LeRouxIsPHat wrote:Yeah but regardless of what you think of the players it's obvious that the coaches are making big errors. A simple solution to one of things I mentioned above, switch Arnold and Goggin when it's clear that Goggin is in deep trouble.
Van Graan's move to the 6-2 split to copy Erasmus is pretty funny though.
Erasmus had Frans Steyn, who won a World Cup at 20 years old, has started tests for South Africa at Nos 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15 and is one of the most well-known long range place-kickers in the history of the game, as well as being an absolute unit at 191cm and 110kg. He has played professionally in three different leagues on three continents, building up a huge body of experience to match his wide skill set. All of those elements combined allowed Erasmus to risk him covering all those different backline positions.
Ulster are clearly the opposite, they're very well coached. I said when McFarland took over that you could see they were working on getting support players swarming a ball carrier, getting offloads away and switching the point of attack, and they've very much got a handle on it now after a few teething problems.
On paper they have a pretty average pack in places, but they're very clear on their roles and how they want to play so can still manage to give Cooney a good platform.
Ulster are clearly the opposite, they're very well coached. I said when McFarland took over that you could see they were working on getting support players swarming a ball carrier, getting offloads away and switching the point of attack, and they've very much got a handle on it now after a few teething problems.
On paper they have a pretty average pack in places, but they're very clear on their roles and how they want to play so can still manage to give Cooney a good platform.
Absolutely.
The difference in the clarity of effect in their coaching is very evident. McFarland has proven that he understands the role of Coach and Director of Rugby. McFarland has developed a really good coaching group who have improved, individually and teamwise, every player in the Ulster Squad. That is the real difference In their expertise.
Ulster are clearly the opposite, they're very well coached. I said when McFarland took over that you could see they were working on getting support players swarming a ball carrier, getting offloads away and switching the point of attack, and they've very much got a handle on it now after a few teething problems.
On paper they have a pretty average pack in places, but they're very clear on their roles and how they want to play so can still manage to give Cooney a good platform.
To take up your point on support, it's one of the things that Cooney, in particular, has brought to another level, even for a SH.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall who's the greatest player of them all? It is Drico your majesty.
Ulster are clearly the opposite, they're very well coached. I said when McFarland took over that you could see they were working on getting support players swarming a ball carrier, getting offloads away and switching the point of attack, and they've very much got a handle on it now after a few teething problems.
On paper they have a pretty average pack in places, but they're very clear on their roles and how they want to play so can still manage to give Cooney a good platform.
Absolutely.
The difference in the clarity of effect in their coaching is very evident. McFarland has proven that he understands the role of Coach and Director of Rugby. McFarland has developed a really good coaching group who have improved, individually and teamwise, every player in the Ulster Squad. That is the real difference In their expertise.
Yeah Payne in particular deserves a mention. As bad as Munster's attack was last night, he's clearly done a brilliant job with them.
The difference in the clarity of effect in their coaching is very evident. McFarland has proven that he understands the role of Coach and Director of Rugby. McFarland has developed a really good coaching group who have improved, individually and teamwise, every player in the Ulster Squad. That is the real difference In their expertise.
That's the one word that hits the nail on the head - clarity.
McFarland strikes me as a very good communicator and it really looks like Ulster know what they're trying to do.
Of course this is easier when you've had your 9/10/12 in situ for the whole season because they weren't in Japan, but everyone looks well drilled.
LeRouxIsPHat wrote:Yeah but regardless of what you think of the players it's obvious that the coaches are making big errors. A simple solution to one of things I mentioned above, switch Arnold and Goggin when it's clear that Goggin is in deep trouble.
Van Graan's move to the 6-2 split to copy Erasmus is pretty funny though.
Erasmus had Frans Steyn, who won a World Cup at 20 years old, has started tests for South Africa at Nos 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15 and is one of the most well-known long range place-kickers in the history of the game, as well as being an absolute unit at 191cm and 110kg. He has played professionally in three different leagues on three continents, building up a huge body of experience to match his wide skill set. All of those elements combined allowed Erasmus to risk him covering all those different backline positions.
And van Graan has Dan Goggin playing that role.
Bit of a difference in levels though, no? Steyn has to do it at the absolute pinnacle, whereas Goggin is doing it at Pro 14/European Cup level.
That said, I'm a bit wary of this 6/2 split thing. They'll be lucky if it doesn't catch them out sometime. Plus it's a real missed opportunity to get Healy into the 23 consistently.
The difference in the clarity of effect in their coaching is very evident. McFarland has proven that he understands the role of Coach and Director of Rugby. McFarland has developed a really good coaching group who have improved, individually and teamwise, every player in the Ulster Squad. That is the real difference In their expertise.
That's the one word that hits the nail on the head - clarity.
McFarland strikes me as a very good communicator and it really looks like Ulster know what they're trying to do.
Of course this is easier when you've had your 9/10/12 in situ for the whole season because they weren't in Japan, but everyone looks well drilled.
All the provinces mishired coaches and 3 of them corrected.
Hire guys to coach technically and improve every player in the squad.
The provincial coaches are IRFU employees. They are not provincial employees who are sometimes at odds with the IRFU.
If you develop players and hold back internationals so they are in form then a few bad results is forgivable. If you push them to the limit and team Ireland suffers then your success is irrelevant.
van Graan is kicking the can down the road. He came mid-season so he needed a pre-season. Then he inherited a squad so he made some big signings and offloaded players expensively. Then he got rid of the home grown coaches so now they need time to bed in.
But what's worrying is that it looks more than just trying something and not executing. It's offloads that don't hurt defences even when they stick.
Ulster face a Clermont team needing a win in Europe to revitalise their Season. Their loss away to Racing last week came at the wrong time -as far as Ulster are concerned - as it reminded the Auvergnes that Top 14 competition requires top class performances. They've slipped to 6th / 7th in Top 14 and competition for barrage places will be intense between now and season end.
Clermont have a top class front five and a frighteningly powerful back-row led by Iturria and Fritz Lee alongside Lapandry. But it is their backline that contains the real threat and this is also where Ulster have shown recent excellence.
This should be one of the highlight fixtures of this round. If Ulster could steal a win in front of perhaps the most fanatical fans in Europe, it really would be a mark of how advanced is the McFarland / Payne / Peel recovery plan and copper fasten Ulster's position as No 2 Province in ireland
Ulster have picked a very strong/powerful team for the away game to Clermont.
The only reason Clermont got a LBP against Ulster in Kingspan stadium was the non availability of McGrath.
Ulster must be quietly fancying their chances.
At stake a home Q/F and who knows even a home S/F.
Fitness could be the difference.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall who's the greatest player of them all? It is Drico your majesty.
Nothing quiet about Ulster fancying their chances in Clermont, they are not a side that you should discount, remember the semifinal in the Avila last year when. They were there supposedly to make up the numbers. They are a better and stronger side now.
Is it only really Carter who's missing for them? Huge opportunity for them to make a statement tomorrow. It's set up for them to announce themselves as contenders but I just think Clermont have too much power. Teams have struggled to expose Burns in defence at times but I suspect Clermont will be so strong up front (and so eager to make up for the terrible performance in Belfast) that the Ulster forwards will be too busy fighting fires to help out the backs.
LeRouxIsPHat wrote:
Ulster are clearly the opposite, they're very well coached. I said when McFarland took over that you could see they were working on getting support players swarming a ball carrier, getting offloads away and switching the point of attack, and they've very much got a handle on it now after a few teething problems.
What a try! This is exactly what I was talking about above.
Ulster looking really good here, hope they can keep it up.
LeRouxIsPHat wrote:Not sure why Ulster turned down points there. It's not like Clermont are a man down up front, they're well able to stop the Ulster maul.
Endemic bad decision making throughout the team is Ulsters biggest ongoing problem
Dave Cahill wrote:They should have between 6 and 13 more points than they do if they had made the right choices
To be beaten out the gate by a Clermont side playing well is one thing, but to dominate a game where Clermont have been poor and potentially blow the win because of stupid decisions is unforgivable.
Really impressed by Baloucoune, hasn't put a foot wrong and been really strong in defence. He has an odd technique for a lot of things but it doesn't seem to affect him.
