European Cup Preview

Ulster v Wasps

Ravenhill, 7.30

Ulster are sure to be stung into some kind of fired-up response tonight, but it would need one of Ravenhill's vintage nights if they are to redress the 56-3 defeat by Wasps in Loftus Road a fortnight ago. That hurt.

Ulster show only one change from the side that accounted for Swansea, Stanley McDowell returning at the expense of Robin Morrow (rib/back injury). It means though, that this is by some distance the biggest Ulster back-line of an injury disrupted campaign and if they last the 80 minutes they'll surely not buckle as they did at Loftus Road, where only Andy Matchett finished the game in the position he started.

"It's as good a back-line as we can put out on the pitch, they're all big and strong and can knock people down," said their manager John Kinnear yesterday. "Friday at Ravenhill can be an intimidating place," added Kinnear, "and given that they've already qualified and stuffed us in the first meeting, they might let their guard down. If they do, we'll be in there. I think we've got a chance."

Ulster's points differential of minus 68, the third worst in the five pools, gives them little or no margin for error. Their forlorn hopes of reaching the quarterfinals demand wins over Wasps and away to Glasgow, coupled with Swansea beating Glasgow and Wasps beating Swansea.

But the hardest part of that unlikely equation is this one. Wasps, as they proved on last season's English run-in, are not one for letting their guard down and nothing about the Cup's formula encourages them to do so. "We're under no illusions," maintained Nigel Melville, their director of rugby, in Belfast airport yesterday. "Every game against an Irish provincial side is tough, as we learned last year in Munster."

In their own unobtrusive, relatively unheralded way, Wasps are a class act. Their serene, unblemished progress through Pool B - where they have accumulated the competition's best points difference of plus 121 - has led to doubts about the quality of the opposition but as Melville points out, their seeding is due to their standing as English champions.

In the heel of the hunt, that's almost forgotten. Theirs is not an ostentatious, cheque-book policy. Well coached and captained, Wasps buy astutely - the capture of the Rob Henderson following the departure of Va'aiga Tuigamala being a case in point. So it is that one of Ulster's favourite sons, Willie Anderson, regards Wasps more as role models than other, higher profile, bigger spenders. Take out the two Scots, Logan and Andy Reed, the prolific Gareth Rees (who will captain the Canadian squad which tours Ireland shortly) and captain Lawrence Dallaglio, and the other dozen have only nine caps between them. Young and still hungry, they'll take some stopping.

Ulster: R Morrow; J Topping, M Jackson, M Field, J Cunningham; S Laing, A Matchett; G Leslie, S Ritchie, R Irwin, T McWhirter, G Longwell, S McKinty (capt), K Gallick, A Ward.

Wasps: G Rees; K Logan, N Greenstock, R henderson, S Poiser; A King, A Gomarsall; D Molloy, S Mitchell, W Green, M Weedon, A Reed, L Dallaglio, J Worsley, M White.

Referee: Nicolas Lasaga (France).

Formguide: Ulster - L L W L. Wasps - W W W W.

Previous meetings: (97-98) Wasps 56 Ulster 3.

Leading points scorers: Ulster - Stuart Laing 36 pts. Wasps - Gareth Rees 61 pts.

Leading try scorers: Ulster - Keith Gallick, Michael Jackson, Tony McWhirter 1 each. Wasps - Kenny Logan 7.