ULSTER HAVE WELCOMED Ireland international Cormac Izuchukwu back from injury ahead of this weekend’s URC clash with Leinster in Dublin.
25-year-old lock/blindside Izuchukwu hasn’t played since 15 February due to the ankle injury he sustained playing for Ulster against Benetton, meaning he also missed out on further involvement with the Ireland squad during the Six Nations.
However, Izuchukwu is now back from his injury and Ulster say he is available for selection against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.
There was similarly good news on experienced South African wing Werner Kok, who is fit again having been absent with a hamstring injury in January.
Dynamic centre Jude Postlethwaite is also available after recovering from an injury that has kept him out of action since the start of March.
The return of Postlethwaite comes at a good time, given that Ulster have confirmed that centre James Hume will miss the Leinster game due to a back injury he suffered against Bordeaux in the Champions Cup two weekends ago.
Right wing Rob Baloucoune remains sidelined with the hamstring injury he sustained on his return to action three weekends ago after 11 months out of the game due to hamstring issues.
Ulster skipper Iain Henderson is another key player still on the injury list due to a hamstring injury.
Out-half Jake Flannery [knee], wing/fullback Ethan McIlroy [knee], centre Ben Carson [neck], wing/centre Ben Moxham [knee], loosehead prop Eric O’Sullivan [knee], and back row Sean Reffell [calf] also remain sidelined.
I’m going to go conservative this week and predict Leinster to win by 70
@Dave Moran: Leinster c team
@Dave Moran: you know how to wind things up you ol goat.
SUFTUM
Ah I can’t believe Baloucoune has another hamstring injury, that’s incredible bad luck. Hopefully he is back asap and plays himself into contention to tour in the summer.
@Carmine Lorenzo: not sure that the Ireland camp can afford injury-prone players in the squad and other wingers are emerging this season. RB clearly has pace, but at what cost?
@John Morris: it’s hard to know if he even has pace anymore. Constant hamstring problems will rob you of part of your top end pace.
Poor old Rob, who is out of contract at the end of the season (or no extension has been announced anyway). Dunno if lengthy flights around Europe would be a great idea this summer, even if he is ‘fit’ by then. He should take the restorative waters of Portrush or something. Reffell has now been out for six months with a calf injury which is a bit odd. Flannery is another who can’t stay fit. Must be pretty depressing for them. Good to see Werner, Izzy and Jude back though. 11-1 available on Ulster with PP. Definitely generous if they can recreate the spirit of Bordeaux (and don’t concede in the first five minutes for once).
Any word on how serious Balacounes injury is
@Niall Burke: do u think he’s faster than Tommy o brien
According to the Ai assemblage, Robert Baloucoune ‘has the slight edge in the speed metrics’.. (tho it insists both player demonstrate exceptional speed).
@Thesaltyurchin: Agree, think Baloucoune is what we really need, out and out pace. One thing we are lacking, speed on the width
Hopefully both sides put their best teams possible out, could be a really good game if they do.
@J P Ke: it could be another massacre by Leinster if that happened, what would be the value to anyone of that?? Is yours a serious suggestion or are you trolling/fishing??
Why is his celebration devil horns
@Dominic Gallagher: Big Robert Johnson fan.