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Ulster can put one foot in the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup when they host Benetton Treviso on Saturday night. - 06/12/2013 09:10
Ulster can put one foot in the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup when they host Benetton Treviso on Saturday night.
The Irish province lead the way in Pool 5 and sit two points ahead of nearest rivals Leicester Tigers, following victories over the English club and Montpellier. They have never lost to Italian opposition in European action and completed the double over Treviso in both 2001 and 2006.
Ulster go into the match on the back of consecutive victories over Zebre and Edinburgh and recorded a 32-13 triumph over this weekend’s opposition in September.
And they are set to welcome back star duo Johann Muller and Ruan Pienaar for the sold-out Ravenhill clash. Muller has not played since suffering a calf injury against Cardiff Blues in October, while Pienaar returns from international duty with South Africa.
Kiwi full back Jared Payne will also be assessed to determine his availability following a groin injury but Rory Best, Iain Henderson and Paddy McAllister are definitely out of the encounter and so is Tommy Bowe. The Ireland and Lions wing faces between four and six weeks on the sidelines with a muscle tear and may not even feature in Round 5 against Montpellier next month.
Treviso have never overcome an Irish opponent in the Heineken Cup but have claimed some notable scalps in recent seasons, including those of the Ospreys, Biarritz Olympique and Perpignan. They warmed up for the daunting trip to Ravenhill with a hard-fought 26-26 draw with the Blues on home soil.
Once again discipline let the Italian outfit down, with Gareth Davies slotting a late penalty to take a share of the spoils. And they will need to keep their cool at Ravenhill, with Paddy Jackson and Pienaar both accomplished goal-kickers.
Ulster were in seven heaven as they moved a step closer to the Heineken Cup knockout stages with a commanding victory over Benetton Treviso at Ravenhill. - 07/12/2013 19:51
Ulster were in seven heaven as they moved a step closer to the Heineken Cup knockout stages with a commanding victory over Benetton Treviso at Ravenhill.
The Belfast-based outfit went into the clash top of the pile in Pool Five following victories over Montpellier and Leicester Tigers.
And they maintained their 100 per cent record in Europe this season to stretch their lead in the group to seven points.
Paddy Jackson, Luke Marshall, John Afoa, Dan Tuohy, Sean Doyle and Andrew Trimble all crossed in the emphatic triumph.
Leicester Tigers remain second and face Montpellier requiring a victory to maintain the pressure on the Irish province.
Ulster hit the ground running at threatened to breach Treviso’s line on several occasions before Jackson crossed on his 50th appearance for the province.
He failed to convert his effort but Ulster doubled their advantage through Marshall on ten minutes with Jackson making amends with the boot.
That led to Franco Smith hauling Edoardo Gori off for Tobias Botes but it had little effect as Ulster claimed their third try.
Following a sustained period of pressure Gloucester-bound Afoa burst through a midfield gap, with Jackson comfortably converting.
They continued to press for a bonus-point try but were held at bay by Treviso and settled for a Jackson penalty to lead 22-0 at half-time.
They were dealt a blow when Marshall was sin-binned on 51 minutes but they wrapped up a maximum points haul when Darren Cave sent Touhy crashing over following a superb offload on 58 minutes.
Jackson converted and just two minutes later they claimed a fifth as Doyle got in on the act, with the fly-half once again on target from in front of the sticks.
Mark Anscombe made a raft of changes but it had no effect as Trimble squeezed into the corner for Ulster’s sixth of the night.
But that was not all as Ulster continued to torment the sorry Italians as Marshall grabbing his second following some fine work from Jackson, with the fly-half converting to stretch his personal haul to 18 points.
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