Ulster Team Talk Thread IV... Go On My Henderson...

Connacht looked decent in both outings so far, still vulnerable to maul as Glasgow showed last week but protected their ball well and committed to the rucks. Ulster's issues at 3 might see Dooley get the start as a slightly more aggressive lh than Buckley who is also playing great stuff. May also see Dowling start ahead of Murray if Connacht decide to try to fix maul issues but then again Murray's defensive lineout work might be of higher value.

A chance to look at 2 super no 2's compete with DTM and Stewart looking like they will be provincial rivals for many years.

Really looking forward to seeing McCann and timoney battle with Prendergast, Oliver and Hurley Langton who is looking like the find of the season already for Connacht.

McCann looks bulked up, Sheridan is as combative as ever and izu looks like he has plenty to offer.

I'm less impressed with Doak who looked brilliant at under age but seems to have slowed everything down. Blade on the other hand has picked up where he ended last season an all-rounder, perhaps without the finesse required for international level but a constant thorn in every opposition at URC.

Watch out for Connacht's Cathal Forde at 12 a real standout in the first 2 games.

Connacht to take advantage of home setting to win ugly by 4.

Here's the team, and much more concerningly, the list of unavailable/injured players.

Connacht v Ulster, Saturday 4 November, The Sportsground, 7.35pm, BKT United Rugby Championship (Live on TG4, Viaplay and URC.tv.

(15-9) Will Addison, Aaron Sexton, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy, Jake Flannery, Dave Shanahan;

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, John Andrew, James French, Alan O’Connor (C), Harry Sheridan, Matty Rea, Reuben Crothers, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Andy Warwick, Greg McGrath, Joe Hopes, David McCann, Nathan Doak, Billy Burns, Ben Moxham.

Squad Unavailability list

Steven Kitshoff (RWC Recovery)

Rob Herring (RWC – IRFU Player Management Programme)

Tom O’Toole (RWC - IRFU Player Management Programme / Groin Surgery)

Iain Henderson (RWC – IRFU Player Management Programme)

Stuart McCloskey (RWC – IRFU Player Management Programme)

James McCormick (Shoulder)

Marty Moore (Knee)

Kieran Treadwell (Hip)

Cormac Izuchukwu (Concussion)

Dave Ewers (Concussion)

Sean Reffell (Foot)

Greg Jones (Shoulder)

John Cooney (Calf)

Angus Curtis (Concussion)

Luke Marshall (Concussion)

Rob Baloucoune (Hamstring)

Jacob Stockdale (Ankle)

Mike Lowry (Groin)

Jude Postlethwaite (Hamstring)

Yep. Go all out, try and get four tries and a TBP.

I'd worry that team don't have it in them to finish within seven.

Yeah. I hope this isn't to do with the new playing surface.

We have three first choice players starting - Addison (assuming he gets back to where he was), Hume and Timoney. Timoney out of position.

You could make an argument for O'Connor, but Treadwell/Henderson would be my preferred second row.

Either way, we can make a significantly better team out of our unavailable players.

Stockdale hurt his ankle after making a break early in the second half, he played kn afterwards and only came off in the last few minutes. I'd hope it's just precautionary and actually most of them are precautionary.

I think it will be a long night, but it will be good to see Crothers, Flannery and Sexton and hopefully Joe Hopes gets a decent run. Hopes seems a pretty decent prospect, wasn't he involved in the Ireland 20s last year while a year young?

He stood out a mile in the last but one Schools Cup Final. How's his progress been at AIL level?

I think someone else made the point that THs take a bit longer to develop. That said O'Toole was playing at 20. Hopefully Wilson is developing nicely behind the scenes

I rated Wilson over McGuire.

Almost like they're trying to give him game time to get back up and running after missing so much rugby the last two years.

Character building...

Ideally Reuben Crothers plays at 7 with Ewers at 6 and Timoney/McCann at 8 and Henderson and O'Connor/Treadwell in the row and Kitshoff, Herring and Moore/O'Toole in the front row. I'd have thought that was the best to introduce a young player into the team, but I suppose it isn't always possible.

Their hands are tied and I appreciate the injuries but this is Ulster all over though. It has been for how many years and was always going to come to a head. Our pack situation is as bad as ever!

Gutted for Crothers, hopefully he’ll have more opportunities this year.

McCann has been immense, we needed this type of leap from him this year. Sheridan and Timoney playing well also. Flannery has had some nice touches, he’s taking his chances this year.

Ulster are missing first up tackles now. Let Connacht in for two simple trys.

Ulster were dire in the second half. Had a 14 point lead and couldn't hold it. Defence was especially abysmal.