Jackson decision is a massive gamble

Ulster’s progress today to a Heineken Cup final depends on...

1 The battle of the front rows

One of the big surprises to emerge from Edinburgh’s defining defeat of Toulouse in the quarter-final at Murrayfield was the manner in which they dealt with the famed Toulousain front row of Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat and Census Johnston. Edinburgh’s all-Scottish front row of Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and Geoff Cross had a difficult time of it in the Six Nations, especially against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. So to see that trio not only survive but, ultimately, dominate Toulouse offered Edinburgh a massive boost on the day.