IT’S THE BACK-to-back champions, versus the so-near-yet-so-far men of the Heineken Cup’s final years.
Ulster host the might and the money of Toulon in Kingspan Stadium, not on a lusty Friday night, but on a Saturday lunchtime on Ravenhill. That’s hardly the ideal setting for a must-win European fixture, but here’s five more reasons to believe the red hand can slap Goliath down.
1. This time last year…
The precedent is there for Ulster. In the second round of pool fixtures last season, Toulon came off the back of a win over Pro12 opposition to face another on the road.
In Cardiff, they came unstuck. Jonny Wilkinson’s five penalties were all the champions could muster and Gareth Davies ran in a late try (converted by current Toulon place-kicker Leigh Halfpenny) to sneak a shock four-point win.
Also in round two last year, Ulster traveled to Montpellier with onlookers saying they’d be doing well to get a bonus point. They took home all four.
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2. Toulon have other fish to fry
Sure, they take European competition seriously. But when they get back to the Mediterranean coast on Sunday morning it will be all systems for a (we’re gonna go ahead and call it a..) grudge match at home to Grenoble.
Bernard Jackman’s boys won both fixtures against the European champions last season, including their last trip to Stade Mayol. We can’t imagine Mourad being too happy to see the plucky mountain men come down and make it three from three.
3. This stadium needs a big win
Ulster have won on home turf since the redevelopment of Ravenhill, but when it comes to the big games, the men and women standing up for Ulster have left disappointed.
Matt Mackey / Press Eye
Matt Mackey / Press Eye / Press Eye
Red cards had a big part to play in defeats to Leinster in the Pro12 and Saracens in the big cup, but for Kingspan to start earning itself a fearsome reputation, Ulster have to start taking scalps.
“Knowing that the meat of your season could be over within two weeks of the start of the competition. That’s the driver, fear is the driver.”
There is no room for error, definitely not at home: if Ulster want to add another, greater, chapter to their European tales then they can’t afford to lose a second game on the trot.
5. Righting wrongs
Presseye / Andrew Fosker/INPHO
Presseye / Andrew Fosker/INPHO / Andrew Fosker/INPHO
The defeat in Leicester was a horror show for Ulster fans. The plan and application of the performance was miles off the standard Neil Doak’s side have set for themselves in recent seasons. So, come lunchtime tomorrow, their professional pride will be itching to bounce back from a game in which everything just seemed to go wrong.
5 reasons to believe Ulster will beat Toulon
IT’S THE BACK-to-back champions, versus the so-near-yet-so-far men of the Heineken Cup’s final years.
Ulster host the might and the money of Toulon in Kingspan Stadium, not on a lusty Friday night, but on a Saturday lunchtime on Ravenhill. That’s hardly the ideal setting for a must-win European fixture, but here’s five more reasons to believe the red hand can slap Goliath down.
1. This time last year…
The precedent is there for Ulster. In the second round of pool fixtures last season, Toulon came off the back of a win over Pro12 opposition to face another on the road.
In Cardiff, they came unstuck. Jonny Wilkinson’s five penalties were all the champions could muster and Gareth Davies ran in a late try (converted by current Toulon place-kicker Leigh Halfpenny) to sneak a shock four-point win.
Also in round two last year, Ulster traveled to Montpellier with onlookers saying they’d be doing well to get a bonus point. They took home all four.
2. Toulon have other fish to fry
Sure, they take European competition seriously. But when they get back to the Mediterranean coast on Sunday morning it will be all systems for a (we’re gonna go ahead and call it a..) grudge match at home to Grenoble.
Bernard Jackman’s boys won both fixtures against the European champions last season, including their last trip to Stade Mayol. We can’t imagine Mourad being too happy to see the plucky mountain men come down and make it three from three.
3. This stadium needs a big win
Ulster have won on home turf since the redevelopment of Ravenhill, but when it comes to the big games, the men and women standing up for Ulster have left disappointed.
Red cards had a big part to play in defeats to Leinster in the Pro12 and Saracens in the big cup, but for Kingspan to start earning itself a fearsome reputation, Ulster have to start taking scalps.
4. ‘Fear is the driver’
When we looked back on Munster’s famous 2006 victory over Sale, Donncha O’Callaghan made the point that, after losing your opening game, it’s European Cup final day every day after that.
There is no room for error, definitely not at home: if Ulster want to add another, greater, chapter to their European tales then they can’t afford to lose a second game on the trot.
5. Righting wrongs
The defeat in Leicester was a horror show for Ulster fans. The plan and application of the performance was miles off the standard Neil Doak’s side have set for themselves in recent seasons. So, come lunchtime tomorrow, their professional pride will be itching to bounce back from a game in which everything just seemed to go wrong.
‘One bad performance doesn’t make you a bad team’ – Rory Best
What ever happened to the Ronan O’Gara-esque spiral kick?
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Chris Henry All-Ireland Senior HC European Rugby Champions Cup Paddy Jackson Rory Best suftum Toulon Tommy Bowe Ulster