Ulster travel with confidence

DETERMINED to build on the home win over Scarlets last weekend in Ravenhill, Ulster coach Matt Williams takes his side back to Wales for the return leg in Parc y Scarlets on Friday with a team of dramatically more confident players. Williams, yesterday named a 27-man squad which will be trimmed by five tomorrow.

The Australian welcomes back Paddy Wallace, who was missing from last week's win following a knock to his head, and also Bryan Young, Stuart Philpott, Thomas Anderson, Clinton Schifcofske, Ian Whitten and Paul Marshall.

However, Cillian Willis is ruled out of the squad after he fractured his cheek bone during a training session on Monday. Carlo Del Fava and Timoci Nagusa are also unavailable through injury.

"We are confident, keen and motivated following our performance against Scarlets, but we are under no illusion that Llanelli as a club and community enjoys a great rugby tradition," said Williams.

"I firmly believe that we have to be playing to our best to come away with the points.

"If we hadn't won on Friday night, all the hard work and victories in the last number of games would have been for nothing. We wouldn't have been back to square one but it would have dented our confidence and that's not what this side needs."

Poor discipline and a high penalty count let Munster down in France last week, according to Paul O'Connell, who is certain to be selected today as captain when Munster name their team to face Clermont Auvergne in Thomond Park. O'Connell also believes the team has to guard against complacency given the French side's poor away form in the past.

The match will also probably mark the 1,000th Heineken Cup point for Ronan O'Gara. His late penalty last week took the tally to 993 and just seven more in Limerick will see him become the first player in the history of the competition to break the 1,000 point barrier.

His points have come in 78 tournament matches at an average of 12.73 per match with October 2000 the last time he played in a game and didn't score.

"We'll need to look at a lot of things this week," said O'Connell.

"There were a few issues in the scrum and we were disappointed with the number of penalties we conceded in the away leg. We pride ourselves on our discipline, which we think is one of the strongest parts of our game.

"However, we've also taken some good points from the match. We had a strong first half and did some things very well and at times we defended exactly how we wanted to. We know that Clermont's away form has not been great but obviously we can't rely on that," he added.

The squad came through the weekend intact with no serious injury concerns.

Hooker Jerry Flannery has not been ruled out, although, the chances of him being fit for the weekend remain slim.

Connacht flanker Johnny O'Connor is also extremely doubtful for Friday's European Challenge Cup clash with Rovigo at the Sportsground. O'Connor suffered a leg injury in the 35-20 victory over the Italians at the weekend and is battling to be fit.

Connacht cover in the back row is running thin with Colm Rigney and John Muldoon both still out with injury. Coach Michael Bradley will make a call on O'Connor when the squad to play the Italians is announced later today.

Centre Keith Matthews, who was on crutches after Saturday's game after picking up a knee injury, is expected to be fit.

ULSTER: Forwards: B Young, J Fitzpatrick, R Best, N Brady, T Court, B Botha, E O'Donoghue, R Caldwell, M McCullough, K Dawson, R Diack, S Ferris, D Pollack, S Philpott, T Anderson. Backs: C Schifcofske, B Cunningham, D Cave, A Trimble, I Whitten, P Marshall, I Boss, P Steinmetz, I Humphreys, M McCrea, P Wallace, S Danielli.

European Cup Round Four: Scarlets v Ulster, Parc y Scarlets, 8.00pm; Castres Olympique v Leinster, Stade Pierre Antoine, 9.00pm.

European Challenge Cup Round four: Connacht v Rovigo, Sportsground, 6.30pm.

Saturday

European Cup Round Four: Newport Gwent Dragons v Toulouse, Rodney Parade 2.30pm; Bennetton Treviso v Ospreys, Stadio Comunale di Monigo 2.35pm; Gloucester v Calvisano, Kingsholm, 3.00pm; Munster v ASM Clermont Auvergne, Thomond Park, 3.30pm; Harlequins v Stade Français, The Stoop, 5.30pm; Montauban v Sale Sharks, Stade de Sapiac, 7.00pm.

All-Ireland League

(matches 2.30 unless stated)

Division One: Dungannon v Garryowen, Stevenson Park; Galwegians v Young Munster, Crowley Park; Old Belvedere v Blackrock, Anglesea Road; Terenure v UCD, Lakelands; Buccaneers v Ballymena, Dubarry Park.

Division Two: Old Crescent v Belfast Harlequins, Rosbrien 12.30; Clonakilty v DLSP, Shannonvale, 1.00; Bective Rangers v Malone, Donnybrook; Greystones v Thomond, Dr Hickey Park; Lansdowne v Ballynahinch, RDS; UCC v Dublin University, The Mardyke; Wanderers v Instonians, Merrion Road.

Division Three: QUB v Old Wesley, Dub Lane; Banbridge v Suttonians, Rifle Park; Co Carlow v Barnhall, Oak Park; Corinthians v Connemara, Corinthina Park; Midleton v Portadown, Towns Park; Naas v Sunday's Well, Forenaughts; Nenagh Ormond v Ards, Newe Ormond Park; Waterpark v Rainey OB, Ballinakill

Sunday

European Cup: Round Four: London Wasps v Edinburgh, Adams Park, 1.00pm; Glasgow Warriors v Bath Rugby, Firhill Arena, 2.00pm; Perpignan v Leicester Tigers, Stade Aime Giral 4.00pm.

Sunday

All-Ireland League

(matches 2.30 unless stated)

Division One: Dolphin v Clontarf, Musgrave Park; Shannon v St Mary's, Thomond Park; UL Bohemians v Cork Constitution, UL Bowl.

Division Two: Bruff v Highfield, Killballyowen Park.