Stopping Matt Giteau and Toulon a formidable task for Ulster

I've long been a fan of Saracens' sub outhalf Charlie Hodgson. He was sensational in London's Allianz Park in January facilitating a monster victory over Connacht. Considering the battle between our own outhalves – Jimmy Gopperth and Ian Madigan at Leinster, Ian Keatley and JJ Hanrahan in Munster – Irish rugby is in for a real treat this weekend with not just Hodgson and Owen Farrell's arrival in Thomond Park tonight but possibly the best outhalf in world rugby also gracing Irish soil.

Yes RC Toulon's Australian Matt Giteau is that good and we will get to see him in the flesh when Ulster entertain the European Champions lunchtime tomorrow; a must-watch.

Ulster have got to get to Giteau. Stop him, stop him getting around the corner and most importantly stop him getting multiple touches on Toulon’s attacking ball.

Farrell and Hodgson are no Giteau but both have similarities in their ability to load the attack before unlocking the defence with the most majestic of passes; putting through Saracens' David Strettle, Chris Ashton or in Toulon's case any one of 14 other players. Munster face some test tonight but having been in Leicester to witness Ulster's systems failure they have much internal work to complete before switching their attention to Toulon.

Attack narrow

Toulon like to attack narrow off the scrum from deep with Giteau sliding open behind the screen of their 12 and 13 access to unlock the back three into space. Ulster’s midfield defensive reaction is crucial as Toulon pivot defensive players inwards and out of position.

Giteau then hits the gain line with his pocket-rocket gas and physique powering him through gaps that don’t exist.

Hodgson is keen to link more readily utilising his excellent passing hence Farrell and especially Giteau’s danger off quick rucks where he is devastatingly flat which is why Madigan is a far more potent force for Leinster off quick ruck ball. Giteau is very physical hence Farrell’s inclusion over Hodgson for Thomond Park.

Giteau, like Johnny Sexton, is awesome in loading the options in his favour. Off the top of a short lineout their scrumhalf will hit 12 flat with Giteau sliding behind. The loose forward will run an inside line as behemoth Mathieu Bastareaud runs a hard line fixing players all over the place.

Before Giteau receives flat, his blindside winger trails another hard line inside as Giteau goes around the corner with two spare players outside. Due to the precision of their hard running lines, Toulon’s variations are endless off this one single play. Anyone of the beasts can end up carrying into weak shoulders.

Yes Ulster can prepare for it, practise it all week but in this environment Jared Payne’s future Irish aspirations will be tested. Both he and Ulster looked far more comfortable and potent with him at fullback.

What to do? Obviously set piece disruption. Beyond that, as both Toulon and Saracens attack from deep, Ulster and Munster's kicking game is crucial, as is their press chase but playing possession is even more so. Hence coach Anthony Foley's constant reference to holding the ball: "'you stay in control of that ball, you protect the ball".

So both teams should mimic Bakkies Botha, counter rucking timed to hit scrumhalf. There is a cause and effect in all field sports and much of Munster's woes resulted in Sale's centre Johnny Leota wreaking havoc in Munster's midfield.

The cause of this is rooted in their defensive breakdown. In the first half, Munster failed to attack the Sale deck, filling into the defensive field conscious of their newish midfield of Denis Hurley and Andrew Smith. But they failed to impact the pace of Sale scrumhalf Chris Cusiter’s ruck ball which torrented into Munster’s midfield.

How to stop their supreme passing technique is much the same as stopping Sale’s Leoto at 13 maintaining possession and making life miserable for Saracens scrumhalf Neil de Kock; counter ruck – forcing Saracens fatties onto de Kock.

The Toulon lineout maul can be managed by stepping away from contact and sending a lone attacker around to hit the ball; no offside! Toulon’s big scrum often power through the hit on their put in so Ulster can time a step back on the hit to get cheap free kicks. Ulster can rip and choke in the tackle thus targeting Toulon turnovers.

Defensive wall

Ulster’s wingers especially blindside allied to rewinds (if Payne is at 15) can expose Toulon’s oft times dog-leg defence off turnovers; less panic, better return. Toulon tend to relinquish the opposition breakdown but have a horrible fringe defensive wall for Ulster to negotiate around where gaining yardages is rare.

I admire Giteau but I doubly admire Bakkies Botha. He simply loves the breakdown; please stay disciplined in watching his hits; his height, his ferocity. His ‘USP’ is his ability to illegally create a ruck gate to suit his needs. If the ball is secure on Ulster’s side he will set up a new gate and inch over the ball with his team-mates’ pilling in over him; new gate. His body height is so crucial; perfect parallel back, low hips. His All Black partner Ali Williams is constantly repositioning gates. The All Blacks have been doing this for years and our provinces are far too honest in this endeavour.

Then watch Botha defending lineouts. Often electing to stay on the ground he is violent in crossing the channel pulling it all down on top of himself. But he is also very cute with the opposition target.

Botha doesn’t engage early to concede a stupid penalty put will wait and swing his arm through to knock the receiver’s arm and bounce the ball as he did on Scarlets second row Jake Ball (35:24min) with Williams circling around on the other arm; brilliant and the ball bobbled to the deck. Lineout over; threat over!

liamtoland@yahoo.com