In general play Peinaar was very good. He kept the backs running onto the ball and wouldn't allow Niall O'Connor just sit in the pocket. He'll be a terrific addition for Ulster but the nordies still need a top flyhalf and possibly a decent fullback too before they'll challenge for top honours in my opinion. They're definitely on the right track now but are still a bit short of where they need to be.
Yes. I confidently expect a NIQ fullback to come in next season but unfortunately the word is the IRFU will block attempts to sign a NIQ fly-half as they want Ulster to develop a challenger to Sexton.
In other words "Oh ****". Hopefully the youngsters will develop very quickly/we can get one of Keatley or Steenson.
On another note, Brian McLaughlin has done a decent job as head coach in the wake of Matt Williams' acrimonious departure. I feel he errs on the side of caution too much though and needs to place more trust in his backs coach Neil Doak and let the back line loose. Ian Humphreys has his faults but he's a much better option than the more defensively sound but hugely limited attacker Niall O'Connor. Too many of Ulster's attacks are stifled by their dithering 10.
I see this a lot and disagree with it.
iHumph isn't much worse in defence than NOC. NOC is fine if you run into him, but gets very badly exposed by anyone stepping. See Visser/Morrison already this season. Think he was fairly culpable in the other Embra try too.
What NOC does have over iHumph is predictability and consistency. When iHumph is in form, he's a joy to watch. Unbelieveable. When he's not though... Humphreys is just as capable of losing a game single handed as he is winning it. When he's not on song, its a horrow show. Forced miracle passes that give man and ball 10 yards behind your own game line. Massive looping passes that eat up all the space and leave the winger facing two defenders. Very dodgy territorial kicking. At least he doesn't throw many intercept passes, but thats because no fucker on the pitch knows where iHumph is going to pass to. Not even iHumph I suspect. NOC might be slow of thought at times but at least when things are going badly he sticks to simple passes to backs on the angle and booting it a long, long, long way downfield.
Apparently - if you believe internet forum rumour - apparently Humphreys is being gash in training. Who can say. But all I know is that McLaughlin sees him more than I and if he says Humphreys is in shat form, I'm happy to trust that.
The truth is both are talented rugby players (iHumph far more so) but with dodgy, dodgy top 4 inches. Both are flaky, NOC thinks too slow while iHumph has massive rushes of blood to the head and refuses to play it safe.And its that massive risk you take when playing Humphreys which means McGlock doesn't like him. Imo at least.
This said, yes McGlock is a conservative manager - see Young over McAllister, Henry over Faloon, McIlwaine over most other back 3 options and yes, to an extent NOC over iHumph. But I suspect that one is for good reason.
