Teams out few surprises around mid field Flannery at 12 and Hawkshaw at 13.

Maybe would have liked Brigg to get a chance over Maloney but can't complain.

Locks look decent given Injury, Irvine & Hopes return to the teamsheet.

I’ve pulled the trigger and paid for the game - thanks, Premier Sport! 🙄 €7.99, and I hope their streaming is faster than their website. Anyone else taking the plunge?

Been debating what type of team we will field against Zebre ....

Although theres postive's in Henry Walker, Tom McAllister, Joe Hopes and Tom Brigg being registered.

I can't help but feel a but underwhelmed, I was probably expecting a few Moneyball picks such as Jonny Scott, Tom Bell, Jacob Boyd & Blake McClean for example.

In terms of more senior players I thought Callum Reid would have been good value for money for a run out.

Guess we are going Full Bore for Zebre anyway.

"Prop, Eduardo Bello, sustained a hamstring injury in training and is a doubt for this week's fixture.

Eli Snyman (concussion) was injured in Saturday's URC Round 3 draw with Munster and will now follow World Rugby Return to Play Protocols.

Ben Donnell, Ethan McIlroy and Tom Stewart all picked up knocks in Saturday's game and their fitness for selection will be assessed through training this week.

Michael Lowry has returned to full team training following his recent concussion injury. "

Bello missing out isn't good, hopefully back for the South Africa trip. Ethan and Tom would be good to get back, Sheridan in for Donnell.

Lorcan signs for "ヤクルトレビンズ戸田" Yakult Levins Toda  in the Japan Rugby League One.

Listening to the left wing podcast and Will Slattery dropped an interesting stat, so far this season, Ulster have outscored their opponents by 43 points with Matthew Devine on the pitch and been outscored by 48 with him off it.

Now there is some nuance to this as when he was on the pitch matters and the context of the game at the time etc but for me it says a couple of things.

First and foremost he’s been our best performing scrum half so far. His kicking game needs work (it’s not in the same league as Doak’s) but based on an albeit short sample size, the relentless pace he brings has got us playing our best rugby. I’m a big defender of Doak and think he could still be our SH of the future but hopefully this competition gives him a kick up the arse to work on his flaws and if not don’t play favourites, give Devine the shirt if he’s earning it.

Secondly it says a lot about what gameplan works best for us. I fully understand no team can can go gung ho running rugby for 80 minutes but our only good spells this season in games have been when we’re spreading the ball wide, have willing runners attacking with pace and venom and playing with pace and intensity. I know it’s very simplistic but the eye test says, Devine is the man to do that, at least for now.

It’ll be interesting to see how we fare with him while Doak is I assume with Ireland. I wouldn’t be shocked if Nathan has a bigger fight on his hands to keep the shirt than he first thought.

Obviously we can't really know.

Ulster cannot be building a game on only playing for 60 minutes, and I know no coach in a month of Sundays would ever set a team up like that, every single coach wants a full 80min performance where you attack and defend well.

I'm just frustrated that it seems so far this season that Ulster lack focus until pressure is built up to a point were it's impossible to come back from. I'll say that the Glasgow performance wasn't a 80 minute performance but they did seem actually focused on the task at hand in they game so there is that.

But that game against Munster was a hard watch, it really highlighted that Ulster don't have a leader or a player that can change momentum, Ulster really seem to compound mistakes with penalties, a top 8 URC side cannot have that. It seems that the whole team has to have that light bulb moment of "oh shit we can actually get something here", there isn't an individual who can arrest the game back into ulsters control. The team moves as a wave all together in one direction wether that's in good moments or bad.

I would also say that I'm not 100% sure I like ulsters defensive setup, I understand the idea of having as many men in the line as possible but I think that Ulster actually do have the forwards and Big Stu who can disrupt a ruck and knock a team out of their flow, they just don't seem primed or ready to do that?

Overall I feel like Ulster just need to click, something to trigger them to be hungry in defense. The parts are there for a great solid wee team that will give anyone a game on their day I rate these players pretty high I just want to see Ulster actually take a fucking lead and build on it and cut the stupid shit.

To caveat it all, Edinburgh seem a much better side than last year (still a fucking dreadful performance though) Glasgow performance was great and to actually come away disappointed that they didn't win says a lot, and Munster are also riding a bit of a positive wave so could say we caught them at a bad time. 3 games is hard to really make a judgement, after 5 seems a bit more fair but considering the next fixtures I'm not sure if the judgement will change.

I saw some comments about coaching after the Munster game. Do any of you think it's just something missing or a deeper issue with coaching?

Ulster are incredibly passive at the breakdown. They’re obviously coached to stay on their feet and fan out as much as possible. At what point do the coaches admit they’ve got the balance wrong?

Sat 10th Oct

Energia Men's A. I. L Round 3

Young Munster 32 Ballynahinch 14

C of Armagh 24 UCC 12

Nenagh Ormond 21 Instonians 23

Ballymena 26 Queens 18

G. Corinthians 7 Dungannon 27

Ballyclare 62 Malahide 41

Clogher Valley 25 Banbridge 24

Enniskillen 50 Navan 19

Malone 32 Skerries 26

Sligo 29 Rainey 10

Solarfix NI Junior Cup

Ballynahinch 2s 18 Portadown 28

Bangor 43 Lurgan 21

Cooke 6 Dromore 31 latest

Omagh 31 Ballymoney 12

Solarfix NI Junior Shield

Academy 52 Randalstown 17

Carrick 29 Lisburn 17

Coleraine 10 Strabane 33

Limavady 75 Rainey 2s 14

If leadership involves, in part, taking ownership / responsibility for the team or group making improvements and performing highly (eg ensuring the everyone in the back line is crisp, or supporting other forwards get their detail right in the scrum), who are the leaders in the Ulster squad? My impression is there are a lot of good players who wouldn't say boo to a goose let alone hold others accountable. ​​

Just word salad here:

Devine is our starting 9, everything we do well in attack starts with quick ball

McCann needs an Ireland cap and soon, as well being made Ulster captain

Bello needs to be managed to play every game he can

Anything else?

I think we have to come to terms with it, we are beautifully dramatic. Not robotic, like Scottie Scheffler or Leinster. We make inexplicable mistakes and yet manage, when all is lost, to show insane skill and resilience to pull something out of the hat.

Yes of course, Rory has won lots - I am by no means likening us to his achievements. But in style of character and truly addictive to support.

Good god I wish sometimes we would be more boring, but I wouldn’t change it for the world

I’m just not sure he’s concerned enough about what he’s seeing. All the emphasis on an open free-flowing brand of rugby, but it is missing the hard edge needed to set the conditions to allow the backs to open up. No mention of focus on retention of the ball when they do have it. Nothing on the scrum.

1 boyd

2 walker

3 bello

4 sheridan

5 Hopes

6 mckillop

7 B ward (if not fit Timoney)

8 Mcnabney

9 Devine

10 Benson

11 stockers

12 big stew

13 Carson

14 mullins

15 mcllroy

16 mccormack

17 o' toole

18 knox

19 Donnell

20 Brigg

21 logan

22 Flannery

23 Finlay

Some of the boys like Mcann next a rest by far best player this season. Other boys need some minutes to get back to form. Other players like Snyman picked up knocks, other boys did not perform tonight and other boys deserve a shot. Not enough fight from minute 1 in this squad. Players who think they deserve a place in the team need to understand performance is the only way to earn a shirt not entitlement.

Feel free to prick your Team

Being and Ulster fan this season so far has been an emotional rollercoaster.

Countless handling errors, 2 scrum pens conceded and 2 of the softest tries you can concede

Are we determined to give every team in the league a 10-15 pt head start before switching on??

Are Munster playing us off the park or are we just this shit? Surely Faloon’s days are numbered at this point?

I have a spare ticket going for Ulster v Munster - appreciate KO is in less than an hour. I think if you send me a DM with your email address I can transfer it from my Google wallet.

I've not done this before so forgive me if I can't get it to work.

East terrace, free - I'd be happy if someone gets the use of it

Genuinely how the fuck are you supposed to defend them anymore?? We saw it last night with connacht, and we're seeing it here already, a team can basically just wheel it over and over ad infinitum. That 2nd one was a good defence setup, and yet you still can't stop it.

​

In 1A, Hinch loses 32 (5 T) - 14 (2 T) too Young Munster with Mahon Ronan dotting down at 67 minutes.

In 1B, Both Ulster Teams register there first Wins of the season.

COA Wins 24 (4T) - 12 (2T) against UCC

- Ethan Graham dots down at 25 Minutes former Academy

- The Messiah (Scotty) gets over the line at 55 Mins

- Owen OKane hits 2 Conversions

Instonians Defeat Nenagh 23 (3T) - 21 (3T)

- Adam Boyd dots down at 51 Mins

- Not Ulster related but Roman Salanoa crosses the white wash at 73 Mins

In 2A the Battle of Ulster sees Ballymena beat Queens 26 (4T) - 21 (3T) with the home side scoring the winning try in the 75th Minute.

- Jed Finlay dots down at 20 minutes also earns himself a yellow card shortly after.

- Connor McVicker cross's the white wash for a Brace at 40 + 6minutes of the first half and again at 43 Minutes in the second half.....

- Dan Green has a perfect day from the Tee 3 from 3

- Jayden Irwin gets a Yellow Card at 63 Minutes

Dungannon pick up a win against Galway Corinthians 27(3T) - 7

Both Dungannon and Ballymena undefeated thus far with Queens going 1 in 3.

Got an upgrade. My season ticket for tonight is free to a good home.