Kyriacou and Diack start again for Ulster agaisnt Glasgow. BY: RUGBYPICTURE.CO.UK
Brian McLaughlin has continued his rotation policy, bringing in six new faces for Friday’s trip to Glasgow for their Magners League match (KO 20.05).
Irish players Tom Court and Paddy Wallace join Scotland international Simon Danielli in the starting team as they all return from 6 Nations duty, while Rory Best takes a place on the bench. Andrew Trimble picked up a slight quad injury playing for Ireland and is unavailable.
Paul Marshall is included at scrum half after his cameo against the Dragons and Ruan Pienaar moves to the outhalf position as a result. Conor Gaston will make his second appearance on the wing after impressing on his debut last week.
Danielli will start at fullback which means Adam D’Arcy is named among the replacements and Wallace will play inside centre in place of Luke Marshall who misses the rest of the season.
Andi Kyriacou and Declan Fitzpatrick remain in the front row and are joined by Court. Dan Tuohy is promoted to the bench to partner captain Johann Muller in the second row. The back row is reshuffled again with Pedrie Wannenburg named instead of Willie Faloon. Wannenburg is named at Number 8, Robbie Diack moves to blindside flanker and Chris Henry is at openside.
Tommy Seymour is among the replacements again after his heroics last week but there is no place for fellow try-scorer Darren Cave.
The return of Ulster’s international players is a timely boost as every point will count in the Magners League and the Heineken Cup Quarter-Final is just over two weeks away.
Ulster currently lie 4th in the Magners League so Brian McLaughlin will be hoping for an improved performance this week to continue their challenge. McLaughlin said ahead of the game: “If we want to make that semi-final spot in the Magners League then every game is a cup final and we have to perform in every game.”
Ulster Team v Glasgow (Magners League, Friday 25th March, kick-off 8.05pm)
(15-9): Simon Danielli; Conor Gaston, Nevin Spence, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy; Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall; (1-8): Tom Court, Andi Kyriacou, Declan Fitzpatrick, Johann Muller (capt), Dan Tuohy, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg; (16-23): Rory Best, Paddy McAllister, Bryan Young, Tim Barker, Willie Faloon, Ian Whitten, Tommy Seymour, Adam D’Arcy.
You know I’m quite impressed with the focus on the Magners League and Humphreys and McLaughlin can certainly not be accused of not looking at all their options ahead of the Heineken Cup challenge in a fortnight’s time.
It’s a ballsy selection and I take a great deal of comfort that the coaches have the confidence to keep making changes when each match is now practically a win or bust with respect to the Magners play offs or Heineken progression.
Compared to Ireland’s staid selections it is refreshing that the likes of Gaston, Jackson, Seymour and to an extent Kyriacou can have come out of nowhere at the start of the season to be genuine challengers for places in these type of games.
In fact, I’m so mellowed out by this selection I’m not even going to complain that Daick and Wannenburg are the wrong way round and that Gaston should be at full back.
Ulster to win surprisingly comfortably. Bonus point in more ways than one!
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12 Responses to “Magners League: Team for Glasgow – Quietly confident!”
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hmm. not sure how big an opposition Glasgow is, judging by the closeness of the last result I guess important. However, shouldn’t the guys like Muller or Pienaar get some rest. Wasn’t Jackson good at FH? Give youngster another run. One can always put the more experienced cover on the bench.
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@rekinek – At the moment it’s a balance betwwen giving youngsters a run and looking at our options for the Heineken Cup match in a fortnights time should Humphreys not recover so Jackson is the unlucky player to miss out this time as we look at Ruan at 10.
Besides they have only played five games in the last 8 weeks so they shouldn’t be too jaded just yet!
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what’s up with Humpreys. I am not really sold at the idea of Pienaar at 10.
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for the amount of time RP has had at number 10 it would be very hard to judge, if he gets the full game at 10 and the conditions are dry with good running rugby we will have a better idea then.
team looks good, McGlock seems to be making all the right moves.
roll on tomorrow bag packed, beer coupons ready to cash in.
glasgee here we come………
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@rekinek – Humphs is crocked at the mo – should be back next week. Having a look at RP just in case.
@Jordy – big crowd from Larne going over so watch yourself! I think they are all Andi K fans!
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@John- it’s OK i have a large flag saying ‘ANDI THE FRU LUV YOU’ so they’ll not miss me.
i think the FRU should start a petition to have Andi K as the next first minster, he’ll get plenty of votes on here.
are you going over for the match John ?
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@JORDY –
Won’t be over myself, saving my pennies for Northampton but there are a few FRUsters going I believe.
Looking forward to seeing the fleg on TV.
Don’t know about first minister but I reckon we could round up enough votes to take East Antrim off Sammy Wilson!
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Must say sorry to see Cave is not there–not even on the bench .Is he injured again or is that Wallace and Spence have a better rapport at the monent due to Caves absence because of injury? Best might be a bit hung over from last Saturday to start having played about70 mins.
Glasgow away will not be easy
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I’d say Cave is getting a run out for Quins as they push for promotion. Should be a tight enough game at Eaton Park on Saturday!
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Agree totally with the FRU assessment of the selection. SUFTU! and believe!!!! C’mon Ulsterrrrr!!!!!!’
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@John & @Jordy – When’s the election? Pencils sharpened and ready
Another last second win tonight would be such a great result ……. SUFTUM !!!
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@Planet Ulster – hehe. looks like you predicted …
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