RUGBY:THESE INTERPROVINCIAL meetings over the Christmas period have been demeaned in recent years by scheduling and the IRFU player management scheme but this is a new low.
On release of the Ulster starting XV at noon yesterday this reporter attempted to place a sizeable bet on Leinster at 10 to 11 with a handicap of minus 11. We were informed that betting on that game had been suspended. When it came back on the market later in the afternoon the new handicap was minus 24 points.
Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin evidently believes there is a greater chance of beating Munster on December 30th in Belfast (they have not won in Dublin since August 1999) with a full-strength squad.
As a result, there is not a single nailed-on starter in his team with fullback Peter Nelson and centres Chris Farrell and Michael Allen making their debuts. Callum Black also gets his first start at loosehead prop with Ali Birch another debutant at openside flanker.
It is hard to see the benefit for these five being exposed to the rampantly in-form Leinster with no senior playing support around them. Really, the entire frontline Ulster side has the weekend off with Tom Court the only player of recognised impact held in reserve.
It shows their lack of squad depth in comparison to Leinster and even Munster. It may also indicate why they are eighth in the Pro12 table, just five points ahead of Connacht, who haven’t won since September.
Last season they were blown away by Leinster at Ravenhill despite the visitors fielding second-string options in several positions. Despite Ulster progress, via the recruitment of South Africans and John Afoa, the gulf between the provinces remains significant but shouldn’t be as glaring as the expected result here.
With Ian Madigan at outhalf for Leinster, Fergus McFadden is expected to take over kicking duties.
There are other notable changes. Luke Fitzgerald is at fullback, the position where he played himself out of World Cup squad contention last season.
Last weekend Joe Schmidt reaped the benefits of a rejuvenated Fitzgerald with a fine two-try scoring display from left wing against Bath. The Leinster coach ran him at inside centre during the World Cup. With Rob Kearney and Isa Nacewa rested, Andrew Conway or Dave Kearney could have been picked at fullback but he chose the more experienced Fitzgerald.
Schmidt clearly feels the 24- year-old can play anywhere from 12 to 15.
Conway has made the bench while Kearney and Fionn Carr get much anticipated chances to shine on the wings.
The pack, led by Shane Jennings, should be dominant even if they unload the bench where Steven Sykes and Jamie Hagan, in particular, must be keen to make a statement having both struggled for minutes since arriving last summer.
Sykes came from the Natal Sharks and was expected to be the man to cover Mal O’Kelly’s departure but injury and illness keep him behind Damian Browne and Devin Toner in the queue.
Hagan knew he would be cover for Irish tighthead Mike Ross but he probably didn’t expect Leinster to recruit a New Zealander who plays in his position. Nathan White’s selection on the bench for the European outings has confined Hagan to the A team so far. And that surely wasn’t in the plan when he returned from Connacht.
The Ulster selection should ensure a heavy flow of one-way traffic from early on and that is a shame because it was traditionally the greatest internal rugby rivalry this island could produce.
LEINSTER: L Fitzgerald; D Kearney, F McFadden, G D’Arcy, F Carr; I Madigan, E Reddan; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross, D Browne, D Toner, K McLaughlin, S Jennings (capt), L Auva’a. Replacements: R Strauss, J McGrath, J Hagan, S Sykes, R Ruddock, I Boss, E O’Malley, A Conway.
ULSTER: P Nelson; C Cochrane, M Allen, C Farrell, S Danielli; J McKinney, P Marshall; C Black, N Brady (capt), A Macklin, T Barker, L Stevenson, N McComb, A Birch, R Diack. Replacements: N Annett, J Cronin, T Court, J Stimpson, C Joyce, I Porter, S Olding, C Gaston.
Referee: P Fitzgibbon (IRFU).
Betting: Leinster (-24) 10/11 (Paddy Power).
Previous meetings: Leinster 18, Ulster 3 (May 2011); Leinster 34, Ulster 26 (April 2011); Ulster 13, Leinster 30 (Dec 2010).
Formguide: Leinster 52, Bath 27; Bath 13, Leinster 18; Leinster 52, Blues 9.
Aironi 20, Ulster 46; Ulster 31, Aironi 10; Ulster 24, Scarlets 17.
Verdict: Leinster win.
