Ulster v Saracens Pre-Season

Pre-season friendlies are always a great way for coaches to get a feel for the team again, spot those on form and begin to remould the squad for the new season. Last week’s Ulster v Saracens game saw a majority of young players pull on the white shirt and try to put out a good account for themselves. In the full team selected there were far fewer of the familiar faces, mostly being made up of the young guns vying for a spot. Of these young players there are many very promising prospects such as Aaron Sexton and Ben Moxham, but of all these young players it seems Nathan Doak has caught a veteran’s eye. Doak made a strong case for himself in the U-20 Six Nations, stepping up as a leader and cultivating a few pieces of individual brilliance, and it seems this has translated to The Kingspan as Ian Madigan has claimed he believes “Doak can reach the very top”. Whilst it was a promising and determined performance, Ulster couldn’t bring home the win against one of Europe’s top teams.

However, tonight Ulster have a very different team put forward. The line-up is what we’ve come to expect from Dan McFarland’s well-oiled machine. The familiar halfback pairing of Cooney and Burns reunites, while Ulster’s ever exciting backline is made up of Gilroy, Balacoune and Lowry at the back. Expect fireworks when these three get ball in hand. The reliable and totemic figure, Alan O’Connor, takes the captaincy tonight who consistently leads well in the absence of Henderson. Ulster’s opponents will prove to be no walkovers as their team this week has been bolstered with Vunipola’s and has retained Obatoyinbo who proved to be tricky against the young side on Friday. I anticipate a gripping game of rugby.

Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie