[tag=image]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... _badge.png[/tag][tag=content]It doesn’t seem like nine months since we were revelling in our 22-19 win at Welford Road in the Heineken Cup, does it?
Exactly nine months ago tomorrow I stood on the Holland & Barrett terrace surrounded by friends in white cheering on the Ulstermen to one of our more famous away victories on the European stage, a memory I will never forget. That night was a real arm wrestle, one which required the subtle kicking game of Ruan Pienaar to unlock and eventually swing in our favour. This season we’re hoping for a slightly easier passage to victory.
However, fast forward to the present day and we are now presented with a brand new competition, two much-changed teams (sixteen of the thirty players didn’t start last season’s match) and a much changed proposition overhanging this game. This time it isn’t a home tie in the quarter-finals being contested, but instead a stranglehold on Pool Three of the Rugby Champions’ Cup.
Because if you really think about it, while we can probably afford to escape England with a losing bonus point, Leicester cannot. With big-spending European galacticos Toulon still to come with all their star names, Leicester can scarce afford to drop points at home in a pool that may be decided by bonus points. On the other hand, we have the benefit of being the away side and knowing that should we not get the victory at Welford Road then we can get our revenge in a few months’ time.
In effect, this could be the match that decides the runners-up of this pool. I don’t think many will deny that Toulon will win this pool with the wide range of international talent they can call upon, and instead it will be down to who can slug it out for second place. Whoever wins tomorrow will be one step closer to becoming that team, especially if it is us.
Away wins in the league are a necessity – away wins in Europe are gold dust. If we can storm Welford Road for the second time in the space of a year then we will have already taken a massive step to qualifying for the quarter-finals of the inaugural Champions’ Cup (remember, three runners-up qualify, not two) and the relief of having the trip to Leicester out of the road will be a considerable boost for the visit of Toulon next week.
That’s for next week though. Right now, even with their patchy form, Leicester pose a considerable threat to derail our own personal high. The win over Glasgow was good, but still not a complete performance, and if we are off our game tomorrow then we will be duly punished. With Marcos Ayerza back in the fold fresh from Argentina’s first Rugby Championship victory and the boost that Manusamoa Tuilagi’s name will provide on the teamsheet, they are a formidable force with a unique European pedigree.
They are beatable though, and that is the main thing. As Tom Court’s London Irish showed only a few weeks ago, Welford Road is by no means the fortress it was a few years ago and with a well-drilled and functioning outfit, the Tigers can be tamed, make no doubt about that. With an injury list somehow larger than ours, they are missing considerable bulk in the likes of Tom Croft, Dan Cole and Logovi’i Mulipola, so there is an opening for our pack to make a bit of inroads into their stand-in forwards.
Certainly it does seem like this is the best time to play them. Although Richard Cockerill was tactically spot on against Harlequins, his players still looked rather lacklustre and struggled to put away a team that had the penetration of a feather duster. With confidence definitely lacking in the East Midlands, a strong start may be all it takes to see off one of the weaker Tigers sides we’ll probably ever face.
Only Marcos Ayerza is brought into the Leicester line-up from the team that defeated Harlequins last week, starting at loosehead ahead of Michele Rizzo who is on the bench. Harry Thacker and Sam Harrison are promoted to the bench from last week’s ‘A’ team match against Gloucester.
Another three changes from Neil Doak this week. Paddy Jackson returns from his concussion picked up against Edinburgh to start at fly-half, while Andrew Trimble’s toe injury means try-scorer from last week Craig Gilroy gets the chance to impress on the wing. In the pack the suspended Alan O’Connor is replaced by Lewis Stevenson at lock. Clive Ross and Darren Cave are named amongst the replacements.
I noticed earlier in the week that Stuart Barnes had tipped us as dark horses for winners this year. Best not disappoint him then, and what better way to send out a message than by showing up the Tigers on their own turf and proving everyone that we are still a force to be reckoned with. We’ve done it once – why not do it again? And once we are done, one song will resound around Europe.
Stand Up For The Ulstermen.
Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby
Saturday 18th October, 19:45
Welford Road
European Rugby Champions’ Cup – Pool Game 1
Live on BT Sport 2
LEICESTER TIGERS
15. Mathew Tait, 14. Blaine Scully, 13. Manusamoa Tuilagi, 12. Owen Williams, 11. Vereniki Goneva, 10. Freddie Burns, 9. Ben Youngs (capt.); 1. Marcos Ayerza, 2. Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3. Fraser Balmain, 4. Brad Thorn, 5. Graham Kitchener, 6. Jamie Gibson, 7. Julian Salvi, 8. Jordan Crane.
16. Harry Thacker, 17. Michele Rizzo, 18. Tiziano Pasquali, 19. Sebastien de Chaves, 20. Robert Barbieri, 21. David Mele, 22. Sam Harrison, 23. Miles Benjamin.
ULSTER RUGBY
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Tommy Bowe, 13. Jared Payne, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Craig Gilroy, 10. Paddy Jackson, 9. Paul Marshall; 1. Andrew Warwick, 2. Rory Best (capt.), 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Lewis Stevenson, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 6. Robbie Diack, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Nick Williams.
16. Rob Herring, 17. Callum Black, 18. Declan Fitzpatrick, 19. Clive Ross, 20. Roger Wilson, 21. Michael Heaney, 22. Stuart Olding, 23. Darren Cave.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referees: Christophe Berdos, Stephane Boyer (both France)
Television Match Official: Bernard del Maso (France)
Timekeeper: Brian Abrahams (England)
Assessor: Gianni Romano (Italy)[/tag]
Match Preview: Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby
Moderator: Moderators
