RugbyRebels

So what would you like your province to do with half a million yoyos a year for the next couple? From the Irish Indie:

So last week's meeting of the IRFU committee was especially important. The good news for all four provinces is that head office will lob each of them an extra €500k this year, and the same again in 2017. And for Munster in particular, more help is coming. "The union are very understanding of our problems," a senior source there said to us on Friday.

Ok I'll kick off with a new class number 8 for Ulster, although I think we must be at or near our foreign player limit. I'd have loved Vito but he's already signed for some french club. Liam Messam might be a very useful signing as he's equally adept at 6 and 8 and very strong over the ball. Should comfortably have change from half a million as well.

We're not just at our limit, we're over. Herbst, FvdM, Coetzee, Pienaar, Piutau, and Ludik as a special extra project, for reasons beyond me. Whatever money Ulster get should really be banked until the end of next season, when Herbst and Ludik become IQ and FvdM presumably goes.

That said, I believe the absolute best use of the money Ulster could make is top quality coaches. We have enough quality players coming in, the issue is making our academy players the best they can be.

Peat wrote:We're not just at our limit, we're over. Herbst, FvdM, Coetzee, Pienaar, Piutau, and Ludik as a special extra project, for reasons beyond me. Whatever money Ulster get should really be banked until the end of next season, when Herbst and Ludik become IQ and FvdM presumably goes.

That said, I believe the absolute best use of the money Ulster could make is top quality coaches. We have enough quality players coming in, the issue is making our academy players the best they can be.

Do you think there's a current deficiency, rather than an historical one?

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:

Peat wrote:We're not just at our limit, we're over. Herbst, FvdM, Coetzee, Pienaar, Piutau, and Ludik as a special extra project, for reasons beyond me. Whatever money Ulster get should really be banked until the end of next season, when Herbst and Ludik become IQ and FvdM presumably goes.

That said, I believe the absolute best use of the money Ulster could make is top quality coaches. We have enough quality players coming in, the issue is making our academy players the best they can be.

Do you think there's a current deficiency, rather than an historical one?

I don't know tbh but I certainly having ruled out there being a current deficiency.

I'd like to see a top quality, cool headed scrum half capabe of controlling the game. I don't like to be too hard on Paul Marshall since he has saved Ulster's bacon many times with a piece of inspired play. But equally he's never far away from another bain fart and I'm consciously waiting for it to happen every time I see him play. At his best he's great. If he had more consistency he'd probably have a few Ireland caps under his belt.

Spiffy wrote:I'd like to see a top quality, cool headed scrum half capabe of controlling the game. I don't like to be too hard on Paul Marshall since he has saved Ulster's bacon many times with a piece of inspired play. But equally he's never far away from another bain fart and I'm consciously waiting for it to happen every time I see him play. At his best he's great. If he had more consistency he'd probably have a few Ireland caps under his belt.

At his best he's a good impact option but there's this bloke called something Pienaar who's a top class scrum half capable of controlling a game. I doubt we'll find someone near as good who's prepared to sit on a bench

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:

Spiffy wrote:I'd like to see a top quality, cool headed scrum half capabe of controlling the game. I don't like to be too hard on Paul Marshall since he has saved Ulster's bacon many times with a piece of inspired play. But equally he's never far away from another bain fart and I'm consciously waiting for it to happen every time I see him play. At his best he's great. If he had more consistency he'd probably have a few Ireland caps under his belt.

At his best he's a good impact option but there's this bloke called something Pienaar who's a top class scrum half capable of controlling a game. I doubt we'll find someone near as good who's prepared to sit on a bench

Yes. I have heard of Pienaar, and watched him play many times. A very good scrum half. I was thinking more about his backup and his eventual replacement when he retires.

Spiffy wrote:... his eventual replacement when he retires.

Strings has signed on for another year at Sale, but there'd be a few years left in him yet.