The neutral may well be rooting for Brian and the Leinster
boys come Heineken final day, if the semi final displays give us any clues as
to the likely entertainment factor. Despite the fact that Ulster will be
travelling across the Irish Sea as underdogs, the average rugby fan will probably
feel that Heaslip, Sexton, and O’Driscoll
offer rather more pazzazz than an Ulster
side built around Wannenburg, Muller and Pienaar. As in 1999, when they won
this competition, they have a grinding, remorseless pack of forwards allied to
a strong kicking game. Like Saracens, they have chosen to import some hard
nosed Boks into the set up to play the physical, territorial game that wins the
tight matches. All this has been a carefully considered strategy. Not many
internationals here to distract the focus, just some key personnel with the
experience to handle the big occasions – Best, Wallace from “home”, and the key
acquisition of Pienaar to direct the forwards, set the tempo for the backs, and
kick goals from just about anywhere. And a look at the Celtic league standings
will show that this is a team built for the sharp end of the Heineken Cup.
In short, they are a tough, uncompromising outfit, a
nightmare to play against. Brian and the boys will be hoping this wet spell of
weather is out of the way to give them a dry track at HQ. But they would be
foolish to think that a meeting with Pienaar and his pals will be a warm
hearted Irish craic of a day.
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