Ireland's captain Dion O'Cuinneagain has failed to win a place in the Ulster team for tomorrow night's European Cup Pool C clash with Llanelli at Ravenhill. Coach Harry Williams has plumped for Eric Miller, Tony McWhirter and Andy Ward as his optimum back row unit for this match.
O'Cuinneagain returned to competitive action last weekend having dislocated his shoulder in Ulster's opening European Cup match against Bourgoin in France. He subsequently missed the province's disappointing defeat at home to Wasps a fortnight ago but underlined his fitness by playing for Ballymena against DLSP in the AIB All-Ireland League game at Eaton Park last Saturday.
He has taken a full part in training during the week, but Williams is loath to sacrifice any one of the Miller-McWhirter-Ward combination, given their excellent form.
"I think that Tony (McWhirter) and Eric (Miller) have been brilliant and felt that there was just no way that I could leave one or the other out. Dion has been very understanding. He is a mature young man with a good attitude."
Mark Edwards is preferred to Dungannon's Stephen Bell at scrum-half. Edwards played very well in the closing stages of the Bourgoin match, offering a fast, wrist-driven service. His selection suggests that Ulster will be looking to put the ball through hands to a greater extent than they did in their previous two games.
Williams agrees that a win for Ulster is the only acceptable outcome. "Obviously everyone wants to win every match, but we have reached a stage where nothing else but a victory will suffice. It's make or break time. Even if we win there is a considerable mountain to climb but one we would happily take on.
"Llanelli are a good team and winning will be difficult."
Williams could bemoan a lack of fortune that has dogged Ulster's exploits this season in terms of injuries and certain events in matches but he refuses to seek solace in fate's vagaries. "You just have to accept things as they happen. What is it they say, `successful teams make their own luck'.
"We have not performed to the levels of which we are capable. We have disappointed a few people, we have greatly disappointed ourselves. We want nothing less than a win. The players remain very positive and upbeat despite our present position."
Meanwhile, Leinster coach Mike Ruddock has given the walking wounded an additional 24 hours before deciding on the team to play Stade Francais in Paris on Sunday. Emmet Byrne, Liam Toland and Gordon D'Arcy continued to receive treatment for varying injury problems. The squad will undergo a training session this morning and the team will be chosen afterwards.
An extended Munster squad travel to Toulouse this morning for Saturday's game against Colomiers. The team was supposed to have been announced yesterday but ongoing concerns regarding the fitness of Killian Keane and the flu virus that has affected Alan Quinlan, Jeremy Staunton and Mike Mullins have scuppered previous intentions.
Coach Declan Kidney is expected to include Ken O'Connell in the travelling party, fitness permitting.
For once, injuries are not a big worry for Connacht as they prepare for Saturday's European Shield game against Toulon in the Sportsground. Nigel Carolan is the only absentee. Matt Mostyn moves to the right wing, Pat Duignan switches to the left and Mervyn Murphy partners Mel Deane in the centre. Corinthians wing Stephen McKenna is included in the replacements.
Colomiers prop Richard Nones was yesterday told he must serve his two-year ban for eye gouging in the European Cup match against Pontypridd following the failure of his appeal against the punishment.
Ulster: S Mason; J Topping, J Cunningham, J Bell, S Bromley; D Humphreys (capt), M Edwards; J Fitzpatrick, A Clarke, J Veitayaki, P Johns, M Blair, E Miller, T McWhirter, A Ward. Replacements: T Howe, N Malone, S Bell, D O'Cuinneagain, G Longwell, S Best, R Weir.
Connacht: S Allnutt; M Mostyn, M Deane, M Murphy, P Duignan; E Elwood (capt), S McIvor; J Screene, B Jackman, M Cahill, G Webster, M McConnell, J Charlie, U O'Callaghan, I Dillon. Replacements: J Ferris, C Kilroy, S McKenna, J McVeigh, J Maher, C Rigney, E Brennan.
