Time for Ulster to bite as Sharks come circling
IT’S crunch time for Ulster in the United Rugby Championship. Their European hopes long extinguished, this competition is their only chance of potential silverware this season. Victory against the Sharks in Belfast this evening can secure a home quarter-final in the play-offs. Lose and Dan McFarland’s side are facing the prospect of a trip to South Africa to face one of the tournament’s everimproving new additions on their home turf. Home advantage in the play-offs is what’s at stake this evening. And the hosts have gone fully-loaded to this finalround clash. Crucially, Stuart McCloskey has been passed fit. Ulster’s rampaging centre is critical to this operation. McCloskey’s hard yards allow the likes of James Hume, Robert Baloucoune and Mike Lowry — who should all be gearing up for a tour of duty in New Zealand this summer — to do their thing. Iain Henderson, Tom O’Toole and Nick Timoney will all be eyeing up seats on the flight to Auckland as well. They will have their work cut out against a Sharks side which has surged up the URC table in recent months. The Natal outfit are currently in third place and arrive in Belfast with a crew of World Cupwinning Springboks, including Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi, Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am.
Ulster will need the home support, this evening and further down the line. ULSTER: M Lowry; R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey, E McIlroy; B Burns, J Cooney; A Warwick, R Herring, T O’Toole; A O’Connor, I Henderson (capt); M Rea, N Timoney, D Vermuelen. REPS: J Andrew, E O’Sullivan, G Milasinovich, K Treadwell, M Rea, N Doak, S Moore, R Lyttle. SHARKS: A Fassi; W Kok, L Am, M Louw, M Mapimpi; C Bosch, J Hendrikse; O Nche, B Mbonambi, T du Toit (capt); R van Heerden, R Hugo; S Kolisi, H Venter, P Buthelezi. REPS: K van Vuuren, N Mchunu, K Mchunu, H Andrews, J Labuschagne, S Notshe, G Williams, B Chamberlain. REFEREE: Ben Blain (Scotland). TV: Kick-off at 7.25pm, Kingspan Stadium. LIVE on TG4 from 7.20pm.