Celtic Cup Final: Edinburgh v Ulster Murrayfield, Saturday, 2.30 On TV: TG4, BBC 1Today is about creating a separate identity for a group of young players at Celtic Cup Final: Murrayfield. Ulster's 1999 Heineken European Cup success has been bandied about in column inches galore in the build-up to today's Celtic Cup final against Edinburgh.
That European success represents the last trophy to find its way into the Ravenhill cabinet and will be a constant reference point until there is another celebration. It would be wrong to equate the European Cup with the Celtic Cup, but in terms of Ulster's evolution, the Edinburgh match is vitally important.
Ulster have struggled in recent years, partly because of a lack of depth, but also because of an appallingly difficult fixture list in Europe. The two are linked, because the IRFU rank the Irish provinces and Ulster have been trailing in third, meaning a more arduous European adventure. Today they can take a step towards a better draw.
Though today's venue is a stone's throw from Edinburgh's home ground, Meadowbank, the Irish province are considered a strong bet on the basis of the Celtic League clash earlier in the season between these sides. Ulster travelled to Scotland and thumped Edinburgh 41-3, scoring five tries. The statistic is a little misleading - that was a different Ulster team and, judging by recent games, one that operated different patterns.World Cup panellists are restored - with the exception of Gary Longwell - but with their return has come a more ponderous approach.
One of the reasons Ulster top the Celtic League table is that they adopted an expansive approach. This allied to aggressive defence and strong set-piece play made them difficult to beat.
Bryn Cunningham is on the bench, so too Adam Larkin, Kieron Campbell, Rod Moore and Matt McCullough, all of whom helped their team's march to the summit. Matt Mustchin is restored to the team while Ronan McCormack is still out injured.
The absentee Edinburgh will probably celebrate most is Ulster centre Ryan Constable, their tormentor-in-chief with three tries in the rout at Meadowbank. Ulster coach Alan Solomons has opted for the solidity of Shane Stewart when a bolder choice might have been to play Paddy Wallace at outside centre, with Cunningham at full back.
It's been a curious season for Edinburgh. They were top of the Celtic League, then tumbled to the bottom before climbing again to sixth place. In the last two weeks they have beaten European champions Toulouse and Neath-Swansea Ospreys.
Chris Paterson's successful switch to outhalf for Scotland at the World Cup has had a pronounced effect at club level, while the return of Nathan Hines, Scott Murray and Simon Taylor has provided more bite up front.
Brendan Laney and Marcus Di Rollo are ponderous, something Ulster will look to exploit.
Ulster need to recapture the dynamism that has been missing of late - and particularly the facility to score tries. The larger European context should help drive them to a narrow success.
EDINBURGH: D Lee; S Webster, M Di Rollo, B Laney, C Joiner; C Paterson, M Blair; A Jacobsen, D Hall, R Mathieson, N Hines, S Murray, T Blackadder (capt), S Taylor, S Cross. Replacements: A Kelly, C Smith, A Kellock, A Hogg, G Burns, A Dickson, H Southwell.
ULSTER: P Wallace; J Topping, S Stewart, P Steinmetz, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; R Kempson, M Sexton, S Best, R Frost, M Mustchin, A Ward (capt), R Wilson, N Best. Replacements: P Shields, R Moore, M McCullough, W Brosnihan, K Campbell, A Larkin, B Cunningham.
Referee: N Williams (Wales).
Celtic League meeting (2003-2004): Edinburgh 3 Ulster 41.
Odds (courtesy of Paddy Powers): 10/11 Ulster, 10/11 Edinburgh, 16/1 draw.
Verdict: Ulster.
l England coach Clive Woodward has challenged players like Ollie Smith and James Simpson-Daniel, who narrowly missed out on World Cup selection, to force their way into the England team.
Leicester centre Smith and Gloucester wing Simpson-Daniel get their chance to impress when they play for an England XV, featuring just four members of the World Cup final starting line-up, against the New Zealand Barbarians at Twickenham today (5 p.m.).
Woodward insists he is "genuinely excited" by the prospect of seeing some fringe players, including Sale hooker Andy Titterrell and Bath's giant young prop Matt Stevens.
Responding to criticism by English clubs of the timing and context of the game, Woodward said: "There's load of positives from our points of view. There's Jason Robinson, Ben Cohen, Trevor Woodman, a lot of good players are taking part and it's a good match for England to have. Whether it should be taking place is for other people to decide."
