Glasgow Warriors - Ulster (25-11-2011, 19:35)

[TRF_Cymro]

Firhill Stadium, Glasgow (25-11-11, 19:35 GMT)

Ref: Stefano Penne (FIR, 7th competition game)

Live on BBC ALBA, BBC NI and RTE Sport
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[TRF_Ezequiel]

vBookie Glasgow - Ulster

Chance to earn some TRF bucks! Glasgow - Ulster! vBookie added for this one

 

[Seaton]

Could only get a turgid connection that lasted 10 minutes, fit do the resident Ulstermen think of the game?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I didn't watch the whole game but the score line follows a familiar trend for Ulster. They've an excellent first choice XV but eyond that they've no depth. Without Payne, Gilroy, Wallace and Pienaar behind the scrum, they looked impotent. Without Best, Afoa, Ferris and Henry in the pack they looked clueless and their lineout becomes a shambles. If I was in charge of Ulster, I'd look to sign a new flyhalf, a couple of props, a hooker and a couple of backrows. Only then will they have a squad capable of competing consistently at the top end of both the European and Pro 12 stages. Players like Andy Kyriacou, Declan Fitzpatrick, Robbie Diack, Ian Humphreys (has the talent but no consistency) aren't good enough if Ulster have designs on becoming one of the top half dozen teams in Europe.

 

[coonor]

The best part of the match was when the touch judge recommended the ref give Kyriacou "a bollocking" after a late strike. :lol:

 

[Peat]

Could only get a turgid connection that lasted 10 minutes, fit do the resident Ulstermen think of the game?

I'm still swearing. Ulster had the winning of that, I think the stats would show that they had more of the ball and the territory, but an injured iHumph left behind half the points on the field (in a swirling wind) and Ulster gave Glasgow their points far too easily. It was an ugly game because of the weather but sweet jesus that team plays at Ravenhill. They should know how to cope with muck.

To give ye a few pointers towards the Glasgae performance, the young lad at the back was very assured, Weir is rapidly becoming one of the players I least like seeing step forwards towards a kicking tee, Pyrgos was muck. I think Glasgow were in Ulster's 22 only two times in the entire second half - both of which they scored from, which is great, but thats slightly worrying at home.

Snoopy's got a point about the depth but that side did enough to win it except in the execution. Diack and Fitzpatrick may not be good enough for Europe's elite (or at least, not that close to the frontline) but my gods they're good enough to win in Glasgow. That team should have won. It nearly did.

However, we can't go and buy in those players - the money and NIQ slots/IQ players aren't really there as a rule - and tbh, nor should we. Jackson has a massive amount of potential, we should be grooming him to oust Humphreys. McAllister's also got a lot of potential while it looks like Macklin isn't a lost cause after all. One of Annett and Murphy should end up being a senior Ulster hooker (and tbh, that was a bit of an aberration for Kyriacou, who I rate highly). Back row is a problem and that probably will see some imports but even there we can see some prospects and ultimately if Ulster are going to become one of the top half dozen teams in Europe we'll have to produce the players ourselves. It won't happen quickly, short term our goals must be more modest - although we've still all but shat the bed on that score this season.

 

[Seaton]

Shot