YOU COULD hardly blame Ulster for feeling rather uneasy as they attempt to resuscitate something from the tatters of what once looked like a promising campaign.
Having gone eight league games with only one win – coming courtesy of Munster at Ravenhill in January – and a draw, Brian McLaughlin’s side now find themselves a mere four points ahead of bottom side Connacht.
Their injury crisis at fullback sees Paddy Wallace wear 15, while, in the pack, prop Bryan Young starts at loose head in place of Declan Fitzpatrick, with Tom Court on the bench. Dan Tuohy starts in the engine room with Ryan Caldwell warming the bench alongside flanker David Pollock which means captain Chris Henry starts in the unfamiliar position of openside flanker with Robbie Diack at number eight.
ULSTER: P Wallace; A Trimble, D Cave, I Whitten, S Danielli; N OConnor, I Boss; B Young, R Best, BJ Botha, E ODonoghue, D Tuohy, S Ferris, C Henry, R Diack. Replacements: A Kyriacou, T Court, R Caldwell, D Pollock, P Marshall, I Humphreys, N Spence
OSPREYS: L Byrne; T Bowe, S Parker, J Hook, S Williams; D Biggar, M Phillips; R Bevington, H Bennett, A Jones, I Gough, J Thomas, J Collins, M Holah, R Jones. Replacements: E Shervington, P James, A Wyn Jones, F Tiatia, J Nutbrown, A Bishop, N Walker.
Referee: N Paterson(SRU)
REMAINING FIXTURES
Tonight
Ravenhill Kick-off: 7.30pm TV: Live on Setanta Ireland
Friday
Warriors v Ulster Firhill Stadium, 7.05pm
Leinster v Ospreys RDS, 7.05pm
Saturday
Scarlets v Blues Parc y Scarlets, 6.30pm
Sunday
Connacht v Munster Sportsground, 5.05pm
Dragons v EdinburghRodney Parade, 5.05pm
Friday, April 23rd
Dragons v Blues Rodney Parade, 7.05pm
Warriors v Leinster Firhill Stadium, 8pm
Saturday, April 24th
Munster v Ospreys Thomond Park, 6.30pm
Sunday, April 25th
Scarlets v Connacht Parc y Scarlets, 2.05pm
Edinburgh v Ulster Murrayfield, 4.05pm
May 7th/8th/9th
Blues v Munster Cardiff City Stadium
Leinster v Edinburgh RDS
Ospreys v Dragons Liberty Stadium
Scarlets v Warriors Parc y Scarlets
Ulster v Connacht Ravenhill
