Rugby News:Munster are still waiting news on the injury to David Wallace's arm before they meet Llanelli in the second leg of their Heineken European Cup Pool Five match on Sunday at Thomond Park.
Coach Declan Kidney will announce his team tomrrow to meet the Welsh side but has drafted in former Leinster player Niall Ronan as cover for the international flanker. Kidney will select from the 22 who travelled to Stradey Park last week along with Ronan, Freddy Pucheirello and Barry Murphy in the backline.
Ulster coach Steve Williams has also named an extended squad to take on the Ospreys at Ravenhill tomorrow night for the return leg of their European Pool Two match. His side are seeking anything that will stop the leaking confidence as much as they are looking to reverse a 48-17 rout.
Perhaps understating Ulster's difficulties, the caretaker coach said: "We need to look at making a few changes and injecting fresh legs into the team."
More than that most people would think as Ulster are at the bottom of the pool after three games and have just one losing bonus point, while Ospreys are hoping to qualify for the knockout stages. In an unlikely if theoretical possibility, Ulster must win their next five matches to have any hopes of moving to the next phase.
Matt McCullough, if selected, will win his 100th cap for the province and at 26 years old would be one of the youngest players to have reached that landmark, where he would join an elite club which includes Gary Longwell, David Humphreys, Andy Ward and Simon Best. Despite being dogged by injury last season, McCullough managed to make 18 appearances for Ulster.
In Connacht, coach Michael Bradley is still luxuriating on the success of last weekend, where his side defeated the star-studded Newcastle at the Sportsground. But Bradley is, perhaps with their poor performance against Ulster a few weeks ago still smarting, not getting carried away and wants his side to build on their 16-13 victory.
"In a way it is only half-time in our battle with Newcastle and it is only half-time in the pool itself," he said. "The win was very good but all it has done is bring us back into line in the pool. There is a lot still to be done," he said.
Connacht are still in third position in Pool Three with Newcastle leading with 10 points, so there is a lot at stake as they travel over to Kingston Park for the return fixture.
ULSTER SQUAD- Backs: M Bartholomeusz; S Danielli, B Cunningham, M McCrea, T Bowe, A Trimble, R Dewey, P Steinmetz, N O'Connor, P Wallace, I Boss, K Campbell. Forwards: J Fitzpatrick; B Young, D Fitzpatrick, T Court, M Miles, R Best, N Brady, J Harrison, R Caldwell, C Del Fava, M McCullough, N Best, K Dawson, D Pollock.
