There is not a lot to be said for the Leinster trip except for a few salient points.
Kimble, the long running chairman of the Supporters club had a discussion on, north stand / south stand at RDS – which to choose? I have never before witnessed a debate of such existential proportions on the rudimentary north – south question.
Kimble true to form though, elevated the simple ‘which end’ to such lofty realms as to make a Norwegian philosopher sound like Baldrick.
The Ulster support at the RDS were spread thinner on the ground than a smattered layer of Flora butter. We were seated adjacent to Mr. and Mrs Ragin’ who were like the unfortunate ham in the sandwich with Dergman seated on the other side.
Dergman had a large fleg pole which he used keep people at a distance. I would describe it as being about 40 foot in length, of barge pole design, with a fleg on it!
Our bus contained around 25 dedicated supporters whom I counted all out and counted them all in again for a slightly sombre run back to blighty.
So unlike the previous trip back from Dublin, when a mob of Glasgow based Ulster students boarded the bus on the way back with two crates of beer, sobriety had replaced vulgarity.
The students sang and drank their way back to Belfast with songs that obviously made the alliance party sitting in the back seats blush in anger.
There followed internet allegations of students running riot, blasphemy and complaints stopping just short of buggery.
The most heinous accusation of all from the conservatives at the rear of the bus, were that Ulster acolyte Freddie Benson, had been dancing in the aisles!!!!!
I suggest they shoulda went to specsavers as Freddie was merely staggering in a heavily swaying bus all the way to the loo!
Retribution followed of course with dire warnings about drinking on buses and blasphemous behaviour not being tolerated.
The consequences are that numbers on the buses are badly down ever since and the mullahs, who had complained haven’t been seen near a bus since.
Peace Like a River
Oliver my son is growing up and I never imagined he could be touched by the Troubles like so many of us had during my youth. Although on his hols,Ollie (just turned 15years old), has been training down at the River Lagan this week at rowing.
It came as a shock to find that booby trap bomb or bombs had been left along the banks of the River Lagan at a spot popular with joggers, walkers, cyclists and rowers.
The reckless nature of the bombers activities in planting devices along the river is worrying, as despite the public outcry over Ronan Kerr’s death from an under car device, little appears to have changed in these people’s minds.
The river epitomises for me the heartblood of any city. For Belfast we are belatedly awakening to the charms of leisure and sporting activities along the banks of a once despised, dirty waterway and its rejuvenation is a sign of Belfast’s rejuvenation.
It’s just sad that some people don’t see the positives of a democratic and peaceful way of living and have sought to take advantage of it to try and kill and maim.
Marshy & Ordnance Disposal
Thankfully on the day it happened he wasn’t training as his exercise would probably have been curtailed. Paul ‘Marshy’ Marshall, Ulster’s diminutive scrum half tweeted that the bomb squad were just 30 meters from his apartment.
Had I been on twitter I might have advised Marshy to race down and get the Ordnance disposal chaps to give him their mobile phone number so he could pass it on to Ian Humphreys and Ruan Pienaar.
The two lads could call up the bomb squad to help them defuse Marshy whenever he starts throwing his bombs over their heads during a match.
BP Awards – For The Backs At Least!
I’m previewing BP magnums early this year, as we could potentially still make the Magners play-off final, however unlikely.
I’ll start at the back: –
Our resident 15, the apt and sometimes aptless Mr D’Arcy has been a mixed bag this season. A bouncing rugby ball sees Mr D’Arce treat it as though it’s a bouncing bomb.
There are many good aspects to the D’Arcy and his brand of attacking rugby he pertains to play, his choice of line coming unto the ball is superb, as demonstrated against Connacht.
Some work to be done on his positional and defensive play on the chipped ball. Otherwise good season and has just signed for another two!!
The wide boys – Andy T has been an asset when his thumb has been on the up. Unfortunately Andy’s hand in general has been somewhat troublesome this year leaving him desperately short on game time as the world cup approaches. We miss his all round physicality.
Simon D looks off colour, the occasional cameo apart and is in
danger of being overtaken by the young tyro Gilroy, who is learning all the time.
Centres of Excellence are at the moment Nevin Spence who represents the rugged end of centre experience, a few moans apart about his distribution, that will hopefully improve with time.
Meanwhile the missing Caveman has returned to remind us of what we have missed, whilst the currently injured ‘coolhand’ Luke Marshall has impressed in the few outings he has had so far.
The Marshall – Spence combo in midfield has u-value, that is the priceless commodity called understanding. All of this leaves the enigmatic Wallace, a veritable mixed bag, in no small part due to his confused role for Ireland which sees him sit on a bench for long periods without playing any competitive rugby.
Mix it all up, shake it all about and you have a competitive midfield assuming that young Spence doesn’t hit 2nd season syndrome.
At 10 it’s a one man show with I. Humph the leading man. A promising youngster, Paddy Jackson has appeared late in the season and promptly disappeared, but showed enough promise to justify optimism that he’ll be a force next season.
Meanwhile the apt Mr. Pienaar can step up without breaking wind into the 10 slot and give a performance, even off the end of small Paul’s bombs. Should all else fail the adept Wallace can give an impersonation of a 10.
At scrum half, the imperious Pienaar stands head and shoulders above the field and until small Paul can control his temperament and his forwards, especially at the business end of a game, then we are a little light at 9.
Porter of course remains in the shadows due to injury I believe so the jury cannot fully conclude it’s findings due to missing evidence.
However it’s fair to say we are light at 9 once Pienaar goes to the RWC with the Boks.
BP Magnum nominations for the backs at least are –
Ruan Pienaar – forced his way into the team!!!!
Ian Humph – Will annoy some people this one
Nevin Spence – Have you really noticed him? Good sign of high level of consistency.
… and next week nominations for the forwards!!
Corrections, comments or questions?