Leinster v Ulster - it's going to be titanic!

It’s a big big match this Saturday for Leinster. Last match of the year, and the final of the Rabo Direct Pro 12, and up against Ulster, who’ve already beaten us twice this season. But it’s also pretty momentous to be losing two massive players, Isa Nacewa and Jonny Sexton, who have always done so much more than was ever asked of them than was ever asked of them.. Isa, whose 10 minutes for Fiji meant he couldn’t play for the All Blacks or Ireland who’s retiring, and Jonny, a home grown superstar whose next task is playing for the Lions as the best fly half in Britain and Ireland.  Leinster have a nearly full squad to call on, with SOB the biggest omission. I thought they were going to be a bit short against Stade, but being able to rest a few players for the at match has paid of  handsomely. We’ve slipped up before in this fixture – but in previous years, the focus was always the Heineken cup, this year  once we were out of that, we always wanted both the Amlin and Pro 12 titles. 

Ulster’s season has been very successful – making the knock stage of the Heineken Cup, admittedly going out earlier than they wanted to – but being in the top 8 clubs in Europe this season is not too shabby. Then they topped the Pro 12, and demolished the Scarlets in the semis. They have their big players back from injury and back in from – Bowe, Muller and Payne. And they’ve beaten us home and away this season already. They’ve haven’t been able to convert their good form over the last two years into any trophies yet though – can they hold their nerve to close this one out, at the RDS? That’s the million euro question.
I think…that Leinster will still pull this one off. Ulster probably have a better pack than us, but we have better backs, and we are just better at taking opportunities – we hardly had the ball at times against Stade, but scored with the very few opportunities we had. It’s going to be titanic :) and I just can’t wait!

Elsewhere – I’m actually going with Northampton, if the semi’s form of both teams is anything to go by.
RaboDirect PRO12
Saturday , May 25
Ulster vs Leinster 16:45
Aviva Premiership
Saturday , May 25
Leicester vs Northampton 15:00
Sunday , May 26
England vs Barbarians 13:00