Ulster Rugby vs Cheetahs

might be available this evening, but McFarland and his fellow coaches will believe that in any case they have the armoury to thwart the robust Uzair Cassiem and Gerhard Olivier, to name but two potential forwards on view tonight. Ulster against a competitive Cheetahs has a certain exotic ring, but when the whistle is blown to begin the game it could be thunderous and – if conditions allow – compelling and attractive viewing. It’s a big game, both sides have PRO14 play- off ambitions, but it’s the home team which will want to demonstrate that it can regain momentum in the league and prepare for what is effectively the launchpad for trophy bids domestically and in Europe. And, Ruan? Thanks for the memories.

investment and stable management at last the Cheetahs will pull the team bus into Ravenhill Park tonight with total conviction that Ulster can be tamed. Head Coach Hawies Fourie has enhanced the work done by Franco Smith and this season Glasgow has been humbled in the Free State Stadium, and Ulster lost by a spectacular 63-26 margin at the same venue in October. Away from home, after much travelling, success has been more elusive, the Ospreys only the only European team ‘downed’, but with six matches still to play in the southern hemisphere that third-place ranking in Conference A does signal that up front and in attack this is a side which can never be taken lightly. Last Saturday’s storm-lashed loss to Leinster at the RDS was emphatic, but there were perhaps signs of a new determination and relish for the fight with two second half tries sculpted by a vigorous and technically acute pack. McFarland has insisted that his Ulster side’s discipline – tactically and physically – had to improve and to a great extent his team has responded superbly as the season progressed, but penalties conceded at vital times have irritated him and diminished performances and results. Witness Swansea last weekend. Sadly Kiwi Matt Faddes won’t feature this evening, his season has ended prematurely with surgery on a shoulder injury picked up in Wales last weekend, but with Louis Ludik back to fitness he might well move to full-back from the wing, though McFarland has many seasoned and up-and-coming options. Robert Baloucoune’s star continues to rise and the winger will be tested by the visitors’ gifted and pacy backs, Rabz Maxwane a particular threat. Pienaar and Tian Meyer will probably share the 80 minutes at scrum-half for the visitors, and Ulster breakaways - Sean Reidy, Marcell Coetzee and Jordi Murphy amongst them – need to watch their lively work close to the scrum and ruck. With Ireland unchanged tomorrow in London it’s possible some of Ulster’s international squad

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