Ulster v Blues Sat 14th Oct - KO 17.30

Ulster v Blues

I’ve been humming and harring about this game all day. The fact of the matter is that the Blues are sending over a weakend team with 8 changes to the team that beat Saracens last week. I also mistakenly thought Humphries was out for Ulster but no – he’s back in the team. Theres also a bit of needle for this game as the Blues were a bit errr…..naughty in the reverse fixture in Cardiff last year.

The way I see it is that Ulster, whilst having one eye on their HEC game next weekend will be looking to crush this Blues team and hopefully take a 5 pointer and retain their lofty status at the head of the Celtic league. Also add in the factor that is basically an unchanged side from the team that beat Connacht quite convincingly last weekend. Blair and Rush are out for the Blues and whilst they do have some depth they will surely miss those quality players at a sold out and beered up Ravenhill.

Form: Ulster returned to the top of the Magners League table with a 24-17 victory in Connacht last Friday and will be all out to extend their winning home run beyond the current eight match streak. Ulster have not lost to a Welsh team in 2006. Cardiff Blues have won their last three matches in all competitions, although they have not won on the road in the league since an 18-13 victory at the Dragons on 19 April. Since March 2003 the Blues have won just once in ten visits to Ireland: 18-8 in Connacht on 22 January 2005. Ulster did the league double over Cardiff Blues last season, whilst the Blues have never won in four previous visits to Ravenhill.

Ulster: 15 Bryn Cunningham, 14 Andrew Maxwell, 13 Kevin Maggs, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 David Humphreys, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Stephen Ferris, 6 Neil Best, 5 Matt McCullough, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Bryan Young, 2 Rory Best, 1 Justin Fitzpatrick.Replacements: 16 Paul Shields, 17 Declan Fitzpatrick, 18 Tim Barker, 19 Neil McMillan, 20 Kieran Campbell, 21 Adam Larkin, 22 Scott Young.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Nick Macleod, 14 Chris Czekaj, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 Marc Stcherbina, 11 Rhys Williams, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Ed Fairhurst, 8 Mark Lewis, 7 Ben White, 6 Scott Morgan, 5 James Goode, 4 Deiniol Jones, 3 Gary Powell, 2 Duane Goodfield, 1 John Yapp.Replacements: 16 Gethin Jenkins, 17 Gareth Williams, 18 Bradley Davies, 19 Martyn Williams, 20 Wayne Evans, 21 Tom Shanklin, 22 David Flannigan.

Recommendation: Ulster –6 10/11 – It’s worth opening an account with UK Betting for this one. Skybet are going as high as –10 which is probably a bit more like it.