Will Humphreys return to call the shots? Picture by rugbypicture.co.uk
Ulster have named their provisional training squad ahead of their RaboDirect PRO12 match against Treviso at Ravenhill this Friday (kick off 7.05pm).
Backline players Ian Humphreys, Jared Payne and Darren Cave are all named in the squad having missed the disappointing defeat to the Dragons at the weekend. Callum Black is still ruled out with a neck injury.
Coach Brian McLaughlin is confident his side will respond to this current dip in form: “These are huge learning curves for our young players. We were in this place last year when we lost three matches after a good start to the season, so now it’s about knuckling down, getting the hard work done and making sure we come back better as a result of these hard lessons.”
After a promising start to the league campaign which saw Ulster record three straight victories, they have suffered two away defeats on the spin. A return to Ravnehill is very welcome as they haven’t been beaten in their last nine league games at the ground.
Tickets are still available for this game and can be bough online at www.ulsterrugby.com or by calling 02890493222 (option 2). A family ticket offer including two adults and two children is available from just £39, with loads of entertainment around the ground.
Forwards: Paddy McAllister, Conor Carey, Jerry Cronin, Declan Fitzpatrick, Adam Macklin, John Burns, Andi Kyriacou, Niall Annett, Nigel Brady, Dan Tuohy, Lewis Stevenson, Tim Barker, Neil McComb, Mike McComish, Pedrie Wannenburg, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Robbie Diack
Backs: Paul Marshall, Ian Porter, Blane McIlroy, Ian Humphreys, Paddy Jackson, James McKinney, Ian Whitten, Luke Marshall, Nevin Spence, Darren Cave, Jared Payne, Conor Gaston, Craig Gilroy, Adam D’Arcy
There still has to be some doubt as to the fitness of the returning trio with, once again, such a large squad named however the return of one or two of the experienced trio in the backs would greatly increase the solidity of the back line.
Having said that, Ulster’s problems have largely been up front over the last two games with a real lack of match day smarts at the breakdown, some confusion with the rules and, most worryingly, a lack of concerted aggression from our forwards. Not criticising the individuals, who have all attempted to put in a shift, no doubt, but it’s all been one’s and two’s and not a slick combined effort.
Matches like the last two defeats do have longer term repercussions as, disappointingly for Andi Kyriacou, Ulster’s dip in form couldn’t have come at a worse time after his early season performances put him in pole position as a standby replacement for Rory Best. With Kyriacou missing out to Munster hooker Michael Sherry [who he - Ed] it’s a poignant reminder for the rest of the pack that every game is important if they want to be in the international mix come the Six Nations.
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