The double headers are back again and this
year, Ulster have two Christmas crackers on their hands – against the
Northampton Saints. Both sides will have recent memories of each other from
their one and only other meeting two seasons ago in the Heineken Cup
quarter-final in Milton Keynes.
Ulster will be hoping the result tomorrow
won’t be the same as it was then…
Unlucky
13?
After their win in Llanelli last Sunday,
Ulster are now twelve games unbeaten in all competitions and they won’t want
that run to come to an end in England tomorrow. Unfortunately, the most
eagle-eyed of fans will realise from my subtitle that this is Ulster’s
thirteenth game – and we all know what the number thirteen represents…
But Mark Anscombe is insistent that the
unbeaten run won’t affect the Ulstermen’s preparations – it hasn’t so far. And ironically
that is what keeps the run going. By not thinking about it, it doesn’t get in
the way, and that method shouldn’t change now. It’s worked twelve times before,
it will hopefully work a thirteenth.
In fact, the game offers more than just
points actually – there is the chance for Ulster to win their 50th
European match tomorrow night. A stat they will want to have as soon as
possible.
As for the teams, it is the clash of the
heavyweights. Ulster have opted for experience in Tom Court over Callum Black
at prop, while Northampton line up with the ‘usual’ front row, consisting of Tongan
international Soane Tonga’uiha, England hooker Dylan Hartley and former
Springbok Brian Mujati. The Saints pride themselves on their brutal forward
power – they have won penalties from 50% of all of their driving mauls and
scrums this season. That is a staggering fact.
So it will be up to Ulster’s internationals
to front up too – Court is joined in the front row by Rory Best and John Afoa.
The team that gets the upper hand at scrum time will control the match, because
then they can pin the opposition back into the corners and work forward with
the driving mauls.
Can Ulster stand up to the might of the
Saints pack? I’ll be honest and say I would’ve been a lot more confident if
Callum Black had started, considering the way he controlled the scrum against
the Scarlets last week. But even so, I think it will be a very even contest up
front. It may even come down to the second row to decide who edges the forwards
battle – and it’s even closer there!
So with a dead heat in the scrum, it should
come down to the team that has the most creative backs. Or will it? Because the
two teams are very similar there too. Bolstered by the return of Ben Foden,
Northampton boast an electric back line, spearheaded by the Pisi brothers – Ken
and George. One a winger, one a centre, both possess incredible speed and can
carve a defence open in one mazy run. Ken is the top try scorer in the Heineken
Cup so far, so Ulster had better have their defence sorted.
And it is their experience that should be
able to quell the Saints’ attacking threat – Ulster’s back line has four
Ireland internationals, a Springbok and an ex-Ireland U20 captain in it. If you
want experience, look no further. Andrew Trimble won the battle over Craig
Gilroy to take the 11 shirt, but knows that if he messes up, the young
understudy will be ready to take over.
On the topic of the backs – congratulations
to Tommy Bowe as well who wins his 50th Heineken Cup cap – it will
be his 25th for Ulster, to add to 25 won for the Ospreys.
Ruan Pienaar, Jared Payne and Paddy Wallace
also return after breaks last week to form what many would say is Ulster’s
strongest team (minus Stephen Ferris). It is fair to say that Ulster will have
no excuses if they lose – it is their strongest team on a 12-match unbeaten
streak. I’m not saying this is a guaranteed win, not at all, but what I am
saying is that Ulster cannot come away from the game making excuses for losing.
That is what Heineken Cup rugby is all about.
Two full strength sides taking each other on in two do-or-die matches, and you
would back the team that gets the most points out of the two games to take top
spot in the pool. It is up to Ulster to make sure that the Saints get nothing
from these two games to take a bit of pressure off the matches in January
against Glasgow and Castres. Then they will be in complete control of the pool.
This is, without any doubt whatsoever, the
biggest test Ulster have faced so far. It will take all their strength, will
and tactics to pass this test, and if they do, they will have well and truly
earned their stripes. Of course I’m backing them to do it! Prediction – Ulster by 4!
Friday 7th December, 20:00
Franklin’s GardensLive on Sky Sports 2 (HD & 3D)
NORTHAMPTON
15. Ben Foden, 14. Ken Pisi, 13. George Pisi,
12. Dom Waldouck, 11. Tom Elliott, 10. Ryan Lamb, 9. Martin Roberts; 1. Soane
Tonga’uiha, 2. Dylan Hartley (c), 3. Brian Mujati, 4. Samu Manoa, 5. Courtney
Lawes, 6. Calum Clark, 7. Tom Wood, 8. GJ van Velze.
16. Mike Haywood, 17. Alex Waller, 18. Paul
Doran-Jones, 19. Mark Sorenson, 20. Phil Dowson, 21. Lee Dickson, 22. Stephen
Myler, 23. Tom May.
ULSTER
15. Jared Payne, 14. Tommy Bowe, 13. Darren
Cave, 12. Paddy Wallace, 11. Andrew Trimble, 10. Paddy Jackson, 9. Ruan
Pienaar; 1. Tom Court, 2. Rory Best, 3. John Afoa, 4. Johann Muller (c), 5. Dan
Tuohy, 6. Iain Henderson, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Roger Wilson.
16. Nigel Brady, 17. Callum Black, 18. Ricky
Lutton, 19. Robbie Diack, 20. Nick Williams, 21. Paul Marshall, 22. Luke
Marshall, 23. Craig Gilroy.
Referee: Jerome Garces (Fra)
Assistant referees: Patrick Pechambert (Fra),
Sebastien Cloute (Fra)TMO: Laurent Valin (Fra)
Around
the grounds – Europe version
There are some big games this weekend – how
will they go? Check it out…Glasgow v Castres – Home win
Connacht v Biarritz – Away win
Scarlets v Exeter – Home win
Toulouse v Ospreys – Home win
Zebre v Harlequins – Away win (TBP)
Sale v Toulon – Away win
Munster v Saracens – Away win
Racing Metro v Edinburgh – Home win
Cardiff v Montpellier – Home win
Leicester v Treviso – Home win (TBP)
Clermont v Leinster – Home win
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