Ravens team named to face Bridgend in British and Irish Cup

All eyes might be on Twickenham this weekend, but ahead of the Heineken Cup quarter-final, the Ravens have a British and Irish cup game against Bridgend at the Riverside Hardware Brewery Field in south Wales on Friday evening (kick off 19.30).

The match was postponed earlier in the season due to bad weather and will be the Ravens final game in the competition this season, as neither side can qualify for the knock out stages.

Fresh from his heroics against Leinster in the RDS, Kyle McCall is selected at loosehead for the match. Ireland international, Declan Fitzpatrick, starts at tighthead, with captain Niall Annett picked at hooker.

James Simpson and Neil McComb combine youth and experience in the second-row while Mike McComish, Ali Birch and Sean O’Connell make up a strong back-row.

Michael Heaney and Niall O’Connor start at half-back, Stewart McCloskey and Michael Allen are partnered in the centre, with Chris Cochrane on the left-wing and Ricky Andrew on the right. Adam D’Arcy is selected at full-back.

Ulster won the home game against Bridgend earlier in the season 49 points to 19.

Ulster Ravens XV and replacements to face Bridgend, British and Irish Cup, Riverside Hardware Brewery Field, Friday 5th April 2013 (kick off 19.30);

(15-9): A D’Arcy, R Andrew, M Allen, S McCluskey, C Cochrane, N O’Connor, M Heaney;
(1-8): K McCall, N Annett, D Fitzpatrick, J Simpson, N McComb, A Birch, M McComish, S O’Connell;
Replacements (16-22): J Andrew, J Caulfield, L Connolly, N Faloon, B McIlroy, T Acheson, L McGillan.