No room for Ulster error

Ulster must win. There is no point in window dressing the claims of the Gwent Dragons, who are third in the Celtic League and showing a vast improvement since the beginning of the season.

They weren't hit by serious World Cup personnel restrictions at a time when most of their Celtic League opponents were pared to the bare bones.

Coach Mike Ruddock has done a fine job for the Ebbw Vale/Newport amalgam, haunted by the threat of financial ruin until recently, but they still represent the minnows of Pool One.

If Ulster want to progress ahead of tomorrow's opponents, two-time former champions Leicester and Parisian aristocrats Stade Francais, then this is a must-win match.

Winning home games is a prerequisite in this tournament for serious aspirants but teams also have to prove successful on foreign soil: trips for Ulster to Welford Road and Stade Jean Bouin hardly seem laden with promise.

This season, the bonus point system has been introduced, so it's not only about winning but scoring four tries or more in the process. Losing gallantly will also be beneficial, with a bonus point awarded for a team that loses by less than seven points.

Ulster coach Alan Solomons has kept faith with several national squad members who returned from Australia: Gary Longwell, Simon Best and Neil Doak have all found favour over Matt Mustchin, Rod Moore and Kieron Campbell, who thrived in their absence.

Those senior performers now need to repay that support. David Humphreys is still trying to shake off a niggling injury but has been named in the side.

The cornerstone of Ulster's performances this season, that has seen them top the Celtic League and reach the Celtic Cup final, has been the performance of the pack.

When these two sides met in the Celtic League at Ravenhill, Ulster won 37-18.

Former Springbok Percy Montgomery returns for the Dragons after a long suspension, captain Andy Marinos, who has been injured, makes the bench.

The Dragons will be well drilled and aggressive up front, with plenty of pace in the back three, and have a good point-kicking outhalf iLee Jarvis.

Ulster are good enough to win and provided the pack give Humphreys a platform to vary the game, then they can take a vital first step in the competition.

GWENT DRAGONS: P Montgomery; N Brew, H Luscombe, S Winn, B Breeze; L Jarvis, B Baber; A Black, S Jones, C Anthony; I Gough, P Sidoli; J Ringer, R Beattie, J Forster (capt).

ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, R Constable, P Steinmetz, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; R Kempson, M Sexton, S Best; R Frost, G Longwell; A Ward (capt), R Wilson, N Best.

Referee: R Maybank (England).

VERDICT: Ulster.

Gwent Dragons v Ulster

Rodney Parade

Sunday, 2.30