Injury to Boss sours win for Ulster

ULSTER’S Ireland scrum-half Isaac Boss could be sidelined for a minimum of four weeks after sustaining a shoulder injury in the opening minutes of the province’s Magners League victory over Glasgow on Saturday night.

Boss took a big hit in the fourth minute and landed heavily on his shoulder and was immediately replaced by Kieran Campbell, who helped the visitors to a 19-8 win.

Boss now looks set to miss next week’s Heineken Cup game against Llanelli at Ravenhill and the final clash away to Toulouse.

Ulster coach Mark McCall said the player will undergo a full MRI scan later today to reveal the full extent of the problem.

“His shoulder hit the ground quite heavily,” said McCall. “It could be his A/C joint but we will know more after a trip to the hospital.

“He is a tough player but he knew straight away he was in trouble, and wanted to come off immediately,” added McCall who was pleased with his side’s win at Hughenden.

“It was important for us to win away from home again,” said McCall. “But also to do it in the manner we did was hugely satisfying.

“Glasgow haven’t lost a game here in a long time and this is a good victory for us. We are disappointed that we didn’t get the bonus try in the end but there were some encouraging signs that we’re back to our best.

“We were under pressure at times but we weathered those periods of pressure and you are going to get that in every game, particularly away from home.

“But we also played some fine rugby. We put together some fine passing movements and scored a couple of wonderful tries and could have scored a couple more.

“We stayed clear-headed and got at their line-out and put them under pressure and we didn’t have much problem coping with their set pieces.

“At times we actually put ourselves under pressure but our own line-out delivered, and when we got on the front foot we looked very dangerous.

“When we play our game and impose ourselves on teams and get in behind them we have some athletes who can really cause some damage.”

Man-of-the-match Paddy Wallace was at the heart of two of Ulster’s three tries with Tommy Bowe and Rory Best touching down from open play, and flanker Neil Best driving over from a line-out, with Wallace converting two. It keeps Ulster at the top of the Magners League, but Leinster cut their lead to two points after their bonus-point win over the Ospreys.

GLASGOW: Gregor, Lamont, O’Hare, Henderson, Evans, Parks, Beveridge, Va’a, Thomson, Murray, Turner, Kellock, Wilson, Barclay, Beattie.

Replacements: Barrow for Parks (72), Pinder for Beveridge (40), Milligan for Thomson (55), Tckachuk for Murray (56), Newman for Turner (57), Swindall for Wilson (57), Eddie for Beattie (51).

ULSTER: Bartholomeusz, Bowe, Trimble, Maggs, McKenzie., Wallace, Boss, B. Young, R. Best, S. Best, Harrison, McCullough, N. Best, Dawson, Wilson.

Replacements: Steinmetz for Maggs (52), Campbell for Boss (5), J. Fitzpatrick for B. Young (65), Shields for R. Best (78), Barker for Harrison (65), McMillan for Dawson (73).

Referee: J Jones (RFU).