Van Graan rotates squad after Euro tie
MUNSTER were never likely to field a first-choice team against Ulster but, even still, by making 14 changes, Johann van Graan has not revealed his full hand before a potential quarter-final meeting back in Limerick.
For Ulster, this is very much a do-or-die clash and, given the troubles they have had, to be in with a shout of making the playoffs and indeed qualifying for next season’s Champions Cup has to be seen as a positive.
The decision to add quarter-finals into the Guinness PRO14 mix has ensured that there is still plenty left to play for.
Three weeks ago, Ulster trailed Edinburgh by 13 points, and now they could overtake them.
The gap is now back to four points, and with Edinburgh hosting Conference A leaders Glasgow, Ulster could really do with Dave Rennie’s men lending them a helping hand by beating their Scottish rivals.
If Glasgow do manage to see off Edinburgh and deny them a bonus point, and if Ulster leave Thomond Park with a bonus-point win of their own, they would leapfrog the Scots into third place.
Simply put, nothing less than a five-pointer will suffice for Ulster if they are to make the PRO14 quarter-finals.
If that scenario doesn’t materialise, Ulster are facing the prospect of playing the Ospreys in Belfast, with the winner earning qualification for the Champions Cup.