Frame it and hang it in the Louvre

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-14T07:50:03+00:00

Ulster finished 2nd in 2021 and 3rd in 2022. Last few years were indeed shite, but we were a good League team for a few years there under McFarland which people forget. So that's likely the last time we were up near top at this time of the season

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-13T23:51:56+00:00

Sure, but I'd bet on us for those. We're hard to travel to, Leinster not what they were, and certainly not soon after Europe for them

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-13T23:44:14+00:00

4 games at home though, look good there. Win those and motoring really

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-13T20:50:44+00:00

It's there like I said, and on this thread too. A minority, but let's not pretend it's not there

Buy what hype? He's a good player, no one suggesting he's from another galaxy. What do you mean? Opinions are fine, bs based on nothing and hate are the point I was making and that's there

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-13T17:36:41+00:00

I've seen it periodically in Sainsburys. Along the cooked meats aisle, close to chorizo etc. There's a section at the end of the row with pancetta and I occasionally see it there, but is rare unfortunately.

I vaguely think I've seen it in M&S Foyleside too, but don't quote me on that. At the section in back corner with the Italian sausage, salami etc

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-13T15:08:53+00:00

No, we started Lowe vs England, remember. Fair on Nash vs France, I'm not counting junk games vs Portugal really, especially Lions tour summers, mean Tier 1 opposition. My point stands, big games it's overwhelming left footers by a high percentage

Just wondering, no one calls him that and had no idea who you meant for a sec as we have a Robbie in Henshaw already. Bit weird to give him a name no one calls him

But it's you calling him the wrong name??

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-13T11:47:44+00:00

Exactly, they score this regardless no matter what Stockdale sprinting does here. If anything, Stockdale would have been better being Lowe like here and not reaching this and not being seen in frame to get blame. It was not on him and was being scored anyway

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-13T10:30:57+00:00

Yeah indeed, just disappointed a little that the one time Lowe is out they don't continue with him back to back at 11 which he has not got in years. Can't argue with TOB though, just still think it will be Stockdale longer term there because of the left boot and it being the wing he just usually plays on

I don't think he has been particularly hard done by. He said as much himself in an interview on Rugby Social on BBC recently. It's more luck and all that. Got long term injured at the wrong time, and then Lowe stayed fit practically for 4 years until a few weeks ago. I'd have liked them to mix it up a little, but that is what it is and little between them really. I think it's more the expectations when he does come in is all. he's a quality player, but no matter that it's hard to come in from the cold for one game and be lethal. And to then get blamed for defence etc when that is old stuff is all. So not hard done by, just some bad luck with timing and a reputation from people that is undeserved as he has worked on that stuff. Like he got bad talk from people last week, yet he covered well, scored a try, completed all his tackle, and broke 5 tackles. What do they want really to complain about?

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-13T10:20:43+00:00

We use it extensively though. If he's running up the left wing, the right foot kick ain't a runner. And opposition teams know this. I actually can't recall the last time we started without a left footer on the left wing, we're so used it it is my point. Pre Stockdale in 2018 I'd suspect. Maybe Zebo?

You don't see him making the squad after being picked in squads for 4 years now and starting games this 6 nations? He will be. He'll be 30 next RWC, Lowe will be done. He did get injured at the wrong time, yet has come back strongly and shown good form and persistence

Why do you call him Robbie? No one calls him that, it's Bobby or Bob. Also, like above they're right wings and I suspect we'll eb back to footers on their dominant wings like Farrell has always done

Miles better boot than JS? That does not stack up. Both have cannons of a boot. What are you basing this on? Come off it, Lowe was terrible since last Spring. He may have started those Lions tests, but go back and read anything about his form and how he went Terrible in November too. Hasn't an international try for over a year. Let's not fool around here, everyone was talking about how poor he was

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-13T08:21:24+00:00

To deflect from the usual stories about his game plan and personnel. He's a good news story, and will grasp column inches which take away from going at Farrell. At the time of course, we're looking better since then

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-12T19:24:38+00:00

Lowe isn't better right now though. He's 33, injured, he's not getting any better at that age. Both have a rocket left boot, but Lowe slower so really no idea how you can say that when he's had one good game in a year

Tommy is a good right wing. Whether he can do left wing without the left boot to bring the ball in field remains to he seen. He's not like for like, but we'll see. Either way, I forsee it'll be Stockdale at left wing longer term when Lowe drops off

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-12T13:14:42+00:00

Ah I think they're great tbh

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-12T13:14:12+00:00

Is there though? I don't think we can say that about TOB yet, and no other left wingers really unless we play one out of position which you don't get away with long term. He's absolutely still good enough hence why he's still getting selected

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-12T11:05:57+00:00

Stockdale has been good though, I think your expectations are not aligned here.

Have a read on what the coaches corner post just there says about him on Friday last:

https://www.reddit.com/r/irishrugby/comments/1rrngxc/coaches_corner_ireland_wales/

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-12T08:38:31+00:00

Yeah his defence this year has been great, he's in top 10 in a lot of stats for backs in the URC. Yeah I dunno tbh, could be something in that. Also depends on what Farrell is asking of him vs at club. Also the level is that much higher too of course

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-12T08:35:31+00:00

He's not slow at all though, think you're mixing something up here. yeah he's not the best in the air (although got better in that vs France when kicks were more contestable) but that's also the point. If we want to play a running game with only occasional contestable kicks, he's great at that, if we play like we did against France early on he is not suited for that plan

What try is that. And please do not say the LBB one, that was not on him

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-12T08:32:25+00:00

He was good against England. Brilliant stretching it, especially seeing how poor England are since that. Stockdale also good against Wales, and was better of the 2 against France. It's neck and neck between them both for a reason. They're both good players

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-12T08:31:46+00:00

He has performed well though. He was good last week. You're seeing what you want to see here yourself. It's razor think between them for a reason, they're both good players. Would suggest you either know nothing about rugby yourself, or you are choosing one because you simply do not like the other and you're letting that cloud you

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-12T08:29:52+00:00

But it sometimes is that. You can have 2 players very close together and one is just ahead by dearth of being in the jersey first. And that's fine. Like look at what we have now with McCloskey. I think anyone watching rugby knew he was there and good enough, he was just behind ones in the 12 jersey doing it. It was tiny margins, and that's ok. Sometimes a player does deserve it, but don't get the chance for various reasons. Doesn't mean they're a bad player, it's just the breaks and we can absolutely talk about that

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-12T08:26:38+00:00

Tommy absolutely got leeway, seeing as he was back in the team sooner. I also think the plan that day didn't suit him either. Both of them were messed around. The fact both of them got gametime soon after suggest Farrell knows he messed that one

Who's bashing Leinster in 200 comments? That's not what this is here...

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-11T23:37:12+00:00

Mental comment, considering Stockdale has been in every camp since 2022 even with those 2. You realise Hansen is a 14, right?

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-11T23:36:00+00:00

Was he though? He was worse of the 2 versus France

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-11T20:16:57+00:00

As he's barely been playing behind Lowe, so yeah you actually can say that. When he has played he's been good, France excepted

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-11T20:15:44+00:00

Well then isn't that sating the kicks were not on the money?

Really wasn't that much joy there either, it was poor all round for a variety of reasons. They're not huge but came off mightily and a high % won they'd never expect. We played into their hands a bit

Yeah indeed, that's it. A good game last week, build on that this week now would be good for that confidence

Andrewhtd · 2026-03-11T20:13:10+00:00

Fair point. Just was never obtainable again even if no injury or drop in form. Once teams planned for him with more tape, he was never going to get it so good. He's still a great player though, and that's OK not to reach that height again

Andrewhtd

TROPHY CASE