ULSTER
Ulster make one change from the side which recorded their thrilling last-gasp win over Stade Francais in the European Cup four weeks ago. As expected, Paddy Wallace reverts to full back in place of Bryn Cunningham. Adam Larkin, who came on against Stade at centre, starts there this Friday night against Neath.
Encouragingly, their bench has a stronger look to it with the return from injury of both Ryan Constable and Jeremy Davidson, as well as a promotion to the bench for their close-season capture Kieran Campbell - who must be one of the most frustrated players in the country and is hardly a ringing endorsement for the policy of bringing players home from abroad. Significantly, Paddy Johns makes way for Davidson.
ULSTER: P Wallace; J Topping, A Larkin, J Bell, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best, G Longwell, M Blair, T McWhirter, R Nelson, A Ward (capt). Replacements: M Crick, C Boyd, J Davidson, N McMillen, K Campbell, R Constable, S Coulter.
CONNACHT
Facing into their biggest home game in years against Glasgow on Saturday, Connacht have been hit by an ill-timed injury crisis at hooker to compound the ongoing absence of captain and lock Mark McDermott and number eight Des Dillon. With influential South African hooker Marnus Uijs also still ruled out until the resumption of the European Shield at home to Roma on January 5th, his understudy Tommy Kearns is now considered a major doubt.
Kearns sustained a rib injury in last Saturday's 22-16 friendly win at home to Ulster and if ruled out would oblige Steph Nel to either risk the under-21 captain Henry Bourke for his first start at senior level, or delve into the club scene for the likes of the up-and-coming Jerry Flannery or Kevin Tierney at Galwegians, or Joe McVeigh at Buccaneers.
Last weekend Bourke captained the province's under-21s when they completed a historic clean sweep in the interprovincial championship courtesy of their 17-10 win over Ulster. That stunning triumph was a credit to the team's coaching staff, Bart Fannin, Kevin Dineen and Seβn Brennan, as well as the good work on the ground these past few seasons of Connacht's development team headed by Tommy Conneely, Seamus King, Conor Finn and Charlie Cooper.
All the more so bearing in mind that not only is the squad largely home-grown, somewhat typically, only one of the Connacht under-21 panel is in the IRFU's Academy, namely Gavin Duffy, who is normally in the senior squad but played with the under-21s last weekend.
In his absence, Nel tried Mark McHugh out in that friendly against Ulster. Ted Robinson went well on the wing as did Johnny O'Connor, Junior Charlie and Michael Swift in the back row, where Nel has a number of options given the presence also of Paul Neville and Colm Rigney.
LEINSTER
Leinster expect to name a full-strength side at lunchtime today for a third meeting with Newport in six weeks, which would mean a recall at full back for Girvan Dempsey at the expense of Peter McKenna - a try-scorer in both of the back-to-back European Cup wins over Newport. However, although Emmet Byrne will probably be named in the starting team this will be pending a fitness test on a shoulder injury on Friday.
MUNSTER
Munster are also expected to unveil their hand for Saturday's tea-time rendezvous with Llanelli at some point today. David Wallace is their biggest concern because of his troublesome shoulder injury and he is unlikely to play, while Alan Quinlan, Anthony Foley, Peter Stringer and Mick O'Driscoll are nursing knocks. Like Mike Mullins (flu), they are expected to recover in time.
NEWPORT
Newport announce their starting line-up this morning and are expected to be virtually at full strength. Their Fijian captain Simon Raiwalui is a doubt with a neck injury while their understudy wingers Martin Llewellyn and Emyr Lewis are ruled out, effectively ensuring that the dangerous Ben Breeze and Matt Mostyn will play.
Since those European Cup defeats to Leinster, Newport have had one outing, a 59-5 win at home to Uruguay last Saturday week, although it's helped their cohesiveness that in addition to Ian Gough playing for Wales, seven of their side have played in all three of Wales A's intervening games.
Ulster And Leinster Schools
THE Ulster and Leinster schools sides meet in Ravenhill today (kick-off 2.0) in the final and deciding match in this season's interprovincial championship after each of them recorded wins over their Munster counterparts.
ULSTER: T Bowe (Royal School Armagh), S Gardiner (Royal Belfast Academical Institution), T Horner (Campbell College Belfast), J McLaughlin (Methodist College Belfast), R Conway (Coleraine Academical Institution), G Steenson (Royal School Armagh), M Kirkwood (Methodist College Belfast), N Conlon (Capt, Royal Belfast Academical Institution), B Hanvey (Belfast High School), J McNeill (Portora Royal School), L Stevenson (Ballyclare High School), M Jenkinson (Royal School Dungannon), M Williams (Methodist College Belfast), D Burns (Coleraine Academical Institution), N McComb (Campbell College). Replacements: S Morrow (Ballyclare High School), R McCarter (Foyle and Londonderry College), S Auld (Royal School Armagh), G Maxwell (Royal School Dungannon), J Craig (Royal Belfast Academical Institution), M Shiells (Royal School Armagh), P Gilliland (Foyle and Londonderry College).
LEINSTER: R McCarron (Gonzaga); S Grissing (St Mary's), J Hearty (Blackrock), K Copeland (Blackrock), M Hewitt (Belvedere); C Sharpe (Blackrock, capt), D Connellan (Clongowes); C O'Byrne (St Marys), D Gavin (St Michaels), K Doyle (CBC Monkstown), O Cullen (Blackrock), A Houlihan (Clongowes), K McLaughlin (Gonzaga), D O'Brien (Belvedere), J Rockett (St Michaels). Replacements: D Foran (High School), G Byron (St Michaels), S Morrissey (Gonzaga), J Mannion (Blackrock), E O'Meara (Belvedere), M Hayes (Belvedere), R Burns (High School).
