Best boost as skipper returns for Ulster

ULSTER have received a massive boost with the return of skipper Simon Best ahead of their Heineken Cup opener against French giants Toulouse at Ravenhill on Saturday.

Best had been sidelined since last May, when he broke his leg in the penultimate game of the season against the Scarlets which forced him to miss Ireland’s tour Down Under in the summer.

The international prop is joined on the comeback trail by winger Tommy Bowe, who was forced to miss the last two games due to a hamstring injury.

Kiwi centre Paul Steinmetz is included in the panel although he sat out last week’s victory over Cardiff as his shoulder was still not 100% ready.

Ulster coach Mark McCall said it is unlikely Best will join his brother Rory in the starting line-up, but if there is no reaction to the work he has done this week, he will almost certainly feature on the bench.

“We will know better in a few days,” said McCall, who will announce his side tomorrow. “There are still a few minor doubts over Simon, Paul, Tommy and Andrew Trimble, whose hamstring was very tight following the Cardiff game.

“However, as far as Simon is concerned, he has done everything he can do to get ready. He’s on schedule, and all the hard work he has done with our medical team has paid off. His rehab has been nothing short of superb.

“Part of that rehab is the introduction to the scrummaging aspect of his game, and he’s very confident at the moment. He has prepared as well as any other player in the squad.

“He has gone through numerous scrums both technically and on the machine, with the technical work probably the key aspect,” said McCall who is no doubt that Ulster can win this game in Belfast after Biarritz ended their six-year long sequence of home wins last season.

“It’s a step up, there’s no doubt about that. Every competition has raised the bar. The Magners League is a lot more competitive, and the Heineken Cup is no different.

“We’ve a tough start to our campaign, with Toulouse at home, and then two away dates with the Llanelli and London Irish. So that is a massive challenge.

“A lot of people are writing off Toulouse because they had a bad start to the season, But we have tapes of the last three games, and I can tell you, they are in rude health, and a very dangerous side if you let them play.

“We must take the game to them, and not sit back. We must keep them on the back foot. They have big names throughout their team, so they will be travelling with the usual air of confidence. But we fancy our chances and we expect to win the match.”

ULSTER: Backs: B Cunningham, A Maxwell, T Bowe, S Young, A Trimble, P Steinmetz, K Maggs, P Wallace, D Humphreys, I Boss, K Campbell.

Forwards: J Fitzpatrick, B Young, D Fitzpatrick, S Best, R Best, P Shields, J Harrison, M McCullough, T Barker, S Ferris, N Best, K Dawson, N McMillan, R Wilson.