Ulster 2017 - 2018

[TerenureJim]

Still can't even bench for Ireland

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Yep clearly the Irish management team has to go it's not about the success it's about the bench 9, #joeout

[Topdawg]

Hearing strong rumors that Jeremy Davidson will be the new ulster coach.
Makes sense with him announcing he’s leaving Bordeaux today, would back him to do a good job !

[lummix]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 54743.html

The deal is done on the new coach but they are delaying announcement for a few weeks due to one can only presume the coach still being involved at the tail end of a competition.

It better not be lancaster

[neill_m]

Jeremy Davidson maybe. Was noted that the lad had to be released from a contract. JD signed 3 year deal last year at Bordeaux.

Or could be fake news.

[leinsterforever]

Cathal Marsh might be a good acquisition if Curtis is going to have to cover 12 as well as 10

[rooster]

Jeremy Davidson maybe. Was noted that the lad had to be released from a contract. JD signed 3 year deal last year at Bordeaux.

Or could be fake news.

I'm convinced that is fake news that he is coming

[BlueBlue]

Dan McFarland, assistant to Gregor at Glasgow and Scotishland.

[rooster]

Dan McFarland, assistant to Gregor at Glasgow and Scotishland.

I think it has got to the stage that the press are guessing names all round the place to see if anyone will spill the beans but with very few knowing who it is they don't have a hope of getting Cunningham to tell before he and the target want to. Cunningham news system is so watertight it can be submerged for hours at 1000m and still come up dry.

[kermischocolate]

Dan McFarland, assistant to Gregor at Glasgow and Scotishland.

Is confirmed to be leaving the Scottish coaching set up....

[neiliog93]

Would presumably only leave the Scotland set-up for a head coach role.

[Lar]

But McFarland doesn't make sense in the context of UR saying the new coach is appointed but they won't announce it because they don't want to interfere with his current role.

[RavenhillRaider]

Confirmed now: http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/17267.php#.WucksaQvxaQ

[BlueBlue]

Even stranger is that he wont be in position at Ulster until January 2019, missing a good part of the Pro14, and mostly the Pool stages of the Challenge Cup (harsh, hopefully Champions cup), and all of the pre-season !!! Pretty bad, but then again if you think this is your man for the next 3 years, you can afford to ruin his 1st year. Or maybe you cant afford it.

Irish Times says he wont be in place until January,

"However, McFarland has now been announced as the new top man, leaving his current role as assistant coach at Scotland, but not until January. The 46-year-old will take over at Ulster next season but will remain working with Gregor Townsend at Scotland until January".

Indo says after Scotland summer tour, but before Ulster preseason.

[johng]

Doubt they would want him in the Scotland setup any longer than necessary. They are in our group in the WC. He'll be outa there after the summer tour ok

[lummix]

Mcfarland Looks a very good appointment. Should play some good attacking rugby, last 3 teams he's been with play a great style and have over performed given the ability they had.

[Ruckedtobits]

Dan McFarland is a good appointment with the sole caveat that Jono Gibbes looked a good appointment also. Neither had been Head Coach and there is a very different set of pressure points that accompany that role. Having David Nucifora as your direct line report is just one of those pressures as an Irish Provincial Coach. The Aussie is unloved by the majority of Kiwis around the world and that includes almost every one of them in Irish rugby.

McFarland is among the most knowlegible Forwards Coaches in these islands and that's what Ulster now need.......and have done for two Seasons. However, building a dominant pack and linking it to a fairly (very) talented set of backs requires a better than average set of half-backs. Cooney is clearly one part of that equation, but can Dan the Man find the other half?

That for me is the key question for Ulster and the IRFU.

Nucifora's decisions to 'release' Kiss, and now Keane (gone from Connacht today), are clear demonstrations of his ruthlessness and many 'rugby heads' in Ulster will support him in these actions. He has a 5-year contract, which is reputed to have an extension option this time next year. He wants Ulster & Connacht to be competitive again by then and will take whatever actions he considers necessary to acheive that. Rumour tonight is that not even Connacht Board or CEO had any inkling of Keane's departure until it was announced.

On this basis expect further new appointments and departures from Ulster by the end of June. Neither Blazers nor Provincial executives will have much say in any of this. This is SHOWTIME, the Nucifora way.

[Fireworks]

Not sure he was even in the betting. Looks like a good move. Lots of issues but hopefully it will work.

[leinsterforever]

Dan McFarland is a good appointment with the sole caveat that Jono Gibbes looked a good appointment also. Neither had been Head Coach and there is a very different set of pressure points that accompany that role. Having David Nucifora as your direct line report is just one of those pressures as an Irish Provincial Coach. The Aussie is unloved by the majority of Kiwis around the world and that includes almost every one of them in Irish rugby.

McFarland is among the most knowlegible Forwards Coaches in these islands and that's what Ulster now need.......and have done for two Seasons. However, building a dominant pack and linking it to a fairly (very) talented set of backs requires a better than average set of half-backs. Cooney is clearly one part of that equation, but can Dan the Man find the other half?

That for me is the key question for Ulster and the IRFU.

Nucifora's decisions to 'release' Kiss, and now Keane (gone from Connacht today), are clear demonstrations of his ruthlessness and many 'rugby heads' in Ulster will support him in these actions. He has a 5-year contract, which is reputed to have an extension option this time next year. He wants Ulster & Connacht to be competitive again by then and will take whatever actions he considers necessary to acheive that. Rumour tonight is that not even Connacht Board or CEO had any inkling of Keane's departure until it was announced.

On this basis expect further new appointments and departures from Ulster by the end of June. Neither Blazers nor Provincial executives will have much say in any of this. This is SHOWTIME, the Nucifora way.

Interesting stuff. Do you reckon Gibbes not wanting to work directly under Nucifora was part of the reason he's leaving instead of taking the head coach role?

[rooster]

But McFarland doesn't make sense in the context of UR saying the new coach is appointed but they won't announce it because they don't want to interfere with his current role.

They still had a lot of finer details to work through with SRU, the press yesterday morning made a mess of that and whoever leaked that should get sanctioned, it will probably now have cost IRFU money.

[Aird]

It seems Gibbes has good family reasons to return to NZ. I think he may have gone earlier but for the departure of Kiss.
Since Kiss has gone he seems to have got the team moving in the right direction and the off the pitch distractions have begun to fade away.
Personally I am sorry to see him go as he seems to be doing a good job now he has control of things without any interference from a DOR who is rumoured to have difficulty in delegating.