Baloucoune can play his way into Six Nations team

ROBERT BALOUCOUNE leads the returning Irish contingent to boost the Ulster cause for their visit to Newport to tackle the Dragons today.

Baloucoune was identified as the most obvious hard case when failing to make match-day squads for the first two Six Nations games.

The form of Mack Hansen, chosen on the wing instead, leaves the Ulster star (right) with an uphill task to force his way back in.

But his devastating form for the province this term provides his best way of making his case, and he will be anxious to do so against one of the real strugglers in this competition.

Ulster topped the United Rugby Championship table before this weekend, a point ahead of Leinster, having played a game more.

The Dragons are only kept off the basement by Zebre, and Ulster will be confident of maintaining their robust start to the term.

Baloucoune is joined in returning to the province from national camp by James Hume, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell and Nick Timoney. Their inclusion gives a robust look to the starting team, with the partnership between Hume and Stuart McCloskey at centre a forceful-looking one.

Nathan Doak has emerged as perhaps the most exciting talent in development in Irish rugby, and is arguably our most gifted player not to be featuring at Test level yet.

ULSTER: R Lyttle, R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey, B Moxham, B Burns, N Doak; A Warwick, J Andrew, T O’Toole, K Treadwell, S Carter, D McCann, M Rea, N Timoney (capt). Reps: B Roberts, E O’Sullivan, M Moore, C Izuchukwu, M Rea, D Shanahan, I Madigan, S Moore.

DRAGONS: J Lewis, J Holmes, A Warren, A Owen, R Dyer, S Davies, G Bertranou; G Bateman, T Davies, C Coleman, J Davies, J Maksymiw, H Keddie (capt), O Griffiths, D Baker. Reps: E Dee, A Seiuli, M Doge, H Taylor, G Young, R Williams, I Davies, W Talbot-Davies. REfEREE: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

KICK-Off: Rodney Parade, today, 2pm.