JACOB STOCKDALE, ROB Herring and Iain Henderson have all been handed starts for Ulster’s crucial Champions Cup meeting away to Harlequins on Sunday afternoon [KO 1.00pm].
Les Kiss’ side have taken just four points from their opening games in Pool 1 and are in need of a win following a 24 point defeat to La Rochelle at the end of October.
Henderson will captain the side wearing the number 6 shirt at a sold-out Stoop in the absence of Rory Best, who has been ruled out with a foot infection.
Nick Timoney and Sean Reidy complete the back row, with Alan O’Connor and Kieran Treadwell retained in the second row.
Kiss has chosen John Cooney and Christian Lealiifano at half-back, with Tommy Bowe partnering Stuart McCloskey in midfield.
Craig Gilroy, who scored a brace of tries last weekend at Rodney Parade, joins Stockdale and Charles Piutau in the back three, with Ballymena forwards John Andrew, Andy Warwick, Ross Kane and Matty Rea named on the bench, along with Chris Henry, Paul Marshall, Peter Nelson and Louis Ludik.
Ulster:
15. Charles Piutau
14. Craig Gilroy
13. Tommy Bowe
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Christian Lealiifano
9. John Cooney
1. Callum Black
2. Rob Herring
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Alan O’Connor
5. Kieran Treadwell
6. Iain Henderson (captain)
7. Sean Reidy
8. Nick Timoney.
Replacements:
16. John Andrew
17. Andrew Warwick
18. Ross Kane
19. Mattie Rea
20. Chris Henry
21. Paul Marshall
22. Peter Nelson
23. Louis Ludik.
Harlequins:
15. Mike Brown
14. Charlie Walker
13. Alofa Alofa
12. Jamie Roberts
11. Tim Visser
10. Marcus Smith
9. Danny Care
1. Joe Marler
2. Elia Elia
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. George Merrick
5. Charlie Matthews
6. Renaldo Bothma
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Mat Luamanu.
Replacements:
16. Dave Ward
17. Lewis Boyce
18. Phil Swainston
19. Dino Lamb
20. Archie White
21. Ian Prior
22. Winston Stanley
23. Ross Chisholm.
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Here we go again. Its clear that Henderson starts rusty and gets better as the games have gone on in the 6N, Lions and Autumn series. He has the potential to be just as important to Ireland as Murray, Sexton and Furlong, but he needs to stay in the 2nd row. Ulster have 2 back row players on the bench. They couldve kept the same 23, started henry and had AOC on the bench. This all seems so pointless. Even Ferris who was the last top class 6 in Ulster is saying its a mistake. He should know a little something about that team and that position afterall
@Rudiger McMonihan: Last chance saloon for Kiss & Co. I wonder?
All moaning aside though, Harlequins are a mid table team. They have 5 wins and 5 losses in the premiershio this year and were 11-11 last year. Ulster should be aiming for 2 wins off them.
@Rudiger McMonihan:
Henderson plays the same whether at six or in the second row, scrums aside.
My problem with this is that we’ve effectively chosen O’Connor/Treadwell ahead of Chris Henry. Not what I would have done.
@LM: There seems to be a direct policy now of abandoning the old guard at Ulster. We are watching the death throes of the careers of Henry, Trimble and Cave.
@Rudiger McMonihan: Incredibly frustrating to Henderson back at 6. As you point out, he takes a few games to settle at lock. Ireland payed the price for it against Scotland in the 6 Nations last year and Henderson arguably payed the price when missing out on a spot in the Lions 23 against New Zealand.
I sound like a broken record at this stage but this game will define their season. What worries me is the lack of experience in the pack. The front row is extremely light and missing Best’s experience. The second row has potential but is young and extremely raw in Treadwell’s case. Then you’ve got a backrow with three talented players but one of them has been playing lock (Henderson) and another is a talented athlete but very raw again (Timoney). Surely Henry’s experience is needed in the backrow considering the pack’s relative inexperience compounded by Best’s absence.
@LM: I agree. Who is going to contest the breakdown? No Rory Best and Chris Henry on the
bench?
@LM: Exactly. Henry in, Reidy to 8 and Hendy in the row.
@Rudiger McMonihan: yep dead on. Wonder how much if this is on henderson- talked a lot about wanting to move to 8 a few years ago. Even saying that, he’s a lock and needs to be in the row for ulster and Ireland.
@EK: Agreed. Ulsters lightweight front row would also be seriously helped by having henderson at lock as he is much heavier than the other two options. The scrum is a big weakness and it was the one area connacht dominated them in.
@LM: He is the same style of player in openplay, but the 2 positions are very different in terms of physical demand. Even if ulster switched him back and forth every 2nd game it wouldnt be as bad, but they seem to play him at 6 for months at a time, which is then followed by him looking out of shape for ireland as he tries to re-adjust himself.
@Christiaan Theron: couldn’t agree more, extremely worried about that back row and the breakdown.
@David Supple: I hope. Are Munster still looking good for a defence coach?
@Trevor Johnston: Yes Ulster have one spare at a give away price.Season of goodwill and all that.
@Ian Frizzell: and Bowe
And where has sick note South African (take 3) gone. He only started his first game a matter of days ago and he is now missing again.
Now missing two of our first choice front row forwards for European game
@Mark Smith: I’d say 3 at least, McCall SVDM and Best. Though for what it’s worth, McCall looks like a better option to me than SVDM has shown so far
@Mark Smith: he’s not very good anyway. May just be that the other 2 are better.
@Kingshu:
Well I think we have to give him time to settle in and by that I mean game time not treatment room time
Can’t believe we have 3 ringers signed to boost the pack all all 3 of them injured at the same time. Les Kiss must be thinking how many mirrors has he smashed in his lifetime .
Really bad luck with them and then add in Payne plus the situation with Olding and Jackson
@JarlathW: too early to tell I think and I am not too sure that I see McCall bullying his way around the park or scrum time either but he has age on his side and might improve
@Mark Smith: Bad Luck? Not likely been sold not one Pup but 3!