Run Dazzler, run - and don't forget to take the ball with you!
Both teams are now announced. Here’s the Ulster press release:
Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin been forced into two changes to his starting team for the Heineken Cup Pool 4 clash with Leicester Tigers on Saturday.
Paddy Wallace will miss the trip to Welford Road after he had an operation to repair tendon damage in his thumb. The injury was picked up last weekend against Clermont Auvergne and is likely to keep the centre on the sidelines for 6-8 weeks. Nevin Spence is promoted to the starting XV in his place and will combine with Darren Cave in midfield.
The other change is sees Declan Fitzpatrick start at tighthead prop in place of John Afoa who had to return to New Zealand temporarily. Afoa, who was not due to join Ulster until 1st December, had made a prior commitment to carry out best man duties at Jerome Kaino’s wedding.
The promotion of Spence and Fitzpatrick means Paddy Jackson and Adam Macklin are named among the replacements. The development duo will make their European debut if they take to the field on Saturday.
The one other change on the bench will see Nigel Brady providing cover at hooker instead of Andi Kyriacou, who will be given game time for the Ravens against Currie.
Commenting on the changes, McLaughlin said: “Declan has proved to be a very good tighthead prop. A couple of years ago against Stade Francais in this competition he proved what he is capable of at this level.
“To lose Paddy is a blow. After the World cup he came back itching to play and it’s very unfortunate for him. But in Nevin Spence we have an able replacement and we have no doubts he a can do an excellent job for us. We are very fortunate to have a lot of depth in that area with ian Whitten and also Luke Marshall who is making his way back from injury.”
McLaughlin continued: “Welford Road has always been a very difficult place to go. Maybe with the World Cup they haven’t got off to the best of starts but with their internationals back they will be a tough nut to crack. But we are going there full of confidence.”
Ulster (15-9): Simon Danielli, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Nevin Spence, Craig Gilroy, Ian Humphreys, Paul Marshall. (1-8): Tom Court, Rory Best, Declan Fitzpatrick, Johann Muller (capt), Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg. (16-23): Nigel Brady, Paddy McAllister, Adam Macklin, Louis Stevenson, Willie Faloon, Ian Porter, Paddy Jackson, Adam D’Arcy
Unavailable: Jared Payne (achilles), Luke Marshall (jaw), Jerry Cronin (neck), Ruan Pienaar (hamstring), Paddy Wallace (thumb), Stefan Terblanche (Bending and spreading in Immigration Control!)
Leicester (15-9): Geordan Murphy (c), Horacio Agulla, Matt Smith, Andy Forsyth, Alesana Tuilagi, Toby Flood, Sam Harrison. (1-8): Marcos Ayerza, George Chuter, Dan Cole, Louis Deacon, Geoff Parling, Tom Croft, Julian Salvi, Thomas Waldrom. (16-23): Rob Hawkins, Boris Stankovich, Martin Castrogiovanni, George Skivington, Steve Mafi, Ben Youngs, Jeremy Staunton, Niall Morris
These season defining games are coming along as thick and fast as a DFS sale these days but this one is certainly a contender as a solid benchmark in Ulster’s relentless march towards World Domination! It is genuinely one of those game for Ulster where the performance is more important though than the score, though come 19:40 tomorrow and Ulster have scraped through playing crap and bagging a win I’ll probably be too pissed to really care for a day or two.
Scanning my eye over the Ulster contenders it looks to me as though the game is going to come down to two people, namely, Dazzler and Deccy!
I’d guess that Dazzler’s going to be fielding more early balls than a Dutch tart when the Old Hornytonians 5th XV’s are in Amsterdam and the man with fashion model looks is going to have to fashion himself into a model fullback, powerful, pacey and above all confident under the high ball. Pumping them at Dazzler is definitley going to be Plan A for the poorly performing Leicester side and, like most AP teams, I don’t really think that they will have too much to offer in Plan’s B and C.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man and I think big Simon will SUFTUM tomorrow, giving Ulster a definite edge in the back line with Ulster finally clicking and stringing together a few moves they’ve been struggling to complete all season. However, up front things could be slightly different.
Step forward Declan Fitzpatrick.
Ulster’s season disintegrated in the front three when the Ospreys and Treviso tore them a new one and Leicester’s Plan A Part 2 is going to be tearing into Deccy as the injury prone prop will be seen as a definite weakness. While he is actually a good tight head, old Deccy does tend to go down as frequently as aforementioned Amsterdam tarts and losing him or Court would be a disaster for Ulster – but lets face it they are not going to be targeting Court. Ulster are going to need a solid 70 minutes out of Fitzpatrick in the set piece. He doesn’t need to do too much round the park, we’ve enough big bruisers for that caper, but my recurring nightmare over the last few nights involves pictures of the Leicester scrum plodding inextricably towards the Ulster line time after time, penalty try after penalty try!
The thought of it still makes me shudder but don’t despair ‘cos I’m actually quite upbeat about this one. No fumbles from Dazzler and a few solid scrums and a injury free game from Deccy and Ulster could have this won after twenty minutes. Nullify Plan A Parts 1 and 2 and this Leicester side don’t have that much to be worried about!
Ulster by 10!
Don’t forget that the match is on live and uninterrupted at the Errigle. See here for details.
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2 Responses to “Heineken Cup: Teams up for Leicester v Ulster”
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Very bullish Ed. I like it! A man after my own heart. Worth noting this Tigers side (although far from toothless) is not of the same calibre as those of more recent memory. I’ll take Ulster by 6. Roll on KO time tomorrow evening. Will be Standing Up and making a LOT of noise at Welford. SUFTU!!!!! Loud and Proud!
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If we win by 6 GC it will be a Heiny upset given our away form. Still one can always live, hope and watch the game through slitty fingers. SUFTUM
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