The UAFC

Ospreys faired well in their opening game, taking a major stride forward beating Edinburgh concincingly at Murrayfield. They will take massive belief from that and rightly so. We also managed to give them one of their two Pro 14 wins last season therefore I fear the writing is on the wall for this one.

From reading into last weeks injury report I got the impression Burns and McCloskey will be fit for this one. Do you pick them? Was Marcells departure precaution? He seemed to walk off quite comfortably.

I think we will go into this game fully loaded as this is probably the last game before the Irish & Welsh squads are announced for the 6 Nations (Part 2). So I would expect to see Burns, McCloskey and Murphy back in action along with our starting front row from last week. I also expect Stockdale to remain at full back to stake his Irish claim to the position.

It will be interesting to see if Stewart Moore and David McCann make the bench or whether Dan will pack it with experience.

Two positive cases with one being a senior player. Let's hope that's the extent of it.

germcevoy wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:43 pm Two positive cases with one being a senior player. Let's hope that's the extent of it.

Definitely, there is the potential for matches to be postponed if this goes bad. This is happening in the American Football already and there is talk there of the season being shortened if need be.

It would more likely be forfeited by Ulster rather than postponed surely?

Hans Indaruck wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:12 am It would more likely be forfeited by Ulster rather than postponed surely?

I haven't read into the specifics of Pro14's guidance surrounding positive tests (I'm sure they exist) but you have to imagine that it will be nigh on impossible to find time to play rescheduled games so forefitting would be much more likely if you can't field a team.

Could they postpone with the fall back position of a nominal, say, 15-15 draw if a suitable date can't be found?

Dunno what the provisions are.

Twenty nil in England as Sale know to their cost.

Hans Indaruck wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:12 am It would more likely be forfeited by Ulster rather than postponed surely?

I am sure there is a structure in place for this, we will know tomorrow I am sure,

Seems to be going ahead. Presumably everybody else has subsequently tested -ve?

This season is going to be an absolute shambles. I have no intention of wasting any mental energy giving a flying feck about it.

Ulster team to play Ospreys Rugby, Guinness PRO14 Round 2, Saturday 10 October 2020, at Liberty Stadium (kick-off 5.15pm, live on Premier Sports):

(15-9) Jacob Stockdale, Matt Faddes, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Rob Lyttle, Ian Madigan, John Cooney.

(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O'Connor, Iain Henderson (Capt.) , Matthew Rea, Marcus Rea, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O'Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Kieran Treadwell, Greg Jones, David Shanahan, Louis Ludik, Sean Reidy.

Ospreys

15. Dan Evans, 14. Mat Protheroe, 13. Owen Watkin, 12. Keiran Williams, 11. Luke Morgan, 10. Stephen Myler, 9. Rhys Webb, 1.Nicky Smith, 2. Sam Parry, 3. Tom Botha, 4. Adam Beard, 5. Alun Wyn Jones, 6. Olly Cracknell, 7. Justin Tipuric ©, 8. Morgan Morris

16. Dewi Lake, 17. Rhodri Jones, 18. Ma’afu Fia, 19. Bradley Davies, 20. Dan Lydiate, 21. Harri Morgan, 22. Josh Thomas, 23. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler

Ospreys v Ulster
@ Liberty Stadium
Referee: Mike Adamson
Assistant referees: Dan Jones, Gwyn Morris
TMO: Ian Davies

Lowry missing. Was he on the injury list or might he be the Covid case? Good enough to hold his place on form and Burns isn’t back either.

No Craig Gilroy or Bill Johnston either. Who is the alternate out-half option should Madigan get injured? John Cooney?

Only 2 backs on the bench?

Could be fun for someone if there are a few injuries!