Ulster vs Leinster: Saturday 28th, 18.30 (BBC & Sky)

[curates_egg]

Seems Ulster A lost to Cornish Pirates.
Nelson played at 10 for them this season, didn't he?
Either way, a sorry state of affairs. We had only one outhalf fit for a chunk of last season...but at least we had one. Makes you wonder about Madigan and his bundles of cash in Bristol.

[simonokeeffe]

Seems Ulster A lost to Cornish Pirates.
Nelson played at 10 for them this season, didn't he?
Either way, a sorry state of affairs. We had only one outhalf fit for a chunk of last season...but at least we had one. Makes you wonder about Madigan and his bundles of cash in Bristol.

IIRC McCloskey had to kick at goal when Nelson played 10

[mildlyinterested]

Seems Ulster A lost to Cornish Pirates.
Nelson played at 10 for them this season, didn't he?
Either way, a sorry state of affairs. We had only one outhalf fit for a chunk of last season...but at least we had one. Makes you wonder about Madigan and his bundles of cash in Bristol.

Madigan took the money at Bristol, no way Ulster could have matched that.

[curates_egg]

Seems Ulster A lost to Cornish Pirates.
Nelson played at 10 for them this season, didn't he?
Either way, a sorry state of affairs. We had only one outhalf fit for a chunk of last season...but at least we had one. Makes you wonder about Madigan and his bundles of cash in Bristol.

Madigan took the money at Bristol, no way Ulster could have matched that.

Of course not, although they may not have needed to. It's all moot anyway.

It is a cr@ppy situation for Ulster though: literally having no fit outhalf. Presumably, they will pick either Nelson or Marshall there on Saturday.

As for this game, given their situation, and ours, with the right attitude, we could pick up a crucial conference away win.

[blockhead]

Spanners is a sell out.

[Aird]

McCloskey did indeed take over the kicking duties in one match but this was on the return of Nelson after an ankle injury that had kept him out of the game for more than 12 months and was so bad that at an early stages it was suspected that his career was over. McCloskey was only kicking to prevent undue pressure on Nelson's ankle on his first game back.
It was early in September and Jackson wa not available due to IRFU resting and from memory Ruane was with the Boks or injured.

Nelson may not be a Paddy Jackson or Ruane P but he is a reasonable Kicker.

[CiaranIrl]

Josh VDF needs surgery on his ankle according to Thornley today

[simonokeeffe]

Josh VDF needs surgery on his ankle according to Thornley today

that sucks, thankfully Leavy and SOB are back, and we are spoilt in general

[molloyjh]

Munster have their internationals available and selected this weekend. Both Connacht and themselves have selected pretty much full strength sides. So we will be selecting a strong side ourselves too unless Leo and co have other ideas.

[QBer]

What's his prognosis for the Exeter away match?

[mildlyinterested]

What's his prognosis for the Exeter away match?

unlikely.

[mildlyinterested]

Munster have their internationals available and selected this weekend. Both Connacht and themselves have selected pretty much full strength sides. So we will be selecting a strong side ourselves too unless Leo and co have other ideas.

almost certain to have some rotation in backrow/front row, one of last weekends locks rested, carbery rested.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

What's his prognosis for the Exeter away match?

Exet means Exit...he's out.

[molloyjh]

Munster have their internationals available and selected this weekend. Both Connacht and themselves have selected pretty much full strength sides. So we will be selecting a strong side ourselves too unless Leo and co have other ideas.

almost certain to have some rotation in backrow/front row, one of last weekends locks rested, carbery rested.

Yeah, the squad I mentioned the other day has all the above. I reckon it'll be close to this.

McGrath Cronin Bent
Ryan Fardy
Leavy Murphy SOB

JGP Sexton
Reid Henshaw
Kearney Kearney Byrne

Tracy, Healy, Furlong, Toner, Deegan, McGrath, Byrne, McFadden

[BlueWheels]

Madigan took the money at Bristol, no way Ulster could have matched that.

and in fairness to Mads, there was another 10 in Ulster who was available for selection at the time he agreed to take the Bristol offer

[simonokeeffe]

Paul Marshall is out as well, and Shanahan, so Aaron Cairns and Peter Nelson will be starting halfbacks (Belfast Newsletter)

[Dave Cahill]

Ulster team

(1-8): Callum Black, Rory Best, Rodney Ah You, Alan O'Connor, Iain Henderson (Capt), Sean Reidy, Chris Henry, Jean Deysel;
(9-15): Aaron Cairns, Christian Lealiifano, Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall, Tommy Bowe, Charles Piutau.

Replacements (16-23): Rob Herring, Andy Warwick, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Robbie Diack, Jonny Stewart, Peter Nelson, Louis Ludik.

Unavailable for selection:
Peter Browne
Marcell Coetzee
John Cooney
Wiehahn Herbst
Paul Marshall
Kyle McCall
Caleb Montgomery
Jack Owens
Jared Payne
Dave Shanahan

[QBer]

15. Rob Kearney (187)
14. Adam Byrne (29)
13. Rory O’Loughlin (27)
12. Noel Reid (87)
11. Dave Kearney (115)
10. Ross Byrne (31)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (35)
1. Jack McGrath (117)
2. James Tracy (49)
3. Tadhg Furlong (71)
4. Devin Toner (204)
5. James Ryan (4)
6. Dan Leavy (42)
7. Jordi Murphy (91)
8. Seán O’Brien (111) CAPTAIN

16. Richardt Strauss (147)
17. Cian Healy (179)
18. Andrew Porter (13)
19. Ross Molony (50)
20. Jack Conan (58)
21. Luke McGrath (81)
22. Cathal Marsh (22)
23. Jordan Larmour (4)

Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)

[Dave Cahill]

Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen has announced his match day 23 to take on Ulster Rugby in the Guinness PRO14 tomorrow in the Kingspan Stadium (Kick Off: 6.30pm – live on BBC & SKY Sports).

He is able to recall a number of players from injury including British & Irish Lions duo Rob Kearney and Seán O’Brien for the Round 7 clash.

Kearney comes into the number 15 jersey with Adam Byrne on the right wing and Dave Kearney on the left.

There is also a return from injury for Rory O’Loughlin who joins fellow St. Michael’s past pupil Noel Reid in the centre.

Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne start as the half back pairing for the trip to the Kingspan.

In the pack Jack McGrath and Tadhg Furlong start at loosehead and tighthead respectively while James Tracy wins his 50th cap from hooker.

Devin Toner is joined in the second row by James Ryan.

In the back row Dan Leavy starts his first game back from injury after impressing off the bench last week in Scotstoun, while Jordi Murphy also comes back into the side at openside flanker.

Finally Seán O’Brien is back from a calf injury to captain the side from the base of the scrum.

On the bench, having played for 40 minutes two weeks ago with the Leinster ‘A’ team, there is a first senior involvement of the season for Richardt Strauss having recovered from knee injury.

Cullen also gave an injury update on a number of other players not involved this weekend.

Both Barry Daly and Josh van der Flier had procedures this week after both suffered syndesmosis injuries against Glasgow last weekend.

There was also an update on both Robbie Henshaw and Johnny Sexton who were both not considered for selection due to knocks taken in training during the week. However neither player is a long term injury concern.

Leinster Rugby (Leinster caps in brackets):

15. Rob Kearney (187)
14. Adam Byrne (29)
13. Rory O’Loughlin (27)
12. Noel Reid (87)
11. Dave Kearney (115)
10. Ross Byrne (31)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (35)
1. Jack McGrath (117)
2. James Tracy (49)
3. Tadhg Furlong (71)
4. Devin Toner (204)
5. James Ryan (4)
6. Dan Leavy (42)
7. Jordi Murphy (91)
8. Seán O’Brien (111) CAPTAIN

16. Richardt Strauss (147)
17. Cian Healy (179)
18. Andrew Porter (13)
19. Ross Molony (50)
20. Jack Conan (58)
21. Luke McGrath (81)
22. Cathal Marsh (22)
23. Jordan Larmour (4)

Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)

[Dave Cahill]

Good stuff, all the lads who need a warmup game for the Autumn Internationals get a start.