Gibbes demands consistency
Having watched his troops comprehensively dismantle Clermont Auvergne 24-8 to take control of their Heineken Cup pool just over a week ago, the Leinster forwards coach has called on his charges to step their game up again and avoid complacency.
“There were a few internal realities within the group after the Clermont game and while we had a positive result, the players understood in the analysis of the game that a few things were not up to scratch,” Gibbes explained.
“Our defensive lineout work and the try we conceded were pretty poor and although the good work that was done in the 60-minute period allowed us to have a bit of a buffer, we should have been more ruthless.
“We’re facing into the challenge of three tough Magners League games coming up and it’s a pretty fractured playing roster (at this time of year) with guys coming in and out of the squad. Irrespective of who plays, we need to be harder on ourselves.
“The nature of being involved in two competitions, coupled with the demands of the November and Six Nations windows mean that injuries are going to happen and depth in a squad is important.
“There are still a few guys who probably haven’t been given as many minutes as we’d have liked at this stage but this period, as well as the games being played over the Six Nations, will provide more opportunities.
“Christmas is a challenging time, especially for players with young families, but I think everyone understands that there are sacrifices to be made and there has been a good atmosphere around the camp this week. There have certainly been a few challenges, but you won’t hear too many complaints from inside the camp.
“I think that the players have handled the weather disruptions really well and with the lack of training pitches and indoor facilities, we have just gotten on with our preparations and have soldiered along.”
Former Ulster scrum-half Isaac Boss will return to Ravenhill for the first time since his departure to Leinster today.
The combative Irish international will start today in a novel half-back pairing that sees Shaun Berne take over from Jonathan Sexton at fly-half.
Isa Nacewa, who has scored 90 points so far this season, starts again at full-back in a back line which includes three Ireland internationals.
Brian O’Driscoll partners Fergus McFadden at centre, with Shane Horgan continuing on the wing.
Skipper Leo Cullen starts in the second row alongside Devin Toner with Sean O’Brien forming a dynamic young back-row unit alongside Dominic Ryan and Rhys Ruddock.
Clontarf’s AIL international club hooker Aaron Dundon is named on the bench for the first time alongside the likes of Ian Madigan, Jack McGrath and Andrew Conway.
Gibbes has echoed head coach Joe Schmidt’s view that an ever-improving Ulster side rank among the sternest of tests for Leinster, even if they too are denied the services of some of their internationals under the IRFU Player Welfare Scheme.
“I think Ulster will pose a massive mental and physical challenge for us. They have been going pretty well recently in the league and especially in their two wins over Bath in the Heineken Cup,” Gibbes added.
“They have a good hardened core and it will be really important for whoever steps in that they’re up to speed pretty quickly.
“Both times we’ve played up there during my time here have been massively confrontational games.
“The lessons that you learn from being involved in interprovincial derbies is that these are the games that no-one wants to lose.”
Ulster coach Brian McLauglin will have to contend without Tom Court, Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace — who all started the crucial Heineken Cup win over Bath last weekend — and has drafted in Paddy McAllister to his front row, while Craig Gilroy and Ian Whitten return to a re-jigged back line.
Ian Humphreys, man of the match at the Rec after a flawless display with the boot, will not start after picking up an ankle injury in training this week and is replaced by Niall O’Connor. The only other change sees Chris Henry come into the back row in place of Willie Faloon.
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