An Irish Farewell - Harrison

Ulster v London Irish 7pm, Fri Dec 15 - SS3
Ulster will be hell-bent on revenge at Ravenhill for last weekend's defeat, but will a win be enough to re-ignite their European hopes?
MILES: I read that Mark McCormack says Ulster are probably playing for pride alone now, and I know why he would say that, but this group is a funny one and it may not all be settled yet.

Take Scarlets for example: They have played three, won three, but they travel to Toulouse on Saturday and they still have to go to Ravenhill. They could arrive at their final game with only three wins, which would leave them far from safe in this group.

Ulster already have their win at home to Toulouse, so if they can pick up a victory this weekend and follow it with another at home against the Scarlets they might not be finished yet. Then they could see where Toulouse - and Scarlets and Ulster - are for their final games, and work out what they would have to do to qualify. They might still be in it.

It isn't over for anybody involved yet.

Irish played very well last weekend with Mike Catt pulling the strings. It seems you don't think they are out of it either...
MILES: Of all the four teams, London Irish were the ones that were the most out of it after the first two rounds, with two defeats from two. They have thrown themselves a lifeline with the win at home to Ulster, but they are playing catch-up rugby of the 100 per cent variety.

What happened last weekend has to happen every weekend for London Irish. History shows that losing your first two games in a pool does not leave you in a strong position, but if they continue to play as they did at Madejski Stadium in the remaining three matches, then who knows?

It is a wide open pool, but the one thing you can say is whoever loses on Friday night, Ulster or London Irish, is definitely out of the competition. Both sides need to have belief going into this match.

What I really liked about the first game was that it didn't need any qualification element to it. It was a match that both sides wanted to play and win because of the unique element of London Irish against the Irish province.

We will see that again at Ravenhill on Friday.

So will it be Ulster or London Irish crying into their Guinness on Friday night? Prediction time...
MILES: My first prediction is that I think it will be a really good night, it always is at Ravenhill. Ulster also always seem to win at Ravenhill.

I know I went against London Irish last weekend and was proved wrong. They do seem to be turning the corner and playing like the team that finished in England's top four last year, and I expect them to put in another performance on Friday, but I also still expect Ulster to win.