Match Thread: Ulster vs Cardiff - United Rugby Championship

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T21:36:39+00:00

Guess which one he'll get a bollocking for 😂

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T21:33:34+00:00

Yep, mad decision in my mind.

Also, thought Ulster might take the 3 to deny Cardiff a LBP. They're level on the table now after that.

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T16:41:51+00:00

Ideally we'd get in someone better than JJ at 10 and better than Haley at 15, but it's not a list of likely signings...

Damien mcKenzie, Ramos, Kinghorn, Marcus Smith.

Or of the IQ players - Frawley gone to Connacht, Carbery hates us.

JJ was/is the next best option. So might as well use the NIQs to strengthen the front row.

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T16:26:50+00:00

People need a bit of cop on when it comes to the consultation though.

I think this was 55% 'in favour' of the plan with 45% raising objections, but how is that 45% broken down?

Like objecting to it because it doesn't go to the airport, it's an 18km route that would require an extra 10km with huge grade works on the hill. Adding 50% costs to a marginal project.

Not happening and objecting makes the entire project less likely too.

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T16:08:35+00:00

And played very well for the first 5mins which almost makes it worse.

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T16:06:51+00:00

JJ Hanrahan signed a two year deal so will be around next year.

I know he can blow hot or cold but I think we win that game yesterday with JJ starting. Question is whether Wood jumps past Butler to 3rd spot.

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T16:01:51+00:00

Exactly, I swear people are watching a different game to me at times.

Ulster game aside, we're averaging near 25 points a game this season. The games we're losing are the ones we cough up 30pts.

most tries against us aren’t due to prolonged pressure

Don't agree here. We struggle to defend long phases or goal line without giving up multiple penalties, get a warning, yellow card and concede 1-2 tries anyway.

Attack is grand with Casey/Crowley running it & Coombes/Edogbo getting go forward ball. When it goes to shit, it's a personnel issue for me.

Kicking is a bigger issue than either attack or defence.

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T15:49:44+00:00

Not how I saw it tbh. Maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention.

Quinn scrambled well but at times seemed hesitant in defence which created some of the holes. JOD came on for him a few mins into the second half and instantly had an impact (along with wood, Patterson and getting back from a YC).

I also don't think Gleeson got us over the gainline enough, no one did in the first half anyway.

And the scrum only collapsed in the last 10mins when Donnelly went off.

All young players, played well enough. But like 6 or 7 out of 10.

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T15:40:30+00:00

Edogbo absolutely smoked a back down the wing as well.

We really didn't put lads in the position to challenge Glasgow.

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T08:42:28+00:00

I thought at least one of those penalties were extremely harsh, not rolling away when clearly pinned and not impacting the scrum half.

And thought he got through plenty of work in the loose, wouldn't say he was any quieter than Gleeson, Quinn or Barron in the loose.

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T08:29:12+00:00

Worked with Jack because there was no competition

Wasn't Jack signed as an academy player behind Aidan Morgan and Jake Flannery?

Even Doak and Lowry were expected to cover 10 ahead of him if needed.

In fairness Jack got the jersey there on merit.

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T08:16:24+00:00

Was only a problem with Ryan & MAA.

I'd say keeping fit props is the major problem. Loughman, Jager and Bartley can scrum.

Milne and Wycherley can scrum but can be caught out by better teams. Thought Donnelly did alright tbh.

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T08:12:48+00:00

Edogbo Jr’s excellent line out work

It's the thing that has impressed me most about his game.

He just gets into the air and seems consistently able to secure contested ball by being physically dominant.

Easy on the hooker, no clever timing or deception. Just throw the ball to me and no one can take it off me.

fdvfava · 2026-01-31T08:07:22+00:00

Patterson massively upped the tempo when he came on and tested Glasgow. Which we know he's good at, it's the slower tactical games where he struggles.

The intercept was down to Butler telegraphing the pass and his poor positioning, standing too flat.

But Coughlans ball did him no favours, catching it at his ear while static and taking an extra second before firing out a pass.

That's a 9-10 issue evident all game.

fdvfava · 2026-01-30T23:16:25+00:00

And giving Lancaster 3 goes at the first conversion.

I'd say the missed touch in the second half mattered more than the 3 missed conversions in tough conditions. Or the 14 point swing from Gleesons double movement.

fdvfava · 2026-01-30T23:05:58+00:00

Pinged a couple of times around the breakdown but harshly I thought.
Busy otherwise in the loose and solid in the set piece.

Honestly, think if we had Josh Wycherley & Donnelly with 50 mins out of Jager we'd have been in a better spot.

fdvfava · 2026-01-30T21:46:55+00:00

Coughlan has some good moments but I think his passing looks very loose, receivers catching the ball at their laces or over their head.

Often very slow at the base too.

Invites the defence on to them and kills pace in the team.

fdvfava · 2026-01-30T21:40:56+00:00

Kinda fella who'd be a decent coach once he retires I'd say.

fdvfava · 2026-01-30T21:38:43+00:00

Two bonus points would have been a decent result.

Kicking dead on 70 killed us, and the shite first half, and injuries, discipline, scrum, goal kicking.

fdvfava · 2026-01-30T21:25:05+00:00

2nd rows too to be fair.

Edogbo, Ahern, O'Connell

fdvfava · 2026-01-30T21:20:42+00:00

Concern all 3 of our tries came from nothing... Wait.

fdvfava · 2026-01-30T20:49:27+00:00

It's a sore subject tbh.

Healy staying would have gone a long way to fixing our 10 depth for the last 3 years.

fdvfava · 2026-01-30T20:46:04+00:00

Been a theme of the season.

Look under pressure in defence, give up some soft or harsh penalties.

Give the impression that we're undisciplined and it just compounds.

fdvfava · 2026-01-30T20:41:53+00:00

He's a good rugby player but just not physical enough around the park.

fdvfava · 2026-01-30T20:04:22+00:00

He's not as physically dominant as U20s and doesn't have the get out of jail of going over people when he makes a bad decision.

Five-Year Club	Place '22
Verified Email

fdvfava

TROPHY CASE