Ulster v Dragons Sunday October 25th 3pm

[Kanbei]

No team news today?

Sunday game so team news on Saturday.at noon.

I could be losing the plot but from memory I thought team was announced on a Friday even when game is on a Sunday?

It always has been so yeah it is strange.

They have changed the rules for the next few rounds. So it will always be the day before. Will be a Sunday announcement for the Monday games

[UlsterNo9]

Ah ha! Thanks all

Any injury news this week? Are Burns and Murphy available?

[Neill_M]

Ah ha! Thanks all

Any injury news this week? Are Burns and Murphy available?

Burns and Luke Marshall were training this week. No news Jordi.

[UlsterNo9]

Ulster team to play Dragons, Guinness PRO14 Round 3, Sunday 25 October 2020, at Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 3pm, live on Premier Sports):

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

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, John Andrew, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Sam Carter (Capt.), Sean Reidy, Jordi Murphy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Kyle McCall, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, David Shanahan, Bill Johnston, Michael Lowry.

[UlsterNo9]

Dragons (v Ulster Rugby): (15 - 9) Jonah Holmes, Jared Rosser, Adam Warren, Jack Dixon, Ashton Hewitt, Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams (c); ( 1 - Greg Bateman, Richard Hibbard, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Harrison Keddie, Taine Basham, Ollie Griffiths

Replacements: Ellis Shipp, Brok Harris, Chris Coleman , Joe Maksymiw, Ben Fry, Tavis Knoyle, Arwel Robson, Jamie Roberts

[Neill_M]

Roberts on bench for Dragons is an interesting call

[UlsterNo9]

Roberts on bench for Dragons is an interesting call

Interesting calls all over the place Neill. Not sure what to make of our own.

McGrath and O'Toole are conspicuous by their absence in the match day 23? I get nervous when we go beyond McGrath, O'Sullivan, Moore and O'Toole at prop especially when Herring is absent. Neither Andrew or McBurney have proven themselves. If it's tight I'm not convinced of a front row of O'Sullivan, McBurney and Kane taking us home especilly as Dragons have Brok Harris to spring from the bench.

Carter given the captains armband despite not being in great form, concern is the lack of leadership, Madigan a better choice? I do back Carter to come good, not sure the added pressure of captaincy is right just now.

No Rea brothers which I assume is rotation? Bringing Reidy and Murphy in doesn't weaken us just interesting, good use of squad.

Lyttle at fullback when we've two recognised fullbacks on either wing?

With so many question marks I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. There are quite a few lads need to set down a marker.

[justinr73]

TOT has a calf injury.

Get the impression that there are doubts about Louis being able to cover the ground at 15 these days. Lyttle has played there before and could be fun to watch if he gets some space.

[Dharper]

Faddes & LL will be gone end of season. There needs to be a degree of succession planning here. Addisons injury record is worrying. Young Lowry had question marks around him, while Stockdale May be in Ire duty, and not always available. Having a couple of options is fine, personally I like an out and out stand out FB option for UR. Lyttle has the skills, & hopefully physically matured now getting over his injury period.
I see no Alby involved in the 23. I hope it is injury related because he should be involved whenever fit.....otherwise it’s a criminal waste of a player.

[fermain]

Good possession and a couple of cross field kicks in the first 3 mins and for Ulster but nothing comes from it.

[fermain]

Marcel scores on 4 mins 22 seconds!!!!

[fermain]

Great rugby being played

[fermain]

Cooney gets the conversion.

Ulster 7 0 Dragons

[solidarity]

Great 7 point start.

[MightyRearranger]

Looking good so far. Madigan over cooked a crossfield kick a couple of minutes in but it was on. One thing that's really stood out for me in the last few weeks is the amount of offloads we're starting to find. Maybe the long break in interfering with my memory, but it seems to be an area of our game that is rapidly improving.