Ulster v Connacht:BRAGGING RIGHTS are all there is at stake tonight and a send-off for Michael Bradley in his final game as head coach with Connacht. Bradley is making way for Eric Elwood to come in next season but the closing Magners League game of 2009-10 for both teams in Ravenhill has little else up for grabs since Connacht cannot catch the Ulster side and claim a Heineken Cup place for 2011.
Brian Tuohy comes in for the visitors on the right wing with Ronan Loughney starting at loosehead prop, Bernie Upton returning to the secondrow and Mike McComish starting at openside flanker in place of Johnny O’Connor.
Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has made only two changes to his Ulster side that critically beat Edinburgh last week to clinch the third European spot for next season.
In the pack Chris Henry replaces Stephen Ferris, who fractured a cheek bone, while Ian Humphreys starts the match at outhalf.
Of some interest will be the players who would hope to take in Ireland’s summer tour to Australia and New Zealand in June. It is unknown at this stage how Irish coach Declan Kidney will call it. If, as some people suggest, he leaves some of the experienced and injured players behind, there might be openings.
Tom Court and Rory Best in the Ulster frontrow, as well as backs Darren Cave and Andrew Trimble, might be Ulster hopefuls with top try-scorer Fionn Carr, kicker Ian Keatly and hooker Seán Cronin ambitious enough to strike out in Connacht.
“We have all talked about our disappointment this season,” said McLaughlin. “Mainly after that Bath game (Heineken Cup) we didn’t kick on and achieve what we are capable of. But we did have a smashing performance last weekend (against Edinburgh) and want a strong positive win at Ravenhill to end the season for ourselves and our supporters.
“Connacht are coming here full of confidence and it’s Michael’s last game so they will be chasing a win.”
ULSTER: J Smith, A Trimble, D Cave, I Whitten, S Danielli; I Humphreys, P Marshall; T Court, R Best (Capt), BJ Both, Ed ODonoghue, D Tuohy, C Henry, W Faloon, R Diack. Replacements: A Kyriacou, B Young, R Caldwell, TJ Anderson, I Boss, N OConnor, T Nagusa.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; B Tuohy, N Taauso, A Wynne, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; R Loughney, S Cronin, J Hagan; M McCarthy, B Upton; J Muldoon (capt), M McComish, G Naoupu. Replacements: A Flavin, R Morris, A Browne, J OConnor, C OLoughlin, M Nikora, T Nathan.
