Youngster Baloucoune deserves chance to shine: McFarland
IF there’s one thing Dan McFarland has appeared keen to do in his short tenure as Ulster head coach, it has been to give youth a chance.
And the theme will continue against Dragons at Kingspan Stadium tonight (7.55pm kick-off ) when Robert Baloucoune will be handed his debut for the side, starting on the wing.
The 21-year old, who was turning out for Enniskillen RFC at Ulster Rugby HQ in the Towns Cup final only 18 months ago, has already been internationally capped in sevens having played for Ireland at last summer’s World Cup in San Francisco.
He also impressed for the Ulster A team in the recent Celtic Cup and, after Mike Lowry, Angus Kernohan, Eric O’Sullivan and James Hume, he will become the fifth member of the Academy to be handed a debut this season.
“Robert has done a brilliant job and he’s a very exciting talent,” said head coach McFarland.
“We have watched his progress through the summer and then through the A games as well, and he really deserves the chance that he’s getting.”
He takes the spot of Jacob Stockdale in the starting side with John Cooney also missing out with a shoulder injury, meaning Dave Shanahan continues at scrum-half.
The other six players who were called up into the national squad for next month’s Autumn Internationals will all get one more outing in the white jersey before meeting up with Ireland.
That means Rory Best again starts at hooker and captains the side, while Rob Herring has overcome a toe injury to back him up from the bench.
Two more of Joe Schmidt’s squad will be deployed in the centre with Stuart McCloskey and Ireland debutant-in-waiting Will Addison continuing their pairing from the European games.
Iain Henderson and Jordi Murphy are at lock and openside respectively before switching their own attention to the Test arena for the next four weekends.
On the opposite wing from Baloucoune, there is a welcome return for Henry Speight, the Wallaby international who has been absent since injuring his knee against Cheetahs a month ago.
Billy Burns is rested having featured in every game to date, meaning Johnny McPhillips gets his first start of the season in the No.10 jersey, while Lowry continues at full-back.
Presumably, with Craig Gilroy, Jonny Stewart and Kernohan on the bench, it will be the man with 15 on his back who will be covering fly-half.
Nick Timoney is another regular who will not feature, meaning Sean Reidy starts the game and Greg Jones is on the bench seeking a first outing in senior colours since January.