Ulster’s second of three successive interprovincial derby matches could see them dethrone reigning GUINNESS PRO12 champions Leinster, with Matt O’Connor’s men in a ‘must win’ scenario at Kingspan Stadium tonight.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, April 24
ULSTER (3rd) v LEINSTER (5th), Kingspan Stadium, 7.35pm (live BBC 2 Northern Ireland/Sky Sports 5 HD/RTÉ 2fm/highlights TG4)
Team News: Ulster head coach Neil Doak has named the same team that recorded a bonus point win over Connacht a fortnight ago for Friday’s GUINNESS PRO12 derby match against Leinster.
Thirteen internationals are named in the squad for the interprovincial match which sold out four weeks ago. Craig Gilroy, who is currently the PRO12’s top try scorer for the season, is part of an in-form back-three.
Gilroy, Tommy Bowe and Louis Ludik – three of Ulster’s try scorers against Connacht – combine again in the back-three, with Gilroy on the left wing, Bowe on the right and Ludik starting at full-back.
Ireland internationals Darren Cave and Jared Payne continue their centre partnership with Cave starting at inside centre and Payne wearing the number 13 jersey. Paddy Jackson is named at out-half with Springbok Ruan Pienaar continuing at scrum half.
Up front, Callum Black and Wiehahn Herbst start either side of hooker and captain Rory Best in the front row. Dan Tuohy partners Franco van der Merwe in the second row, with Iain Henderson starting at blindside flanker and fellow Ireland international Chris Henry selected at openside.
Roger Wilson is named at number 8 and will draw level with Paddy Wallace as Ulster’s most-capped PRO12 player of all-time as he makes his 131st appearance in the competition.
Forwards Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross, Robbie Diack and Clive Ross join backs Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys and Stuart McCloskey on the replacements bench.
Meanwhile, the round 20 game marks a milestone in the career of Leinster captain Jamie Heaslip as he makes his 200th appearance for the province, having made his debut against the Ospreys back in March 2005.
Heaslip becomes only the fifth player to have reached the double century of caps with Gordon D’Arcy out in front on 259 caps. Since his debut, the Naas man has incredibly started 191 of those games, scoring 35 tries. His provincial form has seen him capped 72 times for Ireland, winning the Grand Slam in 2009 and RBS 6 Nations titles in both 2014 and 2015.
In total, there are four changes to the Leinster team that played against Toulon in last Sunday afternoon’s European Champions Cup semi-final in Marseille.
Fergus McFadden has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a thumb injury and had a successful operation yesterday morning. As a result, his place on the right wing is taken by Zane Kirchner who also replaced him last Sunday.
The rest of the back-three is unchanged with Luke Fitzgerald on the left wing and Rob Kearney at full-back. D’Arcy and Ben Te’o form the centre pairing once again with Isaac Boss and Jimmy Gopperth combining at half-back.
In the pack Richardt Strauss comes in at hooker, with Cian Healy selected at loosehead prop and Mike Ross at tighthead. The second row partnership of Devin Toner and Mike McCarthy is retained. Dominic Ryan comes into the side at blindside flanker with Sean O’Brien at openside and Heaslip leading the side from the base of the scrum.
Head coach Matt O’Connor unfortunately revealed this morning that a shoulder scan for Martin Moore has confirmed that the Ireland prop will need surgery. A keyhole procedure will take place next Monday morning for a labral repair to Moore’s left shoulder which will keep him sidelined for 12 weeks.
O’Connor added that Dave Kearney has a hip flexor strain and is ruled out of selection this weekend. However, the winger should be back in the mix for the visit of Benetton Treviso to the RDS on May 8.
ULSTER: Louis Ludik; Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Callum Black, Rory Best (capt), Wiehahn Herbst, Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Roger Wilson.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross, Robbie Diack, Clive Ross, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Stuart McCloskey.
LEINSTER: Rob Kearney; Zane Kirchner, Ben Te’o, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Jimmy Gopperth, Isaac Boss; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy, Dominic Ryan, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip (capt).
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong, Ben Marshall, Jordi Murphy, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Darragh Fanning.
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan, Olly Hodges (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Seamus Flannery (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ulster to win: 1/2; Draw: 18/1; Leinster to win: 8/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Craig Gilroy (Ulster) – “We had a good week last week and with no game it gave us a chance to work on a few things that we might be restricted to when we have a game week. We took a lot from that then we had the weekend off and hit the ground running on Monday and got a really good session.
“Leinster have been a bogey team (for us), they are a fantastic team – look at their record in both competitions. There have been times on certain occasions where we have looked the better team and have got the better of them but haven’t finished off and that is probably where we have gone wrong. Hopefully we can eradicate our mistakes and put that right.
“We’d love to come out and blow them off the park but they are a very successful team and they have a lot of depth and have world class in their ranks. You would struggle to name a starting team when you look at all the names available and you don’t know who they could play.
“We have Leinster, then we have a week’s break and it is Munster at home – another very tough, physical game. There is a lot of rugby to be played and there is no easy game.
“The interpros are a good chance to put your hand up (for Ireland selection), guys who are looking to progress and get to that next level of rugby and maybe put on a green jersey. Obviously it is over the season and consistency it’s just not one game that will change it for you, but it helps.”
Matt O’Connor (Leinster) – “There’s a lot of disappointment off the back of the result (against Toulon), but the reality is we’ve got to turn it around. We’ve got a really short turnaround. It’s a ‘must win’ game for us at Ulster. The lads are pretty good pros and will put the disappointment to one side and focus on Friday night.
“Ulster are a good side. They’ve been in good form in the league. We will have to make sure at their place we bring all the good things from last weekend’s performance against Toulon.
“It’s not that dissimilar in relation to the threats that they pose – they’ve got a very good set piece, they’ve got a lot of bodies that put pressure on you at the breakdown. We’ll have to make sure that we’re as good as we were last Sunday to get the result.
“We’ve got to win. All we’re concerned about is going to Ulster against a good side and putting in a performance that earns us the four points. We can worry about what happens after that, but it’s just about winning on Friday.”
Top Scorers – 2014/15 GUINNESS PRO12: Ulster – Points: Ian Humphreys 83; Tries: Craig Gilroy 10; Leinster – Points: Ian Madigan 127; Tries: Ian Madigan, Dominic Ryan 4 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, March 30, 2013 – Leinster 18 Ulster 22, the RDS
Saturday, May 25, 2013 – Final – Leinster 24 Ulster 18, the RDS
Saturday, December 28, 2013 – Leinster 19 Ulster 6, the RDS
Friday, May 2, 2014 – Ulster 20 Leinster 22, Ravenhill
Saturday, May 17, 2014 – Semi-final – Leinster 13 Ulster 9, the RDS
Saturday, January 3, 2015 – Leinster 24 Ulster 11, the RDS
MATCH FACTS:
– Ulster’s only defeat in their last seven GUINNESS PRO12 matches was 26-22 to the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade in round 17, while the 24 league points picked up in their last six matches is the best tally of any side in that period
– Ulster have won all nine PRO12 games played in Belfast this season with their most recent defeat at the venue in the league being when Leinster were the visitors in round 21 last year
– Leinster’s only win in their last six matches in all competitions was 18-15 over Bath in the quarter-final of the European Champions Cup on April 4, while their lone victory in their last six PRO12 outings came at home to Zebre in round 15
– Leinster have won their last five fixtures against Ulster, although four of these have been played at the RDS
– The Leinstermen have lost on just two of their last ten visits to the home of Ulster Rugby
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