Andrew Trimble underwent a scan yesterday on an injured toe and it's now unlikely the Ulster and Irish winger will take his place on the wing against Leicester at Welford Road at the weekend.
As coach Neil Doak offers a chance to a wide man in the first round of European rugby, scrumhalf Paul Marshall should continue to avail of Ruan Pienaar's medial ligament knee injury which the latter suffered playing for South Africa in September.
Marshall has started in four of Ulster’s six Pro12 matches so far this season and is intent on making the most of his opportunity. “I’m enjoying it,” he said. “Obviously with the news of Ruan picking up a knock in the summer, in terms of the championship I was hoping to try and get a string of games together. I’m feeling I’ve got nicely bedded in this season, I’m enjoying my rugby.”
Sole trader
Marshall has never been a sole trader on the bread and butter of the position, passing, kicking and organising. His decisive interventions in terms of running have brought rewards and kept opposition backlines in check.
In the Ulster set-up, he offers a different threat to Pienaar, his speed off the mark making him a constant menace to the opposition. Marshall is a livewire scrumhalf, always sniping and backing himself, bossing forwards twice his size and rarely fading from a central involvement the game.
“I’ve always played what I think is right at the time,” he says. “You make decisions on the pitch and you live and die by them. You get it right and things go your way, you don’t and usually you get it in the neck. If it’s pass it’s pass, if it’s kick it’s kick, if it’s run it’s run. There’s time you have set plays and set patterns and there’s times when you have off-the- cuff moments.
“I’ve kind of always been a player who has tried to enjoy his rugby and you enjoy it best when you express yourself.”
Marshall's state of mind reflects that of Ulster – can-do and confident. Richard Cockerill, the Leicester coach, several weeks ago bemoaned the 20 players who were unavailable to him through injury. But last week they still beat Harlequins 22-16 to end a three-match losing streak. 'Gritty' would describe their win. But Ulster too have reason to swagger.
Six wins
South African Pienaar clinched the province a Heineken Cup quarter-final home tie with a 22-19 victory at Welford Road earlier this year. The taller, more physical playmaker scored all his side’s points in an epic battle to help Ulster go top of Pool Five with six wins from six matches.
“We’ve had good wins against Edinburgh and Glasgow and are a bit more buoyed but we know this will be the toughest test we’ve had this season,” says Marshall.
“They had a good win there last week against Harlequins. They’ll be saying ‘right let’s start this new competition well’. Some guys get injuries, some guys get opportunities they aren’t expecting so again you’ve players who have an added impetus to do well. We have to respect them and bring our own game.”
This is the first time in a few years Ulster have had to go away for the first pool game but Marshall and co are relishing the challenge. “We’re just busting to get out there,” he says. And he sounds it.
