Ulster pack may not be enough

RUGBY Ulster v Leinster:THERE IS a system in place designed to ensure international players will be ideally conditioned come the Six Nations and World Cup in New Zealand next year, but is this not a perfect opportunity (wasted) to let Mike Ross and Tom Court go toe-to-toe as the Irish management attempt to improve the clearly malfunctioning problems of the scrum?

Court, along with Andrew Trimble, has been withdrawn by the Irish management ahead of this hugely-important interprovincial when Magners League standings are considered. In reality, though, this once season-defining fixture is way down the pecking order. Hence the removal of the frontline internationals. Unless, as in the case of Brian O’Driscoll, they are in need of game time.

Crucially for Leinster, Seán O’Brien and Leo Cullen have not been withdrawn, although it is unclear where these in-form players are in the race for the Irish lock and backrow slots. Again, both have had their seasons stymied by operations and injuries but are, O’Brien in particular, screaming out for inclusion in the Irish team that takes the field in Rome on February 11th.

Almost a lifetime of rugby will pass before that date. O’Brien shifts to number eight to be joined by a futuristic looking backrow in which Rhys Ruddock is on the blindside flank and Dominic Ryan will attempt to outplay Ulster’s Chris Henry on the openside. Willie Faloon may join in this skirmish as matters develop.

Devon Toner partners Cullen in the secondrow as he seeks to show the benefits of exposure to the All Blacks last month.

Ulster’s promising loosehead Paddy McAllister gets an opportunity as Court is rested in a pack half loaded with South Africans. The message is the same Ulster have been sending out to all teams this season: prepare for a war.

“Both times we’ve played up there during my time here have been massively confrontational games,” agreed Leinster forwards coach Jonno Gibbs (never one to hide from that sort of thing himself).

“The weather dictated that neither team could have a good crack at each other last year, but the game the previous year was played on a crisp clear night and it was a pretty fiery encounter.

“The lessons that you learn from being involved in interprovincial derbies is that these are the games that no one wants to lose.”

The problem during these strange, wintry days has been preparation, mainly due to the lack of indoor facilities suitable to professional sport.

“I think that the players have handled the weather disruptions really well, and with the lack of training pitches and indoor facilities we have just gotten on with our preparations and have soldiered along,” added Gibbs.

Ulster seem to have an edge up front as Leinster rest Clermont conquerors Shane Jennings, Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Nathan Hines and Jamie Heaslip, but the role reversal is apparent in the backline.

The continued absence of Darren Cave through injury means Nevin Spence gets to fulfil what is presumably a childhood aspiration of testing himself against O’Driscoll. Paddy Wallace and Trimble are replaced by Ian Whitten and the exciting wing prospect Craig Gilroy.

Ian Humphreys injured his ankle, so Niall O’Connor comes in at outhalf as Ulster continue with Ruan Pienaar at scrumhalf to the detriment of the home-grown Paul Marshall’s progress.

There are enough indications from the line-ups that Leinster can do enough to resist Johann Muller and the Ulster pack, and their refusal to take a step back against Clermont should spur the next wave on, while O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan and Isa Nacewa are looking razor-sharp.

Now all we need is a game. It is already an 11,700 sell-out and 150 of those ticket holders were out on the pitch yesterday morning shovelling off the snow. We also hear tentative reports that the thaw has arrived in Belfast.

The breaking of the dawn will tell us more.

ULSTER: A D'Arcy; C Gilroy, N Spence, I Whitten, S Danielli; N O'Connor, R Pienaar; P McAllister, N Brady, BJ Botha; J Muller (capt), D Tuohy; P Wannenburg, C Henry, R Diack. Replacements: A Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick, B Young, T Barker, W Faloon, P Marshall, L Marshall, T Seymour.

LEINSTER: I Nacewa; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, F McFadden, D Kearney; S Berne, I Boss; H van der Merwe, J Harris-Wright, M Ross; L Cullen (capt), D Toner; R Ruddock, D Ryan, S O'Brien. Replacements: A Dundon, J McGrath, C Newland, E O'Donoghue, B Marshall, P O'Donohoe, I Madigan, A Conway.

Referee: G Clancy(IRFU).

Betting: Ulster (-4) 10/11, Leinster (+4) 10/11

Formguide: Leinster 24-8 Clermont; Clermont 20-13 Leinster; Scarlets 17-17 Leinster; Bath 22-26 Ulster; Ulster 22-18 Bath; Treviso 9-19 Ulster.

Verdict: Leinster to win.