Best returns to duty for Ulster
Scotland’s man-of-the match against Italy, Simon Danielli, has also been released by coach Frank Hadden while Fijian flyer Timoci Nagusa is named in the 26-man squad after being sidelined for over six weeks with a hamstring injury. Prop Tom Court, who was also released from international duties, is also likely to be in the starting line-up.
Coach Matt Williams was deeply disappointed at the defeat in Newport two weeks ago and is hopeful of addressing the errors made in that game. An ever-improving Glasgow are sitting four points above Ulster in sixth place and victory will be seen as crucial for Williams’ side.
“I was very unhappy with our last performance,” said Williams. “We cannot talk our way out of it, or make excuses for how we played,” he said. “I have told the players that the only thing we can do, is act our way out of it on Saturday. We need a top-class performance against Glasgow, and nothing but 100% will do.
“Our focus is to take back the points we lost against Dragons, and show what we are really capable of. This will be a week of solid match preparation. The players all know that they have to stand-up and perform come Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Johnny O’Connor has been included in the Connacht squad for the first time since December as they take on Cardiff Blues at the Sportsground tomorrow (6.30pm).
But the 29-year old is likely to start on the bench having been out of action since Connacht’s European Challenge Cup win over Italian side Rovigo in early December with a calf injury. The former Irish international played half an A game against Ulster last week and came through without any difficulty as he battles back to full fitness.
“It is great to have a player of Johnny’s experience back in the squad, especially as we have a few injuries to deal with,” said coach Michael Bradley.
Back-rowers Colm Rigney and Mike McCarthy look set for lengthy spells on the sideline, while centre Niva Ta’auso is also out with a hamstring injury picked up away to the Ospreys on Sunday week.
Cardiff Blues will be without eight international players for the trip to Galway. Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Bradley Davies, Gethin Jenkins and John Yapp will all remain in the Wales Six Nations squad, with only Robin Sowden Taylor returning for Blues duty. The Blues won 58-0 the last time these two clashed.
ULSTER squad (v Glasgow): J Fitzpatrick, N Brady, T Court , BJ Botha, B Young, E O’Donoghue, M McCullough, K Dawson, C Del Fava, C Henry, D Pollock, R Best, R Caldwell; S Daneilli, D Cave , A Trimble, C Willis, N O’Connor, C Schifcofske, I Whitten, I Boss, T Anderson, I Humphreys, M McCrea, B Cunningham, T Nagusa.
CONNACHT squad (v Cardiff Blues) : L Bibo, A Browne, F Carr, S Cronin, M Deane, G Duffy, A Dunne, A Farley, D Gannon, I Keatley, R Loughney, K Matthews, R Morris, C Muldoon, J Muldoon, F Murphy, T Nathan, J O’Connor, R Ofisa, C O’Loughlin, M Swift, B Wilkinson.
CARDIFF BLUES team: B Blair; R Mustoe, J Robinson, C Sweeney, T James; N Robinson, J Spice; R Gill, T Rhys Thomas, G Powell; D Jones, S Morgan; M Molitika, X Rush, R Sowden-Taylor.
Replacements: T Filise, G Williams, J Down, B White, R Rees, D Flannigan, C Czekaj.
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