Celtic League/ Llanelli Scarlets v Ulster Stradey Park, 7.10 On TV - Setanta Sports: All eyes may be focused on the Millennium Stadium but there is another trophy up for grabs this evening just down the road from Cardiff. The Munster hordes may have booked up all the hotels in Llanelli but there are a few red hand defenders loitering.
Two years ago Ulster came to Stradey Park for the final game of the Celtic League needing a bonus point to steal the title from Llanelli. It was Stephen Jones' last game in scarlet before debunking to ASM Clermont Auvergne. The Welsh outhalf kicked five penalties and a drop goal in a comprehensive 23-16 victory. Ulster were out of their depth.
This time Llanelli's long serving director of rugby Gareth Jenkins and coach Nigel Davies bid adieu before moving up the ladder to the national job. It's also Chris Wyatt's last outing before a curious transfer to Munster.
Ulster, again, need a bonus point to fend off a stuttering Leinster and secure their first Celtic League title. More importantly, they are desperate to claim the top Irish seeding for Europe, something they have missed, and duly paid the price for, in recent seasons.
Failure to accrue a bonus point tonight - they could only cross for two tries in January's 30-13 victory over the Scarlets at the impregnable Ravenhill - and a second chance presents itself away to the Ospreys next Friday. But any form of victory here would put them four points clear of Leinster, who finish their season in Edinburgh on the same night.
In 2004, the planned assault on Stradey Park was repelled by a superior set of forwards. The match report from that game stated: "If Ulster learn how to win away they will become one of the main players in the Northern Hemisphere." The really big scalp on the road - a la Leinster in Toulouse or Munster everywhere else - is yet to materialise but at least they aren't being mugged up front anymore.
Simon Best, Neil Best and Roger Wilson are the only returning forwards from 2004, while David Humphreys and Bryn Cunningham survive in a new backline that boasts the potentially great Andrew Trimble. Also, coach Mark McCall has handed Paddy Wallace a career-saving lifeline at inside centre. The Humphreys-Wallace-Trimble axis was lethal against the Borders last week but can they repeat the magic against sterner opposition? Llanelli come in with a makeshift backrow as livewire flanker Alix Popham is suspended, after receiving two yellow cards against Glasgow, and Simon Easterby is injured.
With Heineken European Cup rugby already secured for next season, it's unsure which Llanelli side will turn up although they are seeking an eighth successive home win and the crowd will undoubtedly get on their backs if they sense Jenkins is not being given the deserved sent off.
Assume a dogfight will ensue along similar lines to the one with Cardiff at Ravenhill two weeks back. The ever maturing toughness of this Ulster pack, from the veteran Wallaby Justin Harrison to under-21 human wrecking ball Stephen Ferris, has carried them through those kind of examinations all season. A couple of penetrating cameos from Trimble and Tommy Bowe usually finishes off the job.
Ulster can take another big step tonight but minus the bonus point, leaving the door slightly ajar for Leinster. The champagne may remain on ice for one more week.
Previous meetings (all Celtic League): February 6th 2004: Ulster 10-9 Llanelli, Ravenhill; May 14th, 2004: Llanelli 23-16 Ulster, Stradey Park; November 28th, 2004: Llanelli 22-9 Ulster, Stradey Park; April 15th, 2005: Ulster 16-3 Llanelli, Ravenhill; January 27th, 2005: Ulster 30-13 Llanelli, Ravenhill. Leading points scorer: Ulster - D Humphreys 213; Llanelli - M Hercus 87.
Leading try scorers: Ulster - T Bowe nine tries. Llanelli - L Byrne and M Jones six.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, P Wallace, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best (capt); J Harrison, M McCullough; N Best, S Ferris, R Wilson. Replacements: N Brady, J Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, N McMillan, K Campbell, J Bell, T Howe.
LLANELLI: L Byrne; M Jones, M Watkins, R King, G Evans; C Evans, D Peel; P John, A Gravelle, C Dunlea; V Cooper (capt), H Louw; I Afeaki, D Jones, J Mills. Replacements: J Davies, M Rees, C Wyatt, J Edwards, L Williams, G Bowden, D Evans.
Referee: TBC.
Verdict: Ulster (but no bonus point).
