Ulster v Dragons

[bootlace]

any updates re injuries?

[Cap'n Grumpy]

any updates re injuries?

I hear BJ will make it for Friday,
PW won't
Shifty's doubtful
One F might make it for part of the game
Haven't heard about Pollock.

But what would I know?

[Ithryn]

happen to here whether or not this injury of One F's is a long term niggling one? Will be a shame if he is injured half the time?

[bootlace]

happen to here whether or not this injury of One F's is a long term niggling one? Will be a shame if he is injured half the time?

Aye it is bound to be a worry,somehow I think that MW will ensure that the lad is fit before playing him {we have cover in the backrow at the moment}.We are going thru a development phase, and I would hope that there is no pressure to rush him back on to the pitch before he is ready,especially with the HEC coming up .

[browner]

Published Date: 18 September 2008
By Staff reporter
IAN Humphreys looks certain to be named on the Ulster bench for tomorrow evening's Magners League clash against Dragons at Ravenhill.
It will be his first opportunity to gain a first Ulster cap since moving back to Northern Ireland after a three-year spell with Leicester Tigers in the Guinness Premiership.

Although not included in the initial extended 24-man panel named by head
coach, Matt Williams, this week, Humphreys (right) will come onto the bench as cover at outhalf.

It is expected Rob Dewey would start in the centre with Darren Cave. Williams may also consider the option of moving Andrew Trimble off the wing into midfield.

Niall O'Connor, who started last week will again begin in the No 10 shirt.

Ulster Rugby remained tightlipped yesterday about the extent of Wallace’s hamstring injury sustained in the 16-15 reverse at Cardiff Blues last Friday.

Although he underwent a scan on Tuesday and a report on the full extent of the injury was expected yesterday morning, it is understood the Ulster medical team are being cautious in thier prognosis.

Williams was not hopeful Wallace would be available for next week’s match, but the worst scenario would be his unavailability for the first Heineken Cup pool match against Stade Francais at home on October 11.

David Pollock will also miss tomorrow’s game with a shoulder injury, but fullback, Clinton Schifcofske, who retired injured, was understood to have responded well to treatment and Williams was upbeat about his availability.

“Of the three who were injured, it is likely Clinton would be the one who would be able to play. We are also hopeful Carlo Del Fava may return having made a better than expected recovery to a ‘stinger’ injury,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dragons Head Coach Paul Turner announced his 25-man squad to face Ulster at Ravenhill in the Magners League on Friday 19th September (kick off 7.30pm).

While the win has gone the way of the home side in the last three matches against Ulster, the Dragons are determined to put in a huge performance after a disappointing start to the Magners League.

Ulster have slipped to four successive defeats with three of those games being played at the fortress of Ravenhill.

Head Coach Paul Turner said: “Ravenhill is always an exciting and vibrant place to play and the boys are looking forward to heading to Belfast this weekend.
“The manner in which we leaked points last weekend against Munster was disappointing and this has been addressed in preparation for yet another away trip.

“The team were buoyed by a superb first-half performance against the Scarlets only last week and we need to concentrate on those positives going into this fixture.”

n DRAGONS squad: Jason Tovey, Phil Dollman, Gareth Wyatt, Richard Fussell, Rory Sidey, Ashley Smith, Rhodri Gomer Davies, James Arlidge, Shaun Connor, Wayne Evans, Tom Isaacs, Adam Black, Hugh Gustafson, Tom Willis, Steve Jones, Gethin Robinson, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Adam Brown, Luke Charteris, Jamie Ringer, Joe Bearman, Grant Webb, Dan Lydiate, Richard Parks

[ColinM]

Published Date: 18 September 2008
By Staff reporter
It is expected Rob Dewey would start in the centre with Darren Cave. Williams may also consider the option of moving Andrew Trimble off the wing into midfield.




“Of the three who were injured, it is likely Clinton would be the one who would be able to play.

Clinton on the wing?

[browner]

Who drops to the bench then...........Trimble or Gus?

[cheese]

i see according to the papers that Humph is now on the bench for Friday. i never understood at the start of the week why steinmetz was on both the A squad and the full squad but humph was on none. Seems the A team are pushing well for places with another good performace away in Cork even though the result went against them

[Snipe Watson]

i see according to the papers that Humph is now on the bench for Friday. i never understood at the start of the week why steinmetz was on both the A squad and the full squad but humph was on none. Seems the A team are pushing well for places with another good performace away in Cork even though the result went against them

Nah; he's retired. His youinger brother Ian is likely to make the bench though if Paddy is ruled out.

[cheese]

cleary Gerry we don't have to write humph jnr everytime as david has retired but if you want i will write it in just for you everytime

[Snipe Watson]

I was being frivolous and suggesting that nobody other than DH should get the title Humph It should be retired; a bit like retiring a shirt number in American football.

You still don’t say why you feel he deserves to start. Other than to give him a chance and see how he goes; I don’t see any justification in selecting a player who still has so much to prove, at an age when he should be at his peak.

[Flads]

Team now listed on UR site. Clinton is there and Del Fava on the bench. No real suprises.

[Neill_M]

Ulster Coach Matt Williams has today named a robust starting line up, to take on the Dragons tomorrow night at Ravenhill.
The Ulster side has two changes from the starting XV that was narrowly defeated at Arms Park on last Friday night. Both Paddy Wallace and David Pollock are ruled out through injury so Rob Dewey takes Wallace’s place in the centre and Kieron Dawson returns to the back row.
Former Tigers fly half Ian Humphreys is included in the replacements, alongside Italian International Carlo Del Fava.

Williams was bitterly disappointed with aspects of his side’s performance in Cardiff but the Australian coach has moved on from that and today said:
"I know my team can win this game, we played some great rugby on Friday night in Cardiff and the players effort was spot on, if we can repeat that effort and style of rugby and control our penalty count then I am confident we can beat the Dragons”

“The Dragons will be nervous about coming to Ravenhill; they know how intimidating it can be to play at Ravenhill. But they will be sore from their defeat to Munster so we will be taking nothing for granted, we need this win and we are determined to get it” continued Williams.

Dragons Coach Head Coach Paul Turner is also keen to get a win and earlier this week said:
"Ravenhill is always an exciting and vibrant place to play and the boys are looking forward to heading to Belfast this weekend. The manner in which we leaked points last weekend against Munster was disappointing and this has been addressed in preparation for yet another away trip.”

Both Ulster and the Dragons are yet to win a game in the League this season and will be battling hard for that coveted win bonus. Ulster last played the Dragons at Ravenhill in February 2008. The game was Matt William’s first game in charge and the Ulster men set Ravenhill alight by scoring six tries that night, with a superb display in front of the home crowd.

Ulster Captain Rory Best wants his side to replicate that win tomorrow night:
“That was a special night at Ravenhill and the players that played in that game who are playing tomorrow night want more of the same, the atmosphere at Ravenhill was electric and we know we can beat the Dragons if we put in a good performance.”

Supporters are reminded that the game will NOT BE TELEVISED ON SETANTA so if they want to watch their team live in action they should come along to Ravenhill. Tickets for the game are on sale now from Ravenhill, either over the counter Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, by telephone 02890493222 Option 2 between 10 am and 12noon Monday to Friday or online at http://www.ulsterrugby.com You can also purchase tickets at one of our ticket outlets across the province which are listed below.

Ulster Team
Ulster Team: (15-9) C Schifcofske; A Trimble, D Cave, R Dewey, T Nagusa; N O’Connor, l Boss; (1-8) T Court; R Best(Capt), B Botha, R Caldwell, E O'Donoghue, M McCullough, K Dawson, R Diack
Replacements (16-22) N Brady, J Fitzpatrick, C Del Fava, T Anderson, C Willis, I Humphreys, B Cunningham

[Setanta]

Is it possible for some kind person to post a link for radio ulster MW? FM and satellite don't have it! The Welsh do the reverse - have the sport on satellite and FM for the interested and the exiles and the regular programs on MW. Seems a lot more sensible to me - if I want to hear classical or other types of music I can listen to French, German, Italian, Austrian, Swiss etc., but I want the rugby!

[againstthehead]

no surprises there then. Good opportunity for NOC, particuarly with shifty taking the kicks. If we lose this one we really are in trouble...
Would prefer to see trimble in the middle of the park but with a lack of wide men at Ravers I guess it's a decent decision.
Ulster to scrape a win?