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  • 25/05/13
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Ulster already on the next page - Munster away

Tom Court on the charge against Leinster

Tom Court on the charge against Leinster

  • by Richard Mulligan
 

Ulster will look to do the double over Munster on Saturday night when they make the trip to Limerick for the second of their festive Irish Provincial derby clashes in the Rabo league.

The league leaders will have potentially more of an Ulster Ravens look about them as they are forced to rest some players.

Couple that with a large number of players being away at a National Irish camp on Thursday and Friday, plus the lengthy injury list, Ulster are likely to travel with a much changed side from that which put Leinster to the sword 27-19 at Ravenhill on Friday evening.

Munster, who defeated Connacht 16-12 in Galway are also expected to be greatly changed - but possibly significantly stronger from the team which basically scraped home against the Westerners.

Although it not fully clear yet who is attending the Irish training camp this week, it is expected that the likes of Craig Gilroy, Paul Marshall and Luke Marshall will be available to play.

And that is particularly important given that Ireland coach, Declan Kidney would like to see them all playing on the first team and has cited that as one of the reasons for some of the non inclusion in the November Test Irish teams.

Anscombe was giving little away about who would, or would not be included in his team for the Munster trip.

“We will assess things (on Monday). But we do have to give some guys a rest. We will address that on Monday morning. We have to manage the thing right.

“We do have a plan of what we want to do, but we will reassess it all on Monday.”

One thing Ulster do have this season is strength in depth and while it may be a ‘weakened’ side which goes to Thomond Park, the players given the opportunity will want to make the most of it.

It has been one of the things which has pleased Anscombe during this campaign.

Reflecting on the first half of the PRO12, Anscombe said of course he was happy adding: “I would be a hard man to please if I was not happy when you look at the fact we are 11 from 11 matches.

“But when you look at some of the players we have had out with injury and those that come in, you sometimes wonder how the balance will go.

“I look at it now and I am pretty happy.

“We have three front line locks out injured and the guys who stepped in did an outstanding job.

“I thought Robbie Diack coming back in did a great job. Nick Williams did well last week and backed it up against Leinster.

“We have that strength in depth in several places as you saw tonight and that is all you can ask for I suppose.”

Anscombe was not having any rubbish talk about making comparisons to the win on Friday against the Heineken Cup final.

“Look it was different teams, different stages, different opportunities and so forth,” said Anscombe, who took over as coach post that Euro final.

“We know Leinster are still a quality team and you know that they are going to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

“The fact is we are not fooled by the fact that what we have done so far is how it is going to be.

“And the fact is that each week we have to readdress things and look at it and go about our work.

“We had a good result this week.

“We did not have such a good result last week and that is how it can happen.

“There is a lot of water to go under the bridge before the end of the season.

“We have to continue to meet the challenges.”

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