Preview: Ulster v Connacht

Magners League
Venue: Ravenhill, Belfast Date: Friday, 28 November Kick-off: 1930 GMT
Coverage: 

     Audio: Galway Bay FM, Live on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sport Website
                TV: Setanta Sports 2 from 19:00 GMT

Ulster go into the game in good form having run up a series of wins in their last few outings. Connacht will be desperate to stop the Ulstermen opening up a gap in the league table; a home victory could realistically put an end to Connacht's season before their latest signing Samoan; Niva Ta'auso is fit to pull on a Connacht jersey.

Keith Matthews makes a welcome start for Connacht for the first time since Connacht took on Glasgow in September, having overcome a calf injury. He'll be hoping to return to the form he displayed in the lead up to his injury. Matthews is joined at outside centre by Mel Deane with Fionn Carr and Troy Nathan lining out on the wings. Ian Keatley and Frank Murphy return to renew their half-back partnership while up front, while hooker Sean Cronin is joined in the front row by Brett Wilkinson and Robbie Morris.

Michael McCarthy and Andrew Farley team up once again in the second row while the loss of current skipper the ever feisty John Muldoon, sees Ray Ofisa, Johnny O'Connor and Colm Rigney start in the back row. Muldoon's is a big blow to Connacht supporters who would no doubt have loved to see their favourite go head to head with Ulster's young tyro Stephen Ferris another young blind side forward in a rich vein of form.

Tim Donnelly is named among the replacements for the first time this season having overcome a shoulder injury.

Meanwhile, Ulster coach Matt Williams named a very strong side to take on Connacht. The front row welcomes back Ulster captain Rory Best who will line up alongside Springbok BJ Botha and former Irish International Justin Fitzpatrick. The three-man power house will do their best to put pressure on the Connacht scrum from the starting whistle. Stephen Ferris also returns to the side and will be eager to continue his fine form after a strong International series with Ireland.

"We have to have a mentality that this is a must-win game," said Ferris. "Yes, there is a lot of rugby to be played in the league before the end of the season, but we want to be winning all our games.

"Connacht can be very physical and they have surprised a few teams this season, including Leinster, so we cannot assume that we are going to get things all our own way. "The breakdown will prove crucial and I think if it is anyway dry we must get quick ball up front and get our backs away. It is important we concentrate on ourselves and get the team gelling together as it did in the win against Munster."

Ferris is joined in the back row by recent Ulster captain David Pollock and new South African recruit Robbie Diack. The back row will be coming up against an experienced Connacht loose trio including former Irish International Jonny O'Connor.

In the backs, Irish international Paddy Wallace joins Darren Cave in the centre. Cave, who greatly impressed in the Portugal game will be hoping to replicate his try-scoring antics against Connacht. Fijian Flyer Timoci Nagusa is joined by former Ireland A speedster, Mark McCrea, who starts his first competitive game for his province this season. The half-back pairing of Ian Humphreys and Cillian Willis worked well against Munster in October and Humphreys is all too aware of the threat that Connacht present,

"Connacht are a very good team and they like to battle hard, so we are in no doubt that it is going to be a tough encounter," he said.

"There isn't much different in terms of points between the two sides so we really want a good result to build on our win against Munster."

Williams has also named a very strong bench with Kieron Dawson and Matt McCullough covering the back row and Tom Court and Nigel Brady named as front-row cover.

Form: Connacht won their most recent away game: 30-12 at Dax in the European Challenge Cup, but their only victory on the road in the Magners League since September 2006 remains the 13-11 win last season against the Dragons at Rodney Parade on 18 April 2008. Connacht's last victory over Ulster was 22-12 at Galway in the league on New Year's Eve 2005, whilst Connacht have not won in Belfast since a 6-3 victory on 16 November 1960 in the Irish Interprovincial Championship. After a poor start to the season Ulster have won their last two matches in the Magners League at home to Edinburgh and league leaders Munster. The Ulstermen have not won three successive games in the league since October-November 2006. Ulster have won their last three encounters against fellow Irish provinces.

ICRSC Prediction: After a dreadful first half at home against Edinburgh, Connacht must come out of the gate early to stand any hope of competing. A rejuvenated Ulster to teach Connacht how to make the most of home advantage.

Ref Watch: It's hard to feel positive about games like these when Irish officials apply the laws differently to Connacht than to any other Irish Province. Sadly Peter Fitzgibbon is the worst and most frequent offender whether in the middle or waving a flag.

Ulster: 15 Bryn Cunningham, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Mark McCrea, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Cillian Willis, 8 Robbie Diack, 7 David Pollock, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 4 Ed O'Donoghue, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Rory Best (c), 1 Justin Fitzpatrick.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Tom Court, 18 Matt McCullough, 19 Kieron Dawson, 20 Isaac Boss, 21 Paul Steinmetz, 22 Simon Danielli.

Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy (c), 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Mel Deane, 12 Keith Matthews, 11 Troy Nathan, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Frank Murphy, 8 Colm Rigney, 7 Jonny O'Connor, 6 Ray Ofisa, 5 Andrew Farley, 4 Michael McCarthy, 3 Robbie Morris, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Andrew Browne, 19 Michael Swift, 20 Kieran Campbell, 21 Tom Donnelly, 22 John Hearty.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Touch judges: Dudley Phillips (Ireland), Trevor Collins (Ireland)

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