Ulster Head Coach Brian McLaughlin has named an extended thirty man squad, ahead of Ulster’s Magners League away match, against Cardiff Blues, this Friday 26th March, kick off 7.05pm.
The squad welcomes back Irish internationals; Paddy Wallace, Tom Court, Stephen Ferris, Rory Best and Andrew Trimble, plus Scottish winger Simon Danielli, after the Six Nations.
Ulster head into the game two points clear of the Blues, who currently occupy 8th position on the league table, with Ulster residing in 7th place. After Friday, the Blues will then travel to Ravenhill, for the return leg on Saturday 3rd April, kick off 7.30pm.
BACKS: Jamie Smith, Paul Marshall, Simon Danielli, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Timoci Nagusa, Ian Humphreys, Niall O’Connor, Isaac Boss, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble, Michael Heaney, Jonny Shiells, Mark McCrea. FORWARDS: Declan Fitzpatrick, Bryan Young, BJ Botha, Nigel Brady, Andi Kyriacou, Ed O’Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Ryan Caldwell, Chris Henry, Tom Court, Stephen Ferris, Robbie Diack, TJ Anderson, Neil McComb, David Pollock, Rory Best.
Players not considered due to injury: Justin Fitzpatrick, Matt McCullough, Cillian Willis, Ian Porter, Adam Macklin, Bryn Cunningham, Willie Faloon
With 30 players selected for the extended panel and no real form to look at over the last few months it’s a bit of a lottery to chose the match day 22 for this must win game.
My reasoning is that Ulster’s season will be over if they don’t pick up a win on the road and with a bit of luck the management will go with Ulster’s most attacking players, for if they take the game to Cardiff they could find the Blue’s heads go down if Ulster get an early lead.
This would mean looking at something like:
(1-8) Court, Best, Botha, O’Donoghue, Tuohy, Ferris, Pollock, Diack. (9-15) Boss, Humphreys, Danielli, Wallace, Cave, Trimble, Smith. (16-22) Young, Kyriacou, Caldwell, Henry, Heaney, Whitten, Shiells.
A good mix of youth and experience with Shiells and Heaney coming into the reckoning with an eye on next season. My biggest doubt is Ferris, believe it or not, but it would not be a surprise to see Henry start at 6 with Big Stevie on the bench, with Ulster giving up some of their set piece grunt for a bit more action on the ground at ruck time. This gives the option of Ferris coming on for a bit of rampaging in the final third.
It’s a bit tight to call this one, with Cardiff playing for Heineken Cup qualification and Ulster looking to raise their game for some sort of challenge for a top four placement.
Either team could win comfortably, but both have shown some erratic form so it could go any way. However with 30 plus boozed up Hounds of Ulster in attendance along with some FRUsters and other parties from Ballymena and Armagh I think Ulster will definitely have it off the pitch with the drunken supporters roaring Ulster home for a surprising bonus point win!
For those of you not making the trip don’t miss out on the big match atmosphere and get yourselves along to The Rosie – details here.
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