AFTER AN IMPORTANT home win against the Leicester Tigers last weekend, Ulster head to Montpellier for an even more difficult task.
Fabien Galthié’s men have been in excellent form so far this season and come into this game sitting second in the Top 14, with a 43-3 victory over Clermont in September highlighting their ability.
The French side can call on a number of classy and powerful operators, so here are three of the key head-to-head battles that Ulster will be looking to win.
Ruan Pienaar v Jonathan Pélissié
The South African is in Ulster’s starting team for the first time this season and comes up against a rising star of the French game. At 25, Pélissié has taken his time making a name for himself, but he has been worth the wait. Since joining from Grenoble during the summer, the spiky scrum-half has been in scintillating form, scoring tries and kicking goals.
Last weekend, he was restricted to a substitute role against Treviso but still managed to score a try during his 20 minutes on the pitch. Pélissié has excellent awareness and his pace means Ulster will need to keep a close eye on him around the fringes of rucks. In stark contrast to the Frenchman’s lively approach is the calm intelligence of Pienaar.
He was a joy to watch off the bench in Ulster’s win at Ravenhill last Friday, demonstrating all of his game management qualities. His kicking game adds another crucial element and Ulster will look to him to help them win the territorial battle. In phase play, Pienaar’s prompting and organisation will be vital.
Verdict: Pélissié’s spark to ignite Montpellier in the early stages, but Pienaar’s influence to grow as the game develops.
Chris Henry v Mamuka Gorgodze
Gorgodze has wreaked havoc against Leinster in the past. ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan.
An intriguing battle between two players who don’t quite fit the bill of the traditional ’groundhog’ openside flanker. Henry has improved vastly in the last three years to become one of Ulster’s key men, and he does possess excellent breakdown skills. The 29-year-old’s strength makes him hard to shift when he gets over the ball and his work-rate is inspirational.
His opposite number tomorrow will be the wild Georgian Mamuka Gorgodze, who is making only his second start of the season for Montpellier. ‘Gorgodzilla’ at his best is a runaway train of a ball-carrier; explosive, aggressive and dangerous to halt. His discipline has been a problem throughout his career and, true to form, he was sin binned against Treviso last weekend.
Gorgodze has apparently agreed to join Toulon on a three-year deal next season, but for now his focus is on putting a dent in Ulster’s defence and making a few of his trademark big hits. Henry should look to frustrate and provoke the Montpellier man into ill-discipline, tearing his concentration away from the game and into a side-show.
Verdict: Gorgodzilla to add to his lengthy highlight reel with some spectacular plays, but Henry to excel in the ruck area. Oh, and a yellow for Gorgodze!
Tommy Bowe v Timoci Nagusa
Two powerhouses line up directly opposite each other out wide, with Bowe wearing 11 and Nagusa 14. The Ireland international showed all his class on his second start of the season against the Tigers last weekend, soaring high to take Paddy Jackson’s cross-field kick for his try. That was a second five-pointer in two games for Bowe, who is approaching peak fitness.
The Lions winger is up against a man who has similar athletic abilities in Nagusa. The Fijian spent two years with Ulster between 2008 and 2010, scoring eight tries and generally impressing. Having moved on to Montpellier, he has been exceptional, with no less than 36 tries over the last four seasons. The 26-year-old is pure pace and power and Bowe can’t allow him time and space.
With Nagusa standing at 6ft 2ins, it might not appear that Ulster can make gains in the air on that wing, but Bowe is far superior at getting off the deck and fielding the ball. Furthermore, the Montpellier speedster isn’t always comfortable when he’s forced to turn and cover kicks in behind, so Jackson should look to test him, with Bowe providing the chase.
Verdict: Nagusa to score against his former province, with Bowe seeing less of the ball this week than he did against Leicester.
Ulster: Jared Payne; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Tommy Bowe; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Tom Court, Rory Best, Declan Fitzpatrick; Johann Muller (c), Dan Tuohy; Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Roger Wilson.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Black, John Afoa, Lewis Stevenson, Iain Henderson, Paul Marshall, Stuart Olding, Michael Allen.
Montpellier: Anthony Floch; Timoci Nagusa, Anthony Tiutavake, Wynand Olivier, Yoan Audrin; François Trinh-Duc, Jonathan Pélissié; Yvan Watremez, Mickaël Ivaldi, Maximiliano Bustos; Jim Hamilton, Thibaut Privat; Fulgence Ouedraogo (c), Mamuka Gorgodze, Kélian Galletier.
Replacements: Thomas Bianchin, Misha Nariashvili, Nicolas Mas, Fred Quercy, Robins Tchale-Watchou, Benoît Paillaugue, Thomas Combezou, Benoît Sicart.
How do you see these head-to-head battles working out? Where else will this game be won and lost? As always, comments are welcome below…
