News: Ireland wing Andrew Trimble will miss Ulster's Celtic League game against the Dragons on Saturday at Ravenhill having failed to recover from a badly bruised knee, an injury sustained during Ireland's Triple Crown victory over England at Twickenham. It means coach Mark McCall has named an unchanged team from that which defeated Munster in their last outing.
Johnny Bell retains his place in the centre with Kevin Maggs on the bench. Isaac Boss has recovered from the ankle injury that denied him a first Ireland A cap last weekend. He missed the famous 33-18 victory over their England counterparts in the A international at Gloucester. The New Zealander had been named to start in that match but had to cry off.
Meanwhile, McCall yesterday confirmed the signing of utility back, Australian Mark Bartholomeusz, who has agreed a two-year contract. The 28-year-old former ACT Brumbies player, who was capped once by the Wallabies, joins from English club Saracens. Bartholomeusz has an Irish passport.
Ireland A prop Bryan Young has signed a three-year contract while Maggs has agreed a one-year deal with the province. Ulster had already completed the signing of secondrow Tim Barker for next season, the lock rejoining from Glasgow Warriors. Development players Ryan Caldwell and John Andress have signed full contracts for next season.
The Celtic League table toppers face a Dragons side who have not played for five weeks and languish second last in the table, albeit with games in hand. Coach Paul Turner admitted: "Last time out we gave what I thought was our best performance of the season, there was a real hunger about us, and a determination to win. I expect us to show the same on Saturday as Ravenhill is an intimidating place to play."
The Dragons have named a 24-man squad with Wales internationals Hal Luscombe, a try scorer against France, and Ceri Sweeney included. Michael Owen and Ian Gough will sit out the game following their Six Nations duties with Wales. Up front Chris Anthony is included after recovering from a shoulder operation, as has Luke Charteris who suffered a similar injury. Rhys Oakley and Gareth Baber, fresh from their experiences in Australia with the Wales sevens Commonwealth team, are also named in the 24-man party.
Connacht have delayed announcing a team until this morning for tomorrow night's game against the Border Reivers. Prop Stephen Knoop and winger Conor McPhillips have come through fitness tests but there is a doubt about centre Keith Matthews. Knoop has recovered from an ankle injury that has sidelined him for a couple of months while McPhillips is fit again following a groin injury. Matthews damaged his quad muscle in the Leinster game last time out, a match in which John Hearty broke his jaw.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, J Bell, P Steinmetz, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best; J Harrison, M McCullough; N Best, S Ferris, R Wilson. Replacements: N Brady, J Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, K Campbell, A Larkin, K Maggs.
CONNACHT SQUAD: R Hogan, A Clarke, S Knoop, M Diffley, J Fogarty, J Merrigan, C Short, A Farley, D Gannon, M Swift, M Lacey, C Rigney, J Muldoon, C Keane, T Tierney, C O'Loughlin, D Slemen, P Warwick, M McHugh, A Mailei, K Matthews, G Williams, D Yapp, C McPhillips, M Mostyn.
DRAGONS SQUAD: A Thomas, G Chapman, R Fussell, N Brew, H Luscombe, C Sweeney, J Bryant, C Warlow, G Baber, J Ireland, A Black, D Maddocks, S Jones, A Brown, R Thomas, C Anthony, L Charteris, B Griffiths, P Sidoli, A Hall, J Ringer, J Forster (capt), R Oakley, S Van Rensburg.
