Jackson very comfortable with playmaking role

PADDY JACKSON was just seven years old when Ulster reached the zenith of European club rugby in 1999. This evening at the Aviva Stadium, 13 years on, the Ireland Under-20 outhalf and captain has been handed the role of playmaker in preference to Ian Humphreys as the Irish province attempt to negotiate a way past Edinburgh in a Heineken Cup semi-final.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has made what many would consider a brave decision. There’s no doubt it was a tough call but one that was flagged somewhat by a preference for Jackson over Humphreys in the number 10 jersey last weekend when Ulster played Leinster at Ravenhill. When the latter was introduced in that match, he was sequestered on the wing.

Humphreys, often a standout player on Ulster’s better days in Europe, may rue a lacklustre display at Thomond Park in the quarter-final. Despite enjoying a perfect opening storm that saw them rattle up a 19-0 lead, Ulster found themselves becalmed in terms of performance, long before the interval. An inability to manage the game precipitated a fraught 60 minutes.

Humphreys needed to take control in the pivot position but it was his halfback partner Ruan Pienaar – two missed penalties to touch notwithstanding – who provided the intelligent direction. Jackson will be handed a similar remit, one for which he’s demonstrated an aptitude despite his callow exposure to this level of rugby.

He’ll have fond memories of today’s arena, as he made history when kicking the first conversion in a match to mark the opening of the newly rebuilt Lansdowne Road.

He posted six from six that day and also chucked in a cross-kick that provided Craig Gilroy, a team-mate again today, with a try.

This will be a far sterner test for the 20-year-old but as he demonstrated in the underage Six Nations Championship, he possesses the mental toughness to complement natural flair. He also has the unequivocal backing of his coach and no doubt, team-mates.

McLaughlin explained: “Paddy has come in over the last few weeks and done exceptionally well. His performances have warranted selection. It’s a very tough call on Ian (Humphreys) who has been exceptional for us over the past couple of seasons, but we felt Paddy deserved a shot.”

Jackson won’t be encumbered by the pressure of historical baggage that dates back to that momentous day, 13 years ago. He admitted: “I was living in England at the time due to my dad’s (Peter) work and I was more interested in football. I am probably the one person in Ulster that does not really remember what they were doing in 1999.”

Jackson continued: “I’m delighted to be starting; I may be the youngest player in the squad but I have a job to do at 10 and I’m very comfortable making the calls. I’m playing right alongside Ruan Pienaar, with Paddy (Wallace) and Darren (Cave) outside me and Stefan (Terblanche) behind so there’s lots of experience around me.”

Chris Henry has lost his fitness battle and that’s a blow for the Irish province. That’s not to denigrate what his replacement Willie Faloon, a genuine, groundhog openside has to offer, but to merely reflect on Henry’s consistent excellence in big matches. Dan Tuohy comes back into the secondrow in place of Lewis Stevenson while Pedrie Wannenburg is fit to start at number eight. Paul Marshall has recovered from an elbow tendon tear to take his place on the bench.

Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley has named the same team that beat Toulouse so memorably in the quarter-final at Murrayfield. They played a little bit more directly, less laterally that day and are likely to try to replicate that ambition, using an offloading game and their excellent backrow which contains outstanding ball carriers in David Denton and Fijian number eight Netani Talei.

Mike Blair offers a wily presence at scrumhalf while captain and outhalf Greig Laidlaw is a decent place-kicker. He’s a converted scrumhalf that lies deeper than many outhalves and tends not to work hard to support ball carriers after he’s distributed. Tim Visser ranks in the top echelon as a try scoring wings.

Edinburgh have shown in previous matches that they can be destabilised at scrum and lineout, something which Ulster will look to exploit. The Irish province must play with conviction, be mentally strong, and bring variety, intelligence and subtlety to their patterns; possessing the courage and ruthlessness to exploit opportunities irrespective of field position.

Ulster are favourites on paper but this evening it’s all about justifying it on the pitch.

Previous HC meetings: (1998-1999) – Ulster 38 Edinburgh Reivers 38; Edinburgh Reivers 21 Ulster 23. (2009-2010): Ulster 21 Edinburgh 13; Edinburgh 17 Ulster 13.

Leading points scorers: Ulster – Ruan Pienaar 54. Edinburgh – Greig Laidlaw 82.

Odds (Paddy Powers): Ulster 4/11. Draw 22/1. Edinburgh 5/2. Handicap: Ulster (-7) evens. Draw 18/1. Edinburgh (+7) evens.

Verdict: Ulster to win.