Another season over and no silverware for Ulster, the team, once again, leaving the supporter’s in a quandary as they try to decide if this was a good or a bad campaign.
If the trips to away games and the match day experience aren’t enough to allow you to determine if you have enjoyed, or not, another year on the Ravenhill Express then read on for our take of the season along with more statistics than you can shake a stick at!
Ulster named 47 players in their match day squads, the overall results being:
Played
29
Won
18
Lost
11
Points Scored
657
The season following the World Cup is always a bit flaky and starting the season without a senior coach didn’t help, but for me, it was the season double defeats by Munster and Scarlets, in the PRO 12, and Saracens, in Europe, plus a dismal display away to Cardiff, in the PRO12, that fell below expectation. An extra five points in the PRO12 and and extra two point in Europe would have led to the feeling of a different season.
As it was, we did complete season doubles over Connacht, Ospreys, Dragons, Toulouse and Oyonnax as well as Zerbe and Treviso but as I dig down into the individual matches the measure of the team is defined in the games against Saracens and the semi-final against Leinster as we had the players to do better on both occasions.
These games weren’t lost through team selection or player availability but in our heads and not on the pitch. To have your season defined by away defeats to the European Champions and, probably, the PRO12 Champions would indicate that we’re not too far away. However, finding that top 10% has been Ulster’s problem for the last four seasons and it’s here that Kiss has his work cut out.
Recent results indicate that Kiss is moving in the right direction and I’m genuinely looking forward to see what transpires next time round with a full pre-season behind him and the following additions to the squad.
Ulster Ins and Outs
PLAYERS IN
PLAYERS OUT
Charles Piutau (Wasps)
Nick Williams (Cardiff Blues)
Rodney Ah You (Connacht)
Sam Arnold (Munster)
Kieran Treadwell (Harlequins)
Rory Scholes (Edinburgh)
Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)
Ian Humphreys (Retired)
Brett Herron (Bath)
Johnny McPhillips (UR Academy)
Of course the departures of Williams, Scholes and Arnold, among others, are disappointing but understandable but Piutau and Coetzee (when available) are class acts and Treadwell and Herron come with good pedigrees. If we can get full seasons from Henderson, Bowe, Touhy and Payne and bring through Jacob Stockdale and Lorcan Dow alongside McPhillips then the squad should be there or there about.
Then of course there are these guys …
The Front Row Union Unforeseen Player of the Season
I’ve enjoyed the way that Kiss has brought through our younger and lesser know players and there has been a genuine increase in strength in depth. Kyle McCall, Ricky Lutton, Callum Black and Andrew Warwick have all stepped up a grade this season, Pete Brown has exceeded expectations and Peter Nelson and, the departing, Rory Scholes all contributed above and beyond.
However our vote for the greatest improvement has come from the returning Sean Reidy who has added genuine strength in depth to an already competitive back row, bagging five tries in the process. His average of 24 metres carried and 12 tackles per game puts him only behind Nick Williams in the forwards.
The Front Row Union Most Minutes Played
Recognition has to go to those that do the job week in and week out and it’s here that our award goes to big Franco van der Merwe, yet another import that has bought into the Ulster experience.
Clocking up 1909 minutes on the pitch Franco missed only three games all season and averaged a remarkable 73 minutes per game. Paul Marshall (28), Rob Herring (27), Ricky Lutton (27) and Roger Wilson (26) all matched or bettered his squad appearances but big Franco bettered their time on the pitch by 30 minutes per game and still had the energy to soar for 105 line out catches as well!
The Front Row Union Most Valuable Player
The statistics don’t lie and there was one clear winner in The Most Valuable Player category with Craig Gilroy in the top of nearly every category. The flying winger clocked up 1865 minutes on the pitch in his 25 appearances averaging 75 minutes per game.
However it was his 12 tries and the colossal 1822 metres with ball in hand that saw him leap above all other contenders. Sure another few tackles would have helped but as far as an attacking machine goes I doubt if there are better statistics in Irish Rugby and if Charles Piatau gets anywhere near these figures next season he’ll be regarded as a huge success.
Congratulations Craig on a fantastic season and lets hope that International recognition follows.
The Front Row Union Season Wrap
So there we have it, three great contributions from three great players, but I’m sure they, like the supporters, dwell on the mistake they made and feel they can do better next season.
My own thoughts are that the season ended up pretty much as expected and I think that Kiss is trying to develop a more expansive game that should play to our skill set.
It’s certainly two “flamboyant” out-half’s he’s bringing in in McPhillips and Herron and, of course, Coetzee and Piutau are certainly ball players. However the separation of the good from the great is in that top 10% and it’s here that Kiss needs to focus his energies. If asked to classify what we are missing I’d have to say it’s ruthlessness and belief and this has been a problem for more than a few seasons.
This time out we had Saracens and Leinster on the rack at various stages but lacked the follow through and until we find these elusive qualities I guess most supporters will continue to feel frustration.
We may find it next year, we may not, but let’s not forget to enjoy the ride!
Corrections, comments or questions?