Ulster Team Talk Thread IV... Go On My Henderson...

Because there are two teams from the URC left in the Heineken Cup that could advance to a semi final that weekend.

Also, some of those sides with nothing to play for are playing off postponed matches over the next 2 weekends.

Good win! Delighted to see a response from Ulster. They will need to grab the bull by the horns v Sharks. They can win and there should be no excuse.

It's like a knock out match for them. A win secures a home qf. They should be fully prepped and rarin to go!

Cardiff have quite a few big names joining next season do they not?

Though I agree, merging of Welsh teams would have helped. Scottish teams have a few good signings as well. Feels like we don't and the rest are catching up.

The signing season isn't over yet. Maybe Ulster can get another couple of signings. The squad is good and deep, they have performed well, imo. The glaring weakness is at out half. After Burns.... they are weak. Flannery could be a nice pick up! They certainly need to be looking for more depth. But, most sides do.

Paddy playing very well at London Irish so they would be reluctant to let him go. He is very consistent and IMHO better all round than Billy Burns.

I'm not sure it matters what London Irish think. In terms of former Ulster out-halves, a return for Jack Kyle is more likely than for Paddy Jackson.

Does anyone know why D McCann hasn't been in senior match day squad? Was he injured?

I see he's playing for A's

UAFC mentioned he's been told to focus on his carrying.

He seems to be pretty good. Had hoped Sexton might have been more noteworthy.

McFarland is anything but conservative. He's shown consistently over his tenure, that he'll select who he thinks is best regardless of age. Doak, McIlroy and Moxham all got regular game time and started European games straight out of 20s when he could easily have stuck with older, more experienced guys. So if McCann isn't playing he obviously has a reason for it. Did he not also give Lowry his debut in a H Cup match when he was just 20?

van der Flier is a 7, carrying isn't his primary role. Ball carrying is literally the main job of a number 8. If McCann's carrying is weak, that's something he needs to improve if he's to ever make it.

I still would have expected McCann to have got a few minutes here and there. I think actually the emergence of Marcus Rea this season is probably a bigger factor in his lack of minutes than the arrival of Vermuelen.

Rea has been outstanding and to be honest has as much right to be part of the conversation for the NZ tour as some other young back rows being mentioned in dispatches.

Actually I'd say Rea has been the breakthrough player of the season....actually that's not true, Doak has been, but we saw that coming a mile off, not so much with Rea.

That's the one. Serious, if overdue, breakthrough for him

Massive match upcoming! I fancy Ulster and think they'll be ready to go. A home qf would be ideal.

Problem is TH - with O'Toole banned, we're looking at Milasinovich and Kane.

No issue with Moore coming in for McCloskey if needs be. Presumably it means Hendo is ready to rock. When did he last play for Ulster without going off injured?

Apparently O'Toole has served his ban and is available, Hendo might still be injured.

I had forgotten all about him, but would be delighted to see Marshall slot into 12 - I seem to recall him going well before with Hume. Much more likely to get a nice grubber through with Luke than Big Stu.