MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea Date: 12 September Kick-off: 1830 BST
Coverage: Live on S4C, full commentary on Radio Ulster MW & online and Radio Cymru and score updates on BBC Sport website
Ulster include summer signing Tamaiti Horua for Saturday's Magners League away game against the Ospreys. Cillian Willis, Clinton Schifcofske are also included but Stephen Ferris, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble and Bryn Cunningham are among the absentees. Wales star Jonathan Thomas returns to the Ospreys squad having missed almost seven months with a groin injury. Ex-Ulster man Tommy Bowe joins the Ospreys' fellow Lions Mike Phillips and James Hook in the 24-man squad. Young flanker Thomas Anderson and centre Jonny Shiels are also included but Cunningham, Ryan Caldwell and David Pollock are all ruled out because of injury. Ferris, Wallace and Trimble are not available for Ulster because of Ireland commitments.  | 606: DEBATE |
Wales flanker Jonathan Thomas returns to the Ospreys squad for the league visit of Ulster, having missed almost seven months with a groin injury. Ex-Ulster man Tommy Bowe joins the Ospreys' fellow Lions Mike Phillips and James Hook in the 24-man squad. Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin was scathing of Sunday's performance which saw the Irish province lose 23-6 to the Dragons. "We were physically beaten at the breakdown," said McLaughlin. "In general, the team were like frightened rabbits in car headlights. "However, it is still just one game. We have had four good performances ahead of the league campaign and this is the first negative and a reality check for the boys." With the new campaign just started, McLaughlin is likely to make a number of changes to the starting line-up which could see him toss in a few new younger faces who showed up well in pre-season games. | I'm sure that Ulster will be far improved from last week Ospreys forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys |
Ospreys have won three of their last four matches in the league, but have lost two of their last three games against Irish opposition at the Liberty Stadium. Ulster have slipped to successive defeats in the competition, at Scarlets and at the Dragons, and will be keen to end an unwanted run of 15 successive games in Wales without a win. Ospreys have won their last five matches against Ulster in all competitions since a 16-17 defeat at Ravenhill in the Magners League on 21 September, 2007. The Ulstermen's only previous victory at the Liberty Stadium was on their first visit on 26 May, 2006, when they secured the Magners League title. "Ulster started poorly last year but came strong towards the end, they're a difficult team," said Ospreys forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys. "They've got a new coaching staff and they start with two tough away games, but I'm sure that they will be far improved from last week. "We hope to get a good crowd and get off to a strong start at home, we're trying to set some standards here. We've got a long way to go but hopefully we'll get there."
Ospreys (from): Duncan Jones, Paul James, Cai Griffiths, Richard Hibbard, Huw Bennett, Andy Lloyd, Ian Gough, Tom Smith, Jerry Collins, Jonathan Thomas, Marty Holah, Steve Tandy, Filo Tiata, Ryan Jones; Barry Davies, Jonny Vaughton, Nikki Walker, Tommy Bowe, Jonathan Spratt, Andrew Bishop, Dan Biggar, James Hook, Jamie Nutbrown, Mike Phillips. Ulster (from): Nigel Brady, BJ Botha, Bryan Young, Ed O'Donoghue, Andi Kyriacou, Dan Tuohy, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Thomas Anderson, Tamaiti Horua, Declan Fitzpatrick, Timoci Nagusa, Darren Cave, Niall O'Connor, Simon Danielli, Ian Whitten, Paul Marshall, Isaac Boss, Ian Humphreys, Jonny Shiels, Cillian Willis, Clinton Schifcofske Referee: Alan Lewis
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