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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?
ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN
FREELANCE JOURNALIST
AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST
@RODNAWN1