RUGBY:AN INTERESTING footnote to tonight's Magners League clash is Paddy Wallace's presence at outhalf for Ulster, believed to be at the behest of the Ireland team management. Wallace played all his underage representative rugby in the pivot position but has only done so sporadically since then.
If he acquits himself capably then Ireland coach Declan Kidney would increase his options for the upcoming November internationals.
Scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar is the only Ulster to remain in the position in which he started from last week’s Heineken Cup defeat in Biarritz. Adam D’Arcy is promoted from the bench to fullback with David McIlwaine switching to the left wing in place of the injured Simon Danielli.
Mark McCrea makes his seasonal competitive debut for the province on the right wing. Andrew Trimble and Ian Whitten form a new-look midfield in the continuing absence of the injured Darren Cave. Up front Paddy McAllister, Dan Tuohy and Chris Henry return to the pack.
Edinburgh coach Rob Moffat has made two changes to the side that lost narrowly to the Northampton Saints last weekend. Hooker Andrew Kelly and flanker Ross Rennie replace Ross Ford and Roddy Grant, the latter pair rested as part of the squad rotation.
Moffat was forced into a late change at scrumhalf explaining: “Mike’s (Blair) had a bug in the last couple of days. He’s fit enough to play, but as a precaution he’ll be on the bench. Greig (Laidlaw) has been putting his hand up for a while now and deserves his opportunity.”
Edinburgh lost their opening three games in the Magners League but have won their last two outings in the tournament; at home to Leinster and a narrow 10-9 success against Aironi in Italy.
Ulster are unbeaten – they have already beaten Edinburgh 29-21 in this competition last month – with four victories and a draw against Connacht. It will be instructive to see how they fare behind the scrum with what is essentially a young backline.
Cave has provided the Irish province with a guile and cutting edge this season, along with Trimble, and it will be interesting to note if the latter can make the same impact on returning to a bygone time in the centre. On the assumption Ulster will get ball, Wallace’s game management skills will be important. It’s also likely he will be entrusted with the place-kicking duties.
Despite losing at home to the Saints, Edinburgh appear a more fluent team recently and this allied with home advantage and Ulster slightly short, personnel-wise, could see the home side prevail.
EDINBURGH: C Paterson (capt); J Thompson, B Cairns, J King, T Visser; D Blair, M Blair; A Jacobsen, A Kelly, G Cross; S MacLeod, F McKenzie; A MacDonald, R Rennie, N Talei. Replacements: F Gillies, K Traynor, D Young, G Gilchrist, S Newlands, G Laidlaw, A Grove, M Robertson.
ULSTER: A D’Arcy; M McCrea, A Trimble, I Whitten, D McIlwaine; P Wallace, R Pienaar; P McAllister, R Best (capt), BJ Botha; J Muller, D Tuohy; S Ferris, C Henry, R Diack. Replacements: A Kyriacou, T Court, B Young, R Caldwell, P Wannenburg, P Marshall, I Humphreys, N Spence.
Referee: James Jones (Wales).
Most recent meeting: At Ravenhill – Ulster 29 Edinburgh 21.
Leading points scorers: Edinburgh – Chris Paterson 34. Ulster – Niall O’Connor 51.
Leading try scorers: Edinburgh – Tim Visser 5. Ulster – Darren Cave 2.
Verdict: Edinburgh to win.
