Connacht v Ulster - Friday 6th Oct 18.30KO

Connacht v Ulster

The red hand gang are sending down a very strong squad to face their Irish bogey team, Connacht. Ulster, to be frank, were shite last week against Munster and missed vital kicks at vital times – which is most unlike them. Connacht ran a good Leinster outfit very close like week and the 31-16 score line doesn’t take into account that Leinster ran in two converted tries in injury time.

Ulster did try and play an attractive game against Munster and I believe that their backs are good enough to get through the decent Connacht defense, could be one on those games but I can also see Ulster gaining a bonus point victory if they get off to a good start, they will also climb back to the top of the league table should they win tonight. Trimble is on the wing, which is interesting but Ulster will be able to get the ball to him and that could devastating for the Conns.

Form: Connacht are winless in their last three Magners League encounters against the Scarlets, Edinburgh and Leinster. Connacht have won just one of their last 15 encounters against fellow Irish Provinces: 22-12 in this equivalent fixture last season. Champions Ulster have stuttered a little of late with two defeats in their last three matches. Away from home against fellow Irish sides the Ulstermen have won just once since September 2004: 20-17 over Munster at Cork on 3 December 2005. A win would take Ulster back to the top of the Magners League. Connacht ended a four match losing run against Ulster with their 22-12 win at the Sportsground on New Year’s Eve last season.

Connacht: 15 Daniel Riordan, 14 Matt Mostyn, 13 Darren Yapp, 12 Gavin Williams, 11 Keith Matthews, 10 Mark McHugh, 9 Chris Keane, 8 Colm Rigney, 7 Ray Ofisa, 6 John Muldoon, 5 Andrew Farley (c), 4 David Gannon, 3 Ray Hogan, 2 John Fogarty, 1 Brett Wilkinson.Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Brett Sturgess, 18 Michael Swift, 19 Matt Lacey, 20 Tom Tierney, 21 Paul Warwick, 22 Ted Robinson.

Ulster: 15 Bryn Cunningham, 14 Andrew Maxwell, 13 Kevin Maggs, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 David Humphreys, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Stephen Ferris, 6 Neil Best, 5 Matt McCullough, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Bryan Young, 2 Rory Best, 1 Justin Fitzpatrick.Replacements: 16 Paul Shields, 17 Declan Fitzpatrick, 18 Tim Barker, 19 Kieron Dawson, 20 Neil McMillan, 21 Kieran Campbell, 22 Scott Young.

Recommendation: 10 points Ulster –6 @ Sporting Odds