Ulster Rugby vs Zebre

against the Scarlets and in Cardiff, and we’ve worked hard on that area this last week,” he says. “This squad is really top-quality, and when Rory, Jared and Andrew return from Irish duty they’ll bring real leadership skills as well as their proven track records to the team. That’ll be important as the season reaches the climax we all want.” Marshall is now fully-fit and eager to play in every game, but he admits he was a little ‘niggled’ by the media speculation surrounding some of his injury problems of the last couple of years, particularly concerning the concussions he had picked up. “Far too much was made of all that, and it still comes up which is annoying. Never at any time did I think I was going to even think of having to stop playing rugby. I’m a physical type of player, injuries happen, you go through recovery and take the best medical advice, which is readily available here at Kingspan Stadium, and I can assure everyone I am absolutely fine!” It’s said with such firmness and assurance that one cannot doubt this engaging, quietly-spoken but assured young man from Ballymena! “We have had some real ‘highs’ this year, like the wins over Toulouse, and the defeat of Oyonnax at home. That’s the way the coaches and the players want to play, running rugby which entertains and which we all enjoy being part of, so we hope we can get that back into our play over the next two months. “The game with Zebre is so key, we’ve put a bit of pressure on ourselves but some of us thrive on that, and though the Italians are tough, resilient and perhaps more competitive than people think, we would like to think we can get a win, anything more is a bonus,” he says. Clearly focussed on a future now firmly resolved, Luke Marshall is set to be a literally central figure for Ulster over the next few years. “I’m very, very happy with my form, with the opportunity to play with some really top-class players – even compete with them! – and when we play again after a two-week break I hope that as a team, a management and as supporters we can do something special this year.” With his clear blue eyes still smiling, he says only if he plays well, the team performs and wins, can he contemplate featuring in Ireland’s summer tour of South Africa. It’s obvious, his Ulster future sealed and delivered to the delight of fans who love Marshall’s barnstorming yet thoughtful attacking style, that PRO12 success is his primary concern just now. “That’s the way it should be, the fans deserve to see us at our best, and we all are focussed on getting something solid out of what’s been a long season.”

7