SQUAD NEWS: Ulster coach Matt Williams has made a number of changes in personnel with a view to blooding some of the younger members of the squad for the province's final Heineken Cup game away to Stade Francais on Saturday.
As a result, the Australian’s 24-man squad shows a number of changes to the side that defeated Harlequins 21-10 in last weekend’s Pool 4 game in horrendous conditions at Ravenhill.
It means returns to the squad for the likes of Stuart Philpot, Declan Fitzpatrick, Niall O’Connor and Rob Dewey.
“It was a hard one. There are a lot of guys in the squad who are putting their hands up week after week, and saying they are ready and want to be given a chance,” said Williams.
“Take Chris Henry, he has been asking me for his chance to start and against Quins he got it, and played tremendously. Players like Ian Whitten and Willie Faloon are saying to me they want to have a go.
“They have really fought hard for their chance to start, and Saturday’s match may just be that chance. We will look at things over the next few training days and then make our final a decision.”
BJ Botha, who missed the Harlequins match due to illness, is fit again and named in the squad.
Timoci Nagusa; Carlo Del Fava; Robbie Diack; Cillian Willis and TJ Anderson are all injured, while Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Ian Humphreys, Justin Fitzpatrick, Stephen Ferris and captain Rory Best have all been rested.
Although neither team can reach the quarter-final stages, there is still plenty of incentive due to the new points system introduced by ERC that will determine the seeding for next season’s tournament.
There is further incentive for Ulster to sign off their European campaign with a win, something they have never done on French soil in the Heineken Cup.
Williams will name his match day 22 on Friday at noon, while Saturday’s kick-off at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris is 1.35pm Irish time.
Ulster squad (v Stade Francais):
Forwards: Bryan Young; Stuart Philpott; Declan Fitzpatrick; Nigel Brady; Tom Court; Brendon Botha; Ed O'Donoghue; Matt McCullough; Kieron Dawson; David Pollock; Chris Henry; Willie Faloon; Ryan Caldwell
Backs: Clinton Schifcofske; Bryn Cunningham; Niall O'Connor; Andrew Trimble; Ian Whitten; Paul Marshall; Isaac Boss; Paul Steinmetz; Rob Dewey; Mark McCrea; Simon Danielli
