This is it: Ulster v Leinster
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All eyes will focus on Twickenham on Saturday as an all-Irish final between Leinster and Ulster decides who will be Heineken Cup champions of 2012.
There is no doubt that Leinster have earned their spot in the final after winning against Clermont in Bordeaux - let us not go into why the top seeds were sent on their travels - and if they were to lift the Heineken Cup three times in four years, they will also be the second team to go back-to-back.
Add to their impressive campaign the fact they were unbeaten in the Pools, despite going close to losing in their first fixture in Montpellier, and few would begrudge Joe Schmidt's men of coming out on top. Furthermore, a similar feeling will ring true ahead of the RaboDirect PRO12 final.
They are a rather short price of 1/4 with several bookmakers though for an 80-minute pressure cooker of a final and it would be daft to dismiss Ulster from glory. Why? They will thoroughly enjoy coming into this as underdogs as they look to end what has been a typically up and down term.
In Brian McLaughlin's last season at the helm, they finished the PRO12 in sixth spot, nine points off the play-offs as a late-season league slump coincided with eyes wandering to this clash. Make no mistake, they are refreshed and have been preparing for this one for a while.
If they can continue in the defensive manner of the quarter and semi-final successes, where they completed a combined 321 tackles, then they may just end up partying like it's 1999.
While making sure not to do a disservice to Declan Fitzpatrick, who was excellent in John Afoa's absence in the semi-final, the return of the All Black tighthead brings a welcome boost to their pack while flank Chris Henry is also fit to play and steps in for Willie Faloon.
The pack is where Ulster have prided themselves this campaign and while Leinster possess a fearsome eight of their own, this is the area the underdogs will target. If they can upset the champions' set-piece, particularly the line-out where Richardt Strauss will feel the pressure of Johann Muller, then rhythm could be upset. And with Pienaar rarely having an off day from the kicking tee and a derby final such as this on the line, errors are going to be key.
On the other side, Leinster continue to be without winger Luke Fitzgerald in a back-three that has been in scintillating form throughout their unbeaten European streak. Rob Kearney needs two tries to draw level with Timoci Matanavou on eight as the competition's top try-scorer this year while Jonathan Sexton is fourteen points shy of Ireland fly-half rival Ronan O'Gara (102 points). It's also worth noting that centre Brian O'Driscoll requires one try to go level with Toulouse winger Vincent Clerc at the top of the all-time Heineken Cup charts. All would no doubt swap any personal milestones for team glory at Twickenham on Saturday.
So as Ireland descends on London, will it be a continuation of blue European dominance or chants of Stand Up For The Ulster Men at full-time in a competition that rarely disappoints.
Ones to watch:
For Leinster: Who better than the man looking to add to an already bulging medal drawer. If former All Black lock Brad Thorn does win the Heineken Cup on Saturday then he would join Rod Kafer and Doug Howlett in being the only southern hemisphere player to win the Super Rugby and European elite cup in their career. It was quite fitting that Thorn said "there's a brick wall between us and the cup in Ulster" as the man is pretty much an immovable force himself. In a week when it emerged Simon Shaw has signed a one-year deal extension with Toulon in France, who'd bet against Thorn continuing for a bit longer.
For Ulster: One supporter sign that has become synonymous with the Heineken Cup this season has been "You've been Ruan-ed". So many teams have been along the way and if Ruan Pienaar can add Leinster onto that list on Saturday evening, he is set to have the freedom of Belfast next week. Springbok international Pienaar has an ability to slow down all that is in front of him and in knockout rugby of this magnitude, his skills and calming influence is going to give Ulster a chance. If he can combine with Pedrie Wannenburg like he did in the last round, then Ulster's arguably stronger forward pack could get on top.
Head-to-head: The back-row battle will be one to savour as Sean O'Brien goes up against Stephen Ferris. The latter's worth cannot be downplayed as he not only possesses a wealth of skills but also strikes a psychological blow to his rivals when fit and named - and flip that to the confidence it gives his colleagues when he is alongside them. A clearly injured Ferris battled through Ulster's semi-final win over Edinburgh but against O'Brien and Leinster, anything but a 100 per cent performance for 80 minutes might not be enough.
Prediction: Intense, brutal and typical finals rugby is expected. Ulster to sneak it by 1!
The teams:
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Brad Thorn, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Nathan White, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Shane Jennings, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 David Kearney.
Ulster: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Johann Muller (capt), 3 John Afoa, 2 Rory Best, 1 Tom Court.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Paddy McAllister, 18 Declan Fitzpatrick, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Willie Faloon, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Adam D'Arcy.
Date: Saturday, May 19
Kick-off: 17:00 BST
Venue: Twickenham
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Jérôme Garces (France)
By Adam Kyriacou
Comments
munster30 says...
ehhhhhhh.....who did ye get for the prediction? Mystic Meg?
Posted 16:05 21st May 2012
jontheref says...
Plenty of us in wales following this one.
Not brave enought to bet on either side.
Bookies say leinster, but |Ulster do dig out some good games.
All to watch for!
Agree with Rosbif, hope Owens has a good game, and the weather doesn't ruin it!
let the players decide, no one else.
Posted 16:39 19th May 2012
jontheref says...
Plenty of us in wales following this one.
Not brave enought to bet on either side.
Bookies say leinster, but |Ulster do dig out some good games.
All to watch for!
Agree with Rosbif, hope Owens has a good game, and the weather doesn't ruin it!
let the players decide, no one else.
Posted 16:39 19th May 2012
hedonaut says...
@paddy91317
"i really just wanna see sean o o'brien run into stephen ferris and see wat happens"
I think I heard Stephen Hawkins warn that this could result in a hole in the space-time continuum, resulting in the end of all matter in the universe. The ERC will have a lot to answer for if that comes to pass.
Posted 11:57 19th May 2012
marzie says...
@ lacroix - 'Passive rugby fans totally disinterested'? Really? My boss is watching it & he's a cricket and football loving scouser. It is doubtful that many rugby followers in England & France will be tuning in though, so keen is their sense of entitlement and so uncomprehending their emotions that their best teams fall so short of Europe's elite.
Posted 10:56 19th May 2012
tha_mai says...
don's support either side, but this game shown live here in Asia, after a thorough look at the teams I've decided on Ulster on basis they have three men named Paddy in their 22. That is fairly scientific, from the days Wales could front a team of Jones, Evans and Williams.
Looking forward to the match.
@ lacroix - it's big in Thailand!! main rugby story in today's Bangkok Post ahead of usual Super Rugby previews. They have a feature on Rob and Dave Kearney.
Posted 09:52 19th May 2012
blametheref says...
Most of the Ulster winning game seems to rely heavily on Pienaar and if they will get enough landed penalties, if he's not on form Ulster can go into their shell, whereas Leinster are more a complete rounded team relying on no penalty equation or player in particular to get them past the winning post. If Shane Horgan was on the field for Leinster this would probably be the strongest team they've ever put out. Under normal circumstances most likely a Leinster win, but this is a one off final and fortune will favour the brave and the team who has that never say die attitude, so anything can happen. But my belief is that Leinster will draw heavily on their experience from last years final and the away semi final, these factors alone demonstrate that Leinster will be anything but complacent and will be a team who are going to give an "at tempo" performance for the entire 80 minutes. The only way Ulster can really stop them is either, hoping Leinster have a horrible off-day where nothing goes their way or by playing a negative style, slowing down the ball, kicking for territory and either launching attacks from there or slotting any loose penalties...The game of rugby demands more positivity, hence a Leinster win
Posted 09:52 19th May 2012
lacroix says...
whats really interesting is how little attention in mainstream media this final is getting. sponsors very unhappy and passive rugby fans totally disinterested.
Posted 09:08 19th May 2012
trooper says...
Ulster to go out like men possessed and smash them!
Posted 07:36 19th May 2012
Cabhan says...
As well as Munster in Thomond, they were robbed by a poor decision away to Clermont. Even if Leinster lose the lineout battle and Henry makes a nuisance of himself they're capable of winning on 40% possession. Can't see Ulster outscore them on the try front
Posted 00:34 19th May 2012
whitelinefever says...
Both teams have good preps with gla last week and Edinburgh v ulster in the quarters. As a Leinster man living in ulster, the lady boys are way to complacent for this one and by all accounts are forgetting ulsters pedigree. The bookies with ulster +8 are in la la land.
Posted 22:53 18th May 2012
Rosbif says...
Let's hope it doesn't tip down with rain all game, there are no unlucky injuries to key players early on, no crazy yellow or red cards from the ref, and the result isn't decided by some obvious fwd pass or crazily lucky drop goal from half way by a forward off his wrong foot.
Good luck to all involved (players, fans, coaches, ref, TMO etc) and may the best team win :)
Posted 22:51 18th May 2012
Forward_pass says...
Any team who can beat Munster in their back yard is capable of winning the final. If ulster can stick to a game plan the game will be tight and could well be settled by the place kickers, so the blues fans predicting a cricket score are way off the mark.
Ulster will sneak it as pienaar is a better player than sexton will ever be.
Posted 17:43 18th May 2012
louis77 says...
i'm gona throw my neck on the line and say that if Ulster cant hold their own up front they are getting hammered ! their backs are not in the same league as the leinster lads and wont be able to hold them out ...... that being said leinster are fond of giving away penalties and Ruan is fonnd of converting them so if leinster give away 8 penalties in their own half ... can they score more then 24 points themselves ... i reckon so .. but thats just an opinion !
Posted 16:39 18th May 2012
paddy91317 says...
yeah small margins i agree, all being said i really just wanna see sean o o'brien run into stephen ferris and see wat happens
Posted 15:40 18th May 2012
howrtings says...
@ paddy91317:
On paper leinster's back row may be better than Ulsters but this season leinsters back row have been underperforming and the ommission of Jennings for this match I think will come back to haunt Leinster. Henry could have a very productive day at the breakdown, Ferris will be Ferris, best player on the Island and Wanneburg will also weigh in some considerable plays especially in the Line Out.
I think a back row of 6 - O'Brien, 7 - Jennings and 8 - Heaslip has a far better balance.
Best is a better scrummager and thrower than strauss hence providing a more solid set piece coupled with Afoa's excellent scrummaging and destruction around the park, I think Ulster pip the front row as well. I agree that Healy has the edge over Court, but I still feel the Ulster Front Row is the more complete.
2nd Rows: - I think Muller and Touhy are better lineout operators that Cullen and Thorn, with Touhy being the most dynamic 2nd row in Ireland at the moment. He can go missing for long spells in matches, but HC Final day, I doubt he'll loose focus.
Having said all this - the margins are small, by no means will this game be over at half time....looking forward to a cracker!!
Posted 15:14 18th May 2012
froggy73 says...
Leinster passed the Clermont test in Bordeaux. I don't see Ulster in Twick being a bigger test. Leinster to win this one imo
Posted 15:13 18th May 2012
papachinzo says...
Leinster have always been a 2nd half team, so I don't think the score at half time will matter.
I can't see past Leinster, but I have feeling Ulster could surprise us all...
Posted 14:37 18th May 2012
paddy91317 says...
were do you people see ulster beating leinster in the pack? Leinster have a better back row in o brien heaslip and mcloughlan all ulster have is ferris and henry who is only back from injury front row afoa is better than ross in the loose but I can see no real difference in the tight but healy is better than court and best has a better throw than strauss but strauss is more destructive carrier, .........there is no clear reason for ulster to have a better pack so somebody explain to me were ulster can edge leinster there....bar the lineout they are performing better but soon as pressure falls on rory best he butchers throws and leinster have brought back in mcloughlan so that should sure up leinsters lineout
Posted 13:35 18th May 2012
makemehappy says...
One things for sure, if Ulster play like they did against Edinburgh, they can come off the field at half time and not bother return! Only one winner anyway - Leinster.
Posted 13:10 18th May 2012