Ulster in position to deliver despite the loss of key players

MAGNERS LEAGUE DRAGONS v ULSTER:PADDY WALLACE, Rory Best, and especially Stephen Ferris, are an enormous loss but Ulster still have a decent look about them. Since Matt Williams breathed life into the squad these past few months or, more accurately, since their good performances started to yield victories, they can lose such players and not crumble.

Now they have to deliver some consistency to reinforce the point. The team is in fine shape, with Tom Court, Simon Danielli and Carlo Del Fava all released from the Six Nations camps of Ireland, Scotland and Italy. Danielli is beginning to rediscover the form that made his signing seem like a genuine coup a few seasons back.

Ian Humphreys didn’t get the opportunity he was hoping for with Ireland A, brought on late to the wing then fullback before getting into the outhalf position but only in offensive set-plays.

The concern about his defence remains but Williams is unperturbed, having dealt with the matter earlier this season. Darren Cave is another who couldn’t take his chance at the next stage but there is plenty of time for the 21-year-old to make another mark.

Attention will be on Court following his Irish selection and lock Ed O’Donoghue, after he was preferred over Devon Toner and Trevor Hogan in the Ireland A squad. With Ferris gone up a grade, Chris Henry starts in the backrow with Kieron Dawson and David Pollack. Assistant coach Paul Steinmetz comes in at inside centre for Wallace.

The Dragons, like Connacht, are barely affected by the Six Nations and with Ulster one point above them in the lower reaches of the table they will target this tie.

NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: J Tovey; M Thomas, R Gomer Davies, A Smith, R Fussell; S Connor, W Evans; A Black, T Willis (capt), R Thomas; A Jones, H Macdonald; J Bearman, R Parks, L Evans. Replacements: S Jones, N Hall, A Hall, G Webb, P Dollman, K Morgan, R Lewis.

ULSTER: C Schifcofske; A Trimble, D Cave, P Steinmetz, S Danielli; I Humphreys, I Boss; T Court, N Brady, B Botha; E O’Donoghue, R Caldwell; D Pollock, K Dawson (capt), C Henry. Replacements: S Phillpott, B Young, C Del Fava, M McCullough, C Willis, I Whitten, N O’Connor.

Referee: N Paterson (SRU).

Verdict: Away win.