Ulster need to produce something rather more convincing than the stressed closing minutes against Connacht as they clung on to end a damaging three-match losing run. via IrishTimesSport URC ULSvMUN
Michael SadlierUnited Rugby Championships: Ulster vs Munster, Sunday January 1st, Kingspan Stadium, 5.15pm kick-off, live on TG4Ulster need to produce something rather more convincing than the stressed closing minutes against Connacht as they clung on to end a damaging three-match losing run.The result at least eased the pressure on the northern province but the manner of the denouement at the Sportsground – Jack Carty missing a last-gasp conversion to tie the scores – was far from comforting.
The already formidable task has been made even more challenging by Dan McFarland’s selection with a raft of frontline players back in the side as the Ulster coach has opted for nine changes to his starting XV. John Cooney and Stuart McCloskey are also retained to give Ulster’s backline a much more balanced look of power and potency should they opt to play with width.
Skipper Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen and Gavin Coombes look to have a clear edge on an entirely untried, and pretty much unknown flanker combination of Greg Jones and Sean Reffell, the latter handed his first start of the season.