Dungannon's Conor Gaston gets news of his call up to Ulster! BY: FRONT ROW UNION
Brian McLaughlin has named a youthful side to take on the Dragons in the Magners League match at Ravenhill this Friday evening.
Winger Conor Gaston is the latest Phoenix Ulster Rugby Academy player to be given his chance, starting in on the right wing in place of Andrew Trimble who is on Ireland duty. Gaston has been in scintillating form for Dungannon in the All-Ireland League and has also impressed for the Ulster Ravens in recent months. The 20 year old is included in a starting XV also includes talented young backs Patrick Jackson, Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall and Nevin Spence.
Luke Marshall returns to inside centre as Paddy Wallace is also with Ireland, while Jackson’s inclusion at outhalf sees Ruan Pienaar move back to his more familiar scrum half position with Paul Marshall dropping to the bench.
In the front row, Andi Kyriacou and Declan Fitzpatrick come in for Nigel Brady and Tom Court. The other change in the pack sees Robbie Diack pack down at Number 8 in place of Pedrie Wannenburg. Captain Johann Muller continues his second row partnership with Tim Barker.
The squad is boosted with long term injury absentees Dan Tuohy and Darren Cave named among the replacements.
Tickets for the match are still available and can be purchase online at www.ulsterrugby.com or from the gates which open at 5.30pm on Friday.
Ulster: (15-9): Adam D’Arcy; Conor Gaston, Nevin Spence, Luke Marshall, Craig Gilroy; Patrick Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; (1-8): Paddy McAllister, Andi Kyriacou, Declan Fitzpatrick, Johann Muller (capt), Tim Barker, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Robbie Diack
Replacements (16-23): Nigel Brady, Bryan Young, Jerry Cronin, Dan Tuohy, Pedrie Wannenburg, Paul Marshall, Darren Cave, Tommy Seymour
Wow – what a refreshing surprise to see so many youngsters involved at the business end of the season. Ulster must be congratulated for taking the initiative in young player development in Ireland – let’s hope that the Irish management team are watching and learning.
The youthful back line sees the inclusion of Conor Gaston, who joins his Dungannon team mates Gilroy and Jackson in the senior set up for the first time. Speaking to Gaston, prior to last weekend’s All Ireland Cup semi final down in Stevenson Park, the talk was about possible inclusion in the Ravens this week with no hint of a senior call up so that one definitely came out of left field – thoroughly deserved though it is.
A powerful runner with a great leg drive and a good step of either foot, Gaston is somewhat reminiscent of Trimble with his abrasive counter attacking, and normally a full back he’s very secure under the ball. I expect he and D’Arcy will share defensive duties with scoring machine Gilroy given more of a roving role.
It’s strange to consider the likes of Gilroy, and to an extent Jackson, as experienced heads now, with Gilroy having only a handful of games and Jackson in his second start, but both players exude confidence beyond their years and their presence should help Gaston settle in.
In contrast to the Dungannon players, centres Luke Marshall and Nevin Spence look like experienced old heads now, after all Spence is well into double figures in caps this season and Marshall must be nearly nudging ten! They are however another exciting combination, with no discernible weaknesses, and if Marshall and Jackson can link up as they did against Leinster A for the Ravens earlier this season this could be a very exciting game indeed.
Of course the youngsters will only be able to shine if Pienaar controls proceedings and the forwards give him the ball by doing the business up front.
Most of these backs have been heavily involved with the Ravens this season, and let’s not forget they have taken a few poundings in teh B & I Cup so our South African imports are going to play a vital role. Pienaar and Muller will add much needed experience and I expect Pedrie to get at least 30 minutes in the second half, coming on for Henry.
It’s going to be a big, big, match for our young South African project player Robbie Diack, as he looks to re-discover his early season form, and, in my opinion, it’s on his shoulders that the outcome of the game might lie. If Diack can forge the link between the forwards and the, oh so exciting, backs it could be a tremendous night of rugby at Ravers!
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2 Responses to “Magners League: Ulster for Dragons – My goodness.”
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As stated on the Uafc board the Ravens are basically a scratch team brought together 2-3 days before a game and a mix of experienced players coming back from injury Academy players and the odd AIL club man and generally suffer from an disorganised backrow.
These players are then expected to play against club teams who train and play together week in and week out.
Unfortunately for Ulster most of the players of promise in the Acedemy are backs which is to a degree understandable because underage forwards tend to appear good because they are bigger than their peer group and have a fitness of youth which is soon lost if they bulk out.
ie GOOD forwards are harder to identify.as underage players
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If the UAFC is the basis of your research it’s no wonder your constantly ill informed! :;): At the start of the season the Ravens were a good side expertly coached by Jonny Bell – his removal and non-replacement together with call ups to U20′s and senior sides has decimated the Ravens that was being put together.
Far from the Ravens being a failure they have been an unprecedented success, doing what they are supposed to do with Gaston being the sixth youngster to make it to the senior side via the Ravens this season.
With regards the forwards any fool knows that the more physical nature of the senior forward game means it takes a little longer for the forwards to come through – there are plenty of young forwards with great potential – Birch, McGuigan, Henderson, Annett and McCall being prime examples.
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