South African Johann Muller will captain Ulster this Friday night when they take on Bath at Ravenhill, KO 7.30pm.
It’s not a bad start to my team predictions this season as I only got three wrong yesterday. Tim Barker starts in second row with Caldwell dropping out of the squad all together, Tommy Seymour starts on the wing with Nevin Spence dropping to the bench and Luke Marshall drops out of the squad all together.
First friendly off the season and I wouldn’t read too much into it but I must admit I am intrigued that Caldwell hasn’t being given the first chance to bond with Muller and it’ll be interesting to see how second row selection progresses over the next two games. Barker has always done a job at Ulster (and at Glasgow and Castres for that matter) and I was really impressed with big McComb when he appeared last season, (his only problem being lasting the game) so it’ll be an interesting battle if everyone stays fit.
In the back line the choice of Seymour on the wing makes much more sense than my selection of Spence as Seymour is more of a natural winger and Spence can cover all the back three and the centre from the bench. I guess I was being a little paranoid with Spence being tried out on the wing when on Ireland duty in Argentina during the summer so I’m relieved to see that sense with Spence has prevailed!
So we have a big old rambunctious pack with a hit man, a forager and a pair of hands in the back row and a set of young and (hopefully) exciting backs. Should be a good game but I’m going to let my head overrule my heart and still go for a narrow Bath win- though I’m now not so sure.
Tickets for Ulster v Bath are still available to purchase in advance of the game from www.ulsterrugby.com or can be purchased on the gates which open at 6pm.
Ulster: (15-9) Jamie Smith, Mark McCrea, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Tommy Seymour, Ian Humphreys, Paul Marshall. (1-8) Bryan Young, Nigel Brady, Declan Fitzpatrick, Tim Barker, Johann Muller (Captain), Pedrie Wannenburg, Willie Faloon, Robbie Diack. (16-23) Andi Kyriacou, Paddy McAllister, Adam Macklin, Neil McComb, TJ Anderson, Ian Porter, Niall O’Connor, Nevin Spence
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5 Responses to “Ulster team for Bath. (Friendly)”
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From the players available I would probably have picked something similar with the exception of 2 and 9. Our lack of resources at 9 and 10 is also starting to worry me and it could derail a promising season.
I imagine this is Brians last season as coach any thoughts for next season?
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Strange with Caldwell alright but he’ll get another shot pre-season? I think 9 is more of a worry than 10 for me (at the minute anyway).
Good luck Ulster. May the force be with you as I will not, but I will search tirelessly for a stream of the game…
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With Bath in the ERC group that XV won’t give them alot of information but then I don’t expect Ulster to learn that much about Bath either.
This season I still expect Ospreys and leinster to be the top two teams but that could depend on how both teams approach the ERC . Munster and Cardiff will run them close and 5- 9 is a permutation between Glasgow Dragons Edinburgh and Ulster’ The Scarlets will be close but still have the look of a team in transition.
In my view Ulster will be handicapped by a 13+ defence ie there are two players have a suspect defence which limits the abilities of their team mates . The extent to which this effect the team performance and league position will depend on the ability of the forwards to keep possession between their own 10 metre line and the opposition 22. as I expect that League position at the end of the season to be decided more by Bonus points than by the difference between games won and lost each year a try bonus point becomes harder making loser bonus points more important.
Sunderland Football Club had a fanzine mag that went under the name of ” Its the Hope we can’t stand ” and to some extent Ulster Rugby tends to give off a similiar odour. The expectation often forgets to perm in the weakest link.
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Murphys!!! Feckin’ Murphys!!!! And £3.50 for a pint of that shite!
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Hockey Boy……………… for once I agree with you 100%!
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