[tag=image]data:image/jpeg;base64,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[/tag][tag=content]And then there were two. Games that is, not teams.
In fact we have reached a stage where just one of the teams has guaranteed themselves a place in the last four of the Pro12, and that side just happens to be facing us tomorrow night. Instead, there are four sides battling it out for three places in the Pro12 play-offs, and if your maths is better than mine (which I sincerely hope it is) then you will realise that that means one side will have to drop out.
It looks increasingly likely now that they have leapfrogged us and Munster into second place, that Glasgow will take one of those play-off berths as they face the Italian duo of Treviso and Zebre to complete their regular season. Likewise our southern cousins Munster who after they face Edinburgh this weekend, take on us at Thomond Park, hoping to avenge their Heineken Cup knock-out last week with a top two finish. They should do it too.
And then there were two. And this time I do mean teams.
We all know what needs to be done by now. 5 points and we will be in the play-offs for a second consecutive season, albeit by the skin of our teeth and more than likely away to our interprovincial rivals down in Dublin. Injuries have blighted us and we may not yet be back to full strength, but the financial benefits, plus the ever so small chance that we may still win the thing outright will keep our belief high heading into May.
If we needed any more motivation though, it would come in the form of the Ospreys. Our biggest rivals for fourth spot in the league, they will have to tackle relatively simple opposition in Zebre and Connacht as they try to defy the odds and snatch away that final play-off spot from under our noses. With ten points probably heading back to the Liberty Stadium over the next two weeks, it means that five points is not just a number we have to aim for – it’s a minimum number we must get.
Pressure? You bet. And that pressure will take its toll as Leinster come calling on a special night at Ravenhill as the new Grandstand is finally unveiled and opened to the public, in preparation for a few big games coming back to Belfast next season. So if you are heading out to the game, make sure you’re down at least 45 minutes before kick-off, I have been told you are in for a bit of a treat before the main event!
As far as the game goes, it doesn’t get much harder than this. Leinster have walked this league from day one and barring any serious mistakes on their part, first place in the seedings should be theirs, and yet another Grand Final should grace the RDS pitch. Although they were tamely dumped out of the Heineken Cup by Toulon (who I think we are all backing to win the final), they are undoubtedly the best team in the Pro12 and they will pose us an infinite number of challenges all over the park as they aim to wrap up first place a week early.
In fact, it is fitting that all but three of their matchday twenty-three have been capped internationally, proving just how strong this side is. They may not possess the same quality as Leinster teams of old under Joe Schmidt, but that doesn’t make them any less of a threat. If we are to win this game, and have any sort of ambitions to win this league, then four points here is the bare minimum.
So what have we got? Motivation, check. Quality opposition, check. New stadium, check. Team…er, not quite. When you consider that this week we will still be missing Ruan Pienaar, Rory Best, Declan Fitzpatrick (best of wishes to him on his recovery), Dan Tuohy and Roger Wilson all through injury, you see how much our team has been decimated recently. You want to see both sides put out their strongest teams and go hell for leather at each other but sadly that is not possible.
Therefore, this will be the biggest test of character we’ve had in a long time. But the league is not the same as the Heineken Cup – it is not won by the strongest first team, but by the strongest squad. We can make every excuse under the sun as regards to our injury situation and why we’ll miss out on the top four, but in reality the top four position should have been wrapped up at this stage already. As it is, our squad now have to get us there whatever way they can.
That squad will be tested as three changes are made by Anscombe to the Ulster starting team, including the return of Jared Payne who will start at outside centre in place of Darren Cave. Up front sees Andrew Warwick start at tighthead prop in the absence of John Afoa and Ricky Lutton while Roger Wilson is fit enough to start at blindside flanker with Sean Doyle dropping to the bench and Chris Henry starting at openside. Callum Black and Dan Tuohy both return from injury to be named on the bench.
Matt O'Connor makes one more change to his side, four in total, as his side look to guarantee themselves top spot in the Pro12. In the back line Gordon D'Arcy is named at inside centre ahead of Noel Reid while Darragh Fanning, man-of-the-match against Treviso, makes way for Dave Kearney on the wing. Ian Madigan is preferred to Jimmy Gopperth at fly-half. In the pack there is just one change as Shane Jennings is recalled to the starting XV at the expense of Jordi Murphy at openside. Luke Fitzgerald is named amongst the replacements.
Opening night at Ravenhill, the curtain will go up and we will have a massive interprovincial match on our hands. It is a must win, we cannot look any further than that. For all the people who say they don’t want to reach the play-offs of the Pro12, on our day we can beat anyone and therefore winning the league isn’t even beyond us.
Let’s hope tomorrow night we show that we can beat anyone.
Ulster Rugby vs. Leinster Rugby
Friday 2nd May, 19:30
Ravenhill
RaboDirect Pro12 – Round 21
ULSTER RUGBY
15. Ricky Andrew, 14. Andrew Trimble, 13. Jared Payne, 12. Luke Marshall, 11. Tommy Bowe, 10. Paddy Jackson, 9. Paul Marshall; 1. Tom Court, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Andrew Warwick, 4. Johann Muller (capt), 5. Iain Henderson, 6. Roger Wilson, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Nick Williams.
16. Niall Annett, 17. Callum Black, 18. Adam Macklin, 19. Lewis Stevenson, 20. Sean Doyle, 21. Michael Heaney, 22. James McKinney, 23. Darren Cave.
LEINSTER RUGBY
15. Rob Kearney, 14. Zane Kirchner, 13. Brian O’Driscoll, 12. Gordon D’Arcy, 11. Dave Kearney, 10. Ian Madigan, 9. Isaac Boss; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Martin Moore, 4. Devin Toner, 5. Mike McCarthy, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 7. Shane Jennings, 8. Jamie Heaslip (capt).
16. Richardt Strauss, 17. Jack McGrath, 18. Mike Ross, 19. Leo Cullen, 20. Jordi Murphy, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Jimmy Gopperth, 23. Luke Fitzgerald.
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU, 1st competition game)
Assistant Referees: John Lacey, David Connolly (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (IRFU)
TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)[/tag]
Match Preview: Ulster Rugby v Leinster Rugby
Moderator: Moderators