Match Preview: Ulster Rugby v Connacht Rugby

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ADM
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Match Preview: Ulster Rugby v Connacht Rugby

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[/tag][tag=content]‘Tis the season to be jolly, right?

Obviously the writer of the famous carol Deck the Halls has never been to Belfast over Christmas then, and realised just how gloomy December tends to be as an Ulster fan. But, in the spirit of Christmas, I would like to wish the good people of the UAFC (and the all-important lurkers too) a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year too, and hope it will be just as good to you as 2014 was.

However, once the festivities are over there is the issue of a rugby match to get on with, and I’m not here simply for season’s greetings!

If you had some sort of a social gathering to go to after Saturday night’s abysmal performance, then you will understand just how frustrated I was at a Christmas party hosted in my own house. To say I was the perfect host would be something of an understatement. The way we played on Saturday night was as far from acceptable as possible, and for the second week running we deservedly left Wales with nothing to show for our sub-par efforts – and with no complaints either.

It means we’ve now slipped out of the top four, we haven’t put in a decent performance since the Glasgow game at home two months ago and we now risk slipping further behind our play-off rivals if we can’t get back into a bit of form and winning again. We now have the unwanted record of just one win from our last four outings and with Leinster coming up next week in Dublin, you really start to get the sense that a win this week is not just preferable – it’s a necessity.

Connacht will be a stern test of where we are as a team though. Pat Lam has turned the Galway men into one of the surprise packages of the season and so far they have been resurgent. Sixth place in the Pro12 and with a strong chance of qualifying from their Challenge Cup pool too, Lam has been a revelation out West and with his side performing so well this season it looks very likely that they will make the step up next season to the Champions’ Cup.

Just look at their results this season. Winning out in Bayonne is no mean feat for any side, while they have also taken the scalps of the Leinster and the Scarlets at the Sportsground and rightly inherit their lofty place in the Pro12 table. It is no fluke that they have reached sixth place, some of the rugby they have played has been top quality, and the signings of Mils Muliaina and Bundee Aki, along with regulars Robbie Henshaw and Kieran Marmion, have helped Connacht’s plight no end.

And so we reach Boxing Day, if you can shift yourself from your seat following your Christmas dinner, and find ourselves facing a real banana skin of a game. No longer are Connacht a guaranteed five-pointer on the fixture list and we will have to buck up our ideas unless we want to fall to our third successive defeat – and probably our most embarrassing one of the three. As I said earlier, the win is a necessity now.

The team going for that necessary win has seven changes to it from the side that travelled to the Ospreys last week. Craig Gilroy returns from his rest to take the place of Tommy Bowe, who himself is rested, while Peter Nelson takes the other wing slot ahead of Michael Allen. Paddy Jackson returns from injury to start at fly-half and he is partnered by Paul Marshall, who replaces the injured Ruan Pienaar. It is an all-changed front row with Callum Black, Rob Herring and Wiehahn Herbst providing the bulk while the second and back rows are unchanged with captain Roger Wilson play his 300th professional match.

Six changes for Lam and Connacht as they too are hit by mandatory rest periods. Darragh Leader is promoted to full-back at the expense of Mils Muliaina, while Dave McSharry is brought into the centre for the rested Robbie Henshaw. Props Ronan Loughney and Finlay Bealham benefit from their rotation policy as they get the nod ahead of Dennis Buckley and Rodney Ah You, and in the back row a familiar face in Willie Faloon gets the start at openside flanker with Eoin McKeon out injured.

Results haven’t been great, we didn’t get snow (yet) and I’m pretty sure Santa won’t deliver an extra ten points for our Champions’ Cup pool like I asked for – we need something to cheer about on Boxing Day. Yes it may be a day for getting family together, but where better to meet up than Ravenhill to cheer on the lads? I shall leave you with the parting lines of a Christmas classic and look forward to seeing you all again in 2015!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Ulster Rugby vs. Connacht Rugby
Friday 26th December, 18:45
Kingspan Stadium
Guinness PRO12 – Round 11

Live on BBC2 NI

ULSTER RUGBY
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Craig Gilroy, 13. Darren Cave, 12. Luke Marshall, 11. Peter Nelson, 10. Paddy Jackson, 9. Paul Marshall; 1. Callum Black, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Dan Tuohy, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 6. Robbie Diack, 7. Clive Ross, 8. Roger Wilson (capt.).

16. John Andrew, 17. Andrew Warwick, 18. Declan Fitzpatrick, 19. Alan O’Connor, 20. Sean Reidy, 21. Michael Heaney, 22. Ian Humphreys, 23. Stuart Olding.

CONNACHT RUGBY
15. Darragh Leader, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Bundee Aki, 12. Dave McSharry, 11. Matt Healy, 10. Jack Carty, 9. John Cooney; 1. Ronan Loughney, 2. Tom McCartney, 3. Finlay Bealham, 4. Quinn Roux, 5. Aly Muldowney, 6. John Muldoon (capt.), 7. Willie Faloon, 8. George Naoupu.

16. Dave Heffernan, 17. Dennis Buckley, 18. Rodney Ah You, 19. Ultan Dillane, 20. Eoghan Masterson, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Craig Ronaldson, 23. Mils Muliaina.

Referee: John Lacey (IRFU, 40th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Dudley Phillips, Nigel Correll (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Gordon Black (IRFU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)[/tag]
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