Giant-killers Ulster face further trial

Ulster were handed another gargantuan assignment in Paris yesterday evening when they were drawn against top French side Stade Francais in the semi-finals of the European Cup, albeit in Belfast.

Ravenhill Two is in the pre-production stage, but it promises to be another blockbuster. The home draw fosters dreams that the northern province can emulate Friday night's success when they edged past Toulouse 15-13 in a wonderfully compelling encounter.

Ulster coach Harry Williams refused to be daunted by a French team who thrashed Pontypridd 71-14 in the quarter-finals, preferring to focus on the fact that the match will be in Ravenhill, a mecca for Ulster ambition this season. "It's a fantastic draw, the best Christmas present I could have received.

"Realistically, they are favourites to win the tournament outright, but in all cup competitions there is scope for the underdog to prevail and we certainly believe that we are capable of producing those performance levels in front of our own supporters."

The semi-finals - the other pits Colomiers, quarter-final conquerers of Munster, against Perpignan, the team that headed Declan Kidney's men at the Pool stages - are to take place on the weekend of January 9th-10th. Williams was hoping that the Stade Francais game might take place on the Friday night, but that appears unlikely.

"From what I am told at this stage, it looks like Saturday afternoon as the French television companies have invested a great deal of money in the competition. I would dearly love it to be a Friday night."

The affable Ulster coach admitted he would be straight on the phone to his Leinster counterpart, Mike Ruddock, this morning to request videos and also whatever information could be gleaned on the Parisian side. Leinster faced Stade Francais twice at the Pool stage, losing 28-17 at Donnybrook and 56-31 in Paris.

Williams admitted: "I think that Leinster showed in the Donnybrook match that Stade Francais are fallible. They (Leinster) had them beaten and outplayed for a long time in that match. We are aware of their quality, but as the Toulouse result demonstrated, we don't need to fear anyone."

Last Friday night was an occasion that has never been bettered in Williams's long association with Ulster rugby. "It was a fantastic evening, the atmosphere was wonderful, the best I can ever remember without a shadow of a doubt. The place was still bunged up 10 minutes after the final whistle.

"There are so many memories, but I think one incident that everyone will recall is the fax we received from Clinton van Rensburg (he played in Ulster's Pool matches before joining Swansea) in which he said it was an honour and privilege to play with `the White Knights', as he calls us, and went on to wish us all the best.

"The magnitude of the achievement did not really sink in until about an hour afterwards. Even when I was sitting at home yesterday watching the video of the match, I was still nervous. I was slightly superstitious, so I didn't look any further than the Toulouse match.

"Tomorrow I will go into the office and set about planning for the semi-final, sitting down with the clubs and trying to do my best not to disrupt the All-Ireland League fixtures too much."

Williams confirmed that captain David Humphreys who injured his shoulder following his last minute try-saving tackle on Michel Marfaing was optimistic about making the semi-final. "It's a dislocation not a fracture so that's better. We will know more in about five or six days."

He also confirmed that there was a possibility that long-term injury victim Mark McCall could be available, although given the serious nature of the problem, they would be very careful about his return to action.

The Ulster team meet later this morning but will wait until next weekend to celebrate their victory over Toulouse properly. A "light lunch" is planned and no doubt one toast will be to inspirational flanker Andy Ward and wife Wendy, the proud parents of baby Zac, born last Friday night.

Semi-Finals

European Cup Semi-Finals - Colomiers v Perpignan; Ulster v Stade Francais.

European Shield Semi-Finals - Bourgoin v Brive Montferrand v Narbonne Ties to be played on January 9th/10th.