YOU GET THE sense the Rainbow Cup has become something of a chore for Ulster. It’s been just two weeks since they threw away a strong half-time lead in their Challenge Cup semi-final tie at Leicester Tigers, and they haven’t hidden from the fact that result is still haunting them.
A thrown-together, one-off tournament is not the most exciting prospect on the back of such a crushing European exit.
Their defeat to Munster last time out was about as bad as it has been for Dan McFarland’s side. They were sluggish, sloppy and ill-disciplined against a Munster team who sensed weakness, went for the throat and encountered little resistance.
McFarland did not like what he saw. The Ulster boss made five changes at half-time in Thomond Park, and has retained only three of last week’s starting XV – Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey and Iain Henderson – for tonight’s encounter against Leinster at the RDS [KO 8.15pm, eir Sport].
They travel to Dublin aiming to avoid falling to four successive defeats in all competitions for the first time in over four years.
Having lost their opening two Rainbow Cup two games Ulster don’t have much to play for across the remainder of the competition, but the least McFarland will hope for is to see more fight from his side. No matter the setting or circumstances, no head coach wants to head into the summer on the back of a series of losses.
Still, Ulster will continue to use the competition to test different combinations, although there are individuals in the squad with plenty to play for. The likes of Robert Baloucoune, Tom O’Toole and Eric O’Sullivan will have Ireland’s July Tests against the USA and Japan on their mind.
However tonight’s game looks a daunting task against a Leinster team who ruthlessly stuck eight tries on Connacht last week and take to the pitch with 13 Ireland international in their starting XV.
Ulster will need a big performance to tame a powerful, dynamic looking Leinster pack, while Billy Burns and Dave Shanahan – who starts his first game of the 2020/21 season – will also need to make their own mark on proceedings. No pressure.
Leo Cullen’s side have quickly made it clear that they are in this competition to win it. They had an eye on Europe when losing to Munster on the opening weekend, but the team selections for last week’s trip to the Sportsground and tonight’s clash show a serious level of intent.
Robbie Henshaw and Tadhg Furlong, both named in Warren Gatland’s Lions squad last week, both start, as does James Ryan, one of more notable omissions from that touring party.
Yet all eyes will be on Caelan Doris, who makes a welcome return following a lengthy spell out of the game.
The back row looked destined to become a Lion this summer before concussion issues stalled his progress. He hasn’t played since 23 January. It will have felt like a lifetime for a young player with the world at his feet.
Ireland and Leinster have both shown extreme care and caution in handling his return to action, and the hope is that he settles back in smoothly over the next few weeks.
Doris – who pulled out of the team that lost to Munster on 24 April with a calf problem – is an explosive talent who brings plenty to the table on both sides of the ball. His smart footwork and handling ability marks him out as a threat with ball in hand, while he also serves as a valuable weapon at the breakdown.
Leinster also welcome back Jimmy O’Brien, who makes his first appearance in two months after overcoming a hamstring problem. The versatile back has grown into an important member of the Leinster squad, featuring 14 times this season before being laid up, and will be keen to make up for lost time.
Ulster have won just once (2013) on their last 18 visits to the RDS. They could be in for another long night.
Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath (captain); Cian Healy, Seán Cronin, Tadhg Furlong; Ryan Baird, James Ryan; Josh Murphy, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Michael Milne, Michael Bent, Devin Toner, Jack Conan, Cormac Foley, Rory O’Loughlin, Tommy O’Brien.
Ulster: Jacob Stockdale; Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy; Billy Burns, David Shanahan; Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Marty Moore; Sam Carter, Iain Henderson (captain); Matty Rea, Sean Reidy, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: Brad Roberts, Callum Reid, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Greg Jones, Nathan Doak, Ian Madigan, Rob Lyttle.
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
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Glad to see both managers talking sense. I know Antrim got to the final of the U21 few years back but in general ulster teams got a hiding in all ireland semi finals.
Saturday’s mismatch was no Benifit to anyone. Ok as the Derry manager said his players want to play in Thurles etc. They can’t have enjoyed the Thurles experience on Saturday.
Try an open draw as Eddie said, and a proper B grade competition with ulster trans included with the final on the same day as the A final.
@Diarmuid: there already is a b competition and the final is played before the a final
@Noel Kelly: i realise that Noel but as the Derry manager said the B grade should be restructed to include the ulster champions as well. They are out of there depth at the A level
@Diarmuid: and too good for the B Championship.
Completely agree with Eddie Brendan. This year’s semi finals illustrated the serious issues facing hurling. The Kilkenny Derry game is self explanatory. No way should both teams be on the same pitch. It hinders rather than helps both counties. On the other side we had probably the best u21 team in the country playing their first championship match against a battle hardned side. Very unfair on Galway. Tom Fahey
All about bloody funding,the love for hurling in Derry(parts of)is there,was involved in schools in the 80s,all funded , introduced hurling,football camphor,to kids who wouldn’t have even seen it before,funding ran out(cross border funding) after 2 years,so a lot of kids who weren’t in Gaa clubs finished being interested in our national games,we were full time in primary/secondary schools,do when the scheme finished,most of our work came to nothing,(all coaches were badged)feel something like this initiative needs to happen in Ulster
@billy Dorney: excuse the misspelling,camogie,i meant
@billy Dorney: There is a lot more to it than that, there are many counties and county boards throughout Ireland that refuse to promote hurling as it should as it eat up all resources that Gaelic Football uses, it is so pathetic that there are many counties that do not even put forward a B U21 team, the big ball is king.
@ktsiwot: agree
@ktsiwot: yes,and it’s not going to change anytime soon,so hurling loses
why is the solution always to throw them into Leinster? Wexford Dublin and even westmeath would have hammered that Derry team. why just devalue Leinster and leave precious Munster alone? if ya want to get rid of the provinces, then they all have to go and open up to a group
@Ger O’Meara: devalue leinster by adding Galway u must be joking look how much they have added to the senior hurling.
Galway should go into Leinster and then winners of Leinster and Munster go straight to the final. Big mistake to let go of the Munster Championship if it happens.
All this absolute shite talk about the “Munster championship” what’s so sacred about it. Limerick and Clare have won loads of Munster U21 in last decade and are currently way off the pace required at senior level..There will always be an asterix beside the 2013 AIF. The Munster SHC has been quite poor for years, take out Tipp and the rest are average enough, except for a few bubble performances here and there.. They dont like to hear that in Munster, but thats a fact..It’s not all that!
@Lord Clanricarde: I don’t get this asterix thing about 2013. Why is there an asterix about it. Clare beat everyone put before them and won the all Ireland. End of story. It’s not like Kilkenny, Tipp and Galway didn’t enter the championship that. Same teams started out as every year so I think people need to give Clare the respect they deserve and stop downgrading their all Ireland. If Kilkenny had won in 2013 instead of Clare there’d be no talk of asterix’s. Cork won 2010 football all Ireland beating down. Tipp beat Antrim in an all Ireland in 89 I think. Why no asterix’s against them???
@Lord “up me own hole from Galway”Please stop blowing your own pipa you clown.
@John Carroll: Nice to see neither if ye argued with me on the fact that Munster hurling is not all it’s cracked up to be.. It’s a competition full of sentimentality and old farts scared of change in case it effects the “magical” Munster championship!..Nevermind that Tipp win it whenever they decide to get the lead out!!
Galway should go into Leinster and the winners of Leinster and Munster then play in All Ireland Final. Big mistake if we lost the Munster Championship