Ulster Rugby have today announced an extended squad of 28 for the Dragons game at Ravenhill on Friday night. KO 7:05.
I must say that after a few weeks off it’s great to be writing about Ulster again and there’s certainly plenty of ifs, buts and maybes in this squad to keep me writing for a few pages!
Forwards: Tom Court, Bryan Young, B.J. Botha, Declan Fitzpatrick, Nigel Brady, Rory Best, Andy Kyriacou, Ryan Caldwell, Dan Tuohy, Ed O’Donoghue, Willie Faloon, David Pollock, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Thomas Anderson. Backs: Isaac Boss, Cillian Willis, Paul Marshall, Ian Porter, Ian Humphreys, Niall O’Connor, Paddy Wallace, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Simon Danielli, Timoci Nagusa, Andrew Trimble, Jamie Smith.
All things being equal, and presuming that Rory isn’t being wrapped in cotton wool for the England game, I expect Ulster to start with Court, Best and Botha with Brady and Fitzpatrick on the bench. A bit unfortunate on Kyriacou, who must be regretting that game against Glasgow after showing such good form prior to that, however if the management team are looking to change the style of play our Greek friend may slip in in front of Brady as he offers something different around the park and that would be my choice.
Second row should see Tuohy and O’Donoghue resume their role after being scandalously underused by Ireland selects over the last few weeks. Caldwell should fill the bench spot and will be chomping at the bit after good performances in the international arena.
Back row is a bit more difficult, given the depth of talent available, and yes I’m including Anderson in the talent count as baring a couple of handling errors he’s come on leaps and bounds this season. My preference however would be a back row of Pollock, Faloon and Diack as I feel this gives the best balance. Very, very, harsh on Henry and on the night I see Henry starting at 6, Pollock moved to 7 and Diack at 8. Faloon should claim a bench spot.
Four scrum-halfs! Is this the start of Boss being phased out or has he got a late, but much disserved, call up to the Ireland squad and is required to do some extended training in D4? Probably just a case of making the other three feel wanted, before they bugger off as well, and I fully expect Ulster to start with Hugo the only surprise being that young Porter will get a run out on the bench. Willis and Marshall will spend their free time phoning their agents!
Humphreys or O’Connor is another interesting conundrum and with this being a must win, safety first, match I’ll go with O’Connor with Humphreys as a get out of jail free on the bench in case it goes pear shaped.
Wallace and Cave should be shoo-ins as are Trimble, Danielli and Smith which leaves us with one spot on the bench which should be covered by Whitten but will more than likely go to Nagusa given Trimble’s ability to cover the centre berth!
FRU Select: (1–8) Court, Best, Botha, O’Donoghue, Tuohy, Faloon, Pollock Diack. (9–15) Boss, O’Connor, Danielli, Wallace, Cave, Trimble, Smith. (16–22) Kyriacou, Fitzpatrick, Caldwell, Henry, Porter, Humphreys, Whitten.
Make sure you’re there on Friday night to support the Ulstermen as they start their push towards the play off places.
Tickets are now on sale for the clash and are available from; the Ravenhill Ticket Office (Mon-Thurs, 9am to 5pm, Fri 9am – 4pm), the Ticket Hotline 028 90 493 222 Option 2 (Mon-Fri, 10am to 12noon,) Ulster Rugby ticket outlets province wide or to buy online click here.
Do you agree with our selection? Leave your comment below!
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14 Responses to “Ulster squad for Dragons”
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Dewi Dewi Dewi ……… how many times I have I told you? Pollock or Faloon not both. I would opt for Henry 6 Pollock 7 and Diack 8. Humpherys must start. I would also put Porter on the bench, Willis and Marshall have failed to make the grade.
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Raging, Raging, Raging … you obviously can’t visualise the possibilities as well as me!
Seriously – it’s looking like we’ll have a massive amount of back row options next season when Tuohy drops back as well! Maybe we can convert Henry and Faloon to scrum-half? :d
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hey lads – if that is the case – then my vote goes to have Stephen Ferris at centre !! Think about it all that pace he showed both in S.Africa and against Stade to setup simon for the try.
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Junty ……………. he is not available.
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Krrrrumph goes that stroke of genius!
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Stop Press ……………. Direction from Deckys toadstool in Turnipstan ………….. Best to start …… Brady on bench …. Kyriacou given time off to see Everton v Man U.
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Must be getting frustrating for our blond bombshell! While Brady has had a great season I still think Kyriacou offers a few more options, especially coming off the bench.
Mind you with the attrition in the front row these days he’ll get another chance soon enough!
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Dewi I agree entirely. Is there any talk of a contract for next season?
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Andi has a contract for next season.
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Yes indeedy and next season we’ll have three of the top four hookers in Ireland playing for Ulster. Whether that’ll be “world class” enough for our new CEO William Ulsterman I don’t know but if the worst comes to the worst I do believe Andi(still seems like a girls spelling)can play scrum half. I understand he learned how to jink and weave avoiding the gangs in the Scouser estates as he made his way to the shops with his pocket money. He’s also able to pass a bag of lemon bon-bons over 40 yards.
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Ulster Team
(1-8) Young,Best,Botha,Tuohy,O’Donoghue,Andreson,Pollock,Henry(Capt)
(15-9) Smith,Trimble,Cave,Wallace,Danielli,Humphreys,Boss
Replacements (16-22) Brady,D Fitzpatrick,Caldwell,Diack,Porter,Whitten, Nagusa
As I predicted Pollock and Humphreys instead of Faloon and O’Connor. Porter on bench instead of the Crankies.
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Wow you’re lush!
Team announcement here
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It would be good to see Porter get some time on the pitch. If he continues to develop he will be a very good addition to the senior squad. I think that we need to add an experienced 9 to replace Boss and Marshall, a 10 to support Humphs and a new 15 for next season. Unfortunately O’Connor is a bit like Tony Buckley. Given chance after chance and fails to deliver. You either have it at this level or you don’t. I think NOC’s train has left the station.
With the news that B.J. wants to leave to further his RWC ambitions after next seasons ERC, we may well get to see how good Deccie Fitz is when he gets a decent run. He has looked the part more often than not this season.
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I’d go so far to say that the main role of Ulster’s next 9 should be to bring along Porter. I think he’s an outstanding prospect and let’s face it one of the functions of Ulster Rugby is to supply players for Ireland.
As he’s only 22 I think you’re being a bit harsh on O’Connor who has shown substantial improvements this year even though your trying to get on my good side by sledging Buckley! O’Connor’s passing is now really impressive and his speed of thought appears to be improving so I think it won’t be long until he has the complete package.
I think we have three good props technically in Court, Young and Deccie but I’d like to see all of them put it about a bit more in the loose. They all seem too nice to me.
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