Ulster v Connacht Saturday September 17 7.35pm UK Time Premier Sports / BBC2NI / TG4

[UlsterNo9]

And so it begins.....

We beat The Westies pretty comfortably up here in February 32-12, hoping for a similar result again.



#ourseason

[big mervyn]

Did the Westies get a runout last w/e?

[Dave]

I would assume the Irish squad players from the summer won't be available as per. Although many of them sustained injury anyway.

EOS Andrew Moore
Izzy AOC
Timoney Refell McCann
Doak Burns
Marshall Moore
Stockdale Lyttle Baloucoune

That's my guess based who I think would be available.

[UlsterNo9]

Did the Westies get a runout last w/e?

Played two pre season games against Castres and Sale but no game last weekend.

They're missing a few, Carty and Bulter plus anyone on New Zealand tour.

[UlsterNo9]

I would assume the Irish squad players from the summer won't be available as per. Although many of them sustained injury anyway.

EOS Andrew Moore
Izzy AOC
Timoney Refell McCann
Doak Burns
Marshall Moore
Stockdale Lyttle Baloucoune

That's my guess based who I think would be available.

Won't be far away, though Timoney was in NZ so won't play. Nordi would need to be pushing for a start from the off after missing so much of last season, hopefully the full pre season under his belt will see him challenge again.

Tom Stewart to start at hooker, supposedly had a fantastic pre season.

We appear to have made good signings, the kids are a year older. This is the strongest squad we've had in a long time. #ourseason

[big mervyn]

I take it we're having a minute's silence, and maybe even a rare Ravenhill rendition of GSTK?, On Sat?

[Dave]

I would assume the Irish squad players from the summer won't be available as per. Although many of them sustained injury anyway.

EOS Andrew Moore
Izzy AOC
Timoney Refell McCann
Doak Burns
Marshall Moore
Stockdale Lyttle Baloucoune

That's my guess based who I think would be available.

Won't be far away, though Timoney was in NZ so won't play. Nordi would need to be pushing for a start from the off after missing so much of last season, hopefully the full pre season under his belt will see him challenge again.

Tom Stewart to start at hooker, supposedly had a fantastic pre season.

We appear to have made good signings, the kids are a year older. This is the strongest squad we've had in a long time. #ourseason

Jordi is lacking much of any pace. The likes of Sheridan, McCann, Refell looking better options in preseason with Timoney, Marcus, Vermeulen starters. You can't be bad to Jordi stepping into to do a job at least.

Agree re Stewart but feel he might need to improve the darts a little.

[Dave]

I take it we're having a minute's silence, and maybe even a rare Ravenhill rendition of GSTK?, On Sat?

It will take the loyalist 6 months to learn the new words.

[Neill_M]

Ulster v Connacht

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 2nd league game)
AR 1: Chris Busby (IRFU) AR 2: Andrew Cole (IRFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

[justinr73]

Looks like they’ll be missing Carty, Butler, Bealham and Kilgannon (the wing who got an intercept against us at the Aviva), as well as Aki, Hansen and Prendergast.

Their new Kiwi back row, who sounds Irish but isn’t, loves a turnover apparently.

[Big-al]

I take it we're having a minute's silence, and maybe even a rare Ravenhill rendition of GSTK?, On Sat?

It will take the loyalist 6 months to learn the new words.

What about Unionists?

[UlsterNo9]

Their new Kiwi back row, who sounds Irish but isn’t, loves a turnover apparently.

Partial to an apple one myself. Doesn't make him a bad person

[UlsterNo9]

I take it we're having a minute's silence, and maybe even a rare Ravenhill rendition of GSTK?, On Sat?

It will take the loyalist 6 months to learn the new words.

What about Unionists?

Or small u unionists

[UlsterNo9]

Jordi is lacking much of any pace. The likes of Sheridan, McCann, Refell looking better options in preseason with Timoney, Marcus, Vermeulen starters. You can't be bad to Jordi stepping into to do a job at least.

Agree re Stewart but feel he might need to improve the darts a little.

Aye, Jordi has a long road back, he was off the money on the limited game time he got post injury at the tail end of last season.

I live in hope. If he gets back to anywhere close to his pomp our backrow is starting to look very competitive.

[SUFTUM_19]

I take it neither team will have any their internationals back?