Who will the "Wise monkeys" of the FRU select this week?
Ulster Rugby have released the latest details for Friday nights match:
Brian McLaughlin has named a 30 man squad ahead of this Friday’s match against Glasgow at Ravenhill, kick off 7.05pm.
New signing Ruan Pienaar’s name features for the first time, having arrived in Belfast just two weeks ago whilst winger Simon Danielli is also included, having recovered from shoulder surgery in the summer.
With props, BJ Botha, Declan Fitzpatrick and Adam Macklin all unavailable due to injury, Ulster have drafted in Instonians’ prop Alan Whitten, brother of Ulster centre Ian, ahead of this weekend’s match.
The Ulster starting XV and replacements will be named before 12 noon tomorrow.
Tickets for the match are still available and gates open at 5.30pm for the 7.05pm kick off
SQUAD: Forwards: Tom Court, Paddy McAllister, Bryan Young, Nigel Brady, Rory Best, Andi Kyriacou, Tim Barker, Johann Muller, Ryan Caldwell, Dan Tuohy, Willie Faloon, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack, TJ Anderson, Pedrie Wannenburg. Backs: Adam D’Arcy. David McIlwaine, Jamie Smith, Simon Danielli, Andrew Trimble, Paul Emerick, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Paddy Wallace, Ian Humphreys, Niall O’Connor, Paul Marshall, Ian Porter, Ruan Pienaar
Unavailable due to injury: BJ Botha, Stephen Ferris, Declan Fitzpatrick, Adam Macklin, Bryn Cunningham, David Pollock
Bit of a strange one this releasing the details of a squad of 30 ( i.e. everyone available) and then doing the team announcement less than 24 hours later? Well, I suppose it gives us this afternoon to postulate and ponder the likely team.
Plenty of hookers available, but not enough props seems to be the current problem, but I’m sure the redoubtable Brady could do a useful enough job at tighthead if required! I see Rory being rested to give the cut above his eye an opportunity to heal a bit longer and I’m going with Young, Kyriacou and Court to start.
Second row is getting harder to choose each week but I think they’ll go with Muller and Caldwell, which would probably be my choice as well with Caldwell just having the edge over Barker with the extra beef! Barker could find himself out of the squad all together as I see Tuohy filling the bench spot. Wow – that’s harsh!
Backrow should finally get round to being ballanced this week with Wannenburg, Faloon and Diack the likely starting formation and Henry on the bench.
Half backs should see the start of a beautiful relationship with Pienaar and O’Connor linking up for the first time and wings will stay the same with the two naughty boys from Connacht hoping to avoid the cards this week. ( I don’t know, but that Trimble is getting worse than Caldwell on the card front!) Emerick will surely have his appearance cut short with Danielli expected get a run in the second half.
Centres will see wily Wallace and crunching Cave team up yet again with Whitten joining Porter on the bench and full back should be Smith with D’Arcy picking up the final bench spot this week.
The FRU XXIII: (1-15) Young, Kyriacou, Court, Muller, Caldwell, Wannenburg, Faloon, Diack, Pienaar, O’Connor, Trimble, Wallace, Cave, Emerick, Smith. (16-23) Brady, McAllister, A Whitten, Tuohy, Henry, Porter, I Whitten, D’Arcy.
8 Responses to “Squad for Glasgow.”
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Ed – cant really fault your thinking about the squad. I must admit that Caldwell is a changed character this season cos, as far as i’m aware, that’s 2 games in a row without giving away a penalty….. WOW never thought i’d see that, and he did outshine Tim Barker in Galway. I hope that Tim just needs a little rest to re-focus and come back refreshed and raring to go.
I think that young Jamie Smith will do well to hang onto his place after a few missed high balls, and possibly D’Arcy could start with either Smith or even young Macckie on the bench.
To make it easy this week I will name who I think McGlock will pick and were it varies from my selection ,my choice will have an asterisk.
McGlock’s 23
15. Smith. McIlwaine*
14. Danielli
13. Cave
12. Wallace
11. Trimble
10. O’Connor A N Other*
9. Pienaar
8. Diack
7. Henry Faloon*
6. Wannenburg
5. Tuohy
4. Muller
3. Court
2. Brady/Best Kyriacou*
1. Young
16. Brady/Best 17. McAllister 18. A Whitten 19. Barker 20. Faloon 21. Marshall 22. I Whitten 23. McIlwaine.
My own bet would Pienaar for the bench coming on at half time to receive a big” hello thur” from the crowd if so then Porter might get a start and Marshall a rest this week.
D’Arcy could well get a nod in my book since his break is more decisive (lying deep and running back ) ( see below)
Weather forecast would make OConnor favorite at outhalf ( big kicks down wind)
Barker and Caldwell could well miss the kick off with muller and Touhy starting and being the only combination at second row not tested to date
Backrow Diack and Wannenberg to start —toss up between Henry and Falloon but since Henry has played the last two games he may get a bit of bench time
RR, do you cover ALL the numbers when you’re playing roulette?
JK …….. only 23.
There was me thinking I was making it easy this week then along comes a hockey boy.
Rugby League has XXIII; Rugby Union has XXV!!
I think you’re getting a little confulsed there Setanta. League has XIII and union has XV but the union squad is XXIII (23)
Doh!! You’re right of course – oh, and you only had four wrong in selection; I had six!! Back to work.