Richie McCormack was joined by Philip Quinn and Kieran Cunningham on the Sunday Paper Review to discuss a number of pressing issues that are taking up the papers, including Eamonn Sweeney’s piece in the Irish Independent about the possibility of Ulster rugby disbanding.
The well publicised rape trial involving former players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding has been pointed to as a key reason behind Ulster’s slump in form this season. But Sweeney argues Ulster should learn from other traumatic episodes in a bid to secure a more positive future.
McCormack, however, feels uneasy with the suggestion that Ulster should look to Munster’s reaction to the death of their head coach Anthony Foley as a relevant example.
“There’s a suggestion from him [Eamonn Sweeney ] – it’s not something I necessarily agree with - that the absence of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding are partly to blame for Ulster’s continued underwhelming form,” McCormack said.
“Making that argument, anyone should remember that Munster had to cope with the tragic death of their coach, yet still make it to the Champions Cup semi-final. They knuckled down, battled on and didn’t feel sorry for themselves.
“I’m not really sure the comparisons sit well together. I think the air of uncertainty for Ulster has hung over them for possibly a year or more now regarding this situation.
“I think with the finality of death it gives you an immediate sense of finality. This is the situation and you have to get over it.
“Literally not knowing, from one minute to the next, who your head coach is going to be next year, who your director of rugby is going to be next year, whether you have your best out half and one of your best centres available to you over the course of a year, can’t be good for morale.
“Not that I have a great deal of sympathy with them – given the statement that came out this week – but in a playing sense, they haven’t known what fork in the road to take in the last year.”
Listen to the full Sunday Paper Review panel podcast below:
Written by James Hopper
