Ulster Squad Set to Take on Dragons Announced.

The Ulster squad has been announced to face the Dragons on Sunday and it is by far the most interesting team that Ulster have fielded this season, for a few reasons. Let’s take a look at the line-up:

1. Andrew Warwick

2. John Andrew

3. Tom O’Toole

4. Kieran Treadwell

5. Sam Carter

6. David McCann

7. Marcus Rea

8. Nick Timoney (C)

9. Nathan Doak

10. Billy Burns

11. Ben Moxham

12. Stuart McCloskey

13. James Hume

14. Robert Baloucoune

15. Rob Lyttle

(Replacements: B Roberts, E O’Sullivan, M Moore, C Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, D Shanahan, I Madigan, S Moore.)

In the front row, there’s no great surprise. Andy Warwick has been doing the business recently no matter who joins him in the front row. John Andrew makes his return after getting injured during a great run of form, no doubt he’ll be back in usual form in no time. Finishing up the front three is the Ireland camp resident, Tom O’Toole. No doubt wanting to get him some gametime and with the experienced Marty Moore on the bench, this was an easy call for McFarland I would imagine.

In the second row we see a little bit of change. The ever-present Alan O’Connor disappears from the squad completely. We know this isn’t a form issue and I’m almost entirely sure Alan O’Connor has never heard of that thing called an injury, so if I’m honest I think he may have just booked the weekend off work and rightly so. O’Connor has almost undoubtedly been the most reliable and hardworking member of the squad, and with Treadwell back from camp, Carter going so well and Izuchukwu getting back from injury, it seems like a pretty good time to take a breather. Carter lines up alongside Treadwell in a big, abrasive second row. Expect some thumping carries from these two, especially if Treadwell can get a runup on an awkward angle, great chance of a try. Carter, who would be expected to take the captains armband sees it shipped to the back row.

Wrapping up the forwards, the back row looks to also be shaken up a little bit. Vermeulen and Jones, presumably joining their colleague Al in a little bit of time off, sees the two back rows completely removed from the team sheet. McCann, who had been finding great success in the number 8 shirt prior to Vermeulen’s arrival gets handed a chance at number 6, Marcus Rea who has been grasping his opportunity with both hands retains his place in the squad at number 7. One of the most interesting appointments in this 15, then, is Timoney getting another go in the number 8 shirt. Now, this isn’t anything new for Timoney but getting the responsibility as Captain certainly is. As far as I know, Timoney has never gotten a chance at captaincy, but it makes sense as another string to his bow. I have no doubt he has a long and successful future with Ulster and Ireland so it only makes sense to give him a chance to develop as a leader as well. McFarland sees something in him, leadership-wise, to give him a chance over Carter or Andrew who have done the job before and done it well.

At half back it’s no surprises at all. The 9/10 partnership has been running beautifully with Doak and Burns’ chemistry growing every week. Similarly in the centre, the return of Hume from Ireland camp sees Ulster’s centre certainty return. Although the centre has been a position I’ve had worries about in recent weeks, it has given me plenty of confidence that without the two mainstays, Ulster can still perform.

On the wings, Robert Baloucoune takes up his usual 14 shirt, providing pace and dynamism on demand with Moxham pairing him on the other side of the pitch. Whilst Moxham has been utilised in the centre the past couple of weeks, he’s equally comfortable on the fringes and is definitely one to watch in my books after getting a bit of consistency in selection.

Finishing up the back line, Rob Lyttle dons the number 15 shirt for the first time in quite a while. Lyttle has only played at fullback a few times for Ulster, having most of his minutes on the wing. With his pace and footwork, however, he’ll slot well into the Mike Lowry style of fullback. That leads us nicely to this week’s selection mystery: Mike Lowry. The fullback hasn’t played since featuring against Connacht two weeks ago when he finished out the match without injury. He also was released from the Ireland squad at last update so isn’t taking up duties there (from what we know). Whilst I feel confident Vermeulen, Jones and O’Connor are taking some time off, I’d be surprised if that was the case with Lowry, given how close he could be to featuring for Ireland in the Six Nations. Hopefully we’ll get an announcement that he’s been called up to the Ireland camp currently ongoing with his colleagues Henderson and Herring.