as Ulster coach Alan Solomons sends his team out in the Celtic Cup final
at Murrayfield on Saturday
The first piece of domestic silverware of the season is up for grabs and Ulster coach Alan Solomons sends his team out in the Celtic Cup final at Murrayfield on Saturday wary of an Edinburgh Rugby side who have hit such a rich vein of form at just the right time.
Victories over reigning European champions Toulouse and Neath-Swansea Ospreys have given Todd Blackadders team a real flyer in the Heineken Cup. Hats off to Edinburgh, said Solomons, whose team gave themselves a massive pre Celtic Cup final lift with their home Euro victory over Stade Francais.
Edinburgh lit up the Heineken Cup with their home win over the reigning champions Toulouse and they are bound to be brimming with confidence.
We are four out of four against Scottish opposition this season, but whatever we have achieved in the Celtic League and Cup to date will count for nothing in what is bound to be a major rugby event.
Playing the Celtic Cup final at the home of Scottish rugby is bound to give the Edinburgh players that little bit of extra motivation.
But there is also a huge prize on offer to my players, especially as this title has been held in Ireland over the past two years by Leinster and Munster. We're not keen to see it leave Ireland and will be mounting a huge effort at Murrayfield.
We are reasonably happy with our game at the moment and I know there are a number of senior players in my squad who will be able to guide the rest of the team through the different emotions people experience in the week of a major cup final.
This game has all the hallmarks of being a great cup final. It could go either way, although we'll be doing all we can to make sure it is Ulster who celebrate Christmas early.
CELTIC CUP FINAL: ULSTER V EDINBURGH Alan Solomons has named his Ulster side to face Edinburgh in the final of the Celtic Cup this Saturday at Murrayfield. The starting XV shows two changes from the side which defeated Stade Francais last Friday night at Ravenhill with try-scorer Paddy Wallace assuming the full-back berth ahead of Bryn Cunningham on the bench and Matt Mustchin replacing Gary Longwell in the second row.
Ulster Team to Face Edinburgh:
Paddy Wallace, 14 - James Topping, 13 - Shane Stewart, 12 - Paul Steinmetz, 11 - Tyrone Howe, 10 - David Humphreys, 9 - Neil Doak, 1 - Robbie Kempson, 2 - Matt Sexton, 3 - Simon Best, 4 - Rowan Frost, 5 - Matt Mustchin, 6 - Andy Ward (Captain), 7 - Neil Best, 8 - Roger Wilson Replacements: 16 - Paul Shields, 17 - Rod Moore, 18 - Matt McCullough, 19 - Tony McWhirter, 20 - Kieran Campbell, 21 - Adam Larkin, 22 - Bryn Cunningham.