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Transfers Rumours

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UlsterRugby2012 said:
Some rumours of Jannie du Plessis to Ulster next season from the camp, but I have no idea how he stands on his contract with the Sharks etc.
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Where did you get that one? I have to say, I'd heard a different name for Ulster's next tighthead...

ratsapprentice said:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...op-John-Afoa-an-unlikely-rich-lister-of-rugby



Wow.

How ****** is Walkinshaw going to be if Fred decides to leave!? :lol:
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Depends who he can get to replace him. Given Glaws' rumoured pack on paper next season, they could probably play Stephen Hawking there and be ok.
 
Peat said:
Where did you get that one? I have to say, I'd heard a different name for Ulster's next tighthead...



Depends who he can get to replace him. Given Glaws' rumoured pack on paper next season, they could probably play Stephen Hawking there and be ok.
Click to expand...

I must say it wasn't a very solid rumour, but a mate of mines dad is involved with the Ulster setup and his name was thrown about apparently. Who did you hear?

I think we should get a NIQ loosehead, because with Healy, McGrath and the Munster guy whose name has just left my head, we seem to be good for LH (from an Ireland point of view). If we get a powerful scrummager at LH we could probably get by with Fitzpatrick or Lutton at TH.
 
Depends who they sign for the donkey row and loosehead.
All well and good have brilliant 2 and 3, but if the other 3 in the tight 5 are muck then it's not the best. If they lose Qera and Kalamafoni that'll hurt them too.
Morgan needs to step up his game for his club too.
 
UlsterRugby2012 said:
Hibbard as big a signing as Afoa? Interesting.
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Yes. Although there is probably a massive difference in their wages, Hibbard will be as crucial as Afoa. He actually can be decent in the lineouts (although something was wrong in November for all parts of our lineouts) and is a huge part of the scrum. Not to mention he has a complete disregard for his own body in the loose.
 
UlsterRugby2012 said:
I must say it wasn't a very solid rumour, but a mate of mines dad is involved with the Ulster setup and his name was thrown about apparently. Who did you hear?

I think we should get a NIQ loosehead, because with Healy, McGrath and the Munster guy whose name has just left my head, we seem to be good for LH (from an Ireland point of view). If we get a powerful scrummager at LH we could probably get by with Fitzpatrick or Lutton at TH.
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Would be a project player if it came off. But, seems to be all up in the air at the moment. Lots of possibles, no definites - heard people say we've definitely got a lock, but wasn't told it was definite by my friend. Also seems to be interest in a back-rower and backup 10/15 - no surprises I guess!

I think about the only definite is we're going to be signing more South Africans!
 
Ulster's propping situation is unfortunate. They're going from an area of serious strength to an area of uncertainty. With regards loosehead they should be given some leeway. As has been mentioned, with Kilcoyne, McGrath and Healy all playing regularly (the latter due should be able to get enough time splitting the Leinster 1 shirt) Ireland are reasonably well covered, so a NIQ shouldn't be out of the question. In any case, Callum Black has really grown on me as a LH option.

At tighthead it could be a different scenario, depending on how the IRFU judge things. On one hand Martin Moore is developing at a rate of knots, while Stephen Archer is improving and Nathan White will soon be IQ, which would leave us in a good position. On the other hand, none of them have shown themselves to be capable of propping up an international quality scrum, something Deccie Fitz has in the past. The IRFU may be pretty keen on him being Ulster's starter. This presents a problem in that not only is he a huge step down in terms of quality, his fitness is anything but assured. Ulster will struggle to bring in a top replacement who'd be content with sitting on the bench for the HC games, but they do need a good operator there. Hmmm.
 
TRF_Olyy said:
Depends who they sign for the donkey row and loosehead.
All well and good have brilliant 2 and 3, but if the other 3 in the tight 5 are muck then it's not the best. If they lose Qera and Kalamafoni that'll hurt them too.
Morgan needs to step up his game for his club too.
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Rumours are that Qera is as good as gone.
Kalamafoni recently signed a new contract - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24939433

I think Wood is possibly overrated by some, but he's not been the reason behind their issues as far as I can tell.
He's the sort of player that will play to the quality of the team around him, to an extent.

I think Hudson needs to step up, and I don't know how much I rate Lokotui... and he's 33 apparently.
They could do with signing a decent 2R to go with Stooke if Hudson doesn't improve this season, he's been rather underwhelming.
I'm sure some enormous, nasty lineout operators could be found in SA if need be...

And yes, I think Hibbard is just as big a coup as Afoa.
 
Curiously it seems John Afoa is now the highest paid player in the premiership and third highest in europe according to scrum.com

http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2013-14/rugby/story/208457.html

Very strange to know Gloucester were willing to outbid Toulon, Toulouse and Racing Metro all of which the articles claim were interested. It also says he wanted to go back to the Blues (although they could only afford 18% of his new salary..). Shame as I've been saying we could really use him and we're losing his best years.
 
It's not really strange at all... they have been absolutely dicked in the tight five this season and they are desperate to keep hold of their FH Freddie Burns who is possibly going to Leicester if Flood goes to France.
 
Generally the English clubs are as rich as any in the world.
Our salary cap is about half that of the French one though, but because he's signed as a Marquee player they can pay whatever they like for him.
Gloucester are also the most profitable English club, so they have plenty to spare.
 
edit: Munster meant to be sniffing around Griffin

Feicarsinn said:
Ulster's propping situation is unfortunate. They're going from an area of serious strength to an area of uncertainty. With regards loosehead they should be given some leeway. As has been mentioned, with Kilcoyne, McGrath and Healy all playing regularly (the latter due should be able to get enough time splitting the Leinster 1 shirt) Ireland are reasonably well covered, so a NIQ shouldn't be out of the question. In any case, Callum Black has really grown on me as a LH option.

At tighthead it could be a different scenario, depending on how the IRFU judge things. On one hand Martin Moore is developing at a rate of knots, while Stephen Archer is improving and Nathan White will soon be IQ, which would leave us in a good position. On the other hand, none of them have shown themselves to be capable of propping up an international quality scrum, something Deccie Fitz has in the past. The IRFU may be pretty keen on him being Ulster's starter. This presents a problem in that not only is he a huge step down in terms of quality, his fitness is anything but assured. Ulster will struggle to bring in a top replacement who'd be content with sitting on the bench for the HC games, but they do need a good operator there. Hmmm.
Click to expand...

The last IRFU missive to the press talked about the situation in signing props and acknowledged that Ulster might continue to need latitude at tighthead. A project might be the best of both worlds, particularly if he's a young pup who won't necessarily come in as first choice. Although, considering that Fitzpatrick is made of marshmallow and is a liability in the loose, it won't take much! Realistically, Deccie Fitz on the bench should be good enough for what Ireland need from him i.e. benching. Still say Lutton is the better player, or should be soon.

There was talk of a foreign loosehead, but that's died down. While an extra body would be nice on the loosehead side, Black is not a step down from Court. The real issue is whether PaddyMac can get himself fit...
 
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