POOL FOUR MATCH: ULSTER V BATH:THE UNLIKELY scenario first. Ulster need to win in Bath and score four tries in the process, all the while hoping Edinburgh deny the aristocratic Stade Francais as much as a bonus point in Murrayfield.
Otherwise, and this is keeping with reality, it becomes 11 years since Ulster last stepped from the shadow of the pool stages. At least there is a chance at silverware via the Amlin Challenge Cup; the new format allowing the best of the rest in second place to be funnelled into an alternative quarter-final.
It would be something for Brian McLaughlin’s new coaching team – Jeremy Davidson and Neil Doak – after some promising, if inconsistent, signs of progress emanating from Belfast, for them to win the second-tier competition.
What is evident from viewing Ulster these past few months is the return to form of some players – mainly Andrew Trimble – the progress of others now they have been given a run of games – Ian Humphreys, ironically dropped here, and Isaac Boss – while confirmation of Stephen Ferris as a world-class blindside flanker.
Ferris is joined in the backrow by Chris Henry, a willing leader in Rory Best’s enforced lay-off, and, finally, the sight of David Pollack on the openside flank. Pollack has captained Irish teams at every age grade, showing the potential to become a senior international.
Like the Ulster team in general, Pollack must now deliver. Unfortunately, this season appears to have passed them by already.
All they can do now is send out a warning shot by outclassing a struggling Bath club on their own patch. “This game is like a cup final; it is literally win or bust,” remarked Henry. “We have to go to Bath with confidence because we know from some of our performances and results this season, we need not fear anyone.
“There is a great buzz in the squad, mainly because everyone has bought into what was said a few months ago about wanting to be in the mix in Europe, right up until the last pool game. Everyone knows that this is it; we have to turn up and give it everything we have – only our best will do.
“It would be a shame to slip up now. If it is not the Heineken Cup we are playing in after this weekend, we have to make sure we are in the Amlin Challenge Cup. To do any of that, we have to win at The Rec.”
The promising young fullback, Jamie Smith, is again retained but McLaughlin’s decision to go for Niall O’Connor over Humphreys indicates caution, at least initially, with Humphreys to be sprung as they go chasing tries late on.
Basically, they will seek a territorial platform off O’Connor’s superior kicking arsenal. Joe Maddock is at fullback but a winger by trade so he should be tested. Still, along with the rampaging Matt Banahan (Trimble’s brief for the afternoon) on the left wing, Maddock’s speed makes him a potential deal breaker on his own.
The Bath pack are a grizzled lot with 37-year-old Danny Grewcock familiar to most and the excellent Western Province fetcher Luke Watson operating from number eight. These are the type of matches Munster and eventually Leinster started winning a few seasons back. Ulster probably blew it with defeat in Edinburgh but this is the one they should be winning.
“For me it would be rather embarrassing if Ulster got a bonus-point win. Ulster can’t be underestimated, but it’s not about Ulster. It’s about what we do,” warns Bath forwards coach Martin Haag.
BATH:J Maddock; M Stephenson, M Carraro, S Hape, M Banahan; N Little, M Claassens (capt); D Flatman, L Mears, D Wilson; D Grewcock, S Hooper; A Beattie, J Salvi, L Watson. Replacements: P Dixon, D Barnes, A Jarvis, P Short, J Fa'amatuainu, S Bemand, R Davis, J Cuthbert.
ULSTER:J Smith; A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, S Danielli; N O'Connor, I Boss; T Court, N Brady, B Botha; D Tuohy, E O'Donoghue; S Ferris, D Pollock, C Henry (capt). Replacements: A Kyriacou, B Young, D Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, T Anderson, C Willis, I Humphreys, T Nagusa.
Referee:Jeromé Garces (France).
Previous meetings– Oct 9th, 2009: Ulster 26-12 Bath, Ravenhill.
Leading points scorers– Ian Humphreys 56; Nicky Little 42 Betting (Paddy Power) – Bath 4/9 Ulster 7/4.
Handicap odds– Bath -5: 10/11 Draw: 22/1.
Forecast– Ulster to win.
