Match Preview: Ulster Rugby v Scarlets

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[tag=image]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... go.svg.png[/tag][tag=content]To try or not to try, that is the question.

The defeats to Leicester and Toulon seem a lifetime ago and with tails between our legs and a dejected look on our faces we slunk away from our opening two Champions’ Cup games with just a solitary point to our names – and a lucky point at that when you consider our opening half at Welford Road. And now it leaves us facing something of a dilemma coming into what should be two exciting back-to-back games with the Scarlets.

As many advocate, there is very much an argument for writing off Europe completely, sending the Ravens over to Llanelli next Sunday (likely to be thrashed as per usual) and focussing mainly on the Pro12 where we are still in a very good position regardless of last week’s disappointment at Thomond Park.

Then again, it would be criminal to forget about Europe, wouldn’t it? Anything is possible in the Heineken Cup (or whatever we call it now) and should we land two five pointers over the next two weeks then we could be heading to Nice in January with nothing to lose and everything to gain, much like when we went to Clermont in 2012. And in that frame of mind then you wouldn’t put it past us to pull out one of the most remarkable wins in our history would you?

True, we’d probably then lose at home to Leicester the next week!

Of course, as per usual I have gone into hypothetical mode – we still have two very tricky games against the Scarlets to come. Let’s not forget that these guys have already defeated Leicester in this competition and thoroughly outplayed us on the opening day of the season, only to throw it away in the final few minutes. They are a dangerous side and even though they sit in seventh in the Pro12 they will still pose us a lot of problems. Four wins in the league belies the fact that they have been playing quite well this season, with Wayne Pivac introducing a popular new brand of rugby to Llanelli this season.

We have the team to take them on though, especially with Dan Tuohy and everyone’s favourite scrum-half Ruan Pienaar back on board and ready to go. Last Friday’s defeat had peaks and troughs, maybe with more troughs than peaks admittedly, but even more of a reason for the guys to get a morale-boosting victory and preferably one with four tries.

Don’t forget we have the psychological advantage too after our opening day meeting. A 32-32 draw suited us far more and saw us pull back from a seemingly impossible position to take three points from the Parc y Scarlets. If we can grab four tries, then why can’t we get four tries tomorrow night? There is nothing for us to be afraid of.

Only four changes for Ulster, including the returns of Tommy Bowe, Ruan Pienaar and Dan Tuohy to the starting line-up. Bowe takes his place on the wing with Louis Ludik moving to full-back and Stuart Olding shifting to the centre. Pienaar replaces Paul Marshall in his first game for Ulster since May. Tuohy comes in for Alan O’Connor at lock, while Robbie Diack is brought into the back row instead of Sean Reidy, who isn’t registered for the Champions’ Cup.

Meanwhile our visitors have made seven changes to the team that lost 14-8 to Connacht last weekend, with all of their Welsh internationals straight back into their starting line-up. Our favourite full-back Liam Williams is named at full-back ahead of Steffan Evans, while Michael Tagicakibau switches to the wing to accommodate Scott Williams in the centre with Rhys Priestland coming in at fly-half. Rob Evans, Emyr Phillips and Samson Lee all return to make up a brand new front row while Jake Ball has passed a concussion test to start at lock ahead of George Earle. Rory Pitman is also brought into the back row in place of the injured John Barclay.

I think it is safe to say that our European aspirations hinge on tomorrow’s game. Arguably anything less than a four try bonus point win and we face no knock-out rugby in April – however given where we are as a squad, maybe that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Still, it’s always nice to be amongst the eight best sides in Europe when the big games roll around and in order for that to happen, we have to start pulling out big performances too.

Let’s give it a lash and see what happens, shall we?

Ulster Rugby vs. Scarlets
Saturday 6th December, 19:45
Kingspan Stadium
Rugby Champions’ Cup – Pool Game 3

Live on BT Sport 2

ULSTER RUGBY
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Tommy Bowe, 13. Darren Cave, 12. Stuart Olding, 11. Craig Gilroy, 10. Ian Humphreys, 9. Ruan Pienaar; 1. Callum Black, 2. Rory Best (capt.), 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Dan Tuohy, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 6. Robbie Diack, 7. Roger Wilson, 8. Nick Williams.

16. Rob Herring, 17. Andrew Warwick, 18. Declan Fitzpatrick, 19. Alan O’Connor, 20. Clive Ross, 21. Paul Marshall, 22. Stuart McCloskey, 23. Michael Allen.

SCARLETS
15. Liam Williams, 14. Harry Robinson, 13. Regan King, 12. Scott Williams (capt.), 11. Michael Tagicakibau, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Aled Davies; 1. Rob Evans, 2. Emyr Phillips, 3. Samson Lee, 4. Jake Ball, 5. Johan Snyman, 6. Aaron Shingler, 7. James Davies, 8. Rory Pitman.

16. Kirby Myhill, 17. Phil John, 18. Rhodri Jones, 19. George Earle, 20. Lewis Rawlins, 21. Aled Davies, 22. Steven Shingler, 23. Gareth Owen.

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Tim Wigglesworth, Gareth Copsey (both RFU)
TMO: Trevor Fisher (RFU)
Timekeeper: Scottie Rankin (IRFU)
Assessor: Bertie Smith (IRFU)[/tag]