Ulster

Simon Mason

Position: Fullback.

Club: Ballymena.

Age: 25.

Height: 6 ft.

Weight: 13st.

Occupation: Professional player.

International caps: 3.

CHIDED in the past for defensive frailties but has been an unqualified success for Ulster this season. Phenomenal place-kicker who will have a central role if the northern province is to be successful. Match winner.

Sheldon Coulter

Position: Right wing.

Club: Ballymena.

Age: 21.

Height: 5 ft 8 ins.

Weight: 11st 8lbs.

Occupation: Professional player.

International caps: 0

LIGHT of stature but great of heart. A talented centre playing out of position, Coulter is a beautifully balanced top of the ground runner. The former under-21 international is an underestimated defender, capable of beating the tackler in possession.

Jan Cunningham

Position: Centre.

Club: Ballymena.

Age: 24.

Height: 6 ft.

Weight: 13st 12lbs.

Occupation: Professional player.

International caps: 0.

ANOTHER adopting an unfamiliar role but with great effect. Produced an excellent defensive performance against Stade Francais and will have to be equally vigilant. Great pace, could be a key player.

Jonathan Bell

Position: Centre.

Club: Dungannon.

Age: 24.

Height: 5 ft 11 ins.

Weight: 15st 5lbs.

Occupation: Professional player.

International caps: 24.

THE perfect foil for David Humphreys and a willing buttress. Good vision, strong defender and displaying a return to the type of form that threatens fulfilling his undoubted ability. Midfield axis will be crucial.

Andrew Park

Position: Left wing.

Club: Ballymena.

Age: 23.

Height: 5 ft 9 ins.

Weight: 12st.

Occupation: Professional player.

International caps: 0.

NATURAL outhalf who featured on the wing for Ballymena last season. Great balance as a runner and deceptively fast. Can expect to be tested defensively. Possesses the ability, if not always the confidence, to make a positive impact.

David Humphreys

Position: Outhalf.

Club: Dungannon.

Age: 27.

Height: 5 ft 10 ins.

Weight: 12st 10lbs.

Occupation: Professional player.

International caps: 11.

INSPIRATIONAL captain who has lead by example. Has always been a supremely talented footballer. On ability alone nothing is unattainable. Huge role to play if Ulster are to prevail. Fast, dextrous, good vision, an excellent kicker. Needs to concentrate at re-starts though.

Andrew Matchett

Position: Scrumhalf.

Club: Ballymena.

Age: 29.

Height: 5 ft 11 ins.

Weight: 13st.

Occupation: Insurance official.

International caps: 0.

AN excellent passer with a good left foot, he came into the team when Stephen Bell was injured. Ideal link to his halfback partner as he provides him with time and space. Good eye for a gap and links well with the pack.

Justin Fitzpatrick

Position: Loosehead prop.

Club: Dungannon.

Age: 25.

Height: 6 ft 2 ins.

Weight: 18st 7lbs.

Occupation: Professional Player.

International caps: 5.

Provided the Ulster front row with a harder edge although has yet to recapture the form shown Ireland's summer tour of South Africa. Mobile and powerful ball carrier, will need to make plenty of tackles today.

Allen Clarke

Position: Hooker.

Club: Dungannon.

Age: 31.

Height: 5 ft 9 ins.

Weight: 14st 6lbs.

Occupation: Professional player.

International caps: 8.

LACK of physique has always been held against him at the highest level. Voracious work ethic and probably the best lineout thrower available to Ireland. Will do well to repeat his excellent display against Stade Francais.

Rab Irwin

Position: Tighthead prop.

Club: Ballymena.

Age: 35.

Height: 6 ft 2 ins.

Weight: 18st 7lbs.

Occupation: Professional player.

International caps: 0.

A ROLE model for the over 30s. Veteran of the team whose step into the spotlight came via a junior team at CIYMS. Decent ball carrier, will need to scrummage strongly and work hard around the pitch.

Mark Blair

Position: Second row.

Club: Ballymena.

Age: 26.

Height: 6 ft 5 ins.

Weight: 17st 2lbs.

Occupation: Professional player.

International caps: 0.

Wonderful contribution to his team's passage to the final. Strong and uncompromising in the tight; intelligent and hard running in the loose. Provides an extra dimension away from the set pieces. Great attitude.

Gary Longwell

Position: Second row.

Club: Ballymena.

Age: 27.

Height: 6 ft 7 ins.

Weight: 18st 2lbs.

Occupation: Professional player.

International caps: 0.

BALLYMENA coach Andre Bester maintains that Longwell is good enough to play international rugby. Good lineout jumper, it is his overall work-rate particularly in terms of the tackle count that has marked him as an improved player.

Stephen McKinty

Position: Blindside flanker.

Club: Bangor.

Age: 32.

Height: 6 ft 4 ins.

Weight: 15st 4lbs.

Occupation: Engineer.

International caps: 0.

Probably the unsung hero of Ulster's march. The consistently high level of performance belies his amateur status. Decent lineout option, it is his work in the loose that makes him so deserving of a place on today's stage.

Andrew Ward

Position: Openside flanker.

Age: 28.

Height: 6 ft 3 ins.

Weight: 15st 12lbs.

Occupation: Professional player.

International caps: 8.

Ulster's enforcer, the man whose aggressive defence makes him a rallying point for those around him. Calm, focussed, intelligence easily discernible from his play. Ulster will need him to be at his best both with and without the ball.

Tony McWhirter

Position: Number 8.

Age: 23.

Height: 6 ft 5 ins.

Weight: 17st 6lbs.

Occupation: Professional player. International caps: 0.

The qualified dentist and former Ireland under-21 international has been something of a revelation. Initially thrust into the second row last season, he has developed into a quality number 8. Good ball carrier, effective tackler.