Marshall keen to nail down number 9 shirt

ULSTER scrum-half Paul Marshall has been handed a two-year contract extension to his contract ahead of tonight’s Magners League derby finale against Connacht at Ravenhill (7.30pm).

Marshall will have a new half-back partner in Ian Humphreys as coach Brian McLaughlin makes two changes from the side that secured Heineken Cup rugby for Ulster next season in a five-try victory over Edinburgh two weeks ago.

The other change sees Chris Henry returning at blindside flanker for the injured Stephen Ferris, who had three plates inserted into a fractured cheekbone this week, following a clash of heads with Nevin Spence during training on Tuesday.

Henry missed the Edinburgh clash due to a family illness, although hooker Rory Best retains the captaincy after his heroics against Edinburgh.

Marshall, a product of the Ulster Academy, was not expected to be retained, but due to the imminent departure of Isaac Boss to Leinster and Cillian Willis’s broken leg, the 23-year-old grabbed the chance to stay on.

Despite Ulster searching far and wide for a new number nine, Marshall is determined to make his presence felt.

“Competition does not do anybody any harm, and I will fight for my place no matter who comes in,” said Marshall.

Academy star Jamie Smith is another who looks set to be handed a full-time contract after creating an impression since his elevation earlier this year. The 21-year-old full-back says he is keen to push on.

“Things have worked out for me after Bryn Cunningham and Clinton Schifcofske got injured,” he said.

“I was considering leaving and trying to get more opportunities elsewhere, but I didn’t really want to go. I was told to keep working hard and my chance will come, and that’s exactly what’s happened.

“It’s great now and I’m really enjoying it, but I still have to work very hard. Hopefully things will continue in the same mode when the new season comes around.

“In the meantime I want to help Ulster finish on a high, particularly in front of the home fans. We will be treating tonight’s game like any other, as if it is a European qualification game.”

That sentiment was echoed by head coach McLaughlin, who added: “We will be looking for a win first and foremost, that is the most important thing for us. We want to build on our performance against Edinburgh and achieve back to back wins to end the season on a high.

“We have all talked about our disappointment this season, mainly that after the Bath game, we didn’t kick-on and achieve what we are capable of. But, we did have a smashing performance last weekend and want a strong positive win at Ravenhill, on Friday, to end the season for both ourselves and our supporters.”

Connacht, meanwhile, will want to give Michael Bradley a rare Ravenhill victory for his send-off, after seven years in charge of the western province.

Bradley brings in Brian Tuohy on the right wing, while Ronan Loughney starts at loosehead, Bernie Upton returns in the second row and former Ulster number eight Michael McComish will operate at openside flanker.