Ulster Rugby v Glasgow

ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST @RODNAWN1

Jono Gibbes stepped into the void left by the departure of Ulster Rugby’s Director of Rugby Les Kiss bringing more consistency to selection and introducing for prolonged ‘runs’ clearly impressive youngsters on whom a genuinely optimistic future can be based. Up front Mattie Rea, Matthew Dalton, Nick Timoney and precocious prop Tom O’Toole have given an injection of freshness and real ability to both the team and to the fans who’ve endured everything but the consistency of performance and convincing results. And there are reasons to believe as the revamp of the Ulster squad gathers pace. But the win in Edinburgh, then the character- filled victory eight days ago over the Ospreys in a game where skipper Rory Best was at his most inventive in scorning ‘pots’ at goal in a quest for tries. Astonishingly the only try came right at the death through a Jacob Stockdale interception, but Ulster’s domination of territory and possession was impressive. So can Ulster qualify for the PRO14 play-offs? Being realistic it is unlikely that Edinburgh with its nine-point advantage in the Conference B table can be overhauled, and Glasgow this evening then a trip to high-flying Munster next weekend hardly suggests Ulster will take a maximum haul. But there is a very proper hope that keeping Benetton at bay and earning a chance to compete in next year’s Champions Cup can be achieved: finishing fourth would mean a play-off for a spot in the senior European competition, probably against Ospreys. That would be tangible consolation and encouragement for this group of players and for the management team.

atmosphere against the Warriors, who know what to expect in Belfast and will be keen to maintain form and fitness. It will be an evening of many farewells, of course. Departing players have served the team and club well and will deserve appreciation tonight, whether on the pitch or not, but they will primarily want the win which will keep hope alive, and the fans will want to see others match and challenge the example of Best and Iain Henderson, superb in recent weeks. For rugby’s evangelicals this is a time for renewal and for Ulster’s players, management, supporters, administration and backers to set new targets and standards. Let’s get on with it.

Gibbes, Dwayne Peel, Niall Malone and Aaron Dundon will undoubtedly have prepared tonight’s 23 diligently, and Glasgow will have been given due respect, but the Scots’ strengths and potential weaknesses will have been examined forensically. The true Kingspan crowd will do its ‘bit’ and it should be an exciting

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