Pienaar the difference for Ulster; Munster need another 'Miracle Match'

By Ian Cusack

There has been little time for the Irish players to dwell on the dismissal this week of Declan Kidney as Munster, Leinster and Ulster all gear up for crucial European clashes.

Ironically, given the criticism Kidney shipped for not replicating impressive provincial form with the national side, his departure comes at a time when the Irish provinces find themselves facing an uphill battle to stay in contention in Europe.

Even Ulster, the success story of the provinces this season, have experienced some late-season jitters, failing to win in four of the five games before last Saturday’s triumph over Leinster.

Mark Anscombe could hardly have dreamed of a more perfect start to his Ulster career, with the men in white going thirteen games unbeaten.

That run always had to come to an end, the big test for Johann Muller and co would be finding a response if a few results didn’t go their way.

That response came in the Dublin on Saturday. With a home PRO12 semi-final to play for and images of last year’s Heineken Cup final fresh in the memory, Ulster secured their first ever RDS victory, condemning Leinster to their first home league defeat in the process.

That fillip may have come at just the right time to provide a jolt of momentum before travelling to the home of Premiership leaders Saracens who come into tomorrow’s game on the back of victories over Wasps and Harlequins.

The return of John Afoa is huge for Ulster, the All Black tighthead has become one of the most important players for the Ravenhill outfit due to his work both in the set-piece and around the pitch.

He joins Irish international duo Tom Court and Rory best for a compelling front row battle against Sararcens’ Matt Stevens, Schalk Brits and Mako Vunipola.

It’s another all-international face-off out wide where Andrew Trimble comes up against David Strettle while Craig Gilroy will no doubt look to expose some of the defensive frailties which have appeared in Chris Ashton’s game lately.

Having gotten the better of the outhalf dual against Paddy Jackson in the Aviva Stadium, Owen Farrell will look to stamp his authority on the game from ten but he didn’t have to contend with Ruan Pienaar in the Six Nations.

The South African wizard has proven himself a big-game player in the past, almost single-handedly dragging Ulster past Edinburgh in last season’s semi-final. If he can reproduce that kind of influence he may be the key to an Ulster victory.

Despite an underwhelming maiden season under new head coach Rob Penney, Munster find themselves in another Heineken quarter-final, but there is a palpable air of anxiety among the Red Army ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Harlequins.

The Thomond Park outfit have managed just one win from their last four games and travel to the Twickenham Stoop on the back of a 51-24 demolition at the hands of Glasgow.

The return of talisman Paul O’Connell had its desired effect a fortnight ago, with the big lock inspiring his team to a 22-0 win over Connacht in what was one of the province’s best performances of the season.

You get the feeling Rob Penney was finally seeing what he envisaged for Munster when Cathal Sheridan displayed great instincts to attack the Connacht line and show the presence of mind to offload to O’Connell in the tackle with the lock offering a useful support line and crashing over for the first try in the derby.

If that was the reward of Penney’s open, offloading rugby, the Glasgow defeat perfectly demonstrated the risks attached to a loose passing game with three of the Scottish side’s six tries coming from intercepts.

The boost provided by golden boy Simon Zebo’s return this weekend is diluted by the absence of skipper Doug Howlett whose defensive awareness will be missed as journeyman Denis Hurley comes onto the wing opposite imposing flyer Ugo Monye.

Munster fans will be hoping the reintroduction of leaders like Peter O’Mahony and Donnacha Ryan will galvanise the squad while Conor Murray makes his expected return to the number nine jersey, providing an exciting head-to-head against Quins livewire Danny Care.

Failure to emerge from the Heineken Cup’s ‘Group of Death’ rendered Leinster’s season a disappointment, but by no means a lost cause, as this evening they travel to Adams Park to take on London Wasps in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final.

You can be sure there will be no shortage of commitment or passion from the men in blue, but even if they steamroll past Wasps on their way to the title, it’s hard to imagine Brian O’Driscoll and co being satisfied with a Challenge Cup, having captured Europe’s most coveted silverware for the past two seasons.

After last year’s final O’Driscoll spoke of creating a dynasty, pushing on to greater success so this star-studded Leinster team would leave their mark in European rugby history, one suspects he wasn’t talking about Challenge Cup success.

But with a League and European double still on the cards, Leinster will no doubt throw everything at a Wasps side struggling to find form.

The Premiership club have lost their last four league games and three of their last four home matches in all competitions.

With O’Driscoll unavailable on account of the three week suspension he picked up playing for Ireland in the Six Nations, Joe Schmidt will be relieved experienced duo Gordon D’Arcy and Fergus McFadden have returned to fitness in time to form a strong midfield partnership.

But Leinster will know the main Wasps threat is on the flanks where wingers Tom Varndell and Christian Wade have racked up a combined total of 28 tries this season while exciting prospect Elliot Daly has contributed six from fullback.

Solid as D’Arcy and McFadden are in defence, they don’t represent the most creative centre pairing, and in the absence of O’Driscoll and Jonathan Sexton the onus once more falls on flyhalf Ian Madigan to provide the cut-and-thrust in the backline, something he has done impressively since the Six Nations.

Predictions:

Home advantage and recent form suggests Saracens may edge it over Ulster but the gut senses a narrow away victory.

Munster’s task in the Twickenham Stoop has drawn comparisons to challenge of their 2003 ‘Miracle Match’ against Gloucester. But that Munster team and the fans at the time had a belief that on their day they could produce something special. This Munster squad have offered very little this season to suggest they can pull off what would be a massive shock against a Harlequins side with a 100% record in Europe this season. Quins to win by at least 10.

They may be missing Sexton and O’Driscoll but Leinster still boast and all international pack and will be smarting after pre-knockout departure from the Heineken Cup. If they can stem Wasps threat out wide they should come out on top. Leinster to win by a score.