Ulster v Toulouse Friday December 11th 8pm KO

[Neill_M]

Ref: Matthew Carley (England)
Assis Ref 1: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
Assis Ref 2: Robert O'Sullivan (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)

TV BT Sport 2 and beIN Sport

Injury News

Iain Henderson sustained a knee injury playing for Ireland on Saturday. He will see a knee specialist this week and is unavailable for selection for the Heineken Champions Cup fixture against Toulouse on Friday.

Rob Lyttle suffered a back injury in the game against Edinburgh last week and he too is unavailable for selection this week.

These players join Billy Burns (groin), Louis Ludik (concussion), Luke Marshall (knee), Rob Baloucoune (hamstring), Will Addison (back), Angus Curtis (knee) and Tom Stewart (hamstring) on the current injured list.

Squad updates in association with The Ulster Independent Clinic.

Euro Squad 2020/21 (Some players can play multiple positions)

LHP Kyle McCall, Jack McGrath, Eric O’Sullivan, Callum Reid (on loan to Munster), Andy Warwick

Hookers John Andrew, Rob Herring, Adam McBurney, James McCormick, Bradley Roberts, Tom Stewart

THP Ross Kane, Gareth Milasinovich, Marty Moore, Tom O’Toole

Locks Sam Carter, Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu, David O’Connor, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell

Back Row Azur Allison, Marcel Coetzee, Reuben Cruthers, Greg Jones, Dave McCann, Jordi Murphy, Marcus Rea, Matt Rea, Sean Reidy, Nick Timoney
Scrum Half John Cooney, Nathan Doak, Lewis Finlay, Alby Mathewson, David Shanahan

Outhalf Billy Burns, Angus Curtis, Bruce Houston, Bill Johnston, Ian Madigan

Centres Ben Carson, James Hume, Hayden Hyde, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Stewart Moore

Wings Rob Baloucoune, Matt Faddes, Craig Gilroy, Louis Ludik, Rob Lyttle. Ethan McIlroy, Conor Rankin, Aaron Sexton, Jacob Stockdale

Full Backs Will Addison, Michael Lowry

[Aird]

I assume the omission of Stuart McCloskey is just an oversight in the authors case. Can’t be any other reason as nobody but Ulster seems to appreciate his true worth.

[Neill_M]

I assume the omission of Stuart McCloskey is just an oversight in the authors case. Can’t be any other reason as nobody but Ulster seems to appreciate his true worth.

He is listed under centres

[LegsLikeSausages]

Treadwell’s ban is now even more significant with that injury news

[LegsLikeSausages]

What will Dan go with?
Madigan / BJ at 10 with Lowry at fullback (Stockdale on wing); or Lowry at 10 with Stockdale at fullback?

[Neill_M]

What will Dan go with?
Madigan / BJ at 10 with Lowry at fullback (Stockdale on wing); or Lowry at 10 with Stockdale at fullback?

I reckon option 1.

[jean valjean]

Does stockdale want a crack at kolbe again? Lowry at fullback with gilroy and stockdale on wings; faddes covering 13-15 from the bench along with alby and Johnston would be my bet. Forward bench cover might see rea and timoney unless O'connor junior gets a call.

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[Bart S]

Treadwell’s ban is now even more significant with that injury news

Absolutely. He would have been a great impact option off the bench (I would have started with Hendy and Carter). AOC and Carter not the most dynamic pairing and David O’connor off the bench looks more like a pro14 option against the weaker sides.

[Bart S]

Does stockdale want a crack at kolbe again? Lowry at fullback with gilroy and stockdale on wings; faddes covering 13-15 from the bench along with alby and Johnston would be my bet. Forward bench cover might see rea and timoney unless O'connor junior gets a call.

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Stockdale needs to up his defensive game significantly wherever he plays.

[Dharper]

For me no Gilroy. Play Faddes on wing with Stockdale. Lowry at fullback. SMcC at 12 with either Moore/Hume - whoever misses out covers the bench.

EOS Herring MM. (Warwick Andrew Milo)
Carter AOC (DOC)
Reidy Marcell NordI (Matty Rea)

Cooney Madigan. (Albi Johnston Hume)
SMcC / Moore
Stockdale Lowry Faddes

Yep I’d be tempted to have Hume cover the wing with an injury rather Than Gilroy cover the wing, and Faddes move into the centre.

Gilroy has not found his form yet, hopefully injuries & mileage on his clock haven’t diminished him as a player.

I’m presuming both McGrath & TOT Injured - besides I’d be reluctant to throw either into a Euro game coming back from injury.

[MightyRearranger]

Think with the injuries a lot of the team picks itself, think loosehead and hooker are both interesting decisions though. McGrath has generally been starting for Ulster, but EOS has been picked ahead of him for Ireland, while at hooker, Herring now seems to be first choice for Ireland, but Andrews has been playing out of his skin, would be very very harsh to drop him.

[Aird]

With so many of the injuries having been long term or are players who have been in the Irish squad so whilst this is obviously
a problem, Ulster have perhaps been lucky in that the remainder of the squad have had plenty games together and winning ones too. This should mean that there won’t be to much disruption to the squad. Whilst the signing of Madigan and Mathewson did meet with questions on this site it has proved to be a great decision. Also Carter has over the last couple of outings has begun to show his worth so Treadwell’s RC will not be felt so badly.
Past history has not been good for Toulouse on trips to Belfast so their is every reason to be hopeful and maybe Injury list will be reduced in January. If nothing else we have a lot more depth in the squad than in previous some campaigns.

[kUD]

Given the size of the Toulouse pack I wonder if it's worth considering a 6/2 bench, to have a lock and 2 back row options. Assume Cooney / Lowry cover 10, so a scrum half plus whichever centre/wing doesnt start

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[Off the Top]

Given the size of the Toulouse pack I wonder if it's worth considering a 6/2 bench, to have a lock and 2 back row options. Assume Cooney / Lowry cover 10, so a scrum half plus whichever centre/wing doesnt start

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I think that would be a good call having a 6/2 bench for this one.

If we add Timoney to the bench he would be able to cover one of the back position if we got unlucky with injuries.

I think this is going to be a good close game ........... and we might edge it.

[jean valjean]

Be more confident if there was a full house rocking up to the gate after a few hours warming up downtown (depressing thinking about it). No crowd is a leveller that might allow the French to concentrate on the game better. Will be a big ask and we need everything to go our way.

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