A lot of things have changed since the game went pro. Crowds are bigger, teams have more money,
players are fitter, stronger and faster, and not all front rowers warm up for a
game by necking 2 pints of Carlsberg and smoking a fag. But some things haven't changed – and one of
those is the importance of playing in front of a home crowd. No matter how much money gets pumped into
sides, there are still places that hold a reverent spot in the locals' hearts
and strike fear into those of opponents.
And Ravenhill has become such a place.
Leicester have found this out to their detriment, suffering
their two heaviest European defeats at the Ulstermen in front of a typically
partisan crowd at Ravenhill. At its best
(/worst for opponents), the wind swirls and howls around the ground and the
rain drives horizontally into players faces – it's almost surreal to the point
where it wouldn't be entirely surprising to see Gandalf bellowing and waving
his stick in the background. It has the
effect of creating a hostile atmosphere, and it was this backdrop that was the
setting for Ulster's 41-7 win in January 2012.
The men in white battered and physically dominated the Eastmidlanders in
a way that they had never known, winning every contact and every breakdown
battle – it was a typical 'Ravenhill experience'.
A repeat of that would do very nicely for the hosts. They have been planted in a group with
Leicester and Montpellier, two sides with similar lofty ambitions, and it
wouldn't be surprising if all three sides end up having won at home and lost
away against each other, so proud are their home records. As such, Ulster will know that 2 things are
crucial – bonus points and points difference.
It means that they will not only be targeting a big win once again, but they
will expect a shut out too. Their form
in the Pro 12 has been sketchy at best, but everybody knows that European Rugby
is a different animal, and with the pack they've selected – containing the
physical presences of Johann Muller, Chris Henry and Nick Williams, who love to
target the fringe defence, you can be sure that they will be very much up for
this fight.
The Tigers, as usual, have started the domestic season at a
casual canter, pacing themselves for the end of season blitz that has served
them so well previously. But they will
be aware that there can be no 'easing in' in the Heineken Cup. Leicester will know that one away win over
Montpellier or Ulster – just one – could be enough to see them top the group,
and there is no way that they will be allowing themselves to take the physical
hiding they took 2 years ago. They are 2
years older, wiser and will have a score to settle – but perhaps the biggest
statement is outside of the pack, on the wing.
Miles Benjamin, out for over a year with a neck injury, makes his debut for
the club 18 months after signing from Worcester. There have been easier debuts.
But he, and Leicester, will be expecting the onslaught
against Ulster – the full Ravenhill experience.
The only question is, what can they do to stop it?
Ulster Team News
Ulster make a total of three changes from the team that won away to Ospreys last Friday with wing Tommy Bowe coming in for Michael Allen and Darren Cave replacing Craig Gilroy. Roger Wilson takes over from Robbie Diack at blindside flanker. Ruan Pienaar, fresh from signing a 3 year contract extension and spurning Toulon, is on the bench.
Starting Line up: J Payne, A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, T Bowe, P Jackson, P Marshall; T Court, R Best, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller (capt), D Tuohy, R Wilson, C Henry, N Williams.
Key Player
Nick Williams. The number 8 has become an icon at Ravenhill and for good reason too. He is an absolute behemoth of a man and two years ago he was a key figure in bullying the vaunted Leicester pack into tame submission. He doesn't play too much off Paddy Jackson's shoulder but rather prefers to take the ball at first receiver to target the defence between the breakdown and fly half, picking up speed by charging in from deep. If he gets his rumble on, then it may well be a nasty sense of deja-vous for the Tigers.
Leicester Team
News
Leicester give a first-team debut to wing Miles Bejamin after an injury-blighted first year at the club. Dan Bowden takes Anthony Allen's place in the centres, with Geoff Parling fit to take up a second-row berth.
Starting Line
up: N Morris; M Benjamin, V Goneva,
D Bowden, A Thompstone; T Flood (capt), B Youngs; L Mulipola, T Youngs, D Cole,
L Deacon, G Parling, E Slater, J Salvi, J Crane
Subs: N Briggs, B
Stankovich, F Balmain, G Kitchener, T Waldrom, D Mele, O Williams, T Hepetema.Key Player
Ed Slater. With Tom Croft and Steve Mafi on the absentee list, there is one reason why Slater has been chosen over Jamie Gibson and Thomas Waldrom – power. Slater is usually a lock but has started the season in scintillating form, following on from last year. He contains all the necessary grunt of a lock but is quick enough to slot in at flanker, and his selection is to directly combat the colossal back row that Ulster have selected. He is in the side to hit hard and carry harder, to win the battle for front foot ball – a battle Leicester lost so comprehensively last time they visited.
Key Battle
Paddy Jackson v Toby Flood. With two ultra-physical packs looking to use one another as doormats it's easy to overlook the fact that there are two very talented sets of backs on show. It means that, in a fierce scrap for good quick ball, each fly half is going to have to make the most out of whatever they get. Jackson can probably expect the cleaner ball of the two, but he will have to temper his desire to attack from everywhere early on and force Leicester onto the back foot. Flood on the other hand, will have to produce 80 minutes like the last 15 against Northampton – playing flat, fast and tempting the defence. And he better have his kicking boots on him in that famous Ravenhill swirl.
Prediction
As described above, Ravenhill away is a bit of a bogey fixture for the Tigers. The one thing they have on their side this time though is the fact that it's not raining – and although that sounds minor, it allows teams to play and build themselves into the game as opposed to making mistakes under constant pressure from a fired-up Ulster side and the driving rain. Despite Ulster's recent shaky form though, they've developed an affinity with Europe of late and in a group that should go down to the wire, will be desperate to open with a home win. The Ravenhill factor should be just too much for Tigers – but I'm not expecting a 40 pointer. Then again, I wasn't expecting that last time…Ulster by 6 points.
What else is happening in the Heineken Cup this weekend?
Pool One: Northampton have a tough trip to Castres
where the French champions should squeak a win, and Leinster should have enough
to turn over the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.
Pool Two: Exeter host Cardiff in what should be a solid win for the Chiefs whilst Toulon should get their campaign up and running against Glasgow at home, despite the Scottish side looking good in the Pro 12.
Pool Three: Connacht will be hoping to upset Saracens tonight but the English side should be too strong, whilst Toulouse should have no problems dispatching of Zebre.
Pool Four: Harlequins host the Scarlets at the Stoop in what should be an entertaining game that the Londoners will expect to win, and Racing Metro will be tipped to nick a humdinger in the all-French affair against Clermont.
Pool Five: The other match in the pool sees
Montpellier travel to Treviso for a potentially problematic trip, but the
French side will still be expected to come away with a solid win.
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