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ULSTER
RUGBY
www.
ulster
rugby.com
The international and Lions centre was a force
of nature, garrulous company, an evangelist for
his beloved Welsh language, latterly a superb
broadcaster, but above all a member of an elite,
unique corps of rugby players who used rickety
but engaging old Stradey Park as more than
just a sporting stage.
For the Llanelli club to which he was devoted he
was a truly iconic figure, a physically imposing
three-quarter who could transform himself into
a powerfully silky runner with wonderfully deft
hands and a brain always finding new ways to
conjure up rugby magic.
As the professional age was uneasily born
in Wales the Scarlets in a nod to the historic
colours worn by the rugby men of the
Carmarthen town for a century or more – was
immediately recognised for acknowledging
a rich, character-forming past and set in a
modern, forward-thinking environment.
The ground was an upgrade of supreme
proportions, but the character, the essence of
the club, lived on in the heroics of Gravell, and
before him of men such as Carwyn James,
Delme Thomas, Phil Bennett, Jonathan Davies,
JJ Williams and Tom David. It was sustained
and embellished by such as Ieuan Evans,
Stephen Jones, Iestyn Evans, Gareth Jenkins
and by so many more, including Derek, Craig
and Scott Quinnell and the brothers Guy and
Simon Easterby. Names with which we are all
familiar, players who’ve left indelible marks –
some of them literally! – on the sport.
But it is not a laurel-strewn history upon
which anyone has rested, it’s one which has
nourished a deeply-rooted community ethos,
in sporting terms epitomised by the Scarlets
who come calling at Kingspan Stadium this
Saturday evening. In December 2008 Parc y
Scarlets hosted its first European Cup game,
and – coincidentally – the opposition was
provided by an Ulster side building its own
progressive reputation.
Both clubs have rich histories, passionate,
committed support, and the stands and
terraces will bear colourful testament to sides
shaped by a wonderful past but focussed firmly
on a successful, enterprising future.
Wayne Pivac, who took charge as Head Coach
after Simon Easterby took emotional leave of
the club to join the Irish management team, has
a panel which is littered with internationals and
which, like Ulster, is hoping still to make a real
impact in this inaugural Champions Cup.
A loss in Toulon offered encouragement in
October for the following weekend’s defeat of
Leicester, and both of tonight’s sides would
accept that defeat would effectively end hopes
of qualifying for the New Year’s knock-out
stages. The stakes could hardly be higher,
in European rugby terms, and a fascinating
contest is expected to unfold in front of another
full house at Kingspan Stadium.
Ulster, dramatically denied a PRO12 win in
Munster last weekend, dearly hope to involve
the inspirational Ruan Pienaar this evening. The
Springbok pivot has yet to pull on a white jersey
this season, and his well-chronicled talents,
his very appearance, will lift the fans and the
players around him.
Head Coach Neil Doak will have considered
his options in other key areas, the continuing
enforced absences of those such as Andrew
Trimble, Paddy Jackson, Luke Marshall, Iain
Henderson and the dynamic Chris Henry
offering real opportunities to others who have
the pedigree to shine at the highest level.
Pivac took his Scarlets to Connacht last week,
and like so many before the Welsh found the
Sportsground a real fortress now that Pat
Lam has taken the helm. A losing bonus point
offered some solace to a team which was
shorn of those on international duty for Wales,
and Liam Williams, Jake Ball, Rhodri Jones,
skipper Scott Williams and Emyr Philips will
almost certainly return to the matchday squad
in Belfast.
Included too will be the remarkable prop
Phil John, 301 appearances for his club and
counting, a huge influence still on the pitch, and
a marvellous presence in the dressing room.
For him and his team-mates a packed floodlit
Kingspan, a top-class opposition to take on,
offers the sort of occasion players live for, when
they can show the modern professional game
at its most skilfully enthralling and combative.
For Ulster victory would keep the qualification
gate in Europe ajar, and similarly a win would
offer the Scarlets real hope, and as the two
teams meet again in a week in Llanelli tonight
will provide a real guide to how realistic
progress to the quarter-finals will be for two of
the big Celtic clubs.
This fixture would decorate any season, in any
competition, but this is one European arena in
which nobody is voting to exit!
STAYING IN EUROPE HAS
TOTAL SUPPORT!
Outside the modern home of the Scarlets stands a wondrous
sculptured likeness of one of the club’s greatest players, Ray Gravell.
MATCH
PREVIEW