POOL A
Ebbw Vale v Ulster - Cross Park (7.05)
This should revive some happy memories for the Ulstermen, for it was a trip to Ebbw Vale and a stunning seven-try win which kick-started their eight-match wining run to European Cup glory. Alas, they'll have to invoke the spirit of three years ago without the services of their two-try talisman that day (and most days), David Humphreys, who has been ruled out with his shoulder injury.
Judging clinically on their end game without him in Donnybrook, this looks particularly difficult for Ulster right now, but then again their summer recruit from UCD, Paddy Wallace, has been making a game fist of full back, overcame his early error against Leinster with impressive mental strength, and may well revel in a return to his best position.
Jonathan Bell is also ruled out, but Ryan Constable and James Topping return to give them a serious cutting edge. This looks virtually a must win for Ulster after three winless games, and on a line through Leinster it should be achievable against Mike Ruddock's outfit, who move Gareth Cull to full back and bring in another kilted Kiwi, Aaron Takarangi, on the wing.
EBBW VALE: G Cull; A Takarangi, R Shorney, D Weatherley, A Wagstaff; S Mitchell, G Betts; I Thomas, L Phillips, M Jones, C Billen (capt), N Edwards, K Tuiguloto, W Thomas, P Williams. Replacements: D Penisini, J Evans, P Sidoli, G Green, K Ellis, P Mat hews, N McKin.
ULSTER: N Malone; J Topping, R Constable, A Larkin, T Howe; P Wallace, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best, M Blair, J Davidson, A Ward, R Nelson, N McMillan. Replacements: R Weir, C Boyd, G Longwell, T McWhirter, B Free, S Stewart, AN Other.
Previous meetings: ('98-99 ERC) Ebbw Vale 28 Ulster 61, Ulster 43 Ebbw Vale 13.
Formguide: Ebbw Vale: 16-46 v Llanelli (a), 18-13 v Pontypridd (h), 13-55 v Leinster (a), 21-26 v Swansea (h). Ulster: 30-13 v Swansea (h), 25-25 v Glasgow (a), 26-27 v Llanelli (h), 9-31 v Leinster (a).
Leading try scorers: Ebbw Vale: Williams, Weatherley, Wagstaff, Mitchell 1 each. Ulster: Free, Shields, J Topping, Constable, Nelson, Wallace 1 each.
Leading points scorers: Ebbw Vale: Gareth Cull 37. Ulster: David Humphreys 50.
Referee: T Spreadbury (England).
Forecast: Ulster to win.
POOL B
Connacht v Neath - Sportsground (6.15)
Connacht must be getting sick of Neath, their runaway pool winners in the Shield last season.
Even though Steph Nel's men avenged a heavy away defeat when scraping through in the Sportsground, that was a dead rubber, and Neath have since strengthened noticeably with the acquisition of the classy Allan Bateman and the prolific Lee Jarvis.
Granted, Connacht have rolled up their sleeves and revived the spirit of four seasons ago judging by their physical and committed effort against Munster, and certainly don't look inclined to roll over and have their bellies tickled. Their need is the greater, too, as a win seems imperative to make the quarter-finals but, ominously, Neath retain a dozen of the team which accounted for Munster.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; P Duignan, D Yapp, T Allnutt, W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; D McFarland, M Uijs, P Bracken, R Frost, M McConnell (capt), P Neville, D Dillon, J O'Connor. Replacements: R McCormack, T Kearns, A Maher, J Carlie, M McHugh, C Keane, M McPhail.
NEATH: S Connor; D Tiueti, J Storey, A Bateman, K James; L Jarvis, A Moore; D Jones, S Jones, A Howell, S Martin, G llewellyn (capt), R Francis, A Mocelutu, B Sinkinson. Replacements: M Price, P Horgan, P Jones, B Williams, J Slade, A Millwood, R Phill ips.
Previous meetings: (2000-1) Neath 45 Connacht 0; Connacht 13 Neath 11.
Formguide: Connacht: 6-3 v Cardiff (a); 21-30 v Edinburgh (h); 19-40 v Munster (a). Neath: 43-13 v Caerphilly (a), 25-14 v Cardiff (h), 32-20 v Edinburgh (a).
Leading try scorers: Connacht: Pat Duignan, Des Dillon, Eoin Reddan 1 each. Neath: Lee Jarvis, Sean Connor, Dave Tiueti 2 each.
Leading points scorers: Connacht: Eric Elwood 31. Neath: Lee Jarvis 76.
Referee: J Yuillie (Scotland).
Forecast: Neath to win.
Munster v Newport - Musgrave Park (7.35) Live on TG4 and Eurosport.
Always fearful/hopeful (dilute to taste) of signs of a chink or two in their armour, Munster's defeat in Neath will have raised as many eyebrows as any other result in the fledgling stages of the season. Lee Jarvis' quick tap and try against an unsuspecting defence suggests Munster weren't quite switched on as if for a Euro tie, which is perhaps to be suspected, and a phlegmatic Declan Kidney reasons: "I suppose a greater load of matches in a season will make it more difficult to avoid defeat, simply by the law of averages."
Even so, the Munster brains trust and their players will be keen for an immediate response to that wake-up call. A little unnervingly though it is, Newport have the additional spur of vengeance for defeat in last season's cracking couple of clashes. "I'd liken it to the pre-season game against Bath," admitted Kidney, in reference to another game Munster lost.
Even so, Newport have curiously left their creator in chief and finisher in chief, Shane Howarth and Matt Mostyn, on the bench, whilst the double try scorer in Thomond last season, Ben Breeze, is injured. No harm either.
MUNSTER: D Crotty; J O'Neill, J Kelly, J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; P Clohessy, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M Galwey (capt), M O'Driscoll, A Quinlan, A Foley, D Wallace. Replacements: M Horan/M Cahill, J Blaney, P O'Connell, J Williams, M Prendergast, M Mullins, J Staunton.
NEWPORT: E Lewis; M Mostyn, A Marinos, J Pritchard, M Watkins; J Strange, D Burn; R Snow, J Richards, A Garvey, S Raiwalui (capt), M Voyle, P Buxton, A Powell, G Gravell. Replacements (from): C Anthony, P Young, G Taylor, J Forster, M Pini, S Howarth, L Lane.
Previous meetings: (2000-1 ERC) Munster 26 Newport 18, Newport 24 Munster 39.
Formguide: Munster: 25-22 v Edinburgh (a); 40-19 v Connacht (h); 22-30 v Neath (a).
Newport: 50-22 v Caerphilly (h), 14-20 v Cardiff (a), 29-11 v Edinburgh (h).
Leading try scorers: Munster: Wallace, Staunton, O'Neill, Horan, Galwey 1 each. Newport: Ben Breeze, Andy Marinos 2 each.
Leading points scorers: Munster: Jeremy Staunton 47. Newport: Shane Howarth 41.
Referee: I Ramage (Scotland).
Forecast: Munster to win.
Also playing: Edinburgh Rugby v Caerphilly, Myreside (7.30).
