Ulster have named a huge extended squad of twenty eight players for the vital return match against Stade Francais in Brussels.
The squad sees the welcome return of BJ Botha and Paddy Wallace but given the size of the panel there must still be some injury concerns, especially after Saturday’s bruising encounter. TJ Anderson drops into the forwards panel and Nagusa returns, after last weeks late withdrawal, with Cillian Willis making a rare appearance.
FORWARDS: Declan Fitzpatrick, Justin Fitzpatrick, Bryan Young, Tom Court, BJ Botha, Nigel Brady, Andy Kyriacou, Ed O’Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Ryan Caldwell, Chris Henry, Stephen Ferris, David Pollock, Willie Faloon, TJ Anderson. BACKS: Jamie Smith, Clinton Schifcofske, Andrew Trimble, Simon Danielli, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Timoci Nagusa, Ian Humphreys, Niall O’Connor, Isaac Boss, Paul Marshall, Cillian Willis, Paddy Wallace.
Depending on fitness, I don’t really see too many changes to the starting XV, but I do think they will try and freshen things up slightly. If Botha is fully fit I only expect changes in the front row where his return will shore up the scrum and may pave the way for a return of Andy Kyriacou to the starting line-up.
An appearance from Paddy Wallace looks less certain and at best I only see him starting from the bench and then only if Ulster are chasing the game, so let’s hope he manages another week to recover.
Here’s my guess at the final selection.
FORWARDS: Court, Kyriacou, Botha, O’Donoghue, Tuohy, Ferris, Pollock, Henry. BACKS: Boss, Humphreys, Danielli, Whitten, Cave, Trimble, Schifcofske. BENCH: Brady, Young, Fitzpatrick D, Caldwell, Faloon, Marshall, O’Connor, Wallace.
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6 Responses to “Ulster extend their squad for Stade”
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Ed – interesting choice that you would start Jimmy on the wing before Andy Trimble. For me I think that Andy’s defensive qualities and the form that he is in at the moment i would definately start with him. Agree with the forward choice.
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You are of course right Junty and it was a lazy cut and paste on my part that led to the omission, which I have now corrected! Trimble was one of my stand-out players on Saturday.
I am surprised that no one has commented on the non appearance of Fitzy in my squad for the return leg, especially as it appears he is going to be the MotM for the first encounter!!
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Yeah I thought about it – Fitzy might make the bench it, maybe with BJ back and probably starting, Fitzy could be the type of aggressive impact prop that we need for the last 20′ or so
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ok ….wheres the Glitz……………………….
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Raging Raven team scoop!
Brian puts career on line ……………………………. McLaughlin goes against Ravens advice ….. out go Cave, Whitton and Declan Fitzpatrick in comes Wallace and BJ and possibly JIMMY!
There could be trouble in paradise.
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Does this mean we’re going to have another chance to vote for J Fitz?
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