AT THIS LEVEL the smallest thing can make the difference between winning and losing. We can’t account for dropped passes or charged down kicks, but we can look forward to some of the mouth watering match-ups taking shape after each side named their personnel today.
1. Tom Court v Martin Castrogiovanni
Leicester, of course, pride themselves on the grunt they bring to every table. Tom Court’s jersey number would have already made him the first target in line but, as the weak link of Ulster’s scrum, that will go double for tonight. Castrogiovanni is a colossus in the set-piece, but we have seen Cian healy get the measure of him in recent encounters. If Court can hold his own, then John Afoa may be able to put pressure on Marcus Ayerza and put the northern province on the front foot.
2. Darren Cave v Leicester’s special brand of retribution
In an interview with Peter O’Reilly in the Sunday Times, Darren Cave described a suggestion that Leicester are ones to watch for the European trophy as “absolutely ridiculous”. He added sternly: “We know that if we beat them at Ravenhill and they don’t get a bonus point, they’re out of the competition.”
That is precisely the sort of fuel for the fire that travelling coaches thrive on and Cave’s opposition in the centre – Anthoney Allen and Matt Smith – will be out make their mark in an effort to convince him of their quality.
3. Niall Ronan v Steve Malonga: The Munster back row can still hold it’s own, but the absence of David Wallace continues to leave a gaping hole on Munster’s openside. Ronan O’Gara has never played a game when his channel wasn’t the one targeted, but he always found space because Wallace acted as his own personal bouncer. Niall Ronan, though a true seven, does not have the physique to match Wallace but should have a few pounds on Steve Malonga who will be out to shut ROG down at every opportunity tomorrow afternoon.
4 .Jamie Heaslip v John Barclay: It feels a long time ago since John Barclay fronted the lauded ‘killer B’s’ back row which wreaked havoc across the Six Nations for Scotland. Jamie Heaslip has also had to face questions over his relatively poor form over the past year. However,more recent outings have shown Heaslip to be on the way back to his devastating best and, if Leinster are to claim another away win this Sunday, they will need Heaslip winning the collisions against his opposite number.
5. Leinster v Firhill: On paper, Leinster win this fixture every time. Unfortunately, Glasgow’s home ground provides some unique traits which defy written logic. Designed as a football stadium, it is the home of Partick Thistle, and so is tight, small and suffocating to those unfamiliar with it’s dimensions. Jonathon Sexton must measure his kicks from hand to near perfection if he want to gain territory and every player must force the dull and dreary surrounds of north Glasgow in January out of their mind. The reigning champions may have only needed half a performance to beat the Warriors last time out, but in Glasgow, they have not recorded a win since 2006.
6. Connacht v the handicap: Burgess, McAlister, Fritz, Clerc, Medard… The names in Stade Toulousain’s back line just roll off the tongue. Unfortunately, it will only be a matter of time before they create large tracts of space within Connacht’s defence and get a chance to put their skills on full show. Some bookmakers have the the French outfit as 1/100 favourites, others set Eric Elwood’s side a handicap of 27 points. That is what they are playing for tomorrow, but respect should be due either way.
