Has Mark Anscombe's appointment been vindicated?

[Feicarsinn]

Okay, simple question. Last year it was decided by the higher echelons of Ulster Rugby management to replace Brian McLaughlin with former New Zealand under 20 coach Mark Anscombe. The decision was greeted by a certain amount of consternation amongst the Irish rugby community considering the progress McLaughlin had made. He had assembled a strong squad, reliant on home-grown talent supplemented with high quality imports. McLaughlin took a team that had finished 8th in the then Magners League in 2009, brought them their first win in England in 2010, took them to the Heineken Cup quarter finals and Magners League playoffs in 2011 and last season took them to their first European Cup final since 1999. He had overseen the emergence of some quality youngsters such as Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson, and Nevin Spence, while at the same time cutting many mediocre players from the squad. In short, he did all that could have been asked of him and more.

So, one might say that his sacking (or relegation, or whatever you want to call it) was unwarranted. But under the new boss Ulster have been immensely impressive. 8 wins from 8 thus far, top of their group in Europe and top of the Rabo. With this in mind, has Anscombe's appointment over McLaughlin been vindicated?

 

[psychic duck]

Too early to judge.

Yes Ulster have started well, but who's to say under McLaughlin they couldn't have done the same?

The real big matches where Ulster will be tested such as the back to back Northampton games, and Heineken Cup knockout stages will be where Anscombe is judged.

 

[Peat]

Hmm. I have to go to work in an hour or so, there's no way I'm going to be able to answer this one satisfactorily...

However, in short -

It's too early to say. Quite possibly way too early. The brief is World Domination. However, insofar as we can say, he's on the right path. It's easy to get very excited as an Ulster fan right now.

I think it's possible to overtalk what Who did and possibly even Anscombe - the squad is very strong now, and not all of that is either man's doing. There are other things to consider about Who's booting in that a lot of the Ulster fans I knew were rather ambivalent about things.

Incidentally, one of the reasons for this ambivalence, was that in this sort of time last year Who bollocksed things up somewhat - it can't be a direct comparison as circumstances change, but to answer PD's question - the evidence suggests he wouldn't have.

Finally, the other part of the McLaughlin decision that would vindicate things is how his work with the Academy and Youth Development goes. I do hear a few things, and some unexcitable men I know have been virtually gushing over what they've seen. Again, it's too early to say, but if it comes off - then that would be considerable vindication, and a huge step forwards towards World Domination.

 

[Tony Manx]

Does McLaughlin speak French by any chance?

 

[Peat]

Does McLaughlin speak French by any chance?

No. **** off. You can't have him.

 

[Tony Manx]

Misery guts!! Will swap you the whole of our first team squad less about 8 players for him................................that should stuff up your club!!

 

[Amiga500]

Well... the support are certainly buying into him.

Apart from the prawn sandwich munching positions, the ground is sold out for the Ulster v. Leinster Pro12 clash.... which is still 6 weeks away.

The stadium redevelopment just can't come quick enough at the minute!

 

[Peat]

Ah crap... was gonna go to that. Can't take your eye off the ball for a minute.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Well... the support are certainly buying into him.

Apart from the prawn sandwich munching positions, the ground is sold out for the Ulster v. Leinster Pro12 clash.... which is still 6 weeks away.

The stadium redevelopment just can't come quick enough at the minute!

Contrast this with the fact that the Ireland vs South Africa game still isn't sold out. Provincial rugby is now bigger than the national team in Ireland.

 

[psychic duck]

Contrast this with the fact that the Ireland vs South Africa game still isn't sold out. Provincial rugby is now bigger than the national team in Ireland.

Do the IRFU still have that ridiculous ticketing policy that led to the grand re-opening of Lansdowne Road having about 15000-20000 seats empty? Is their ticketing a bit more reasonable now?

Perhaps they are asking for a bit too much from Irish fans, especially considering the economic climate, and the fact many may see watching Leinster as better value now given the better standard of rugby they've been playing over the past couple of seasons.

 

[coonor]

The IRFU haven't learned that many "fans" don't want to watch a losing teams that out of form.

Look at Ulster this season.... their attendances have rocketed with games. Its simple as Ulster play better and win, more fans come to watch. Leinster are in the same position with a massive supporters club. Connacht's fan base has more than trippled in recent years. 8,500 for the game against Harlequins the other was superb.

Now contrast that with Munster and Ireland, both teams have experienced decline over the last 3 years. Is it any surprise that their attendances have fallen?

The problem is that Ireland are charging an average of £50 to go and watch a team that just lost 60-0 to NZ and are missing virtually all of their star players.

 

[Feicarsinn]

The IRFU haven't learned that many "fans" don't want to watch a losing teams that out of form.

Look at Ulster this season.... their attendances have rocketed with games. Its simple as Ulster play better and win, more fans come to watch. Leinster are in the same position with a massive supporters club. Connacht's fan base has more than trippled in recent years. 8,500 for the game against Harlequins the other was superb.

Now contrast that with Munster and Ireland, both teams have experienced decline over the last 3 years. Is it any surprise that their attendances have fallen?

The problem is that Ireland are charging an average of £50 to go and watch a team that just lost 60-0 to NZ and are missing virtually all of their star players.

In fairness, Ulster always had high enough attendances. They always filled Ravenhill, even when they were down on their luck.

 

[coonor]

In fairness, Ulster always had high enough attendances. They always filled Ravenhill, even when they were down on their luck.

Have a look at the attendance comparisons on the Ulster fans website. I don't debate that Ulster always had a good following but this season like for like attendances are up by around 2,000 in virtually every game.

 

[Rog]

Okay, simple question. Last year it was decided by the higher echelons of Ulster Rugby management to replace Brian McLaughlin with former New Zealand under 20 coach Mark Anscombe. The decision was greeted by a certain amount of consternation amongst the Irish rugby community considering the progress McLaughlin had made. He had assembled a strong squad, reliant on home-grown talent supplemented with high quality imports. McLaughlin took a team that had finished 8th in the then Magners League in 2009, brought them their first win in England in 2010, took them to the Heineken Cup quarter finals and Magners League playoffs in 2011 and last season took them to their first European Cup final since 1999. He had overseen the emergence of some quality youngsters such as Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson, and Nevin Spence, while at the same time cutting many mediocre players from the squad. In short, he did all that could have been asked of him and more.

So, one might say that his sacking (or relegation, or whatever you want to call it) was unwarranted. But under the new boss Ulster have been immensely impressive. 8 wins from 8 thus far, top of their group in Europe and top of the Rabo. With this in mind, has Anscombe's appointment over McLaughlin been vindicated?[/
results aside ulster are playing a different type of rugby this season. 1-15 are looking for the off load and playing with the basic skills and attacking edge that wasn't there last season. We in danger of been carried and expecting the transformation to be all down in one season but compare the fact that Munster/Penney are trying to play the same rugby. Ulster have done unbelievably well so far.
So yes it was harsh but a good decision.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Mark Anscombe has done an impressive job so far. Is it 10 wins from 10 games? What I like most about it is that Ulster are trying to play expansive rugby and are trusting their younger players to do a job. There's no more babysitting of Paddy Jackson when he's on the field for example.

I'd urge caution before naming Anscombe the messiah though. His time as coach in New Zealand was full of mixed results and performances to put it mildly. Keeping that in mind, it'll be the end of this season before we have a clearer picture of the job he's doing. Ulster are on the right track in terms of youth development, improving facilities, high class recruitment and on the field performance but it's too early to say that Anscombe will have the same positive impact on Ulster as, say Warren Gatland has for Wales or Joe Schmidt has for Leinster.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Last two games have been shakey - against Zebre were we should have lost and now Treviso right now we're losing 7-3. To be fair we have a lot of players missing (14?) but we should still be in control of these games.