Ulster must state their intent

RUGBY:THIS MATCH should be regarded as a statement of intent from Ulster in the context of their Heineken Cup campaign. Anything less than a bonus-point victory simply won't suffice and would immediately undermine the Irish province's aspirations for the tournament.

It’s not a question of being disparaging in relation to the challenge Aironi will muster in Belfast but rather a pragmatic appraisal of how the pool is likely to unfold. The two sides met in the Magners League at the Stadio Zaffanella earlier in the season, with Ulster eking out a 22-15 victory.

Drawing a parallel between that match and tonight’s fixture is compromised by several factors, not least in observing that the Italians retain only six players who lined out that day.

Halfbacks Tito Tebaldi and former French outhalf Ludovic Mercier, wing Giulio Toniolatti, prop Alberto de Marchi, secondrow Carlo del Fava and former Munster number eight Nick Williams have first-hand experience of their opponents in what is the new Italian franchise’s first match in the competition.

Del Fava, who once wore the white of Ulster, will captain the Italians on his return to Belfast.

Aironi will be without their first-choice centre combination of Roberto Quartaroli (torn ACL) and South African Dylan Des Fountain, both of whom bizarrely succumbed to identical knee injuries in the same match, coincidentally the Ulster game.

Ex-Saracens centre Rodd Penny was signed on a short-term contract and will start in the midfield. French international Julien Laharrague and South African-born club captain Quintin Geldenhuys haven’t made the trip.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has to rejig the side that defeated Glasgow last weekend, handing outhalf Ian Humphreys a first start of the season in place of Niall O’Connor and recalling Tim Barker to the secondrow in place of Dan Tuohy, the latter included in the replacements. O’Connor isn’t on the bench because Springbok Ruan Pienaar, named at scrumhalf, can fulfil the outhalf role if required with equal aplomb.

Tighthead prop BJ Botha was listed in the extended squad during the week, but a recurrence of a wrist injury meant he wasn’t considered. His absence means Alan Whitten – the prop was a late addition to the Heineken roster in place of the injured Adam Macklin – joins his brother Ian among the replacements.

There remains, though, a pronounced South African influence, with Pienaar joined by Pedrie Wanneburg, soon to be Irish-qualified Robbie Diack and secondrow Johann Muller, who has captained the side in the absence of Rory Best earlier in the season.

In a conversation at the Ryder Cup in Wales, Best conveyed his admiration for the manner in which the experienced Muller has contributed on and off the pitch, while for his part the South African admitted to looking forward to the tournament.

Muller explained: “I’ve followed it (Heineken Cup) for the past five or six years from South Africa. It’s a wonderful tournament with a great history and tradition attached to it. I know it’s going to be a different intensity to what we have seen so far but I’m ready for that. When it’s time to step up you’ve got to lift your performance in order to cope with the increased physicality and speed of the game at that higher level.”

The Italians will be abrasive up front but provided Ulster match that intensity and provide a steady supply of possession then they possess the wherewithal to reap dividends. Andrew Trimble and Darren Cave have demonstrated the form and quality of performance that should make them strong contenders for some game time with Ireland next month.

The creativity is also there closer to the hub of the game. Everything seems to be in place for a convincing victory.

ULSTER: J Smith; A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, S Danielli; I Humphreys, R Pienaar; B Young, R Best (capt), T Court; J Muller, T Barker; P Wannenburg, C Henry, R Diack. Replacements: N Brady, P McAllister, A Whitten, D Tuohy, W Faloon, P Marshall, I Whitten, D McIlwaine.

AIRONI RUGBY: D Demas; G Toniolatti, R Penney, G Pavan, G Venditti; L Mercier, T Tebaldi; A De Marchi, R Santamaria, L Redolfini; C del Fava (capt), M Bortolami; A Benatti, A Birchall, Nick Williams. Replacements: L Ferraro, F Bernini, S Perugini, V Liebenberg, N Cattina, P Canavosio, G Pizarro, R Bocchino).

Referee: Chris White (England).

Previous HC meetings: None.

Betting (odds courtesy of Boylesports): Ulster 1/25, draw 33/1, Aironi 8/1. Handicap: Ulster (-21) 10/11, draw (-21) 16/1, Aironi (+21) 10/11.