Boss keen to end Ulster spell on a high

LEINSTER-BOUND Isaac Boss wants to end his season with Ulster on a high by helping them to the inaugural knock-out stages of the Magners League.

Even though his move to Dublin has not been officially announced yet, Boss is clearly passionate about finally achieving something in what will be his final season with Ulster.

“I’m very determined to help Ulster achieve their goal of the last four. We have had to adjust our goals throughout the season, but this one is achievable,” said Boss.

“We are still hurting a little from the Dragons game when we threw away victory and allowed them to draw level at the end. We are thoroughly determined to make up for that in Llanelli.

“But it will be tough. The Scarlets are very strong with a good squad for tonight’s game with some of their big names back in action.

“We are far from out of the running for a top four spot. It’s a case of focusing our minds on the job. Too often we let things slip, but now we have the opportunity to move up the table with most of the opposition in our last seven games also looking to make the play-offs.

“If we start with a big away win tonight, it will give us a big boost for the remainder of the campaign. Llanelli is a tough place to play, akin to Ravenhill where the home support means so much. But if are to progress we must win close away games, which we have done on occasions this season,” added Boss.

“It has been a good season with some excellent results and some good young players showing that they are proving their worth at the top level. But on saying that, we are still in mid-table and we didn’t qualify for the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup or the Amlin Cup.

“So at the end of the day, we have to start getting those important results starting with this weekend,” said 29-year-old Boss, who is naturally keen to re-ignite his Ireland career.

“That’s what everyone aspires to, and I’m no different. I have definitely not given up hope of playing for Ireland again. I have not been involved of late, so I will just have to play better to get noticed. I’ll not give up trying and hopefully things go sweetly this evening.”

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has made a big call in moving Dan Tuohy into the blindside flanker’s role in the absence of Ireland’s Stephen Ferris. This will be Tuohy’s first start for Ulster in the number six jersey after a five-star performance in that position during the Ireland Wolfhounds victory over Scotland A recently.

SCARLETS: D Newton; J Ajuwa, R King, J Davies, A Fenby; R Priestland, T Knoyle; I Thomas, K Owens, D Manu, L Reed, D Day, J Turnbull, R Pugh, D Lyons (capt).

Replacements: P John, M Rees, R McCusker, J Edwards, M Roberts, D Evans, G Maule.

ULSTER: J Smith; T Nagusa, D Cave, P Wallace, A Trimble; I Humphreys I Boss; T Court, N Brady, BJ Botha, E O’Donoghue, R Caldwell, D Tuohy, D Pollock, C Henry, capt.

Replacements: A Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick, TJ Anderson, R Diack, P Marshall, I Whitten, N O’Connor, S Danielli.