URC: Scarlets v Ulster,
Parc y Scarlets,
Saturday, 3.05 — Live on Premier Sports
With Ulster coming off two URC wins to face one of the worst-performing teams in the league, there is understandable expectation that the province will take all that they need to reinforce their hopes of making the playoffs.
Nevertheless, there is precious little firm ground to make such assumptions as neither of their most recent victories, at home to Cardiff and Benetton, were in any true sense of the word convincing.
Richie Murphy, who is expected to be confirmed as the province’s permanent head coach next week, could do with a ruthless performance, Ulster not only scoring points but, crucially, not conceding them either as the games run out in advance of the shakedown for those making and missing the grapple to make the top eight’s final cut.
At least the province have some of their most experienced players to bring to bear against the side coached by Dwanye Peel and Jared Payne, both of whom were previously on the Ulster wage bill, with Rob Herring, Nick Timoney and Kieran Treadwell returning from various injuries to spearhead their plan to not only win but take five points.
With breakdown issues continuing, Murphy has also opted to give a fresh starting backrow combination a run out at Parc y Scarlets as Cormac Izuchukwu has been selected at blindside flanker, the 24-year-old London-born and Offaly-raised player who usually features at lock being handed this start alongside David McCann, who shifts from being number eight against Benetton to openside flanker, and the returning Timoney.
Murphy has also gone for a 6-2 bench split with just Nathan Doak and Stewart Moore covering the backline.
They really ought to harvest everything available to them, their hosts having only won three games all season — these victories all being in the league — and, as such, the pressure is on Ulster to demonstrate that they can cope with what must be done.
“Every game is now must-win with the league being so tight,” said Jacob Stockdale who scored one of Ulster’s five tries in the 38-34 win over Benetton and starts in a back three comprising Ethan McIlory on the other wing for Robert Baloucoune and Michael Lowry at 15.
“You can drop four or five places with a loss or go up a couple of places with a win, so we just need to keep putting points on the table and hopefully that’s enough come the end of the season.”
With the rumour mill suggesting that Murphy is about to be confirmed as Ulster’s permanent head coach, Stockdale reiterated the impact he has already had since Dan McFarland’s departure back in February.
“Richie’s been a real breath of fresh air and he’s been really good for the squad,” said Stockdale.
“He has been very well welcomed in the squad and that’s down to his good personality and from the rugby side of things, he’s got a good eye for detail, particularly in attack.
“There have been a few things he’s noticed that we were a bit sloppy on and it’s just about tidying them up over the next few weeks.”
SCARLETS: I Nicholas; T Lewis, J Williams, E James, R Conbeer; S Costelow, G Davies; K Mathias, R Elias (capt), H O’Connor; M Jones, J Price; T Plumtree, D Davis, C Tuipulotu.
Replacements: S Evans, W Jones, S Wainwright, J Taylor, B Williams, K Hardy, I Lloyd, S Williams
ULSTER: M Lowry; E McIlroy, W Addison, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; B Burns, J Cooney; E O’Sullivan, R Herring, S Wilson; K Treadwell, A O’Connor (capt); C Izuchukwu, D McCann, N Timoney
Replacements: T Stewart, A Warwick, J French, H Sheridan, R Crothers, N Doak, St Moore, D Ewers.
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR).
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