Warriors prepare for Ravenhill test
Ulster Rugby Head Coach Brian McLaughlin has named Tom Court, Timoci Nagusa and Simon Danielli, who replaces Andrew Trimble on the wing, all in his starting XV for this weekend’s clash with the Warriors.
The trio are will back from international duty. Meanwhile Ian Whitten will team-up with Darren Cave in the centre, while Paddy Wallace undergoes treatment for an ankle injury sustained with Ireland.
Chris Henry will captain the Ulster team.
Commenting on the challenge ahead this Friday night, Ulster Coach Brian McLaughlin said: “The next five games are vital; we have no time to waste in getting our focus back and right. This week the aim has been getting everyone on the same page, to take us forward into phase 2, which is going to be very important for Ulster.
“Glasgow are certainly a strong team, they are level on points with us in the Magners, they also had eight players’ in action for Scotland, during the autumn internationals, and of course Scotland had that magnificent win over Australia.”
Adding: “The Ravenhill crowd, the supporters, they are just tremendous. Right from pre-season the whole way through they have given magnificent support. So we are really looking forward to getting back to Ravenhill, after being away for over a month now.”
The Warriors travel to Ravenhill for their Magners League showdown before back-to-back Heineken Cup games against Gloucester.
Both the Warriors and Ulster sit joint-second in the Magners League and will be seeking to lay strong foundations with their performances tomorrow night ahead of a busy festive period.
“December is going to be a huge month for us,” said Warriors head coach Sean Lineen,
“Ravenhill is never an easy place to go and play. Ulster have won their last three home games and did the double over us last season. But this game is a bit like our first of the season against Munster in that we know what’s coming. It’s going to e a huge physical challenge.
“I’ve been really impressed with how the players not involved in the Autumn Tests have trained under the guidance of our new head fitness and conditioning coach Stuart Yule. He’s worked wonders with the players that make up the backbone of our squad.
“It’s vital that we lay down a marker tomorrow night which sets the tone for the coming weeks.”
Scotland flanker John Barclay is one of seven Warriors who played in the Autumn Tests to be named in Lineen’s side, and despite only being 23 years old, is one of Glasgow’s senior players having been at the club for six years.
Barclay is named captain on this occasion as Alastair Kellock is rested alongside no.8 Johnnie Beattie following their involvement in all three internationals.
In total, Lineen has made five changes, one positional, to the team that drew 9-9 with the Ospreys at Liberty Stadium in their last game five weeks ago.
The Teams:
Ulster: 15 Clinton Schifcofske, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Chris Henry (captain), 7 Willie Faloon, 6 David Pollock, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 4 Dan Tuohy, 3 Declan Fitzpatrick, 2 Andy Kyriacou, 1 Tom Court
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Bryan Young, 18 Ed O’Donoghue, 19 Thomas Anderson, 20 Paul Marshall, 21 Niall O’Connor, 22 Jonny Shiels
Warriors: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Alex Dunbar, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Mark McMillan, 8 Richie Vernon, 7 John Barclay (captain), 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Tim Barker, 3 Moray Low, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Jon Welsh
Replacements: 16 Fergus Thomson, 17 Kevin Tkachuk, 18 Dan Turner, 19 Calum Forrester, 20 Chris Cusiter, 21 Colin Gregor, 22 Peter Murchie
Date: Friday, December 4
Venue: Ravenhill
Time: 19.05 (19.05 GMT)
Referee: James Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Dudley Phillips (Ireland), Paul Haycock (Ireland)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
