Dallaglio tips Edinburgh to beat Ulster in Dublin clash

LAWRENCE Dallaglio has tipped Edinburgh to silence the Aviva crowd and produce another “great result” by beating Ulster in the Heineken Cup semi-finals this weekend.

The former Wasps and England captain, now a Sky TV pundit, insisted that home advantage was crucial in semi-final matches, but feels the Heineken Cup matches between Edinburgh and Ulster, and Clermont Auvergne and Leinster on Sunday, were difficult to call.

“Anything could happen in Dublin and Bordeaux,” he said. “Leinster can certainly win in Bordeaux, and keep alive their hopes of making it back-to-back titles, and I think Edinburgh can go to Dublin and get another great result.

“Their quarter-final triumph over Toulouse was the result of the season and they have become the big story of the tournament. Ulster will obviously have more fans at the Aviva Stadium and have a hard edge to their side with their strong South African influence, but I can see Edinburgh’s game plan causing Ulster a few problems.

“We [Wasps] went to Dublin to face Munster back in 2004 for a Heineken Cup semi-final and the first thing we had to try to do was silence the crowd. We did that and eventually won the game and the title. That will be Edinburgh’s first task – to put the crowd on the back foot as well as Ulster.”

Dallaglio tips Leinster to meet Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup Final at Twickenham, but expects an old sparring partner Nathan Hines in Scottish colours to play a key role in Sunday’s semi-final.

“It’s hard not to go with Leinster given the fact they have gone 13 games unbeaten in the Heineken Cup and are reigning champions. This is their third semi-final in a row and that experience is bound to count for something. It adds up to a memorable weekend of European rugby action with two massive finals to follow in Twickenham next month.”