a strain, we need someone to be keeping the scoreline ticking over without risking damaging Sexton.

Ringrose has kicked before. I believe Hansen may have too.

Big Stu has kicked for Ulster but obviously not in the first choice backline.

Posted: **Mon Apr 03, 2023 7:40 pm**

EnergiseR2 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 03, 2023 6:59 pm https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 16635.html

Jordi done. We'll always have Chicago

Fine rugby player if undersized. In technical terms, he was excellent.

Posted: **Mon Apr 03, 2023 9:05 pm**

He's only 31 - guess the heart hasn't been in it for a while now.

Posted: **Tue Apr 04, 2023 1:20 pm**

Jaysus fucking wept.

Need to rant about the state of Ulster.

While it was an honourable sort of defeat against Leinster, not for a second did we look anything other than a distant second best. Fluffed that lineout early in the 2nd half as we normally do. McCann, a player that had alot of hype, put in an embarrassing tackle attempt on Baird just before his try. McCloskey was shit, Hume was less shit than usual but lightyears away from where he was last year. Bob Balocoune tpuched the ball about twice. Stockdale had a decent outing tbf. The pack were very average.

And so after a match where we showed how wide the gap is between ourselves and the top table of European teams, we renew the following players' contracts:

-Greg Jones. A trier, but probably our 7th or 8th choice backrower in what is a very average set of backrowers.
-Shea O'Brien. Been in the squad for a year, played a grand total of 0 minutes.
-Eric O'Sullivan. Looked good a few years ago. Very average for the last 18 months. Will never be a top player.
-Ben Moxham. Big guy on the wing. Has never done anything of note in an Ulster jersey to-date.
-David McCann. I was beginning to warm to him due to his performances of late but I am still in shock at that defensive effort on Saturday.
-Andy Warwick. Tbf Big Licence has been great for us for the last few years. Must be up there as one of the most improved players in Ireland. He is not top drawer, but he's certainly our best LH.

And confirmed to be going the other way:

-Vermuelen
-Nordi

With the following players' futures uncertain:

-Cooney
-Hendy
-JTA
-Sutherland
-Marshall
-Carter
-Lyttle

Next season could be very grim.

Posted: **Tue Apr 04, 2023 2:24 pm**

Bit harsh giving out about the backs when the forwards got reamed.

Posted: **Tue Apr 04, 2023 4:35 pm**

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Tue Apr 04, 2023 2:24 pm Bit harsh giving out about the backs when the forwards got reamed.

Good thing we've resigned Greg Jones, EOS and McCann then, while potentially not replacing a lad that won MoM in a World Cup final, a Lion LH, a NZ capped tighthead, Hendy and a 20+ cap Aussie international then.

Leinster are in for it next year

Edit. Forgot that we are supposedly bringing in Kitshoff, which will be a start. But we basically need a whole new pack beyond that.

Posted: **Tue Apr 04, 2023 4:55 pm**

Jim Lahey wrote: ↑Tue Apr 04, 2023 1:20 pm Jaysus fucking wept.

Need to rant about the state of Ulster.

While it was an honourable sort of defeat against Leinster, not for a second did we look anything other than a distant second best. Fluffed that lineout early in the 2nd half as we normally do. McCann, a player that had alot of hype, put in an embarrassing tackle attempt on Baird just before his try. McCloskey was shit, Hume was less shit than usual but lightyears away from where he was last year. Bob Balocoune tpuched the ball about twice. Stockdale had a decent outing tbf. The pack were very average.

And so after a match where we showed how wide the gap is between ourselves and the top table of European teams, we renew the following players' contracts:

-Greg Jones. A trier, but probably our 7th or 8th choice backrower in what is a very average set of backrowers.
-Shea O'Brien. Been in the squad for a year, played a grand total of 0 minutes.
-Eric O'Sullivan. Looked good a few years ago. Very average for the last 18 months. Will never be a top player.
-Ben Moxham. Big guy on the wing. Has never done anything of note in an Ulster jersey to-date.
-David McCann. I was beginning to warm to him due to his performances of late but I am still in shock at that defensive effort on Saturday.
-Andy Warwick. Tbf Big Licence has been great for us for the last few years. Must be up there as one of the most improved players in Ireland. He is not top drawer, but he's certainly our best LH.

And confirmed to be going the other way:

-Vermuelen
-Nordi

With the following players' futures uncertain:

-Cooney
-Hendy
-JTA
-Sutherland
-Marshall
-Carter
-Lyttle

Next season could be very grim.

Could be worse...

*Sobs in chulchie*

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