Ulster coach Solomons questions lopsided Cup format
As he prepares his side for Sunday’s opening tie against Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens, Solomons says some groups are an easy touch, others more difficult, which is making for a sometimes lopsided competition.
Solomons said Ulster’s Pool 6 group is loaded and it will be very difficult for two sides to qualify from a section that includes Cardiff and Biarritz.
The former Springbok assistant coach is unhappy that there are six groups, with the winners automatically going through along with the two best runners-up.
Yesterday, Solomons got down to the serious business when he named two changes to his side to face the Saints.
“We are playing in a particularly strong pool and no game is going to be easy,” he said while recalling James Topping to the right wing and naming Shane Stewart in the centre.
“In many ways, having six groups with the winners and two best runners-up going through is a bit of a lottery. It’s not a fair system as try-scoring is very important in the final shakedown.
“We are in a very tough group, where tries are going to be very scarce. Other teams in different groups against much poorer opposition will have an opportunity to score more tries, and they will have an definite advantage.
“It would be better to have four groups, and the top two automatically qualifying for the quarter-finals. But we will just have to get on with it.
“The trip to Northampton is not going to be easy. They are the form team in England at present, and they have an excellent coach in Wayne Smith.”
Jeremy Davidson, who missed out on Ulster’s great triumph back in 1999, is looking forward to the challenge,
particularly as he has been handed the captaincy until Andy Ward returns from surgery.
“I missed all that glory three years ago and I am itching to get a good run in Europe,’’ said Davidson.
“I played twice for Ulster back in 1997 before moving to France.
“Now I want to take Ulster forward. We believe if we take them on up front we have a great chance of a shock result.
“We will be very physical in our approach hoping it will knock them out of their stride,” he said.
Stewart gets only his second start of the season, coming in for Ryan Constable who has concussion, while Topping replaces Scott Young.
Irish and Lions star Brian O’Driscoll yesterday launched the new skills programme which aims to help in the development of young rugby players nationwide.
The Frosties Rugby “Earn Your Stripes” initiative is broken into three, each level teaches proficiency in the basic skills, including various levels of difficulty in evasion, passing and tackling. Upon completion of each level participants will receive a specially commissioned IRFU/Frosties badge.
“There will be over 90 Youth Development Officers working across the four provinces of Ireland coaching up to 50,000 kids on the basics of the game of rugby,” Eddie Wigglesworth, IRFU Director of Rugby Development said.
*LONDON IRISH have pre-empeted an RFU disciplinary hearing by banning James Cockle following his sending off against the Sharks on
Saturday. The club’s action follows Cockle’s sending off in the match for apparently stamping on an opponent at a breakdown.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping; S Stewart, J Bell, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, R Kempson, G Longwell, J Davidson (capt), W Brosnihan, N McMillan, T McWhirter. Replacements: S Best, P Shields, M Blair, N Best, K Campbell, A Larkin, S Young.
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