No big changes as Pienaar starts at scrum half. Picture from rugbypicture.co.uk
Ian Humphreys (hamstring) and Pedrie Wannenburg (ankle) have won their fitness battles and have been named in Brian McLaughlin’s starting XV to face the Leicester Tigers in the sold-out Heineken Cup clash at Ravenhill tomorrow, Friday 13th January, kick off 8pm.
The starting XV shows just one change from that named ahead of last week’s match against Edinburgh with Paddy Wallace, who made a 20 minute cameo on his return from a hand injury named in the centre. He replaces Ian Whitten who moves to the bench.
The whole team has performed well in recent weeks but we have worked on a few things in training this week to ensure that we are in peak condition and are raring to go.
The game at Welford Road in Round 2 was very tight and we were really disappointed to come away with nothing.
To beat Leicester, you have to beat them up front. They play a game based on their set-piece, and that aspect of the game will be crucial for us.
Elsewhere amongst the replacements Nigel Brady is preferred to Andi Kyriacou to cover the hooker berth and will make his 100th appearance for Ulster should he take the field during the game.
Nigel has been a fantastic servant to Ulster Rugby over the years.
He is an integral member of the squad and has the respect of his team mates and all the staff at Ulster Rugby. He is an Ulsterman through and through and he takes great pride in his performance when he takes the field.
The Ulster players, management and supporters got an extra boost ahead of the game this week with yesterday’s news that scrum-halves Ruan Pienaar and Paul Marshall have each committed to the club for another two years.
It’s great to have Ruan and Paul with us for another couple of years” said the Ulster Coach.
They have both shown this season that they are excellent players and it’s a great boost that they’ve decided to stay. Paul is unlucky not to be starting this week; it was a very tight call. Depending on what way the game is going, he is a great option to have on the bench because we know he can make a real impact if he comes on.
ULSTER (15-9): Stefan Terblanche, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy, Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar. (1-8): Tom Court, Rory Best, John Afoa, Johann Muller (Captain), Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg. (16-23): Nigel Brady, Callum Black, Adam Macklin, Louis Stevenson, Willie Faloon, Paul Marshall, Ian Whitten, Adam D’Arcy
Leicester (15-9): Geordan Murphy, Horacio Agulla, Matt Smith, Anthony Allen, Alesana Tuilagi, Billy Twelvetrees, Ben Youngs. (1-8): Marcos Ayerza, Rob Hawkins, Martin Castrogiovanni, Steve Mafi, Geoff Parling, Tom Croft, Jules Salvi. (16-23): George Chuter, Boris Stankovich, Dan Cole, Ed Slater, Ben Woods, Sam Harrison, Jeremy Staunton, Scott Hamilton.
So it looks as it’s going to be a bit of an arm wrestle up front with Ulster wheeling out the big boys in the back row yet again.
I would have liked to see Faloon start along with the Marshall/Pienaar partnership to get a bit of pace in the game early and run the big Leicester fatties round the pitch for a while.
However, not a game for bitching about selection.
This is just one of those games were any win will do, and if we stick it up them and prevent them picking up any sort of points then so much the better.
It was always going to be down as to who can win the forward battle and certainly our boys are well rested and will be well up for what they must regard as their game of the season. At least, with this selection, once we’ve smashed them senseless for 60 minutes we’ll be able to bring a on a bit of pace around the breakdown to finish them off!
Bonus point win for Ulster in a surprisingly high scoring game!
More like this:
2 Responses to “Heineken Cup: Ulster and Leicester teams now up.”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
John
I doubt if Faloon would add much to the pace of Ulster round the pitch in this game but like you I would have preferred a Marshall/ Pienaar half back partnership. The key player in the backrow is Ferris as the ball carrier and ruck cleaner ( man– not ball ) With Leicester attacking the edges of ruck and maul brawn will be the key in the backrow rather than pace.
While Pienaar’s pass provides Humphreys with space it unfortunately reduces the space for the players outside him. whereas Marshall may not provide Pienaar with same space as Humphreys would have Pienaars long pass benefits centres and wingers.
The major threat to Ulsters happiness is Youngs at scrumhalf and Ulster’s vunerable gainline in defence
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
1 
3
looking forward to watch the game – at least it is televised on our side of the planet.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0