News
Preview: Ulster v Edinburgh
October 02 2008
Ulster coach Matt Williams has made sweeping changes as his side prepare to welcome Edinburgh to Ravenhill for Friday's Magners League encounter.
There are eight personnel changes, as well as two positional, from the side that went down to the Ospreys last time out.
Tom Court, Ed O'Donoghue, Stephen Ferris and Paul Steinmetz are all promoted from the bench, while Rory Best and David Pollock both return from injury.
Darren Cave and Cillian Willis are given the nod ahead of Rob Dewey and Paul Marshall, who have both been dropped from the squad.
"The changes I have made are all based on performance, apart from Kieron Dawson," Williams explained.
"Kieron was exceptional last week and has been our best player lately, he is on the bench only because we are giving him a rest from the starting line-up this week.
"Edinburgh are a very good side, Andy Robinson is a world class coach and their defence has improved enormously under his direction. They had a great win over the Scarlets a few weeks ago and played some high quality rugby against the Dragons at the weekend. They know our form has been poor of late, and will be coming over here looking for a win."
Jim Thompson will make his first ever Magners League start for Edinburgh and jokes his father, horse racing presenter Derek, has already checked the odds on him to score the first try.
Full-back Chris Paterson was ruled out for the trip to Belfast with an ankle problem paving the way for Thompson - grandson of celebrated rugby commentator, Bill McLaren - to make his full debut for Edinburgh.
"I'm really looking forward to it. It is a shame that Mossy (Paterson) is out injured and I feel for him," Thompson said.
"But it has created an opportunity for me and I'm looking forward to starting for Edinburgh and playing as well as I can.
"I gave my Dad a wee text earlier on and he replied: 'Well done son!'
"Unfortunately he can't make it over to Belfast, but I'm sure he has already checked the odds on me scoring the first try!"
Form: Ulster's poor form continues, with a sixth straight defeat at the hands of Cardiff Blues last Friday. The Ulstermen's last victory was at home to Munster on 30 April. Ulster have lost their last four games against Scottish teams since a 16-10 victory over Edinburgh at Ravenhill on 11 May 2007. Edinburgh's only victory in the Magners League so far this season was 32-12 at home to the Scarlets on 19 September. Edinburgh have recorded just one win in their last nine visits to Ireland in all competitions: 20-14 in this equivalent fixture at Ravenhill last season. Edinburgh achieved a league double over Ulster for the first time last season.
Prediction: Ulster, with home field advantage, will fancy they can stop the rot against a weakened Edinburgh side. Ulster by 7.
The Teams:
Ulster: 15 Bryn Cunningham, 14 Clinton Schifcofske, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paul Steinmetz, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Niall O'Connor, 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 Tom Court.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Justin Fitzpatrick, 18 Carlo Del Fava, 19 Kieron Dawson/Matt McCullough, 20 Isaac Boss, 21 Ian Humphreys, 22 Timoci Nagusa.
Edinburgh: 15 Jim Thompson, 14 John Houston, 13 Hugo Southwell, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 Mark Robertson, 10 David Blair, 9 Mike Blair (c), 8 Scott Newlands, 7 Allister Hogg, 6 Matt Mustchin, 5 Ben Gissing, 4 Jim Hamilton, 3 Gavin Kerr, 2 Andrew Kelly, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Ross Ford, 17 Geoff Cross, 18 Craig Hamilton, 19 Chris Fusaro, 20 Greig Laidlaw, 21 Phil Godman, 22 Calum MacRae.
Date: Friday 3 September, 2008
Kick-off: 19:30 BST (18:30 GMT)
Venue: Ravenhill
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Touch judges: John Carvill (Ireland), Trevor Collins (Ireland)
Assessor: Brian Stirling (Ireland)
Television match official: Leo Colgan (Ireland)