Ulster Rugby have announced the team for tomorrow night.
Ulster Coach Brian McLaughlin has named his starting XV and replacements for this Friday’s Magners League match against Edinburgh at Ravenhill (ko 8.05pm).
There are four changes of personnel to the back line from the team that defeated Aironi last weekend at the Stadio Zaffanella.
Jamie Smith replaces Adam D’Arcy at full-back, USA Eagle Paul Emerick and Andrew Trimble, who returns from injury, replace Tommy Seymour and David McIlwaine on the wings, while Ian Whitten partners Darren Cave in the centre, replacing Paddy Wallace who is rested as part of the IRFU Player Management Programme.
Up front, injury to Declan Fitzpatrick means there is a positional change as Tom Court switches to the loosehead berth and Bryan Young is drafted in while Andi Kyriacou is named at hooker.
Captain Johann Muller will be partnered this week by Tim Barker in the engine room while the only change to the back row is the inclusion of Stephen Ferris (rested last weekend) with Pedrie Wannenburg moving to the bench.
In their last Ravenhill match, Edinburgh defeated Ulster 13-16 and Muller and his men will be out to avenge that scoreline. The match kicks off at 8.05pm. Gates open at 6pm and tickets will be available to purchase then.
ULSTER: (15-9) Jamie Smith; Paul Emerick, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Andrew Trimble; Niall O’Connor, Paul Marshall (1-8) Bryan Young, Andi Kyriacou, Tom Court, Johann Muller (Captain), Ryan Caldwell, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack. Replacements (16-23) Rory Best, Paddy McAllister, BJ Botha, Tim Barker, Pedrie Wannenburg, Ian Porter, Ian Humphreys, David McIlwaine
Quite a few changes there from the FRU 23 that we predicted a few day ago.
Smith and Trimble both join Emerick in the back three in what could be a risky enough move with all three making their season starts in the one game. Let’s hope they shake off any rustiness pretty quickly but I expect Edinburgh to kick deep initially to test them out.
Cave, Whitten and O’Connor as predicted but Marshall holds onto his place ahead of the impressive Porter. I do expect to see Porter and Humphreys get substantial game time though if things go according to plan – or maybe even more if they don’t!
The front row pleases me as the best balanced front row that we have with Young at loose and Court at tight contrary to what it says in the press release above. Again, I expect Botha and Best to get substantial game time as we search for our optimum XV.
Caldwell gets a start in second row with Barker benching and the big surprise is Henry starting with no Faloon at all! Obviously Henry is going to have to fight for his place at 7 this season as barring injuries I can’t see him getting too many games at 6 or 8.
Ulster have struggled to two wins without playing any really attractive rugby. Nothing at all wrong with that at this stage of the season, infact I take both wins as a bonus, bank the points and move on.
It’s arround now though that I’d like to see a few things click in the backs in particular and if the ydo Iexpect a reasonably comfortable win against an out of sorts Edinburgh. Hopefully Ulster’s particularly strong bench should play a full part and push us towards a bonus point in the second half!
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