Ulster problem at 12

Spence is out for a number of weeks.

Now I know it was an ankle injury but I maintain a player who is carrying an injury going into a game is always more likely to sustained another one. It was as I said last week bloody stupid to pick him last weekend

Also the Tele are reporting Marshall is not fit - inspite of he himself being optimistic. Another case of youthful optimism perhaps.

With Jackson, Wallace, Spence and Marshall out we really are down to bare bones.

Centres will be selected from Whitten, Terblanche and Cave I beleive - not much else really.
Will we be allowed to play Terblanche at 12 or 13

Sign Tommy Bowe as injury cover.....

Whitten, Cave and Terblanche is not a bad bunch to tide us over..

...but there is one further option....and perphaps this is destiny calling ........put Trimble back in the centre were he belongs....

Tigers had similar issues when playing you boys in the HEC. Young Andy Forsyth stepped up pretty well (before getting injured), it's not all doom and gloom. Good chance for an academy player or someone from a lower league to come in and have the chance to put their hand up.

Luke Marshall played for Ballymena a few weeks ago. Has he re-injured himself?

I would be inclined to bring Terblanche in but we may have to re jig the backline anyway if trimble isnt allowed to play. Whitten to 12 and Terblanche to wing. Or D'arcy to wing and Terblanche to 15? I genuinely dont know.

12. Ian Whitten
13. Darren Cave

We're not down to the bare bones in that we have one established inside centre and one established outside centre, both of whom have got a lot of experience at provincial level and an experienced player in Stefan Terblanche to cover the centre positions.

I assume that Danielli will come in for Trimble and Terblanche may start ahead of Gilroy, but the centres pick themselves really. Then there's Chris Farrell who could be a surprise inclusion (hopefully not, it's a big ask for him to step up).

I agree with Notch. We're pretty fortunate to be able to field a player as experienced and reliable as Whitten as fourth choice 12 (not counting Paddy Jackson!) Given they're all IQ as well, we're like the anti-Munster.

From what I've seen of Terblanche so far he looks far too slow for the wing.

Terblanche to 15 and D'arcy to the wing maybe? Or leave D'arcy at 15 and bring in Danielli. Theres plenty of options.

Whitten and Cave in the centres.

Yeah I agree on Whitten too.. he's a quality player to come in and deserves his chance. Personally I think he offers more all round than Danielli these days and should feature more.

[quote="Standulstermen"]Luke Marshall played for Ballymena a few weeks ago. Has he re-injured himself?
[quote]

Didn't realize that - I thought he was fit but the Tele kept going on about him being injured.
Basically they are wrong as usual.

Good news then - in which case he should start one of the games and the possible combination for the Leicester game should start the other.

Sorry is Trimble injured or something did I miss something there?

Yeah Whitten to 12 me thinks.
Sooner Marshall is involved the better for you guys me thinks

Trimble rested I think Pete under the IRFU player managment program...or did I just make that up?.....

Sorry lads I'm well confused is this for the next pro12 game against us on stephens day?

Geoff

He (Luke Marshall) was in the match report when they played Bohemians and was given special mention as having a good game and was described as 'returning' so i assumed he was back fit. No idea about his status since then. I thought that was either the day after the scarlets game but i cant quite remember