Fairytale Ravenhill night as Ulster all but seal place in Heineken knock-out phase:

Ulster's Trimble running riot at Ravenhill

With Ulster flying; Leinster on a roll and Munster also looking likely to emerge from their Pool;  what odds an all-Irish Heineken Cup Final (in England) in 2012?!         


             Ulster have enjoyed many famous nights at their ground of Ravenhill.  However, beating possibly the biggest British franchise in professional rugby;  the Leicester Tigers, must really top everything else.  Spearheaded by a forward pack led by Chris Henry and masterminded by fly-half Ruan Pienarr; Ulster played second (third and fourth) best for just about the entire game.
           Whilst Ulster's foreign stars were monumental; it was apt that it was homegrown talent which was the key difference and broke Leicester's back when all was said and done.  David Trimble's second try early in the second-half put Ulster over the 14 point lead, which was really the game defining score and a deficit the visitors were never going to recover from.
           Yes, Ulster won the Heineken Cup in 1999; but that was without any English clubs so there is an argument that should Ulster win their Pool (and it looks very likely that they will) then the 2011-'12 season will become Ulster's greatest.  To knock Leicester out of the competition and beat the two time Heineken Cup winners by 34 points tonight (with a bonus point) was a truly sensational achievement and should Ulster win their Pool; there won't be many sides who will relish visiting Belfast for the Quarter Finals.

What odds an all-Irish Heineken Cup Final in 2012?

           Having under achieved over the last 12 years; Ulster now must perform in Clermont next weekend.  The fact is that the northern province look much more than a top eight European side.  With Leinster on a roll and Munster also looking likely to emerge from their Pool;  what odds an all-Irish Heineken Cup Final (in England) in 2012?!