Luke Marshall has to content himself with a bench spot! Picture Darren Kidd|Presseye
Ulster have announced tomorrow nights team as follows:
Ruan Pienaar will start at outhalf for Ulster against Aironi in Friday’s Magners League fixture at Ravenhill (KO 19.05).
Brian McLaughlin has named the versatile South African in place of Ian Humphreys, while Paul Marshall comes in to fill the scrum half position vacated by Pienaar.
McLaughlin has also changed his entire front row with Paddy McCallister, Nigel Brady and Tom Court replacing Bryan Young, Andi Kyriacou and Declan Fitzpatrick. The final change to the starting team sees Paddy Wallace join fellow international Andrew Trimble in the backline as he replaces young Luke at inside centre.
The second row and back row combinations remain unchanged from last week’s win over Cardiff and Johann Muller will again lead the side. Robbie Diack and Simon Danielli are named among the replacements and will be hoping to make a big impact off the bench.
Ulster have beaten Aironi on three occasions this season and a fourth victory would continue their charge towards the Magners League playoffs.
ULSTER (15-9):Adam D’Arcy, Andrew Trimble, Nevin Spence, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy; Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall; (1-8)Paddy McCallister, Nigel Brady, Tom Court, Johann Muller (Captain), Tim Barker, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg. (16-23): Andi Kyriacou, Declan Fitzpatrick, Jerry Cronin, Neil McComb, Robbie Diack, Luke Marshall, Simon Danielli, Tommy Seymour
Dissapointingly it’s a bit more conservative than I thought for this one with Muller and Wannenburg both starting – poor decision in my opinion. Not only does it show a lack of confidence in the squad but a continued disregard of Diack being the type of player that we need to be building our game plan round – someone who can break quickly of the back of a scrum and get the ball into the hands of our backs. Add to this that, of course, “Murphy’s Law” applies and this is exactly the sort of game that one of them is going to get crocked in.
Resting Wannenburg, Muller, Faloon and Pienaar would have made a much bigger statement as, with all respect to Aironi reserves, it is the sort of game that we should be winning without any of our supposed front-liners. OK some justification for Pienaar as its a prudent look at options should Humph get injured but playing the other three is ridiculous.
While it may be fun for some watching our big ol pack rolling over Aironi for the first 40 minutes it’s not really what I hoped we’d be doing. I had hoped we were beyond that but obviously not.
Just don’t know if it’s worth going to this game now as the only real point of interest is how McAllister and Court combine in the front row, post Botha, so to speak. Could it be the start of a very sucessful partnership for Ulster and Ireland?
Bonus point in the bag by the 50th minute but no great rugby to be played.
More like this:
15 Responses to “Magners League: Team for Aironi”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
I hope Humphreys is injured and teacher is not playing games. I was concerned with teachers comment in Llanelli that anything Humpreys can do Pienaar can do better.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
@RR. I found this comment very strange. May be some twisted way of motivating players :LOL:
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Rekinek ….. you obviously didn’t see McGlock’s post match interview in Llanelli.
If you had the comment would have been as clear as day.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
@Raging Raven – Settle down sport. rekinek is saying that he also found McLaugh’s comment strange not yours! At least that’s how I read it. Take of those rage tinted glasses a while.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Wow – RR raging already….. My view on the whole selection is that he’s going for the BP win with no messing about and also help our try count and points difference.
Re the front row change – will be interesting to see how Young Paddy and Tom combine together as you ( ed) state above in the blurb its probably the post BJ era ! After Andi K’s two super starts and game time I would have liked to see him get another start, but hopefully he’ll get a good 30 mins or so. Like yourself i’d have liked to see big Robbie get a good 80 mins under his belt but hopefully wil get on for a half or so.
Nice to have the option of Danelli on the bench with young Gilroy starting again. I suppose if Paddy has a shocker young Luke can come on and play another cracker game.
The only surprise for me is that Darren Cave not getting a run out from the bench.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
@junty – you are right about Cave and really I should have commented on it in the main piece. I’d heard yesterday from a source close to young Darren that he’d be getting an 80 minute run out at Shaws Bridge for Quins against Instonians on Saturday.
You never know there may be a FRU camera at that one!
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
I am on record stateing that I expect Pienaar to be outhalf against the Saints and not Humphreys who would seriously targeted as the defensive weakest link > His starting here would be further evidence for that belief.
I was hoping to see Cave on the bench but he may not yet 100% match fit and it maybe considered the risk is not worth taking.
Gilroy before Danielli looks like a Doak call who I consider has a low opinion of Danielli’s defending given a clear view of the try line there are few better than Danielli but there must be questions regarding his defence.
The front five look like -if not the pack- look like starters against the Saints if Botha is unavailable .
Wannenberg is the ball carrier in the backrow and is better at this task than Diack who may be coming back from injury and since as 100% match fit.
The guys fighting to get fit before the Saints match being Botha Ferris Touhy Diack and Cave
and the best of luck to all of them
For a top four finish in the Magners this is a must win game hence a strong side
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
@mote, @junty – Tunnel vision on the next match and not the development of the team and the style for greater glory! We’re becoming as boring as England! Chucking it up the middle with big units will only get you so far which is why we need to develop a more expansive game like we started to show last week.
Word is we won’t be seeing Botha back in an Ulster shirt!
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Humphreys pulled up in training on Tuesday. Rested. Phew
Apologies Rekinek I misread your post.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
@RR I did (except of highlights that’s all i saw admittedly – no magners league coverage where i am) but i am always the last one to say that coaches have favourites as it is so against spirit of the game. there is always so much more going on than the average bloggers know so I’ll always give “the teacher” the benefit of the doubt.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
@rekinek – welcome to Ulster our South African friend. You can get pretty good coverage of Ulster match highlights here http://www.youtube.com/user/TheUAFC thanks to our friends on the UAFC board. You can also get live coverage of most matches here
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
@John
Thanx man
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
@the mote 7
sorry guys & girls. not too sure how to respond to the comment directly..
I do find it a bit funny having Pienaar playing 10. IMO he’s excellent scrummy but he’s also a good 10, which I do not think he himself likes to admit. And I do find it it a weird thing seeing him being chosen as 10.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
@Mote, change the record, Humphreys defensive frailties, blah, blah, blah! zzzzz!
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
thanx John! will definitely have a look.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0