Ulster’s Irish World Cup contingent desperate to start playing for the province again, says Roddy Grant

The northern province haven’t been as impacted by the loss of their World Cup contingent as the other Irish sides having sent just four players to France as part of Andy Farrell’s panel.

But with a lengthy injury list in the early weeks of the season, and a host of experienced former internationals having left the squad during the off-season, the match-day panel beaten by Connacht last weekend had an average age of just 23.

While plenty in and around the team have spoken of the benefits of new leaders emerging to fill the void during the elongated pre-season, it is naturally a shot in the arm to have Iain Henderson, Stuart McCloskey and Rob Herring back in training ahead of Friday night’s Ravenhill clash.

"It was the first day seeing them (on Monday),” said Grant.

“That's been good for us, having some not new faces but fresh faces. They're coming in really enthusiastic and keen to get back into it, back in with us.

“They've been good, bringing the energy and they're all desperate to play for Ulster.”

While naturally glad to have the key men back, Grant sees the benefit of having gone through the first three game of the season without their leading lights.

World Cup seasons are always an opportunity for younger players to stake a claim early on and Ulster gave debuts to three players in Galway with Rueben Crothers starting and both Joe Hopes and Ben Carson coming off the bench.

Crothers, though, would last just two minutes, cruelly forced off following his first carry.

“Experience is good in a squad,” Grant added.

“When you have those guys, you want to maximise their experience, not just on the pitch but in training.

“It's great having the Irish guys back.

“When you don't have them, younger guys get experience and not just in games.

“You want guys to grow in terms of driving standards, leadership off the pitch.

“It's been a great summer for that, guys stepping up and feeling that space is there to step up.

“We need to keep developing those younger guys.”

Of the 19 players who were unavailable for The Sportsground defeat, the Irish internationals aren’t the only ones back in the mix for Munster.

Robert Baloucoune, John Cooney, Angus Curtis, David Ewers, Cormac Izuchukwu, Luke Marshall, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale and Kieran Treadwell have all returned to training ahead of the game.

None, though, can help the side’s issues at prop.

With Steven Kitshoff yet to arrive, and both Tom O’Toole and Marty Moore recovering after surgeries, the concussive injury suffered by James French against Connacht has left them perilously thin in the position.

Of the eight senior props in the squad, Andy Warwick, Eric O’Sullivan, Greg McGrath and Callum Reid are the last men standing. The ability of Warwick to cover both sides of the scrum at least means he can be moved to tighthead to fulfil the requirements of a match-day squad, but one more injury would leave them needing to dip into the Academy or explore further outside options.

"It is what it is,” added Grant of the situation. “You pick from who you've got and trust in the guys you select.

“It's a squad. That's why we've numbers in the squad.

“There's guys that you hope individually will step up. Equally we put faith in the squad and what we do in training, that everyone is improving or getting better and having opportunities.

“That's pro sport.”