Paul Marshall will be a key figure for Ulster.
Brian McLaughlin has named an unchanged team for Ulster’s opening Heineken Cup Pool 4 match against ASM Clermont Auvergne on Saturday.
Captain Johann Muller and Ireland players Tom Court and Stephen Ferris have all shaken off injuries picked up during last week’s 22-3 win over Connacht.
There are two changes among the replacements with only Declan Fitzpatrick returning from injury in place of Adam Macklin and Willie Faloon coming in for Robbie Diack.
New signing John Afoa will make his European debut, just a week after making his first appearance for Ulster. The World Cup winning prop is surrounded by experience up front, with all eight forwards players having been capped at international level.
With Ruan Pienaar injured, Paul Marshall will again be handed the scrumhalf jersey and is partnered at half back by Ian Humphreys. Paddy Wallace and Darren Cave form the centre combination, while Simon Danielli will continue in the relatively unfamiliar fullback role.
Clermont have made good progress in the Top 14 despite having 12 players on World Cup duty in New Zealand. They currently trail Toulouse by just one point after 10 rounds, highlighting the difficulty of the task laying ahead for Ulster.
Brian McLaughlin is delighted to have Muller, Court and Ferris available and he can now name the same starting XV for the second consecutive week: “To have the three guys available is a brilliant boost for us, you need your key players on the pitch. We have some people in the squad who are understandably disappointed at missing out, but it shows the quality we have assembled. Continuity is very important and it gives us momentum going into what is a massive game for us.”
He continued: “Clermont are an exceptional side, they’ve proved that with their results in the Top 14. We are going to focus on us, cut out the errors and try to be a bit more clinical when opportunities arise.”
Ulster know that to do well in Europe, it is almost a pre-requisite to win your home games. Hooker Rory Best added: “I think people underestimate how much the crowd can lift the players during matches. They really are like a 16th man for us.”
Ulster: (15-9) Simon Danielli, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy, Ian Humphreys, Paul Marshall. (1-8) Tom Court, Rory Best, John Afoa, Johann Muller (capt), Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg. (16-23) Andi Kyriacou, Paddy McAllister, Declan Fitzpatrick, Louis Stevenson, Willie Faloon, Ian Porter, Nevin Spence, Adam D’Arcy
Clermont: (15-9) Byrne, Fofana, King, Rougerie, Nakaitaci, Skrela (o), Parra, (1-8) Faure, Kayser, Zirakashvili, Pierre, Hines,Vermeulen, Vosloo, Bonnaire. (16-23) Paulo, Kotze, White, Bardy, Senio, James, Buttin, Ric.
The season starts here and isn’t it great to have Heineken Cup action back at Ravers.
As predicted it’s an unchanged starting XV and I’m pleased to see Willie Faloon back in the squad but somewhat disappointed that it’s Diack that misses out. I do reckon though that Willie could be vital in the closing quarter if this turns out to be the close encounter that I expect.
Ulster look well set to bash the ball up the middle with Ferris, Wannenburg, Tuohy and Afoa all expected to drive it up and if they can recycle the ball and maintain possession they have every chance of doing well. Best will definitely help here but it puts a lot of pressure on Henry and expect his brief will be to run his legs off in the opening 50 with Faloon coming on in the last 30 to add a bit of guile and hopefully help Ulster close out the game.
A lot of Ulster’s game is resting on the shoulder of Ulster’s Paul Marshall, who is up against a world class opponent in Parra, and the wee man needs the game of his life. Despite having his knockers the wee man may actually be more suited than Pienaar to counter the French scrum half so in this game I’m not overly concerned. Both will be sniping and probing and if there is one thing that is guaranteed with Marshall it has to be that he won’t back down or give up for the full 80 minutes.
Danielli’s the only real worry in the back line, due to his lack of familiarity at fullback, and I’m sure the French will be testing him early on. If he comes through the opening ten minutes unscathed it should be a good afternoon for Ulster.
Ulster to win by 10. Get feckin stuck into them!
Avoid the usual parking restrictions by starting and finishing off at The Errigle. Ulster’s favourite rugby pub will be showing Montpellier v Leinster from 1:30 and Munster v Northampton from 6:00pm so make it a Super Saturday and get in three of the great games in Irish Rugby! Full details here.
If you are coming to Ravehill from the other side of town call in at the Belvedere on Cregagh Road for your pre or post match meal. The Belvedere are offering 20% off this Saturday - get your voucher here.
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