The UAFC

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Sunday 23 August Kick-off: 16:30 BST

Yes it is on the telly...[well Premier Sports and TG4 ]

My Possible Team-

Moore
Herring
McGrath
AoC
Carter
Rea
Murphy
Coetzee
Cooney
Burns
McCloskey
Marshall
Lyttle
Stockdale
Ludik

Could start Lowry at 15 as second playmaker..

Bench might be interesting

McBurnley
O'Toole
O'Sullivan/Milasinovich
Treadwell
Timony [McCann?]
Mathewson
Lowry/Madigan
Hume/Gilroy/McIlroy

They'll probably stick to regulars without blooding any of the youngsters off the bench at this stage, Mathewson definitely there, the other back three replacements -who knows, Madigan's experience or Lowry's promise- and Lowry has been prominent in press recently, they both cover 10/15 maybe allowing Hume on the bench. Not sure on Gareth Milasinovich, our two young tyros have been excellent largely. Timony will probably get the nod, but McCann looks to be something special and is a big lad.There is also Rea Jr and Faddes in the mix for the side as well.
All that assuming that Carter and Rea are both fit and ready.
McFarland has suggested that if they can get the win on Sunday they might rotate/blood a few players against Leinster.

Connacht haven’t much to play for so I’m not expecting too much fight from them. Ulster will be keen to get the point needed in this first match. I’ll be very glad to see the men back on the pitch but the whole affair still feels so fragile.

If Embra get a result on Sat the result will be academic.

Think that should be pretty much the team Silverstu, the back 3 would be the only bit I would be uncertain on. Maybe Stockdale at FB but who knows!

I reckon Silverstu got it right for the Pack , half backs and centres plus Stockdale but the other two back three could be any two from Ludik, Lowry, Fades Gilroy Lyttle or McIlroy. As for the bench the ones named plus Stewart Moore could along with who ever doesn’t start from the back Three. Perhaps not quite the depth available to Leinster but we are starting to get there.
I don’t envy Dan and the coaches deciding who not to include. I think if we get 4 points on Sunday they will rest some players in anticipation of the Possible Toulouse game and to get other players game time. But part of me hopes that we go to the Aviva to take down Leinster on their home patch.

Team:

McGrath, Herring, Moore, AOC, Treadwell, Timoney, Nordi, Coetzee, Cooney, Burns, Ludik, McCloskey, Hume, Gilroy, Stockdale

O'Sullivan, McBurney, O'Toole, Carter, Matty Rea, Mathewson, Madigan, Lowry

Wasn't far off- Hume starting is a surprise, gives us a big midfield, Gilroy over Lyttle -he's excellent when in form so good to see him back. Rea and Carter on the bench probably due to them recently retuning after injury. Madigan and Lowry on the bench- looks like Lowry is covering 15. Thats a really good bench we've got actually and still leaves out a lot of talent. Looking forward to this- hope we get a bit of cohesion and get the win.

Edit: Connacht team-

15. John Porch
14. Peter Sullivan
13. Tom Farrell
12. Bundee Aki
11. Alex Wootton
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Gavin Thornbury
6. Eoghan Masterson
7. Jarrad Butler (c)
8. Paul Boyle

16. Jonny Murphy
17. Jordan Duggan
18. Jack Aungier
19. Niall Murray
20. Conor Oliver
21. Stephen Kerins
22. Conor Dean
23. Tom Daly

A few surprises but I was expecting to see Ludik on the wing.

Nice to see a teamsheet again!

Ulster 4/9
Connacht 11/5
+/- 7 on the handicap

Embra are 4/7 to beat Weegies at home which would suit us nicely

Interestingly we should have a good idea what we need to do Sunday as Glasgow and Munster will have already played. Of course we will be expecting/ hoping for a win.

8 Ulster born (if you include O'Toole which I guess I shouldn't), none in the starting forwards, still don't appear to be there with the Academy although obviously it takes time for people to come through the system.

justinr73 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 21, 2020 12:32 pm A few surprises but I was expecting to see Ludik on the wing.

Nice to see a teamsheet again!

?????????????

What’s so confusing?

Two warm up games for Ulster then.

Hopefully we can get to Edinburgh without shipping any more injuries.

justinr73 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 21, 2020 10:48 pm What’s so confusing?

I thought Ludik was on the wing?