That's a good looking Eagles side, fancy them to win that.

Ulster’s new back-row signing, Tim Boys, will play for the Ravens against interprovincial rivals, Connacht Eagles, at the Sportsground tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 16.00).

Boys arrived in Ulster this week from New Zealand side Southland on a short-term contract and starts the game at openside flanker.

The Ravens, who are sponsored by CD Group, lost to Connacht earlier in the season and will be looking to avenge that defeat in Galway.

The team sees a mix of Hughes Insurance Academy prospects, talented young club players and senior squad members who will have the opportunity to press their case for selection ahead of the resumption of the PRO12 campaign next week.

Academy player Connor Young, is selected at scrumhalf, with Michael Heaney starting the game in the unfamiliar role of outhalf.


Adam Craig’s excellent club form for Ballynahinch sees him rewarded with a start on the left wing, while Peter Nelson is named at fullback and ex-Sullivan Upper pupil Ross Adair picked on the right wing.

Ricky Andrew and Malone’s Josh Pentland are paired in midfield.

Boys is joined in the backrow by fellow New Zealander Sean Reidy and ex-Lansdowne player Charlie Butterworth.

There is an experienced second-row with Neil McComb partnered by Lewis Stevenson, who captains the side.

In the front row ex Zebre and Munster player Dave Ryan starts at tighthead, John Andrew is selected at hooker and Kyle McCall is named at loosehead.

Forwards, Paul Jackson, Craig Trenier, Ruaidhri Murphy, Frank Taggart and Conor Joyce are joined by backs Josh Bingham, Mark Best and Adam Liddell on the replacements’ bench.

Ulster Ravens team & replacements to play Connacht Eagles, Galway Sportsground, Thursday 5th February (kick off 16:00):
(15-9): P Nelson;
R Adair,
R Andrew,
J Pentland,
A Craig,
M Heaney,
C Young;
(1-: K McCall,
J Andrew,
D Ryan,
L Stevenson (C),
N McComb,
S Reidy,
T Boys,
C Butterworth;

(Replacements (16-23): P Jackson, C Trenier, R Murphy, F Taggart, C Joyce, J Bingham, M Best, A Liddell.

The Connacht Eagles, sponsored by NUI Galway, will play provincial neighbours Ulster Ravens at the Sportsground tomorrow, Thursday January 5th (kick off 16:00).

With Eagles Head Coach Nigel Carolan away on the Under-20’s international duty, Academy coaches Jimmy Duffy and new recruit Mossy Lawler will take charge of an experienced ‘A’ side in Galway tomorrow.

Twelve senior players are named in the starting line-up and openside flanker Jake Heenan captains the side after his return from injury late last month in the Eagles 50 – 7 win over Germany.

Having been sidelined the past eight weeks due to an ankle injury, 23-year-old Mick Kearney is a notable inclusion in the pack and joins Academy graduate Ultan Dillane in the second row.

Galway man Tiernan O’Halloran is retained at full back from the last game and wings Niyi Adeolokun and Fionn Carr make up a pacey back three.

This is the third interprovincial game of the season for the Connacht Eagles, after beating the Ravens in Belfast back in October and more recently celebrating a 17 – 10 win at home to Leinster ‘A’ last month.

Connacht Eagles team to play Ulster Ravens, Thursday January 5th, the Sportsground, 4pm

15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 Niyi Adeolokun
13 Conor Finn
12 Rory Parata
11 Fionn Carr
10 Shane O’Leary
9 Caolin Blade

1 Ronan Loughney
2 David Heffernan
3 Rodney Ah You
4 Ultan Dillane
5 Mick Kearney
6 Mata Fifita
7 Jake Heenan (captain)
8 Danny Qualter

Replacements

16 Shane Delahunt
17 JP Cooney
18 Finlay Bealham
19 Michael Swift
20 Eoghan Masterson
21 Andrew Browne
22 John Cooney
23 Shane Layden
24 Conor McKeon
25 James Connolly

swift4prez wrote: Any word on the Eagles team to play ulster tomorrow at 4?

Have not heard, but the U20 boys will be away with Ireland in Italy.

Any word on the Eagles team to play ulster tomorrow at 4?

ormond lad wrote:

menacethedenis wrote: Easy victory over a very poor German team. If we hadn't made an alarming amount of handling errors we could have put a cricket score on them. Heenan and Tiernan both lasted 55 mins. Jake got stuck into everything and put himself about well. Tiernan was solid and looks to have bulked up a little. Rodney had to come on early enough due to an injury and looked knackered, he needs a rest. Fifita and Cooney both played well but the player who impressed me the most was Masterson, he looked head and shoulders above the rest. He can't be far away from the first team on that display.

Too easy and should, as you say, have been much more. Rodney wasn't that pushed when he came on. Agree on Masterson and he was class. Thought Shane O Leary was very good and should be looked at at a higher level soon enough but what do you think?

Yes O'Leary played well but wasn't put under any pressure really. I don't know why we haven't seen him in the first team yet, the coaches obviously have their reasons he hasn't been picked.

It's great that they won but it's a shame it was against such one sided opposition. Wonder what the coaching team can learn from a cricket score match.

Missed the first 10 and the last 20

TOH has bulked up, linked well with play from Full Back
Parata did some nice SBW/Henshaw offloads
Masterson had great game at 8- I know he Eagles captain but feel Lam missed a trick not having him in European squad.
Romaine is, as ever, a fecking monster - he gonna wreck havoc at u20's
Cooney looked very lively- will do well filling in for Marmion during 6N
Heenan actually missed a tackle which everyone gasped at ha, also gave away stupidest penalty for pushing German outhalf - put in good shift and went off uninjured which is main thing
Was like Mata back playing AIL rugby- running clean threw lads

menacethedenis wrote: Easy victory over a very poor German team. If we hadn't made an alarming amount of handling errors we could have put a cricket score on them. Heenan and Tiernan both lasted 55 mins. Jake got stuck into everything and put himself about well. Tiernan was solid and looks to have bulked up a little. Rodney had to come on early enough due to an injury and looked knackered, he needs a rest. Fifita and Cooney both played well but the player who impressed me the most was Masterson, he looked head and shoulders above the rest. He can't be far away from the first team on that display.

Too easy and should, as you say, have been much more. Rodney wasn't that pushed when he came on. Agree on Masterson and he was class. Thought Shane O Leary was very good and should be looked at at a higher level soon enough but what do you think?

Rory Moloney impressed when introduced in the 2nd half.

Easy victory over a very poor German team. If we hadn't made an alarming amount of handling errors we could have put a cricket score on them. Heenan and Tiernan both lasted 55 mins. Jake got stuck into everything and put himself about well. Tiernan was solid and looks to have bulked up a little. Rodney had to come on early enough due to an injury and looked knackered, he needs a rest. Fifita and Cooney both played well but the player who impressed me the most was Masterson, he looked head and shoulders above the rest. He can't be far away from the first team on that display.

50-7 win for Connacht Eagles over Germany.

What is the story with Peter Robb? Thought he would be playing

That is a tasty backrow, Pro12 level

Connacht Eagles team to play Germany, Saturday 24th January, the Sportsground, 2:30pm

15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 David Panter
13 Ciaran Gaffney
12 Rory Parata
11 Shane Layden
10 Shane O’Leary
9 John Cooney

1 Jacob Walshe
2 Shane Delahunt
3 Conan O’Donnell
4 Cian Romaine
5 Peter Claffey
6 Mata Fifita
7 Jake Heenan
8 Eoghan Masterson (captain)

Replacements

16 Pat O’Toole
17 Conor Kyne
18 Rodney Ah You
19 Stephen McVeigh
20 Rory Moloney
21 Conor McKeon
22 Aidan Moynihan
23 Dwayne Corcoran

Heenan and TOH both back from injury which is encouraging.

Braced myself in the elements yesterday and would agree that Shane O'Leary looked good, especially with those kicks from the tee in the conditions. The leinster half backs were out of their depth and not getting any ball at all worthwhile.

I was amazed that both Ultan and Nathan White were not taken off immediately when they were hurt, it's a meaningless friendly in all reality, what was the point of letting them continue. Made no sense to me whatsoever.

It was bloody cold up there yesterday. Conditions horrendous. Yeah pitch looked destroyed in parts.

Leinster never in the game.

I was very impressed with Shane O'Leary. Kicking out of hand and from tee excellent. Played the conditions well too.