Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘BACKS BOND IS BUILDING’
Cave says chemistry is growing between old & new players as Ulster look for three wins on bounce in Africa
DARREN Cave is making the most of his opportunity and thinks the “chemistry” is building in a new-look Ulster.
In an attempt to help gel the old with the new, coach Dan Mcfarland has named an unchanged backline for the third game in a row for part one of their two-game spin to South Africa.
Out-half Billy Burns, full-back Will Addison and Wallaby wing Henry Speight are the exciting newcomers, and with the likes of Louis Ludik and Luke Marshall out injured, Cave is grabbing his chance with both hands.
Ahead of tomorrow’s Pro14 clash against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth he said: “There is a nice sort of chemistry starting in the backs.
“If you look at the build-up to Jordi Murphy’s [disallowed] try that went to the TMO last week there’s a couple of nice wee plays and boys getting to know each other and I think John Cooney’s try was the same.
“There is nice interlinking and passing between the backs and it’s good to see that, because I didn’t play with Billy in either of the friendlies so these are the first games we’ve played together.
“Obviously I’m very new to Will and Henry as well but the chemistry is building and hopefully that will continue to build over the next few weeks.”
Cave didn’t get to play as much as he’d have wanted last season and made just 10 starts.
But with a couple of injuries and Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble now retired, he is getting his chance under new coach Mcfarland with three starts on the bounce.
Craig Gilroy, Stuart Mccloskey and John Cooney are the other ever presents behind the scrum.
Cave said: “I haven’t even played as much with Stuart Mccloskey in the last year as I have in the past, so even that is nice for us two to get to know each other’s games quite well.
“Defensively in particular it’s been pretty solid and this week if we can keep them pretty quiet, our combinations can produce well in small groups and that will build a team performance.
“That will put the Kings under pressure and cause them to crack.”
Ulster make three changes from last week’s incredible comeback win over Edinburgh.
Tom O’toole, Alan O’connor and Sean Reidy all return in the pack for the game in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Ulster are enjoying the trip to the southern hemipshere for the backto-back fixtures, which also sees them play the Cheetahs in Bloemfontain next Friday.
Cave said: “It’s a bit different to our normal trips away to Wales and Scotland, but we were well looked after on the journey and we’re here now and feeling good.” ULSTER: W Addison; C Gilroy, D Cave, S Mccloskey. H Speight; B Burns, J Cooney; A Warwick, R Herring, T O’toole; A O’connor, K Treadwell; M Coetzee, S Reidy, N Timoney REPLACEMENTS: A Mcburney, E O’sullivan, W Herbst, J Deysel, M Rea, D Shanahan, A Curtis, A Kernohan.