Thursday 11 December 2014 16:09, UK
We have come to expect the likes of Leinster, Munster and Ulster competing for the European glory but all three of them are really up against it as we head into round four of the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Ulster got their European campaign back on track with a 24-9 win over the Scarlets at the Kingspan Stadium but preparations for the return leg at Parc Y Scarlets has not exactly gone according to plan.
They have had tremendous injury problems heading to Scarlets in what is a must win game for them. They have four or five players missing from last week’s game – Nick Williams and Wiehahn Herbst are really key men for Ulster and will be sorely missed. At tighthead prop, Herbst is a cornerstone of the Ulster pack while Nick Williams is a massive ball carrier for them.
The one thing they have going for them is Ruan Pienaar, who is the man to turn to if they want to get the result. If the Ulster forwards can get parity then they have a scrum-half who can kick goals and his box and territorial kicks are excellent. I don’t expect this to be flashy but rather a very pragmatic performance that will see them kicking for territory.
Ulster cannot afford to play any risky rugby; if they start to throw the ball around in their own half then they will come a cropper. It will be a ferocious battle but as Rory Best says, ‘don’t write-off Ulster yet’. I tend to agree with him and I think they will just have enough.
Leinster will have to bounce back against Harlequins at the Aviva Stadium and their task is a little easier as Quins are without Chris Robshaw and Nick Evans. Robshaw is a massive tackler and has been superb in defence while Evans, on his day, is arguably one of the best No 10s in world rugby. It’s not great for Harlequins but Conor O’Shea always loves a challenge and the Harlequins scrum went very well last week.
Leinster will have looked at their frailties and will really tighten up – and I am expecting a massive reaction from them. Their scrum was destroyed by Quins last week and they will put that right this time; they have to because if they don’t then I cannot see them winning as they will not be able to launch anything off the back.
Leinster have to score some tries – they have only scored three tries in Europe this campaign and really need to improve on that. Winning on penalties is one thing but scoring tries is the one thing that Leinster have been famed for. They have got such a potent backline that when they do get front-foot ball, then they are almost unstoppable. Unfortunately if they are not getting the first then they are not getting the second. However, this game is at the Aviva with 40,000 of their fans and I just think Leinster will show their class this weekend.
Munster have to go to Clermont and win which is a huge ask. Clermont really flexed their muscles last weekend and bullied Munster at Thomond Park – Munster just don’t get bullied like that at home, it was a tremendous performance from the French giants. In Camille Lopez Clermont have a real gem and I think he will be France’s No 10 come the Six Nations. Lopez has given them something extra; he is a very intelligent player, puts his tackles in and seems to have that mental strength too.
Munster will be looking for a reaction this weekend but it will have to be one of the greatest performances from Munster in this competition if they want to win this one – we are used to seeing Munster pulling of a miracle, and maybe they will just before Christmas, but I just can’t see them doing it.
Stade Marcel-Michelin is my favourite ground to go to in the whole of France. It will be absolutely rocking and Clermont have put themselves in a position to really make that step-up. I think 2015 will be Clermont’s year.
