O’Connor hails new recruits

Ulster lock Alan O'Connor believes South African duo Jean Deysel and Marcell Coetzee will add necessary grunt to the Ulster forward pack.

The former Sharks duo, along with O'Connor have been named in the starting XV to face the Cheetahs on Saturday.

And O'Connor believes the new South African recruits have the ability to 'free up the rest of the pack'.

"I think we're in a pretty good place," O'Connor told the Belfast Telegraph.

"Jean and Marcell, they're both good ball carriers so hopefully they will make it easier for us in the tight five to get front foot ball once they get over the gain-line.

"Once they are playing to the best of their ability they can free up the rest of the pack, so I'm looking forward to playing with those boys.

"In the second row, I think the mix is very good. Kieran Treadwell is class and just got an Ireland cap in the summer and Hendy (Iain Henderson) had a class year too. Pete (Browne) is a great player as well, so the competition between everyone there will bring out the best in us."

Despite the Cheetahs having the reputation of being a more attack-minded South African unit, he still expects a physical and confrontational encounter upfront normally associated with sides from the Southern tip of Africa.

"You know the South Africans are going to be big fellows, they like to maul and have a good set-piece so hopefully we can negate what they are trying to do to us and take it to them," he said.

"All the pack will be looking to take it to them instead of waiting to see what they have for us.

"They are a compact unit, they are good at the mauls and set-piece so we have to take it to them."