Apparently Williams has looked outstanding in his first full week training with Ulster.Originally Posted by josephusdaniels
My family and friends are at the friendly game at Ravers right now and Williams seems to be in great shape and looks the business. Could he turn into a great signing?
I was sceptical to say the least but the reports coming out are very encouraging.
I hope he turns out to be a super signing for Ulster Windy, hopefully he does the business up there. He may have matured and realigned his priorities. He was a young man away from home when he arrived here and I'm not sure how strictly the munster setup monitored the lads' lifestyles back then. The move to Italy seemed to revolutionise him.
Last edited by Cowboy; 18th-August-2012 at 15:10.
I am the million man.
Ulster switch rekindles Williams' love for game
Friday August 24 2012
Nick Williams will line out against Newcastle Falcons at Ravenhill tonight confident that his career is about to be reignited with Ulster following fairly traumatic times with Munster and Aironi over the past four years.
Auckland-born Williams (28) arrived in Limerick in 2008 with a feared reputation as a dynamic ball carrier.
However, his time with Munster was blighted by injury and he made only 19 appearances. He did show the odd glimpse of his prowess, scoring a hat-trick of tries against the Dragons, but it was too rare as he found it hard to express himself the way he wanted.
He moved to Italy two seasons ago, but while he impressed, scoring 10 tries in 31 appearances for Aironi, he found it hard to fit in, particularly learning a new language, and had more injuries.
Now the former Blues Super 14 back-row's career has been plucked from obscurity by new Ulster boss Mark Anscombe, the coach who introduced him to senior rugby in New Zealand, and he has quickly slotted in to a new life, with a new baby soon to join him in Belfast.
"I'm loving it so far," said Williams, who starts at No 8 tonight. "Coming back to an English-speaking team helped a lot. It's now great to get a chance to get back playing on a team with a high profile.
"All my injuries have cleared up and I'm good to go now. While in Italy there is no doubt my love for the game took a bit of a dip. Things just were not going my way. But now after a short spell with Ulster, that love for rugby has been re-ignited. Now I just want to play to the level I know that I'm capable off.
"I'm here without my family but everyone has made me feel very much at home. Now I'm looking forward to my fiancee and my five-week-old girl coming to join me when the visa situation is sorted.
"Mark gave me my first chance when I was 19 at North Harbour. I know what Mark wants from a player and he knows how to get the best out of players. Now I just want to get a few more games down the track and get up to par with the other boys."
Ulster -- J Payne; M Allen, C Farrell, L Marshall, C Gilroy; P Jackson, M Heaney; C Black, R Herring, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller (capt), L Stevenson, R Diack, M McComish, N Williams. Reps: N Annett, N Brady, R Lutton, J Afoa, A Macklin, N McComb, A Birch, S Doyle, B McIlroy, N O'Connor, P Nelson, C Cochrane.
Irish Independent
4 Feb 2011 - Gilmore on the General Election
"Frankfurts way or Labours way."
28 Feb 2012 - Gilmore on a yes vote for the fiscal treaty
"A vote for economic stability and a vote for economic recovery."
Williams scored two tries in the first 15 minutes tonight versus Newcastle at Ravenhill. I wasn't at the game but he did play well versus Leicester last week so hopefully he keeps this good form up.
If he is focused he could be a very good player for us this season.
Hopefully so, it's a shame for any player to be thought of as a wasted talent.
Never mind perception because it isn’t real. It’s only what people think. Go out and make them think something else.
- Alan Quinlan on believing in yourself
Totally agree but it seems Robbie Diack, who looked great when he first signed, has sorted himself out and looks very good.
Our back row should have quite a few options with Henderson in there along with Birch and Doyle.
Was chatting to Southern Districts coaches today and they rate Sean Doyle highly. Was captain and openside before he ventured off to Europe. Hope things work out for him. Might be able replacement for Faloon. Anyone know how has he done in pre season so far?
I haven't seen the pre-season games but from accounts, Doyle seems to have been done pretty well. He has been named in the extended squad for the Glasgow game and is the only openside in the squad so should feature.
The other openside in the Ulster squad is Ali Birch, but he was yellow carded for a dumb challenge on someone catching a high ball in the Newcastle game, so may be in the coach's bad books for that.
Last edited by mikerob; 29th-August-2012 at 10:05.
Ulster v Glasgow (Fri)
RABODIRECT PRO12: ULSTER v GLASGOW
- Venue: Ravenhill
- Date: Friday, 31 August
- Kick-off: 19:05 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC2 NI and the BBC Sport website
Sean Doyle, Nick Williams, Rob Herring and Michael Heaney will make their competitive debuts for Ulster in Friday's Pro12 match against Glasgow.
Doyle and Williams will play in the back row with Irish qualified South African Herring at hooker and Heaney starting at scrum-half. Prop Tom Court will make his 100th appearance if he comes off the bench. Glasgow will travel with confidence having won five of the last six league matches they have played. Henry Pyrgos and Duncan Weir make up the half-back pairing for Glasgow, with Peter Murchie replacing the injured Stuart Hogg at full-back.
"Playing Ulster away from home in a passionate environment like Ravenhill is certainly a big challenge, but one that the players will find inspiring rather than intimidating," coach Gregor Townsend told www.glasgowwarriors.org. "We haven't won there for almost three years, but we only need look at results and performances like the win over Leinster at the RDS last season to know we have the ability and mentality to do the business when it counts away from home." Townsend has also named a strong bench for the clash, with six internationals among the replacements - props Ryan Grant and Moray Low, hooker Dougie Hall, back-row John Barclay, scrum-half Chris Cusiter and stand-off Ruaridh Jackson. "We are pleased with the quality of the bench we are able to field on Friday night," added the Glasgow coach. "It's fantastic to be able to welcome back the bulk of our international guys, and also to have James Eddie and Peter Horne available after long-term injury."
Ulster coach Mark Anscombe has picked a youthful backline with Heaney partnering his former Methodist College schoolmate Paddy Jackson at half-back. Luke Marshall and Chris Farrell form a new centre partnership. Right winger Michael Allen will make only his second appearance for the province with Craig Gilroy on the other flank. Full-back Jared Payne will play his first Pro12 game since rupturing his Achilles tendon against Cardiff just over 11 months ago. Fly-half Niall O'Connor, back at Ulster after a spell with Connacht, is among the replacements. Anscombe, taking charge of his first competitive game with Ulster, said it was important that players who had been out of action since international duty in June, or recovering from injury, were fully fit before turning out for Ulster.
"Some of our international players are not back yet but Tommy Bowe and Stephen Ferris are building up their fitness and should be available soon," said Anscombe. "It is all about getting players back in condition to play matches at a high level and a high tempo." In the meantime, the Kiwi is happy with the depth of the squad at his disposal for the opening match of the campaign.
"To be competitive and successful in these competitions we need a big squad - I want all the players to know they are valued and it is up to them to take the opportunities they are given. We need to deliver top performances week in, week out, and there is no room for complacency. I'm expecting a really tough battle against Glasgow, who have a new coach and a lot of new personnel. There are exciting things happening there too and having reached the semi-finals last season, they will have self-belief and be confident in their own ability. They know the kind of consistency which is required to do well in this competition."
Ulster: J Payne, M Allen, C Farrell, L Marshall, C Gilroy, P Jackson, M Heaney; C Black, R Herring, J Afoa, J Muller (cpt), L Stevenson, R Diack, S Doyle, N Williams.
Replacements: N Brady, T Court, D Fitzpatrick, N McComb, M McComish, P Marshall, N O'Connor, D Cave.
Glasgow: Peter Murchie, Tommy Seymour, Alex Dunbar, Graeme Morrison, Sean Lamont, Duncan Weir, Henry Pyrgos, Gordon Reid, Finlay Gillies, Mike Cusack, Tom Ryder, Al Kellock (Captain), Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Ryan Wilson
Replacements: Dougie Hall, Moray Low, Ryan Grant, James Eddie, John Barclay, Chris Cusiter, Ruaridh Jackson, Peter Horne
Commemorate Nevin Spence here -
http://www.mycharity.ie/event/munste..._nevin_spence/
This will be the first game of rugby of the season for me and I am looking forward to seeing how the Jackson, Marshall, Farrell midfield gets on.
No sign of Ian Henderson very disappointing.
Especially when you look at some of the signings.
Connacht Rugby
"Live to win. Born to lose"
Henderson hasn't featured at all in pre season so I presume he is recovering from a minor op or has an injury.
hope so. cant see him getting a sniff with all the foreign stars. awful shame.
Connacht Rugby
"Live to win. Born to lose"
Not like you to be making disparaging comments about Ulser when you know **** all about what you're talking about, is it?
just making the point that in would be in irish rugby's interests to see him fast-tracked. Not that you'd see that.
Connacht Rugby
"Live to win. Born to lose"
Henderson has not featured in pre-season because he is recovering from an injury and therefore is not fit. Bit ironic that you are criticising Ulster for blocking young talent coming through when all the backs bar Payne are homegrown and I think the average age is 21 in the backs. Mind you, you don't normally let facts get in the way of a whinge about Ulster do you?
Since when did the Outlaw confine his whinging to Ulster?
Just as well Ulster are fielding the following backline tonight (ages in brackets):
15 Payne (26)
14 Allen (21)
13 Farrell (19)
12 Marshall (21)
11 Gilroy (21)
10 Jackson (20)
9 Heaney (21)
All IQ, and apart from Payne all Ulster born and bred, in fact four of them went to the same school!
Ulster can't be accused of not doing their bit when it comes to producing young talent.
By the way Henderson is injured, he will get plenty of opportunities this season be it in the back row or second row.
Great to have rugby back although the combination of rugby, cricket and night racing is a bit of a handful. Best of luck to Ulster.
I agree PP great to have rugby back and I hope all the Irish teams do well in the Rabo.
Otaga Daily Times 2/5/2012
Taz-Where did you get that information as I have seen nowhere that he(Penney) was ruled out?
Editor - The writer stands by the Penney information.
Otaga Daily Times 3/5/2012
Editor-- This article originally said Rob Penney had missed out on the Munster coaching job. That information was incorrect.
For those in UK, game is on 972 which I think could be a change from last year.
Williams looks solid enough in the initial bouts of contact against Glasgow.
Thank feck the rugby is back on.
Never mind perception because it isn’t real. It’s only what people think. Go out and make them think something else.
- Alan Quinlan on believing in yourself
Only on bbcni?
Otaga Daily Times 2/5/2012
Taz-Where did you get that information as I have seen nowhere that he(Penney) was ruled out?
Editor - The writer stands by the Penney information.
Otaga Daily Times 3/5/2012
Editor-- This article originally said Rob Penney had missed out on the Munster coaching job. That information was incorrect.
As has been said on here before, if they can keep him out of the pub, chipper and treatment room he'll be a very useful signing for themWilliams looks solid enough in the initial bouts of contact against Glasgow.
Thank feck the rugby is back on.
\"In a world gone mad, only a lunatic is truly insane\"
Jackson off injured ...
Never mind perception because it isn’t real. It’s only what people think. Go out and make them think something else.
- Alan Quinlan on believing in yourself
NOC strikes a straightforward enough penalty kick to give Ulster the lead on 10 minutes, 3-0.
Never mind perception because it isn’t real. It’s only what people think. Go out and make them think something else.
- Alan Quinlan on believing in yourself
NOC I think will turn out to be a decent squad signing... What happened to Jackson?
Otaga Daily Times 2/5/2012
Taz-Where did you get that information as I have seen nowhere that he(Penney) was ruled out?
Editor - The writer stands by the Penney information.
Otaga Daily Times 3/5/2012
Editor-- This article originally said Rob Penney had missed out on the Munster coaching job. That information was incorrect.
Didn't see, sorry.
Ulster setpiece looks reasonably secure, lineout possibly a bit more cohesive than the scrum but the scrum is not under pressure at all so far.
Never mind perception because it isn’t real. It’s only what people think. Go out and make them think something else.
- Alan Quinlan on believing in yourself
Massive kick from Weir with not much room to work with, brings the Glasgow lineout well into the Ulster 22.
Never mind perception because it isn’t real. It’s only what people think. Go out and make them think something else.
- Alan Quinlan on believing in yourself
Good maul from Sweaties at first but it collapses. Ulster pinged subsequently for Williams' hands in the ruck on their own 5m, and Muller gets a "no more" warning.
Weir slots it for 3-3.
Never mind perception because it isn’t real. It’s only what people think. Go out and make them think something else.
- Alan Quinlan on believing in yourself
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