Ulster Rugby have named the team for Connacht – press release as follows:
Ulster’s Head Coach Brian McLaughlin has named his playing 23 to take on Connacht in this Saturday’s Magners League clash in Galway Sportsground.
With 4 changes to the starting XV from their victory over Edinburgh at Ravenhill last Friday, McLaughlin has opted to rotate some of the pack that has been performing well and that has provided the basis for Ulster’s successful start to their Magner’s League campaign. Rory Best returns to captain the side from hooker where he will be joined in the front row by Young and Court. With Johann Muller and Robbie Diack omitted from the match day 23, recent signings Tim Barker and Pedrie Wannenburg play at 4 & 8 respectively. On the bench, Dan Tuohy returns from injury to be part of Ulster’s match day squad for the first time this season.
In the only change to the backline from last week, Paddy Wallace makes his first start at out half as part of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup Player Management programme with Niall O’Connor moving to the bench.
Ulster’s last visit to Galway reaped a 24 point victory but, after Connacht’s very impressive start to the season, McLaughlin’s men will know that another big performance will be required to take the points away from the Sportsground. With only two points on the League table between the two sides there’s everything to play for. C’mon Ulster!
Ulster:(15-9) Jamie Smith; Paul Emerick; Darren Cave; Ian Whitten; Andrew Trimble; Paddy Wallace; Paul Marshall(1-8) Bryan Young; Rory Best (Captain); Tom Court; Tim Barker; Ryan Caldwell; Stephen Ferris; Chris Henry; Pedrie Wannenburg
Replacements: (16-23)Andi Kyriacou; BJ Botha; Paddy McAllister; Dan Tuohy; Willie Faloon; Ian Porter; Niall O’Connor; David McIlwaine
So four changes, just like that. On their own no big deal really, but all together they have an uncomfortably high potential to backfire!
Th greatest area of concern would be our giving the Westies a sniff if our line-outs fail to function properly. Not only would this give Connacht an additional quantity of ball from first phase but it also gives them a few more options in controlling the tempo of the game by kicking to touch rather than have our back three return with interest.
The onus now lies with Best, Caldwell and Barker to sort this out and sort it out quickly without giving the Galway men a sniff of a chance, cos if they do it’s going to be a long night with Keatley kicking deep and their pack taking their chance at the throw ins.
Without, the sublime, Diack the back row has the feel of one that is there to defend. Now I expect them to defend well and I still expect them to be too much of a handful for Connacht but I am slightly mystified as to why we look to be inviting them on and, to a degree, I have to wonder why we are playing to their strengths.
There are a couple of reasons I can think off for going this way, one is, in Muller and Diack, that we’re resting key players for bigger fish and the other is, in the cases of Best, Caldwell and Wannenburg, that a few personal niggles are to be worked on in their chosen positions – again with an eye on those bigger fish.
If it works out, and Ulster come away with a comfortable win, it would be a big boost for the team as they head into Europe. If it doesn’t work out and Ulster scrape a win or are defeated it’s not the end of the world but it will make things tougher for those all important games agaisnt Aironi and Biarritz and has the potential to scupper our Euro campaign before it even gets off the ground.
A brash, confident Ulster would be looking for nine points in the opening two European fixtures but would have a minimum expectation of six. Five or four just wont be enough so I think we will need to be at the top of our game and that’s where the importance of this game lies. It’ll have little say in the final outcome of the Magners League, the Westies will run out of puff by Christmas, but it may just have a disproportionate effect on that sweeter prize in Europe.
It’s also annoying, if not surprising, given the noises from earlier this week, that Ireland have chosen this match to give Paddy his trial at out half in a move that could potentially be even more damaging to Ulster’s chances or conversely could make the other changes meaningless if the man chooses to sparkle! One thing is certain though this already intriguing match has become even more difficult to predict.
It’s a fine sliver of a fence to sit on this week with this high risk selection but my big fat butt is going to slide down the side of glory and I predict a comfortable win for Ulster, with big Dan Tuohy scoring the fifth try!!
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15 Responses to “Team for Connacht”
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If IRFU want to see Paddy play 10 I suppose its got to be but my own feel on this would be that Steenson could be the third 10 ( although romoured he is considered to small )
The over riding factor would appear that with a limit of 3 back subs on the bench Paddy on the bench covers 2 important positions inside centre and O/H which none of the other outhalfs do.
but to do so he should occasioally play outhalf.
The players available to the International team currently enable rejigging the back three to cover fullback wing and centre
Personally I think Muller is due a rest but in my book a home fixture would be more preferable than an away one .
The back row is not a defensive backrow Wannenberg Ferris and Henry are all ball carriers the fact that Falloon is on the bench rather than Diack is the surprise. It is would be the backrow I expect to see in the ERC games
Given the backrow I would expect Ulster to be keeping the ball tight and only attacking wide when within a couple of mertres of the 22 if the game is tight near the end the backrow is one which would be capable of closing the game down.
On the UAFC message board the IH fan club are currently in the what has IH done mode sorry folks Beemac understands the game
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Don’t know how they are going to be ball carriers if they don’t have the ball and with Ulster potentially losing out in the lineouts they are largely going to be defending.
A few big hitters to smack the Westies about is what they’re there for.
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Exactly as I predicted , Wallace in at !0, remaining backs retained. Caldwell and Barker scraping it out in the second row. Kyriacou and Diack dropped and Ferris and Henry to start.
The logical choice really, Mote.
The above Post has been posted without prejudice or agenda and receipt of apology.
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Don’t think it’s exactly as you predicted Raven, or should I say chancer!
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He predicted it under his breath.
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Just watched Leinster. They were a bit shit weren’t they??!! Until Bossy came on but by that stage the game and the bonus point had been won. Bossy is a big loss. Still at least we got Dwayne Peel……d’oh!!!!!!
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Haven’t seen much to worry about from the other teams so far though Cardiff seem to be putting together a good run.
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Here is my post , just to remind you.
I expect McGlock to say same again in the backs with the exception of the well leaked Wallace at 10 fiasco resulting in O’C being dropped to bench and Humphreys out of 23.
Smith and Emerick are under most pressure.
In the pack I expect Best to replace Kyriacou not because he deserves his place but because it doesn’t matter how bad he plays McGlock will always pick Best. Caldwell and Barker will be scraping it out in the second row. Barker should be a shoe in but as McGlock taught Caldwell at school he may well be the teachers pet.
Hopefully teacher will have learned his lesson last week and now knows what the rest of us knew sometime ago, Diack in the best No. 8. Ferris and P3 to share 6 and Henry and Faloon fighting it out for 7. I expect Ferris and Henry to start.
……….. as I said exactly as I predicted , or what part did you not understand!
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Yes JK they were not very good, which can only fill us with confidence as we easily dispensed with Edinburgh.
I’ll give you a wave from Galway we will be in our traditional spot behind the dug-outs on the unreserved side.
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Barker or Caldwell – no mention of Muller. Looks like you had Diack starting as well. You need a new source!
Make sure Stately doesn’t get too excited tomorrow!
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Admin you can’t read I said Barker AND Caldwell in the second row. No mention of Muller because the last time I checked teams only start 2 second rows. Re Diack ……… I only stated that Henry and Ferris would start. As I said EXACTLY as I predicted.
Admin are you Mote in disguise?
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RR please make Dergman feel as guilty as possible during the trip to Galway. Leaving three starving children and a wife with clapped-in cheeks…
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hey RR was talking to your wife yesterday and she remarked at how much you appear on this website !!!!! Are you neglecting some of the household duties ?? She did say however that the site was very good and that she would visit it more often. see you tomorrow at the match.
Johnny king eat your heart out ….. you are just jealous that you are not allowed a pass out for the weekend to go to the match !! See you Friday at Ravers mate!!
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I doubt if Wallace would start at 10 with out IRFU instruction as he hasn;t played there for Ulster for along time and if you (RR) t5hink it is for his place kicking the could play 12 and take the kicks ( wallace at 10 is not logical)
RR its not that your prefiction was right or wrong it is the basis on which you arrived at it
That Beemac plays blue eyes ( Best and Cardwell ) because there are Blue eyes
Yes he took Inst and yes there is the evidence of the lessons learnt from that experience at school level
Methody and Inst have dominated the schools cup for years not because of the flair of their outhalf or wonderful back play but big packs solid defence and the Kiss principle
To-date he has been rotating the second rows with Muller as the constant on that bases he is due a rest before the ERC with Touhty just coming back from injury he was never going to start
Therefore the fact he taught Cardwell at school would have no baring on the selection
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Mote …………… you really do need to lighten up.
Enjoy the game from your sofa.
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