ULSTER COACH Brian McLaughlin will select a full-strength team on Saturday evening for the Magners League return leg with Munster at Ravenhill. They lost 24-10 to the champions at Thomond Park on Halloween night.
Tom Court is expected to return to the frontrow, while Stephen Ferris should make his world-class presence felt on the blindside flank, with Bryan Young and TJ Anderson expected to make way.
Ian Whitten continued to show his potential to become a quality inside centre against Leinster last weekend, but Paddy Wallace will probably return to face down Jean de Villiers; the Springbok 12 has made a few statements of intent since regaining his place after being surprisingly dropped by Munster coach Tony McGahan.
Andrew Trimble, another forced by the IRFU player programme to be rested for the 15-3 defeat in Dublin, is also back in the squad and may remove Darren Cave from the centre, or one of the wingers, although Simon Danielli and Timoci Nagusa hardly deserve to be dropped.
McLaughlin announces the team at noon today and Ian Humphreys is expected to regain the number 10 jersey from Niall O’Connor, who remains in contention despite being hauled off at half-time against Leinster after failing to recover from a big tackle by Isa Nacewa.
There are fewer than 400 tickets remaining for Saturday’s game in Belfast. They can be purchased at ulsterrugby.com.
Former Gloucester and Ireland under-21 lock Dan Tuohy has made an impact since signing for Ulster this season, having already been selected by Ireland A. “What is interesting about the interpros, especially Leinster and Munster, in Leinster I faced Leo Cullen and Malcolm O’Kelly last weekend, then this week O’Callaghan and O’Connell (note: neither have been selected but the point still holds with Donncha Ryan and Mick O’Driscoll), Ireland’s two senior locks,” said Tuohy.
“So, in a way, the people we are playing against are the people who we aspire to be, and try and compete against and lay down a marker for yourself; it gives the game that added edge, and drives you on, because these are the boys you want to compete against. Internationally, they are great players, so you always strive to improve yourself.”
ULSTER (26-man squad): B Young, T Court, BJ Botha, D Fitzpatrick, A Kyriacou, N Brady, R Caldwell, E O’Donoghue, D Tuohy, S Ferris, W Faloon, C Henry, TJ Anderson, J Smith, C Schifcofske, T Nagusa, S Danielli, D Cave, I Whitten, J Shiels, I Humphreys, N O’Connor, I Boss, P Wallace, A Trimble, C Willis.
