was planning to post the injury update, but no sign of it yet ( normally Tuesday at Noon) also expecting post about players leaving ulster (as its the last home game)/ final team for next year, but no sign of that yet. Make you wonder that maybe its still up in the air depending on europe qualification?
Also by this time of the week there are usually reports of the media briefing where Richie or one of the coaches and a player appear; nothing today.
Ulster Rugby have no fresh injury concerns arising out of last Friday’s URC Round 17 draw with Stormers.
Jacob Stockdale had successful surgery last week to repair a facial fracture.
Stuart McCloskey has a hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him for a number of weeks.
David McCann (knee) is also unfit for selection this week.
James Hume (neck) and Rob Herring (calf) have both re-integrated into team training and will have their fitness for selection monitored.
Bar McCloskey all good news
It would be really important to have Hume back this week if possible. McIlroy is fine in the centre going forward but as you’d expect looks a bit like a fish out of water in defence at 13. For example for the Evan Roos try he looked out of position and I thought he missed a tackle leading to one of the other Stormers tries. I don’t see anything to suggest Carson will be fit so this is a bad spot we’re in, considering how dangerous the Glasgow backs are.
When will Henderson have his disciplinary hearing?
Agree with @forestial , McIlroy did ok considering he was out of position, but you really want Jude and Hume in the centre for the next 2 games. @big-al its very late in the week for a hearing, normally is earlier in the week, surely must be tomorrow. But can’t see him getting less than 4 weeks ban let alone less than 2 weeks, his season is probably over unfortunately
URC had a hearing today (Jacob Umaga got a 4 week ban) but nothing posted about Hendy. We have to assume his season is over. It was a pretty bad foul albeit not intentional and they need to be quite severe about these things. Didn’t Tom O’Toole get six weeks for a similar offense a couple of years ago?
a bit more info about injuries
1. Sam Crean (18)
2. Rob Herring (269)
3. Tom O’Toole (140)
4. Harry Sheridan (60)
5. Charlie Irvine (13)
6. Joe Hopes (11)
7. Nick Timoney (C) (182)
8. Bryn Ward (18)
9. Conor McKee (21)
10. Jake Flannery (39)
11. Zac Ward (28)
12. Wilhelm De Klerk (2)
13. James Hume (117)
14. Werner Kok (33)
15. Michael Lowry (134)
Replacements:
16. Tom Stewart (74)
17. Angus Bell (15)
18. Scott Wilson (55)
19. Cormac Izuchukwu (53)
20. Lorcan McLoughlin (4)
21. Nathan Doak (108)
22. Jack Murphy (33)
23. Ethan McIlroy (76)
No Jude? Jake & Conor starts? Bell, Cormac, Jack, Doak all on the bench? this is a surprise, must be targeting challenge cup, a bit of a gamble. Maybe the idea is that if Glasgow pull way ahead in the first half, the bench can get us the 4 try bonus point and maybe even losing bonus point. If we are still in the game at half time the bench can get us over the line?
Its risky, Hoping cardiff lose with no points and we get a point…. ( can’t see Connacht not winning, and while one point brings up level in points against munster they have more wins).
Glasgow team:
1 Nathan McBeth (68)
2 Johnny Matthews (107)
3 Zander Fagerson (174)
4 Gregor Brown (47)
5 Alex Samuel (55)
6 Ally Miller (46)
7 Matt Fagerson (139)
8 Macenzzie Duncan (14)
9 George Horne (154)
10 Dan Lancaster (20)
11 Kyle Rowe (51)
12 Sione Tuipulotu (85)
13 Stafford McDowall (115)
14 Kyle Steyn (C) (107)
15 Josh McKay (79)
Replacements
16 Gregor Hiddleston (46)
17 Rory Sutherland (23)
18 Sam Talakai (41)
19 Jare Oguntibeju (22)
20 Euan Ferrie (56)
21 Sione Vailanu (42)
22 Ben Afshar (39)
23 Ollie Smith (64)
Unavailable for selection: Jamie Bhatti (knee), Ryan Burke (knee), Alex Craig (foot), Scott Cummings (calf), Rory Darge (ribs), Jamie Dobie (shoulder), Angus Fraser (back), Adam Hastings (suspension), Huw Jones (foot), Charlie Savala (knee), Grant Stewart (neck), Tavi Tuipulotu (knee), Max Williamson (knee).
Looks as strong as they could go, strong centre pairing, outhalf the clear weakness, we have a stronger bench.
i’m a bit more worried now
Henderson banned for 3 weeks/game ( 6 reduced to 3 becuase its his 2nd offence in 15 years), cruel for him, but can’t complain
Another cracker of a game, after last week and this games 2nd half, I don’t think my heart can take the final next week, all or nothing game (well we will find out tomorrow)!
Before the game and even at half time you offers 2 losing bonus points I would have taken its, but still if that last pass was picked up by Bryn there was a good chance he would have scored it.
There were a few decisions like the forward pass, Byrns 2nd head contact in a ruck and I thought that Mike got tackled in air in the middle of the pitch ( maybe he had a foot on the ground), but there were a few decisions that went our way too ( was Bryns pass for the try forward?), so probably about fair.
Lineout was shite in the first half, its cost us a good bit this season, need to get sorted.#
McIlroy gets a lot of criticism, but hes been playing great recently
Hopefully no injuries from this game for next week, we will have Jude and Augustus, maybe McCann, rumours of Baloucoune, if we play like we did in the 2nd half we have a good chance
Surprised Cardiff put Stormers away like that, not surprised by Connacht’s win. If Munster get any points tomorrow we finish 9th, if Munster win and lions get any losing points then Connacht drop to 8th and will lose their champions cup place if Ulster win the challenge cup…. unless they win the URC then the 7th place team (Lions) would lose their place. Would be nice going into the final not worrying about not getting champions for next season, but I don’t think I would go as far as saying I want Munster to lose out ( but won’t get too upset if they do)
Just finished watching. What a game, what a brave bunch of young fellas. Whatever happens next week we will be massively tougher mentally next year, after this experience.