Unloved and unwanted by the English clubs and the top two Welsh clubs, sponsorless and with negligible television coverage, the European Cup kicks off in Ravenhill tonight not so much to the sound of fanfare as warfare.
Still, it's probably appropriate that it lurches into action with Ulster and Edinburgh Reivers, for this is the competition that the Irish and the Scots, especially, have been pining for. Their whole approach to the onset of professionalism and the dangling of carrots by English clubs has been to contract home-based players to their respective provinces and districts. Without the European Cup, the philosophy would be seriously undermined.
As it happens, this clash will also be a significant yardstick by which to judge the contrasting fortunes of the two Unions as well as the sides themselves.
In terms of luring prodigal sons home, Ulster have been revitalised by the returning emigrees more than any other province. The influx of former and new internationals under the stewardship of Harry Williams immediately upped the team's unity and professionalism, reaping a significant improvement in results as well.
The Edinburgh Reivers, by contrast, are an unholy alliance of city (Edinburgh) and country (Scottish Borders). Thus, they are more distinct, than district, cultures. By putting all their four eggs in just two baskets, the Scots have put together a scrambled concoction which hasn't pleased everyone and smacks of a hastily put together, panicky measure on the back of truly dismal European showings.
Being top heavy, with 34 players or so, has obliged them to play as many as possible given their contracts do not permit them to play club rugby. Invariably, coach Ian Rankin had to chop and change his formation during a losing run of six games this season, though by all accounts they were more pleased with their latest offering against their rival district, and accordingly have made only two changes for this game. Grant McKelvey comes in at hooker for Steve Brotherstone and Graeme McCallum replaces Iain Fullarton in the second-row, while the off-form Lions Alan Tait and Craig Chalmers are kept on the bench. Not a good sign.
Nonetheless, the Scots could be coming together whereas, had this game been played two or three weeks ago, Ulster would have been on a winning run with a settled side. Instead, the wheels came off spectacularly against Leinster last week and Williams has responded by making four changes.
The sorely felt absence of Mark McCall has meant a call-up for South African out-half cum centre Clinton van Rensberg in midfield, enabling Jonathan Bell to switch to his more suited outside centre role and Jan Cunningham to his more effective wing position. Sheldon Coulter also comes in on the wing, with David Humphreys captain outside Stephen Bell, recalled at the expense of Andy Matchett.
It certainly looks a better backline, though how much, depends on the unknown van Rensberg quantity. At 6' 4" and 16 stone, the 22-year-old is what locals up north would call "a solid lump of a boy". Van Rensberg played 23 times for Eastern Province in the Currie Cup, and made his Super 12 debut for the Natal Sharks while a teenager. He joined Ballymena four weeks ago and certainly has good pedigree, though verdicts on him vary.
Up front, Williams has kept faith in the pack demolished by Leinster, (restoring Stephen McKinty for Dean Macartney, who has a chest infection) though in truth he hasn't many options.
Williams expects a positive response. "Most of these boys haven't played in the European Cup. It's the kind of competitive rugby they came here for. They got a good kick up the arse last week and know they let themselves down badly."
The Reivers' chief executive, Nick Oswald, believes that "if you can nick one away win and win your home games you're a long way towards qualifying. It's a big game for us and if we win it, it will take a lot of pressure off us. But we're definitely underdogs."
Yeah, sure. Somehow he didn't laugh. This is a Scottish-Irish encounter after all, which invariably go one way of late, Ulster losing a similarly crucial and pivotal home opener to Glasgow last year.
However, the Scots, thus far, don't know how to win and unlike the contrived Edinburgh Reivers, Ulster have a proud sense of tradition and identity. They also have home advantage and more of a winning habit. These things, theoretically at least, ought to count for something.
ULSTER: S Mason; S Coulter, J Bell, C van Rensberg, J Cunningham; D Humphreys (capt), S Bell; J Fitzpatrick, A Clarke, G Leslie, M Rea, G Longwell, S McKinty, T McWhirter, A Ward. Replacements: S McDowell, B Cunningham, A Matchett, R Irwin, R Weir, M Blair, S Duncan.
EDINBURGH REIVERS: H Gilmour; T Stanger, J Mayer, G Shiel, C Murray; D Hodge, I Fairley; B Stewart, G Mckelvey, M Proudfoot, D Burns, G McCallum, T McVie, B Renwick (capt), A Roxburgh. Replacements: A Tait, C Chalmers, G Burns, C Mather, G Hayter, S Scott, R McNulty.
Referee: G Borreani (France).
