Williams calls Anderson into Ulster squad

MAGNERS LEAGUE: MATT WILLIAMS has drafted the 21-year-old flanker Thomas Anderson into his 26-man Ulster squad for their difficult Magners League meeting with Munster on Saturday at Ravenhill Road.

The promising backrower from Magherafelt, who is in his first year on the Ulster senior squad and has played twice this season for the province, is the son of the former Ireland secondrow and national team captain Willie.

Anderson joins the extended squad with another fresh face, hooker Stuart Philpott.

Williams is also able to welcome back Stephen Ferris. The Ireland flanker was injured during Ulster's failed attempt to earn some Heineken Cup points from their French visitors Stade Français in Belfast recently.

His return to fitness along with his selection yesterday to Declan Kidney's 41-man Ireland squad along with five other Ulster players ought to bring some light to a squad desperately looking for a break.

Captain Rory Best, also in Kidney's selection, is, however, not in this week's squad for the sold-out match. Best took a few knocks in last week's game and while it was thought he would be fit, it was decided to rest him before what is sure to be a crucial mid-part of the season for Ulster after the international series next month.

The capacity crowd at Ravenhill will come as a much-needed boost to the Ulster Branch coffers as crowds had been down by up to 20 per cent at the Belfast venue. The Ireland hooker is likely to be replaced by Nigel Brady, with Philpott taking a place on the bench.

Munster coach Tony McGahan announced a 27-man squad yesterday but omitted four who played in the Heineken Cup win at Edgeley Park last Sunday.

Hooker Frank Sheahan was unavailable because of an injury he picked up playing for his club, Cork Constitution, in the All-Ireland League.

Captain Paul O'Connell, prop John Hayes, former All Black Doug Howlett and scrumhalf Tomás O'Leary have been rested.

Similar to what Leinster coach Michael Cheika did earlier this week, McGahan has also retained an experienced blend of front-line players rather than opting for complete rotation.

Ulster defeated Munster in last year's Magners League fixture in Belfast, scoring three tries to nil in a match that finally put some distance between Ulster and Connacht, who were again vying to become the third Irish team to automatically qualify for the following season's Heineken Cup.

Connacht have announced a 24-man squad ahead of their clash with Edinburgh at the Sportsground tomorrow (6.30pm).

David Gannon has recovered from a hamstring injury and has been included in the squad for the first time this season. John Lyne is also included in the forwards following some impressive performances for his club, Galwegians.

In the back line Mel Deane has also recovered from a hamstring injury and is selected in the squad as Connacht hope to put distance between themselves and Edinburgh on the league table.

Gavin Duffy is also included. Duffy was the only Connacht player to be selected for the extended Ireland squad.

Connacht's match against the Portuguese national team has been moved from November 5th to Sunday, November 9th (kick-off is at 6pm).

Squads

MUNSTER: (backs) J Manning, R O'Gara, P Warwick, P Stringer, M Prendergast, A Horgan, K Lewis, K Earls, I Dowling, L Mafi, B Murphy, D Hurley; (forwards) M Horan, T Buckley, J Flannery, D Fogarty, D Hurley, F Pucciariello, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, M Melbourne, D Ryan, J O'Sullivan, J Melck, A Quinlan, J Coughlan, D Wallace.

ULSTER: (backs) N O'Connor, B Cunningham, T Nagusa, D Cave, A Trimble, R Dewey, C Willis, I Boss, P Steinmetz, I Humphreys, M McCrea, P Wallace; (forwards) J Fitzpatrick, N Brady, T Court, B Botha, C Del Fava, E O'Donoghue, R Caldwell, M McCullough, K Dawson, R Diack, S Ferris, D Pollock, S Philpott, T Anderson.

CONNACHT: A Browne, K Campbell, F Carr, S Cronin, M Deane, G Duffy, A Dunne, A Farley, A Flavin, D Gannon, J Hearty, I Keatley, R Loughney, J Lyne, R Morris, J Muldoon, F Murphy, T Nathan, J O'Connor, C Rigney, D Riordan, M Swift, B Wilkinson, A Wynne.