ALL GUNS BLAZING

Forget everything I’ve said before – this match is the biggest challenge Ulster have faced this season, bar none. It is time for Ulster to “go for broke” as they say. Nothing less than five points will be enough this weekend for a home quarter-final, and that is the ultimate goal.

The task at hand isn’t easy. Nor is it overly difficult. But it’s the kind of test that Ulster really couldn’t do with right now, because the injuries are really stacking up – fourteen are now sidelined, with Jared Payne and Nick Williams joining that list from last week.

We’re heading to the south of France…

Levez-vous pour les Ulstermen!

There is one factor that works against Ulster from the very beginning – history. Ulster have never won a competitive match in France. Ever. That is one huge burden to be carrying to Castres this weekend. But it is one that Ulster will be determined to be rid of as soon as possible. Until they can be taken as a serious threat, they must be able to win in some of the toughest grounds in the continent. That starts tomorrow.

It’s not a makeshift side that Ulster will send over, but it is certainly not their strongest either, Injuries mean that the side that will take to the field tomorrow will contain a number of players that wouldn’t normally feature in a Heineken Cup team – most notably Mike Allen at wing, who will be making his full debut at the age of 22.

Against a side such as Castres, a coach would love to have as many players available to him as possible. However, as it is, Mark Anscombe will have to select from his limited squad and have to do as well as he can with that. It is testament to how he has brought on this side, however, that even with so many injuries Ulster can be competitive and the fans are still in the belief that five points are obtainable.

Players like Neil McComb and Robbie Diack were fringe players last season, struggling to make an impact on the first team. Yet this season they have been in inspired form and have been an integral part of Ulster’s Pro12 campaign, and their Heineken Cup challenge too.

Mike Allen and Chris Cochrane were both youth players last season and now they find themselves in a Heineken Cup team looking to secure a home quarter-final. Anscombe has blooded these young players and is now reaping the rewards – he has a young core at the centre of his team with plenty of players eager to make the step up from academy to first team.

As for the opposition, Castres are one of the toughest sides to go away to looking for a bonus point win. They are very rarely beaten at the Stade Pierre-Antoine, let alone beaten by four tries. They pride themselves on a solid defence and a strong pack – both will be utilised tomorrow. With nothing really to play for in the Heineken Cup anymore, their aim will be to cause a shock by beating the pool winners and denying them their home quarter-final.

Their star player is undoubtedly Rory Kockott. The South African has the ability to be a game changer from 9, much like Ulster’s own Springbok scrum-half, and has a boot that can ping the corners all afternoon. However, his commitment to his team could be questioned as there are plenty of rumours linking him with a move north to Racing Metro in the summer. Watch out for the familiar face of Pedrie Wannenburg too – he could come on and have a massive impact.

How will Ulster win? By getting an early lead. If they can get on the scoreboard first and then keep it ticking over, Castres will lose interest. They have a Top14 match next Thursday against Bayonne, and with nothing to play for in Europe, their attention will turn to it instead. Once their heads go down and their intensity drops, Ulster can strike.

Ulster must also make full use of their bench. At the late stages of the match, players like Chris Cochrane and Paul Marshall must come on to try and inject some pace into a the backline when it is tiring. In the forwards, the front row will have to be changed at some point, as Court, Best and Afoa will probably find it difficult to stand up to the Castres scrum for the whole 80.

It is a big weekend for Ulster, and there is a slight worry that the side they have available may not have enough to get four tries. But if they are committed and play to their best, then anything is possible in the Heineken Cup. However, I feel that four tries is just one step too far, and Ulster will be relying on Edinburgh to do them a favour on Sunday against the Saracens. Prediction – Ulster by 8.

Teams

Castres make nine changes to the side that lost 12-18 to Northampton last Friday. Pierre Bernard, Seremaia Bai and Remi Tales come into the back line, while upfront Yannick Forestier and Marc-Antoine Rallier come into the front row to bolster the Castres scrum. Matthias Rolland is called up to the second row and it is an all-changed back row of Mathieu Babillot, Piula Faasalele and ex-Ulster player Pedrie Wannenburg.

Ulster make six changes to their side – due to injuries to Jared Payne and Nick Williams, Mike Allen and Roger Wilson are brought into the starting line up, while Neil McComb replaces Iain Henderson in the second row. Paddy Jackson can only make the bench after recovering from a knock, so Paul Marshall starts at scrum-half with Ruan Pienaar moving out to fly-half.

At Stade Pierre-Antoine

Heineken Cup, Pool Game 6
Saturday 19^th January, 13:35 GMT
Live on Sky Sports 3 and Sky Sports 3HD

CASTRES OLYMPIQUE

15. Pierre Bernard, 14. Maxwell Evans, 13. Seremaia Bai, 12. Remi Lamerat, 11. Marcel Garvey, 10. Remi Tales, 9. Rory Kockott; 1. Yannick Forestier, 2. Marc-Antoine Rallier, 3. Anton Peikrishvili, 4. Matthias Rolland, 5. Christophe Samson, 6. Mathieu Babillot, 7. Piula Faasalele, 8. Pedrie Wannenburg.

16. Brice Mach, 17. Saimone Taumeopeau, 18. Mihaita Lazar, 19. Iosefa Tekori, 20. Thierry Lacrampe, 21. Jannie de bruin Bornman, 22. Paul Bonnefond, 23. Marc Andreu.

ULSTER RUGBY

15. Craig Gilroy, 14. Andrew Trimble, 13. Darren Cave, 12. Paddy Wallace, 11. Mike Allen, 10. Ruan Pienaar, 9. Paul Marshall; 1. Tom Court, 2. Rory Best, 3. John Afoa, 4. Lewis Stevenson, 5. Neil McComb, 6. Robbie Diack, 7. Chris Henry (c), 8. Roger Wilson.

16. Rob Herring, 17. Callum Black, 18. Declan Fitzpatrick, 19. Iain Henderson, 20. Mike McComish, 21. Michael Heaney, 22. Paddy Jackson, 23. Chris Cochrane.

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), Jon Mason (Wales)
TMO: Derek Bevan (Wales)

Wrapping things up

A lot can happen on the last weekend of the Heineken Cup. Here we go…

Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque vs. Harlequins – Away win

Connacht Rugby vs. Zebre – Home win (BP)
Glasgow Warriors vs. Northampton Saints – Away win
Montpellier vs. Toulon – Away win
Cardiff Blues vs. Sale Sharks – Home win
Scarlets vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne – Away win
Exeter Chiefs vs. Leinster Rugby – Away win (BP)
Saracens vs. Edinburgh Rugby – Home win (BP)
Munster Rugby vs. Racing Metro 92 – Home win (BP)
Leicester Tigers vs. Toulouse – Home win
Benetton Treviso vs. Ospreys – Away win

FINAL RANKINGS

1. Harlequins
2. ASM Clermont Auvergne
3. Toulon
4. Saracens
5. Ulster Rugby
6. Leicester Tigers
7. Munster Rugby
8. Leinster Rugby

QUARTER-FINALS

Harlequins vs. Leinster Rugby
ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Munster Rugby
Toulon vs. Leicester Tigers
Saracens vs. Ulster Rugby