Could injuries derail Ulster's stellar season?
episode
The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast
23 min
2 speakers
7 chapters
transcribed 4 months ago
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What are the key matchups for the weekend's rugby action?
Hello, you're very welcome along to the latest episode of the Counter Rock Rugby Podcast brought to you by the Irish Times in partnership with Oak Energy. Rugby writer John O'Sullivan is going to join me to whet the appetite for another very busy weekend of rugby action. all four provinces lining out. There's another Inter pro, Munster Ulster, which, as we'll get into, has been slightly blighted by injuries, which means it's not as big an occasion as perhaps we initially hoped, but nevertheless, Leinster are away to Benetton and then Connacht are also away in Joburg against the Lions, you've got the women's Six Nations on Saturday night. Ireland, they're talking about their revenge tour to give France one after last year's quarterfinal defeat in the World Cup.
And then Sunday, AIL finals. UL Bows and Blackrock in the women's match and Mary's Clintarf in the men's club game getting its day in the sun. It seems to get more popular every year. It has to be said. So good day out for all those involved. So here is John O'Sullivan to chat through everything you need to keep an eye out for this weekend. Hello, John. How are you? You're down in Tolman this weekend. That's your assignment. That is the biggest game, to be fair, provincially. Munster, Ulster, down in Tolman. But that's your assignment this weekend?
Yeah, it would have been the biggest game, but Folster's injury list, to be honest. I think Munster would have started as 11-point favourites. I think the spread is 23, something like that.
How are injuries affecting Ulster's performance this season?
So that tells you where the bookies think this game is going. And in fairness to Ulster, they've got the extra match the following week. So it'll be very interesting to see what sort of team they can send down to Tholman Park. It's just unfortunate if it's a much weakened team.
It's worth pointing that out because that was going to be my first question to you about Ulster. Angus Bell foot, Scott Wilson ankle, Tom O'Toole hand. So straight away, you're wondering who in the name of God is going to play prop for them. James Hume neck, Jude Possethwaite hand, Bryn Ward shoulder, all got injured last week against Leinster. And then longer term, Nick Timoney hip, James McNabney knee, who he's been out for over a year now with poor old McNabney. Rob Herring-Caff, Rob Ballacoon-Elbow, Rory Maguire-Shoulder, another prop, Stuart Moore-Knee, and Michael Larry apparently has just come back to training. So all of a sudden, for all the justified positivity and praise that has gone Richie Murphy and Mark Sexton's way, could this season spiral out of control very quickly?
And given the gap, I think there's only about seven points separate second from ninth at the minute. Are we looking at a world in which Ulster could actually, after all the good work they've done, they could miss out on the top eight purely because of this injury list?
Well, I suppose the short answer to your question is yes. In all probability, hopefully a large tranche of those players will come back and it won't be kind of medium term because that's what it is now, a medium term injury. I think for Ulster, it's just hugely unfortunate and disappointing for Richie and his coaching team, the players, the supporters.
What is the significance of Ireland's revenge tour against France?
But you're dogged by this sort of injury list when it comes to the business end of the season and obviously a semi-final the following week against Exeter. There's not a lot you can do about it except go with a positive attitude. He's going to have to lean very, very, very heavily on his academy structure, if you like, and academy players to get through this week, sprinkled with, I presume, a backbone of senior players. So, yeah, very difficult. And it's difficult to see them being able to get anything out of Saturday's game in Limerick.
I do remember whenever the Challenge Cup knockouts kicked into gear, there were some quotes during the round that Richie Murphy was kind of saying, this is all well and good, but the league is still not quite the priority, but it's very important that they finish top eight and get a home knockout tie, if possible.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What are the key matchups for the weekend's rugby action?
0:04–1:26
2
How are injuries affecting Ulster's performance this season?
1:26–2:55
3
What is the significance of Ireland's revenge tour against France?
2:55–4:04
4
How do the AIL finals impact the local rugby community?
4:04–4:44
5
What are the expectations for the women's Six Nations match?
4:44–5:29
6
What challenges does Ulster face in the upcoming Munster match?
5:29–10:31
7
How do player injuries impact team strategies in rugby?
10:31–23:27
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast
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As Leo Cullen prepares for his final season in charge, why haven't Leinster strengthened?
Why are New Zealand embarking on their own Lions tour?
The AFL comes for Irish rugby
Where do Ireland go from here?