Squad for Bath (Friendly).

Ulster have announced their first squad of the new season.

Friday’s match could be a first chance for supporters to see some of the new signings in action at Ravenhill with new Springbok signings Johann Muller and Pedrie Wannenburg named in the squad for the friendly against Bath.

With the summer tourists unavailable for selection, McLaughlin and his coaching staff will use the friendlies as an opportunity to rotate the squad and despite the relatively young age of the players involved, there will be plenty of experience in McLaughlin’s line-up which will be announced later this week.

Tickets for Friday’s match are available to pre-purchase from www.ulsterrugby.com or the Ravenhill Ticket Office, alternatively tickets will also be on sale at the gates on match night. Gates will open at 6pm.

In addition to the great rugby on offer from some top sides, supporters attending Ulster’s pre-season friendlies will notice a few changes around the place when they enter Ravenhill. The main concourse area will be transformed as it’s out with the cars and in with a food village! There will be six or seven new catering options to tickle the taste buds ahead of kick-off and there’ll also be some live entertainment to help build up the atmosphere.

Forwards: TJ Anderson, Tim Barker, Nigel Brady, Ryan Caldwell, Robbie Diack, Willie Faloon, Declan Fitzpatrick, Andi Kyriacou, Adam Macklin, Johann Muller, Paddy McAllister, Neil McComb, Pedrie Wannenburg, Bryan Young. Backs: Darren Cave, Ian Humphreys, Luke Marshall, Paul Marshall, Mark McCrea, Niall O’Connor, Ian Porter, Tommy Seymour, Jamie Smith, Nevin Spence, Ian Whitten.

OK so plenty to get the head round there. From the available squad my starting XV reads:

Forwards: Young, Brady, Fitzpatrick, Caldwell, Muller, Wannenburg, Faloon, Diack. Backs: P.Marshall, Humphreys, Spence, Whitten, Cave, McCrea, Smith. Bench: Kyriacou, McCallister, McComb, Anderson, Porter, O’Connor, L.Marshall.

Forwards pretty much pick themselves from the available squad except for Brady and Kyriacou being practically interchangeable and Caldwell, well, he really is on a make or break season.

With McComb now on a full time contract and the reliable Barker returning, big Caldy is going to have to up his game if he is going to be the permanent partner for Muller. If he can play to his potential it will be as good as a new signing and it’s definitely worth giving him a bit of time, but he really does need to play with his sensible head on and concentrate on his own game.

Wannenburg, Faloon and Diack is a yummy back row on paper and I can’t wait to see how they click on the field. If Wannenburg can make an impact comparable to Ferris then I think we’ll be in for an exciting season with the possibility of beasting a lot of packs for a full 80 minutes instead of our usual 8, but let’s see how he get’s on first!

Without Trimble, Wallace, Danielli and of course Pienaar the backs do look a little light with Humph and Cave catapulting through to elder statesmen status! There is however plenty to look forward to with the quality crop of youngsters coming through.

I reckon Spence will start on the wing, mainly on reputation, ahead of Seymour (though Seymour is definitely the better winger if not better player).

McCrea, who looked to have broken through two seasons ago, deserves another chance and could be another welcome bonus this season if he gets a run. He’s certainly harder hitting and more involved than Danielli but the Scot has the edge with his finishing and his angles. McCrea needs to improve his hands and his finishing and if he does he has everything else but if not he could find himself overtaken by Seymour, Gilroy and Spence (who, unfortunately, I think Ulster and Ireland will persevere with trying to turn him into a winger when he is a natural centre).

As far as the result goes my guess is that the English side are going to just about come out on top in a high scoring fixture. After last season’s two drubbings this game means a lot more to Bath than it does to us and they will be keen to make a point, so I see them going into a sizable early lead before Ulster storm back to keep it close, but not enough. 

So plenty of excitement on the pitch and what looks like even more excitement off it, what with our new “Pourage Partner” whatever the feck that is and the unveiling of the new Tented Village of Delight.

However despite all the best intentions I can’t help but feel that Ulster Rugby have shot themselves in the foot with the choice of “Pourage Partner” outweighing any incentive to get to the ground early for a few pints and a bite to eat!

To tell the truth rushing anywhere for a few tasteless lagers and a pseudo Guinness doesn’t exactly float my boat!

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