Ulster squad named for Edinburgh match

Posted on Sep 16, 2010 in Irish Rugby, Scottish Rugby

Ulster Coach Brian McLaughlin has named his starting XV and replacements for this Friday’s Magners League match against Edinburgh at Ravenhill (ko 8.05pm).
There are four changes of personnel to the back line from the team that defeated Aironi last weekend at the Stadio Zaffanella.

Jamie Smith replaces Adam D’Arcy at full-back, USA Eagle Paul Emerick and Andrew Trimble, who returns from injury, replace Tommy Seymour and David McIlwaine on the wings, while Ian Whitten partners Darren Cave in the centre, replacing Paddy Wallace who is rested as part of the IRFU Player Management Programme.
Up front, injury to Declan Fitzpatrick means there is a positional change as Tom Court switches to the loosehead berth and Bryan Young is drafted in while Andi Kyriacou is named at hooker.

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Ulster Squad Named For Edinburgh Match

Posted on Sep 15, 2010 in Irish Rugby

Coach Brian McLaughlin has named a 27 man Ulster panel ahead of announcing his starting XV and replacements for this Friday’s match against Edinburgh at Ravenhill (ko 8.05pm) later this week.

With two wins from two in the League to date, Ulster will be looking to consolidate their good start to the season but following last weekend’s winning performance against Aironi, the coaching staff were adamant that there is plenty to work on.

Rory Best, who was injured in the opening match against the Ospreys and rested for last weekend’s trip to Aironi is included in the panel, as is prop BJ Botha, who returned to Belfast last week following the conclusion of the Tri Nations.

Andrew Trimble could be set to make an earlier then expected return to rugby following finger surgery this summer and has been named alongside the man who was brought into the squad as his short-term cover, USA Eagle Paul Emerick.

Edinburgh defeated Ulster 13-16 on their last visit to Ravenhill, something Ulster will want to ensure there is no repeat of this Friday, but the Ulstermen will be vary of the Scottish side, who come to Belfast on the back of two League defeats.

Ulster Forwards
Tom Court, Paddy McAllister, Bryan Young, BJ Botha, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Andi Kyriacou, Johann Muller, Tim Barker, Ryan Caldwell, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Robbie Diack, Pedrie Wannenburg

Ulster Backs
Adam D’Arcy, Jamie Smith, David McIlwaine, Paul Emerick, Andrew Trimble, Jonny Shiels, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Ian Humphreys, Niall O’Connor, Ian Porter, Paul Marshall

Ulster team to face Aironi

Posted on Sep 10, 2010 in Irish Rugby

Ulster travel to face Franco Bernini’s team this Saturday and Coach Brian McLaughlin has made five changes of personnel to the starting line-up that defeated League Champions the Ospreys in Round 1 at Ravenhill last Friday night.

Up front there are four changes of personnel and one positional switch. Tom Court and Chris Henry make their first Ulster starts having toured with Ireland in the summer while Rory Best and Stephen Ferris are rested as part of the IRFU’s player management programme.

Court comes into the starting line-up at the expense of Bryan Young who drops to the bench while Nigel Brady assumes the hooker berth with Andi Kyriacou providing cover.

The second row pairing of Muller, who will captain the side, and Barker is unchanged while in the back row, Pedrie Wannenburg makes a positional switch from No8 to the blind side flank to cover for the rested Ferris, Willie Faloon moves to the bench to make way for Chris Henry at openside while Robbie Diack, who was one of last week’s replacements, starts at No8.

Amongst the backs, McLaughlin has kept faith with is young back three of D’Arcy, Seymour and McIlwaine while Darren Cave has a new centre partner in Paddy Wallace, another Ireland tourist making a first start as Ian Whitten drops to the bench. Niall O’Connor and Paul Marshall start again in the halfback positions.

The other notable change is amongst the replacements, with Jamie Smith coming in for Jonny Shiels having recovered from injury (eye) sustained in the opening friendly against Bath at Ravenhill.

Ulster (15-9): Adam D’Arcy; Tommy Seymour, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, David McIlwaine; Niall O’Connor, Paul Marshall (1-8) Tom Court, Nigel Brady, Declan Fitzpatrick, Johann Muller (Captain), Tim Barker, Pedrie Wannenburg, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack

Replacements: Andi Kyriacou, Bryan Young, Paddy McAllister, Ryan Caldwell, Willie Faloon, Ian Porter, Ian Whitten, Jamie Smith

Munster make two changes for Edinburgh match

Posted on Sep 10, 2010 in Irish Rugby, Scottish Rugby

Munster make just two changes, one of those positional, to their starting XV from last weekend, for the trip to Murrayfield and the clash with Edinburgh tomorrow evening.

The positional change sees Donnacha Ryan switch from blind-side wing foward to second row as partner to Mick O’Driscoll, with Alan Quinlan, a second half replacement against Aironi Rugby, coming into the back row.

Otherwise, coach Tony McGahan keeps faith with the personnel, who opened with a Magners win, for Munster’s first game on the road and the opportunity to start the process of improvement from last season.

“Our form away from home last season was poor, no question about that”. McGahan readily accepts. “As this competition has evolved it’s become harder and harder to win away from home. Last year, I think the best away form was that of Ospreys who won three, two of those coming at the back-end against ourselves and Ulster, Leinster won twice on the road. You look at sides who don’t finish at the top, they’re still very difficult to turn over in their own ground.

“One of our big things this year is addressing our form on the road. If you want to do really well in this competition you need to. To that end, you need a strong focus. You have to take into account that things aren’t going to go your way. That’s the reality of it but you need to deal with it and get on with. So this weekend’s gameis about addressing that.

McGahan travels with a particularly strong bench that includes Ronan O’Gara Tomas O’Leary and Donncha O’Callaghan for the first time this season and this trio wll see action at some stage of the evening.

Munster:

F Jones; D Howlett, J Murphy, S Tuitupou, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley; D Ryan, M O’Driscoll; A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Leamy capt.

Replacements:

D Fogarty, M Horan, J hayes, D O’Callaghan, P O’Mahony, T O’Leary, R O’Gara, D Barnes.

Exeter name strong sides for weekend double header

Posted on Aug 20, 2010 in Rugby News

Exeter Chiefs will kick-off their preparations for life in the Aviva Premiership Rugby with a double-header against Magners League outfit Cardiff Blues and Championship side Cornish Pirates at Sandy Park this weekend.

Having bolstered his squad with 11 new signings during the course of the summer, Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter admits he is relishing the two fixtures. He said: “The two games represent our first competitive outings since we won promotion almost three months ago – and although I know it has dragged on for some of our supporters, from the playing staff it seems to have flown by.

“The games against Cardiff and the Pirates, plus that of the Scarlets next week, are vital ingredients in terms of our preparation for the new season. As a club we deliberately looked for tough games as we need to learn as a team about the intensity that will be required in the top flight.”

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