Connacht -v- Ulster - Saturday 21/9/2013 KO 6:45

Robbo · 20-09-2013 2:13pm #1

Teams:

CONNACHT: G Duffy; F Carr, R Henshaw, E Griffin, M Healy; D Parks, K Marmion; B Wilkinson, J Harris-Wright, N White; M Swift (capt), C Clarke; J Heenan, W Faloon, J Muldoon. Replacements: S Henry, R Ah You, R Loughney, A Muldowney, G Naoupu, P O’Donohoe, C Ronaldson, D Poolman.

ULSTER: J Payne; D McIlwaine, D Cave, L Marshall, M Allen; P Jackson, I Porter; T Court, R Herring, D Fitzpatrick; J Muller (capt), I Henderson; R Wilson, C Henry, N Williams. Replacements: N Annett, K McCall, R Lutton, L Stevenson, R Diack, P Marshall, J McKinney, C Gilroy.

It's the first interpro of the season at the Sportsground and Ulster come into it looking for their first win of the season. They've named an incredibly strong team but are missing Pienaar who's on SA duty whilst pondering being poached by a team with a sugar daddy and a roster of highly paid South Africans.

Connacht have had a mixed start to the season but Craig Clarke makes his first competitve start. Jake Heenan has also impressed enough from the bench to warrant his first start and Fionn Carr replaces Tiernan O'Halloran. Otherwise it's a largely unchanged team from last weekend with a small doubt over George Nauopu on the bench.

TV: RTE/BBC NI
Radio: Galway Bay FM

jamiedav2011 · 20-09-2013 2:28pm

Heenan at 6 is a bit of a strange one is it? Thought he was more of a 7. Connacht's backrow looks a little off balance to me.

That Ulster 4-8 looks immense though.

wp_rathead · 20-09-2013 4:20pm

Harsh on Browne to miss out, thougth he was one of the few too play well last week in the Cardiff debacle
Can't to see Clarke though in action..

Rodney still on bench though

blackhound · 20-09-2013 4:47pm

Thats a very strong team Ulster have out shows how desperate they are to get a win. Lovely evening here in Galway so our ball retention play should work out a lot better than it did last weekend.

damianmcr · 20-09-2013 6:19pm

You think?

Missing Best, Afoa, Pienaar, Trimble, Bowe, Tuohy etc with Gilroy on the bench.

Its just our normal team really. Tuohy is getting rested so Hendo is in.

awec · 21-09-2013 1:07am

Yea we can definitely field much stronger teams than that.

This really is a must win game from an Ulster point of view. Nobody wants to lose 3 games in a row - never mind the first three of the season. I am quietly confident we'll have enough to see off Connacht.

evil_seed · 21-09-2013 2:39am

I really want people to pay attention to Court in the scrum. He'll be scrumming towards the sidelines. Just wait and see. Last season I couldn't believe he was getting away with it all game

blackhound · 21-09-2013 3:43am

Maybe I'm wrong but to me thats about as strong a team as Ulster could put out what with injurys, Lions players, championship and I think is Touhy just being rested?

Certainly it's not the team I'd expect to see in an H cup game but not far off it. Who else who's currently available would Ulster fans expect to be there to improve it?

I hate to say it but I can't see us getting much out of this, our recent form against Ulster hasn't being great, we're a little unbalanced in the backrow and a relatively weak bench leaves us as the underdogs in this game even at home.

[Jackass] · 21-09-2013 3:56am

Head says BP win for Ulster, but hope says home advantage and sluggish start to season for Ulster might cap off a weekend of upsets. (nothing against Ulster, but given they are title contendors, would rather they didn't win!)

Swiwi. · 21-09-2013 8:05am

Robbo wrote: »

Teams:

CONNACHT: G Duffy; F Carr, R Henshaw, E Griffin, M Healy; D Parks, K Marmion; B Wilkinson, J Harris-Wright, N White; M Swift (capt), C Clarke; J Heenan, W Faloon, J Muldoon. Replacements: S Henry, R Ah You, R Loughney, A Muldowney, G Naoupu, P O’Donohoe, C Ronaldson, D Poolman.

ULSTER: J Payne; D McIlwaine, D Cave, L Marshall, M Allen; P Jackson, I Porter; T Court, R Herring, D Fitzpatrick; J Muller (capt), I Henderson; R Wilson, C Henry, N Williams. Replacements: N Annett, K McCall, R Lutton, L Stevenson, R Diack, P Marshall, J McKinney, C Gilroy.

It's the first interpro of the season at the Sportsground and Ulster come into it looking for their first win of the season. They've named an incredibly strong team but are missing Pienaar who's on SA duty whilst pondering being poached by a team with a sugar daddy and a roster of highly paid South Africans.

Connacht have had a mixed start to the season but Craig Clarke makes his first competitve start. Jake Heenan has also impressed enough from the bench to warrant his first start and Fionn Carr replaces Tiernan O'Halloran. Otherwise it's a largely unchanged team from last weekend with a small doubt over George Nauopu on the bench.

TV: RTE/BBC NI
Radio: Galway Bay FM

Cheers for the write-up. I'm going to try and watch this: in terms of Connacht, I've been reading positive remarks about Henshaw & Marmion as possible Irish prospects, and of course the Kiwi lads Clarke, Heenan, Ah You I think too. And I'd like to take a first look at Ulster for the season, good to see Gilroy back to fitness.

dtpc191991 · 21-09-2013 10:38am

Hendo's in the row hey. I have been waiting for this.

phog · 21-09-2013 10:49am

Think this will be an Ulster backlash and that they'll have a comfortable win but hope Connacht really give them a run for their money and a Connacht win, of course.

its_phil · 21-09-2013 11:38am

Swiwi. wrote: »

Cheers for the write-up. I'm going to try and watch this: in terms of Connacht, I've been reading positive remarks about Henshaw & Marmion as possible Irish prospects, and of course the Kiwi lads Clarke, Heenan, Ah You I think too. And I'd like to take a first look at Ulster for the season, good to see Gilroy back to fitness.

I certainly don't think you heard positive remarks about Ah You

Kayless · 21-09-2013 12:14pm

Looking forward to seeing how Hendo goes in the second row and how Henshaw goes at 13, I'm sure Schmidt will be watching this one so it's also a chance for Marmion to put his hands up for Irish selectional.

Swiwi. · 21-09-2013 12:26pm

its_phil wrote: »

I certainly don't think you heard positive remarks about Ah You

Lack of punctuation on my part. Positive remarks about henshaw & marmion. Full stop. Will also watch because of the kiwi lads...

CatFromHue · 21-09-2013 1:28pm

The 6.45 ko will catch out a few casual viewers on tv

wp_rathead · 21-09-2013 1:29pm

Swiwi. wrote: »

the Kiwi lads Clarke, Heenan, Ah You

it is like spot the odd one out:pac:

Swiwi. · 21-09-2013 1:34pm

wprathead wrote: »

it is like spot the odd one out:pac:

In the depths of my memory, Rodney Ah You was vaguely a Crusaders wider squad member, I don't know maybe 4 or 5 years back. I think he played for Tasman or the like in ITM. Less pedigree than the other 2, that's for sure.