Ireland duo left out of Ulster squad

Ulster have named a 24-man squad that does not include Ireland stars Stephen Ferris and Paddy Wallace for their St Stephen's Day clash with Leinster.

Ferris is not among the named forwards, with Chris Henry, David Pollock and Willie Faloon a possible back-row combination. Ulster academy product TJ Anderson is also an option.

In the backs, Ian Humphreys is included but Wallace, who made the trip to Stade Francais, is left out, along with Andrew Trimble.

Ian Whitten and Darren Cave are among the candidates to start at centre.

It's a match into which Brian McLaughlin hopes to take a positive frame of mind after recent good performances.

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The Ulster head coach expects Leinster to provide a strong challenge but wants his side to plug any leaks and become more consistent, with another Magners League derby against Munster coming up on January 2.

He said: 'Leinster at the RDS, the European champions, it's a smashing opportunity for us to learn from the things we didn't do well at the weekend and to try, and improve on them.

'They will test us, but we have to go there with a positive mind frame and know that if we turn up on the day, we are also a strong, competent side.

'That is what professional rugby is all about, you've got to look at what you did well and what you did poorly, and you've got to improve week by week. We played some good rugby in Paris, but until we get that consistency away from home, we've just got to keep plugging away until we get it going.'

McLaughlin concluded by reminding Leinster that although they are Heineken Cup champions, his side currently had the upper hand in the fixture having won 16-14 when the sides met at Ravenhill in October.

He said: 'We know that Leinster will be ready for us, especially after we gained the home victory over them last time we met.'

Ulster squad to face Leinster at the RDS, 26 December, 5.30pm:

FORWARDS: Declan Fitzpatrick, Bryan Young, BJ Botha, Nigel Brady, Andy Kyriacou, Ed O'Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Ryan Caldwell, Chris Henry, David Pollock, Willie Faloon, TJ Anderson

BACKS: Jamie Smith, Clinton Schifcofske, Simon Danielli, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Timoci Nagusa, Ian Humphreys, Niall O'Connor, Isaac Boss, Paul Marshall, Cillian Willis, Jonny Shiells