Will Pienaar produce the goods? Picture from rugbypicture.co.uk
The Ulster team to play Bath in Round 3 of the Heineken Cup at Ravenhill this Saturday, 11th December kick off 1.30pm has been named.
With Rory Best ruled out having sustained a fractured cheekbone during the international period, Johann Muller will captain the side. Ulster, who did the double over Bath home and away in last season’s Heineken Cup campaign will be hoping for more of the same this time around, with back to back fixtures in the run up to Christmas.
Paddy Wallace who was omitted from the side selected to play the Dragons last weekend (match postponed) due to a niggle in his lower back starts at inside centre with Nevin Spence filling in at 13 for the injured Darren Cave (recurrence of hamstring injury), while Ruan Pienaar is preferred at scrum-half this week over Paul Marshall who is named on the bench.
Up front Muller’s return from a neck injury sustained against Cardiff last month means that Tim Barker moves to the bench while Willie Faloon makes way as Stephen Ferris returns to the back row.
With the match kicking off at 1.30pm, the Ravenhill gates will open at 12 noon.
Pitch heaters have been in operation for the past 36 hours, working to defrost the pitch and Ulster Rugby are confident that the fixture will go ahead.
Tickets for the match are still available and will be available to purchase on the gates tomorrow.
Ulster (15-9) Adam D’Arcy; Andrew Trimble, Nevin Spence, Paddy Wallace, Simon Danielli; Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar (1-8) Tom Court, Nigel Brady, BJ Botha, Johann Muller (captain), Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg
Replacements (16-23) Andi Kyriacou, Paddy McAllister, Bryan Young, Tim Barker, Willie Faloon, Paul Marshall, Ian Whitten, David McIlwaine
A few talking points there.
I must admit I’m a little disappointed that so many returning internationals have walked straight into the team irrespective of performances over the last few games with Paul Marshall, Bryan Young, Paddy McAllister, Tim Barker and Willie Faloon all hard done by in my opinion, but then again it’s not my neck on the line if Ulster fail to get the desired result.
Hopefully the importance of this high profile fixture will be enough to counteract the yips and unfamiliarity that the team usually suffers from on such occasions. If only we had managed to fit in that Dragons game last weekend I would be feeling a lot more confident about tomorrow’s result.
It’s looking fairly certain that Ulster are looking to win this one up front with the huge back row of Ferris, Henry and Wannenburg being the preferred battering ram but I cant help but feel that we are playing into the hands of our visitors who will like nothing better than digging in and defending close to the rucks.
I really see this selection as the team we should be putting out to get a result away from home and I’d have liked to have seen a more attacking back row with Faloon and Diack involved. Diacks omission may be understandable, given his lack of game time, but I just can’t see why we put all our eggs in one basket by selecting three similar players and omitting the on form Faloon.
It may all still work out for the best though and if the three big boys can run riot in the second and third quarters we should hopefully get the bonus point and would look well set for next week. If, however, the back row are nullified I still think Ulster have enough on the bench to scrape a win but it’ll be a long and tense week waiting for the return.
Of course all this may count for nothing if the talented Pienaar produces the virtuoso display we all know he’s capable off. I would however prefer it if we were relying on the team rather than individuals.
The FRU predicts a ten point win – no bonus points for either side.
Ulster Rugby is appealing to supporters to be mindful of local residents when looking for parking on Saturday and would like to discourage supporters from parking in the immediate vicinity of the ground.
Ulster Rugby would appeal to supporters to make use of the complimentary Park n’ Ride facilities on offer on match day. Park ’n’ Ride venues are available at Pirrie Park, located off Ardenlee Avenue/Ravenhill Road, as well as along the Montgomery Road on the Cregagh side of the ground where there is ample parking.
Both these areas are just a short distance from the ground and supporters can either walk or make use of the complimentary buses that run from the parking areas to the gates of the ground from 1.5 hours before kick-off, to 1.5 hours after the final whistle.
In addition, the PSNI have indicated that if required, they will close the two main roads leading to the ground, Onslow Parade and Mount Merrion Avenue at peak times of traffic flow pre and post match and supporters travelling to the match by car and intending to park in the vicinity of the ground should be aware of that.
For more information, please contact the Ravenhill Ticket Office on 028 9049 3222
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