The return of the Humph! (Picture from rugbypicture.co.uk)
Ulster have released the following press statement:
Brian McLaughlin has made five personnel changes to the Ulster starting line-up ahead of Friday’s game against the Scarlets (kick off 19.05).
Ian Humphreys has shaken off a shoulder injury and is named at flyhalf despite leaving the field early against the Ospreys on Sunday. Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace and Tom Court go straight into the starting XV after being released from the Ireland squad.
Trimble takes up the right wing position with Craig Gilroy switching to the left and Simon Danielli dropping to the bench. Prop Tom Court takes the place of Bryan Young who will also start from the bench. Paddy Wallace joins the in-form Nevin Spence in the centre, so Ian Whitten drops out of the match day squad.
The other notable inclusions are TJ Anderson in the back row in place of Willie Faloon and Andi Kyriacou at hooker instead of Nigel Brady. Johann Muller will again captain the side in the continued absence of Rory Best, who is still on Ireland duty along with Stephen Ferris.
So to me this means that the team reads as follows: -
Ulster (15-9): Adam D’Arcy; Andrew Trimble, Nevin Spence, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy; Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar; (1-8): Tom Court, Andi Kyriacou, Declan Fitzpatrick, Johann Muller, Tim Barker, TJ Anderson, Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg; (16-23) Nigel Brady, Jerry Cronin, Bryan Young, Ryan Caldwell, Robbie Diack, Paul Marshall, Luke Marshall, Simon Danielli.
Which has now been confirmed in a second release.
Delighted that Gliroy gets the nod on the wing ahead of Danielli but slightly disappointed that Jackson doesn’t feature even with the return of iHumph. However it does give a great indication of what competition there is going to be for places in the back line over the forthcoming seasons, especially when you consider that Cave has to return from injury – tasty indeed!
Having been our star back rower in recent games I’m presuming that young Faloon is being rested and while I’m always happy to see our old friend TJ in the line up, I have to wonder about the balance of the back row – yet again. My guess is we’ll see Diack coming on fairly early in the second half at eight with Wanneburg bumping to six and hopefully it’ll be the start of the rehabilitation of Diack in time for the Heineken Cup match against Northampton!
The invisible man of late, Andi Kyriacou, gets a rare start at hooker and I’m sure the Greek Adonis will be looking to fire on all cylinders to show us what we’ve been missing. Kyriacou, among several others, must use this game as an opportunity to try and force their way into the Heineken Cup squad so I’m expecting to see a more lively performance than last weeks second half against the Ospreys. With that in mind I’m predicting a win for the Ulster men.
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4 Responses to “Magners League: Team for Scarlets?”
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Well, well, well – wonders will never cease! Welcome back Andi – over to you Planet Rugby!
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In my prervious post I had assumed IH would be unavailable
The change at hooker looks like play one rest type of decision
Not to sure of the TJA decision myself unless again it is to rest Faloon who might have a bruise or two from the last couple of weeks
still expect Court Trimble and Wallace to be sub at half time or soon after
Which will give Danielli and Marshall game time in the backs
the front rows could all get game time as well and as you say Diack and Caldwell
I would sense from the selection that MM desires as many as possible to be game fit as possible from the Saints match in case Botha and Touhy are not available .
It would seem that Caves injury is more serious than many expected and a long rest is seen as the best cure.
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@mote: I heard that Cave might be turning out for Belfast Harlequins this weekend but that has to be confirmed!
@Glyncommando: I’m looking forward to hearing from Planet Rugby myself. Are they down for Northampton?
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Sorry Glyncommando, very bad planning on Ulster’s part. The clash with Northampton clashes with a longstanding prior engagement, so won’t be able to make it. Hopefully we can meet up in the SF eh !!
See my comments / post on the match report thread.
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