Ulster Rugby vs Connacht

ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST @RODNAWN1

target: a semi-final place, preferably at home, and an appearance in the Final at Murrayfield in late May. For that to become reality unity of purpose – on the field and in the

stands – is vital: Connacht are no longer anyone’s ‘whipping boys’, and do not under-estimate just what a message it would send if Ulster could, first, get a convincing win and conceivably get a try bonus point against one of the meanest, physical defences in the competition. Kiss, Neil Doak, Allen Clarke, Niall Malone and Joe Barakat constitute an impressive and dedicated coaching team, and the players understand their responsibilities to them, to the fans and the supporters, and not even the most sceptical would question the commitment and desire of what is a truly gifted squad. In a fortnight there’s a trip to Zebre which – like last month – will be targeted for a five-point return, though in Belfast it took patience as well as guile and stamina to exact that reward. On the last Saturday of this month, Leinster come to Kingspan Stadium for what will be another chapter in a rivalry which stretches back over 120 years, and which never fails to be a compelling ‘watch’ and a fixture which asks all the questions of players on both sides. The last ‘regular season’ game is a week later in Swansea when the Ospreys might well hold the key to Ulster’s Top Four fate. What price a Tommy Bowe winning try at his old hunting ground at the Liberty Stadium? For the next six weeks – hopefully more! – Kiss and Doak will be able to re-introduce Rory Best, Andrew Trimble and Jared Payne into the line-ups, and with Darren Cave in tigerish form, the precocious Jacob Stockdale fit again and Louis Ludik on his way back, the backline will lack for neither competition nor class. This is indeed the time when the mettle of players, management and fans is tested to the full, in the white-hot heat of a clearly-defined battle. Set aside doubt, see only certainty and purpose. Yes?

21