Preview: Connacht v Ulster
Ulster Head Coach Brian has made three changes to the Ulster pack for the Magners League derby match against Conacht on Friday in Galway.
Ulster Head Coach Brian has made three changes to the Ulster pack for the Magners League derby match against Conacht on Friday in Galway.
Tom Court replaces Bryan Young as loose head prop. In the second row, Dan Tuohy returns from injury at lock, pushing Neil McComb to the bench, while Robbie Diack returns to the number eight shirt, which sees Chris Henry start on the bench.
In the backs, the only change is the return of Paddy Wallace, who will captain the side, replacing Ian Whitten, in the centre, Whitten moves to the bench.
Ulster Rugby's Operations Director David Humphreys commented: “We have been saying all along that it's about winning, particularly at Ravenhill. That's where we need to improve.
“The Magners League is very competitive and you don't get too many chances, which is why you have to take those that do come your way, be they opportunities to score tries, kick penalties or conversions or drop goals. You have to put those away.
“The players know that, of course. They're very disappointed with the result last weekend. They played well and they know they should have won. That's what makes that defeat harder to take.
“But the bottom line is that when you play well for lengthy periods there has to be something to show for it.”
Meanwhile, Ian Keatley returns to the Connacht starting XV at fly-half in place of the injured Miah Nikora, in the only change to the team that did for Cardiff last week.
Connacht number eight Mike McComish continues in the side in the knowledge that the yellow card he picked up against the Ospreys in the season opener has been rescinded on appeal.
Form: Connacht's long winless drought came to a halt on Friday at the Sportsground with their 18-16 victory over Cardiff Blues. Now the Province are in search of a second successive league victory for the first time since September 2006. The only fellow Irish Province that Connacht did not beat in Galway last season was Ulster. Ulster have recorded just one win from their last four matches: 20-16 at Ospreys on 12 September. The only fellow Irish Province that Ulster did not defeat on their own soil last season was Leinster, 6-32 at the RDS in March. Connacht have lost their last six encounters with Ulster since a 22-12 victory at the Sportsground on New Year's Eve 2005.
Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Brian Tuohy, 13 Troy Nathan, 12 Keith Matthews, 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Frank Murphy, 8 Mike McComish, 7 Ray Ofisa, 6 John Muldoon (c), 5 Bernie Upton, 4 Andrew Browne, 3 Jamie Hagan, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements:16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Robbie Morris, 18 Mike McCarthy, 19 Johnny O'Connor, 20 Conor O'Loughlin, 21 Liam Bibo, 22 Aidan Wynne.
Ulster: 15 Clinton Schifcofske, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paddy Wallace (c), 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Robbie Diack, 7 Willie Faloon, 6 Chris Henry, 5 Ed O'Donoghue, 4 Dan Tuohy, 3 Brendon Botha, 2 Andy Kyriacou, 1 Tom Court.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Declan Fitzpatrick, 18 Neil McComb, 19 Thomas Anderson, 20 Paul Marshall, 21 Ian Whitten, 22 Andrew Trimble
Date: Friday, September 25
Venue: Galway Sportsground
Kick-off: 20.00 BST
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: John Lacey (IRFU), S Flannery (IRFU)
TMO: Dermot Moloney