WHILE MATT Williams hopes Ulster can finish their Heineken Cup campaign with a strong performance in order to gain a higher points tally and thus a higher ranking in next year’s competition, his squad selection for their final pool match against Stade Français at the Stade Jean Bouin sees him leave out six of his principal players.
Williams’ 24-man squad does not contain Darren Cave, who was yesterday promoted on to Declan Kidney’s extended Ireland Six Nations squad, or Paddy Wallace, Ian Humphreys, Rory Best, Justin Fitzpatrick and Stephen Ferris, all of whom are rested.
Williams has made a number of rotational changes from the 22-man squad that defeated Harlequins at Ravenhill last week with the aim of providing a number of younger Ulster players with further exposure at ERC level.
The rotation will also see a return to the squad for Stuart Philpot, Declan Fitzpatrick, Niall O’Connor and Scottish centre 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. Take Chris Henry, he has been asking me for his chance to start and against ’Quins he got it, and played tremendously,” said Williams. “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 make our decision.”
BJ Botha, who missed the Harlequins match due to sickness, has returned to full health, while Timoci Nagusa, Carlo Del Fava, Robbie Diack, Cillian Willis and TJ Anderson are unavailable due to injury. Williams, whose team cannot qualify for the knock-out stages, will name his match-day 22 at noon tomorrow.
Meanwhile home-grown Connacht captain John Muldoon has signed a contract extension for the next three years. As Connacht face French club Dax in the hope of reaching the European Challenge Cup quarter-final, Muldoon’s leadership qualities ensure he will remain with the province until the conclusion of the 2011-12 season. Muldoon made his debut for Connacht in 2004. “It is great that John has committed his future to Connacht. He has been a great player and leader over the past few seasons, having come up through the ranks,” said Connacht CEO Gerry Kelly.
Muldoon, who made his 100th appearance for the club at the start of the season against Ospreys, has played for Ireland at youths, Under-19, Under-21 and A level.
“I am delighted to extend my contract with Connacht. We have made a lot of progress in recent years and I want to help build on that,” said the 26-year old from Portumna.
“At this stage, though, all attention is on Friday’s game against Dax, where we will hopefully secure a place in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.”
ULSTER(v Stade Français): Forwards: B Young; S Philpott; D Fitzpatrick; N Brady; T Court; B Botha; E O'Donoghue; M McCullough; K Dawson; D Pollock; C Henry; W Faloon; R Caldwell. Backs: C Schifcofske; B Cunningham; N O'Connor; A Trimble; I Whitten; P Marshall; I Boss; P Steinmetz; R Dewey; M McCrea; S Danielli.
