Ulster v Dragons Friday 10th February 2012 KO 7.05pm

So amid the Bowe signing, McLaughlin leaving and Ferris citing, its back to Pro 12 this weekend. The squad should be announced at lunch-time and I will update when that happens.

Ulster team to face Dragons, Friday 10th February 2012, Ravenhill (kick-off 7.05pm)

(15-9): A D'Arcy; C Gilroy, I Whitten, P Wallace, S Terblanche; I Humphreys, R Pienaar;
(1-8): C Black, A Kyriacou, J Afoa (capt), L Stevenson, D Tuohy, M McComish, W Faloon, R Diack;

Replacements (16-23): N Brady, P McAllister, A Macklin, T Barker, A Birch, P Marshall, N Spence, S Danielli



Dragons 25 man squad

Backs

Martyn Thomas, Jamie Smith, Aled Brew, Adam Hughes, Andy Tuilagi, Tom Riley, Ashley Smith, Lewis Robling, Jason Tovey, Joe Bedford, Wayne Evans,

Forwards

Gavin Thomas, Darren Waters, Rhys Jenkins, Hugo Ellis, Tom Brown, Jevon Groves, Adam Jones, Rob Sidoli, Phil Price, Nathan Williams, Nathan Buck, Dan Way, Steve Jones, Rhys Buckley.

Surely you would have Diack ahead of McComish?

I might have if I had remembered him

Mind you given his recent performances McComish may be a better option.

Anyway Wannenberg to six. Diack to eight.

Wannnenberg injured. McComish at six then.

Surely our Irish contingent will be released for this game? Paddy, Henry and Dan the man I mean.

That a worryingly weak back row

No word on that at the minute Willie.

Agree Geoff. Just shows the lack of depth although I think it will be fine for this game.

Might we see Neil mccomb in the backrow or as back row cover? On performances this season he has been better than anything I have seen from McComish.

Who will be in the centres as well. Whitten and spence or Marshall and spence. Still a strong 2nd row, front row, halfbacks and back three.

It also clearly shows why we have got Wilson back.

Regardless of the NIQ backrower he is effectively an extra player for next year

Personally I would go with Whitten, really because of Marshalls lack of games.

Is Paddy Jackson away with U20's again?

I would probably agree rava with Marshall on the bench. Not sure we needthe fly half cover if we include Marshall and have Pienaar and humph aswell

Dragons 25 man squad

Backs

Martyn Thomas, Jamie Smith, Aled Brew, Adam Hughes, Andy Tuilagi, Tom Riley, Ashley Smith, Lewis Robling, Jason Tovey, Joe Bedford, Wayne Evans,

Forwards

Gavin Thomas, Darren Waters, Rhys Jenkins, Hugo Ellis, Tom Brown, Jevon Groves, Adam Jones, Rob Sidoli, Phil Price, Nathan Williams, Nathan Buck, Dan Way, Steve Jones, Rhys Buckley.

Not sure where Lewis Evans, Tondi Chavhanga and Will Harries are and why we don't have Steffan Jones in the squad. Obviously Robling is ten cover.

I imagine we'll see this (15-1)

Martyn Thomas,
Adam Hughes
Tom Riley,
Ashley Smith
Aled Brew,
Jason Tovey
Wayne Evans
Tom Brown
Gavin Thomas,
Darren Waters,
Adam Jones,
Rob Sidoli,
Nathan Williams,
Steve Jones,
Nathan Buck,

Subs
Andy Tuilagi, Lewis Robling, Joe Bedford, Jevon Groves, Hugo Ellis, Phil Price, Rhys Buckley, Dan Way,

Hi Rev, hope all is well mate.

How is Jamie Smith doing for you. Any chance he might get a bench spot?

Hoi Rav, all is alright thanks pal. Hope all is well your end too. He might due to the fact he can cover two positions, but I am pretty certain the backs will be the first three subs I named. He hasn't really had an opportunity due to injury. Given the pretty solid performances of our usual back 3 (Thomas, Chav and Brew) and that Will Harries is a pretty handy player for us too, I don't think he'll get much action to be honest.

Tuohy, Henry and wallace released to ulster for this game. Back row looks a bit better now.

So even if Ferris is banned Henry still doesn't make the bench - good for Ulster but poor selection by Kidney.

Gutted for Henry in particular. But it will seriously bolster Ulster.

I think with all that's been happening, we need to lay down the law with this game. If we lost, there would be all kinds of self-fulfilling rumblings about disharmony behind the scenes.

geoff998rugby wrote:So even if Ferris is banned Henry still doesn't make the bench - good for Ulster but poor selection by Kidney.

If 1F gets a ban for his 'tip tackle' there will be no justice in the world. I agree if Kidney is too short sighted to see that Touhy is a great option for the bench then it will only help Ulster.

Expecting a bonus point win Friday. Especially that the international are back.

I expected Tuophy and Henry to be pushing for at least a bench spot, they have been really good making the H-cup team of the week at least once each. But Irelands loss is Ulsters gain, hoping for a good game and Ulster to continue up the table

It's at times like this when I can understand guys preferring to concentrate on Ulster's fortunes rather than Ireland's.

I think we will see D'arcy/earls in the centre judgin by the training pics I have just seen

Standulstermen wrote:I think we will see D'arcy/earls in the centre judgin by the training pics I have just seen

For Ulster??! I'd rather have Wallace and Spence thanks!

roddersm wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:I think we will see D'arcy/earls in the centre judgin by the training pics I have just seen

For Ulster??! I'd rather have Wallace and Spence thanks!

I like

I agree - I honestly believe Ulster will be lining up with a better centre combination than Ireland.

Ulster's gain - Irelands loss

geoff998rugby wrote:I agree - I honestly believe Ulster will be lining up with a better centre combination than Ireland.

Ulster's gain - Irelands loss

Totally agree geoff. Also, looking at that without Wannenburg, Ferris and Henry (who has been released, thankfully) we could have had a very scary back row, and not in the good sense. Suddenly signing Wilson and a possible other looks much more important than before.

Standulstermen wrote:Tuohy, Henry and wallace released to ulster for this game. Back row looks a bit better now.

Waste of time leaving them with Wallace. Every game Wallace has been played at 12 in the last few years with the exception of a couple against Australia he's either been required to crash it up or kick it away. Would actually quite like to see him use his talents.

Oh, and Paddy Jackson is starting again for Ireland U20s.

Arrghhh, Mulligan on twitter is saying Wallace and Henry are being retained by Ireland!

Can't see them featurin. Thornley said last night earls for McFadden will be e only change. Getting splinters in their arse no doubt.

Notch wrote:Arrghhh, Mulligan on twitter is saying Wallace and Henry are being retained by Ireland!

But why? I very much doubt either are going to make the 22.

Exactly unless they are on the bench it makes no sense

I will be thoroughly flipped off if Ireland retain our boys. We know kidney, he doesn't make wholesale changes even though he bloody well should. And he'll get slatted by the southern media if Paddy's in the 22.

They will be injury cover but why isn't o'malley playing for Leinster tonight then? Or Ruddock that matter? Maybe injuries we don't know of

I'd say they must be worried about one or two people carring a knock if they are keeping them.

it's prob just a precaution, and they'll not get playing for Ulster or make the Irish bench

Another conspiracy lads

Ulster Match Day Squad to face Dragons, Friday 10th February 2012, Ravenhill (kick-off 7.05pm)
(15-9): A D'Arcy; C Gilroy, I Whitten, P Wallace, S Terblanche; I Humphreys, R Pienaar;
(1-8): C Black, A Kyriacou, J Afoa (capt), L Stevenson, D Tuohy, M McComish, W Faloon, R Diack;
Replacements (16-23): N Brady, P McAllister, A Macklin, T Barker, A Birch, P Marshall, N Spence, S Danielli

Henry not there nor Luke Marshall. They used the word 'hopeful' as regards Wallace and Tuohy s availability.

Muller injured btw

Heard Muller was not going to make this morning but sworn to secrecy.

Is Henry in with a chance of the bench, or more, for Ireland ?
Luke Marshall is not match sharp - probably needs some game time at AIB level and then back for a bench slot against the Ospreys

Interesting that Spence now seems third choice. What a drop from his fame last season.

Whitten being preferred to Spence at 13 is a strange call, or do Ulster and Ireland see Spence as more of a 12?

It will be interesting to see how they perform without the natural leaders in the pack.

I just don't think whitten has done anything to be dropped.

Interesting that Whitten is now above Spence in the pecking order or is Spence still struggling for fitness?

Whitten's one of the most underrated players in the country right now imo.

True Stand, but when does Spence get his chance again to prove himself? We were pretty much talking about a future BOD replacement. Now third choice? Nice to have the depth I suppose!

He will get a chance either coming from the bench or if paddy is called up. At the minute whitten got his chance and in fairness he took it.

clivemcl wrote:True Stand, but when does Spence get his chance again to prove himself? We were pretty much talking about a future BOD replacement. Now third choice? Nice to have the depth I suppose!

Clive since his injury has he looked the same player? He wasnt looking at his best just before injury maybe needs to show it wasnt just a case of good form that got him mentioned as the next Ireland 13 but that hes actually capable of that level of performance consistantly

Rava wrote:Another conspiracy lads

Yea. Fair play to Deccie for releasing Tuohy with Muller injured

Spence is nowhere near match fit - he has played 1 game since the middle of December

Not worried so much about the playing ability as the leadership. No Rory, Johann or Chris. Or Darren to run our defence. Stefan is completely vital now, with his experience and leadership.

Oh - and the backrow. Yikes.

If this is a loss - or a draw- I think a lot of the good of the last few months will take a serious dent.

The back row is the worry I would have put Thouhy at 6 and play Barker.

Diack and Faloon need to front up big time ans show they have what it takes - if not contract renewals may not be on offer. They both have a lot to prove, especially Diack.

geoff998rugby wrote:Spence is nowhere near match fit - he has played 1 game since the middle of December

Come on now he was fit enough to play the whole game for the Wolfhounds. If he wasn't match fit he wouldn't have been picked.

We have leadership in the backs - Terblanche, Wallace and Pienaer - its the forwards that are a worry.

Afoa has a hugh roll as does Stevenson. The other 6 wouldn't say boo to a goose.