Ulster Rugby have named the 23 man panel for Saturdays match against Stade Francais in Brussels, KO 15:45 GMT
As we predicted earlier in the week there have been a few changes, primarily instigated by the return from injury of Paddy Wallace and BJ Botha.
Ulster : (1-8) Tom Court, Nigel Brady, BJ Botha, Ed O’Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Willie Faloon, Chris Henry. (9-15) Clinton Schifcofske, Timoci Nagusa, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace (Capt), Simon Danielli, Ian Humphreys, Isaac Boss. (16-23) Andy Kyriacou, Bryan Young, Declan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Caldwell, David Pollock, Cillian Willis, Ian Whitten, Darren Cave.
Botha returns to tight head to bolster last week’s creaking scrum and Wallace returns, as Captain, in the centre; the main surprise being that he is now partnered by Andrew Trimble rather than, the ever reliable, Darren Cave.
Faloon and Pollock swap places in what is likely to be a feature of this years highly competitive back row, Nagussa takes Trimble’s place on the wing and Willis get a welcome call into the squad.
It appears that Ulster have decided to attack the French with these changes, and with Stade needing a result it may well be that attack is the best for of defence for the Belfast side.
As always, however, the game will be decided by the forwards and if the front five can shore up the set scrums and produce the same power packed display as last week the men of the Red Hand have a real chance of finishing the year as Pool leaders.
Even though we’ve been in this position many times before I think the circumstances surrounding the return fixture have put the odds strongly in Ulster’s favour and I confidently predict a high scoring Ulster victory, with perhaps even a bonus point!
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