Has Ulster's homegrown flyhalf hope become 'persona non grata'? - Neil Best
A horse never runs so fast as when he has other horses to catch up and outpace
Cardiff’s surprise win at Edinburgh last weekend was as good for Ulster as their Ravenhill bonus win against Zebre. Conference B in the Pro14 is by far the more interesting, with a fantastic close contest for playoff places, behind run away leaders Leinster.
Scarlets are sitting fifth but only five points adrift of second place Benetton and the Welsh side has a much easier run in. Sandwiched between them are Edinburgh and Ulster, with the Scots away to the Italians this Saturday -in a huge crunch game for both sides.
Players are often advised to play one week to the next and not focus too much on two and three games ahead. I was always the opposite. I enjoyed the mental exercise of working through the maths and predicting the outcome of other fixtures and what those results might mean for my Club. If any of Ulster’s current crop are doing the same exercise today, they will know that March is the month that will make or break their season.
Home and away with very winnable games in the Pro14, followed by the near impossible challenge of putting Leinster to the sword in a Dublin European quarter-final. Any two out of three will mean a positive end of season.
In Belfast last weekend much more of Ulster’s broader playing pool was on show. We are also getting to see more of who Dan McFarland will be placing his confidence in the seasons to come. Robert Baloucoune is showing more and more ability in every game he plays, and fellow winger Rob Lyttle played with the confidence of someone who starts every week.
Lyttle has just signed a new contrast along with reserve scrum half Dave Shanahan, prop Ross Kane and Alan O’Connor, who I had a sneaking suspicion might have been tempted away from Ulster at the end of this season. Not least with the announcement that Brumbies lock Sam Carter will be joining in the Autumn.
Those contract announcements followed hotly on the heels of Eric O’Sullivan, Michael Lowry and James Hume. And now rumours of Lions prop Jack McGrath moving north are building.
Ulster fans often talk of being “given” players who haven’t made it at Leinster or another province. And it was only a matter of time before one of those became a source of real regret in Dublin -and it’s increasingly looking like Eric O’Sullivan may well become that player. The idea that McGrath could soon be sharing the load with him in Belfast will cause real joy in Belfast and some serious dismay in Dublin.
It’s not positive for all though, the selection of Pete Nelson at flyhalf, ahead of Jonny McPhillips, strongly suggests McPhillips might be playing elsewhere next season. McPhillips did a great job taking over from Christian Lealiifano mid-season last year and was central to steering Ulster back into Champions Cup rugby. But for whatever reason he has hardly featured under McFarland and he’s starting to look like persona no grata.
This weekend I expect to see a few returnees from Ireland duty get game time in Newport. And for me some involvement of the likes of John Cooney, Rory Best, Iain Henderson or Jordi Murphy will tip the balance in Ulster’s favour. Don’t expect Jacob Stockdale to feature though, he’s just too good and too important for Ireland these days. His natural ability to score important tries -often from nothing -is a gift from above.
Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
51 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
51 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
51 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
51 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
51 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
51 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
51 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments