Boss says Scarlets a must win game
The Welsh region, which went down to a heavy defeat to Clermont Auvergne in France last weekend, will need little reminding that no side has made the last eight of the Heineken Cup after losing their opening two rounds.
Leinster’s needs are not quite as stark after their three-point defeat of Exeter Chiefs at the RDS yet the champions are desperate to hit top gear after another less than stellar showing.
“We both have a bit of desperation about us,” said the scrum-half. “After that performance, and the pool we are in, we have to be really strong this week to make sure we are still inEurope. Obviously they want to get their foot back in the door after last weekend so it’s going to tight.”
Much thought has been given, inside and outside the camp, to Leinster’s fitfulness this season but few are better positioned to judge that issue than Boss who has looked on injured from the sidelines for seven weeks.
“It’s been a mixed bag, some good performances and some poor ones,” said Boss who finally returned to the 23 as an unused replacement last Saturday.
“It just comes down to individuals. We have to look after our own shop and then collectively it comes together as a team. We’ve let a couple of chances slip. Last weekend we didn’t play that great but we got away with the win so we’re happy enough. We held them to no tries which is a big feat considering they’ve been playing really well. But we’ve got to step it up this week, especially in attack, if we can keep it going on ‘D’ and then create a bit more in attack then hopefully we’ll come out on top.”
The return of Boss and the likely involvement of Rob Kearney and Gordon D’Arcy after their injuries should help the team to rediscover some of the fluency which has made them such a force in recent years.
However, lack of game time will be an issue for those coming back into contention just as it has been for the raft of other casualties and Irish internationals who have been dipping their toes back into the competitive action.
Meanwhile Springbok star Ruan Pienaar will make his first Ulster start since last season’s Heineken Cup final away to Glasgow on Friday as the northern province bid to build on last week’s bonus-point success against Castres. Pienaar came on as a late replacement for man-of-the-match Paul Marshall to score the fourth try in the 41-17 success at Ravenhill. Nick Williams, meanwhile, is almost certain to start at number eight after recovering from a rib injury. However, there is still a major doubt over Ireland’s Stephen Ferris who is still harbouring a back problem. Both are included in a 26-man panel for the trip to Scotstoun after missing out last week.
ULSTER (V Glasgow Warriors) Forwards (16): R Best, R Herring, N Brady, C Black, J Afoa, T Court, A Macklin, N McComb, D Tuohy, L Stevenson, J Muller, I Henderson, S Ferris, M McComish, C Henry, N Williams.
Backs (12): P Marshall, R Pienaar, N O’Connor, P Jackson, L Marshall, P Wallace, D Cave, C Gilroy, A Trimble, T Bowe, J Payne.
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