Toulouse set for Sunday

English challengers Leicester and Northampton will play on different days of the Heineken Cup quarter-final weekend later this season.

Tigers' clash against Leinster - a repeat of the 2009 final - will take place on Saturday, April 9 at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, with a 6pm kick-off.

Top seeds Saints, meanwhile, will face Ulster at the stadium:mk in Milton Keynes the following day at 2pm.

Perpignan's quarter-final against Toulon is set for the 55,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in Barcelona on the Saturday, with Sunday's action concluded by Heineken Cup holders Toulouse facing Biarritz at Estadio Anoeta, San Sebastian.

The semi-finals see Leinster or Leicester facing Biarritz or Toulouse, with Northampton or Ulster meeting Perpignan or Toulon.

IRELAND coach Declan Kidney was handed some good news ahead of tomorrow's preliminary Six Nations squad announcement as Ulster and Leinster allayed injury fears regarding Rory Best and Gordon D'Arcy.

D'Arcy was due to start Leinster's win over Saracens in the RDS but was withdrawn late on due to a calf injury.

However, the centre has not been ruled out of this weekend's trip to Paris to face Racing Metro and a decision on his availability, and that of No 8 Jamie Heaslip, will be made when the team is named on Thursday.

Best was forced from the field in Ulster's narrow win over Biarritz with a rib injury, but Ulster yesterday refused to rule the hooker out of this weekend's trip to Italy to face Aironi in a match that could see the province secure a spot in the last eight of the Heineken Cup for the first time since they won the competition in 1999.

Best's fitness is particularly crucial to Kidney as the luckless Jerry Flannery continues to struggle with injury, though Sean Cronin and Damien Varley provide cover while Ulster's Nigel Brady would be most likely to come into the squad should they suffer any further injuries at hooker.

Full-back is the major area of concern. Geordan Murphy ruled himself out of the Six Nations campaign with an ankle injury while Connacht's Gavin Duffy is in a race to recover in time for the opening match of the tournament in Italy on February 5.

Rob Kearney is still recovering from a knee injury picked up in the Autumn International defeat to the All Blacks.

However, Luke Fitzgerald, who picked up a similar injury to Kearney in the same match, is an option and he completed 80 minutes on the wing for Leinster on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Munster's Donnacha Ryan is a worry as he was on crutches on Sunday night in the wake of the defeat to Toulon.

Kidney will name at least 30 players in his squad tomorrow while an 'A' squad for the clash against Scotland on January 28 will also be announced.

- Donnchadh Boyle

Irish Independent

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin believes his side can play better after they struggled to deal with a brave Aironi effort before registering an opening bonus-point win in Pool Four of the Heineken Cup.

After seeing off the Italians 30-6, a win which took his side's unbeaten record to six games in all competitions at Ravenhill, McLaughlin admitted his side could improve on their performance.

"The way to describe it was we got a great win but we can still play better," he said.

The bonus-point was vital for Ulster, who play Biarritz away next weekend and also have to face Bath in what is likely to be a highly competitive group.

McLaughlin was keen to play down the province's absolute need to get maximum points from the Aironi clash.

"We are chuffed with the result but we never mentioned the bonus point. We knew, though that going into Europe it would be very important for us to get maximum points.

"At half-time we talked about maintaining tempo and intensity, which had been lacking in previous games, while we also talked about accuracy, but that sort of let us down tonight."

Opportunistic

Andrew Trimble's first-half try, with an excellent assist from Springbok Ruan Pienaar, was supplemented in the second half by an opportunistic score from Ian Humphreys, along with tries from Simon Danielli and the bonus point coming courtesy of Pienaar.

"In the second half we got there in the end, but we still made a few mistakes. Thankfully, we got there," McLaughlin said.

Looking forward to next weekend's game in Biarritz, McLaughlin said that Ulster were under no illusions about the task ahead.

"Aironi are a very tough, physical pack and it's going to be no different in Biarritz, but we have to deal with that and make sure we match Biarritz's physicality," McLaughlin said.

"We're going to go there with a lot of confidence and we must make sure we take our opportunities when they arise.

"We're very happy with where we are. We're in a good place but we know we can still do better," the Ulster coach added.

"I was pretty rusty and threw a few bad passes and made a few poor kicks," said Ulster out-half Humphreys after playing his first competitive game of the season.

"I thought that it was just through a few mistakes from us that we didn't pile on the points. We were just trying to force the offloads and passes.

"To meet the challenge of Biarritz next week, we really have to tighten up on that aspect of our game and cut out the silly errors," added Humphreys, who took over the kicking duties from Pienaar.

 “I’ve been in Ulster a few weeks now and settled in really well,”Iowa-born Emerick enthuses. “All the boys have been very welcoming and they’ve taken me out and shown me the town. I’ve been invited to their barbecues so it’s helped me get to know everyone quickly. That was important to me as I’m from a very small town in America where there’s only 6,000 people. It’s taking me slightly longer to get used to the weather though.”

Paul made his Ravenhill debut against Edinburgh and put in a stellar performance, much to the pleasure of the supporters, and it was something which didn’t go unnoticed by the utility back. “I think my debut went very well. I had some pre-season training but it was back in America, not with the Ulster squad. I was doing runs and weights to keep my fitness levels up and to be able to get a run out on Friday was fantastic.”

 “The whole atmosphere on match night was amazing. When I was at Ravenhill before, the new stand hadn’t been built, but now you realise just how much it helps create an atmosphere. I don’t remember the fans being so loud! They are very passionate about their team which is a great thing. The last time I was at Ravenhill, I played for Newport Gwent Dragons, so to come back and play for the Ulster supporters was a great feeling.”

As well as numerous appearances for the Dragons and Italian side Parma, Paul’s rugby experience also includes 37 caps for the USA, which he is very proud of. “Being selected to play for my country is incredible, and when the national anthem starts playing and the team stands in line, it gives you an immense feeling of pride. With the World Cup next year, I hope to continue playing well at Ulster as it will help my selection into the USA side too.”

Despite this, he admits that rugby was not the first sport he fell in love with. “It’s strange because I actually started out as an Olympic-style wrestler, and tended to focus more on football in the winter and baseball in the summer. When I went to college, I quit football and was introduced to rugby. It was one of those things that came naturally to me, and I’m very fortunate to have been given the chances I have because I never thought it would become a career for me.”

Initially signed on a three-month contract, Paul hopes it will be extended for a longer period. “It’s a very exciting time to be a part of Ulster Rugby. They have a great squad this season, with their new signings and a number of young players all pushing for a starting place. If I can play the best I possibly can and earn my place too, hopefully I can extend my contract.”

Away from rugby, Paul admits he likes to take things easy. “I like to go to the movies and hang out with friends. I play the guitar as well so that’s a good way to relax. When I was living in Italy, I learnt Italian, so I always need something to keep me occupied and keep me on the go!”

 (article written by Jacqueline Purse)

Playing their first ever home match in the league, Aironi Rugby faced off against Irish opposition for the second week running. Their coach Franco Bernini kept faith with the team that lost 33-17 away to Munster over the opening weekend.

His Ulster counterpart, Brian McLaughlin, made five changes to the side that secured a 27-26 home win over the Ospreys, with Ireland trio Paddy Wallace, Tom Court and Chris Henry stepping up for their first starts of the campaign.

Nigel Brady and Robbie Diack were also introduced for the Irish province's first ever trip to Stadio Zaffanella, the 34th different venue to stage a Magners League game.

There was no definite pattern to the early exchanges, but French out-half Ludovic Mercier kicked a long range penalty to give Aironi a fifth minute lead.

Ulster were back level by the quarter hour mark and out-half Niall O'Connor's second successful penalty, from a difficult angle on the right, moved McLaughlin's men 6-3 in front.

Ulster enjoyed a purple patch but could not turn possession into points, a forward pass from scrum half Paul Marshall to number 8 Diack spoilt a promising move near the 22.

Aironi were cut to 14 men when their number 8 Nick Williams was sin-binned for coming in at the side and use of abusive language. However, after O'Connor had missed a difficult right-sided penalty, Aironi levelled the tie.

Mercier, who was off target with a drop goal attempt, struck his second penalty from in front of the posts.

Ulster looked lively in attack as the first half came to a close, building through the phases before Henry was presented with a chance five metres out from the hosts' try-line. The Aironi cover got to him, however, and he was knocked into touch.

Still, the men in white took a 9-6 advantage into the break, courtesy of a third penalty from O'Connor.

Aironi were putting it up to Ulster and a drop goal from Mercier, after a wayward Ulster lineout, pulled the Italian side level. As Ulster's error count increased, a Mercier penalty nudged Bernini's charges ahead for the first time at 12-9.

It really was game on as this stage, an intriguing battle ensuing despite the amount of mistakes from both sides. The home crowd willed Aironi on, with Italy head coach Nick Mallett an interested spectator.

Either side of a yellow card for Aironi replacement Gabriel Pizarro for killing the ball, O'Connor had two shots at the posts and he landed the second penalty to get the visitors back on terms.

As the game moved into the final quarter, Ulster made a telling breakthrough. Diack intercepted a loose pass from Mercier and had the pace to make the line to score the game's only try, which O'Connor converted.

Mercier redeemed himself when popping over another penalty to take his personal haul to 15 points, as Aironi took it through the forwards and played to their strengths. Back rowers Gareth Krause and Williams stood out with some strong carries.

Hands in the ruck from number 8 Williams allowed O'Connor stretch Ulster's lead back to seven points.

But the final minutes were far from comfortable for Ulster who lost flanker Pedrie Wannenburg to the sin-bin for not rolling away after the tackle.

Aironi, with their forwards putting in another display full of grit and determination, created one final scoring opportunity from a lineout five metres out.

Williams burrowed his way towards the whitewash, only for replacement scrum half Ian Porter to put his body on the line and position himself so that the Italians were held up over the line.

Winger Giulio Rubini made a half-break in the dying seconds as Aironi tried to get back into the Ulster 22, but try scorer Diack was there to make the all-important tackle.

And as Ulster kept up their defensive guard, a knock on from centre Roberto Quartaroli, in the final play, ended the hosts' brave effort.

The losing bonus point was some consolation for Aironi who face trips to the Scarlets and the Ospreys before the month's end.

The result keeps Ulster at the business end of the table, with McLaughlin admitting afterwards: "We made a lot of errors and our set piece was just not clinical enough, so while the result is pleasing, the performance was less so.

"However, away wins, in particular, are hard to come by and I'm very pleased and a little relieved to have taken the points away from this trip.

"Over the past couple of weeks Aironi have shown that they are more the capable of competing in the Magners League.

"We're not getting ahead of ourselves, it's a very long season but from a results' point of view, it's hard not to be happy with two wins starting off.

"Edinburgh at Ravenhill next Friday will be another tough proposition and we've got plenty to work on," he added.