European Cup Pool Five: There is evidence of some revisionism taking place around the provinces. As followers of the game consistently look towards Munster and then Leinster for the possibility of silverware, Ulster, despite being the first of the Irish sides to win the European Cup in 1999, have been pigeonholed into the "good team, will win some big matches but can't go the whole way" category.
There is a significant level of grudging respect for the side, especially at home, and while no real blinding light has emanated from Ravenhill to convert the sceptical into believing this year's Ulster team are trophy winners in the making, the team have been quietly impressive.
Recent matches have shown Ulster to be patchy but results and points in the Magners Celtic League have accumulated quickly enough to place Mark McCall's team at the top of the table. While we hear the regular mantra from coaches and players that the Heineken European Cup is another step up, which suggests that the worth of the domestic competition in the context of Europe does not carry that much weight, it's really all there is to go on. With that understanding Toulouse will expect no less than a rousing Belfast reception.
While McCall has a young, home-grown pack led by experienced Australian captain Justin Harrison, Ulster are not without the mobility and aggression that makes them efficient predators around the paddock.
The backline, more so than the forwards, have perhaps been questioned and the team, in that respect, have been strengthened by the return of international winger Tommy Bowe and South African outside centre Paul Steinmetz, both of whom have recovered from injury. Simon Best who broke his leg in the penultimate game of the 2005-06 season, and missed out on the Ireland tour to New Zealand and Australia, also makes a return to the bench where Kevin Maggs and Andrew Maxwell also sit after starting last week.
Unsurprisingly, there is a hint of disapproval in McCall's voice when the ability of his backline is compared to that of Leinster. Similar disapproving guffaws are regularly heard from Declan Kidney when the Munster backline is aired for comparison. But McCall has a point. "I'm not bothered," says the Ulster coach. "If people want to underestimate our back line then, okay. I think we've scored the second most tries this year and that speaks for itself, and if people want to make those comparisons, I'm not much bothered, to be honest."
What gives Ulster their hard competitive edge is their unity and strength of character that would favourably compare with Munster's, although the players would not.
With David Humphreys operating in the pocket and good ball players in the middle in Steinmetz and Paddy Wallace and pace out wide in Bowe and Andrew Trimble, you can see where McCall's irritation springs from. With that quality, he faces a team who have not had the best starts to the year. "A lot of people are writing off Toulouse because they had a bad start to the season, but we have tapes of their last three games, and I can tell you, they are in rude health, and remain a very dangerous side if you let them play," says McCall.
"We must take the game to them, and not sit back. We must keep them on the back foot. They have big names throughout their team, so they will be travelling with the usual air of confidence. But we fancy our chances and we expect to win the match. We've a tough start to our campaign, with Toulouse at home, and then two away dates with the Llanelli Scarlets and London Irish. So that's a massive challenge."
For Toulouse, William Servat is missing after breaking his nose, while Frederic Michalak (knee), Finau Maka (hip), Maxime Medard (ankle), and Yannick Nyanga (knee) join Servat on the physio's table.
The French side are still smarting from being dumped out of last season's cup at the quarterfinal stage when Leinster won 41-35 win at Stade Municipal. Having also been routed 46-9 by Clermont Auvergne a fortnight ago in the French Championship, coach Guy Noves probably has reason for some concern over what Toulouse team will turn up.
"It's true that we're approaching this game from a difficult position," conceded Noves. But it will not sway Ulster. A soft Toulouse side with Trevor Brennan starting at openside flanker? Not possible. But Ulster do have a right to think that this match is within their grasp.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, P Steinmetz, P Wallace, A Trimble; D Humphreys, I Boss; R Wilson, S Ferris, N Best, M McCullough, J Harrison (capt), B Young, R Best,J Fitzpatrick. Replacements: P Shields, S Best, T Barker, K Dawson, K Campbell, K Maggs, A Maxwell.
TOULOUSE: C Poitrenaud; V Clerc, F Friz, M Kunavore, X Garbajosa; J-Frederic Dubois, V Courrent; T Dusatoir, T Brennan, J-F Montauriol, Gregory Lamboley, R Millo-Chlusky, S Perugini, V Lacombe, D Human. Replacements: Y Bru, S Clement, P Albacete, J Bouilhou, J Elissalde, G Thomas, Y Huget.
Previous meetings: 1998-99 - Toulouse 39, Ulster 3, Stade Toulousain; Ulster 29, Toulouse 24, Ravenhill Road; 2001-02: Toulouse 35, Ulster 35, Stade Toulousain; Ulster 25, Toulouse 29, Ravenhill Road.
Referee: D Pearson
Verdict: Ulster to win
