Ulster Squad for Munster.

Will Jackson's metoric rise continue?

Ulster Rugby have announced the squad for the New Year’s Day fixture against Munster at Thomond Park. KO 7:30pm.

Phoenix Academy outhalf Paddy Jackson has been called into the Ulster panel ahead of this weekend’s trip to play Munster in Limerick…
Jackson was named in the 30 man panel today with Ulster Captain Rory Best also included.

Best has spent the past month sidelined after fracturing his cheekbone during Ireland’s defeat to New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium in November.

Irish internationals Tom Court and Paddy Wallace also feature with Andrew Trimble sitting this one out due to the player management programme. There is no place however for teenage winger Craig Gilroy who scored Ulster’s only try in a 13-30 defeat to Leinster on Monday while Stephen Ferris, still suffering from a leg injury will also miss the interpro clash.

The Ulster starting XV and replacements will be named on Friday.

FORWARDS: Bryan Young, Declan Fitzpatrick, Tom Court, BJ Botha, Jerry Cronin, Rory Best, Andi Kyriacou, Tim Barker, Neil McComb, Johann Muller, Ryan Caldwell, Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg, Willie Faloon, TJ Anderson, Robbie Diack

BACKS: Adam D’Arcy, David McIlwaine, Jamie Smith, Simon Danielli, Tommy Seymour, Luke Marshall, Nevin Spence, Ian Whitten, Paddy Wallace, Niall O’Connor, Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall, Ruan Pienaar, Ian Porter

It looks as though McLaughlin is wanting to leave a strong legacy of youngsters being blooded during his tenure with young Patrick Jackson selected for the senior panel a week short of his 19th birthday. The selection leaves the enticing possibility that we may get a look at the Ulster back line of the future with Porter, Jackson, Seymour, Luke Marshall, Spence, McIlwaine and Smith all included and while it may be too early to see them all feature I’m sure it’s a back line we’ll see in the seasons to come – though maybe young Gilroy might have something to say about one of the positions on the wing!

While things might look good for the future in the backs it looks as though Ulster have still to develop a few grizzly forwards from our home grown talent though with the physical aspect of modern day forward play it may be a year or two till we see the likes of McGuigan and Henderson making the match day squads. As it is McLaughlin has gone for the tried and tested with experienced internationals Best and Court making welcome returns.  It is a match for redemption for most of the pack who were bullied off the park for much of Monday’s game against Leinster and certainly a more concerted forward effort is required if Ulster are to avoid a similar result.

It would be difficult to point the finger at lack of individual effort amongst the forwards but it has to be said that the management are still struggling to find the balance up front, the type of balance that brings the concerted effort at the breakdown with every player knowing instinctively what they have to do and where they have to be – which is worrying. Yes it’s worrying and it’s disappointing as it looked as though they had found a degree of cohesion in the matches against Bath. Unfortunately Chris Henry, great Ulsterman through and through, seems to be the player suffering most through the indecisiveness up front. While there may be many reasons for playing Henry at seven it’s my opinion that doing it at the expense of the more suited Faloon isn’t the answer and Chris must try and force his way into the team at the more appropriate positions of six or eight.

It’s time for redemption and there could be no finer place for getting the season back on track than Thomond and I’ve got a sneaking feeling that Ulster just might do it.

The FRU XXIII. Court, Best, Botha, Muller, Barker, Wannenburg, Faloon, Diack, Pienaar, O’Connor, Danielli, Wallace, Spence, McIlwaine, Smith. (Subs) Kyriacou, Young, Fitzpatrick, Caldwell, Henry, P Marshall, Jackson, L Marshall.

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