RogueXV wrote: Salmson, though you're off by 10 points on this year's difference your point is well taken.

Can't spell, can't add, I'll go a long way.... :oops:

Salmson, though you're off by 10 points on this year's difference your point is well taken. But really 4 of the past 5 years it's only a matter of Connacht winning two more games while Ulster loses two more. Not beyond the realm of possibility especially if Ulster were prepared to use the league to blood some of their younger players.

It ain't gonna be easy but nothing good ever is.

connachtexile wrote: ...chance of passing them out league wise and getting the 3rd Irish Place for the Heineken Cup.

Long road to get there. The gap from the 3rd Irish finisher to us in the league (since it became a proper "home and away" league) is as follows:

03/04 1 place 3 points Leinster
04/05 2 places 6 points Ulster
05/06 7 places 29 points Munster
06/07 4 places 28 points Munster
07/08 1 place 5 pounts Ulster
08/09 2 places 16 points Ulster
09/10 2 places 10 points Ulster
10/11 6 places 28 points Ulster
11/12 2 places 29 points Ulster

I think NOC was quite Homesick as well. Apparently the signings of Williams and NOC are part of "phase 2" of the there plan. They intend to to keep a small amount of top core players for the H Cup and use the Rabo over the next year or two to blood youngsters. They hope that in 2 years time to have caught up with Leinster in youth development and with the talent coming out of Ulster is quite attainable. It's a high risk strategy but if it pays off...

The big factor for us is if Ulster play a Rabo Team which isn't as strong as before (and with NOC and Williams replacing Wannenburg and Humphries it won't be) we have a stronger chance of passing them out league wise and getting the 3rd Irish Place for the Heineken Cup.

rossie wrote: they are talking about it over on uafc and they arent happy about it. apparently they have signed NOC as cover(3rd choice). They were hoping for better.He apparently made the decision to go home mainly because of the arrival of Parks here so figured its better to be 3rd choice living at home than 2nd/3rd in connacht. Also very disappointed by the signing of Nick Williams in there final NIQ spot.To paraphrase them its a far cry from the quality NIQ signings they have been used to and not befitting of the european champions in waiting

If that's true about NOC, it shows a serious lack of ambition/confidence in his own ability. He should have seen the arrival of Parks as an opportunity to learn from one of the most experienced 10's around. Oh well, hopefully Miah will take the opportunity with the right attitude.

rossie wrote: Also very disappointed by the signing of Nick Williams in there final NIQ spot.

Really? Out Humphreys and Wannenberg, in NOC and Williams? They'd better win next weekend, they're not going to be back for a while at this rate...

Re: Williams, would they not have been better leaving a spot empty and giving out 3/4 extra development contracts?

they are talking about it over on uafc and they arent happy about it. apparently they have signed NOC as cover(3rd choice). They were hoping for better.He apparently made the decision to go home mainly because of the arrival of Parks here so figured its better to be 3rd choice living at home than 2nd/3rd in connacht. Also very disappointed by the signing of Nick Williams in there final NIQ spot.To paraphrase them its a far cry from the quality NIQ signings they have been used to and not befitting of the european champions in waiting

Heard a Newstalk interview with Gavin Duffy at the IRUPA Awards (not sure if it was ever broadcast in full but it was sent around to some radio stations). In the middle of it, Duffy does say that O'Connor is going back to Ulster.

no mention of it on any of their sites but with best, brady and annett ahead of him there theres every possibility its true.he has started 25 games and came on in 31 more over 3 seasons which shows he was more than just squad padding tho.

The same people are saying that Kyriacou going are also saying that Nigel Brady is retiring at the end of the season. If so that leaves Best and Annett on the books so Ulster will also be most likely in the market for a Hooker. If so that could be a major problem for us as Ulster are alot more cash rich than us. O'Bryne is looking like the most likely option for us unless Ulster go NIQ.

connachtexile wrote: Did anyone else hear that Andy Kyriacou is leaving Ulster? I wonder were he's headed...

He's going to Cardiff from what I've seen.

no mention of it on any of their sites but with best, brady and annett ahead of him there theres every possibility its true.he has started 25 games and came on in 31 more over 3 seasons which shows he was more than just squad padding tho. i remember that he was with munster but dont remember him playing much. this could be his 3rd province!
they have a table over on ulsterfans which shows ave attendance compared to last season and connacht have increased it by 105%. we knew that it was a huge increase but when yu see it on a league table with percents etc its quite impressive.

Did anyone else hear that Andy Kyriacou is leaving Ulster? I wonder were he's headed...

salmson wrote:

Former Coach wrote: Porterbelly's got it right this time too! O'Connor's on his way back to Ulster & Maguire released.

In that case would Porterbelly like to speculate on who we're going to sign at prop (Borlase?), hooker and centre? :whistle:

Now, that might be mere speculation

Former Coach wrote: Porterbelly's got it right this time too! O'Connor's on his way back to Ulster & Maguire released.

In that case would Porterbelly like to speculate on who we're going to sign at prop (Borlase?), hooker and centre? :whistle:

connachtexile wrote: Thank F*ck for that.

I also want to say as someone who has been on this site and the last one if Porterbelly says something like a player is leaving he's usually nearly 100% right.

Porterbelly's got it right this time too! O'Connor's on his way back to Ulster & Maguire released.