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

Forgot about McKilop. He only played for the schools and clubs u18 team I believe, but plenty of players make the jump every year. Looked the same size as Joe Hopes, who's in our academy as a second row, the last time I saw him play.

Kenny will be competing against McFarlane from Ulster, then McLaughlin (Leinster) and O'Connor (Munster) who are both highly rated. Seen them both play as well and they're definitely great players. There's a few other winger/fullbacks I've seen watching the Munster and Leinster senior cups that he'll have to beat out.

Very impressed with him in the semi though, Methody couldn't deal with him. Strong in contact, nice feet, calm on the ball and makes the right pass at just the right time. McFarlane had a lot more hype (possibly deserved) but he's been very impressive in his cup run this year.

Watching RTE earlier they were saying that a lot of this years U20s are actually U19 and will be back next year and that next year Ireland U20s will be even better than this year's team largely because of Leinster.

I see we've 6 players in the U19 squad, McFarlane and McKillop (mentioned above being two of them) although the three lads that played in the Schools Cup Final aren't amongst them which could be because they were playing in that match.

In regards to this year's U20s is there any chance James McNabney could get a run before the end of the season for Ulster? Even 20 minutes of the bench. I suppose the problem is every game is a cup final now so it is unlikely. Hopefully he isn't another Azur Allison/Lorcan Dow etc etc.

Ulster team to face Vodacom Bulls, Round 16 BKT United Rugby Championship, Saturday 25 March at Kingspan Stadium (KO 7 35pm), live on BBC NI, RTÉ, Viaplay and URC.tv

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, Nathan Doak;

(1-8) Andy Warwick, Tom Stewart, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Kieran Treadwell, Sam Carter, David McCann, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen (Captain).

Replacements: John Andrew, Eric O’Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Alan O’Connor, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, John Cooney, Jude Postlethwaite.

The Bulls:

15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Stedman Gans.

That's a good Ulster side. Hopefully we can get the job done.

That's a good Ulster team. Very exciting backline.

Obviously tomorrow is a massive game in its own right, but fast forward to next week and considering tomorrow's team what are we expecting team wise in Dublin?

15 Lowry

14 Baloucoune

13 Hume

12 McCloskey

11 Stockdale

10 Burns

9 Doak or Cooney?

8 Vermuelen

7 Timoney

6 McCann or Rea or Murphy or Sheridan?

5 Treadwell or Carter?

4 O'Connor or Carter?

3 Toomaga Allen or O'Toole

2 Herring or Stewart

1 Is Sutherland injured? He surely has to start if available

The backline picks itself except 9. The recent evidence points to Doak starting

The pack is a bit up in the air. If McCann performs well against the Bulls then I'd be inching towards him at 6. O'Connor and Treadwell in the row for me. 50/50 call at TH and Herring to start at hooker.

Lovely try. I really hope at some time very soon we see Balacoune perform for Ireland like he does for Ulster.

Tbf that's an utterly magic try from the Bulls.

This is a good game.

Ulster are def struggling with Bulla power game though. Their men are just running over tackles.

Oh what I would give to be a neutral.

Took a lot of patience not to break away there. Had a defender looking right at him as well.

Doesn't have the sheer athleticism that Kelleher and Sheehan have but (injury permitting) is has a Herring-like career ahead of him.

And a scumbag. Could do serious damage to the spine or kidneys with that filth.

Comprehensive. Never in Doubt.

In your opinion! This guy is a future Ulster captain and he will slug it out with Sheehan in the medium term. Kelleher will retire age 27.