The UAFC

bootlace wrote:any updates re injuries?

Ithryn wrote: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?

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

browner wrote:

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.

cheese wrote: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