Even without Afoa that's still one hell of a first XV. I suppose in a way it's a compliment that they put out their strongest team against us.

Without Afoa in the front row, there scrum looks a lot less threatening. Let's hope we can have some sort of dominance in this area!

ummm, wrote: Ulster XV and replacements to face Connacht, RaboDirect PRO12 Ravenhill, Friday 11th April (kick off 19:05)

R Andrew, A Trimble, T Bowe, L Marshall, C Gilroy, P Jackson, P Marshall;
A Warwick, R Herring, R Lutton, J Muller (Captain), I Henderson, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams;
Replacements N Annett, T Court, A Macklin, L Stevenson, S Doyle, M Heaney, J McKinney, S McCloskey.

Trimble, Gilroy & Bowe all starting in the backs, Henry, Williams, Henderson, Muller in the forwards. So much for a weakened team!

When did Ulster sign Rob Andrew? I would have thought he's past his best at this stage

Certainly not a weak looking selection, but we should go up with confidence and see what happens.

No Faloon which is a shame, might be a week to early for him though but would to see him against his former club giving it socks.

Ulster XV and replacements to face Connacht, RaboDirect PRO12 Ravenhill, Friday 11th April (kick off 19:05)

R Andrew, A Trimble, T Bowe, L Marshall, C Gilroy, P Jackson, P Marshall;
A Warwick, R Herring, R Lutton, J Muller (Captain), I Henderson, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams;
Replacements N Annett, T Court, A Macklin, L Stevenson, S Doyle, M Heaney, J McKinney, S McCloskey.

Trimble, Gilroy & Bowe all starting in the backs, Henry, Williams, Henderson, Muller in the forwards. So much for a weakened team!

Yet again no mention of Poolman...

Head Coach Pat Lam has named an unchanged Connacht side for the fourth game in a row with the team traveling to take on Ulster tomorrow night at Ravenhill, kick off 7:05pm.

23-year-old Mick Kearney will earn his 50th Connacht cap starting in the second row with Aly Muldowney.

The only change on the bench comes in the forwards with Academy prop Finlay Bealham replacing an injured Nathan White. Connacht’s longest serving player Michael Swift is in line to earn his 180th league appearance.

Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game Head Coach Pat Lam said:

“When you consider the front liners we’ve been missing these last few months – Wilkinson, Henry, White, Clarke, Faloon and Heenan – the guys who’ve played in the last five games have put in an outstanding effort and the performances have shown that. And so we go up to Belfast with the same group of guys.

“Willie Faloon made an impressive return from injury and we were planning to give him a start this week but he pulled up with a tight hamstring in the last training run yesterday. It’s unfortunate but we don’t want to risk him so soon after his return. We’ll hopefully see him next week at the Sportsground.

“Young Eoghan Masterson from the Academy will get his sixth start at openside where he is playing out of position but showing time and time again his ability to adapt and slot in to an experienced back row.

“Nathan White also pulled up with a calf injury so we’re traveling with Academy prop Finlay Bealham this week who has impressed in training and the two games he’s been called upon for.

“Ulster have of course suffered some injuries to their front liners as well but they have such strength in depth with the option to replace one international with another and we don’t anticipate any dip in performance.

“They are a well-coached side and last week they put in a magnificent effort against Saracens with 14 men for 75 minutes. But what that performance showed is the quality they have and the team spirit they possess. No doubt it has been a hard week for them but we are under no illusions. We expect them to come out even stronger with the passionate Ravenhill crowd behind them.

“We haven’t won at Ravenhill in 54 year so this is our chance to make history. We know it’s going to take a massive team effort tomorrow night but it’s exciting. This is what we play rugby for, to go up against it and beat the odds.”



Connacht line-up v Ulster

15. Robbie Henshaw
14. Tiernan O’Halloran
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Dave McSharry
11. Fionn Carr
10. Dan Parks
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Aly Muldowney
5. Mick Kearney
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. Eoghan Masterson
8. Eoin McKeon



Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Ronan Loughney
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Michael Swift
20. Andrew Browne
21. Frank Murphy
22. Miah Nikora
23. Darragh Leader

Unavailable/Injured: Sean Henry, James Rael, Craig Clarke, Jake Heenan, Mata Fifita, Aaron Conneely, Paul O’Donohoe, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy.

Ulster v Connacht

At Ravenhill Stadium
Kick off 7.05pm.
Live on BBCWales
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 15th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan, Paul Haycock (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: John Cole (IRFU)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (IRFU)

Porterbelly wrote: Nikora got a year's extension a few weeks ago

I meant more along the lines as to whether he is a legitimate candidate for the No. 10 jersey and Connacht can successfully get by with him and Carty with maybe Parks as player/coach or is he just a solid backup and they need to go out and get Jonny Wilkinson in until Dan Carter becomes available after the RWC.

Payne suspended for 2 weeks.

I would target more a try bonus point than a losing BP... Something like a 42-29 Ulster

Rex wrote: Anyone else feeling there's a chance of an upset?

Eh.... no.

Only 2 of their injuries - Pienaar & Afoa - don't have replacements of a similar standard, and the last time Connacht won their Eisenhower was still in the White House.

A losing bonus point would set us up well for Munster, a win probably outdo the Toulouse result.

Anyone else feeling there's a chance of an upset? Ulster have a ton of injuries and we're on a bit of a decent run. A lbp would be normally what I'd hope for in an interpro game but Ulster might be there for the taking (could easily go the other way though and they dish out a hammering to make up for saturday)

Nikora got a year's extension a few weeks ago

When I saw that Nikora was starting the Eagles game I was pretty sure Lam was doing it to give him more game time in order to start the Ulster game. Parks is almost certainly gone next season, a decision still needs to be made on Nikora's future since he was out so long this season. Ulster in Ravenhill is a good place to find out if a player is worth holding on to. This game might be more within Connacht's reach considering Ulster's injury list and Dan's recent form and experience might dictate that he start but I have a feeling Nikora will get the nod.

connachta wrote: I wasn't doing "Parksy-bashing" at all, just saying Miah maybe offers more line breaks and kicking guarentees, just right now..

Sorry, wasnt having a go.
I think it would be difficult to drop Parks at the moment. His kicking has been impressive as of late. Both from hand and tee in my opinion. I'd leave him in, if it was up to me

I wasn't doing "Parksy-bashing" at all, just saying Miah maybe offers more line breaks and kicking guarentees, just right now..