John Afoa v Cian Healy
PERHAPS MORE THAN any other player, John Afoa has turned Ulster from a competitive yet inconsistent force, to a true power of European rugby.
By transforming the scrum from scratchy to scary, Ulster have a foundation from which all else is possible. When you can set your watch by the scrum, the back-row and the young inventive backs suddenly have freedom to wreak havoc.
Cian Healy’s final duty before heading to Hong Kong will be disrupt the Kiwi at every set-piece. He is certainly capable of that.
On the other side, Mike Ross and Tom Court will renew hostilities, but on a dry night scrums may prove to be scarce. So Ulster may well be able to reap the benefit of having three front rows who relish the loose side of the game.
Chris Henry v Shane Jennings
On Thursday, Jono Gibbes didn’t skip a beat when he was asked the key to Ulster’s success at the breakdown.He spoke in glowing terms of Chris Henry’s transformation from a solid number eight to a class openside.
Hours later, Sean O’Brien mentioned an ability to get away with ‘cheating’. There was no malice in his voice, just a refreshing honest that that is what both sides will aim for.
O’Brien’s injury in the Amlin final does allow Leinster to go like-for-like with Shane Jennings playing groundhog, but O’Brien’s sheer immovability makes him a weapon that will be missed when Leinster look for quick ball.
Throw in the form of Robbie Diack and Nick Williams occupying Jamie Heaslip, then you have the makings of a six-man brawl that will decide the outcome of the league title.
Ruan Pienaar v Isaac Boss
You can pick almost any head-to-head in the back-lines and begin to salivate at the prospect. However for Ulster to win, Ruan Pienaar must kick his goals.
The Springbok is more than just a kicking tee, though. He dictates so much of Ulster’s play, turning screws when they are on the front foot, loosening everything up when his back are going the wrong way.
Leinster may be in the home dressing room tonight, but Joe Schmidt has selected his ‘away’ scrum-half. Having lost both encounters this season you fancy he would have selected Isaac Boss over Eoin Reddan even if the Limerick man was fit and well.
Boss will be asked to work as a ninth forward; biting and snapping towards Pienaar the millisecond the ball appears from the breakdown.
If The South African can be shut down, then Ulster’s aim of filling the middle lanes with ball-carriers and have Andrew Trimble and Tommy Bowe running trailers behind Nick Williams or Robbie Diack will be dealt a blow.
Leinster will prefer to add width where possible, opening up gaps for Jonathan Sexton, Ian Madigan or Rob Kearney to step into.
Whatever happens, we’re in for another terrific All-Irish final to the league season.
It’s very close to call but quite simply Jackson v sexton is where Leinster will win it.
I agree with Henry being a truly class 7 but Leinster with Jennings and Strauss playing almost as a 7 in open play might just gang up on him.
Best will find his men as Leinster don’t put pressure on the hooker by defending on the ground but that forces teams to move the ball off the top which I think Leinster like and o’driscoll will rule the midfield battle.
Bowe and Trimble will most likely have to come inside for ball and they won’t rule the air v Leinster as they usually do as kearney and isa are very good under the high ball.
8 and 9 is a strong area for ulster but Boss and heaslip are really in form at the minute
Secondrow is not Leinster strongest area and a weakness that can be exposed. The Cullen is well past it, his lineout calls just dont work, i think hes over completing them and doesnt use toner enough. toner is not far off the mark and is playing well but he’s no muller.
Front row is very close a full Irish v ulster wreaking machine, the secondrow of ulster will give them advantage here .
The Leinster bench looks stronger than ulster’s and I think Jamie hagan’s last game might just be his best one for Leinster.
Leinster by 6 thanks to sexton just been so much better than Jackson.
Big game. Finding it hard to pick a winner. Should be a cracker…
I wonder if Leinster having so many Lions might be a hindrance… Are they more likely to pull out of a 50/50 ball, or go off injured where they would normally have stayed on? This (bar bowe) is Ulster’s last hurrah….
Ulster will sneak it, if their scrum and line-outs are in form. Otherwise it will be another title for Leinster.