URC: Ulster v Connacht, Kingspan Stadium, Friday, 7.35 (Live on TG4 & Premier Sports)
The first of the festive interpros and both sides involved are about to harvest some very significant information about themselves.
For Ulster, it will be a case of whether they can follow up last weekend’s forceful, and much required, taking down of Racing 92 with a similarly ruthless performance against an opposition which has caused them considerable hurt in recent times.
For Connacht, the trip to Belfast has that must-win look about it after their heavy defeat at Saracens represented a fourth straight defeat, on an even split between the URC and Champions Cup. The 41-5 home spanking handed out by Bordeaux three matches into this current run was particularly damaging.
All this and the positions in the URC table currently occupied by the two provinces, Ulster seventh and Connacht a place below, will only have added to the edginess and desparation to gain sustenance from what is expected to be a wet and stormy Kingspan Stadium.
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has shaken things up somewhat following the 55-36 loss at Saracens, his headline selection being Mack Hansen’s return from a foot injury which sees the Ireland winger starting at fullback in the only change to the backthree.
But where Wilkins will be looking for access to the game is through the scrum via his entirely new front row – Denis Buckley and Finlay Bealham will fancy their chances up against Andy Warwick at loosehead and Marty Moore at tighthead. Likewise the changes made to the backrow where aside from the retained Cian Prendergast, Sean O’Brien starts at eight and Shamus Hurley-Langton returns to the scene where he caused so much breakdown destruction in last May’s URC quarter-final when Connacht registered a memorable victory.
Get that nudge on up front, whether at scrum, lineout or breakdown, and Connacht will hope that Caolin Blade and Jack Carty, with undoubtedly some impact from Bundee Aki, will be enough to steer them towards embracing another positive outcome from Belfast. An end to their miserable run would see them achieve the double over the northern province this season.
Ulster are also putting out a new starting front row – Steven Kitshoff and Tom O’Toole rotated to what looks a decent enough bench, though the westerners’ look robust here too – with Tom Stewart in for the injured Rob Herring.
Dan McFarland will be banking on Kieran Treadwell and Sean Reffell both bringing energy to the pack, the latter noted for his defensive displays but only playing his first game after nearly a year out with injury.
Iain Henderson’s presence will, once again, likely be significant, the Ulster skipper identified during the week as having come up with several of their successful tap and go penalty moves against Racing. John Cooney’s link up with outhalf Jake Flannery – handed only his fourth start this term with Billy Burns injured – will have to bring the home team some propulsion.
As ever, Cooney is good mileage for these occasions, particularly regarding his friendship and rivalry with former Connacht teammate Carty.
“This game means more to us because of what they did to us in that quarter-final last year, I think it was the most disappointing loss I’ve ever had especially for Ulster,” says the 33-year-old.
“It actually bugged me for three months over the summer to the point where I couldn’t wait to get back.
“Playing against them is always a niggly game, they like to come after me, they like to talk to me and call me all sorts of stuff, Bundee in particular, but I really enjoy these games and look forward to it.
“Jack Carty would be one of my closest friends. The WhatsApp group gets quieter during the week, [but] in the past we have tried to wind each other up.
“I remember sending him videos of me trying to charge him down and other times ‘I’m coming for you Jacko’, now after the last couple of losses I should go back to that,” Cooney adds.
“There are also times when I remember he kicked the ball dead here and I ran 40 metres to give him a slap on the head and say, ‘Don’t worry about it, next ball.’
“You remember the personal relationships no matter how competitive you want to be, he is still my mate at the end of the day.
“It is an interesting dynamic between being friends and also trying to win.”
Connacht’s need certainly looks greater, but Ulster have a score to settle after May’s knockout loss and last month’s meeting when McFarland’s side let a hefty lead slip in Galway for what was the northern province’s first loss this season.
Ulster: M Lowry; R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; J Flannery, J Cooney; A Warwick, T Stewart, M Moore; K Treadwell, I Henderson (capt); Matty Rea, S Reffell, N Timoney.
Replacements: J Andrew, S Kitshoff, T O’Toole, A O’Connor, D Ewers, N Doak, J Postlethwaite, W Addison.
Connacht: M Hansen; S Bolton, T Farrell, B Aki, B Ralston; J Carty (capt), C Blade; D Buckley, T McElroy, F Bealham; D Murray, J Joyce; C Prendergast, S Hurley-Langton, S O’Brien.
Replacements: D Heffernan, P Dooley, J Aungier, G Thornbury, C Oliver, M McDonald, JJ Hanrahan, S Jennings.
Referee: E Cross (IRFU)
Prediction: Ulster to win.
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