That's one way of looking at it. I suppose your interpretation of Ulster's season to date is whether you are a half full or half empty sort of person. We, at the Front Row Union, are definitely half full and after years of butting our heads against our opposite numbers we take, perhaps, a more relaxed look at life than that of the tightly wound 'athletes' in the backs and certainly a more relaxed outlook than those other 'supreme athletes' the couch coaches!
It cannot be denied that in the last couple of matches the game plans and the defensive patterns have been pants BUT we have unearthed a couple of diamonds for the season with Niall O'Connor and Mark McCrea and hopefully they will still be on the scene at the business end of the season. At the end of the day these two Academy boys, together with Cave, Pollock, Henry, Marshall and Court, mean a thousand times more than big name purchases.
Over the next two weeks Ulster need to sort out their second row and centers and concentrate on their defensive patterns. With so many new faces and interrupted training, time needs to be spent on the basics. Instead of trying to tackle high and strip the ball we need to concentrate on stopping the opponents getting over the gain line and look to consolidate our supply of ball from our own set pieces.
In attack, all that is needed is a little patience and a consistent supply of ball - less trying to force the ball and a bit more confidence that the ball will come along again.
So there we are - bring on Leinster!
The FRU Man of the Match was very difficult for this game with Isaac Boss, David Humphreys? and Paddy Wallace all getting votes but the award goes to Mark McCrea who showed more spirit and determination during the ten minutes he was on than some of his team mates did for the whole match.
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News from the Colonies!
Our favourite other team The Milwaukee Lady Panthers continued their unbeaten run in the Wisconsin Collegiate Woman's League by giving Northern Michigan University a good beating.
Panthers 79 - Northern Michigan University 7
Centre Jessica Winkowski scores three trys in 15 try rout of NMU Match report here. The Panthers now go into the play off season and have a tough weekend ahead were they play Winona State on Saturday and the winners of Illinois State Women vs. University of Wisconsin Women on Sunday.
The girls have started fundraising for
their tour to Ulster as this circular from Coach Scot points
out: -
All,
Just wanted to take a moment to update you on the current fundraising efforts of the UW-Milwaukee Lady Panthers. We are currently running three fundraising efforts, all of which target different areas
The first is our Lady Panther Rugby Yard work Fundraiser. For $10 per worker per hour, the Lady Panthers will come out and take care of all your fall yard work. The girls volunteer to perform the work and all proceeds go to the club. For more information, please visit: Yardwork
Our Second Fundraiser is the our Pampered Chef Fundraiser. For those who are interested, you may purchase Pampered Chef products online, and the Lady Panther RFC will receive 15% of the total sales. For more information visit: PamperedChef
Our third fundraiser is the Lady Panther Rugby Raffle. Raffle tickets are only $5 a piece. Any proceeds after prizes are disbursed are donated to the club. Top Prize is $1000, 2nd $500, 3rd $250 and 4th - 8th are $50. For more information, please visit: Raffle
Thanks again for your interest in Lady Panther Rugby!
Sincerely,
Coach Scot.
Sorry, men of Ulster, but as tempting as it may be to get some of the gorgeous Panthers over to potter about in your shrubbery I'm afraid it's not going to be very practical to get the girls to travel all this way to sweep out your dusty old yard.
However The FRU will organise some fundraising activities this side of the water in the near future, in the mean time anyone wanting to make a donation or wants to help raise funds please contact editor@thefru.co.uk in the first instance.
To get the ball rolling The FRU will donate $100 to The Panthers Fund.
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Letters to the Editor
Dear Ed.,
Yes the "recent" performances (well actually, since the 2nd half against Toulouse at home!) of our beloved Province have given much cause for concern...one might even say, have driven us to drink!
I seriously worry about what Gloucester will do to us!!!!
Yours etc.,
Stately.
PS. On the subject of drink here's some research on the matter!
THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK: 1. Innovative
2. Preliminary
3. Proliferation
4. Cinnamon
THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK: 1. Specificity
2. Anti-constitutionalist
3. Passive-aggressive disorder
4. Transubstantiate
THINGS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN DRUNK: 1. Thanks, but I don't want to have sex
2. Nope, no more booze for me!
3. Sorry, but you're not really my type.
4. Special Fried Rice? No thanks, I'm not hungry.
5. Good evening, officer. Isn't it lovely out tonight?
6. Oh, I couldn't! No one wants to hear me sing karaoke.
7. I'm not interested in fighting you.
8. Thank you, but I won't make any attempt to dance, I have no coordination. I'd hate to look like a fool!
9. Where is the nearest bathroom? I refuse to pee in this parking lot or on the side of the road! .
10. I must be going home now, as I have to work in the morning.
Dear Ed.,
I was somewhat surprised when I heard that the IRFU are going to go to consultants to see "were it all went wrong". Perhaps this may help: -
In the beginning was the plan, and with the plan were the assumptions..... and the assumptions were without form.... and the plan was without substance..... and darkness reigned upon the IRFU
The Fans spoke among themselves saying, "this is a crock of shit & it stinks"
And so the fans went unto their Alecadoos & said " it is a bucket of dung & we cannot live with the smell"
The Alecadoos went unto their Club Presidents saying, "It is a container of organic waste, & it is very strong, such that none may abide by it"
The Club Presidents went unto their Branch Committees saying, " it is a vessel of fertiliser & none may abide by its strength"
And the Branch Committees spoke among themselves, saying to one another, "It contains that which aids plant growth & it is very strong"
So the Branch Committees went to the Appointments Committee saying unto him, "It promotes growth, & it is very powerful"
And Eddie went to the Appointments Board saying unto them, " This new plan will actively promote the growth & the vigor of the TEAM with very powerful effects"
And Eddie looked upon the plan and deemed that it was good......... and thus the plan became a vision statement.
...........And this is how shit happens.
Yours as always,
Bogboy!
Dear Yer Man,
Perhaps you would include the attached advert in your popular organ. This is, of course, in return for half-inchin' my jokes!
Gary Grousebeater (EDITOR)
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Big week for Aarons who got all the games correct. Well done that man!
Week 7.
Weekend Friday 26th October 2007.
Connacht v Edinburgh
Warriors v Munster
Ulster v Leinster
Predictions to be in by 6:00pm Friday
26th October.
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