Not going to say too much because most has been covered, obviously things aren't good enough right now but I would hope there is not too much chopping and changing in the backs especially as this will just make it harder for players to gel imo. I think its also worth pointing out that Dave Ellis the skills coach does not seem to have arrived yet and hopefully his presence will see an improvement and a reduction in knock ons and poor decision making.

tomsauce2000 wrote: I have to disagree Porterbelly. None of our 3 club captains are in your 23. Duffy is our best back. Last night he was running ball he would have kicked last year. Duffy is excellent in the air. He should be encouraged to use the garryowen but this seems to be against Lam's philosophy.

Muldoon and Swift were both very good last night. Muldoon is a definite starter in my book and Swift is worth a place on the bench at least.

We were lucky to retain the ball when Duffy ran with it. There was nobody on his shoulder. He can't break the line or get thru a gap, he hasnt the pace anymore. TOH or Henshaw at 15 for me.

I have great time for all 3 of the lads, but Muldoon and Swifty just aren't up to starting anymore. If we're going to throw the ball around then we need lads who'll carry and make hard yards. I think Browne showed last year when played at 6 that he's our best option there. He's also another lineout option. I think Fifita is worth a try at some stage as well. Nobody among our back row players has anything close to the power that he has. If we can harness that and get him motoring he could be real asset.

We've been poor in our first 3 games. The first half last night was good, at least we showed a bit of intensity

For me, the players I would say are in form and are worth their place on the showings up to now are

Faloon
Heenan
White
JHW
Healy
Griffin

I would say Henshaw should be retained and would like to see a combo of Muldowney and Clarke in the 2nd row. JHW and Faloon will probably be out for awhile. Marmion is our only real option at 9, he's done ok so far

Every other place is up for grabs imo

Personally id like to see a few changes for next game, if all were available and fit

1. Buckley
2. JHW (like to see Heffernan as back up, has good potential)
3. White
4. Browne/Muldowney
5. Clarke
6. Heenan
7. Faloon
8. Fifita
9. Marmion (be nice to see Walsh given little bit of game time)
10. Ronaldson (Parks to close out game)
11. Healy
12. McSharry
13. Henshaw
14. Carr
15. So'oialo

I have to disagree Porterbelly. None of our 3 club captains are in your 23. Duffy is our best back. Last night he was running ball he would have kicked last year. Duffy is excellent in the air. He should be encouraged to use the garryowen but this seems to be against Lam's philosophy.

Muldoon and Swift were both very good last night. Muldoon is a definite starter in my book and Swift is worth a place on the bench at least.

We have to sort out the breakdown ! Way to slow to get numbers there. Ulster were way sharper over the ball in contact, I actually thought that Lacy reffed it very well. I like Heenan a lot, but we need more people prepared to steal the ball and protect it in contact. I suppose it is easy from the stands, but it sticks out to me, you can find lots of faults, but keeping the ball in contact is the most basic thing in this game.

I thought George was poor also.
Muldowney kept taking the ball into contact without properly protecting it.
Faloon is a huge loss. Granted he could have passed to Marmion, but in general he was in top form.
Parks created a try and gave a try away. Just never certain when he is going to disappear from defence. However the back do need him as no-one seemed to step and lead when he went.
Griffin looks very good at 12 I think. Really liked his distribution there and he put in some great tackles. More than that he was started to take a leadership role on once Parks was off... he needs to be encouraged on that front.
I disagree with the general malaise about Duffy. He was solid, and his kicking was good.

Cannot fathom the obsession with George on this forum. He has been by far our worst player this year. Every time he carries the ball, he thinks he's feckin Dan Carter trying to run around people or throw a ridiculous pass. His decision making is just awful and we usually lose yards whenever he gets the ball!

thought muldoon played really well yesterday. tried his heart out.

i wonder how healy would go at 13?

If we want to play the game Pat wants to play then we have to get the likes of Muldowney, Fifita and maybe Browne as well in the team. We need lads who can carry the ball into contact and make hard yards. But as well as this, the lads who aren't carrying need to be smashing rucks. Our technique at ruck time isn't good enough. Lam for a a former flanker should have expertise here. We're too soft. We need to smash lads who are slowing the ball down and they'll think twice about going again.

They are some of the best and loyal players we have seen, we've been lucky to have them but Duffy, Mul and Swift aren't starters anymore. Duffy hasn't the pace he once had to make line breaks. Mul and Swifty are honest toilers but they aren't carriers and they just aren't at the pace of it against the top teams, which Ulster are.

A win is a must next week, although it's not going to be easy

Naoupu has been poor so far this year. He needs to rediscover his form. We know on his day he's a great ball carrier so I'd give him the nod next week and see what he can so

Provided everyone if fit I'd go

Buckley
Henry
White
Clarke
Muldowney
Browne
Heenan
Naoupu

Marmion
Parks
Healy
Griffin
Henshaw
Poolman
TOH

Rael
Loughney
Wilko
Fifita
McKeon
POD
Ronaldson
Carr

Parks in fairness to him worked hard for the first 40 minutes but the kicks he's missing now (e.g Zebre , Cardiff and now Ulster matches) he was slotting over last year. This was really why Connacht got him to make sure those kicks were scored. He's not taking these chances any longer.

The kick he missed to put us to 10 was a heart=breaker as it would have , I felt ,stabilised us a bit. Think Robbie is still better and more effective for us at 15 and not 13. Dave McSharry is badly missed - his mother said another month when I talking to her last night. Griffin is great young fella who works his socks off but has not shown enough guile and creativity recently. Buckley is missed big style also.

Just genuinely disappointed how the second half just petered out - Ulster won the game in a 5 minute spell after the re-start. It feels to me that Connacht really have a problem with the first 20 minutes of each second half they play. Opposition pressures them straight away and Connncht look not prepared for it. They know its coming but makes no odds. May be wrong but it feels that way ...?

Lam talks a good talk and he needs time. But God, we were poor last night when it came to breaking the line.

Can only hope it improves over time....

we just don't have the right mix of power and pace to play the way Lam is trying, too many flat passes to players getting isolated with easy Ulster turnovers and what that meant was that we just could'nt get multiple phases of play. I thought Clarke was good for the 40 minutes and Muldowney offers a bit more than Swift even though he knocked on twice in contact. I thought Griffin had one of his better games, Parks was at fault for the try, he should have trusted Heenan. Looking ahead getting McSharry at 12 will be huge for us, that will let Henshaw move back to fullback where he offers more going forward than Duffy. Henshaw is not yet a centre, he doesnt have a step or the power to break the defences but there are signs there if he continue to develop physically that he could be a Jamie Roberts type centre. As far as outhalf you need a playmaker who can also break tackles, a kicking out-half is not as important in the modern game, you just have to look at most of the current New Zealand out-halves. Like to see Ronaldson start next week and give the guy a chance.

I have liked everything Pat has been saying in the press so far but to date he has not been backing it up. I would love him to come out and say we have been s***e in the last two games and put a bit of pressure on the team to up their performances.

I am worried for the Heineken cup pool games at this rate!

I re watched the game this morning on RTE and it is still terrible. The rte guys said at half time that Connacht were the better team etc. They then said but we have been here before and they have lost these games. It is exactly what we did.

Second week in a row we have failed to score in the second half. I think it is time to leave loyalty to one side. Swifty hit everything that moved for the first half hour and was great. He then tired and unfortunately is gone past the stage of playing 80 mins. I also do not think he is captain material as I do not think he communicates with the referee well. Parks has been very poor for us this year I feel. His usually reliable boot is all over the place. He also seems to have little interest compared to last year and I wonder if it is one year too much for him. Griffin is not a 12 IMO and Carr looked afraid to try and take anyone on the outside and more interested in trying to cut back inside. They work sometimes but the man has gas, use it! Our front row reserves offer nothing and when I see them coming on it feels like curtains. Everyone on this forum knows about Rodneys inabilities. Whatever Buckley has done needs to be forgiven, and if it is injury we need him back asap.

On paper I thought our team had the beating of them last night. There is not doubt about it that Ulster were poor and to leave with no points is criminal!

Rant over

again matt healy looks a find he looked threatening with ball in hand as does henshaw but by god were all those passes either flat or behind them - ulster could re-align so easily it was all so futile

henry did ok when he came on - dynamic in the loose undone by a woeful overcooked throw; swifty doesn't cut the mustard im afraid he's suited to one type of game and that's pick and go and mauls and he is very good at this and we should actually have reverted to this so many times in the second half - the decision making was so poor. i know lam wants an expansive game but you have to mix it up - so many times we ran from our own 22 - we were ahead 7-5 after the break!! its all far too predictable we have no structure to our play ... line outs were hit and miss - i just don't get how you cant practice practice practice and get this right...

for the team the next day should be:
white henry buckley clarke naupou muldoon heenan browne ronaldson marmion carr poolman griffin healy henshaw

galway_gas wrote: Clarkes substitution was planned. JHW has a biceps tear - same as he had last year - 4-6weeks. Willie has a ? metatarsal injury.

Willie left on crutches last night. He "hopes it's not too bad".

Spoke with McSharry. He's still rehabbing but back in training and is targetting the Sarries game as his return date. He can't come back quick enough IMO. Griffin doesn't cut it at 12

Disappointed with what was on show. Missing Mccarthy on a few fronts. Need to refocus on basics and play the conditions. Ulster at 60% dealt with us easily. Worrying this early.....

To lose JHW is dispiriting. He's being in top form all season it's also a huge amount of responsibility to put on Henry and Rael's shoulders but that's all we can do. Think people are being to hard on the team each to there own.