McFarland hoping Ulster can call on Ludik and Cave
ULSTER could be boosted by the return of two of their most experienced campaigners for Friday’s trip to Scarlets in the Guinness PRO14.
The province will still be without their Irish contingent after none were released back following yesterday afternoon’s national squad announcement, but both Louis Ludik and Darren Cave are nearing returns.
Versatile Ludik, who could feature at wing, centre or fullback, has not played since the final game of last season when he sustained a hamstring injury.
Cave, meanwhile, broke a thumb after a strong start personally to the campaign.
Head coach Dan McFarland said: “We are looking at Louis Ludik, who will be coming back into the frame.
“We will see how he goes, he is on the edge of that so we will find out if he is available this week. Darren Cave will potentially be available this week but probably not. It depends on the next couple of days.”
This will be the second meeting of the season between the two teams — Ulster won in Belfast to open the campaign — but the first of three in quick succession between now and the middle of December.
The league rivals have also been paired together in Europe, with next month bringing the traditional double-headers.
“Both teams want to play a counter-attacking game,” McFarland (above) added. “So the style of play is not going to change, or I would be very surprised if it did change.
“We will have worked on bits and pieces. I watched our first game in preparation for this game and what we were putting out on the defence side of the game and the attack side of the game, we looked pretty rusty back then, but it will be the same for them.
“They are more accomplished in their cohesiveness now, as are we. This is a game with a lot riding on it and we are looking forward to it.”
But while McFarland is looking ahead, Irish rugby continues to reflect in the afterglow of Saturday’s historic win over the All Blacks.
“I think there is a lot of pride,” he noted of the Ulster contribution to the win.
“Here in Ulster we have a stated aim of getting as many of our younger players in the Ireland team as we possibly can. So when we see one of our own, or, as at the weekend, several of our own, there is a huge amount of pride.
“I think there is also a sense of the standards that we are aiming for as well, and a part of it is that we have to make sure we maintain those high standards.
“Guys when they come back here, they are also feeling as if they are being pushed and that those young lads are being pushed to the same level as those Ireland players.”
It has been a glorious period for Irish rugby in 2018, with the hope that the effects can be felt as far as Kingspan Stadium.
“We have our own philosophy here, and there’s plenty of stuff which is very similar to what the Ireland team do, but we have our own way of doing things,” McFarland added. “But the level to which they execute things is something to behold certainly.
“They all played well. You couldn’t be a part of that team and be carried. Everybody, all of the Ireland players stood up there, and none more so than our fellas.”
With Ireland facing the USA at the Aviva Stadium this weekend, more Ulstermen could be on the international scene come Saturday. Will Addison, John Cooney, Rob Herring, Stuart McCloskey and perhaps Jordi Murphy or even Iain Henderson could be involved.