The last time these provinces met they played out a nine-try thriller at Thomond Park. More of the same would certainly keep the big Belfast crowd entertained as Ulster and Munster begin the New Year with another super-charged interprovincial encounter.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, January 2
ULSTER (4th) v MUNSTER (6th), Kingspan Stadium, 3pm (live Sky Sports 1 HD)
Team News: Andrew Trimble will become the first player to make 200 appearances for Ulster when he lines out against Munster at a sold-out Kingspan Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Trimble made his provincial debut back in September 2005, starting in a 25-22 win over Cardiff at the Arms Park, and has gone on to score 67 tries in his 199 games to date.
The Ireland winger is part of an unchanged back-line from the one that helped Ulster to secure a 10-3 away triumph over Connacht last weekend – their fourth successive win.
Louis Ludik and Rory Scholes continue in the back-three for this important GUINNESS PRO12 derby encounter, with Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall named in midfield together and Paddy Jackson and Ruan Pienaar included in the half-back positions.
Rory Best will return to captain the side from hooker, in one of four changes up front. Director of rugby Les Kiss has also recalled loosehead prop Kyle McCall to the front row alongside Wiehahn Herbst, who remains at tighthead.
Lewis Stevenson has earned a start in the second row where he is partnered by Franco van der Merwe, while Chris Henry has overcome a slight shoulder injury. He is selected at openside flanker, with Robbie Diack and Nick Williams retaining their places at blindside and number 8 respectively.
Rob Herring, Callum Black, Ricky Lutton, Alan O’Connor and Roger Wilson are back-up for the forwards, while Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys and Sam Arnold again provide back-line cover.
Meanwhile, after making his first appearance of the season last weekend off the bench against Leinster, Tommy O’Donnell will start for Munster against Ulster in Belfast.
Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made seven changes to the starting line-up, with Dave Kilcoyne replacing the injured James Cronin (ankle) at loosehead prop and tighthead BJ Botha returning from a bout of flu.
Mark Chisholm is introduced in the second row and with O’Donnell returning to the back row, Jack O’Donoghue makes the positional switch to blindside flanker with captain CJ Stander continuing at number 8.
There are three changes to the back-line as Ian Keatley joins Tomas O’Leary at half-back, while Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino and Ronan O’Mahony are both introduced out wide.
Academy player Rory Scannell, who signed a two-year senior contract earlier this week, continues his centre partnership with Francis Saili, and Andrew Conway remains in place at full-back.
Replacement scrum half Duncan Williams is in line to become the ninth player in the current squad to reach the milestone of 100 appearances for the province.
Speaking ahead of the trip north, Foley said: “We are in a difficult place at the moment and it’s hard for everyone involved, but it’s important we get some momentum back in our game and don’t feel sorry for ourselves.
“We can’t hide from our performances and we need to build on what’s good from last week and eliminate what’s bad. Ulster are going really well at the moment, playing with a lot of confidence. They went to Toulouse and got a win there and then went to the Sportsground a week later where they did the same in a tight affair.
“They are building momentum under Les Kiss and Neil Doak and it’s going to be a hard ask for the boys, but we need to respect them, and also respect ourselves and go after a good result for ourselves.”
ULSTER: Louis Ludik; Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Rory Scholes; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Kyle McCall, Rory Best (capt), Wiehahn Herbst, Lewis Stevenson, Franco van der Merwe, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Black, Ricky Lutton, Alan O’Connor, Roger Wilson, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Sam Arnold.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Ronan O’Mahony, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino; Ian Keatley, Tomas O’Leary; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, BJ Botha, Dave Foley, Mark Chisholm, Jack O’Donoghue, Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander (capt).
Replacements: Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Mario Sagario, Billy Holland, Robin Copeland, Duncan Williams, Tyler Bleyendaal, Denis Hurley.
Referee: Gary Conway (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Brian MacNeice (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Alan Rogan (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ulster to win: 3/10; Draw: 18/1; Munster to win: 11/4
Pre-Match Quotes: Andrew Trimble (Ulster) – “I don’t want to get distracted by this being my 200th game for Ulster. Sure, it means a lot to me, it means a lot to the team I’m sure, but it’s far more important that we go out there on Saturday and perform as we have in recent games.
“I’ve had a great time playing for Ulster since I was a 20-year-old, and hopefully that will continue for a few years to come. Of course there have been ups and downs along the way, but it’s been a great time for me personally, and I’ve been fortunate to play with some wonderful players.
“And at the moment it’s particularly exciting within the present squad, with the mix of Ulster-born, foreign, experienced and younger players.
“We’ve put in four big performances and got the results to show for it, and all of a sudden we have a big interprovincial game we have to win. We’ve put ourselves under pressure, but it’s always easier to win when you have momentum. It’s never easy to win against Munster, though. They are a side that always turns up.”
Tomas O’Leary (Munster) – “It is not through a lack of effort but it is up to us as players to correct our mistakes which we haven’t done in the past few weeks. It is about us executing on the pitch and maintaining a bit of composure once we create opportunities. We are creating opportunities. Now it is about believing in what we are doing.
“You do fear losing but you can’t allow fear to dictate how you perform and play. You still have to have ambition and believe in what you are doing. There’s criticism from the media and from our own supporters which is frustrating. Obviously, we want to reward our supporters with good performances and wins. Failing to do that adds to the pressure and certainly increases frustration and does dampen the mood.
“We have let them down as a player group (during this run of five defeats in a row). We have everything in place, we have a good game-plan and we are creating opportunities. But we haven’t executed on the pitch. It is about us accepting that responsibility as players.
“(Ruan) Pienaar has been the catalyst for Ulster’s recent pick-up in form. He’s world class, his kicking game off both feet, the tries he sets up, he dictates the tempo of the game and himself and (Paddy) Jackson are playing particularly well together. He’s a a guy we obviously have to keep an eye on.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Ulster – Points: Paddy Jackson 34; Tries: Craig Gilroy 4; Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 75; Tries: CJ Stander, Andrew Conway 3 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, December 29, 2012 – Munster 24 Ulster 10, Thomond Park
Friday, January 3, 2014 – Ulster 29 Munster 19, Ravenhill
Saturday, May 10, 2014 – Munster 17 Ulster 19, Thomond Park
Friday, November 28, 2014 – Munster 21 Ulster 20, Thomond Park
Saturday, May 9, 2015 – Ulster 23 Munster 23, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, October 30, 2015 – Munster 32 Ulster 28, Thomond Park
MATCH FACTS:
– Ulster have won their last four matches in all competitions since their 8-3 reversal to Leinster at the RDS at the end of November
– The Ulstermen are unbeaten at Kingspan Stadium in the GUINNESS PRO12 since Leinster won there in May 2014
– Munster have slipped to five straight defeats in all competitions, their worst run since the 2003/04 season
– The Munstermen’s most recent away victory came at Edinburgh in the PRO12 on November 7
– Munster are unbeaten in their last three fixtures against Ulster, including a 32-28 win at Thomond Park in round 6 this season
– The Munstermen have not achieved a league double over Ulster since the 2010/11 campaign, the most recent time they have been victorious in Belfast
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