Scene Set For Titanic Battle In Belfast
5th May 2015 By Munster Rugby
With just one place and a single league point separating Munster and Ulster on the PRO12 league table, we look at the pre-match stats ahead of Saturday’s crucial showdown at Kingspan Stadium (KO 2.40pm) as the race for a home semi-final continues.
The fact that no away side has ever won a PRO12 semi-final serves to demonstrate the appetite, intensity and rivalry that will be on display this weekend. Only once before have Munster achieved a home semi-final, when they went on to lift the trophy in 2010/11, while Ulster too have only once been seeded at home.
As it stands a bonus point victory for Glasgow Warriors on Friday evening would see them claim a home play-off. If other results go their way it could be less, but that will not be confirmed until the meeting of Munster and UIster. Should Ospreys claim a home victory however the placings could go down to the wire the following weekend. Ospreys v Warriors, Friday at 7:35pm.
With the current league standings already suggesting that both Munster and Ulster are evenly met in this Round 21 encounter, further evidence of this can be found in terms of the last four games – both provinces winning three from four, both losing to Welsh opposition in Round 17, and both achieving 15 league points. In fact, looking back as far as Round 13, both sides can boast an impressive record of just one loss in their last eight games.
On the attacking and defensive fronts it’s the southern province that shades it slightly – scoring 59 tries – versus 56 for Ulster – and conceding just 25 tries – in comparison with 29 for the northern outfit.
However, it’s in recent head to head encounters that the Ulstermen pull ahead, winning three of the last five, including back to back successes over the men in red last season. It’s also worth noting that Munster have not beaten their provincial counterparts in Belfast since October 2010, the toughest of trends to buck especially given that Ulster are the best home side in the league this season having won all ten games in Belfast to date. That said – in again demonstrating how little separates the sides this weekend – the Munstermen are the tournament’s best away team having picked up 30 league points on the road this season.
Most recently, Munster counted themselves lucky to grind out a one point win over Ulster at Thomond Park – at one stage overcoming a 0-12 deficit. Tries from Robin Copeland and Duncan Williams brought the hosts back on track but following a 79th minute try from former Munster back row Nick Williams, a missed conversion from Ian Humphries was all that spared Munster’s blushes as they held on to win 21-20 – a loss that the Ulstermen will be keen to avenge this weekend.
This game will also see the HawkEye System in operation again, as part of trials with Sky Sports and World Rugby.
Ulster v Munster, Guinness PRO12 Round 21, Saturday May 9th at Kingspan Stadium – KO 2:40pm.
Follow live updates on Twitter – @munsterrugby #UlsVMun
This game will be televised on Sky Sports.
