Isaac Boss is tipped to be selected at scrumhalf ahead of Kieran Campbell on the Ulster team to play Leinster in the Celtic League match in Ravenhill on St Stephen's Day (5pm). The Kiwi has impressed recently, particularly when he came on for Campbell in the Heineken European Cup matches against Saracens
One man who will be watching developments closely is Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan. If Ulster coach Mark McCall selects Boss it would give O'Sullivan the chance to see the Irish-qualified player against top opposition for an entire match. But to do so would mean dropping the Irish understudy to Peter Stringer - Campbell.
Boss has started only one match for Ulster since his arrival from Waikato at the end of September, but had to depart with a calf injury in the first half. Typically, though, he has all the hallmarks of a New Zealand-coached player, a game with no apparent weaknesses.
Neither Leinster coach Michael Cheika nor Munster's Declan Kidney have made a decision on Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell for their upcoming matches. Irish captain O'Driscoll has been included in an extended Leinster panel for the Ulster game but he will not make a decision on him until today.
Similarly, the Irish secondrow O'Connell, who has been out of the game for several months, took full part in a Munster training session yesterday but he will not make a decision until the weekend on whether he wishes to play against Connacht on Tuesday.
"His hand is fixed but at the end of the day it will be his shout," said a Munster official.
Munster, Ulster and Leinster will get their international players back today after a week in Lanzarote with the national squad.
"I think Ulster have had a pretty good campaign," said Cheika. "In Europe they got a difficult pool. But they have that uncanny knack of always being in the game. Like I've said before, I think they are a very well coached side. They've got a good orchestrator in (David) Humphreys. There is a lot of respect for their game and the way they play. It's different to ours but it is very effective."
But McCall's situation is even less clear than the other provinces. His two first-choice secondrows Justin Harrison and Mat McCullough go before a European Cup disciplinary hearing this afternoon in Glasgow. They are not scheduled to be heard until 3pm and 4pm respectively. But there are three other hearings on before the Ulster players, the most serious of which is that of Gavin Henson, the Welsh centre.
One of the allegations hanging over Henson is that he kicked Leicester's Alejandro Moreno. What is not in dispute is that Moreno left the match with a broken nose.
Saracen's prop Kevin Yates and Ospreys' Ian Evans will also appear in front of the three-man independent disciplinary committee, chaired by Prof Lorne D Crerar.
Prop Yates is no stranger to controversy, having been banned for six months for biting off part of an opponent's ear when he played for Bath a few years ago.
Ireland Under-21 coach Mark McDermott has announced a 25-man squad for a game against Leinster A at Stradbrook next Friday (2pm). Included among the backs is former Ireland Schools centre Tom Gleeson and promising young St Mary's College outhalf Jonathan Sexton, who played at this level last season, as did former CBC Cork scrumhalf Duncan Williams. There is no place for UCD's Cillian Willis, who is injured.
Up front is 19-year-old Greystones number eight Seán O'Brien, the 6ft 10ins secondrow Devin Toner and Billy Holland.
McDermott will confirm the team and replacements next Wednesday for the first match in what is a decent build-up to the Under-21 Six Nations Championship. The Under-21 World Cup takes place in France next summer.
IRELAND UNDER-21: Backs: Fionn Carr (Blackrock College ); Darren Cave ( Belfast Harlequins); Conan Doyle (Garryowen); Tom Gleeson (Cork Con); Kieran Hallett (Bedford Blues); Ian Hanly (UL Bohemians); Paul Marshall (Ballynahinch); Evan Ryan (UCC); Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College); Duncan Williams (UCC) Matt Williams (Bristol Shoguns/Hartpury College). Forwards: Callum Black (Worcester Warriors/Hartpury College); Paul Doran Jones (Dublin University); Batt Duggan (UCC); Michael Essex (UCC); Billy Holland (UCC); Darragh Hurley (UCC); David McGowan (Buccaneers); Sean O'Brien (UCD); Gavin O'Meara (Lansdowne); David Ryan (Highfield); Devon Toner (Lansdowne); Dan Touhy (Gloucester/Hartpury College); Ejike Uzoigwe (Hartpury College ); Ross Noonan (UCC).
Not considered due to injury: Cillian Willis (UCD); Stuart Philpott (Belfast Harlequins).
