THE POSTPONEMENT IN week one can give a false sense of ‘the bad old days‘ about Ulster’s Champions Cup predicament at the minute.
The days when, despite having a Heineken Cup tidied away in the record books, they would tend to settle for victories in minor skirmishes. ‘Friday Night At Ravenhill’ was more of an ambush than a show, and the results that accrued were to stand up by themselves, hiding the fact that their tournament ended at the pool stage.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
It’s ‘Friday Night (kick-off 19.45, BT Sport) At Kingspan Stadium’ these days and the goalposts have long since been moved.
The manner in which Saracens managed to dismantle the home side in Belfast three weeks ago was extremely worrying, and things haven’t exactly gotten better since then in terms of either results or the fitness of key personnel.
Ulster though, still have five games ahead of them in this pool. It’s still possible for the home humbling to Mark McCall’s men to be absorbed, still possible for Les Kiss to put out a side with nine internationals and still possible to take a big marquee scalp.
Toulouse are in town, anything is possible.
“Any footage I’ve watched, wherever they receive the ball they just seem to want to run it back. So that’s important for us to get our kick-chase right and we have to be switched on there,” says winger Craig Gilroy.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
His analysis is backed up by the stats too, Ugo Mola’s side have kicked the ball fewer times than anybody through two Champions Cup games (29) with their competition best 47 offloads the preferred means of moving play upfield.
“They play a brand of football that we’re not used to,” admits defence coach Joe Barakat, citing Leinster as one of the few comparable styles in the Pro12 – though he stresses that the eastern province are “not quite as chaotic”.
Toulouse will play rugby off their own line. Their first option is to play rugby, the second is to make a hell of a lot of chaos with offloads to keep the ball alive.
“Our opponents want chaos, we’ve got to provide structure.”
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Much of that chaos is brought through the supreme talent of out-half Luke McAllister. Despite his power, he continues to hold the chief play-making roles, alternating with the season’s surprise centre package, Toby Flood, in managing the Toulouse attack.
Flood appears to have grown (in a few senses) since moving to the south of France, but Ulster will look to use the power of backs like Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall and especially Stuart McCloskey to make inroads in his channel.
The pack is where Toulouse will really seek to tip the scales in their favour. Young Kyle McCall will lock horns with Census Johnston, Chris Henry must contend with Thierry Dusautoir and devastating things happen when Louis Picamoles and Nick Williams build up speed and get their hands free in a tackle.
Rob Herring and Craig Gilroy were speaking at a Kingspan hosted media event in Dublin. Dan Sheridan / INPHODan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Toulouse’s back three is star-studded, yet ageing. At 29 Maxime Medard is by far the youngest of the trio and Ulster will hope to physically test Clément Poitrenaud (33)
Vincent Clerc (34) whenever possible. The only problem with that theory is that Kingspan Stadium at this time of year doesn’t easily lend itself to an expansive gameplan. There is more rain forecast for Belfast tonight, nails on chalkboard to the ears of Gilroy.
“It will get to the stage, if you’re on the wing and the if the ball’s not coming, you just have to come in and try to get your hands on the ball.
You’re no use to anyone just standing on the wing doing nothing.
“So I want to get the ball in my hands and get moving, and try and beat defenders, try and bring a little something to the game.”
Gilroy is lightning quick (though he claims he doesn’t know whether he’s faster than Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald or Simon Zebo), but it’s the balance he runs with that makes him so elusive and makes him a dangerous weapon in fractured play. He proved his knack of jinking his way to the try-line on the international stage in 2012. Only five more caps have followed in three years, but the Co. Down man looks back at that 21-year-old tyro and sits confidently on his achievements and progress since.
“A massive experience, one I really enjoyed and gave me a taste of something I want more of. I think I’m a better player now than I was when I played for Ireland first.
“I’m more experienced, I’ve been through more team environments, different training setups and I think I’m more rounded in aspects of my game. At the same time, I think I’m still learning, still eager to learn and I love training.
He adds: “Joe (Schmidt) is pretty open about what he wants and what I took away was to just keep doing what I’m doing and that I’m nearly there.
“Guys in my position might be a little bit older and experienced than me, but he said keep working and don’t let it get you down – whether that’s being a bit effective at the breakdown or to continue to work on my aerial skills and high balls.”
Tonight’s as good a time as any to underline that progress.
Ulster
15. Louis Ludik
14. Andrew Trimble
13. Luke Marshall
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Craig Gilroy
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Ruan Pienaar
1. Kyle McCall
2. Rory Best
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Alan O’Connor
5. Franco Van Der Merwe
6. Robbie Diack
7. Chris Henry
8. Nick Williams
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Andy Warwick
18. Ricky Lutton
19. Clive Ross
20. Roger Wilson
21. Paul Marshall
22. Ian Humphreys
23. Rory Scholes
Toulouse
15. Clément Poitrenaud
14. Vincent Clerc
13. Gael Fickou
12. Toby Flood
11. Maxime Médard
10. Luke McAlister
9. Sébastien Bézy
1. Vasil Kakovin
2. Corey Flynn
3. Census Johnston
4. Yoann Maestri
5. Joe Tekori
6. Yacouba Camara
7. Thierry Dusautoir
8. Louis Picamoles
Gilroy the perfect spark to counter 'chaotic' Toulouse
THE POSTPONEMENT IN week one can give a false sense of ‘the bad old days‘ about Ulster’s Champions Cup predicament at the minute.
The days when, despite having a Heineken Cup tidied away in the record books, they would tend to settle for victories in minor skirmishes. ‘Friday Night At Ravenhill’ was more of an ambush than a show, and the results that accrued were to stand up by themselves, hiding the fact that their tournament ended at the pool stage.
It’s ‘Friday Night (kick-off 19.45, BT Sport) At Kingspan Stadium’ these days and the goalposts have long since been moved.
The manner in which Saracens managed to dismantle the home side in Belfast three weeks ago was extremely worrying, and things haven’t exactly gotten better since then in terms of either results or the fitness of key personnel.
Ulster though, still have five games ahead of them in this pool. It’s still possible for the home humbling to Mark McCall’s men to be absorbed, still possible for Les Kiss to put out a side with nine internationals and still possible to take a big marquee scalp.
Toulouse are in town, anything is possible.
“Any footage I’ve watched, wherever they receive the ball they just seem to want to run it back. So that’s important for us to get our kick-chase right and we have to be switched on there,” says winger Craig Gilroy.
His analysis is backed up by the stats too, Ugo Mola’s side have kicked the ball fewer times than anybody through two Champions Cup games (29) with their competition best 47 offloads the preferred means of moving play upfield.
“They play a brand of football that we’re not used to,” admits defence coach Joe Barakat, citing Leinster as one of the few comparable styles in the Pro12 – though he stresses that the eastern province are “not quite as chaotic”.
“Our opponents want chaos, we’ve got to provide structure.”
Much of that chaos is brought through the supreme talent of out-half Luke McAllister. Despite his power, he continues to hold the chief play-making roles, alternating with the season’s surprise centre package, Toby Flood, in managing the Toulouse attack.
Flood appears to have grown (in a few senses) since moving to the south of France, but Ulster will look to use the power of backs like Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall and especially Stuart McCloskey to make inroads in his channel.
The pack is where Toulouse will really seek to tip the scales in their favour. Young Kyle McCall will lock horns with Census Johnston, Chris Henry must contend with Thierry Dusautoir and devastating things happen when Louis Picamoles and Nick Williams build up speed and get their hands free in a tackle.
Toulouse’s back three is star-studded, yet ageing. At 29 Maxime Medard is by far the youngest of the trio and Ulster will hope to physically test Clément Poitrenaud (33)
Vincent Clerc (34) whenever possible. The only problem with that theory is that Kingspan Stadium at this time of year doesn’t easily lend itself to an expansive gameplan. There is more rain forecast for Belfast tonight, nails on chalkboard to the ears of Gilroy.
“It will get to the stage, if you’re on the wing and the if the ball’s not coming, you just have to come in and try to get your hands on the ball.
“So I want to get the ball in my hands and get moving, and try and beat defenders, try and bring a little something to the game.”
Gilroy is lightning quick (though he claims he doesn’t know whether he’s faster than Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald or Simon Zebo), but it’s the balance he runs with that makes him so elusive and makes him a dangerous weapon in fractured play. He proved his knack of jinking his way to the try-line on the international stage in 2012. Only five more caps have followed in three years, but the Co. Down man looks back at that 21-year-old tyro and sits confidently on his achievements and progress since.
“A massive experience, one I really enjoyed and gave me a taste of something I want more of. I think I’m a better player now than I was when I played for Ireland first.
“I’m more experienced, I’ve been through more team environments, different training setups and I think I’m more rounded in aspects of my game. At the same time, I think I’m still learning, still eager to learn and I love training.
He adds: “Joe (Schmidt) is pretty open about what he wants and what I took away was to just keep doing what I’m doing and that I’m nearly there.
“Guys in my position might be a little bit older and experienced than me, but he said keep working and don’t let it get you down – whether that’s being a bit effective at the breakdown or to continue to work on my aerial skills and high balls.”
Tonight’s as good a time as any to underline that progress.
Ulster
15. Louis Ludik
14. Andrew Trimble
13. Luke Marshall
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Craig Gilroy
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Ruan Pienaar
1. Kyle McCall
2. Rory Best
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Alan O’Connor
5. Franco Van Der Merwe
6. Robbie Diack
7. Chris Henry
8. Nick Williams
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Andy Warwick
18. Ricky Lutton
19. Clive Ross
20. Roger Wilson
21. Paul Marshall
22. Ian Humphreys
23. Rory Scholes
Toulouse
15. Clément Poitrenaud
14. Vincent Clerc
13. Gael Fickou
12. Toby Flood
11. Maxime Médard
10. Luke McAlister
9. Sébastien Bézy
1. Vasil Kakovin
2. Corey Flynn
3. Census Johnston
4. Yoann Maestri
5. Joe Tekori
6. Yacouba Camara
7. Thierry Dusautoir
8. Louis Picamoles
Replacements:
16. Julien Marchand
17. Cyril Baille
18. Dorian Aldegheri
19. Edwin Maka
20. Gregory Lamboley
21. Gillian Galan
22. Jean-Marc Doussain
23. Alexis Palisson
Referee: Wayne Barnes
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