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But this is a club which has just recently thumped
Edinburgh, one of those to which Ulster all-too-easily
succumbed, and the Cardiff Blues heaved a huge
sigh of relief when escaping with a two-point victory.
No longer can the visitors be considered potential
lambs for inevitable slaughter. as with Treviso, Zebre
is now a hugely competitive if not fully-furnished
PRO12 outfit. For Ulster, though, there is the
opportunity to enter a possibly season-defining
window with the boost of a win, preferably achieved
with real conviction, and that might just herald a
much-needed change in fortunes for the players,
their management and the persistently large support
at Kingspan Stadium each matchday.
It would be naïve to deny that through the home
crowd of late, and in the wider Ulster rugby
community, there isn’t a concern about recent
results and performances.
A season which started with such great
expectations, shared by supporters, players and
staff, has over the last two months stuttered and
disappointed. The early signs were good: five
Guinness PRO12 wins in a row put the side top of
the table, and if some of the quality on show in those
victories was uneven there was a belief that as the
selections became more settled the undoubted
calibre of the players would be more consistently on
view.
The recruitment of marquee signings Charles
Piutau and Marcell Coetzee added to the sense of
anticipation that, after being in contention and stalling
at the final hurdles in the last few years, the 2016/17
campaigns in the league and in Europe could
produce the silverware which is so craved. The All
Black has proved his astonishing range of footballing
skills in a variety of positions, but he hasn’t always
had the opportunity to influence matches further
given the team’s uneven, and sometimes not entirely
convincing outings.
Coetzee is fast returning to fitness after a serious
injury picked up in South Africa before arriving in
Belfast and his ball-carrying and fierce power at the
breakdown will hopefully soon effect a real electricity
in the forward unit.
But to focus on two undoubtedly superb recruits
would be facile, because the squad assembled
so carefully and shrewdly is brimming with talent,
proven internationals and youngsters with skills
and enthusiasm to justify long-term aspirations.
Rob Lyttle, Jacob Stockdale and Brett Herron have
taken their chances when injuries and unavailability
afforded Les Kiss and Head Coach Neil Doak the
chance to drill into the deep Kingspan player pool.
Chris Henry, the most intelligent of flankers, has been
much-missed in key areas and he too is returning
to full health, while the in-form Louis Ludik is also
available, and Tommy Bowe is showing real signs
that he’s rediscovering the match winning instinct
which had seen him restored to the Ireland side after
two seasons disrupted by serious injury.
Dan Tuohy too is back in action, the experienced
international lock’s determination to reinforce Kiss’
options in that department marked by his recent
outings with the Barbarians, that most exclusive
of invitational sides which honoured him with the
captaincy in the Czech Republic two weeks ago.
Iain Henderson’s shoulder problems appear to have
been resolved with patient, expert medical attention
with Ulster, and what a purposeful impact his regular
appearance in the white shirt could make to the
team as it approaches the New Year. And with Jared
Payne so clearly back to his best after a lay-off, there
are more genuine reasons to be optimistic about the
few critical months which lie ahead.
There are other casualties longing to join the squad
again, and injuries have undoubtedly affected the
consistency in selection which Kiss and his coaching
team would have probably preferred. The multiple
changes – rather than the planned, thoughtful
rotation they would have hoped for – has seemed
to undermine strategies and ‘plays’, errors born of
unfamiliarity perhaps have been all-too-prevalent.
There have been glimpses, and more, of the
unquestioned class in the club’s various divisions at
times, but that has added to the fans’ frustration and
though the support around the Kingspan has been
resolute throughout each game there is a palpable
sense that potential is not being realised fully, either
collectively or individually.
Four defeats in the last five games, the only success
a knuckle-whitening success thanks to Paddy
Jackson’s drop goal in the Champions Cup against
Exeter Chiefs, does excite concern, and Les Kiss
will be aware of that. And despite his refusal ever
to make excuses of injury lists and international
demands he’ll have been seeking answers on
the training pitch and in analysis sessions to why
combinations of fine players all over the side have not
always gelled.
In the PRO12, where most supporters’ hopes were
invested, successive defeats in Connacht, at home
to a resurgent Munster, and then rather shockingly
at Murrayfield to an Edinburgh in something like
disarray on and off the pitch. Two losing bonus
points secured in the Inter-Pro clashes may well
prove important in May, but just now they seem poor
consolation, a meagre return from games which
For Ulster it’s the Italian job this evening, Zebre the visitors, many assuming a
comfortable win in prospect – and a timely boost to home morale.
THE ONLY WAY MUST BE UP!
ROD NAWN