Faloon going all out to impress

Ulster flanker Willie Faloon has a two-fold goal ahead of today’s RaboDirect Pro 12 derby clash against Connacht at the Sportsground.

The 25-year-old is leaving Ulster to head out west at the end of the season and he wants to impress his new employers with a five-star performance. Faloon, who is one of 12 changes from last week’s epic victory over Munster, also wants his native province to keep their hopes alive on two fronts.

“There is a great difference in the team for today and last week,” he said. “But it will be up to us to follow on from that brilliant result. We have to attempt to maintain that high and keep the focus going for the next few weeks. Obviously it was disappointing not to get on against Munster because everybody wanted to play. But we can do that today and hopefully push Ulster into the Top Four.”

Twelve of Ulster’s heavy-hitting Heineken Cup winning side against Munster are rested with only out-half Ian Humphreys, fullback Stefan Terblanche and prop Tom Court retained as Ulster go in search of a top-four place.

Connacht will see this as a perfect opportunity to capture a rare Ulster scalp — they have not so since 2005 although last year they forced a 15-15 draw. However coach Eric Elwood is not underestimating the task.

“We know anyone wearing an Ulster jersey will have huge incentives, so we just have to concentrate on ourselves and what we can do.”

CONNACHT: G Duffy, T O’Halloran, F Vainikolo, K Tonetti, H Fa’afili, F Vainikolo, M Nikora, F Murphy, B Wilkinson E Reynecke, R Loughney, M Swift, M McCarthy, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, R Ofisa.

Replacements: A Flavin, D Buckley, R Ah You, M Kearney, J O’Connor, P O’Donohoe, M Jarvis, E Griffin.

ULSTER: S Terblanche; I Whitten, N Spence, P Jackson, A D’Arcy; I Humphreys, P Marshal; P McAllister,N Brady (capt), T Court, L Stevenson, N McComb, M McComish, W Faloon, R Diack.

Replacements: A Kyriacou, C Black, A Macklin, I Henderson, A Birch, R Pienaar, C Gilroy, M Allen.