Will he, won't he, Wannenburg? (Picture from rugbypicture.co.uk)
The Ulster Coaching Staff have named a 32 man squad from which the starting XV and replacements for Ulster’s final Heineken Cup pool match against Aironi at the Stadio Zaffanella will be selected.
Missing from the squad is prop BJ Botha who sustained an elbow injury during the second half of last Saturday’s match however hooker and captain Rory Best, who also left the field with a rib injury, is included.
The starting XV and replacements will be named on Friday before noon.
FORWARDS: Tom Court, Declan Fitzpatrick, Jerry Cronin, Bryan Young, Andi Kyriacou, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Ryan Caldwell, Tim Barker, Dan Tuohy, Johann Muller, Neil McComb, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg, Stephen Ferris, TJ Anderson, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack
BACKS: Adam D’Arcy, David McIlwaine, Jamie Smith, Mark McCrea, Andrew Trimble, Simon Danielli, Paddy Wallace, Nevin Spence, Ian Whitten, Ian Humphreys, Niall O’Connor, Ian Porter, Paul Marshall, Ruan Pienaar
Well, what do you think? I myself don’t expect to see a lot of changes to the team on Saturday with the exception of Young starting in place of the injured Botha. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Rory is left at home for this one with Kyriacou filling the bench spot and Brady moving into the starting line out.
No idea how bad Rory’s injury is but with Irish hookers dropping like flies I would suggest that the IRFU would be making those sort of noises. With Kyriacou signing a new two year contract extension I would suggest it’s time Ulster gave him a bit of a run anyway before he forgets what a rugby ball looks like.
Back row is again the main talking point and after Pedrie’s most impressive game to date on Saturday it is really a discussion about style of play than ability of the players. I would suggest that if Ulster are looking to score, and score big at that, then they should consider Diack instead of Wannenburg as Robbie covers better and gets the ball into the hands into the backs quicker. I would start with Ferris at 6 and let him give them a beasting for 50 minutes and then bring on Pedrie for the final 30 with all the while Willie and Robbie are sweeping up the titbits and moving them on.
In the backs I’d love to see local lads McIlwaine and McCrea start ahead of D’Arcy and Danielli but both the imports are doing their talking on the pitch so there’s really not a lot to argue about, so no changes at all expected in the backs.
The FRU XXIII (15-9) D’Arcy, Trimble, Spence, Wallace, Danielli, Humphreys, Pienaar (1-8) Court, Brady, Young, Muller, Tuohy, Ferris, Faloon, Diack. (16-23) Kyriacou, Fitzpatrick, Cronin, Barker, Wannenburg, Marshall, Whitten, McIlwaine
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One Response to “Heineken Cup: Squad for Aironi”
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I like you don’t expect Best to start unless he is 100%- which I doubt
But given the intensity of last Saturdays game there could be a few changes
backs as above
forwards Court Brady Young— Muller Barker — Ferris Diack Wannenberg
With Tuohy and Falloon on the Bench
Aironi have a strong pack and can be expected to try and keep the game tight Diack provides another lineout option and a bit more physical presence in the ruck and maul especially if Ferris and Wannenberg are used to punch holes in the Aironi backline around the edge of the ruck and in mid field.
Barker for Touhy is like for like in my book but Barker would be fresher of the two.
Not that keen on Mcilwaine but management are of the opinion he covers wing and full back whereas Smith covers fullback and centre which has ample cover in Whitten and Trimble if Wallace has to move to outhalf and Spence was injured
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