Ulster skipper Best calls for ‘big performance’ against Exiles

IT’S OLD for the new as Ulster coach Mark McCall recalls experienced former international prop Justin Fitzpatrick for the recently-capped Ireland loose-head Bryan Young in the only change for the Heineken Cup clash with London Irish tonight at Ravenhill.

Fitzpatrick, who spent a number of seasons with the Exiles in the 90s, came on as a second-half substitute at the Madejski Stadium last Saturday. and showed a bit of grunt for Ulster in the disappointing reverse.

McCall, however, has concerns about wing Tommy Bowe who faces a late fitness test on hamstring injury. If he is ruled out his place on the right wing will be taken by Mark Bartholomeusz, another to make an impression when he came.

Meanwhile, London Irish backs Topsy Ojo and last week’s man-of-the-match Mike Catt face late fitness tests with Michael Horak and Gonzalo Tiesi standing by.

It’s a game which many believe is virtually a dead rubber. Both teams have suffered two defeats each in Pool 5 so far. But skipper Simon Best says Ulster are not quite dead in the water.

“Mathematically there is still a chance we can qualify. All the teams could conceivably end up with two defeats each, so there is still plenty to play for,” said Best, who was one of the players who admitted he had a stinker in last week’s 29-13 defeat.

“I know I had not performed as well as I could, and to make it harder I had come back into a side which had been doing really well.

“But there were no fingers being pointed. That is not what this team is about and it certainly will never be under my captaincy.

“What happened last week was not anyone in particular’s fault.

“But we will be getting back on the horse tonight and will try to put in a big performance that can leave us in the competition come the final two pool games in January.”

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, P Steinmetz, P Wallace, A Trimble; D Humphreys, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best, S Best (capt), J Harrison, M McCullough, N Best, K Dawson, R Wilson.

Replacements: P Shields, B Young, T Barker, N McMillan, K Campbell, K Maggs, S Young.

LONDON IRISH: D Armitage; T Ojo, S Mapusua, M Catt (capt), J Bishop; S Geraghty, P Hodgson; N Hatley, D Coetzee, T Lea’aetoa, N Kennedy, R Casey, K Roche, S Armitage, J Leguizamon.

Replacements: M Collins, D Paice, F Rautenbach, J Hudson, D Murphy, G Tiesi, B Everitt.

Referee: Christophe Berdos (France).