Mark Mostyn wrote:

salmson wrote:

Misfit wrote: I know its the Indo so a pinch of salt is to be taken with this

"Ulster have tried to recruit some back-row talent from other provinces but have been unable to convince their targets to move, but Connacht scrum-half John Cooney is understood to have agreed to replace Ruan Pienaar."

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-ru...hakeup-35361539.html

With my Connacht had on, this is a shame, he's an excellent player and we should look to have the depth we do at 9 at every position.

But from an Ireland POV, it's kind of nuts having the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th best Irish scrum halves at one province.

Exactly how I feel, but no way is Blade better than Luke McGrath

Actually I'd say Blade is just as good as McGrath,
But has had less opportunities because for the last three seasons Marmion has been ridiculously consistent, and healthy...

McGrath was hugely overrated simply because he has come out of the Leinster Schools system fro a very strong St Michael's cup winning side, some are genuinely worthy of the fanfare but he's been no more than decent whenever I've watched him in a Leinster jersey. Certainly nowhere near Marmion's standard when fit. He made his Pro12 debut a full year before Marmion, but wasn't able to dislodge eiother of Leinsters two veteran nine's at the time...

They way he was being talked about in the Dublin based media after Ireland U-20's, you'd nearly expect him to be a Lion at this stage instead of still just breaking through in the Leinster jersey. He hasn't nailed down the number nine jersey as his own, Gibson Park is getting as much game time as him in Pro12 fixtures, for a reason..

salmson wrote:

Misfit wrote: I know its the Indo so a pinch of salt is to be taken with this

"Ulster have tried to recruit some back-row talent from other provinces but have been unable to convince their targets to move, but Connacht scrum-half John Cooney is understood to have agreed to replace Ruan Pienaar."

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-ru...hakeup-35361539.html

With my Connacht had on, this is a shame, he's an excellent player and we should look to have the depth we do at 9 at every position.

But from an Ireland POV, it's kind of nuts having the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th best Irish scrum halves at one province.

Exactly how I feel, but no way is Blade better than Luke McGrath

Even more worrying is the bit at the end linking Neil Doak as being in the frame to replace Pat.

Misfit wrote: I know its the Indo so a pinch of salt is to be taken with this

"Ulster have tried to recruit some back-row talent from other provinces but have been unable to convince their targets to move, but Connacht scrum-half John Cooney is understood to have agreed to replace Ruan Pienaar."

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-ru...hakeup-35361539.html

With my Connacht hat on, this is a shame, he's an excellent player and we should look to have the depth we do at 9 at every position.

But from an Ireland POV, it's kind of nuts having the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th best Irish scrum halves at one province.

I know its the Indo so a pinch of salt is to be taken with this

"Ulster have tried to recruit some back-row talent from other provinces but have been unable to convince their targets to move, but Connacht scrum-half John Cooney is understood to have agreed to replace Ruan Pienaar."

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-ru...hakeup-35361539.html

He seems to get plenty of touches in each game too. Hopefully he will be able to add to those highlight reels soon

What about a 10/12/13 against Zebre of Ronaldson, Farrell, Parata.

Heres another one of Tom Farrell. looks like he could develop into a fine player!

Yeah looks to have a lovely offload alright. Not sure what to think of the breaks because a lot of the opposition tackling/defending is appalling but he seems to pick good lines at least. Couple decent kicks in there too though he'll have less time on the ball to think about it at a higher level. Still though, all in all promising and hopefully training and playing with a player like Aki could see him turn in to a really good player.

found this video clips/montage on youtube of Tom Farrell, he's no.13



some nice offloads in his armoury

RogueXV wrote: Certainly wouldn't be dropping him in against Toulouse in France unless absolutely necessary. So maybe Cardiff or Dragons but as someone said we could have other cover returning by then.

Dawai, Andress, and Farrell have all been added to the EPCR squad so Crosbie and McCabe will be with the Eagles the next two weekends.

Certainly wouldn't be dropping him in against Toulouse in France unless absolutely necessary. So maybe Cardiff or Dragons but as someone said we could have other cover returning by then.

Craic Head wrote: Several Weeks of prep? more like several Days.

I know that Pat wanted the young lad back, but it does not take several weeks to learn calls. This is being overstated, with a few pitch sessions and a good day in the classroom with the books and video sessions, you can learn a lot.

Crosbie, to run an unfamiliar back line at this level? Would ya stop...

Sure he'd also need to be assessed as to mental readiness before dropping him into match squad,, bearing in mind he's been let go by Leinster and Munster and the Kiwi trip unlike Gavin Thornbury didn't lead to anything...

'He was then moved to a better hospital where his condition was upgraded to "Alive"'

pinky wrote:

Jack Carty picked up a low grade medial knee ligament sprain against Ospreys. He is unavailable this week and his fitness will be monitored ahead of the round 6 Champions Cup clash.

That's a bit of an upgrade from the ruptured ACL - out for a year - report I heard from someone at the stadium and believed for some reason.

Sky put that out during the game.

Jack Carty picked up a low grade medial knee ligament sprain against Ospreys. He is unavailable this week and his fitness will be monitored ahead of the round 6 Champions Cup clash.

That's a bit of an upgrade from the ruptured ACL - out for a year - report I heard from someone at the stadium and believed for some reason.