It was a busy enough weekend on the rugby front with a host of past, present, future, maybe and maybe not Ulster players on show in the three games I watched between a spot of gardening and dreaded website upgrades.
We had players past, present, maybe and maybe not’s all on show for the Ireland game against the Baa Baa’s.
In the past category we had Ed O’D and the ubiquitous Mr Bowe who is quickly becoming the most popular Irish player of his generation. Cheered to the Turnip when he stepped onto the pitch I wondered if he would have got the same reception if he still plied his trade in the north, but then again they gave Malcolm O’Kelly a good ovation when he departed so maybe I’m underestimating the Turnips.
Ed on the other hand had a quiet enough game with little ovation, but at the end of the day that is what Ed is all about. What he does, he does well, working away in the boiler room with little fuss and his contribution is not recognised till they sit down with the video analysis. Hopefully he’ll eek out a cap or two on the Tour.
Tom Court, Chris Henry, Dan Tuohy, Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble represented our present players in the Baa Baa’s game.
With abysmal scrummaging prevailing until Court made his appearance he must be wondering what he has to do to dispose of the past it Horan and the useless Buckley who despite his try continued to under impress. Things will move up a notch in New Zealand and Oz and Court needs a full game against at least one – we’ll wait and see.
Tuohy and Henry both did well in my opinion showing up plenty around the field with Henry’s contribution immense throughout the 80 minutes. Thought Muldoon got the plaudits (ironically a few times as a case of mistaken identity for Tuohy) I think Chris will get the nod for starting at 6 in the New Zealand match. Tuohy once a gain showed his pace but he needs to be careful that he doesn’t slip into the utility player category rather than be regarded as an out and out 2nd row.
Paddy continued to look a class act with his ability to break the line and in the second half my mind did wander to picturing Bowe, Wallace and Trimble back in the harness for Ulster. (Steady ladies, that’s a metaphorical harness!) Trimble is surely the master of broken play running but it’s Bowe’s timing that would suit Paddy perfectly, capitalising on his breaks. Ah, what a strike force on the wings with Trimble and Bowe, both playing some great rugby at present – both still young enough for it to happen in a couple of years!
The maybe not’s made an appearance in good old XXX Rush and really it’s only his experience that Ulster are missing, but rumours abound that Ulster’s answer lies in one of the other Baa Baa’s back rows in the shape of Alan Quinlan. There surely can’t be a better and more refined cheat in world rugby! Seemingly he’s fallen out of favour not only with Ireland but also the Turnips and Ulster represent his best option for a final payday!
Saturday’s encounter between Wales and South Africa gave us the chance to have a look at a present and a maybe in the shape of BJ Botha and Ruan Pienaar and I was a little disappointed by both.
BJ appeared under pressure in the scrums, but he does possess the ability to fix the issues himself, which he did in due course; I’m just concerned that he lets them develop in the first place.
Pienaar came across as pretty subdued – looking like a player with a lot on his mind, ho-hum! He slotted his kicks and tackled well but I struggle to remember much more from his contribution. It would have been more interesting if he had started at 9 instead of 10. It will be fascinating to see where he starts in next months Tri Nations – his move to Ulster may depend on it – and as such I don’t expect any further announcements on this signing till after the marching season! Eek!
Saturday evening I sat down with my tasty salad, burnt to a crisp chicken and a few cans of John Smiths to take in Ireland’s performance in the U20 World Cup. Nevin Spence, James McKinney and Niall Annett, who all had good games in Ireland’s pulsating encounter with France, represented the future of Ulster and truth be told represented it pretty well.
I must say Allen Clarke really has done a cracking job with this team who fought hard throughout and were unlucky not to snatch at least a draw right at the end.
Annett was the pick of the bunch with a tremendous game in set and loose, McKinney sparkled with some delightful touches and Spence put in a great defensive display in midfield.
The result leaves Ireland with a lot of work to do against England and hosts Argentina if they are to progress out of the “Group of Death” but I for one will be tuning in on Wednesday evening when they take on the juggernaut pack of the English!
Should keep me going nicely until the All Blacks!
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