The Heineken Cup Final takes place at Twickenham this Saturday between Leinster and Ulster, kick off 18.00 SA time. Both teams have now been announced.
Leinster international stars Rob Kearney and Brian O’Driscoll are back in the team after missing last weekend’s Pro12 semi final due to injury. This will be a big boost for Leinster and O’Driscoll will resume his centre partnership with Gordon D’Arcy who has recovered from the injury he picked up last weekend.
Other key players for Leinster must surely be powerful players flanker Sean O’ Brian and eighthman Jamie Heaslip. Heaslip in particular could prove a handful for Ulster to defend against, if he is on song.
Perhaps Leinster’s fate will be decided by accurate marksman, flyhalf Jonathan Sexton. In additional to his accurate boot, Sexton has the ability to get his backline away and also take on defenders himself. The only question mark may be on his defensive abilities and Ulster could try running at his channel to test this.
One of Ulster’s South African contingents, Robbie Diack was ruled out due to injury, while flanker Chris Henry returns to the team after recovering from his injury. Also returning to the starting line up is big tighthead prop John Afoa after serving his four match ban for a dangerous tackle on Munster’s Felix Jones, in the Heineken Cup quarter final.
Ulster have arguably fewer ‘game breakers’ than Leinster so may rely on a good concerted team effort to thwart Leinster’s efforts. Andrew Trimble could prove dangerous if he receives enough ball out on the wing.
Another strong player for Ulster is Irish international flanker Stephen Ferris who will be supported by South African eighthman Pedrie Wannenburg, who has been in fine form this season. This will be Wannenburg’s last game for the Belfast based team and he will want to leave the city he says he enjoyed living in, and in which his child was born, on a high. The battle between the teams loose forwards may prove critical to the outcome.
South African Ruan Pienaar may however have a far greater influence on the outcome of this match, should he produce yet another man of the match performance. In Pienaar Ulster also have a good goal kicker, so will he prove to be more accurate than Sexton on the day?
Ulster will be lead out by yet another South African, lock, Johan Muller and will be looking to him to produce an inspirational, lead from the front, performance.
Full teams as follows:
Leinster
15. Rob Kearney, 14. Fergus McFadden, 13. Brian O’Driscoll, 12. Gordon D’Arcy, 11. Isa Nacewa, 10. Jonathan Sexton, 9. Eoin Reddan, 8. Jamie Heaslip, 7. Sean O’Brian, 6. Kevin McLaughlin, 5. Brad Thorn, 4. Leon Cullen (Capt), 3. Mike Ross, 2. Richardt Strauss, 1. Cian Healy
Replacements: 16. Sean Cronin, 17. Heinke van der Merwe, 18. Nathan White, 19. Devin Toner, 20. Shane Jennings, 21. Isaac Boss, 22. Ian Madigan, 23. David Kearney
Ulster
15. Stefan Terblanche, 14. Andrew Trimble, 13. Darren Cave, 12. Paddy Wallace, 11. Craig Gilroy, 10. Paddy Jackson, 9. Ruan Pienaar, 8. Pedrie Wannenburg, 7. Chris Henry, 6. Stephen Ferris, 5. Dan Tuohy, 4. Johan Muller (Capt), 3. John Afoa, 2. Rory Best, 1. Tom Court
Replacements: 16. Nigel Brady, 17. Paddy McAllister, 18. Declan Fitzpatrick, 19. Lewis Stevenson, 20. Willie Faloon, 21. Paul Marshall, 22. Ian Humphreys, 23. Adam D’Arcy