[tag=image]data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxQTEhUTExIVFRUXGRgaGBgXGCEgHhwfHBwYGBwbIh0cISggHBolIB4dITEhJSwuLi4uHR8zODMsNygtLiwBCgoKDg0NGg8PGjclHyI3NjQ4Nzc3Mzc2LjQ0NzcyLDUyNzc3NzcwLzQzNzU1NTQ3MTA1MjcsMC43NDcuNy84N//AABEIAJIAsAMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAACAwEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAABwUGCAQDAgH/xABMEAABAgMEBQYKBggFBAMAAAABAgMABBEFBhIhBzFBUWETInGBkaEUFzJCVGKSsdHSCBUjUnKTFjNDU4LB0+EkY6KywjR0s/A1RHP/xAAZAQEBAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwQBAgX/xAAmEQEAAQIEBQUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDERIhMQQTQWGxFFGBodEF/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwB4wQQQBBBBAEEEEAQQQQBBBBAEEcs1aTLZo482g+usD3mPzwvGirCm3Dvx83rKawHXBFMtizLZcryU9KtbkpYV/uUpXuhaXivTbVnkJtFhuYZOVSDgVwxopQ8FCAfK5lANCtIO4kRGWpemUl/176W+KgQO2lIW915Gw7aaKUyiJd8Cq0IOFY9ZKhkscadIis3lse0bvrS7LTC3pNRpReaB6i0VoK7FCleGqAdcreuVdSVMPJfprDPPUP4Rzu6PqyL1SkystszCFODW2TRY4FKqGsKFdhyttypnbOT4LPs5uNNmgKtY1UpWhwqFNx1RCWJOfXKFSkzRFospKpaY8lbhRraXvUKCh19mYaSipXssmcQhT9nzC0upqrkV89tzgArNB3UNOEVPQvpAdmiqRmyS+2KoWrylgGikqB85O/bnuzbMBQNGGkhFphTTiA1MoFSkHJY1FSa5im0bIv8AGY7MXyF5qNZDwxaaDctRBHRn3RpyAIIIIAggggCCCCAI+HXUpFVKCRvJp744LeTMlvDKFpLh892pCRvwjyj2CFHb+hyfmlFx600vL9dKgBwGZAHQIBzsTra8kOIUfVUD7jHBblkLmOb4U8y3tDNEqV0rIJA/DTpjMl5NGtoyI5RTJWgftGTiA4mnOT00j2uxpUtCToOV5dseY9zsuCvKHbANG29BUs7VTU0+hw7XKOAnedSu+FfeO6No2K4HUrWEVyfZJCeAVu6FZGHzcXSLK2kMKDyT4FSysivEpPnDoz4CLZMy6XEKQtIUhQIUkioIOwiATejbTJyqky1oFKVHJD+pJO5Y1A+tq6IcM/JNvtqadQlxtYopKhUERmjS5o8NnOh5gEyrhonbyavuE7txi/aCb+F9HgEwurjYqyo61IGtJ3lOzeOiAXd+7uPWHaCHZdaggkrYXtFDmg76VAO8EQ/rv2mxa9nBa0AoeSUOI14ValDqOYPRHJpZu4J2znU0q40C62eKQajrFRCx+jlbhRMPyhPNcTyiRuUnJXakj2RAQVx5pyx7b8HcUcJc5BzYFJUaIXTrB4VMeulWWVZ1tiZZFMSkTCaZCtecOgkGvSY6fpESOC0W3R+1ZBPSklPwj608zHKqs93a5KhR6yD/ADMBz29MeCXlS81klbzS/wCF4JxduImNF2pPoYZcecNENpUpR4AVjL9sLL9ryiBmf8Eg+y38YYP0gb44EJs5ojEuinyNifNR16zwA3wFM0RSS562hMKHkKcmF7qqJoPaV3RpyF5oWuh4DJ8o4KPzGFawdaUgHAjvJPE8IYcAQQQQBBBCe0p3/meXNnWYlanR+tW0kqUCfMSBqI2mAZVtXnlJTKYmWmidSVKGL2dcV5zS1ZQNPCq9CFfCExJ6ILVfONxtKCo1JdcGI8TSpr0x1zGg20QKpUwrhjI94gHNKaTLLc1Trafx1T7xSLNJTrbqcbTiHEnzkKCh2iMpWro0tNgEqk3FAbW6L7k1PdFelpp+WcqhbrLg10JSrr1GA2tC40gaJpaeCnWAGJjekcxfBSRqPrDvhY3Z01z0vRMwEzSPW5q+pQyPWIdN0NIclaAAadCHT+ycoF9WxXVAZbtOzpiRmC24lbLzZqCDQ8FJI1jcRD80TaURO0lZspTMgUQvUHfgsbtsWnSFcdm02MCqIeSDyTtM0ncd6DtEZXtazX5OYU06FNutK2GlCMwpJ3bQRAbDt+x25uXcl3hVDiSDvG4jiDnGR5hp+zJ4jyXpdzI7DQ5HilQ7jGh9El/haLHJukCaaAxj76dQWP5jYemKV9I679FMTqE5KBadI3jNBPSMQ6hAOS79qonJVqYR5LqAqm6ozT1GojNd10/V14ENV5qJktdKVkoT3FJhhfRyt0rYfk1H9UQ43+FdQodAUAf4oomk5PJW+tY/esr/ANnwgLJ9JYfbSZ9R3/ciKlpTnMapBr91JsA9Khi91Isn0kX6zksgeayT7Sj8IWt6J/lplaxqGFCehCQgdtK9cB3WPeXkZ8zxRiUnEptOzFTCivAD3RftEVyHJ+YNpTtVN4ypOP8AarrXEfUSe3qiM0V6LlzxTMTIUiVFCkai7wG5G87dkaQabQ2gJSEoQgUAGQAHuAgKdM3l8FthMm4qrU22Ft18xwFSSn8KgNWw9MXaM0XlvCbRt9hTBxIQ8y20RtCFglfRrPQI0vAEEEQ1570S0g1ysy6EA+SnWpR3JTrMBMmIa7t3WJJCg2BjWSp11XlOKJqpSj0nVqEJC8+nOadUUybaWG9ilDE4f+Keih6YXFr3jmpkkvzLrldilGns6u6A17M3glW/1k0wj8TqB7zHIL52fq8PlPz0fNGOYIDactbsq5+rmmF/hdSfcY8bau7KTiaTDDbo3kCo6FDMRjKJCzrbmGCCzMOt01YVkDsrSAcd7dBIzXIPU/ynT3Bfx7YTdp2Y/KO4Hm3GXEmoCgQctRB29Ii42VpitRnW8h4bnUV704T3xa16VbPtFrkLUkyn12+dhO9PnpPbAcWj/TO6yQzP1dayAdHlo6fvjv6Yu+lO6LVrSaZuUUlbzaSpCkZ8qjWUZazu3Go2wlb03SSyC/JTCZuV++gjG3uDiNafxUoeEe2jy/79mO5faMKI5Ron/Un7q/ftgIK7VuuyUw3Msmi0HVsUNqTwIjS17VNWrYjrjXOC2uURvCkc6h4ggiErpYsdnlG7RkyFSs3U1T5rgzWkjzSddN4VFh+j9egIdcs901Q9VTYOoKA5yf4k504cYCt6EbVLFqtJ814KbPWKjvA7Y7dMScVu0G3kB20ipIHgVpAZjweZ7m3PgItt+3wq8airyW3mir8LYStXcDAcWm20g9az1Dk0Et9aRU95iDuJdldoTjcumoSTVxQ81A8o9OwcTEPac6p95x5flOLUtXSolR98Wm6N/F2aytMqyjl3T9o85zqAVwpQkUAAqTU1qTwEBqKZmpeTZBcW2wy2AAVEAAAUAFfdCD0n6W1TaVS0nVEuQQtZyU5wA81HeeG2AYsW17adxqS64P3jvNbT0VFPZBMNK6OjWRsyj848h58ZgKpgSfVRrUeJ7BHEzEay4mYjdD6HriLlm12lNJwLDaiwhQzTkeeQdROoDcTvhzWXN8sy26BTGkGm6uuKDeO8q5wiXlkqwqNDvXu6ExeLHbS0hMviqpttBPXiFe0GI27ueucu0eU7dzPXOXaHJfG8bdnyjky5nhFEpr5Sj5Kev4xk28FuTE/MF55RW4s0CRWg3JSnOg4Q1vpCTTr81KSLQUs0KghOtS1nCnLgAe0xeNGujRmzkBxwB2aUAVLIqEeqjdxOsxdUp7qaGJ2ZAW/SVbOfPFV+x5vXTohlWRoQs5rN3lnz668I7EUPaTDCtO02ZdsuvuoaQNalqAHRnrPCFLerTs02SiRZ5U/vHahHUkUUrtEAxZS5NnteRJMD+AH3x+WiLNlh9v4GyDq5Tk016K64zVbmki0ponHNLQk+a1zB/pz7TFUccKiSokk6yTUnrgNM2jem7wyWZVf4WsXuTSKhatq3WdyLCkne02tHuIBhJwQDAtGzrAVUszs40dy2sY7gD74p9qSTTZ+ymEvJ3hKkn2VfGI+CA+2nVJNUqIOrI0y3dEfEEEBOWDbOBp2VdJMu/QkfcWnyHBxrkd46IjbOnVsPIebNFtqCknik16xHLBAWC/k4h+eefbphewuCmwqSkqHUqojgt21VTEy7MHIuKJ7cvdEdFq0a3W+sJ5tlQPJJ57pH3RsrsqaDrgJq6Gi5+alFTi0rCNbbYyW4kVqoVBy2AbY+7Kbk2820CoOtWZB69R4RplpsJSEpACQAABqAGQEJ7S7o1Wsqn5AEOa3mkef66QPO3jbs4wu2c/WYVt8idL9MzHacJ/PpxSVr8rzTOcmBscUoDuFImpKxZRWbtpSw/C4mvao/yhP2XedrJM0wrLz2VBKutKwUnqwxa5Fdkuiv1itrg6yajrSSDGb0sxOsY/LbHAfx69eZVT2nXwZ6Lw2ZIIPIuB1dPMOJR4YtQEfFwrXW885MzBCDNKDbCN4aC1KpXWBXXvrFDMzYct9ouccmyMw22ggE7jUausRXmr+uzdsSToQGmWnUNtNJ1IQtQQrpUQc+gbo026KtMdIjo7X6+CsWZs8LjM1bzPtvhB3puxjthU8sVDcu2hr8RLmI9IAHtR4aRdIjFmIw5OTCgShoHV6yj5qe850iQ0g3sRZsmt80Lh5rSD5yzq6hrMZMtS0XJh1bzyytxZqpR/8Achwi7y3fee9M1PucpMuldPJSMkp4JTs98QsdEhIuPOJaabU4tRolKRUmHbcvQamgctFZJ/ctqoB+JYzP8NOmARrTSlGiUlR3AVPdE1I3On3v1cjMqG/klAdpFI1lY93ZWVThl5dtseqkV7dZiUgMoy+ii1l//TKfxLQPeqsermiK1gK+Cg9DrfzRqmCAyqzdO2JbVZ6zT/KS57qx0IvZPy+T1mS5G0OyRT3jDGoo+VoBFCARuMBnqztJFlOZTdjNJ9ZtKVDpoQD74s8rL3XnEYv8OzwUssqHaoA9VYsekm5qJplLcvJsF9xYRyykgcknMqXlQk5UAzzIiqP6AWuSGCccD1MypIKCeAFFAdZgOd7RtYUwrDK2mlCzqSH21j2Tzj2xDWxoIm0Zy77Tw3GqD31BPWIrN5rnv2Q4kzLcu+2uoSCryqeqFJcT0jLjDKuXpbs9hhLTvhLZB8lf2uDVzUr8oo3YqmAS9tXam5Q0mJZ1ripJwnoUOaeowxNCF85GS5RqYBbcdUPtzmmg1JO1IBqa8YelkWxKzzRUy4h5GpQpqO5STmDwIikXt0MSUzVcvWVd9XNsnijZ/CRAMlpwKAUkhSSKgg1BG8Ea4+4zzZNrWnd10NTTanZNR2c5PShXmq9U/wB4e1hWyzNsofl1hbaxkRrG8EbFDaICg6R9EjU6S/LFLMwc1DzHOkDyVesOsRn23bAmJNwtzLK21A+cMjxSrUocRG0I5rQs9p9BbebQ4g60rSCO+AxLFw0U2CubtJgJBwNLS64dgCCFDtIAh7TWh+ylqxeDKTXYlxYHZXLqi0Xeu7LSTfJyrKWknXTMniVGpJ6TAZ+0/W4X7R5AHmS6cIHrKopX/EdUL+x7LdmXkMMoK3FmiQPedwGsmO6+7xXaE4pWvwh4di1Adwhz/R7uqG2Fzziee7zWq7EDWR+I9yRvgLlo8uExZjVEgLfUByjpGZ4J+6nh2xb4IIAggggCCCCAIIIIAggggID9EJZU05OOo5Z5VAkuZhtIFAlI1Daa684iL/3Ks+YYW7MNFCkDJxhP2m4AJSDjJOQSQYu0fhEAk7uWraNkoUuYs9bsrUJQ8rAl1CAci5hJITn53k55w47MnOVbS5gUjEK4VUJ7UkpI4gkGOlSQRQioOsGOaz5BDKMDYwoB5qdieA3J4bID6n5Jt5tTbqEuIUKKSoVB6jCofsB+78wZqTC3rPcP+IZ1qaH3xvpv10yO8N+PxaQQQQCDkQdsB4yM4h5tDrSgttYCkqGog6jHvEFd6xvA1LZb/wCmUSttP7onymx/lnykjZzhqpE7AEEEEBkvSzZZl7VmU0yWvlE9C+d76xpq5UqGpCVQnUGW+9IP84Wn0hrrFxpufbFS0MDoH3SearqNQekboYWju0A/Zso4D+ySk9KRhI7oCxwkb8aYZuTnn5ZtmXUhpQAKgqpqlJzooDbDuii29ookJuYcmHg9yjhqrC5QagMhTcIBXePqe9HlfZX88Hj6nvR5X2V/PFwvBousWTZU/MKeQhP+bmTsAFMyd0Ia0i24+RKtLS2TRtBONe4VIGajuEA+NF+lGZtGcLDzTCEBtS6oCgaim9RFM44L1adg24puSYS4lJI5VwmiqbUpTQ04kx+3J0eOWdJTU6+SmZVLuhLYOSAU1zprX7oTN2WZdc0ymbWUS5V9ooawnPcCe6AYvj6nvR5X2V/PB4+p70eV9lfzxIfUl1vTHPaX/Tg+pLremOe0v+nAW+xNIcw9YsxaKm2g60pQSkBWA0w6xirt3xQPH1Pejyvsr+eLlaEtIt3enE2c4pxjnEqUSedzajnAHdCVuPLyTk0E2g4W5fCqqgSDXzdQJ7oC8ePqe9HlfZX88Sdh6fHMYE3KowE5qZJBHHComvaI+PqS63pjntL/AKcLi/MvJNzRTZ7inJfCnnKr5WeIZgGmrZAaB0mX+XIykvNSgadS+oAFYJGEoKgRQjOFr4+p70eV9lfzx5X0UTdyy8X7xQHRhXSK9o5krLcL31m8poAI5LCVCtcWLyUn1YCzePqe9HlfZX88Wm5Wm5Mw8hibZS0VkJS4gnDUmgBBzSNWdTEN9SXW9Mc9pf8AThRWoltL7oYUS0HF8mo6ygKOE7M6UgNW6Qb8s2W0lbiStxwkNtg0JpSpJ2JFRnxhRvafJwk4ZaXCdgOMntxCvZHN9IJ5RnJYKOqXT2kkmOS41l2EuVCrQmVtzBUqqQVAAV5vkoI1cYCQ8fU96PK+yv54l7paZpyanJeXWzLhLriUqKQuoB3VXSseH1Jdb0xz2l/04lLr2RdxM2wqWmnFPhaeTSVLzVsGaAIBxTcsh1Cm3EhSFgpUk6iDkRC9uNJqsmacs5xRMu8ouSaztPntE/fAoabczDHjjtSzW5hvA4KioKSMlJUMwpJ1hQOYMB2RAXxvbL2cyXX1ZmuBseUs7gPedQiXkgsJCXCFKGWMCmLjTYd41RlrTJNrXa0yla1KCFJSgE5JGFJoN2ZgOS8d4p22ZpIKStRNGWUakg7BvO9R7hDx0X6MG7PSH36OTRHSlvgned6uykZzsa235VZXLuqaURQqTrpurEz4xbU9Pf8Aa/tAagvp/wBBN/8A4O/7TGQrHsxyZeQwyApxw0SCQKnXrOQhp6JrwzloTTsrNTTjrbku6MKjUVNE16RWFvPSM1Z0zRYWy80rmqGWY85J2jjAWnxNWt6Oj85HzQeJq1vR0fnI+aIjxi2p6e/7X9oPGLanp7/tf2gGmxd2YkbtzrMygIcqtVAoKyOCmaSRshL3dsF+deDEukKcIJAKgnIa8zlDgsu2H5q7M65MOqdXiWMSjU0GCghMWTar0s4HWHVNOAEBSTnQ6xAXPxNWt6Oj85HzRU7x3ffkXixMoCHAAqgUFZHUapJESvjFtT09/wBr+0RU1NTU++CtTkw+qiRrUo0yAy2QDFv9NBy71lkAJovDQauahYii3UufNWiXBKthZbwldVpTTFWnlEV1GGNpWsZUnYlnS6/LQvn/AIihRI6iaR0fRn8ue/Cx73YCpeJq1vR0fnI+aKUptUu/hcQMbLlFIVmMSFZpNMiKimUbYjGl8v8A5Cc/7l//AMioC9/SEcxTzKhqMuk9pUYrN3dHM/Osh+XaSpskgEuJGYNDkTWGBp3uw64iVnGkFaEtBtzCKlOopVQbDUiuyg3wrrIvfOyrfJS80603UnCk5VOswFk8TVrejo/OR80TdytFdpS8/LPusJDbbiVKIdQaAcAamKb4xbU9Pf8Aa/tE9cO/VoPWjKtOzry0LdSFJKsiNxgNOQQQQBEJO2HLLcUtcswtROalNJJPSSKmPyCA8f0ck/Q5f8lHwg/RyT9Dl/yUfCCCA67LsiXaXial2W1UIxIbSk03VArSOq05Bp1NHWm3BuWkK94gggIr9HJP0OX/ACUfCD9HJP0OX/JR8IIIDuZsthLKmksNBtRzQEJCTq1ppQxw/o5J+hy/5KPhBBAH6OSfocv+Sj4RIWVZbLVS0w02fUQlPuEEEB92vINPJSHWm3ADUBaQoA6qioOcfFkWYyyVciy23ipXAhKa0rSuECuswQQElEBMXflVKUpUrLqJJJJaQSSdZJIzMEEBOhIpSgpSlIg5i78opRKpSXJO0tIP8o/YIDy/RyT9Dl/yUfCPWUsGVQtKkSrCVAghSWkgg7wQKgwQQH//2Q==[/tag][tag=content]Our
Italian Job comes to an end this weekend, and having picked up fourteen points from our first three games there is plenty of confidence in the camp to go around. Two crushing victories over Treviso have left us sitting pretty at the top of our Heineken Cup pool and has set up a mouth-watering winner-takes-all clash against Leicester at Welford Road at the end of January.
But our focus has to switch away from the Heineken Cup and back to the Pro12 where Zebre are the visitors to Ravenhill tomorrow night. Having run us pretty close in Parma three weeks ago, we know the threat that Zebre will pose to us, despite their poor results against the Saracens in the Heineken Cup.
But as (I think) I said the last time we played them – we must remember that Zebre do not pose the same threat as other sides do, and we must go into this game targeting a bonus point. With Munster leading the way rather comfortably, it’s up to us to put the pressure on them, especially with our southern cousins coming to Ravenhill just after the New Year.
The Italians, like the French, do not like to travel. We must adopt very similar tactics to that which we executed against Treviso two weeks ago – hit them hard early on and they will lose interest. If we keep them in the game then they could cause an upset, one which would hurt our chances of finishing in the top four of the Pro12 immensely.
Therefore, a win is essential – nothing less will do. If we slip any further behind Munster then our hopes of finishing as top seeds in the Pro12 for the second year running diminish considerably. A win would keep us firmly in the mix, with a big test in Dublin next Saturday to look forward to as well.
It’s a much changed team for Ulster – nine changes to the side that defeated Treviso last weekend. In the backs, Jared Payne moves to outside centre with Ricky Andrew starting at full-back. Paddy Wallace returns to senior rugby with his first start at inside centre in place of Luke Marshall, while Michael Allen replaces Andrew Trimble on the wing. James McKinney gets a chance to prove himself at out-half outside Ruan Pienaar.
It’s an all-changed front row with Callum Black, Niall Annett and Ricky Lutton starting. Lewis Stevenson returns from injury to start alongside captain Johann Muller in the second row, while Roger Wilson hasn’t recovered from injury in time to play so Mike McComish comes into the back row in his place.
Andrea Cavinato has only made six changes to the team that lost to Saracens last Saturday, most notably the return of Dion Berryman at full-back. Italian international Tommaso Iannone is forced to play out of position at outside centre due to injuries, while Gugliano Palazzani switches from full-back to scrum-half. There are two new props in Dario Chistolini and Andrea de Marchi, while Filippo Cristiano and Filippo Ferrarini are drafted into the back row in place of the injured duo of Mauro Bergamasco and Samuela Vunisa.
With only six days until Christmas it’s understandable if some people have the holidays on their minds – let’s hope the lads aren’t in that group! One big performance before our four massive matches to get that all-important bonus point, and we will be in third place heading to the RDS with all to play for.
Merry Christmas everyone
ULSTER RUGBY
15. Ricky Andrew, 14. Craig Gilroy, 13. Jared Payne, 12. Paddy Wallace, 11. Michael Allen, 10. James McKinney, 9. Ruan Pienaar; 1. Callum Black, 2. Niall Annett, 3. Ricky Lutton, 4. Johann Muller (c), 5. Lewis Stevenson, 6. Mike McComish, 7. Sean Doyle, 8. Robbie Diack.
16. Rob Herring, 17. Tom Court, 18. Adam Macklin, 19. Neil McComb, 20. Conor Joyce, 21. Michael Heaney, 22. Peter Nelson, 23. David McIlwaine.
ZEBRE
15. Dion Berryman, 14. Leonardo Sarto, 13. Tommaso Iannone, 12. Roberto Quartaroli, 11. Giovanbattista Venditti, 10. Luciano Orquera, 9. Gugliano Palazzani; 1. Dario Chistolini, 2. Andrea Manici, 3. Andrea de Marchi, 4. Quintin Geldenhuys, 5. Marco Bortolami (c), 6. Filippo Cristiano, 7. Filippo Ferrarini, 8. Nicola Cattina.
16. Tommaso D’Apice, 17. Matias Aguero, 18. Luca Redolfini, 19. Michael van Vuuren, 20. Emiliano Caffini, 21. Alberto Chillon, 22. Kameli Ratuvou, 23. Brendon Leonard.
Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Dermot Blake (IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Wayne Sheridan (IRFU)
TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU)[/tag]