Ulster Head Coach Brian McLaughlin has named his starting XV, plus replacements, ahead of Friday’s Magners League match, against Connacht, at Ravenhill, kick off 7.30pm.
Only two changes have been made to the starting XV who gained victory over Edinburgh, at Murrayfield, last weekend. In the pack; Chris Henry replaces an injured Stephen Ferris as blind-side flanker.
In the backs; Ian Humphreys starts the match at out-half, with Niall O’Connor on the bench for the last match of the 2009/10 season.
Commenting on the fixture, Ulster Coach Brian McLaughlin said:
“We will be looking for a win first and foremost, that is the most important thing for us. We want to build on our performance against Edinburgh and achieve back to back wins to end the season on a high.
We have all talked about our disappointment this season, mainly that after the Bath game, we didn’t kick-on and achieve what we are capable of. But, we did have a smashing performance last weekend and want a strong positive win at Ravenhill, on Friday, to end the season for both ourselves and our supporters.
Connacht are coming here full of confidence and its Michael’s last game, so they will also be chasing the win. It will be a really tough game of rugby, and an exciting finale.”
Ulster: (15-9) Jamie Smith, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Simon Danielli, Ian Humphreys, Paul Marshall. (1-8) Tom Court, Rory Best (Capt), BJ Botha, Ed O’Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Robbie Diack. (16-22) Andi Kyriacou, Bryan Young, Ryan Caldwell, TJ Anderson, Isaac Boss, Niall O’Connor, Timoci Nagusa
So there you have it, the last selection of the Boss era! As predicted Isaac and Jimmy are benched but surprisingly Mr Ed starts ahead of Caldwell which begs the question …
I would guess Paddy’s been wrapped in cotton wool to be sent down under next month so young Whitten gets another run out at inside centre and I do like to see him and Cave together. Has a nice balance in my opinion.
I’m also looking forward to seeing Henry, Faloon and Diack play together as I think this will be our most used back row next season and is certainly what we’ll be looking at in a year or two’s time when Ferris is in the south of France and Rush is in the knackers yard. Again I think it’s a lovely balance of skill, pace and brains, but they all need to butch up a bit and I guess that’s the skill that Mr Rush will be imparting during his brief stay.
The rest of the team is pretty much as expected though the Humphreys/O’Connor connundrum continues and will probably continue through next season till one of them finally settles down with the “new” scrum half. Let’s hope it’s not an extended courting period as they get to know each other!
Finally, all the best to Isaac, Ed and Jimmy with their new clubs.
Thanks for all the good times, and we’ll probably forget about the bad times soon enough.
I look forward to seeing you all back at Ravers!
More like this:
8 Responses to “Teams for Connacht and Connaught!”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
McLaughlin shows what a small man he is with his selection of Marshall ahead of the departing Isaac Boss. Boss was good enough to play in 475 minutes of Ulster’s 480 minutes of Heineken Cup rugby this season yet is only fit for the bench in his last appearance at Ravenhill in an Ulster shirt. A player who always gave his all for the Red Hand and made over 100 caps for his adopted province deserves better. The only consolation is that Boss will be remembered by supporters longer than Brian ……………. who?
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Brady dropped and Kyriacou benched that’s the thanks they get for the hard work all season but everything is OK we have got our Irish capped out of form (for 3 years) hooker back to take the glory in the last unimportant game of season.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Marshall gets the call because he will be back next year simple Boss was last season’s pick of the crop but unfortunately not next season’s ie there is no future in picking Boss its not small mindedness.
Personally I would prefer Boss and I’m sure if ERC qualifation rested on the result he would have been the second name on the sheet.
Jordy’s comment is a real beamer which is why I’m called the mote. ie I –jordy– can make better call on a player than Williams, McLauglin and Kidney
A bad lineout is not always the fault of Thrower and Best gives and adds more to loose and tight play than the other two combined
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Not picking your best player IS small mindedness. This is professional sport not the boys brigade ………….. grow up Mote (though I guess u r an OAP judging by your comments)
Can you see Cardiff not pick X Rush for their last match because” there is no future in picking him” ???????????? I don’t think so. I rest my case ……..SMALL MINDLESNESS !
Simples.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
And while I’m having a rant, well done to big Ed “no future ” O’D excellent performance last night. (Explain that one )
And I don’t know what Best you have been watching he has been a shadow of his former self this season ,when Andi Kyriacou came on not only was he able to power over close to the line for a well taken try he popped up everywhere in the loose and showed what a good broken player he is, a hooker who can actually give and take a pass.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
funny ulster’s seasons went down hill when Best came back from injury, and not straight or over thrown line outs who would you blame ‘mote’ ? and i agree with ‘RR’ Andy and Nigel get about the pitch every bit as well as Best.
Best just walked back into the team which i don’t agree with each player should fight for there place in the starting 15.
face it mote Best was a good player and until he gets some sort of form back Kidney will not be giving him much game time, wait and see…….
and as for McLauglin giving Caldy a new contract and not ED interesting.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Ulster’s season went down hill with six scottish refs in six matches a dose of post ERC blues and playing some talented teams packed with Internationals
To blame one player for the loss of form is a touch of madness
Much of the blame for the lineout lies in the manner players shift about before the ball goes up ie jumpers not being in position or jumping
And it maybe that Cardwell was injured because McComb was on the bench which would account for ED’s presence on the team
Ed leaving is unfortunate and to be honest surprising given the second rows available to leinster and I hope he doesn’t live to regret giving up the opportunity to play for Ulster only to sit on the bench at Leinster.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Ed didn’t give up the opportunity he was kicked out by Humohreys and McLaughlin.
Hope you change your record for next season I am getting bored of hearing about Scottish referees and how the other teams players are so much better than ours.
Enjoy your break and come back refreshed.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0