The final time
United Rugby Championship (04/02/22) Ravenhill, Ulster 32 Connacht 12
Scorers, Ulster: G Jones, M Moore, R Baloucoune (2) tries; N Doak 2 pens, 3 cons.
Connacht: O McNulty, A Wootton tries; C Fitzgerald 1 con.
The sport changers
Ulster: Nathan Doak, scrum-half
Whereas Ulster’s pack has been impacted closely by worldwide absentees and the damage sustained by Andrew Warwick in pre-season, Dan McFarland’s back-line choice is a show of admirable depth.
Even with out John Cooney accessible, Doak might be entrusted to get these outdoors him match and firing ought to the forwards present him with adequate high quality of ball.
Connacht: Kieran Marmion, scrum-half
Doak’s reverse quantity on the night will likely be Kieran Marmion. Within the absence of skipper and typical half-back companion Jack Carty who's carrying an damage into the season, the skilled quantity 9 will likely be anticipated to shoulder the load.
He had run-out within the pre-season win over Sale in Dubarry Park final month when he was once more paired with tonight’s ten Conor Fitzgerald.
Speaking ways
Ulster have spoken all through the summer season of the must be extra incisive in assault this season, a want backed up by the statistics. The northern province made the second most carries within the league final season (2369) however did not make gainline success extra repeatedly than every other aspect (1019).
Of their sole pre-season outing, such makes an attempt concerned midfield runners choosing out brief, sharp traces, and the strong-running midfield of Luke Marshall and Stuart McCloskey can be well-suited to such a game-plan.
Connacht have had success towards Ulster in current seasons, profitable 40% of video games between the perimeters over the previous 5 campaigns, with loads of the difficulty they’ve induced former coach Dan McFarland’s aspect all the way down to an excellent line-speed.
Caught offside greater than every other crew within the URC final season, the westerners stay on the sting of their type. Once they get it proper, they'll put opposing half-backs below actual strain.
Man within the center
Eoghan Cross (Eire)
A former member of the Munster sub-Academy, Limerick native Eoghan Cross will likely be making his second URC outing with the whistle.
He made his debut within the competitors final Could within the remaining spherical fixture between Benetton and Cardiff. He’ll be assisted by Chris Busby and Andrew Cole with Leo Colgan the TMO in an all-Irish officiating crew.
The decision
Regardless of Connacht having ended their lengthy barren run in Belfast stretching all the best way again to 1960 with two wins right here since 2018, Ulster’s dwelling from stays sturdy.
Certainly, their defeat to Munster on the finish of final season was their solely dwelling reverse within the URC final season.
Within the pleasant confines of BT6, Dan McFarland’s males will come into the competition understanding something lower than victory will likely be thought-about a stumbling from the blocks.
Even with Ulster lacking seven of their presumed first-choice match-day forwards, it is a Connacht aspect equally with out some severe belongings because the likes of Bundee Aki, Cian Prendergast, Jack Carty, Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham are all absent.
The battle up entrance will likely be key as, with such a gifted back-line on present, Ulster will really feel that parity within the trenches will likely be sufficient to assert a momentum-generating win to start out the brand new marketing campaign.
Prediction: Ulster 28 Connacht 16.