Ulster boss Dan McFarland opts for strong starting line-up on Benetton trip in bid to turn things around
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland is leading the province through a tough string of games. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Ordinarily, this could have been an occasion when Dan McFarland might have tried his hand at some significant rotation after two interpros and ahead of the return to Europe. But these are jittery times at Ravenhill and such a strategy is now just too high-risk.
The Ulster coach now finds himself having to chase this one down with near as much as can be thrown at it.
Europe? Well, after two defeats next weekend’s date in La Rochelle is perhaps now being viewed as one where some of the longer-serving hands can rest up ahead of the home tie with Sale and return to the URC when the Stormers come to Ravenhill to conclude this, so far, unpleasant 10-game block.
As such, McFarland has inked in the same backline which took the field on New Year’s Day, bar the return of Michael Lowry at full-back.
Up front, Marty Moore’s injury and likely long-term absence along with Tom O’Toole still missing in action has meant that McFarland has had to go for Jeff Toomaga-Allen – this is his first start and third Ulster game – as his tighthead with the returning Andy Warwick having to switch across to act as bench cover.
The front-row is the one area McFarland has entirely altered as Eric O’Sullivan and Rob Herring also start.
Benetton will sense this as an opportunity to profit from Ulster’s vulnerability. But if McFarland’s side survive some difficult moments, then they can halt the slide. If not, it looks like a crisis.
Verdict: Ulster
BENETTON – R Smith; E Padovani, I Brex, T Menoncello, O Ratave; T Albornoz, A Garbisi; F Zani, G Nicotera, S Ferrari; N Cannone, F Ruzza; S Negri, M Lamaro (capt), L Cannone. Reps: S Maile, C Traore, T Pasquali, R Favretto, G Pettinelli, S Hidalgo-Clyne, J Umaga, M Zanon. ULSTER – M Lowry; R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; B Burns, J Cooney; E O’Sullivan, R Herring, J Toomaga-Allen; K Treadwell, I Henderson (capt); G Jones, S Reffell, N Timoney. Reps: T Stewart, R Sutherland, A Warwick, A O’Connor, D Vermeulen, N Doak, S Moore, E McIlroy. REF – Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Benetton v Ulster
Live, Premier Sports, 1.0
