Michael Lowry (concussion), Robert Baloucoune (concussion) and Aitzol Arenzana-King (knee) picked up injuries in Friday’s URC Round 1 defeat to Edinburgh and are unavailable this week.
No word on anyone returning from injury, as a reminder before the Ospays friendly the list was:
Stewart Moore (knee), Ethan McIlroy (knee), Scott Wilson (ankle), Sam Crean (foot), Keynan Knox (ankle), Iain Henderson (hip), Juarno Augustus (ankle), Charlie Irvine (knee), Jude Postlethwaite (knee), Callum Reid (foot), Bryn Ward (shoulder).
they also said the before the Edinburgh games that Augustus has returned to training ( and hume got a hamstring injury in training), so you would assume that he’s available now.
So it looks like Carson and Benson in the centre again, that leaves for the back 3 only Stockdale, Mullins, Zac and Flannery as options.
At this stage I would be happy with a losing bonus point and no injuries from this game and hope by the 10th we have a few more back from injury and more of our international back against Munster
My expectations remain low for this game. For me given the injuries Stockdale at 15, Ward and Mullins on the wings with Flannery on the bench to provide cover over the most positions. Benson and Carson up against Tuipolotu and McDowall sounds like a potentially very painful learning experience, but hope springs eternal. I think the Glasgow pack will also give us a better estimation of where our apparently dramatically improved front row stocks place us.
Ulster set to go strong for their trip to Glasgow on Saturday knowing they need a bounce back performance, if not result, after their loss to Edinburgh. Izuchukwu, Stewart, Stockdale and the Ward brothers all due to start at Scotstoun with Augustus and Doak on a 6/2 bench.
If true that’s a surprise! Maybe after that shock loss/performance Murphy feels like we have to bounce back, but with the of all of the away games, this isn’t the one I would be targeting for a win. I fear we will fall short in this game and then send out a weaker team at home against Munster next week and risk losing that one too.
Maybe the plan is to not take the Irish team guys to south africa, go strong the next 2 games and then bring the kids to SA, hope to get a 4 try bonus point or 2
1. Eric O’Sullivan (139)
2. Tom Stewart (C) (76)
3. Keynan Knox (1)
4. Cormac Izuchukwu (55)
5. Eli Snyman (1)
6. James McKillop (2)
7. David McCann (91)
8. Bryn Ward (20)
9. Matthew Devine (1)
10. Jack Murphy (36)
11. Zac Ward (31)
12. Jamie Benson (1)
13. Ethan McIlroy (78)
14. Chay Mullins
15. Jacob Stockdale (149)
Replacements:
16. Henry Walker (1)
17. Tom McAllister (6)
18. Eduardo Bello (1)
19. Ben Donnell (1)
20. James McNabney (21)
21. Nathan Doak (110)
22. Jake Flannery (42)
23. Juarno Augustus (17)
Yeah I read McKendry post as “Stewart” Mccloskey, not Tom “Stewart”, that was dumb of me.
Weird that never mentioned McIlroy was back in the Injury update, but surprised to see him at 13 (Carson injured?) i think he’s only played there twice, center is a big worry. Didn’t think we would see Bryn back so soon and interesting that Devine starts and Doak on the bench. Yeah, if we have some procession we might score some tries, but I worry it will be like last week and Glasgow will target the weakness in the center.
Much better performance than expected there. In particular the centres (with limited experience in the position) did very well against Tuipolotu and McDowall. Worrying amount of injuries piling up.
I wonder how they will select for the Zebre Challenge Cup game. In hindsight we put too much emphasis on that comp last year, at the knockout stages.
I agree much better performance, McIlroy was great a full back and the centres did a job. Thought it was all over when we got the double yellow ( was the first yellow a little harsh, thought he hits is shoulder/arm first), but they fought back. Yes disappointing not to get the win you are 2 men up for the last 10 mins, but maybe that was just inexperience, they need a bit more patience, stop trying to for it. I was surprised when Glasgow went to 13 men, 2 yellow came very quick after the first, I thought normally they give them another warning.
But if you offered 3 point before the game I would have taken it, and 5 points after the first 2 rounds is not the worst.
was its just Bryn that went off injured? I know Izzy was off for blood or HIA, but he came back on and think he got normally subbed later.
I think we are 2nd in the league on points scored, scrum held together just about ( I think other refs might have pinged us more) line out was good ( stole a few again this week). I thought we protected our rucks better this week, but stats says Glasgow got 13 turn overs, Edinburgh got 14 last week while we only got 3 both weeks.
Going into the game I would have gladly taken a draw and try bonus point, but watching the game on catch up, it feels like points dropped. Glasgow are a very good team, play some beautiful rugby, but I don’t think are at their best yet this season so somewhat harshly this was an opportunity lost. The lack of pre-season games is still showing. The performance at the ruck was better this week but still needs a lot of work. There is no way we should have given up multiple turnovers against 13 men. The scrum is much improved, but it is still probably only average and might get well beaten by most French outfits.
Trying to be more positive, the somewhat makeshift centre partnership went well and Benson looks like a good acquisition and Carson seems to be developing well. MacElroy was great apart from the (justified) yellow, and McCann was his usual excellent self. I don’t know who he upset to cause his exclusion from Ireland squads, but its great to have him all through the season.