Match Preview: Ulster Rugby vs. Cardiff Blues

[ADM]

[tag=image]http://cdn.soticservers.net/tools/image ... 250/14.png[/tag][tag=content]Ulster v Wales Part III, coming to stadiums in Belfast this Friday…

Well, that’s what it feels like considering this is our third consecutive game against Welsh opposition, despite them being several weeks apart. And what a few weeks it has been too as we watched Ireland sneak a Six Nations retention on what was a thrilling day of rugby last Saturday – and what could be more pleasing than not only seeing Ireland win but also seeing England throw it away at the last minute?

However, we are not interested in Ireland anymore – Ulster are back!

It’s been three weeks since the disaster in Newport, and whether you’ve got over it or not, hopefully the pain of being humbled by one of the bottom three sides in the Pro12 will be motivation enough for us to buck up our ideas and get back on the winning trail ahead of five crucial games in our Pro12 run-in – you don’t get much tougher finishes than we have to conclude our season: Cardiff (H), Connacht (A), Leinster (H), Munster (H) and Glasgow (A).

I don’t like the “we have so many cup finals left” phrase that coaches and managers always come out with because strictly speaking it isn’t true. But you can’t help feeling that we cannot afford too many more losses if we want to be in the top four at the end of the season – four wins will probably be enough but three might be pushing it. That means starting tomorrow night we must be in the correct mind-set as well as in good form.

With the utmost respect for Cardiff, if we have any aspirations of finishing in the play-off places (and, ideally, a top two place) then we need to put four tries past our visitors. They can cause sides problems, especially in the backs with dangerous players such as Joaquin Tuculet and Alex Cuthbert to call upon, but Cardiff are an average side in the lower half of the table for a reason.

Having lost head coach Mark Hammett for personal reasons earlier in the year, as well as having a rocky relationship with prop Adam Jones (one which will conclude at the end of the season), it is rather impressive that the Blues are in a Challenge Cup quarter-final – however they will be disappointed that barring a minor miracle they are out of the running for a Champions’ Cup spot next year. Their form has been patchy at best home wins over Connacht and Edinburgh overshadowed by away defeats to Munster and, even worse, Treviso.

All in all, even with our mediocre form this is a game we should be aiming to get the maximum from and, should Leinster prevent Glasgow from picking up anything in their game tomorrow then we will be top with four games left to play. Even with our tricky run-in, being top is better than being fifth and with such a tight fight between five sides for the four play-off places, it’s imperative that we are in that top four for as long as possible.

We have Hendo back tomorrow, we have PJ back tomorrow and we have Olding back tomorrow as well – things are looking up on the injury front and with those three back in a white shirt (Iain after Ireland duty, not injury) there is a sense that optimism is returning to the Kingspan, and with the easiest game of the five (on paper) up first, it’s time to get some momentum going before the heavies roll into town.

Simple? Let’s hope so…

Team News
Ulster are buoyed by the returns of Stuart Olding and Paddy Jackson, and they are the only two changes to the team from that which lost to the Dragons, with Mike Stanley and Ian Humphreys the two players to miss out. Iain Henderson returns from international duty to start at blindside flanker while Darren Cave captains the side for a second time from outside centre.

Three changes for Cardiff, with the returns of Matthew Rees and Adam Jones in the front row the most notable. Rees captains the side on his return with Kristian Dacey making way for the hooker, while Taufa’ao Filise drops to the bench to make way for Jones at tighthead prop. Lucas Amorosino is the third change, replacing Joaquin Tuculet on the wing with the latter ruled out with a hand injury.

Ulster Rugby vs. Cardiff Blues
Friday 27th March, 19:35
Kingspan Stadium
Guinness PRO12 – Round 18

Live on BBC2 NI and BBC2 Wales

ULSTER RUGBY
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Craig Gilroy, 13. Darren Cave (capt.), 12. Stuart Olding, 11. Michael Allen, 10. Paddy Jackson, 9. Ruan Pienaar; 1. Callum Black, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Dan Tuohy, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 6. Iain Henderson, 7. Clive Ross, 8. Nick Williams.

16. John Andrew, 17. Andrew Warwick, 18. Bronson Ross, 19. Robbie Diack, 20. A N Other, 21. Paul Marshall, 22. Ian Humphreys, 23. Rory Scholes.

CARDIFF BLUES
15. Rhys Patchell, 14. Alex Cuthbert, 13. Cory Allen, 12. Gavin Evans, 11. Lucas Amorosino, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 9. Lloyd Williams; 1. Sam Hobbs, 2. Matthew Rees (capt.), 3. Adam Jones, 4. Jarrad Hoeata, 5. Lou Reed, 6. Josh Turnbull, 7. Ellis Jenkins, 8. Josh Navidi.

16. Kristian Dacey, 17. Taufa’ao Filise, 18. Scott Andrews, 19. Macauley Cook, 20. Manoa Vosawai, 21. Tavis Knoyle, 22. Gareth Davies, 23. Tom Isaacs.

Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 38th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Gary Conway, Olly Hodges (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eddie Wigglesworth (IRFU)
TMO: Alan Rogan (IRFU)[/tag]