Ulster have named a squad of 27 ahead of Friday night’s Heineken Cup clash against Edinburgh. KO 20:00.
Having had an extra week to recover there are no noticeable absentees in the panel which should give Head Coach Brian McLaughlin some interesting selection decisions for Ulster’s most important Heineken Cup match for a good few years.
FORWARDS: Bryan Young, Tom Court, Andy Kyriacou, Nigel Brady, Brendon Botha, Declan Fitzpatrick, Ed O’Donoghue, Ryan Caldwell, Neil McComb, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Dan Tuohy, Willie Faloon, Thomas Anderson, David Pollock. BACKS: Clinton Schifcofske, Timoci Nagusa, Simon Danielli, Andrew Trimble, Ian Whitten, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Ian Humphreys, Isaac Boss, Jamie Smith, Niall O’Connor, Cillian Willis
There are still a lot of qualifying options in this tight group but a win for Ulster would see them in poll position for qualification for the Challenge Cup knock out stages and a bonus point win would put pressure on group leaders Stade Francais who play Bath on Saturday afternoon.
The front row and second row should be unchanged after destroying Munster in their last outing. I’d go with Pollock’s experience in the back row, alongside Ferris and Henry, though I wouldn’t be worried if Faloon started in his place.
Reading between the lines Ulster may also be considering dropping Tuohy into the back row with Caldwell in the second place. This would certainly give Ulster more line out options and bulk up the pack but I can only envisage it being implemented if Ulster are struggling (or indeed cruising)!
Half backs as normal leaving Trimble or Cave or indeed Whitten to partner Paddy in midfield. My vote goes to Cave with Trimble on the wing in place of Nagusa.
Danielli to take the other wing and I’ll go with Smith as a genuine running option to counter Edinburgh’s expected kicking game. A lot of pressure on the youngster but he certainly doesn’t lack confidence and it’s worth the risk.
Edinburgh have a highly effective but simple game plan and if Ulster can put doubts in their kicking game and compete at the line outs then they should win this with something to spare.
The FRU Select. (1-8) Court, Brady, Botha, O’Donoghue, Tuohy, Ferris, Pollock, Henry. (9-15) Boss, Humphreys, Danielli, Wallace, Cave, Trimble, Smith. (16-23) Young, Kyriacou, Fitzpatrick, Caldwell, Faloon, Willis, O’Connor, Schifcofske
The team will be announced at 12:00 on Thursday.
TICKET UPDATE FROM ULSTER RUGBY:
If you come to one match this Season make sure it’s the BIG ONE: Ulster v Edinburgh – Friday 15th January, KO 8pm: to purchase tickets for Ulster’s must win Heineken Cup clash against Edinburgh, next Friday night, the 15th January at 8pm, click here.
Tickets are also available from the Ulster Rugby Ticket Office (Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm) and Ticket Line 028 90493 222 Option 2 (Mon – Fri, 10am – 12noon) and from Ulster Rugby Ticket Outlets province wide.
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4 Responses to “Ulster squad for Edinburgh”
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It is going to be cold wet and windy and not for the faint hearted. I hope McLaughlin picks the team accordingly …………. the bigger the better. Not a night for Nagusa.
And more importantly Ulster must stay on the right side of French referee Christophe Berdos.
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Raging – I agree with your comments. With Monsieur Berdos as the ref – I don’t think our penalty giving machine – R.Caldwell, should get an outing especially if C.Petterson is on the Embra line up.
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Yes ………. the match has all the hallmarks of a 12 – 9 (4 pens to 3)
Lets hope I’m wrong.
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Lets hope your wrong for once ragin’ ravin’ I couldn’t stand another Parks type night!!
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