THERE’S ALWAYS a tendency to describe a team as new-look at the outset of another season but the description applies in spades, or perhaps that be soothers, to the callow Ulster line-up that kick-starts their Rabo Pro 12 campaign against Glasgow in Ravenhill.
True to his mantra about developing Ulster’s strength in depth, four of new coach Mark Anscombe’s starting line-up will be making their competitive debuts. Three of those are up front and are admittedly recruits, namely the veteran ex-Munster number eight Nick Williams along with South African hooker Rob Herring and Australian openside flanker Sean Doyle, both of whom are 22 and Irish qualified.
However, it’s the backline which has a radically youthful mix. The fourth debutant is 21-year-old scrumhalf Michael Heaney, signed on a short-term contract. The average age of the backline is 21, with last season’s young player of the year Craig Gilroy having started twice as many competitive matches (40) as the rest of his fellow backs (20) put together.
At 26 Jarred Payne is the daddy of the backline and having recovered from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered three games into his Ulster career, the talented Kiwi must seem like a new signing.
In addition to the recuperating Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe, and the absent Springbok Ruan Pienaar, five of Ulster’s summer tourists are unavailable, which means only four of their Heineken Cup final starting XV line-up are here. Tom Court, Declan Fitzpatrick, Paul Marshall and Darren Cave are all in line to make their seasonal reappearances, but Anscombe has opted to name them on an experienced bench and stick with the core of the squad that performed credibly in pre-season.
Up front, Lewis Stephenson is the only Ulster-born forward, although like Herring and Doyle, the American-born, English-reared loosehead Callum Black and the 26-year-old South African Robbie Diack are both Irish qualified, the latter at the start of this season through residency. If it wasn’t for the presence of the likes of Johann Muller and John Afoa, they’d be a virtual underage side.
For Glasgow, hooker Pat MacArthur (foot) and lock Tim Swinson (face) have joined Rory Lamont (leg) and Stuart Hogg (ankle) on the sidelines.
In contrast, new Warriors’ head coach Gregor Townsend has restored several of his Scottish front-liners in reverting to the core of a vastly more experienced side which lost only two of its final 10 games last season, as well as naming six more capped players on the bench.
“They have named a strong side as we expected and they will provide a formidable test,” said Anscombe. “They have brought a few internationals into the starting line-up and have another couple on the bench. We have a strong bench too but we will see how the game pans out.”
Ulster won the corresponding game last season 28-14 although with an altogether more established group of players. In what is an unpredictable looking game Glasgow must see this as a real chance for a rare win on Irish soil.
ULSTER: J Payne; M Allen, C Farrell, L Marshall, C Gilroy; P Jackson, M Heaney; C Black, R Herring, J Afoa; J Muller (capt), L Stevenson; R Diack, S Doyle, N Williams. Replacements: N Brady, T Court, D Fitzpatrick, N McComb, M McComish, P Marshall, N O’Connor, D Cave.
GLASGOW: P Murchie; T Seymour, A Dunbar, G Morrison, S Lamont; D Weir, H Pyrgos; G Reid, F Gillies, M Cusack; T Ryder, A Kellock (capt); R Harley, C Fusaro, R Wilson. Replacements: D Hall, M Low, R Grant, J Eddie, J Barclay, C Cusiter, R Jackson, P Horne.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR).
Last three seasons: (09-10) Ulster 13 Glasgow 25; Glasgow 25 Ulster 18; (10-11) Ulster 19 Glasgow 17; Glasgow 19 Ulster 22; (11-12) Ulster 28 Glasgow 14; Glasgow 17 Ulster 9.
Betting (Paddy Powers): 4/9 Ulster, 20/1 Draw, 9/5 Glasgow. (Handicap odds = Glasgow +5pts) 10/11 Ulster, 22/1 Draw, 10/11 Glasgow.
Forecast: Glasgow to win.
EDINBURGH v MUNSTER: Murrayfield, 8.0 tomorrow night
MUNSTER'S three close-season signings, Casey Laulala, James Downey and Sean Dougall are included in Rob Penney's first competitive selection for their league opener in Edinburgh tomorrow night. Downey is in his second spell with the province, while in addition to Laulala and Dougall, the only other uncapped player is the Clontarf and ex-Dolphin flanker Barry O'Mahony.
Donncha O'Callaghan starts ahead of Dave Foley on his seasonal reappearance after a delayed return to action following his summer exertions, while the only other changes from the starting team in the 34-10 defeat to London Irish in Cork last weekend see Luke O'Dea and Paddy Butler promoted as left wing and blindside flanker. Mike Sherry is in line for his seasonal re-appearance off the bench.
MUNSTER: D Hurley; D Howlett (capt), C Laulala, J Downey, L O'Dea; I Keatley, D Williams; W du Preez, D Varley, BJ Botha; D O'Callaghan, B Holland; P Butler, S Dougall, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, M Horan, S Archer, D Foley, B O'Mahony, P Stringer, S Deasy, I Dineen.
