Ulster v Leinster Fri 7.35 BBC NI & RTE

[wixfjord]

Sounds like we'll get the full whack back for this.

Could be a good game against an Ulster side whose attack has really clicked. With no HEC until December, this is our biggest game of the first part of the season.

Side I'd go for:

Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Ryan, Jenkins, Rhys, VDF, Conan, JGP, Sexton, DK, Henshaw, Ringer, Larmour, JOB,

Kelleher, Byrne, Mike, Molony, Connors/Penny, McGrath, Ross, Ngatai

[cormac]

Penny is in South Africa.

First time in quite a few years that we'll be sending such a strong side to Belfast.

[wixfjord]

Penny is in South Africa.

First time in quite a few years that we'll be sending such a strong side to Belfast.

Is Connors fit?

Would be interesting to see who we go with if not. I'd imagine we won't risk Doris.

Martin Molony would be a good shout imo.

[cormac]

Penny is in South Africa.

First time in quite a few years that we'll be sending such a strong side to Belfast.

Is Connors fit?

Would be interesting to see who we go with if not. I'd imagine we won't risk Doris.

Martin Molony would be a good shout imo.

Baird.

[wixfjord]

Penny is in South Africa.

First time in quite a few years that we'll be sending such a strong side to Belfast.

Is Connors fit?

Would be interesting to see who we go with if not. I'd imagine we won't risk Doris.

Martin Molony would be a good shout imo.

Baird.

Yes he'd be an option alright, not sure he's a brill option for a backrow sub albeit considering he only plays 6. But he does deserve a longer shot at blindside.

[mildlyinterested]

Leo Cullen has issued an injury update ahead of Friday’s BKT United Rugby Championship game in the Kingspan Stadium against Ulster Rugby (KO: 7.35pm – live on BBC NI, RTÉ, Premier Sports and URC TV).

There was positive news for Joe McCarthy (ankle) and Jordan Larmour (knee) who both came through the game against Benneton Rugby with no issues after their return from injury.

McCarthy will however be unavailable for the game on Friday as he has joined up with the rest of the Emerging Ireland squad that departed yesterday for Bloemfontein ahead of their participation in the Toyota Challenge.

Jamison Gibson-Park missed the game on Friday in the RDS Arena through illness but is expected to train as normal this week.

Cullen also gave an update on Ciarán Frawley who was withdrawn from the game against Benetton Rugby early in the second half with a shoulder injury. As a result he will now miss the Emerging Ireland tour and will instead be assessed by the Leinster Rugby medical team.

Will Connors will also be further assessed this week for a back injury as he was withdrawn in the second half as a precaution.

Another player to be further assessed this week is James Ryan who was a late withdrawal from the match day squad on Friday with a minor hamstring injury sustained in the captain’s run on Thursday.

There was some positive news for Liam Turner who is nearing the completion of his rehabilitation for a toe injury and hopes to start integrating back into team training this week.

Finally, Cullen confirmed that Caelan Doris will miss the game against Ulster Rugby at the weekend. Doris was withdrawn for a Head Injury Assessment in the first half against Benetton Rugby and will now enter the Graduated Return to Play Protocols.

Cullen had no update on Hugo Keenan (abdominal & knee injury), James Lowe (calf), James Tracy (neck), Charlie Ryan (knee) and Tommy O’Brien (knee).

[wixfjord]

Probably taking caution with Doris, but not great to see him getting another head injury.

No mention of JOB also, didn't he go off with a knock?

[enby]

Amazing how Sheehan has replaced Kelliher as starter at 2. I doubt if anyone would have predicted that after the NZ match last November. We are blessed to have two such outstanding players in such an important position.

[desperado]

Probably taking caution with Doris, but not great to see him getting another head injury.

No mention of JOB also, didn't he go off with a knock?

Not being smart but when was the last time Doris was taken off for a head injury? I don't recall any since his long layoff (4 or 5 mths). If I recall he got a bad knock on his debut v Scotland in 2021 6n? Didn't he start wearing a improved model of scrumcap when he returned. Can't remember the last time he failed a HIA.

JOB did go off with a knock; I was surprised with no mention of him today.

Will Connors is having no luck. I was watching him on the sideline when he came off on Friday; he was definitely checking his knee and also lay down and did some glute loosening (at least that's what it looked like from a distance in the South Stand!). Hopefully the issue not with his knee, and actually with his back as quoted.

[desperado]

Amazing how Sheehan has replaced Kelliher as starter at 2. I doubt if anyone would have predicted that after the NZ match last November. We are blessed to have two such outstanding players in such an important position.

Not sure he's replaced him. Kelleher is working his way back from injury.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Probably taking caution with Doris, but not great to see him getting another head injury.

No mention of JOB also, didn't he go off with a knock?

Not being smart but when was the last time Doris was taken off for a head injury? I don't recall any since his long layoff (4 or 5 mths). If I recall he got a bad knock on his debut v Scotland in 2021 6n? Didn't he start wearing a improved model of scrumcap when he returned. Can't remember the last time he failed a HIA.

JOB did go off with a knock; I was surprised with no mention of him today.

Will Connors is having no luck. I was watching him on the sideline when he came off on Friday; he was definitely checking his knee and also lay down and did some glute loosening (at least that's what it looked like from a distance in the South Stand!). Hopefully the issue not with his knee, and actually with his back as quoted.

I thought Connors got a bang on the knee at one stage but played on. I'd have thought they'd be extra careful with him so hopefully it's not an issue.

[cormac]

Connors had an ice pack on one of his hamstrings at the end of the game.

[wixfjord]

Probably taking caution with Doris, but not great to see him getting another head injury.

No mention of JOB also, didn't he go off with a knock?

Not being smart but when was the last time Doris was taken off for a head injury? I don't recall any since his long layoff (4 or 5 mths). If I recall he got a bad knock on his debut v Scotland in 2021 6n? Didn't he start wearing a improved model of scrumcap when he returned. Can't remember the last time he failed a HIA.

Yes, that's what I'm referring to. He spoke at the time of seeing a specialist and having some worrying cognitive symptoms around short term memory and slurred speech.

So another head knock is a worry.

A scrumcap does little to combat concussion, and in NFL helmets have been shown to give players a false sense of security unfortunately.

[wixfjord]

Looks like JOB & Ryan trained today anyway. Connors as well.

No sign of Tadhg in the pictures though.

[pip14]

Ulster set to be missing Henderson, Vermulen, Doak, Hume, Balacoune, Addison

[curates_egg]

That’s a bit sh!t about Frawley. Possibly a blessing for Leinster I suppose. But, from an Ireland perspective, this whole tour seemed to be based around him leading the team at 10.

One player I hope is involved is Vakh. We can’t lean as heavily on big Mike this season again.

[wixfjord]

Maul battle at the weekend should be very interesting.

Both sides are very good in this area.

Will be a first big test for Jenkins too. A good showing here and we'll have a real player on our hands.

Ulster are better at unlocking their backline than us at the moment imo.

Interesting to see whether Goodman's backline comes to life with J10 and JGP likely back in.

[pangurban1]

Five try's conceded against Scarlets though.

[allezlesverres]

It's a shame to see both sides missing a few of their front liners. Having said that, I can't remember the last time both teams were able to play so many of their front liners in an interpro. For the last number of years these games have been populated with "A" team players and academy players so the prospect of having 2 almost-full-strength squads is very exciting indeed. This has the potential to be an absoluter cracker of a game. With the new league format, and with Ulster and Leinster expected to be towards the top of the table come the end of the season, the outcome of this game has huge importance and the losing team will probably look back on this at the end of the season as a critical point of the year.

[the spoofer]

Bookies have Ulster at 1 point favourites. I'll wait to see the team but that is very tempting for a small wager.