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Heineken Cup: Teams for Ulster v Aironi.

by

John McMurtry

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Ruan Pienaar and Paddy McAllister have both been included in the starting team for Ulster’s Heineken Cup Pool 4 match versus Aironi at Ravenhill on Friday (kick off 7.30pm).

Brian McLaughlin has recalled Pienaar at scrumhalf in place of Paul Marshall, who drops to the replacements bench. He is partnered at halfback with Ian Humphreys, and the backline remains otherwise unchanged. Paddy McAllister is given an opportunity to start at loosehead prop, with Ireland international Tom Court making way.

Stefan Terblanche, who arrived in Belfast on Sunday, has gone straight into the matchday squad and will win his first cap for the Province if he takes the field. The former South Africa international has the ability to cover fullback, wing and centre. Elsewhere on the bench, Andi Kyriacou will provide cover at hooker instead of Nigel Brady.

Commenting on his scrumhalf selection, McLaughlin said: “Paul is a terrific player and has proved himself over the past few weeks. But Ruan was the Magner’s League Player of the Year last season so he deserves a chance. His match time has been limited so it will be good for him to get some time on the pitch. We . . .

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3 responses to “Heineken Cup: Teams for Ulster v Aironi.”

  1. Raging Raven

    For the gamblers out there ……………. 22 point head start for Aironi is very tempting. Ulster have failed to beat the handicap consistently this season. 🙄

    Reply
  2. Flat-top

    Have to wonder if TC moving to the bench is more to do with an injury rather than giving PMac a much needed start but fair play to teacher for making that call.

    If I were Paul M I would be mightly drunk off having to make way for Ruan, appreciate he is the big money signing but Paul has not let us down in recent weeks and we don’t seem to be applying the same logic to Stefan who finally arrives only to freeze on the bench.

    I don’t share your worry about the back row for this fixture, I think busting holes is exactly what is required and I would prefer we secured the win and BP before trying other combinations that may or may not be needed in the future (when 1Fs knees go again), one game at a time remember. What I don’t follow is the logic of having Diack on the bench in place of Willie as I think RD is too similar to what he will replace whilst WF adds another option.

    Reply
    1. John

      Yep – suspected injuries to TC and Humph would be my reading of it.

      I’ve no particular real worries about the back row in this game but we seem to be developing our forward game plan round a dodgy knee, a 31 year old mercenary and a shoehorned seven which does leave me a bit concerned. It is particularly worrying that we have few coming through our system that could easily slot into this back row of bruisers.

      We do have quite a few ball playing back rows at our disposal and it may be better for Ulster’s long term progress to attempt to play round the more physical teams rather than through them.

      Reply

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