RUGBY: Newcastle are relying on the accuracy of the weather forecast in their bid to stage tomorrow night's Heineken European Cup pool six game against Leinster. The pitch at Kingston Park was frozen solid yesterday when the snow was cleared from the surface but a thaw is expected in the next 24 hours.
A Newcastle official confirmed: "The pitch was frozen when the snow was removed but it is already starting to thaw here and the weather forecast is for it to get milder. We are confident that the game will go ahead. If we did run into problems then we would look to stage the game 24 hours later on the Sunday."
Leinster travel to Newcastle today and they will be hoping the match goes ahead as scheduled because they must undertake a journey to France next weekend where they face Toulouse in the final pool match. The Irish province is unbeaten at this stage but still requires a minimum of one if not two wins to guarantee a home quarter-final.
Meanwhile Ulster coach Alan Solomons announced just one change to the team that started the Celtic League semi-final against Munster for Sunday's European Cup clash with Wasps at Loftus Road. Former Ireland captain Paddy Johns comes into the second row in place of Mark Blair.
James Topping is still injured so Sheldon Coulter continues on the right wing. Despite scoring two tries in last week's "friendly" against Munster Ryan Constable has to be content with a place on the bench as Jonathan Bell is recalled to the starting line-up and will partner Adam Larkin in midfield.
Tighthead-prop Simon Best, second-row Gary Longwell, Bell and Coulter did not start against Munster but are reinstated.
Harlequins have named a weakened team for their game against Munster at Thomond Park tomorrow. Ireland hooker and captain Keith Wood is absent through injury as are flanker Pat Sanderson and former England centre Nick Greenstock. England's most capped player ever, prop Jason Leonard, is rested and doesn't even make the bench.
There is no place either for former Ireland under-21 international Ryan O'Neill. His place at full back goes to David Slemen.
Harlequins are hopeful Wood will be available for their domestic cup game against Leicester on January 19th. The English side will be hoping for big performances from the international quartet of Will Greenwood, Dan Luger, Paul Burke and Garrick Morgan.
THE TEAMS
ULSTER: P Wallace; S Coulter, A Larkin, J Bell, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best; P Johns, G Longwell; T McWhirter, R Nelson, A Ward (capt). Replacements: M Crick, C Boyd, J Davidson, N McMillan, K Campbell, R Constable, B Cunningham.
HARLEQUINS: D Slemen; M Moore, W Greenwood, N Burrows, D Luger; P Burke, N Duncombe; B Starr, J Roddam,J Dawson; G Morgan (capt), B Davison; S White-Cooper, T Diprose, T Tamarua. Replacements: B Douglas, A Olver, A Codling, R Winters, M Powell, M Mapletoft, R Jewell.
