thanks again all - just to let you know the answers are up here - www.uafc.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17979&p=504078#p504078 - if you want to go over for a natter or get involved!

Hoping for a great game Saturday....feel it'll be tight as. Would take a scruffy win right now. I'd even throw yis in an LBP just to be nice

cheers for getting stuck in lads.

congrats on your fine choice in the marriage stakes

...I might just let her see that ha ha!

Interesting that you'd largely all take McCloskey. You;d have a fight on your hands I'd imagine, he's been a real find and seems to have an impact every time he comes on. Realistically Ulster have been blessed with centres coming through and it's crazy to think that at this stage we may find success without players as good as Marshall and Olding. the latter in particular is probably the most exciting player I've seen in my time watching Ulster.

I have huge hopes for O'Hagan in the future. Only saw him in the Exeter friendly away at the start of the season but he looked like a prospect for sure. I wouldn't be hugely up to speed on the U20 game in general, I'll have to keep my eyes out for Gaffney and Masterson.

the latest post on Whiff of Cordite fairly sums up Mils' Connacht spell for me. As someone's commented there...the fact that he's being spoken of in the equation of all time rubbish provincial imports shows how far Connacht have come so far. I didn't quite realise the positivity until recently, would love to see you nail down top 6 and kick on from there. After Saturday of course

Good idea to get another perspective and congrats on your fine choice in the marriage stakes.


Ulster

What do you think of Ulster this season - on and off the pitch?
I am amazed at how well they are doing when you think that no Ulster fan seems happy. The coaching team is weird with the whole Kiss thing, coming after the WC. Doak is on a strange ticket and although injuries affect you, they affect everyone. Off the pitch seems strong, you have a big advantage in Sterling being strong and the big fan base.

Which 3 players would you take from Ulster?
I would take back Sean O'Hagan, who I still think is the best attacking young fly half that I have seen play for our 20's and in the AIL with Corinthians.
I would take McCloskey who could be a great 12 and it would let Robbie play 13 (I would then have them both in the Ireland team and drop Payne who is not a natural 13, Robbie is)
I would take Alan O'Connor who is potentially a great second row and would strengten our pack.
You would not miss those 3 and keep your big names (Jackson, Olding, Henderson, Best, Pienaar, Bowe etc) just send them down.

Who'll win on Saturday, & how?
Connacht, by playing like we did against Munster at home, win up front, win the game. Bundee back will help a lot too.

How do you see the rest of Ulster's season going?
If a home semi final is achieved then you can win the thing. Raven-span is a tough place to play and the home advantage would be huge. Keep Jackson and Henderson fit to do so.


Connacht

What do you make of the season so far? What's the main positive / negative for Connacht?
We are just better this year, more competitive. Could do with a ten playing more consistently well. Between Jack, Craig and Mia none of the three have stood out and grabbed the position.

Who has stood out?
For me Tom McCartney, by some distance. Buckley has been good as well.

Will we see the best of Henshaw at 12 or 13?
13, he is being moulded to a 12.

How do you feel about Willie Faloon returning to Ulster?
No real feelings at all, he needs to get a serious shoulder problem sorted. Good player when fit but not world beater. He is from Ulster so good luck to him.

Recent allegations aside - what do you make of Mils Muliaina? Has he been worth it?
No, not for me, money could have been spent on so many other things, would rather good players with further development or top players, not someone who stays just for a season.

Who'll be your next players to break through internationally? Denis Buckley? Do you fear losing promising players once they make it into international reckoning?
Every player who becomes a top international risks moving on as their value goes up and the lure of winning things is great, even Leinster lost their best 10 and have had to get outside money to bring him back. If we become a top six team on a regular basis, that will keep players. I think our nest batch or Irish internationals will come from the young players. Buckley will (should be now) a wolfhounds player but might lack the bit of size needed at the top test level. I think that my tip would be Ciaran Gaffney in our 20's he has all the attributes to go on and be an international test player. If they keep progressing Eoghan Masterson and Ultan Dillane could as well.



The Wider Scene

How do you view rugby in the West? Can it develop further, and if so - how?
Yes. Need to get the GAA schools more involved. Great to see St Jarlaths win an emerging rugby schools competition this year, greatest football school in the country. You will see stand out athletes no matter what and find a few gems in there.


Is Euro qualification vital to keep interest in the game from flagging? Is this year's 6th place target more important than previous years in terms of your future growth?
No, we will come close no matter what and that is progress. We need to keep getting better every year. I hope that we target the challenge cup some year, and obviously the champions cup would be a great achievement, but if we got a good draw, I believe that we could win the challenge cup and that would be huge for us and the west. We had Exeter in our group this year and missed out on the home draw quarter final. I think that they will go on and win it.

As I say it's all meant in the best possible taste and if there's anything I can take back over just let me know.
Good luck for the rest of the season.............. except this week end.

Ulster
•What do you think of Ulster this season - on and off the pitch?
Only ok on the pitch. Quietly doing their stuff in Pro 12. Void in the coaching, Doak in a no win situation with Kiss coming back - not fair on the guy.
•Which 3 players would you take from Ulster?
er...Pienaar, Jackson and Henderson, plus Trimble and Bowe if they are not settled :whistle:
•Who'll win on Saturday, & how?
Probably Ulster - LBP for Connacht
•How do you see the rest of Ulster's season going?
If they make the final they will win. Need to avodi and away semi, so need to finsh at least 2nd.


Connacht
•What do you make of the season so far? What's the main positive / negative for Connacht?
Ok, have left some soft poinbst behind, esp Cardiff at home and Edinburgh. Also unlucky not to have a LBP in RDS , so should really be 5th. Muliana disappointing and Marmion not playing as well as last year. Like Lam's attitude and honesty, that is a real positive
•Who has stood out?
Healy, Buckley, Quinn Roux and the lock the beard whose name I can't remember.... :silly: Muldowney :ohmy:
•Will we see the best of Henshaw at 12 or 13?
He will stand out more at 13, but have a bigger team impact at 12.
•How do you feel about Willie Faloon returning to Ulster?
Wish him well. Honest player.
•Recent allegations aside - what do you make of Mils Muliaina? Has he been worth it?
Bit like Dan Parks, great influence but power on pitch has declined
•Who'll be your next players to break through internationally? Denis Buckley? Do you fear losing promising players once they make it into international reckoning?
Hard one. Only Buckley on current panel and Marmion. Maybe Masterson in a few years.



The Wider Scene
•How do you view rugby in the West? Can it develop further, and if so - how?
Need to widen schools game. But good progress being made.
•Is Euro qualification vital to keep interest in the game from flagging? Is this year's 6th place target more important than previous years in terms of your future growth?
Yes, but not a disaster either. Just keep improving step by step.

What do you think of Ulster this season - on and off the pitch?

I'm amazed they've managed to maintain their annual playoff position after the faffing about at coach. Ulster looked great under Kiss at the start, have lost their way a bit since but still not enough to jeopardise their standing.

Which 3 players would you take from Ulster?

Willie John MacBride, Jack Kyle and Mike Gibson

How do you see the rest of Ulster's season going?

3rd and out in the semi-final after being completely bruised by a hideous final 3 matches.

What do you make of the season so far? What's the main positive / negative for Connacht?

Incredible season. A winning record after 18 games, our highest number of wins and points total and 9 second half clean sheets so far. Negative is still our squad size, injuries destabilise us more than most teams.

Will we see the best of Henshaw at 12 or 13?

You only have to watch how we turned the second half around against Glaws when Robbie moved to 13 to see that's his real position. If we play him at 12 it's because we've little choice with injuries.

How do you feel about Willie Faloon returning to Ulster?

I'm a huge fan of Mad Willie. We'll miss him, but he spent so much time injured he wasn't really financially justified.

Who'll be your next players to break through internationally? Denis Buckley? Do you fear losing promising players once they make it into international reckoning?

Buckley has some pretty good looseheads ahead of him internationally, but he should have been in the Wolfhounds squad at the very least.

1. In transition and varying from poor to competent imo. losing Anscombe and humph's plus retirements has hurt team imo and having to wait for kiss is ridiculous and unhelpful.
2. herbst, henderson and olding. no brainer.
3. can't see past ulster tbh. Connacht seem to have lost their mojo but hope I'm wrong.
4. They were given great motivation when final was inexplicably fixed for ravenhill mid season. It depends on this fixture and munster at home though. win both and ulster will probably win league.

I will leave your questions about connacht to the connacht lads but I think they need 10/11 points to get 6th.

I disagree about Buckley. I think he can and will play for ireland. He probably won't be a regular due to competition but he is definitely good enough to earn caps. cracking player imo and if he ever decides to leave connacht I would be delighted to see him at munster.

Hey I like this Idea I'll put up a few thoughts

Ulster
1 Ulster have been going really well on the pitch seem a tad disorganised of it though when ye have a steady management team I'll say you'll be rocking, Nick Williams being out for the season is a weird blessing for ye.
2 I'll take Paddy Jackson, we need a 10. Chris Henry that experience in the Backrow would really give us an edge we need and Stuart Mckloskey we need top quality people for the squad he's going to be mammoth.
3 I want to say Connacht I really do. good home form but we need to play at our best but your firepower outside 10 is un real and will really put us to the sword.
4 top 4 finish for sure

Connacht
1 this season has been great and disappointing all at the same time dropped points at home and away would have us practically secured 6th by now but dropping 6 points to the Blues and 4 to Edinburgh. Main positive is the fact we are starting to look like we deserve to be at the top table of rugby.
2 outside Henshaw, McCartney roux and Cooney have been great for me good additions to the squad and really grew as the year progressed, I like to see players improve as much as anything else.
3 Henshaw is a better 13 IMO that bit more space to attack a soft shoulder and can read a defensive line better
4 its a shame but at the same time we are bringing in cover himself and Heenan have traded injuries I hope he can get game time for ye.
5 Mils was worth it at the beginning really brought positive attention to Connacht bit overall on the pitch (where it matters most) he's failed to deliver overall.
6 Buckley wont make it internationally, I dont think Joe will call him up if he is. good players want to win trophies so I do see any international class players leaving when the time comes unless we start getting top 4 in the pro 12.

The Wider Scene
1 Rugby in the west has still a good amount to grow its 2nd or 3rd sport in most areas so as everything success breeds interest so Connacht will need to keep progressing and the club scene needs a boost of players so hopefully more players are playing higher levels of AIL and in and around the fringes of the Connacht squads and academies.
2 6th is the be all and end all really top table rugby brings new fans and more money that we can invest its all circular, get more band wagon supporters they fall in love with the game and increase the base. I think overall we're heading in the right direction but more can be done.

I'm looking forward to the match and I always enjoy the Ulster fans a really good crowd. hope you enjoy the match.

Evening all...

Ulster fan - I come in peace before the weekend!

Over the season so far I've been doing a semi-regular "Ask the Opposition" - trying to get a bit of a vibe off other fans, gather intel, get new perspectives on things etc. So far we've been going pretty well - there's some links to the previous efforts here.

I've recently married into the Wesht and have a bit of a soft spot for you; the first season I started watching Ulster properly involved a Heiny bunfight with yourselves. I'd be hugely grateful if you'd have a go at a few of the questions below, gathered from UAFC. Likewise, any questions / comments / well-mannered abuse you'd like me to take back over, just shout!

I'll kick off with the q's now and will hopefully fire some answers up on our side Friday or so. It's all meant in good spirits but if there's anything that riles ye just give me a kicking. Feel free to pick and choose any you like - Thanks!



Ulster

• What do you think of Ulster this season - on and off the pitch?
• Which 3 players would you take from Ulster?
• Who'll win on Saturday, & how?
• How do you see the rest of Ulster's season going?

Connacht

• What do you make of the season so far? What's the main positive / negative for Connacht?
  
• Who has stood out?
• Will we see the best of Henshaw at 12 or 13?
• How do you feel about Willie Faloon returning to Ulster?
• Recent allegations aside - what do you make of Mils Muliaina? Has he been worth it?
• Who'll be your next players to break through internationally? Denis Buckley? Do you fear losing promising players once they make it into international reckoning?


The Wider Scene

• How do you view rugby in the West? Can it develop further, and if so - how?
• Is Euro qualification vital to keep interest in the game from flagging? Is this year's 6th place target more important than previous years in terms of your future growth?

As I say it's all meant in the best possible taste and if there's anything I can take back over just let me know. Hoping for a good game Saturday - we've both so much to play for, and I think you'll be keen to raise spirits again after the disappointment v Glaws. Good luck!