McLaughlin wary of Scots' threat
Friday December 04 2009
ULSTER coach Brian McLaughlin is wary of the threat posed by Glasgow's Scottish internationals ahead of tonight's Magners League clash at Ravenhill (8.0).
Scotland secured a stunning 9-8 win over Australia last month when Glasgow players such as flanker John Barclay, Murray Low and captain Chris Cusiter played hugely influential roles and, even though the Scots subsequently lost to Argentina, McLaughlin believes the win over Wallabies has given Scottish rugby a massive boost.
"Glasgow are certainly a strong team, they are level on points with us in the table and had eight players in action for Scotland during the November internationals when they had that magnificent win over Australia," said McLaughlin.
Ulster have looked a rejuvenated outfit under McLaughlin this season, lying joint-second in the Magners League table alongside Glasgow, Edinburgh and Munster and their coach is banking on home support to get his men over the line and boost confidence ahead of their crucial Heineken Cup meeting with Stade Francais on December 12. "The Ravenhill crowd are tremendous," McLaughlin said. "We are really looking forward to getting back there after being away for over a month."
Barclay, though still only 23, is now a senior player for the Warriors and Scotland. The openside captains Glasgow in Belfast and Ulster will have to negate the influence of Barclay and his back-row colleagues if they are to secure victory. With Stephen Ferris nursing the injury he sustained in Ireland's victory over South Africa, McLaughlin has gone with a young but talented back row of captain Chris Henry, openside Willie Faloon and David Pollock, who makes his first senior start of the season.
There is a huge onus on the home front row of Tom Court, Andy Kyriacou and Declan Fitzpatrick to contain the destructive power of Low, Jon Welsh and hooker Dougie Hall, while the Evans brothers, Thom and Max, will need to be marshaled carefully out wide.
Although missing frontline stars such as BJ Botha, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace and Ferris, McLaughlin is still able to put out a strong side with out-half Ian Humphreys high on confidence after his excellent performances for Ireland 'A'.
Glasgow will be game but, if Ulster play the high-tempo rugby that has characterised their best displays this season, Humphreys can lead his men to victory by a couple of scores.
Verdict: Ulster
ULSTER -- C Schifcofske; T Nagusa, D Cave, I Whitten, S Danielli; I Humphreys, I Boss; T Court, A Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick; D Tuohy, R Cladwell; D Pollock, W Faloon, C Henry (capt). Reps: N Brady, B Young, E O'Donoghue, T Anderson, P Marshall, N O'Connor, J Shiels.
WARRIORS -- B Stortoni; A Dunbar, M Evans, G Morrison, T Evans; D Parks, M McMillan; J Welsh, D Hall, M Low; T Barker, R Gray; K Brown, J Barclay (capt), R Vernon. Reps: F Thomson, K Tkachuk, D Turner, C Forrester, C Cusiter, C Gregor, P Murchie.
REF-- J Jones (Wales).
Ulster v Glasgow Warriors,
Live, Setanta Ireland, 8.0
- Hugh Farrelly
Irish Independent
