Ulster are primed not to fall prey to form side

Celtic League: The Celtic League palpably cranks up a notch or two this weekend, thanks in the main to the meeting of last year's runners-up Ulster, currently third, and the fast-starting Ospreys, who have flown out of the blocks with three handsome wins to open up a four-point lead at the top.

Ulster look reasonably primed for possibly the biggest test of their title credentials thus far.

By some distance Ireland's standard-bearers in this competition last season, a relatively settled Ulster squad not only benefited from Munster and Leinster's Test call-ups in a World Cup season, but also those that affected their Welsh and Scottish rivals.

Inheriting the head-coaching role from Alan Solomons, Mark McCall was one of the first to stress that, therefore, this season's campaign was always liable to more difficult for his younger, more indigenous team. In some respects, two weeks of interpros didn't shed too much light on their well-being.

Two away wins against Edinburgh and Munster, either side of a first home defeat in two years at the hands of Leinster, represents a satisfactory start - if not quite the results he or Ulster would have anticipated.

"Everybody was very hurt by the way we played against Leinster, but having said that we responded well against Connacht," says McCall. "We played very well against the wind in the first half and should have won more comfortably. The fear on the outside was that our pack wouldn't be able to cope with their pack but ultimately I think they did more than that."

A timely boost was the return of the talismanic David Humphreys and major summer signing Kevin Maggs. "It wasn't just that their performances were excellent," states McCall, "but they were so looking forward to a game as well.

"The Sportsground possibly isn't the ideal place to make your Ulster debut, but Maggsy (Kevin Maggs) was so pumped up for it and so excited about it all week it rubbed off on everybody else."

Although Tyrone Howe is available again, Ulster won't be significantly changed when McCall announces his side today. Apart from the Ospreys, and to a degree Leinster, no team has really established any consistency just yet, but what has pleased Ulster's rookie coach the most has been their response to what McCall describes as a couple of tricky situations.

"We got hammered in our final friendly away to the Gwent Dragons and went away to Edinburgh the next week and were 15-8 down. We showed a lot of character to win that game against the odds.

"Rugby-wise, our lineout has been much better so far than last year. That was our Achilles' heel last season but the boys and Clarkey (assistant coach Allen Clarke) have worked hard in the video room and on the training ground, and on Saturday we won 16 out of 19 lineouts against Connacht in awful conditions. So that's been pleasing."

Leinster's win over a seemingly stronger looking Munster didn't hugely surprise McCall, given they had experienced the new-found stubbornness in Declan Kidney's side a week before.

"I was very impressed by their togetherness, spirt and determination against us. To be honest," he adds, chuckling, "they had possibly lulled us into a false sense of security having watched the video of their game against Cardiff the week before. I was a little bit surprised by their performance against us but I'm sure Brads (Connacht coach Michael Bradley) was as surprised after watching our performance against Leinster. Obviously the key to winning matches is to play absolutely lousy the week before."

The Ospreys look like being the form side in Wales this year, and although they made a similar start last season before hitting an autumnal wall, Lynn Jones' squad looks much better equipped to sustain their initial momentum given their heavy recruitment drive during the off-season.

Thus far the Ospreys have accounted for Munster (34-17), the Llanelli Scarlets (23-6) and the Cardiff Blues (39-3).

"I'm actually thrilled we're playing a team like the Ospreys rather than someone who the boys just mightn't be as switched on for. We're definitely playing the form team in the league. They've thrashed everyone they've played against. They're like a Welsh international team, and they're capable of bullying you up front and cutting you up out wide.

"This will be their first game outside Wales, because their one away match was just five miles up the road. The following week we are idle so this is like the end of a three-month cycle for us since we came together at the start of pre-season and it would be a great way to end that three-month period. Certainly, it's going to give us a fair indication of where we're at."

FRIDAY

Celtic League: Cardiff Blues v Connacht, Arms Park (7.35); Glasgow Rugby v The Dragons, Hughendon (7.30); Leinster v The Borders, Donnybrook (7.30). Youths Interprovincial: Connacht v The Exiles, Corinthian Park (7.30).

SATURDAY

Celtic League: Llanelli Scarlets v Edinburgh Rugby, Stradey Park (5.30); Ulster v The Ospreys, Ravenhill (5.15). Munster (free). Women's Interprovincial Championship: Leinster v Ulster, Castle Avenue, (1.0). Women's Under-21 Interprovincial Championship: Munster v Leinster, Clanwilliam (12.0). Munster Senior Club League (3.0 unless stated): Cork Constitution v Waterpark, Temple Hill (2.00); Dolphin v Highfield, Musgrave Park; Garryowen v Clonakilty, Dooradoyle; Midleton v Bruff, Towns Park; Shannon v Young Munster, Coonagh; UL Bohemians v Sundays Well, Annacotty.

SUNDAY

Ulster Senior League (2.30): Ards v Dungannon, Hamilton Park; Ballymena v City of Derry, Eaton Park; Ballynahinch v Belfast Harlequins, Ballymacarn Park; Portadown v Malone, Chambers Park; Queen's University v Instonians, Dub Lane. Connacht Senior League: Ballina v Galwegians, Heffernan Park (2.0). Leinster Senior Cup (3.0): Section A - _ Blackrock College v Bective, Stradbrook; Suttonians v Greystones, Station Road. Section B - Wanderers v St. Mary's College, Lansdowne Road. Section C - Barnhall v Seapoint, Parsonstown; Old Wesley v Dublin University, Donnybrook. Section D - Monkstown v Naas, Sydney Parade; Terenure College v Skerries, Lakelands Park; UCD v Lansdowne, Belfield. Leinster Senior Club: Old Belvedere v Clontarf, Anglesea Road (3.0).