Best: Ulster focused on ending French away-day blues
Ulster have failed to win in any of their six sojourns to France, with the best a 70-point share of the spoils with the weekend’s opponents back in 2002.
Best will lead what is expected to be the same side that threw in the towel against Llanelli last week, although coach Mark McCall still believes scrum-half Isaac Boss has an outside chance to playing.
The Ireland scrum-half is still nursing a shoulder injury, but he is unlikely to play, particularly with the Six Nations coming up. Kieran Campbell looks set to continue in the number 9 jersey, with Paul Marshall as cover on the bench.
However, better news for McCall is both Paul Steinmetz and Paddy Wallace, who were harbouring shoulder injuries, are fit to start in what will be then be same starting XV walloped by Llanelli last week at Ravenhill.
McCall has included Ireland back-row Stephen Ferris in the replacements, but again he has just recovered from a five-week spell on the sidelines with a broken thumb and may not risk the 21-year-old rising star.
It is more than likely that last season’s Ireland U-21 captain David Pollock will fill the back-row cover on the bench. A second-year medical student at Queen’s University, Pollock has still to start for Ulster, having only signed a development contract in October.
But Best has only eyes for that first European Cup win on French soil.
“We want to win so badly and we don’t want to finish the campaign with two wins from six games,” he said.
“Coming off the pitch after some of the defeats has been frustrating. We know we should have done better. Now we want to go out and perform well.”
Ulster won their first meeting in October 30-3 and Best feels the side will not fear the three-time Heineken Cup champions.
“Like us they have had a disappointing campaign and will want to finish off with a victory before going back into their league,” he said.
“We’ll go there with no fear as we have already shown what we can do. The forward battle is something to look forward to, their pack is riddled with internationals but so is ours and we are getting better as a unit.”
Meanwhile, England prospect Shane Geraghty has pledged himself to London Irish by signing a three-year contract with the Guinness Premiership club.
The fly-half, a member of England’s Six Nations squad, has agreed terms that will keep him at Irish until 2010. It is the 20-year-old’s first senior professional contract.
Geraghty said: “I joined the London Irish academy two years ago because I thought it was the right place for me, and everything that has happened to me since has proved that was a good decision.
“I am surrounded by very talented players, and I am confident it is only a matter of time before we win a major trophy.”
Exiles’ rugby director Brian Smith added: “Shane is a wonderful talent, and he has made the most of his opportunities playing beside Mike Catt and Seilala Mapusua.”
M Bartholomeusz, T Bowe, A Trimble, P Steinmetz, P McKenzie; P Wallace, K Campbell or I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best (capt), J Harrison, M McCullough, N Best, K Dawson, R Wilson.
P Shields, J Fitzpatrick, T Barker or R Caldwell, A Larkin, I Boss/K Campbell/P Marshall, K Maggs.
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