Ulster v Zebre
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:59 pm
Safe to say it wasn't exactly a brilliant weekend for Irish rugby. But, hey ho, we're still top by 7 points and only one match left that really scares us (well me anyway) in Leinster. No need to hit the panic buttons just yet.
However, another home loss would put one finger on that button, especially since that loss would be against the bottom side in the league. It's Zebre at home this weekend, and it has to be a 5-pointer now after last week's disappointment.
To say Zebre are out of form would be an understatement - they haven't won a game yet, not even a friendly. However, like all teams they shouldn't be underestimated - we nearly lost away to them back in November and they gave the Scarlets a right scare at the Parc y Scarlets as well. They boast some very good players too - Daniel Halangahu and Tito Tebaldi are two solid half-backs, and ex-Munsterman David Ryan is a decent addition to their scrum. They should be getting a few players back from Six Nations duty as well.
Then again, so are we. After warming the bench down in Dublin, Chris Henry and Declan Fitzpatrick should be back for us at least off the bench, while Iain Henderson and Paddy Jackson will probably be allowed a full match. They need it too since they haven't had any competitive rugby for four weeks. Our squad is looking relatively strong for a Six Nations league match.
Injury-wise, anybody heard anything about Paddy Wallace or Ruan Pienaar? I think Luke Skymarshall should start ahead of Wallace anyway, but Pienaar is such a good player we can't afford to lose him right now. My team is based on these two being injured.
In my opinion Annett should start ahead of Herring after their performances on Friday. The former (in my opinion) was better at the line-out and I honestly think deserves a start in a strong side to see what he can do. I reckon Birch deserves another chance in the back row too, but if Henry starts then he won't. Tuohy needs a start too.
I'm also presuming Henry and Fitzpatrick will be on the bench, so my team would be:
15. R Andrew, 14. A Trimble, 13. D Cave, 12. L Marshall, 11. M Allen, 10. P Jackson, 9. P Marshall; 1. T Court, 2. N Annett, 3. J Afoa, 4. J Muller (c), 5. D Tuohy, 6. I Henderson, 7. A Birch, 8. R Diack.
16. R Herring, 17. C Black, 18. D Fitzpatrick, 19. L Stevenson, 20. C Henry, 21. M Heaney, 22. S Olding, 23. C Cochrane.
However, another home loss would put one finger on that button, especially since that loss would be against the bottom side in the league. It's Zebre at home this weekend, and it has to be a 5-pointer now after last week's disappointment.
To say Zebre are out of form would be an understatement - they haven't won a game yet, not even a friendly. However, like all teams they shouldn't be underestimated - we nearly lost away to them back in November and they gave the Scarlets a right scare at the Parc y Scarlets as well. They boast some very good players too - Daniel Halangahu and Tito Tebaldi are two solid half-backs, and ex-Munsterman David Ryan is a decent addition to their scrum. They should be getting a few players back from Six Nations duty as well.
Then again, so are we. After warming the bench down in Dublin, Chris Henry and Declan Fitzpatrick should be back for us at least off the bench, while Iain Henderson and Paddy Jackson will probably be allowed a full match. They need it too since they haven't had any competitive rugby for four weeks. Our squad is looking relatively strong for a Six Nations league match.
Injury-wise, anybody heard anything about Paddy Wallace or Ruan Pienaar? I think Luke Skymarshall should start ahead of Wallace anyway, but Pienaar is such a good player we can't afford to lose him right now. My team is based on these two being injured.
In my opinion Annett should start ahead of Herring after their performances on Friday. The former (in my opinion) was better at the line-out and I honestly think deserves a start in a strong side to see what he can do. I reckon Birch deserves another chance in the back row too, but if Henry starts then he won't. Tuohy needs a start too.
I'm also presuming Henry and Fitzpatrick will be on the bench, so my team would be:
15. R Andrew, 14. A Trimble, 13. D Cave, 12. L Marshall, 11. M Allen, 10. P Jackson, 9. P Marshall; 1. T Court, 2. N Annett, 3. J Afoa, 4. J Muller (c), 5. D Tuohy, 6. I Henderson, 7. A Birch, 8. R Diack.
16. R Herring, 17. C Black, 18. D Fitzpatrick, 19. L Stevenson, 20. C Henry, 21. M Heaney, 22. S Olding, 23. C Cochrane.