McLaughlin sees opportunity in RDS

Brian McLaughlin has announced his 24-man squad for Ulster’s Magners League derby meeting with Leinster at the RDS on St Stephens’s Day (5.30pm).

The coach will have to cope without his Irish contingent of captain Paddy Wallace, Stephen Ferris, Andrew Trimble and Tom Court, who are all rested.

McLaughlin, however, sees the visit to Dublin as the perfect opportunity to bounce back from the defeat to Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup at the weekend.

"Leinster at the RDS, the European champions, it's a smashing opportunity for us to learn from the things we didn't do well at the weekend and to try, and improve on them,” said the coach today.

“They will test us, but we have to go there with a positive mind frame and know that if we turn up on the day, we are also a strong, competent side.

"That is what professional rugby is all about, you've got to look at what you did well and what you did poorly, and you've got to improve week by week. We played some good rugby in Paris, but until we get that consistency away from home, we've just got to keep plugging away until we get it going.

"We know that Leinster will be ready for us, especially after we gained the home victory over them last time we met."

Ulster Squad

Forwards: Declan Fitzpatrick, Bryan Young, BJ Botha, Nigel Brady, Andy Kyriacou, Ed O'Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Ryan Caldwell, Chris Henry, David Pollock, Willie Faloon, TJ Anderson

Backs: Jamie Smith, Clinton Schifcofske, Simon Danielli, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Timoci Nagusa, Ian Humphreys, Niall O'Connor, Isaac Boss, Paul Marshall, Cillian Willis, Jonny Shiells