ULSTER HEAD COACH Dan McFarland has given a debut to Ireland Sevens star Robert Baloucoune for tomorrow’s Pro14 Conference B meeting with the Dragons in Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 19.55, eir Sport).
The Enniskillen man will start on the right wing for Ulster, while Henry Speight has recovered from a knee issue to take up the opposite flank.
Fresh from inclusion in Joe Schmidt’s November squad, Will Addison and Stuart McCloskey fill the midfield berths.
With front-line scrum-half John Cooney not involved due to injury again, Dave Shanahan partners Johnny McPhillips at half-back.
Rory Best captains a formidable pack with Iain Henderson, Jordi Murphy Marcell Coetzee all involved.
Ulster:
15. Michael Lowry
14. Robert Baloucoune
13. Will Addison
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Henry Speight
10. Johnny McPhillips
9. Dave Shanahan
1. Eric O’Sullivan
2. Rory Best (Captain)
3. Marty Moore
4. Iain Henderson
5. Kieran Treadwell
6. Sean Reidy
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Marcell Coetzee
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Andy Warwick
18. Tom O’Toole
19. Alan O’Connor
20. Greg Jones
21. Jonny Stewart
22. Angus Kernohan
23. Craig Gilroy
Dragons
15. Jordan Williams
14. Daf Howells
13. Adam Warren
12. Jarryd Sage
11. Will Talbot-Davies
10. Jason Tovey
9. Rhodri Williams
1. Brok Harris
2. Richard Hibbard (Captain)
3. Lloyd Fairbrother
4. Matthew Screech
5. Lewis Evans
6 Huw Taylor
7. Nic Cudd
8. Harrison Keddie
Replacements:
16. Rhys Lawrence
17. Aaron Jarvis
18. Ryan Bevington
19. Joe Davies
20. Taine Basham
21. Tavis Knoyle
22. Jack Dixon
23. Zane Kirchner
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Jesus it’s starting to turn into an exodus! Having said that with the state of Gaelic football in Ireland and the extremely limited playing time for F. A. reward for weaker counties it’s no surprise
@jl: around 8 players spread over 32 counties is hardly an exodus and let’s not forget most return
This is a killer for Derry, Conor Glass, Tohill and now Browne. These are the kind of players you build an Ulster championship winning side around. While I wish the lads all the best in life as a GAA fan I would be delighted to see the them decide AFL is not for them after a few years of being trained up and end up being a loss making venture for their AFL club.
Lads picking soccer, rugby, hockey or what ever is grand, they get trained as kids by coaches from those sports but there is something that doesn’t sit right about cash rich aussie clubs swiping a a player that GAA volunteer coaches have given years of coaching.
I know people may say I’m daft, but is it time to have these guys sign a simple contract. So when this does happen the AFL have to compensate the club/county?? Or do they already get compensation?
@Anthony Corcoran: excellent question
@Anthony Corcoran: Why would anyone sign a contract that has zero benefit to them? Clubs and counties should be proud of their players that manage to make a career out of sport.
@Anthony Corcoran: hahahaha the players have to sign a contract??? So it’s not enough they work all day, train 3 times a week, their diet is a 24/7 thing so let’s not forget that, match day to contend with, pay their own membership costs and when the player eventually plays gets their performance judged by every hasbeen there so thats not enough and thats just bloody club level….increase it ten fold for county level. So what are the benefits to the player if they sign this contract? Please explain.
@Patrick McHugh: maybe have is a bit strong, and I did say some people would think I’m daft. The benefits are purely for a small club county who has in vested time and energy for the AFL to come in when they are 18 to hand pick the best players, thus making county’s weaker. So yeah maybe not a contract but the GAA needs to do something. The AFL employ our former players to go around and do all the camps.