Key Ulster players to miss must win match against Connacht
During the past week or so in the Magners League, only Munster have confirmed their spot for the play offs.
This leaves four teams to have a go at the remaining three semi finals spot and most of them the coming weekend games will certainly decide a few. Ulster – Connacht encounter at Belfast on Friday April 22, 2011 would be more than a game between the provincial
rivals. Connacht is out of the race of the semi-final berth of the Magners League whoever a win for Ulster will give them a chance to make to the final four. Both teams are facing the injuries problem that might affect the game’s result.
Ulster lost their second spot in the league during their last week encounter against the Leinster. Alongside conceding the game, Ulster has injured some of their key players for the Friday’s crunch encounter against the Connacht. Connacht with seven wins
in the season so far is at the ninth spot on the Magners League table.
Both teams have already played with each other during the early phases of the Magners League. Both teams played a drawn at Galway on September 25, 2010 early in the season. Both teams managed to score five tries each as most of the scoring was done by their
respective Fly Half’s in 15-15 draw. Ulster of course took the different route than Connacht with winning 13 as compare to Connacht’s seven win out the 20 games both teams played.
Both teams match preparations suffered a blow due to injury problems; that propelled their coaches to announce the replacements for the Friday’s encounter.
Jerry Cronin will make the full debut for Ulster at tight head to replace BJ Botha. Botha suffered medial ligament injury that has ruled him out for the rest of the season. Ulster will be without the services of Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble as they both
sustained injuries to their thumb in their game against Leinster.
In their absence, Ulster will be relying heavily on the Stephen Ferris to help Ulster make the play offs. Darren Cave makes a place in the starting line-up after his impressive performance in earlier games. Cave will join the Nevin Spence to form the Centre’s
pair. Ulster is also boosted with the return of Johann Muller at Lock and Simon Danielli at left wing.
For Connacht Loose head, Brett Wilkinson returns to the front row to Join Sean Cronin and Jamie Hagan. Michael Swift returns after recovering from the hand injury. Swift will take the field after two weeks absence.
Swift will be duly accompanied by former Junior All Black Bernie Upton as Mike McCarthy is moved to blindside flanker position. John Muldoon will return to the starting XV at the number eight for the first time after recovering from the broken arm.
Ulster would like to carry on with their second half performance against the Leinster, where they were able to score 14 points and conceded only seven a much better performance as compare to their first half performance.
However, with some new faces in the line-up, Connacht has the ability to deny Ulster a win that would definitely end their Magners League play offs.
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