Ulster sweating on Billy Burns and John Cooney

Ulster are still awaiting definitive news on the prospect of travelling to Leicester’s Welford Road tomorrow afternoon without their key half-back partnership of Billy Burns and John Cooney. Ulster are chasing a place in the Heineken Champions Cup knock-out stages and the loss of the pair could be devastating.

Needing a victory to at least ensure they squeeze into the last eight as one of three best runners-up, the frantic work of senior physioherapist Chris McNicholl in the medical room could prove vital. Cooney was a late withdrawal last week after failing a fitness test on a back spasm, while Burns picked up a leg injury midway through the first half of that 26-22 win over Racing in Belfast last week.