Gibbs calls for greater effort

Kevin Morgan captains Swansea against Ulster

Ulster v Swansea at Ravenhill, Friday 17 August, kick-off 1930 BST.

Follow the match live on BBC Radio Wales - listen online

Scott Gibbs has called for greater commitment from Swansea as they prepare for Friday's Celtic League opener away to Ulster.

The club skipper, who figured in the latter part of the Lions tour, has also targeted the Heineken Cup as the benchmark that Swansea's success will be measured against this season.

"The squad looks very strong, very fit, very able," Gibbs said, "so we'll be hoping for another good year.

"We won the (Welsh-Scottish League) championship last season, which was great, but the disappointments of Europe still scar us.

Far too much last year we relied on too many individual players to carry us through

Scott Gibbs

"That's where our focus is an that's where the entertainment value and the rewards are."

While other Welsh clubs have strengthened over the summer, Swansea have been quiet on the recuitment front after failing to entice Keiron Cunningham away from rugby league.

"It doesn't concern me," Gibbs added. "There's been a lot of clear-outs in clubs this year but we have a quality squad.

"What I'm asking from the players is that everyone contributes positively and gives their all.

Responsibility

"Far too much last year we relied on too many individual players to carry us through, so there's an onus on a squad effort and collective responsibility."

Swansea have named an inexperienced team for the trip to Ravenhill, but it is these young players who Gibbs says must now step forward and make a name for themselves.

In the absence of Gibbs and Swansea's other Lions tourists, who are still resting from their endeavours Down Under, fullback Kevin Morgan captains the side on Friday night.

Centre Steve Winn was struggling with a back injury but has overcome the problem and is fit to take his place in the starting line-up.

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Ulster: P Wallace; J Topping, J Bell, A Larkin, J Cunningham; D Humphreys, B Free; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best, P Johns, G Longwell, R Brink, T McWhirter, A Ward.
Replacements: R Weir, C Boyd, J Davidson, M Haslett, N Malone, R Constable, K Campbell.

Swansea: K Morgan (capt); R Rees, S Payne, S Winn, M Robinson; G Henson, S Martens; G Mason, J Marsters, B Evans, L Jones, J Griffiths, G Lewis, D Thomas, H Jenkins.
Replacements: R Jones, G Swayles, A Le Chevalier, C Wells, B Brereton, J Bater.